US08053030B2
This invention relates to methods of applying to a substrate a hydrophilic coating that becomes lubricious when activated with water or water vapor, and to substrates having such a hydrophilic coating.
US08053029B2
Disclosed is a method for fabricating a CuInS2 thin film by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The method comprises fabricating a copper thin film by depositing an asymmetric copper precursor on a substrate by MOCVD and fabricating a CuInS2 thin film by depositing an indium-sulfur-containing precursor on the copper thin film by MOCVD. The method enables fabrication of a CuInS2 thin film with a constant composition even under vacuum as well as an argon (Ar) atmosphere. Disclosed is further a CuInS2 thin film fabricated by the method. Disclosed is further a method for fabricating an In2S3 thin film for a window of a solar cell via deposition of an indium-sulfur-containing precursor on the CuInS2 thin film by MOCVD. Disclosed further is an In2S3 thin film fabricated by the method. The In2S3 thin film is useful for a substitute for CdS conventionally used for windows of solar cells and contributes to simplification in fabrication process of solar cells.
US08053026B2
A method for the synthesis of nanocomposites is provided. The method comprises the steps of mixing carbon nanotubes with a urea solution to form urea/carbon nanotube composites (first step), mixing the urea/carbon nanotube composites with a solution of a metal oxide or hydroxide precursor to prepare a precursor solution (second step), and hydrolyzing the urea in the precursor solution to form a metal oxide or hydroxide coating on the carbon nanotubes (third step). Further provided are nanocomposites synthesized by the method. In the nanocomposites, a metal oxide or hydroxide is coated to a uniform thickness in the nanometer range on porous carbon nanotubes. Advantageously, the thickness of the coating can be easily regulated by controlling the urea content of urea/carbon nanotube composites as precursors. In addition, the nanocomposites are nanometer-sized powders and have high electrical conductivity and large specific surface area. Therefore, the nanocomposites are useful as electrode active materials for electrochemical capacitors, including pseudo capacitors and electrochemical double layer capacitors, lithium secondary batteries, and polymer batteries. Further provided is a capacitor comprising the nanocomposites.
US08053025B2
The present invention discloses a mixed-type heterojunction thin-film solar cell structure and a method for fabricating the same. Firstly, a conductive substrate and a template are provided, and the template has a substrate and an inorganic wire array formed on the substrate. Next, a conjugate polymer layer is formed on the conductive substrate. Next, the inorganic wire array is embedded into the conjugate polymer layer. Next, the substrate is separated from the inorganic wire array. Then, an electrode layer is formed over the inorganic wire array and the conjugate polymer layer. The solar cell structure of the present invention has advantages of flexibility, high energy conversion efficiency and low fabrication cost.
US08053024B2
Disclosed is an organic EL device having high external quantum efficiency, long emission life and low driving voltage. Also disclosed are an illuminating device and a display. Specifically disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device comprising, on a supporting substrate, at least an anode, a cathode and an organic compound layer which is arranged between the anode and the cathode and includes at least one light-emitting layer. This electroluminescent device is characterized in that the anode, cathode and organic compound layer are respectively formed by coating.
US08053016B2
An agglutinant compound and agglutinated product for reconstituting powders of vegetal origin, that allow employing a lamination or similar process, being said agglutinated product comprised of agglutinant compound and a vegetal mass formed by the powder of vegetal origin, that may range from 5-50% (mass/mass, regarding the powder mass used), with drying temperature ranging between 100-400° C., thickness between 0.05-2.50 mm and vegetal film humidity between 8 and 20%; being said agglutinant compound formed only by a mixture of polymers of hydroxylated organic acids, such as lactic acid and malic acid, and it may contain agents improving its agglutinant and sensorial properties.
US08053011B1
A device and method of making a cake includes a base wall and a cake form that has a size and shape for receiving the base wall. The cake form includes an outer wall having a shape corresponding to an outer perimeter of the base wall. A bottom edge of the outer wall has a peripheral flange attached thereto. The base wall is positioned into the cake form. Each of a plurality of ring portions is attached to the cake form. A lifting member includes a hand grip and a plurality of tines each having a first end attached to the hand grip and a second end comprising a hook. Each of the ring portions is simultaneously engaged by one of the hooks and the cake form lifted with the hand grip to lift the cake form from a cake after it has been formed in the cake form.
US08053005B2
An oil-based composition for application to mucosal surfaces of the human body provides potent activators of cytoprotective antioxidants. The composition includes the following ingredients: soy oil; coconut oil; orange oil; peppermint oil; aloe vera oil; vitamin E; and may further include jojoba and a preservative. Application of the composition increases expression of antioxidant genes and inhibits proinflammatory action caused by exposure to oxidant pollutants, allergens and other cytotoxins.
US08053003B2
The present invention relates to the use of a plant oil product as an agent for increasing the synthesis of skin lipids, especially the lipids of the epidermal skin barrier, in or for the preparation of a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermatological composition. The invention also relates to a method for cosmetic treatment with a cosmetic, pharmaceutical or dermatological composition for increasing the synthesis of skin lipids, especially the lipids of the epidermal skin barrier, and to the use of the plant product as a food additive.
US08053000B2
Substantially non-porous polymeric microparticles comprising a hydrophobic polymer and a plasticizer, and containing therein a bioactive or bioinactive agent.
US08052988B2
A method for fabricating a coating for an implantable medical device is provided comprising applying a first polymer on at least a portion of the device to form a first layer of the coating and applying a second polymer on at least a portion of the first layer to form a second layer of the coating. The second polymer has a higher degree of hydration than the first polymer. The first or second polymer can comprise a polyorthoester.
US08052985B2
An aqueous storage-stable composition comprises from about 10 to about 35% by weight hydrogen cyanamide, from about 3 to about 25% by weight propionic acid, potassium propionate or ammonium propionate, and water, and has a pH of from about 2.5 to about 4, wherein the concentration of hydrogen cyanamide is greater than the concentration of propionic acid.
US08052977B2
The present invention provides a DNA vaccine for carps for inducing protective immunity against Koi herpesvirus (KHV). The DNA vaccine comprises a DNA comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an immunogenic polypeptide against Koi herpesvirus (KHV) of carps, or an expression vector comprising the DNA as an active ingredient.
US08052971B2
Methods and compositions are provided to treat enteric disease. The methods and compositions use passive immunity to treat diseases of the gut, including diseases caused by Salmonella sp., E. Coli, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens A, Clostridium perfringens C, Clostridium perfringens D, canine distemper, feline distemper, Rotavirus, and Parvovirus. Specific antibodies are administered orally to a subject to improve intestinal health.
US08052968B2
Modified viruses and methods for preparing the modified viruses are provided. Vaccines that contain the viruses are provided. The viruses can be used in methods of treatment of diseases, such as proliferative and inflammatory disorders, including as anti-tumor agents. The viruses also can be used in diagnostic methods.
US08052961B2
Disclosed are compounds having the structure: wherein R1a and R1b are independently H, alkyl, F, or fluoroalkyl; wherein R2a, R2b, R2a′, and R2b′ are independently H, alkyl, F, fluoroalkyl, aryl, or alkenyl; wherein R3 is OH, alkoxyl, NH2, alkylamino, or dialkylamino; wherein R4a and R4b are independently H, alkyl, acyl, or alkyloxycarbonyl; wherein R11, R12, R13, R21, R22, and R23 are independently H, alkyl, F, or fluoroalkyl; and wherein C0, C1, C2 and C2′ are independently chiral or achiral. Also disclosed are processes for making a fluorinated β-amino acid comprising the steps of: providing a diol; treating the diol with a thionyl halide with oxidative workup; reacting the product with an azide salt to yield an azido group; oxidizing the product to yield a carboxyl group; and reducing the azido group to yield an amino group.
US08052960B2
Detection and diagnosis of injury and/or disease in a subject can be key to preventing irreversible damage and death. Methods of aiding detection and assessment of a disease or condition in a subject are which include assaying netrin-1 protein and/or nucleic acid in a test sample obtained from the subject. Methods of assessment of treatment of a disease or condition in a subject are provided which include assaying netrin-1 protein and/or nucleic acid in a test sample obtained from the subject. Disclosed methods allow for earlier detection of renal dysfunction compared to currently available technology.
US08052956B2
Process for the production of a powdered spherical tungstic acid by acidification of an aqueous alkaline tungstate solution with mineral acid at elevated temperature, preferably in a continuous stirred tank or a cascade of at least 2 continuous stirred tanks, and tungstic acid obtainable in this way, which is characterized by a high bulk density and spherical morphology.
US08052945B2
In an oligomerization apparatus comprising at least two oligomerization reactors, at least portions of product streams from two reactors are separated in the same separator vessel; a liquid product stream from the first oligomerization reactor is fed to a fractionation column and a side cut from the fractionation column feeds the second oligomerization reactor.
US08052942B2
The present invention relates to an analytical tool cartridge comprising a case having therein a storage space and a retrieval port that communicates the storage space with an external space, and a plurality of analytical tools stored in the storage space in a stacked state. This analytical tool cartridge further has a retrieval mechanism for retrieving the analytical tools one at a time from the case via the retrieval port. The analytical tool cartridge may also further have an opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the retrieval port. The present invention also provides a set of the analytical tool cartridge, and an analyzer that is constituted so as to have installed therein an analytical tool retrieved from the analytical tool cartridge, and analyze a specific component in a specimen liquid supplied onto the analytical tool. At least one of the analytical tool cartridge and the analyzer has provided therein cartridge fixing means for locating and fixing the analytical tool cartridge onto the analyzer.
US08052940B2
Provided are an apparatus for synthesizing carbon nanotubes, the apparatus including a reaction tube that provides a space for carbon nanotubes and is formed vertically long, a heating unit that is formed at the outer side of the reaction tube, and heats the reaction tube, a gas-supply unit that sprays reaction gas for synthesizing the carbon nanotubes by reacting with catalysts positioned inside the reaction tube, an exhaustion unit that is connected to the upper portion of the reaction tube, and discharges non-reacted reaction gas for synthesizing the carbon nanotubes, and a blocking unit that is formed inside the reaction tube, discharges only the non-reacted reaction gas for synthesizing the carbon nanotubes to the exhaustion unit, and blocks the discharge of the carbon nanotubes and catalysts, in which the cross-section of the blocking unit is divided in a plurality of polygon structures, and downward-slanted blocking wings are formed at each divided cell.
US08052939B2
The present invention discloses to a channel reactor system having a first channel plate assembly in which an exothermic reaction is performed and a second channel plate assembly provided for heat-exchanging and constituted integrally with the first channel plate assembly so as to remove effectively heat, the channel reactor system comprising at least two channel units into which reaction gas and cooling fluid are separately introduced, each channel unit comprising a reaction channel plate assembly into which reaction gas is introduced and a heat-exchanging channel plate assembly into which cooling fluid is introduced; and at least one intermediate plate disposed between the upper and lower channel units, the intermediate plate supplying reaction gas and cooling fluid inflowed from the upper channel unit with new reactant and cooling fluid and supplying reaction gas and cooling fluid to the reaction channel plate assembly and the heat-exchanging channel plate assembly of the lower channel unit, respectively.
US08052927B2
An automated in situ heat induced antigen recovery and staining method and apparatus for treating a plurality of microscope slides. The process of heat induced antigen recovery and the process of staining the biological sample on the microscope slide are conducted in the same apparatus, wherein the microscope slides do not need to be physically removed from one apparatus to another. Each treatment step occurs within the same reaction compartment. The reaction conditions of each reaction compartment for treating a slide can preferably be controlled independently, including the individualized application of reagents to each slide and the individualized treatment of each slide.
US08052922B2
The invention relates to the iron and steel industry, in particular to batch charging into shaft, mainly blast furnaces. The inventive rotary batch distributor for shaft furnaces comprises an axle platform (1) and blades (2) which are equally spaced around the platform and are fixed thereto by means of brackets (3). The surface of each blade is embodied in the form of an involute of a truncated cone and consists of trapezoidal sections (4). The tilting angles of the trapezoidal sections with respect to the rotary batch distributor axis and to a horizontal plane are defined by the involutes (5) of truncated cone which are focused at the same point of the rotary batch distributor axis. The surface area of each blade is defined by the sector angle value ranging from 90 to 120° and by the radius of the describe circle of the rotary batch distributor. The end part (6) of the blade whose surface area is equal to 0.05-0.10 of the blade surface area is arranged at an angle of 125-140° with respect to the previous section. The tilting angle of a generator passing through the base of the end part of the blade to the rotary batch distributor axis ranges from 88 to 90°. Said invention makes it possible to provide any specified profile of the feedstock surface, starting from a cone-shaped whose tip is arranged on the blast furnace axis to a peripheral, with a high circumferential uniformity.
US08052920B2
An apparatus for observing the interior of a blast furnace system includes a visible light guiding unit which defines a light path along a viewing axis that is radial to an upright axis of a furnace wall body of a blast furnace and which is adapted to be secured to a furnace blowpipe to permit the light path to be in visual communication with a tuyere, a beam splitter which is disposed in an accommodation space in the tubular mount to split a beam of light propagating along the light path into a horizontal component so that the operator can observe furnace condition through a peeping hole, and a vertical component, and a video camera system which includes an elongate casing connected to the tubular mount, and a video camera disposed in a cooling chamber of the casing to capture a light image from the vertical component of the light beam.
US08052916B2
The invention relates to manufacturing thermoplastic material containers (2) with a petaloid bottom (4) by drawing-blowing hot preforms (16) in a blowing mold that has a petaloid mold bottom (1) including radiating ridges (13) alternating with cavities (11) that are adapted to form the valleys (7) and the feet (5), respectively, of the container bottom; during drawing, heat losses are reduced in longitudinal zones (19) of the end part (20) of the preforms, extending over the bottom (18) and over an axial portion of their body (21), distributed over the periphery of the ends of the preforms facing respective cavities (11) of the mold bottom (1).
US08052899B2
The present invention relates to heptarylene- and octarylenetetracarboximides of the general formula (I) to precursors thereof or mixtures thereof, and to processes for their preparation and to their use.
US08052889B2
An etchant composition, and methods of patterning a conductive layer and manufacturing a flat panel display device using the same are provided. The etchant composition may include phosphoric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, water and an additive, wherein the additive includes a chlorine-based compound, a nitrate-based compound, and an oxidation regulator. In addition, the flat panel display device may be manufactured by patterning a gate electrode, source/drain electrodes and a pixel electrode using the same etchant composition. The gate electrode, source/drain electrodes and the pixel electrode may be formed of different conductive materials. Accordingly, processes are simplified so that manufacturing costs may be reduced and productivity may be improved.
US08052888B2
A polymeric electrolyte comprising: a polymeric material and an electrolyte salt; or a polymeric material, a solvent and an electrolyte salt, wherein a copolymer composed of 50 to 99 mol % of an ethylenically unsaturated compound and 1 to 50 mol % of carbon monoxide comprises 66.7 to 100 wt % of the polymeric material.
US08052887B2
When plasma processing is finished, a gate valve 13a is closed and cleaning gas is ejected from holes 121a of a shower plate 121, and at the same time, a microwave is generated from a microwave generator 101. Further, at this time, the inside of a process chamber 110 is exhausted through a second exhaust port 106. Since the exhaust is conducted through a second exhaust port 106 positioned lower than a wafer stage 104 in a lowered state when the inside of the process chamber 110 is cleaned, it is possible to more effectively remove gas and reaction products deposited especially in a lower portion of the process chamber 110.
US08052884B2
A method of fabricating a microchannel plate includes defining a plurality of pores extending from a top surface of a substrate to a bottom surface of the substrate where the plurality of pores has a resistive material on an outer surface that forms a first emissive layer. A second emissive layer is formed over the first emissive layer. The second emissive layer is chosen to achieve at least one of an increase in secondary electron emission efficiency and a decrease in gain degradation as a function of time. A top electrode is formed on the top surface of the substrate and a bottom electrode is formed on the bottom surface of the substrate.
US08052881B2
A method for manufacturing a multilayer printed circuit board includes the following steps. A number of laminate units are provided. Each of the laminate units includes an electrically conductive layer with a circuit pattern defined therein, and a release layer releasably attached to the electrically conductive layer. A number of insulation layers are provided. Each of the insulation layers definies a metalized through hole therein. The electrically conductive layers and the insulation layers are stacked alternately one on another such that adjacent electrically conductive layers are insulated by one insulation layer and the metalized through holes electrically connects the circuit patterns of the adjacent electrically conductive layers. In the stacking step, the release layer is removed from the laminate unit after the electrically conductive layer is stacked onto the respective insulation layer, thereby obtaining a pre-laminated multilayer printed circuit board. The stacked electrically conductive layers and the insulation layers are laminated together to achieve a multilayer printed circuit board.
US08052879B2
A filter system and associated methods of filtering utilize a combination of ultrasonically enhanced backwashing and a modified filter media configurations for increasing the specific loading on a portion of the filter media, thereby tending to increase the total particulate holding capacity of the improved filter. Depending on factors such as the filter configuration, the particulate size distribution and the differential pressure that can be maintained across the filter, it is expected that the particulate holding capacity can be more than doubled relative to a conventional filter having similarly configured filter media.
US08052878B2
A method for filtering out foreign particles from a cooling lubricant used in a process of machining a workpiece includes providing an inherently stable, flow-porous filter element. The filter element comprises a porous main body made of joined plastics particles and having an afflux surface and a porous coating on the afflux surface for surface filtration. The porous coating first component particles and/or fibres, second component anti-adhesion particles to mitigate the adhesion of filtered out material to the porous coating and to facilitate cleaning of the filter element, with the first component particles and/or fibres and the second component particles being mixed in the porous coating, a solidified inorganic binder, and a set adhesive. The solidified inorganic binder and the set adhesive bind the first component particles and/or fibres and the second component particles to each other and to the porous main body. The cooling lubricant is first passed through the porous coating and thereafter through the porous main body of the filter element.
US08052874B2
In a sewage treatment plant with a membrane bioreactor (MBR), raw untreated or partially treated wastewater (influent) and/or mixed liquor in the intensified process is superoxygenated. In a preferred form of the process the influent is superoxygenated such that membrane air scouring requirements are reduced. Influent may be fed to a swing zone where denitrification and nitrification occur simultaneously through process control. In one embodiment superoxygenation is conducted in an internal recycle stream of the mixed liquor, with oxygen content supersaturated preferably to over 300 parts per million. Due to the active evolution of oxygen gas from the supersaturated stream, occurring preferably by seeding the supersaturated stream with air bubbles, the supersaturated oxygen can serve the dual purposes of meeting process oxygen demands and providing part of air scouring requirements for the membranes.
US08052873B1
A waste treatment method includes the concentration of selected strains of bacteria in a selected medium in the presence of nutrients and water, under aerobic conditions. This concentrated batch is thereafter discharged for downstream applications in wastewater remediation. The present invention employs a cultivation chamber having inlet ports and a circular vent port that allows for adequate air introduction and heat release. Aeration is achieved by recirculation of the fluid medium from the top of the apparatus through a pipe that runs the length of the inner wall and is specially configured at the top to minimize cell damage. Fluid can be routed tangentially in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions within the chamber. The conical bottom also has an orifice allowing for recirculation of the fluid medium tangentially to the sidewalls. Upon completion of the batch cultivation, the medium and bacteria are discharged for downstream applications in wastewater remediation of paper mill, chemical plant, oil refinery, and other industrial effluents. The aeration and circulation of the fluids is designed to limit cells shearing and damage yet achieve critical cell mass (e.g. between 107 and 1010 cfu (colony forming units) per milliliter (ml)) and dissolved oxygen uptake rates (e.g. between about 50 and 1500) during cultivation.
US08052871B2
An underdrain system for a filter having filter media. The underdrain system preferably includes a bottom formed of concrete having a plurality of generally cone-shaped depressions formed therein. Fluid flows through the plurality of generally cone-shaped depressions during filtration and washing. The underdrain system further includes a fluid distributor operably associated with at least one of the generally cone-shaped depressions. The fluid distributor preferably has a plurality of elongated slots for distributing the flow of fluid passing into and out of the generally cone-shaped depressions. The slots are sized to prevent filter media supported by the fluid distributor from passing therethrough. An optional insert may be provided to ensure even distribution of fluid through the fluid distributor.
US08052868B2
A fuel filter device includes a bag-shaped filter member and is adapted to be attached to communicate an inner space of the filter member with a fuel suction opening in a fuel tank. The filter member is configured in a multilayer structure. At least one layer of the filter member is configured to serve as an inhibition layer having a structure to prevent water in a fuel tank form coming into the inner space of the filter member by a pressure applied to the filter member when the water is frozen.
US08052867B2
A filter apparatus has a housing, an inlet port on one side of the housing and an outlet port on an opposed side of the housing. Sheet media is disposed in the housing having a first opening through the sheet media. Also dispersed in the housing is a bag media comprising an enclosed bag with a second opening into the bag. The first opening and the second opening are connected in fluid communication with each other and the sheet media is disposed before the bag media in the direction of flow through the housing so that both media are mounted inside the housing. Some fluid entering the inlet passes through both openings and through the bag media and into the outlet, and other fluid entering the inlet passes through the sheet media and then to the outlet.
US08052865B2
Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a reverse osmosis (RO) system that includes a housing and a pre-filter within the housing such that feed water flows into the housing and enters the pre-filter. The reverse osmosis (RO) system further includes a membrane element within the housing such that the pre-filtered water flows from the pre-filter and enters the membrane element and permeate exits the membrane element through the housing. In some embodiments, the housing includes a first end cap at one end and a second end cap at an opposing end such that feed water flows through the first end cap into the pre-filter and pre-filtered water flows from the pre-filter into the first end cap. In addition, the pre-filtered water may flow from the first end cap to the membrane element such that permeate exits the membrane element through the first end cap in order exit the housing.
US08052861B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for partial etching or pattern etching using an electrolysis reaction, wherein, conventionally, there was the problem that an etching line could not be finely formed on a cell edge because of apparatus problems concerning alignment accuracy. The present invention provides a method and apparatus with which fine line etching is possible and which can form a line on a cell edge.Provided is a an electrolytic etching method of a substrate which is formed having a subject etching layer on a surface, having the steps of providing a fixed gap from a substrate end surface which is external to an end surface of the substrate for placing a working part of a working electrode and passing current between the substrate and the working electrode.
US08052851B1
Protective edging for a cathode of an electroplating system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments a cathodes of an electroplating system, the cathodes including a sheet of metallic material that defines a front, a back and an edge, a plurality of apertures through the metallic material proximate to a portion of the edge and a plastic material that envelops the portion of the edge and the plurality of apertures. The plastic material extends through the apertures and is adhered to the metallic material.
US08052847B2
A system and method for removing water from a liquid desiccant such as a glycol used to dry cooled air in order to restore the desiccant to a purity up to around 97% in a closed continuous flow process. Liquid desiccant can be sprayed into cooled air in a conditioner where it gains moisture. The wet or gained desiccant can be optionally preheated in an economizing heat exchanger and then routed into a concentrator. Desiccant pure to around 97% can be removed from the concentrator, passed through an economizing heat exchanger to provide the preheating and returned to the conditioner holding area. The concentrator can be heated by steam or other means such as natural gas to boil the wet desiccant causing mixed vapor to enter a vertical distillation column where most of the glycol condenses out on the column packing or plates and returns to the concentrator. Almost pure water vapor normally passes out of the top of the column and can be condensed in a water-cooled (or otherwise cooled) condenser and collected or discarded as liquid water. A portion of the water can be piped back into the top of the column as a reflux stream that scrubs the column packing or plates of desiccant. In this way, the desiccant can be purified to around 97%.
US08052840B2
Compositions and methods for the removal of resin from wood chips processed in a Kraft pulping process are disclosed. The method is particularly useful for removing triterpene and triterpenoid resin.
US08052838B2
Irradiated lignocellulosic or cellulosic materials are provided which contain carboxylic acid groups and/or other functional groups not present in a naturally occurring cellulosic or lignocellulosic material from which the irradiated material was obtained.
US08052832B2
A splicing assembly comprising a splicing plate having a structure defining at least two cutting grooves. A positioning marker is disposed on the splicing plate, and at least one clamping assembly is coupled to the splicing plate. A method for installing a roll of labels on a labeler comprising removing from the labeler a first core which supports a sheet having labels. The sheet is positioned on a support surface. A second core, which supports a sheet having labels, is positioned on the labeler. The sheet from the second core is disposed on top of the sheet from the first core after the latter has been disposed on a support surface. The sheets are subsequently cut and spliced. A method for splicing comprising cutting a pair of superimposed pliable substrates to produce a pair of residual pliable substrates which are subsequently spliced.
US08052824B2
There is provided a film peeling device (100) for peeling a film (3) stuck onto a first portion (121) containing a peripheral portion of a wafer (20) and also stuck onto a second portion (122) located inward with respect to the first portion, comprising: a moving means (61, 62) for relatively moving the first portion and/or second portion so that the film of the first portion of the wafer can be located at a position higher than the film of the second portion; a tape drawing means (142) for drawing out a peeling tape (103) onto the film stuck onto the first and the second portion; and a peeling means (146) for peeling the film from the first and the second portion of the wafer when the peeling tape drawn out from the tape drawing means is pressed against only the first portion film and moved along the first portion. Due to the foregoing, it is possible to prevent the wafer from being damaged at the time of peeling the front surface protection film.
US08052821B2
A method for manufacturing facemask structure includes following steps. A facemask with first folds is placed on a seat and a pressing body forces the facemask so as to form step-shaped structures. Then, two movable plates are used to form the step-shaped structures as second folds on the facemask. Thereby, the mask can be stretched both vertically and horizontally, in a way that the mask body becomes more three-dimensional, fitting more firmly to the contours of a wearer's face, and providing more comfort and convenience than the conventional facemasks.
US08052817B2
First, a first belt ply is wound around an outer peripheral surface of a belt drum having a curvature so as to be formed as a tubular shape, and a rubber layer protruding to an outer side than an end portion in a width direction of a belt reinforcing layer is arranged in an outer periphery of an end portion in a width direction of the first belt ply. Further, a second belt ply which is narrower than the first belt ply is wound around an outer periphery of the second belt ply so as to be formed as a tubular shape, and a belt layer is formed in such a manner that the first belt ply and the second belt ply are laminated. The belt reinforcing layer is formed by spirally winding a rubber-coated reinforcing cord around an outer peripheral side of the formed belt layer, and an end portion in a width direction of the belt reinforcing layer is arranged in an outer side than the first belt ply.
US08052809B2
Disclosed are amorphous, ductile brazing foils with a composition consisting essentially of FeRestNiaCrbSicBdPe, wherein 0 atomic %≦a<25 atomic %; 0 atomic %≦b≦15 atomic %; 1 atomic %≦c≦10 atomic %; 4 atomic %≦d≦15 atomic %; 1 atomic %≦e≦9 atomic %; any impurities≦0.5 atomic %; rest Fe, wherein 2 atomic %≦c+e≦10 atomic % and 15 atomic %≦c+d+e≦22 atomic %, or consisting essentially of FeRestNiaCrbMofCugSicBdPe, wherein 0 atomic %≦a<25 atomic %; 0 atomic %≦b≦15 atomic %; 1 atomic %
US08052804B2
The invention relates to a conveyor dishwasher having at least one washing zone (3, 4), at least one rinsing zone (5, 6), a suction-extraction location (23) and/or a heat-recovery device (11). The dishwasher also comprises at least one drying zone (7). The flow direction (30) of the exhaust air within the dishwasher runs from the outlet (8) to the inlet (1), counter to the transporting direction (9) of the wash ware (10) through the dishwasher, the suction-extraction location (23) being arranged in the region of the inlet (1) of the dishwasher, and volumes of air (28, 33) which are withdrawn from the drying zone (7) being dependent on positions (34, 35) of exit nozzles (26) for hot air within the drying zone (7).
US08052803B2
The invention relates to a method for preventing chlorine deposition on the heat-transferring surfaces of a boiler, particularly on the superheater, in which boiler a fuel with a chlorine content, such as a biomass or waste fuel, is burned. And to which steam boiler is fed, preferably in the superheater area, a compound with a sulphate content, which forms a particular reagent to fix alkali compounds. The said compound is ferric(III)sulphate, Fe2(SO4)3 and/or aluminium(III)sulphate, Al2(SO4)3.
US08052801B2
A method and system for launching a pipeline pig includes the steps of compressing a modulating bypass valve of a pipeline pig and installing a locking means to temporally maintain the bypass valve in the compressed state. Once the pig has travelled a predetermined distance through the pipeline, the locking means is released and retrieved through the launch trap door. The locking means is preferably a launching pin having a clip attachment that receives the clips of a retractable lead. The lead is housed by a retraction device that is detachably secured to the launch trap door. The modulating valve has sufficient mass and aerodynamic drag to overcome the force of a gas spring. The valve moves between a retracted and compressed position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig stalling and between the compressed and retracted position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig accelerating.
US08052789B2
Disclosed are a polycrystalline silicon and a crystallization method thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The polycrystalline silicon comprises: an insulating substrate; and an optical portion formed on the insulating substrate for receiving a CW laser beam and varying the intensity of the beam in order of strength-weakness, strength-weakness, and strength-weakness on one dimension, so that an amorphous silicon thin film is crystallized. Therefore, the present invention can form a good polycrystalline silicon thin film by growing crystal grains with a constant direction and size, when an amorphous silicon thin film disposed on an insulating film such as a glass substrate is crystallized to a polycrystalline silicon thin film.
US08052786B2
Ink-jet ink sets, pigment-based ink formulations, methods of printing, and methods of enhancing print quality, are disclosed. One exemplary ink-jet ink set, among others, includes a pigment-based ink formulation at a first pH, including: a pigment-based ink, and an amphoteric dispersant having an isoelectric point; and a second ink formulation at a second pH, wherein the first pH and the second pH are each selected from an acidic pH and a basic pH, wherein the first pH and the second pH are not the same, and wherein the amphoteric dispersant has a higher isoelectric point than the first pH when the dispersant is acidic, and a lower isoelectric point than the first pH when the dispersant is basic.
US08052780B2
In at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an air cleaner having a housing portion, and a low profile rain cover having an opening on an underside of the cover to allow unfiltered air to enter into the air cleaner. Also, in at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an air cleaner including a housing and an additional component by which the air cleaner is capable of being directly coupled to a carburetor inlet. In some such embodiments, one or more protrusions can be provided within a channel formed by the housing/additional component to influence air flow. Further, in at least some embodiments, the present invention relates to an air cleaner having a shaped wall formed on a housing portion, where the shaped wall includes both an interior surface and an exterior surface by which air flowing within the air cleaner is imparted with helical motion.
US08052777B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a pressure swing adsorber vessel. The pressure swing adsorber vessel can include one or more walls. Generally, the one or more walls contain an adsorbent bed having a first side and a second side and at least one spacer forming a cusp. Usually, the one or more walls and the adsorbent bed define at least one void volume adjacent to the adsorbent bed, and the cusp of the at least one spacer may be positioned in the at least one void volume. The cusp can be positioned opposing an incoming feed stream or a desorbent stream.
US08052776B2
The present invention provides a method for making a hybrid composition membrane comprising the steps of preparing a sol comprising at least one poly(amino-alcohol) and at least one alkoxy silane, casting the sol on a surface and drying the casted sol to form the hybrid composition membrane. The hybrid composition membrane may be used for capturing and separating CO2 and/or H2S from a gas sample.
US08052767B2
A modern jet engine inlet protection system that protects against large birds and operates autonomously, that is dormant in routine aircraft operations, that automatically actuates its protective device(s) only at the immediate point of need, then returning it (them) to a non-interfering position, including a RADAR system and a LIDAR system which detect birds entering the intended flight path of the aircraft, and fast computer-implemented computational algorithms that track and identify those from the detected set that are (1) projected to enter a zone which would lead to ingestion by the engine, and (2) of a size large enough that they would seriously damage the engine if ingested; that includes defensive mechanisms housed in the engine nacelle cowling or center hub, or in the fuselage structure that are instantaneously actuated shortly before arriving at the point of impact to shield, deflect, reduce the size of the approaching bird to an acceptable mass, or destroy it, and, that after the ingestion threat has passed, the devices are stowed/retracted or safely jettisoned.
US08052765B2
Contoured solid polycrystalline superabrasive material such as twist drill tips and endmill flank segments can be formed by preparing a precursor mold having a plurality of shaped openings each corresponding to a predetermined shape. A specially prepared charge feed can be placed into the shaped openings to form a charged precursor. The charge feed can include a substantially homogeneous mixture of superabrasive source particulates, sintering binder, and optional inorganic bonding medium. A loaded reaction cup-assembly including the charged precursor can be subjected to a pressure, temperature and time sufficient for sintering and formation of the contoured polycrystalline superabrasive material. Reduced finishing steps and increased tailorability of grade and quality of final polycrystalline products can be readily achieved.
US08052763B2
A method for removing dissolved solids from a waste stream, such as that produced in flue gas scrubbing, through an evaporation-crystallization process operated at relatively low temperature. A waste stream is directed into an evaporator and heated at a temperature of less than 60° C. at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. The waste stream is concentrated through the evaporation process and forms a slurry stream having crystallized solids. At the low temperature of evaporation, the solids crystallize at substantially lower temperature and the solution has a substantially lower boiling point elevation than at atmospheric pressure. The slurry stream is directed to a solid-liquid separator where the crystallized solids in the slurry stream are separated, producing a solid cake and mother liquor.
US08052760B2
A suspension liner system adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, the liner sleeve including an elongate generally conical liner sleeve including proximal and distal end areas, and a sealing member arranged to removably fit onto the distal end area of the liner sleeve. The sealing member has proximal and distal end areas, and defines a resilient seal element located at the proximal end area and a receiving portion formed from the distal end area. The seal element outwardly protrudes relative to the receiving portion of the liner sleeve and is arranged for deflection against the liner sleeve.
US08052748B2
Holders for releasably holding annuloplasty rings prior to and during the implantation of the rings employ any of a variety of features relating to such things as holder shape, handle attachment structures, securement of a ring to the holder, and release of the ring from the holder.
US08052744B2
Medical devices, such as endoprostheses, and related methods are disclosed.
US08052737B2
An implantable flow restrictor plug is disclosed that is disposed within a deployed endoluminal prosthesis to initially restrict, then gradually restore blood flow through the prosthesis after an angioplasty procedure. Upon initial deployment, the plug has a tubular biodegradable body defining a blood flow lumen therethrough that is sized to effectively reduce the amount of blood flow exiting the prosthesis. An inner surface of the body erodes or biodegrades in vivo to enlarge the plug lumen, thereby gradually restoring blood flow through the prosthesis until blood flow is unimpeded through the prosthesis, i.e., blood flow through the vessel is fully restored. The flow restrictor plug may be attached to the endoluminal prosthesis to be delivered and deployed therewith, or may be formed within a previously deployed prosthesis.
US08052736B2
Universal modular stented graft assemblies are assembled, on site, and often in a patient's parent artery, from at least two components; a first component and a second component. The first and second components each include a window, or fenestration. The second component couples with the first component by fitting at least partially in the first component to form the universal modular stent graft assembly with an adjustable collateral opening. As the first and second components are assembled, the first and second components are adjusted relative to each other so that the first and second component windows overlap to form a collateral opening whose size is selectable, depending on the overlap, with the desired position and dimensions in the universal modular stent graft assembly.
US08052733B2
Embodiments of a stent system include a catheter is made with only one lumen leading to a balloon. An arrangement is provided to easily lock a short wire in place at the distal end of the balloon. Multiple wires of different properties can be included in a package containing the stent and the delivery catheter, such that the physician will be able to choose the right wire tip according to the lesion and vessel treated and attach it at the distal tip of the balloon before beginning the stenting procedure.
US08052731B2
A medical electrical lead adapted to be at least partially implanted in a cardiac vessel includes a fixation feature operable to change from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the fixation feature is adapted to engage an inner surface of the cardiac vessel. A tendon is disposed within a lumen of the lead and is operatively connected to the fixation feature and adapted to cause the fixation feature to change from the undeployed configuration to the deployed configuration for acute and/or chronic fixation of the lead. In one embodiment, the fixation feature includes a deflectable region of the lead which in the deployed configuration causes a surface of the lead body to engage the inner surface of the cardiac vessel. In another embodiment, the fixation feature includes a radially expandable structure for engaging the inner surface of the vessel in the deployed configuration.
US08052730B2
A therapeutic device for thermally assisted urinary function is presented. The therapeutic pad (14) is composed of an upper thermal element (18) and a lower thermal element (19) having a portal (15), both elements substantially cup-shaped to cover and contact the groin. The therapeutic pad (14) is composed of a material sufficiently capable of storing energy from either an external or internal source. The therapeutic pad (14) communicates stored energy as heat to tissues comprising the groin and regions adjacent thereto. The portal (15) allows for the unimpeded flow of urine from the urinary tract into a receptacle. A variety of alternate embodiments are provided, including lift tabs (17a, 17b), an extension element (35) for heating the perineum, a portal sleeve (23) for heating the penis, a slit (34) which bisects the therapeutic pad (14) and portal sleeve (23), a pair of rings (26, 27) to open and close the slit (34), an interior cover (30) about the therapeutic pad (14) for applying moist heat, and support elements (31) along the therapeutic pad (14).
US08052722B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08052715B2
A system and method for retrieving an implantable device includes a delivery catheter, a recapture section, and a sheath. The delivery catheter has a proximal end and a distal end. The recapture section is axially extendable from the distal end of the delivery catheter. The sheath has a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen sized to receive the delivery catheter. A portion of the lumen of the sheath is actuatable from an enlarged inside diameter to a reduced inside diameter to apply an inwardly directed force to the recapture section. The delivery catheter can be actuated with respect to the sheath to extend or retract the recapture section with respect to the delivery catheter.
US08052712B2
A filter device is adapted to function as a guidewire, an exchange guidewire, and provide embolic protection during a procedure. The filter device includes a filter assembly that is either integral with or coupled to a guide member. The filter assembly includes a plurality of struts that expand outwardly to deploy a filter that collects or captures material flowing along the blood vessel within which the filter device is deployed. The plurality of struts are constrained by a restraining member or mechanism that prevents the plurality of struts from expanding or extending outwardly to deploy the filter. Cooperating with the restraining member or mechanism is an actuating assembly that is adapted to release the restraining member or mechanism and enable the filter to be deployed from the guide member. A capture catheter that cooperates with the filter device and substantially surrounds the filter during removal of the filter device.
US08052706B2
A flexible inner member for rotation within an angled outer tubular member of a rotary tissue cutting instrument to cut anatomical tissue includes a flexible region for conforming to the configuration of an angled region of the outer tubular member and formed of a labyrinthine cut through a cylindrical wall of a tubular body of the inner member. The labyrinthine cut includes a plurality of labyrinthine areas rotationally spaced on the tubular body and in which the labyrinthine cut defines a labyrinth configuration including minor curves of opposed curvature respectively arranged within major curves of opposed curvature, with each of the minor curves being continuous with a major curve of opposed curvature thereto.
US08052698B2
A surgical instrument for applying a fastener to tissue. The instrument includes a shaft having a working end and a grip end, a first jaw pivotally mounted on the working end including a receiver for releasably holding a male component and a second jaw statically mounted on the working end including a receiver for releasably holding a female component. The first jaw is pivotally moveable between an open position in which the first jaw is sufficiently spaced from the second jaw so tissue can be received between a male component and a female component, and a closed position in which a protrusion of the male component is aligned with and received in a recess of the female component. The instrument includes a mechanism operatively connected to the first jaw for moving the first jaw between the open position and the closed position.
US08052696B2
A suture tensioning apparatus for tightening the suture used to tie a tissue of a patient to the bone of the patient so that the tissue will cinch to the bone. A lever is mounted on a stub shaft that is supported to a base member and is movable in a lateral position. A pair of spaced spools are mounted on the lever and the reach of the suture is wrapped around each of the spools. Means, including a coil spring wrapped around the stub shaft is connected to the lever and a rotatable dome. The movement of the lever causes the lower portion of the coils to unwrap around the stub shaft, and rotation of the dome causes the upper portion of the coils to unwrap whereby the movement of the coil spring forces the lever to return to its original position. The tensioning apparatus can be incorporated into an existing suture gun or can be made integral therewith.
US08052691B2
The invention relates to a device for attaching fixation elements to bone, having a longitudinal member with a channel extending therein adapted for receiving at least one fixation element. A shaft extends within the channel and is positioned coaxially within at least a portion of the longitudinal member and at least a portion of the shaft is retained within the longitudinal member and a distal end of the shaft is configured and adapted to contact at least a portion of the fixation element received within the longitudinal member. A spring is positioned adjacent the shaft for resiliently biasing the shaft in an axial direction and the shaft is moveable with respect to the longitudinal member to drive the fixation element into bone.
US08052690B2
An orthopaedic reamer driver includes a tubular housing having at least one first positioning feature. A driveshaft within the housing has a drive end. A variable angle cap is pivotally coupled with the housing adjacent the drive end. The variable angle cap includes at least one leg extending along a side of the housing. Each leg has a second positioning feature selectively engaging and disengaging with a corresponding first positioning feature at a selected one of a plurality of angular positions. Each second positioning feature maintains the variable angle cap at the selected angular position when engaged with the corresponding first positioning feature. A variable angle joint is coupled to the drive end, and a reamer drive head is coupled to the variable angle joint.
US08052689B2
An acetabular reamer (10, 10′, 10″) is intended in particular for the shaping of the cotyloid cavity in the event of a replacement of a hip joint by total prosthesis. The reamer (10, 10′, 10″) is typically of a truncated hemispherical form and is adapted for attachment to a reamer spindle in order to be driven in rotation about a cutter axis (11). The ability to cut a full, continuous hemisphere to the apex (12) of the hemispherical body (14) is suppressed, so as to attain the principal advantage of the invention, namely, to adequately prepare the acetabulum for receipt of a prosthesis while minimizing the possibility of breakthrough of the fovea/acetabular fossa. The reamer (10, 10′, 10″) has an interface 16 typically made tip of cross bars (20) which a holder engages for rotationally activating the reamer for cutting.
US08052682B2
A high-frequency incision instrument for an endoscope is provided with a flexible sheath, and a rod electrode remotely operated to protrude from/retract into the distal end portion of the sheath. A stationary stopper provided at the distal end portion of the sheath and a movable stopper provided at the proximal end portion of the rod electrode, the movable stopper contacting the stationary stopper to define a maximum protruding amount of the rod electrode from the distal end of the sheath. A proximal end portion of the rod electrode is screw-engaged with a member to which the movable stopper is formed, and the rod electrode is rotatable so that screw-engaged amount of the proximal end portion of the rod electrode with respect to the member is changed, thereby a distance between the tip end of the rod electrode and the movable stopper being adjustable.
US08052679B2
An ablation device includes a cannula having a distal end and a lumen, an array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point at least partially towards a distal direction when deployed, and an operative electrode secured to the distal end of the cannula. In one embodiment, the operative electrode has a shape that is different from the array of electrodes. In another embodiment, the operative electrode is not retractable within the lumen.
US08052673B2
A catheter assembly is disclosed comprising a catheter and a receptacle enclosing said catheter. The receptacle has a first part and a second part, which parts are foldable over each other. Further, at least one sticky adhesive area is arranged on the surface of one of the parts of the receptacle in such a way that the sticky adhesive area is covered by the other part when the receptacle is in a folded disposition, and exposed to the environment when the receptacle is in an unfolded disposition.
US08052672B2
A fat removal device includes a screen which includes passages through which fat can be extruded, to be cut or melted away from the surface of an internal organ. The device includes a blade to cut the fat or radiofrequency monopolar or bipolar electrodes to melt the fat, aspiration to remove the fat away from the screen and blade, irrigation to irrigate the screen and blade, and an electrocautery member to cauterize the capillary bed of the fat. Methods of using removing the fat layer from the surface of an internal body organ are also described.
US08052669B2
The present invention comprises systems, methods and devices for the delivery of visualizable or treatment compositions or therapeutic agents comprising device elements for diagnosis and/or treatment of conduits. A delivery system comprising an introducer shaft having at least one exit port and at least one delivery catheter for placement of compositions into the conduit, such as a fallopian tube.
US08052668B2
Devices and methods to treat atrial fibrillation via inhibition of nerves which innervate the pulmonary vein are provided.
US08052658B2
A drug-eluting tissue marker for marking a site in a tissue mass comprises a drug-eluting portion having a drug for timed release to the site and a material that can be imaged using an imaging technique.
US08052657B2
The invention lies in the domain of medical technology and relates to a method and devices, which permit a patient to control and dose the administration of a liquid medicament from a container via a tube (4) and a catheter into the vascular system, by regulating the rate of flow of the medicament by means of a variable clamping of the tube ranging from a total block to a complete release and/or by regulating specific flow periods. To achieve this, a dosing element, preferably in the form of a mechanical rocker control switch (3), comprising a rocker (10) is put onto the tube (4), whereby the rocker (10) pivots about the rocker axis (13) pressing against the tube with its longitudinal end, by means of an adjusting coil spring (9), the flow cross-section of the tube (4) is regulated by an adjusting screw (8) on the adjusting coil spring (9) and the medicament flow through the tube (4) can also be regulated by a manually operated trigger switch (11). An electronically controlled, electrically driven radial motor (16) can be used as the dosing element in place of the rocker switch (3), said motor acting on the tube (4) and regulating the flow cross-section of the latter by means of a clamping lever (19) comprising a nose-shaped clamp (20). The method and devices for carrying out said method are illustrated by the accompanying figures.
US08052647B2
A vascular guidewire introducer device (10) having a needle (52), a bulb (16), and a valve subassembly (100) through which a guidewire (14) is insertable for vascular guidewire insertion into a blood vessel (12) of a patient. The valve subassembly (100) includes a proximal fitting (102), a proximal cap (106), and a valve arrangement (104) disposed within a valve seat (118) defined by one of the fitting and the cap. The valve arrangement includes distal and proximal disc-shaped valve members (122,126) having centered slits (124,128) therethrough, and a spacer (130) disposed between the valve members. A method is disclosed for precisely centering the slits of the valve members during assembly and for retaining the valve members in their precisely centered positions in the valve seat. The valve arrangement permits use with a wide range of guidewire diameters.
US08052646B2
A releasably locking dilator and sheath assembly and methods for releasing the dilator from the sheath and longitudinally splitting the sheath are provided. The assembly includes a dilator having a dilator hub and a sheath having a sheath hub. The sheath hub has a valve and two opposing winged tabs, each tab having a perpendicular portion and an angled portion as well as a female threaded portion. The dilator hub has a male threaded portion designed to engage the female threaded portion of the sheath hub. The dilator is released from the sheath by rotating the dilator 90° in relation to the sheath and pulling the dilator out of the sheath. The sheath is longitudinally split by creating a couple on each of the winged tabs thereby forcing the sheath and the sheath hub to split longitudinally. With the sheath and sheath hub split longitudinally, the sheath is removed from around a catheter while leaving the catheter in place.
US08052644B2
This invention relates to a surgical irrigation system having an improved reusable, motorized console and a separable/attachable irrigation pump cassette, including, at least in one embodiment improved mechanical and electrical inner-connection structure therebetween, and at least in one embodiment improved pump priming structure and methods.
US08052639B2
Described is a medical device and method for allowing fenestration of the aortic wall while maintaining distal perfusion and preventing external bleeding. The device isolates a segment of the aortic wall from the flowing column of blood using a balloon mounted on a metal alloy strut assembly. The strut assembly expands radially from a collapsed, low-profile configuration when uncovered by a constraining outer sheath. Aortic blood flow is allowed through the flow passage thus contained by the strut assembly within the center of the balloon. The balloon is inflated to contact the aortic wall. The balloon contains a pocket shaped to allow aortic fenestration. The balloon contains radiopaque markers to facilitate orientation and positioning of the pocket within the aorta. Other embodiments using spaced balloons are also disclosed.
US08052636B2
The apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a flexible sheath instrument, a flexible guide instrument, and a tool. The flexible sheath instrument comprises a first instrument base removably coupleable to an instrument driver and defines a sheath instrument working lumen. The flexible guide instrument comprises a second instrument base removably coupleable to the instrument driver and is threaded through the sheath instrument working lumen. The guide instrument also defines a guide instrument working lumen. The tool is threaded through the guide instrument working lumen. For this embodiment of the apparatus, the sheath instrument and guide instrument are independently controllable relative to each other.
US08052634B2
A breast cup (4) for use with a breast pump (1) for pumping off breast milk comprises a breast-cup funnel (40) for application to a breast, a first coupling part (42) for connection to the breast pump (1), and a second coupling part (43) for connection to a milk collection vessel (44). The breast cup (4) has an electrical resistance heating element (5) that warms it and that is made of an electrically conductive plastic material.
US08052632B2
A cardiotomy reservoir, comprising an outer wall provided, at the lid, with connectors for the inflow of blood to be filtered and, at the bottom, with a connector for the outflow of the filtered blood, a filtering mass being provided which divides the space delimited by the outer wall into a portion that is connected to the inflow connectors and a portion that is connected to the outflow connector; the cardiotomy reservoir comprises a layer of material adapted to retain fats present in blood, and further comprises a first partition and a second partition, which are adapted to delimit at different distances the region that comprises the blood outflow connector and are provided with ports for the passage of the blood in its path for accessing the connector which are arranged at differentiated levels with respect to the bottom, the ports that are provided in the first partition that lies closest to the outflow connector being located at a height, from the bottom, that is greater than the height of the ports provided in the second partition, detachable elements for blocking the blood outflow connector being further provided.
US08052629B2
A multi-fit orthotic structure including an attachment system for coupling the orthotic structure to a wide variety of subjects without requiring a custom fit. In one embodiment, active mobility assistance is provided via an orthotic system capable of integrating a linear actuator and linkage system to deliver torque to the lower leg of a subject to facilitate flexion and/or extension motion of the subject's leg. The orthotic structure is attached to the subject using a textile suspension system which does not require the orthotic structure to interface directly in the knee region or at the lateral areas of the thigh and calf of the subject, thus providing an ideal fit for the widest possible range of subjects with the minimum number of required sizes.
US08052607B2
An ultrasound imaging catheter system includes a pivot head assembly coupled between a ultrasound transducer array and the distal end of the catheter. The pivot head assembly includes a pivot joint enabling the transducer array to pivot through a large angle about the catheter centerline in response pivot cables controlled by a wheel within a handle assembly. Pivoting the ultrasound transducer array approximately 90° once the catheter is positioned by rotating the catheter shaft and bending the distal section of the catheter, clinicians may obtain orthogonal 2-D ultrasound images of anatomical structures of interest in 3-D space. Combining bending of the catheter by steering controls with pivoting of the transducer head enables a greater range of viewing perspectives. The pivot head assembly enables the transducer array to pan through a large angle to image of a larger volume than possible with conventional ultrasound imaging catheter systems.
US08052603B2
An imaging transducer assembly is combined with a sensor of a medical positioning system, forming a transducer/sensor assembly. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a coil proximally coupled with the imaging transducer. A cable having first and second wires are proximally coupled to the coil. A non-conductive potting layer is wrapped around the coil. Traces are formed in the non-conductive potting layer that are used to electrically couple the imaging transducer with the first and second wires of the cable.
US08052593B2
A prosthetic device comprises stacked column segments. A first one of the column segments comprises a ball surface facing along a column axis. The ball surface has a generally convex shape that is articulable in a mating socket of a second one of the column segments. The first one of the column segments comprises a socket surface facing an opposite direction along the column axis. The socket surface has a generally concave shape that is articulable on a mating ball of a third one of the column segments. Multiple column segments similar to the first column segment are stacked to form the column.
US08052588B2
The present invention has an object to provide a tool replacement system that is capable of preventing the waiting time from occurring as much as possible although an intermediate magazine arranged therefore has a smaller capacity than prior arts. In the tool replacement system, programs pertaining to the sequence of operation and operation time of operating tools 7 are established, wherein, when the operation time of individual tools 7 is shorter than the conveyance time for reciprocation of the tool conveyance apparatus 3 between the tool magazine 1 and the tool replacement arm 4, the object can be solved by realizing transfer of at least a part of the tools planned to be operated in a next process of the corresponding individual tools 7 to the tool replacement arm 4 after the tools are arranged to the intermediate magazine 5.
US08052584B2
An apparatus and method evaluate the power of a muscle group of a user by measuring velocities of an engagement assembly coupled to a resistance element and moved by the user at a highest achievable velocity through a selected number of exercise strokes at each of two resistance levels. A first velocity is determined at a first resistance level. A second velocity is determined at a second resistance level. The first and second velocities are used in combination with the two resistance levels to determine a relationship between the velocity and the resistance level for a particular user. The resistance level where the resistance level and the velocity correspond to an overall maximum power is determined and is displayed for the user so that the user may use the optimum resistance level for training for maximum power generation.
US08052583B1
A swivel exerciser includes a base having two front legs, a rear leg, a head tube in a center of a front portion, and two spaced hand grips on a top end of the head tube. A sector-shaped plate on a top of the base includes two central pivot members. A curved rail is around a curved edge of the sector-shaped plate, with the rail being fixedly secured to the top of the base. Two pivotal arms are rearward splayed out of the pivot members respectively. Two knee plates are disposed on the other ends of the arms, and each includes a wheel disposed on the rail and adapted to move therealong. A projection is disposed at a joining portion of each arm and knee plate and includes a through hole. An inverted U-shaped bridge member is adapted to insert into the through holes to interconnect the projections or not.
US08052574B2
An electronically controlled transmission in which a single drive motor is used to drive a shift shaft, in which shift shock is reduced during continuous running. The transmission has a shift shaft, an actuator, a gear box and a control portion. The actuator causes the shift shaft to rotate. The gear box includes a gear shift mechanism, a clutch mechanism, and a crank case that houses the gear shift mechanism and the clutch mechanism. The gear shift mechanism is activated in association with rotation of the shift shaft. The clutch mechanism connects and disconnects transmission of power to the gear shift mechanism from the engine in association with rotation of the shift shaft. The control portion controls the actuator based on the temperature of the gear box.
US08052568B2
A bicycle hub transmission includes a hub axle, a driver, a hub shell, a power transmission mechanism and a shift mechanism. The driver and the hub shell are rotatably supported relative to the hub axle. The power transmission mechanism is disposed between the driver and the hub shell to selectively transmit rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through one a plurality of power transmission paths. The shift mechanism operatively couples the power transmission mechanism to select a power transmission path. The downstream planetary gear unit includes a planetary gear carrier that meshes with planetary gears of the upstream planetary gear unit or with a linking member coupled to the planetary gears of the upstream planetary gear unit. The planetary gear carrier of the downstream planetary gear unit is coupled with a brake unit to transmit a reverse rotational power from the driver to the brake unit.
US08052565B2
An automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may be either clutches or brakes.
US08052561B2
A method for optimizing the link plates of a plate-link chain drive chain for use in a variable speed unit of a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission. The chain includes plate links formed from pairs of plates that have openings through which pairs of rocker members extend. The plates include longitudinally-extending legs that extend in the chain movement direction and vertical legs that extend perpendicular to the chain movement direction. The method is directed to minimizing bending stresses in the longitudinal and vertical legs of the plates as the chain passes around a pulley, and as the rocker members and the chain tension impose forces on the plates. The stress minimization results in minimal material usage and minimal weight of the chain.
US08052558B2
A tensioner for a chain driven power transmission system of an internal combustion engine, having a ratchet as part of the tensioning system is disclosed. The tensioner contains at least one bracket that is pivotally mounted to the engine adjacent one strand of the chain. The bracket contains a chain guide element that maintains forceful slideable engagement with the chain. Between the chain guide element and the bracket are an elongated support member having a pre-loaded spring force and an elongated resilient pad. The resilient pad quickly compresses in response to spikes or surges in chain tension absorbing the force of the spike.
US08052535B2
A motor vehicle steering shaft (3) is provided with: an inner shaft (11) and a tubular outer shaft (10) fitted into each other and to transmit a torque to and from each other; a rigid coupling element (25) for rigidly coupling the inner shaft (11) and the outer shaft (10) in a circumferential direction (C) of the inner shaft (11) when a relative rotation amount of the inner shaft (11) and the outer shaft (10) exceeds a predetermined range; and an elastic coupling element (36) for elastically coupling the inner shaft (11) and the outer shaft (10) in the circumferential direction (C) of the inner shaft (11) when the relative rotation amount of the inner shaft (11) and the outer shaft (10) is within the predetermined range. The elastic coupling element (36) includes a resin member (36). The inner shaft (11) and the outer shaft (10) are elastically supported mutually via the resin member (36) at a central position of the predetermined range when no torque is loaded to the steering shaft (3).
US08052531B2
Provided is a network game system for providing a game played by players of game machines by operating at least one of the game machines as a server, in which: the game machine to be operated as a server can be appropriately selected; a measuring unit (22) of each of the game machines (12) measures a time required to exchange predetermined data between the game machine (12) and another game machine (12) of the game machines (12); and a server determining unit (28) determines at least one of the game machines (12) as the game machine (12) to be operated as the server according to the results of the measurement by the measuring units (22) of the game machines (12).
US08052528B2
A game device regularly transmits communication status information to communication partners thereof, the communication status information indicating whether or not communication between the game device and each of the communication partners is possible. If, when the game device receives from each of the communication partners the communication status information about said each of the communication partners, the communication status information about any of the communication partners indicates a particular game device as being unable to perform communication, the game device updates the communication status information about the game device such that the communication status information about the game device indicates the particular game device as being unable to perform communication. When the communication status information about all of the communication partners indicate a particular game device as being unable to perform communication, the game device ceases communicating with the game device.
US08052523B2
A gaming system comprising: a gaming machine and a server capable of communicating with the gaming machine is provided. The gaming machine comprises a receiving unit for receiving a game medium. The server comprises a plurality of first storage devices for storing a plurality of accumulated amounts to which predetermined proportions of bet game media received by the receiving unit is cumulatively added, a first lottery unit for conducting a lottery to determine whether or not one of the accumulated amounts is to be paid, and a first processor that operates to transmit an instruction for payout based on a result of the lottery and reset all accumulated amounts stored in the plurality of first storage devices when the instruction for payout is transmitted based on the result of the lottery.
US08052519B2
The setting of desired house odds and/or house advantage may be locked out based on manual indications, for example from a dealer, and/or based on automatically determined indications, for example the removal of one or more playing cards from a shoe or other receptacle or distribution of playing cards to a position on a gaming table. Appropriate messages regarding a lockout period may be provided, for example time remaining in before a next lockout period, during which remaining time house odds and/or advantage may be changed or otherwise set. House odds and/or house advantage may be stored until the lockout period ends, and may optionally be confirmed prior to being set for the player.
US08052517B2
A method for customizing play of a gaming device to a particular player level or group, where the gaming device is connected by a network to a host computer, includes creating a player account accessible by the host computer. The player account is associated with a player and has stored therein one of a plurality of player levels. The player is allowed to play on the gaming device and the gaming device is operated responsive to the player level. That is, the step of operating the gaming device includes adjusting a bonus triggering threshold and/or quantitative amount awarded based on the player level. In this way, high rated players such as those that gamble frequently and in high amounts, have gaming and bonusing events and award amounts tailored to their style of play and preferences to encourage continued play.
US08052505B2
A wafer processing method for processing a wafer (20) having bumps (B) formed on a front surface (21) comprises the steps of: holding on a table (51), a bump region-conforming member (40) that has an outer shape conforming only to a bump region (25) where said bumps are formed in the wafer; forming a resin layer (29) by applying resin around the bump region-conforming member up to a thickness equal to or greater than that of the bump region-conforming member; grinding the bump region-conforming member along with the resin layer to a predetermined thickness; removing the bump region-conforming member from the table to form a concave part (45) in the resin layer; applying a film (11) on the front surface of the wafer; and disposing the wafer in the concave part of the resin layer and holding the wafer on the table so that a back surface (22) of said wafer faces upward. After that, the back surface of the wafer can also be ground. As a result, a change in the size of the bumps can be easily accommodated without creating clearance.
US08052504B2
The present embodiment provides for methods and systems for use in processing objects such as wafers, including polishing and/or grinding wafers. Some embodiments provide systems that include a front-end module and a processing module. The front end module couples with a storage device that stores objects for processing. The front-end module can comprise a single robot, a transfer station, and a plurality of end effectors. The processing module is coupled with the front-end module such that the single robot delivers objects from the storage device to the processing module. The processing module comprising a rotating table, and a spindle with a carrier configured to retrieve the delivered object and process the object on the rotating table.
US08052499B2
An organic electroluminescence (EL) device which has a rear substrate, an organic EL element formed on the rear substrate and having a laminate structure in which a first electrode, an organic layer and a second electrode are sequentially laminated, a front substrate coupled to the rear substrate via sealant to seal an internal space in which the organic EL element is accommodated, and a transparent nanoporous oxide layer having nanoporous oxide particles disposed in the internal space formed by the rear substrate and the front substrate. Since the organic electroluminescence device includes the transparent nanoporous oxide layer having the nanoporous oxide particles and pores, it has an improved lifetime by increased moisture and oxygen absorbing properties.
US08052495B2
A spark plug (100) including a center electrode (130) and a ground electrode (140), which is formed by joining a ground electrode chip (143) to a ground electrode base material (141) via an intermediate member (142). A method for producing the spark plug (100) includes providing a projecting portion (142p) on the intermediate member (142), and projection-welding the intermediate member (142) to the ground electrode base material (141) by means of the projecting portion (142p), to thereby join the intermediate member 142 to the ground electrode base material (141). Further, the intermediate member (142) of the spark plug (100) includes a cylindrical columnar portion (142e) which is joined to the ground electrode chip (143), and a flange portion (142d) which is joined to the ground electrode base material (141) and which flange portion (142d) has a diameter greater than that of the cylindrical columnar portion (142e).
US08052493B2
A rowing oar handle comprising a first portion and a second portion, in which the first portion and the second portion are axially rotatable to one another, and in which in use the point of rotation is located between a user's hands.
US08052488B2
To prevent an inflow of resin at the time of integral molding and prevent the outer shape from upsizing, there is provided a cable connector including a connector body formed of an insulating material and formed with a plurality of terminal through holes; connecting terminals fitted into the terminal through holes; a cable including a plurality of leads having end portions that are crimped to base portions of the connecting terminals respectively; and a synthetic resin bushing configured to couple the connector body, a tip end portion of the cable including the leads exposed and diverged therefrom integrally by molding. Stoppers are disposed between end portions of the leads and the connecting terminals and inside the connector body and prevent intrusion of synthetic resin as the bushing material so as not to flow from ends of the leads toward ends of the connecting terminals when coupling by molding.
US08052487B2
An electrical connector defines an insulative housing defining a mating portion having a plurality of passageways therein, a plurality of terminals separated into two distinct groups and received in the housing, and a spacer assembled to back side of the housing for fixing the leg portions of the terminals. The terminal defines a contacting portion received in the passageways, a body portion extending rearward from an end of the contacting portion and a leg portion extending downward from an end of the body portion, the body portion and the leg portion are exposed outside of the housing. The spacer has an inner face defining a pressing platform having a bottom face at least pressing the body portion of the one group of terminals.
US08052486B2
The present invention relates to an electrical power outlet device and a module thereof. The electrical power outlet device includes an electrical power outlet section and a main body section. The electrical power outlet section has an electrical power outlet unit with a plurality of sockets, and an electric plug is inserted into the sockets and is remained firmly in an electrical power outlet. The main body section is connected with the electrical power outlet section and has a circuit device and an output unit, wherein the circuit device is connected with the corresponding plurality of sockets of the electrical power outlet unit to receive a power signal and converts the power signal to produce a converted signal, and the output unit is connected to the circuit device to send out a converted signal.
US08052474B2
A jack is provided that has compensation and crosstalk zones. At least one of the zones employs a lattice network that couples conductors in the zone to reduce the net crosstalk in the plug/jack system. The lattice network has a frequency response slope that is different from the frequency response slope of a first-order coupling or of a series LC circuit coupling. A variety of lattice networks are provided.
US08052469B2
Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing having a main body and a pair of tongue plates perpendicular extending from said main body along a mating direction. Said tongue plates are parallel to each other and each defines a plurality of terminal grooves thereon. A plurality of terminals are received in the terminal grooves. A metallic shell is retained on the main body of the insulative housing and encloses said pair of tongue plates thereby defining a mating opening therein. The mating opening defines a first and a second different interfaces in communication with each other. At least a partition portion protrudes toward the mating opening from said main body and defines a bottom surface to act as a top wall of the second interface.
US08052468B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for assembling an audio plug with a cosmetic hard shell are provided. A plug may be coupled to a cable. An inner member may be molded about an end portion of the plug and an end portion of the cable. A strain relief member may be molded about a portion of the cable such that the strain relief member is adjacent to and substantially flush with the inner member. The seam between the inner member and the strain relief member may be covered by coupling a hard, smooth outer shell over a portion of the inner member and a portion of the strain relief member. Each of the inner member, the strain relief member, and the outer shell may be formed by injection molding, be of a cylindrical shape, and be formed from the same or different materials.
US08052466B2
An outer conductor terminal by which productivity of the outer conductor terminal having crimping portions provided with reticulated knurling grooves on the inner surfaces can be improved. An outer conductor terminal of a shielded connector is provided with a pair of shielded conductor crimping portions to be crimped onto a shielded conductor which is exposed by stripping a sheath at an end of a shielded cable. The shielded conductor crimping portions are crimped such that the shielded conductor crimping portion overlaps the shielded conductor crimping portion. Reticulated knurling grooves are formed on the inner surfaces of the shielded conductor crimping portions, but they are not formed on an overlapping portion of the inner surface of the shielded conductor crimping portion which is placed on the shielded conductor crimping portion.
US08052463B2
An object is to provide a harness-routing protector with a simple configuration that can be readily fabricated at low cost and can be readily attached to a harness so that the harness, which has a difficulty in maintaining a bent shape, can be readily routed without interfering with other components within a limited space. In a harness-routing protector (30) that routes a harness (10) while maintaining it in a predetermined bent shape so as to prevent it from interfering with other components, a cross-sectionally U-shaped semicylindrical body (34) has a predetermined bent shape and includes an inner guide surface (31) and an outer guide surface (32) that are separated from each other by a gap in which the harness (10) is fittable and a side surface (33) that joins one edge of the inner guide surface (31) and one edge of the outer guide surface (32) to each other, and both end surfaces and the other side surface thereof are open.
US08052462B2
A push-in wire connector having at least two resilient members for generating a wire contacting force with one of the two resilient members exerting a greater contact force than the other to permit forming electrical connections to different size or types of wires by axially inserting wires into a sealant and into electrical contact engagement in the push-in wire connector to form a waterproof electrical connection in the presence of the sealant.
US08052461B2
A bayonet type electronic connector (1) comprises metal contacts arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the connector (1). Metal contacts all are U-shaped bayonets (2). The U-shaped bayonet's terminal forms a right angle. The adjacent U-shaped bayonets (2) on each surface are staggered fore and aft in two rows. Enough functional space is arranged between the two rows.
US08052459B2
A connector is provided that permits locking between a pin and a housing a canted coil spring yet permit separation by allowing turning of the canted coil spring so that the canted coil spring can compress along the minor axis. In one example, the connector incorporates two grooves on the pin to allow the rotation. In another example, the connector incorporates two grooves in the bore of the housing to allow the rotation. The connector may be used in a number of applications or industries, such as for aerospace, automotive, and medical device industries, to name a few.
US08052443B2
A bracket (30) includes a mounting piece (33) loosely movably supporting a connector (10) in a direction parallel with a plane intersecting a Z axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connector (10). The bracket (30) has restricting pieces (32) at opposite sides of the mounting piece (33). Locks (35) are formed at opposite sides of each restricting piece (32) and a projection (34) is formed on the outer surface of each restricting piece (32). The connector (10) includes a side wall (26A) at an inner side of each restricting piece (32), a deflecting piece (11B) for sandwiching the restricting piece (32) together with the side wall (26A). Auxiliary projections (20) are formed on the outer surface of each side wall (26A) and can contact the locks (35) from below. A restricting hole (11C) is formed in each deflecting piece (11B) for engaging the projection (34).
US08052441B2
A system can include a receiver to receive a plug module. The plug module can include multiple apertures located substantially the same distance from an axis of rotation of the plug module. A connector can extend from the receiver to connect to a contact in one of the multiple apertures of the plug module.
US08052439B2
A pick-up cap includes a main portion with a planar top surface and having a first end and a second end opposite to each other. At least two latches extend downwardly from the first and the second ends of the main portion, respectively. Each latch has a hook extending laterally from the latch, and the latch on the second end has a supporting portion extending downwardly and connecting with the hook for facilitative assembling and disassembling the pick-up cap from an insulative housing.
US08052429B1
A socket connector (100) for an electronic package includes an insulative housing (1) having a pair of keys (16) formed at a forward end (12) thereof, a plurality of terminals (3) received in the insulative housing (1) and a retention plate (2) rotatably coupled to the insulative housing (1) at a rearward end (11) thereof. The retention plate (2) has a pair of latches (22) formed at a pair of corners of the retention plate (2). Each latch (22) includes a locking portion (221) extending along the forward end to lock to the key (16) and a pressing portion (222) bent from the locking portion (221).
US08052424B2
A series of ceramic ingots is provided in which each ingot in the series, referred to as base ingots, has a shade corresponding to a different shade of a shade guide. The number of differently shaded base ingots is less than the total number of shades associated with the shade guide. A base ingot is selected from the series having a shade of a value at least as high as a shade associated with a patient's tooth. If the base ingot shade matches the patient's tooth, a restoration made with the selected base ingot can be glazed as is; otherwise the dental restoration is stained with a stain having a lower value than the selected base ingot to match the tooth. Thus, the total different number of ingot shades needed in inventory is reduced but without requiring staining in every case.
US08052422B2
A dental implant includes a dental implant body which is a cylinder body having a first end and a second end, an asymmetric thread being provided around the dental implant body, an apex lock being formed at the first end for inserting into a sinus of a desired position, and an endomaximum lock being provided at the second end for integrally connected with an abutment through a bolt. The apex lock is a space indented in the first end for enabling new grown bone of the sinus extending into the apex lock to provide a locking mechanism to ensure integration between the dental implant and the bone. The endomaximum lock has a lock cavity having a lock opening at the second end for receiving a root of the abutment therein.
US08052421B2
A dispensing syringe for dispensing a multi-component dental composition, preferably a two component composition, is provided. The syringe includes a syringe body with multiple elongated barrels for storing the components of the composition; a threaded plunger rod assembly; and a rotatable, threaded connector knob. Preferably, the syringe body has a double-barrel structure and the plunger rod assembly includes two plunger rods that slide within the barrels. The threaded knob has a through-bore with a continuous internal thread for engaging the outer threads of the first and second plunger rods. A dental practitioner manually rotates the knob to displace the first and second plunger rods and discharge the components. The dispensing syringe may further include a dispensing tip containing a static mixing element for mixing the components and dispensing the mixed composition.
US08052414B2
To provide a mold structure used to produce a discrete track medium, including in a surface of the mold structure: a plurality of line pattern forming concave portions which are positioned so as to be adjacent and substantially parallel to each other; and a communicating concave portion which is positioned so as to intersect the line pattern forming concave portions and connects the line pattern forming concave portions.
US08052408B2
Disclosed is a two-way pre-stress system for applying pre-stress to a member of a structure by a pre-tendon method, the system comprising: a mold for forming the member, the mold having a concrete pouring space; a supporter installed outside the mold; at least one horizontal tendon installed in the mold in a horizontal direction; a horizontal tendon settling device installed at the supporter, for settling the horizontal tendon in the mold; at least one vertical tendon installed in the mold in a vertical direction; a vertical tendon settling device installed at the supporter, for settling the vertical tendons in the mold; and a bending device installed at the supporter and combined with at least one of the vertical tendon, for forming a bent portion in at least one vertical tendon in a deep portion of the member.
US08052407B2
Apparatus and method for producing fibrous materials in which the apparatus includes an electrospinning element configured to electrospin a substance from which the fibers are to be composed by an electric field extraction of the substance from a tip of the electrospinning element, a collector disposed from the electrospinning element and configured to collect the fibers, a chamber enclosing the collector and the electrospinning element, and a control mechanism configured to control a gaseous environment in which the fibers are to be electrospun.
US08052399B2
A peristaltic pump is presented comprising a housing and a rotor assembly supported by the housing. An occlusion bed is slideably mounted in the housing. A door is pivotable about a shaft, which is supported by the housing. A pinion gear is coupled to the shaft and engages a rack on the occlusion bed. Rotation of the shaft causes the occlusion bed to slide toward or away from the rotor assembly. An open portion of a tube retaining system is associated with the housing and a clamping portion of the tube retaining system is associated with the door. The open portion and the clamping portion of the tube retaining system are configured to secure flexible tubing therebetween when the door is in a closed position.
US08052395B2
A bucket for a turbine is provided. The bucket includes an airfoil having a root portion, a tip portion, an airfoil shape, and a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z set forth in Table I, wherein Z is a distance from a platform on which the airfoil extends outwardly from, and X and Y are coordinates defining the profile at each distance Z from the platform. The bucket also includes a plurality of cooling passages extending between the root portion and tip portion of the airfoil, each of the plurality of cooling passages exiting at the tip portion, the plurality of cooling passages positioned in a camber line pattern.
US08052391B1
A turbine rotor blade made from the spar and shell construction in which the shell is a thin wall shell made from a high temperature resistant material that is formed by a wire EDM process, and where the shell is secured to the spar using a retainer that is poured into retainer occupying spaces formed in the shell and the spar, and then hardened to form a rigid retainer to secure the shell to the spar. The spar and the shell both have grooves facing each other to form a retainer groove. A retaining material, such as a liquid or a powdered metal, is poured into the grooves and hardened to form a retainer to secure the shell to the spar. The retaining material also forms a seal on the top of the spar and between the spar and shell.
US08052390B1
A turbine airfoil, such as a turbine blade, having a showerhead for cooling the leading edge region. A plurality of rows of exit film slots are arranged along the leading edge in the spanwise direction and staggered from each other. The exit slots are connected to narrow cooling air passages formed within the airfoil wall in which a plurality of rows of micro pin fins extend across the passage to form serpentine flow paths for the cooling air. Cooling air from a cooling air supply channel is metered into an impingement cavity to produce backside impingement cooling of the leading edge wall. The cooling air is diffused and then passed into the plurality of narrow cooling air passages to be metered again and serpentine flow through the narrow passages, and then diffused into the exit film slots. The cooling air is then ejected from the diffusion slots as a film layer of cooling air onto the leading edge airfoil surface. The narrows cooling air passages with the micro pin fins can also be arranged on the pressure side or the suction side walls of the airfoil to provide improved impingement and diffusion and film cooling for the airfoil surface.
US08052388B2
Gas turbine engine systems involving mechanically alterable vane throat areas are provided. In this regard, a representative vane for a gas turbine engine includes: a leading edge; a trailing edge; a suction side surface extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a cavity having an aperture located in the suction side surface; and a barrel located within the cavity and being moveable therein such that movement of the barrel alters an extent to which the barrel protrudes through the aperture.
US08052382B2
A gas turbine (1) includes a rotor (2) which has two rotor blade rows (5) with a plurality of rotor blades (6), and also a rotor heat shield (7), which is arranged between them, with a plurality of heat shield elements (12), and with a stator (3) which has a stator blade row (8), with a plurality of stator blades (9), which is arranged axially between the two adjacent rotor blade rows (5). The stator blades (9) have a stator sealing structure (10) radially on the inside. The heat shield elements (12) have a rotor sealing structure (13) radially on the outside which interacts with the stator sealing structure (10) for forming an axial seal (14). Furthermore, a blade radial seal (15) is formed between two adjacent rotor blades (6), and also a heat shield radial seal (16) is formed between two adjacent heat shield elements (12), and in each case separates a gas path (17) from the rotor (2). For increasing efficiency, the heat shield elements (12) and the rotor blades (6) are matched to each other so that the heat shield radial seal (16) merges without interruption into the blade radial seals (15) of the two axially adjacent rotor blades (6) in such a way that a continuous radial seal (21) is formed from the one rotor blade (6), via the heat shield element (12), to the other rotor blade (6).
US08052379B2
A fan assembly for creating an air current includes an air outlet mounted on a stand. The stand includes a base and a body tiltable relative to the base. The fan assembly has a center of gravity located so that when the base is located on a substantially horizontal support surface, the projection of the center of gravity on the support surface is within the footprint of the base when the body is in a fully tilted position.
US08052377B2
A gas turbine engine including a bypass duct defined by radially outer and inner walls, the radially inner wall defined by acoustic panels. The acoustic panels define the outer wall of a heated fire zone. In conventional engines an insulating blanket is attached to the panels, however, this is heavy and costly. Cooling film means are configured to pass bypass air through and over an internal surface of the panel.
US08052375B2
Disclosed is a seal for turbomachinery including a seal face locatable between a first turbomachinery component and a second turbomachinery component. At least one fluid channel extends through the seal. The at least one fluid channel is capable of injecting fluid flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component at the seal face thereby disrupting a leakage flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component. Further disclosed is a turbomachine utilizing the seal.
US08052369B2
Device for storing tubular on a drilling and/or production installation, comprising a shaft (8, 9, 10, 11) to accommodate a plurality of tubular in a substantially vertical position and a guide (15, 22) that is moveable above the shaft (8, 9, 10, 11). The device comprises means for displacing the guide (15, 22) in a substantially horizontal plane to a position above a selected one of all the tubular in the shaft. Also described are a catwalk (12) configured to displace the tubular in an axial direction through a V-door in the derrick (5), and which is further configured to be tilted into a substantially vertical position to receive or deliver a tubular, and a knuckle boom crane (7) with a grapple (27) that is adapted to grip an upper end of a substantially vertical tubular and carry the tubular in a substantially vertical orientation.
US08052368B2
A pipe handling catwalk comprising: a deck including an upper surface, a first end, an opposite end and a tubular support surface on the upper surface, the tubular support surface being elongate and extending between the first end and the opposite end; a deck guide including a wall extending up from the deck upper surface and drivable along tubular support surface of the deck; a ramp mounted on the deck adjacent its first end and positionable extending at an angle from the deck; a carrier connected to the ramp to remain on the ramp and being moveable such that an end thereof can be lifted away from the ramp to reduce the inclination of the carrier relative to the angle of the ramp, the carrier including an upper surface and a tubular retaining surface thereon extending along the carrier substantially in line with the tubular support surface of the deck; and a carrier guide including an upstanding tubular engaging surface extending up from the carrier upper surface and drivable along tubular retaining surface of the carrier.
US08052359B2
A countersink assembly including a countersink sleeve body with a distal cutting edge, a longitudinal bore to receive and secured to a drill bit, and a flute extending from the distal cutting edge. A depth stop collar having a longitudinal bore is disposed on and secured to the countersink sleeve body. In an example embodiment, the longitudinal bore of the depth stop collar includes at least one passage for chip egress. In addition or in the alternative, the flute includes a flat surface and a part cylindrical surface extending from the distal cutting edge along the length of the flute at an angle to the longitudinal bore of the countersink sleeve body so as to present a slight down-cut spiral.
US08052354B2
The invention relates to a method and a device (1) to prevent contamination on a wall inner side (53, 54, 55, 56, 67) of a transport device (10) for fibers (60) which are designated for the production of fiberboards and which after wetting with glue in a dry-gluing unit (2) are transported by the transport device to a further processing unit (13) by means of transport air. By returning dried material (50), which has been acquired during the course of further processing of the glued fibers and no longer has any cold-sticky glue, into the flow (7) of fibers (60), which still comprise cold-sticky glue, in the transport device, the said contamination is prevented in an effective and inexpensive manner.
US08052341B2
An interlocked roll type apparatus comprises: a first spool, two first flanges, a second spool, and two second flanges. The first flange has a first surface, a second surface, and a first periphery surface. The first surface has a first round protruding part. The first periphery surface has at least a first arc part, and the first arc part has a first arc protruding part protruding from the first surface. The second flange has a third surface, a fourth surface, and a second periphery surface. The second periphery surface has at least a second arc part having a second arc protruding part protruding from the third surface. The second arc part and the second arc protruding part are fastened with the first round protruding part of the first flange. The fourth surface has a second arc trench part for fastened with the first arc protruding part of the first flange.
US08052334B2
A field-installable multi-fiber ferrule has two portions and one portion has optical fibers already secured therein. The second portion receives optical fibers to mate with the secured optical fibers. A tool is provided to assist in inserting the optical fibers into the multi-fiber ferrule by aligning and holding the optical fibers while they are secured in the multi-fiber ferrule.
US08052328B2
A sliding bearing includes a metal part formed by electroforming on an inner periphery of the sliding bearing and an oil feeding mechanism for supplying oil to the bearing gap. As a result, oil retained by the oil feeding mechanism is supplied to the bearing gap, so the lubricity between the bearing and the shaft member is improved by an oil film formed in the bearing gap. This makes it possible to avoid the generation of noise due to defective lubrication and wear of members due to the contact sliding between the bearing and the shaft member.
US08052326B2
A bearing (1) having a frame (2), the frame at least partly surrounding two matrices (12, 16), each of a plurality of spheres (10) which are mounted for rotation so that the spheres in each matrix when the matrix is flat lie in a substantially single plane, the plane of one matrix being parallel to that of the other, the spheres of one matrix are so located that they mostly lie against the spheres on the other matrices so that rotation of the spheres of one matrix results in counter-rotation of spheres of the other matrix; the bearing formed in such a way enables the beating to be pushed or pulled under an object such as a patient lying on the ground with little or no movement transmitted to the object/patient as the bearing moves between the object and an underlying surface. The bearing can also be used for massaging a patient who is unable to move his or her body or for bearings with civil engineering applications.
US08052317B2
A light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting diode including a body with a light emitting diode chip packaged therein and a plurality of lead electrodes contacted with one side of the body and a board including a plurality of electrode pads connected to lower surfaces of the lead electrodes of the light emitting diode. The lower surfaces of the lead electrodes of the light emitting diode correspond to top surfaces of electrode pads of the board with same shapes. The lower surfaces of the lead electrodes of the light emitting diode are disposed within a region of top surfaces of the electrode pads of the board, respectively.
US08052316B2
A lighting device and a display device are provided. The lighting device includes: a light source; a light dividing member; and a beam shaper. The light dividing member includes a light receiving surface, on which light is incident, and divides the incident light into a plurality of light beam groups each having a predetermined width and interval therebetween. The beam shaper is disposed between the light source and the light dividing member. Light from the light source is incident on the beam shaper, and light emitted form the beam shaper is parallel and has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the light receiving surface of the light dividing member.
US08052311B2
Pull-down self-supportive lighting device mounted on hand-reachable ceilings, the lighting device comprising retracting unit (25), illuminating unit (23), and gooseneck (41) connected between units (25) and (23). Retracting unit (25) is mounted above an opening on the ceiling. Illuminating unit (23) has a retracted position adjacent to retracting unit (25). Gooseneck (41) has a predetermined internal structure and a bendability and rigidity balance that allows its winding inside retracting unit (25) while being able to hold illuminating unit (23) fixed in place. As a user pulls down finger-handle (31), gooseneck (41) unwinds allowing illuminating unit (23) to take a multitude of pull-down lighting position targeting the viewing area. With a press of pushbutton (29), retracting unit (25) pulls up illuminating unit (23) towards the retracted position wherein the user snaps it in with one hand.
US08052310B2
A lighting device includes an outer assembly, a light emitting device, and a contact. The outer assembly extends between a base end and a light emitting end. The outer assembly includes a contact carrier sub-assembly that extends from the base end to an outer end disposed proximate to the light emitting end. The light emitting device is disposed proximate to the light emitting end of the outer assembly. The contact is held in the contact carrier sub-assembly and extends from the base end of the outer assembly to the outer end of the contact carrier subassembly. The contact is electrically coupled with the light emitting device to provide a continuous electrically conductive path from the base end of the outer assembly to the outer end of the contact carrier sub-assembly. The contact is configured to supply electric current to the light emitting device.
US08052306B2
An electronic apparatus includes: a cover having an optically-transparent base and a shielding film for making an inside invisible; and a substrate disposed inside and covered by the cover, the substrate being mounted with a light emitting element for emitting light toward the cover and a touch sensor disposed at a position surrounding the light emitting element to detect a touch of an outer surface of the cover by a finger. The electronic apparatus further includes an icon board disposed at a position between the substrate and the cover and having a light transmitting section formed to define an outline of light emitted by the light emitting element toward the cover. The shielding film shows light emitted by the light emitting element and passing through the icon board.
US08052299B2
A light source module includes a base, a supporter, and a light source fixed by the supporter. The base includes a top surface, a first side surface connected with the top surface, a second side surface connected with the top surface, a protrusion projecting from the first side surface, and a recess defined in the second side surface. The protrusion is for inserting into a recess of another light source module. The recess is configured for coupling with a protrusion of still another light source module. The supporter is mounted on the top surface of the base.
US08052298B2
An LED lamp includes a housing, a heat sink received in the housing, a plurality of LED modules thermally attached to the heat sink and a plurality of wire clips spanning over the heat sink and securing the heat sink on the housing. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of fins extending from the base. Each of the clips includes a pivoting portion pivotally mounted on the housing, two locking portions located opposite to the pivoting portion and detachably engaging with the housing, and two pressing portions respectively interconnecting the pivoting portion with the two locking portions and abutting against the base.
US08052296B2
A backlight assembly includes a receiving container, a light-generating unit and a reflective sheet. The receiving container includes a bottom plate and a sidewall. The sidewall extends upwardly from an edge portion of the bottom plate to form a receiving space. The light-generating unit includes a light-emitting substrate disposed in the receiving space, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a driving circuit. The light-emitting substrate includes a light-emitting region and a peripheral region. The LEDs are disposed in the light-emitting region. The driving circuit disposed in the peripheral region controls the LEDs. The reflective sheet includes a center portion and a cover portion. The center portion is disposed on the light-emitting region. The cover portion is disposed on the peripheral region to cover the driving circuit.
US08052280B2
A laser display device, which is capable of ensuring the safety of a person's eyes and reducing speckle noise even when a screen is arranged at an arbitrary position, includes a laser light source emitting a laser light, a modulator modulating the laser light and emitting a modulated light, and a branching unit branching the modulated light into a plurality of branched lights. Further, at least two of the plurality of branched lights reach same positions on a screen at substantially same timings.
US08052271B2
A coating liquid for use in an ink jet recording method comprising an image forming step of forming an image on a recording medium by an ink jet system with an ink comprising at least a pigment and a coating layer forming step of applying a coating liquid at least to a region including the image to form a coating layer having a film thickness of from 0.10 μm or more to 1.0 μm or less in at least a part thereof. The coating liquid comprises at least a slippery compound, water and a water-soluble organic solvent. The coating layer has a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.40 or less.
US08052270B2
An ink-jet ink including water, a pigment dispersion, a water-soluble polymerizing or cross-linking substance having an ethylenic unsaturated group, and a water-soluble photo-initiator, wherein the pigment dispersion is anionic, and the photo-initiator is anionic and a cleaving-type photo-initiator having an anionic group pendanted on a mother nucleus selected from a benzylketal type mother nucleus, a benzoine type mother nucleus, an a-hydroxyacetophenone type mother nucleus, and an oxime ester type mother nucleus.
US08052269B2
An ink includes a jettable vehicle including a surfactant, and a color component dispersed in the jettable vehicle. According to one exemplary embodiment, the jettable vehicle exhibits a froth half life of less than 100 minutes.
US08052266B2
A liquid detection device that drives a liquid detecting portion includes a driving portion, a signal detecting portion, a high-pass filter portion, a first switch, and a control portion. The driving portion supplies a driving signal or a preliminary charging voltage to the liquid detecting portion. The signal detecting portion receives a detection signal from the liquid detecting portion. The high-pass filter portion has a capacitor portion and is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the signal detecting portion. The first switch is arranged between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion, and electrically connects or interrupts a line between the liquid detecting portion and the high-pass filter portion. The control portion controls the driving portion and the first switch to execute detection of liquid.
US08052264B2
A solid ink printer is enabled to eject ink onto image substrates at rates that are greater than previously known solid ink printers. The solid ink printer includes a print head that ejects melted ink, a web of image substrate that moves past the print head to receive melted ink ejected from the print head, a pair of fixing rollers positioned downstream of the print head, the fixing rollers forming a nip through which the web of image substrate passes to fix the ink onto the web of image substrate, and a melting device coupled to the print head to provide melted ink to the print head. The melting device includes a housing having an opening to receive solid ink, a first rotatable member mounted within the housing, a second rotatable member mounted with the housing, the second rotatable member being proximate to, but spatially separated from the first rotatable member mounted within the melting housing, a heater located within the first rotatable member to heat the first rotatable member to a temperature at which the solid ink melts; and a motor coupled to the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member to rotate the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member within the housing to shear the solid ink as the solid ink melts against the heated first rotatable member.
US08052263B2
Various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir with alignment features and various embodiments of a printing device fluid reservoir chassis with alignment features are disclosed. According to some aspects of these embodiments, the alignment features are grouped together near an ultimate connection point between a fluid reservoir and a chassis to increase design freedom on other regions of the fluid reservoir/chassis. Other aspects of these embodiments include specially designed and located alignment features of a fluid reservoir that engage specially designed and located alignment features of a chassis in sequence throughout the process of inserting the fluid reservoir into the chassis in order to facilitate simple and effective engagement.
US08052261B2
An ink cartridge determination system includes a cartridge mounting portion, an optical sensor positioned at the cartridge mounting portion, at least one ink cartridge configured to be inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and a determiner. The optical sensor includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The optical sensor is configured to selectively output a first signal and a second signal based on an intensity of the light received by the light-receiving element. The at least one ink cartridge includes a first light altering portion, a second light altering portion, and a light passing portion, which are configured to sequentially intersect a optical path of the optical sensor when the at least one ink cartridge is inserted into the cartridge mounting portion, and the determiner is configured to determine a type of the at least one ink cartridge based on a time profile of a signal outputted from the optical sensor.
US08052260B2
An ink cartridge has a case which has an ink chamber, a first wall facing an exterior of the case, and a translucent portion at the first wall and having an inner space formed therein continuously with the ink chamber. The ink cartridge has a first movable member positioned in the case, and a second movable member coupled to the case. The first movable member moves relative to an amount of ink stored in the ink chamber, and has a signal blocking portion positioned in the inner space. The second movable member has a second wall that faces the first wall and that has an opening therethrough. The second movable member moves between a first position and a second position. The second wall is closer to the first wall when the second movable member is in the second position than when the second movable member is in the first position.
US08052247B2
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of heads each of which discharges liquid droplets, a base member to hold the heads arranged thereon, and a liquid supply member provided on each head to extend in a direction in which the heads are arranged, and to form a common channel for distributing and supplying liquid to the heads. The liquid supply member includes a first supply opening to receive ink in the liquid supply member, a second supply opening to supply ink to the head, and an annular seal member and provided between the liquid supply member and the head to connect the first and second supply openings by sealing a connection portion between the liquid supply member and the head.
US08052246B2
A cleaning roller is arranged at a position facing an image sensor with a conveying belt interposed therebetween. The conveying belt has a through hole. In an image sensor cleaning mode, the cleaning roller is inserted through the through hole and contacts the image sensor, while the image sensor is held without moving.
US08052244B2
A printing device comprises a print head, imaging member, and a moveable sensor array. The print head is configured to deliver marking material to the imaging member as it moves in a process direction. The linear sensor array comprises a plurality of photo sensors configured to scan the imaging member. The photo detectors of the linear sensor array define a sensor axis that is substantially perpendicular to the process direction. The linear sensor array is configured to move along the sensor axis between a first position where the sensor array scans one portion of the imaging member and a second position where the sensor array scans another portion of the imaging member. If a fault is detected during calibration of the sensor array, the moveable sensor array may be used to determine whether the source of the fault rests with the imaging member or the sensor array.
US08052240B2
A droplet ejecting component of the present invention includes an ejecting component having a charge and discharge characteristic, an applying component being provided with a transistor, and an increasing component. The ejecting component ejects a droplet. When a control signal is inputted, the applying component applies an application voltage to the ejecting component, and the increasing component increases the impedance of the transistor.
US08052231B2
A blanking panel is provided for use with equipment racks or enclosures that house electronic components, and is configured to facilitate installation of the panel with a pair of vertical mounting rails or flanges of a rack or enclosure without the use of tools or other hardware. The blanking panel is constructed of one or more materials and/or defines one or more configurations such that when the blanking panel is installed into a rack or enclosure, portions of a body of the blanking panel interface with a surface of an equipment component or another blanking panel installed above or below the blanking panel to thereby form an air seal there between, which helps to reduce or prevent hot exhaust air from mixing with cooling air within a rack or enclosure, and further helps to reduce or prevent cooling air from bypassing equipment components.
US08052229B2
An interlocking mechanism is provided for sliding rails mounted to a cabinet. Each sliding rail comprises an outer rail and an inner rail slidably attached to the outer rail. The interlocking mechanism includes a plurality of interlocking members each of which includes a driving portion and a retaining opening. The interlocking members are respectively attached to the sliding rails. A rod is resiliently and slidably attached to the cabinet. The rod includes a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of corresponding resilient members slantingly attached adjacent to one of the protrusions, corresponding to each interlocking member. The retaining opening comprises a guiding part and a retaining part. If one of the interlocking members moves, the resilient members corresponding to the other interlocking members can move to the corresponding retaining opening retaining parts to lock these interlocking members to prevent the corresponding sliding rails from sliding.
US08052228B2
A compactor wheel is mountable on an axle of a compaction machine. The compactor wheel may comprise a hub mountable to an axle of a compaction machine; a rim mounted to the hub, the rim having a face; a plurality of compaction cleats mounted to the face of the rim; an axle guard movable relative to the rim during rotation of the compactor wheel; and structure for coupling the axle guard to at least one of the hub and the rim.
US08052225B2
A bicycle wheel securing structure includes a bicycle fork, an adapter and a holding member. The bicycle fork has two axle support portions that are spaced apart for receiving a bicycle hub therebetween. The adapter is disposed in an adapter receiving bore in one of the axle support portions. The adapter includes a threaded axle mounting opening. The holding member is operatively coupled between the adapter and the one of the axle support portions with the adapter. The holding member prevents both rotational movement of the adapter with respect to the bicycle fork and axial movement of the adapter with respect to the bicycle fork along an axis of the axle mounting opening when the holding member is in a retaining position. The adapter is rotatable within the adapter receiving bore without moving axially with respect to the bicycle fork when the holding member is in a releasing position.
US08052224B2
One embodiment includes a wheel including a first portion including magnesium, the first portion including at least a rim; a second portion including aluminum; and an interface where the first portion and the second portion contact each other.
US08052219B2
A seat belt retractor for retracting a seat belt includes a spool for retracting the seat belt, a locking mechanism for locking rotation of said spool, and an end-lock preventing mechanism for preventing an end-lock of the seat belt. The end-lock preventing mechanism includes a first speed-reduction portion for largely reducing a seat belt retracting speed of the spool when the spool retracts a substantially full length of the seat belt, and a second speed-reduction portion for reducing the seat belt retracting speed less than that of the first speed-reduction portion so as to provide a delay for the locking mechanism to be brought to a non-lock position at least when retraction of the seat belt is finished.
US08052210B2
A child restraint includes a juvenile vehicle seat and an energy-absorption apparatus coupled to the juvenile vehicle seat. The energy-absorption apparatus is configured to absorb external energy associated with an external impact force applied to the energy-absorption apparatus.
US08052209B2
A mounting bracket assembly includes a clamping arrangement mounted for vertical movement on a mounting structure and is movable between an engaged position and disengaged position relative to a self-contained breathing apparatus held in the mounting bracket assembly. A camming arrangement is located between the clamping arrangement and the mounting structure for permitting and preventing vertical movement of the clamping arrangement relative to the mounting structure. A powered latching mechanism is engageable with a portion of the clamping arrangement for providing unlatched and latched positions. A control arrangement separate from the powered latching mechanism is operatively connected thereto to selectively control the powered latching mechanism and effect release of the self-contained breathing apparatus from the latched position when the vehicle is in a stationary and parked condition.
US08052206B2
A floorboard assembly for vehicle, comprising a front floorboard (2) and a middle floorboard (6) that are connected in a fixed manner or formed integrally, wherein, the front floorboard (2) is in ridge shape, roughly flat at both sides and raised in the middle, the raised part in the middle defines a cavity which is suitable for accommodating a battery for vehicle. In the floorboard assembly for vehicle provided in the present invention, the middle channel part of the front floorboard (2) is raised, and a high capacity battery can be placed in the cavity defined by the raised part in the middle; in that way, the space utilization ratio for floorboard is higher, the battery pack can be installed and maintained conveniently, and the gravity center of the vehicle is stable.
US08052201B2
Provided is a floor structure 11 disposed on a chassis frame and equipped with a bed 23 behind a driver's seat 21. The floor structure includes a floor panel 12 and a reinforcement member 13. The floor panel 12 includes: a front-side floor portion 16 that extends rearwards from a bottom portion of a front edge of a cabin 3 and includes a seat-attachment portion 22 supporting the seat 21 from below; a rising portion 17 that is bent at the rear edge of the front-side floor portion 16 and extends upwards; and a rear-side floor portion 18 that is bent at the upper edge of the rising portion 17 and extends rearwards, and that includes a bed-attachment portion 24 on which the bed 23 is mountable. The reinforcement member 13 is opposed to the bottom surface of the rear-side floor portion 18, and is joined to the bottom surface of the rear-side floor portion 18 and at least any one of the bottom surface of the front-side floor portion 16 and the rear surface of the rising portion 17 so that the reinforcement member 13 can define and form a structure having a closed cross-section together with the rear-side floor portion 18.
US08052199B2
A device for absorbing side forces during a side impact of a motor vehicle has a reinforcing structure (12) with a transversely extending reinforcing beam (14). An end (15) of the reinforcing beam (14) is mounted in a bracket (20) that is fixed to the vehicle. A profile part (30) is at the end (15) of the reinforcing beam (14) and supports the reinforcing beam (14). The profile part (30) is connected firmly to the bracket (20) that is fixed to the vehicle thereby providing improved side impact protection and enhanced safety for vehicle occupants.
US08052196B1
A cover assembly 10 having a cover support portion 30 having various members 34, 36, and 38 each having respective bodies 70 which respectively have a plurality of cells 80 which make the members 34, 36, 38 lightweight and structurally sound, and the members 34, 36, 38 cooperatively deploying a cover 32 over the bed 14 of a selectively movable assembly 12.
US08052189B2
A snap post for use in conjunction with a snap lid to attach a trim ring to an opening of a headliner of an automotive vehicle is provided. The snap post includes an elongated leg extending outwardly from the trim ring. The elongated leg has a barb for engaging with the snap lid disposed on a distal end thereof. A support structure provides the elongated leg with sufficient reinforcement to withstand the stress imposed during the installation of the headliner, yet provides sufficient flexibility for the quick and easy attachment of the trim ring to the opening of the headliner.
US08052180B1
A tamper-evident cargo seal is disclosed, comprising a pin that is passed through a hasp on a shipping container, a body member, a pair of parallel guide members, at least one security label blank, and a cover. One end of the pin is keyed. The body member has a slot through a side surface extending into the interior, and is keyed to receive the pin. Abutting the top surface of the body member are two parallel guide members, bounding an area comprising the top surface of the body member. One of the guide members also has a slot to allow the pin to engage the slot in the body member. One or two removable security label blanks are inserted between the guides after the pin is inserted into the slot, and a security label is affixed over the blanks. A cover engages the body and guide members to protect the label.
US08052179B2
An unlocking device for a control device (10) includes an actuating magnet (12) in a coil base (14) and/or in housing elements of the actuating magnet. An actuating element (16) can be displaced along a first axis (20) and releases, in an actuation position, a swivel path (22) for a control unit (24) arranged to swivel about a second axis (26). The control unit (24) has a locking element (30) which, when unlocked by the actuating element (16) via the control element (24), releases the trajectory (32) for the control device (10) to be actuated. The unlocking device also has a swiveling lever (34) guided in a housing part (28) to swivel. The second axis (26) is parallel to the first axis (20). The swiveling lever (34), at its free end and when the actuating magnet (12) is not actuated, contacts the actuating element (16). The locking element (30) is disposed on the other end of the swiveling lever (34) and maintains the control device (10) in the locked position.
US08052176B2
A connection apparatus is adapted to allow connection of one substantially tubular member to another substantially tubular member. The connection apparatus includes a male connecting member and a female connecting member. Cooperating attachment mechanisms are provided on the male and female connecting members. Each of the male and female connecting members includes at least one primary surface adapted to form a primary joint and at least one secondary surface adapted to form a secondary joint. The at least one primary surface may be adapted to form a primary load bearing shoulder joint. The at least one secondary surface may be adapted to form a secondary load bearing shoulder joint. The connection apparatus may provide a double shoulder high torque connection for downhole tubular members. A double acting hydraulic jar is also disclosed.
US08052171B2
The invention concerns a security element (10) for RF identification, and a security document which is provided with such a security element (10). The security element has a flexible film body (104) into which are integrated an electronic circuit which is designed for the storage of security-relevant items of information and an RF antenna which is connected to the electronic circuit and which serves for contact-less communication of the electronic circuit with a test device. Permanently fixed on a surface of the flexible film body (104) is a first optically variable element (102) which at least region-wise covers the region of the flexible film body in which the electronic circuit is arranged, wherein permanently fixed on the other opposite surface of the flexible film body is a second optically variable element.
US08052159B2
A motorcycle side kickstand dolly used with one or two conventional wheel dollies that allows a medium to large motorcycle to be mounted easily on the dollies and moved easily to any desired position on a horizontal surface. The motorcycle side kickstand dolly in accordance with the present invention comprises an H-frame support panel, a side kickstand brace and four wheels. The H-frame support panel comprises a low-slung panel and four protrusions. The low-slung panel has four corners. The protrusions are formed respectively on the corners and protrude up and out from the corners. The side kickstand brace is mounted on the low-slung panel between two adjacent protrusions and has an upper edge, a recess and a strengthening lip. The recess is formed downward from the upper edge. The strengthening lip is formed on and protrudes transversely from the upper edge. The wheels are mounted rotatably respectively under the protrusions.
US08052158B2
An article carrying apparatus in the form of a support that is used with a shopping cart to provide a horizontal support for safely carrying loads that are longer than the length of the cart. The support may be used with any conventional shopping cart having nestable or non-nestable baskets. The support is hingedly attached to a lower structural member of the cart basket. The support is movable between a first position in which it lays flat against the bottom wall of the cart basket, allowing the basket to be nested into an adjacent cart, and a second position in which it is substantially resting against the front wall of the basket.
US08052149B2
The present invention relates to an interactive board game comprising a playing surface having a series of tabs, wherein each opened tab reveals clues or directions to the next tab to be opened. In one embodiment, the board game comprises individual cells containing a prize, such as a chocolate, located under each tab, which are accessible upon opening the tabs.
US08052148B1
A game system including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. In an exemplary embodiment, the progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive an award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel.
US08052144B2
An image forming apparatus connectable to a first feed tray and a second feed tray includes an image forming unit, a feed path, and a detecting unit provided on the feed path to sense recording medium jam. An identifying unit identifies a feed path and a feed tray where recording medium jam has occurred as a jammed path and a jamming feed tray. A first determining unit determines whether the image forming apparatus is connected to the second feed tray. A second determining unit determines whether the second feed tray can feed a recording medium to the image forming unit. A feeding unit feeds a recording medium from the second feed tray to the image forming unit.
US08052141B2
A first engaging member makes a first engagement with a first locking member to lock an edge guiding unit. A second engaging member makes a second engagement with a second locking member to lock the edge guiding unit. The first locking member is movable to a first retract position and a second retract position. When the first locking member moves to the first retract position, the second engagement is released in conjunction with a release of the first engagement, and when the first locking member moves to the second retract position, the first engagement is released while maintaining the second engagement.
US08052139B1
A document feeding mechanism includes a frame, a document picking means positioned in the frame for picking up and conveying a document, a stopper means positioned in the frame for blocking the conveyance of the document, a supporting portion cooperating with the stopper means for supporting the document picking up means while the document picking up means is raised at a predetermined level, and a blocking portion restricting a rotatable angle of the stopper means for blocking the conveyance of the document while the document picking up means is raised at the predetermined level. The document feeding means is kept at the predetermined level via the cooperation of the supporting portion and the stopper means for supporting the document feeding means. Since, the document feeding mechanism has high reliability to resist shake and crash for preventing the document picking up means from being drooped.
US08052133B2
A method and arrangement is provided for producing an adhesive-bound printed item composed of a plurality of printed products. The printed products are gathered into loose book blocks along a first conveying section of a conveying track for a circulating conveyor while positioned transverse to a conveying direction and inclined counter to the conveying direction. The book blocks are then accelerated in an additional section of the circulating conveyor to obtain a larger divisional spacing between the printed products. The book blocks are transferred from the additional section of the circulating conveyor to clamps of a transporter and pivoted to an upright position where one side edge is approximately parallel to the conveying direction. The book blocks are transferred from the clamps of the transporter into respective circulating conveying clamps of an adhesive binder.
US08052126B2
Fluid distribution systems, and particularly those for distributing liquids into apparatuses containing modules used to carry out vapor-liquid contacting, are described. Representative liquid distribution systems comprise an extended trough having a plurality of outlet spouts that are aligned for distribution into a plurality of downcomers. The downcomers may be in non-parallel (e.g., orthogonal) alignment with respect to the trough and/or the number of troughs may be less than the number of downcomers to which fluid is distributed.
US08052121B2
The invention involves a scissor jack having four arms hingedly arranged to provide two opposite elbows between a base and a load support. A pair of trunnions at the elbows is connected by a threaded shaft. A movable brace is supported between the arms. The brace strengthens and adds support to the jack assembly. In a preferred embodiment, the brace includes a guide assembly which slidably engages the shaft and connectors pivoted between the guide and each of the four arms. The connectors are extensible socket and rod arrangements. Each connector includes a coil spring located over the rod in the socket. The four springs are compressed on extension of the jack to assist in lifting a load.
US08052115B2
An insert molding apparatus includes a first mold and a second mold. The first mold has at least two cavity plates which cooperatively define at least one receiving groove therebetween. At least two connecting elements each have its one end positioned in one of the at least two cavity plates while the other end passing through the other cavity plate for movably connecting the at least two cavity plates with each other. At least one elastic element is compressibly disposed between and against the cavity plates in such a manner such that the at least two cavity plates are capable of contacting with each other or separating from each other. The second mold is engaged with the first mold for compelling one of the at least two cavity plates to move toward the other cavity plate so that the at least two cavity plates are in contact with each other.
US08052092B2
An apparatus for orbital change of a satellite incorporates a capture mechanism for space debris and a tether connecting the capture mechanism to a satellite. The tether is extendable to position the capture mechanism relative to the space debris. A controller is employed for timed release of the space debris by the capture mechanism for orbital change by the satellite.
US08052091B2
A cargo parachute release apparatus comprising an assembly plate and a hinged member that is hinged to the assembly plate with a hinge pin. Parachute riser attachment components are positioned between the assembly plate and hinged member when the hinged member is in the closed position. An electronic package assembly having a microprocessor having predetermined parameters is provided, and the electronic package assembly has horizontal and vertical accelerometers and a strain gage for collecting data and sending the data to the microprocessor for processing. When the incoming data matches the predetermined parameters that indicate impact has been made, the microprocessor sends a firing signal to an electro-explosive device to detonate which causes the hinged member to open and release the parachute. The cargo is not dragged along the ground, tipped over or otherwise damaged.
US08052090B1
A support system attaches a hoist to the External Stores Support System of an aircraft by using a boom from which a first leg depends and is attached to a forward fitting. A second leg is attached to the boom via a collar and attaches to an aft fitting while a torque arm is pivotally attached to the collar via a support arm, the torque arm also attaches to a tie-down fitting. The legs are attached to their respective fittings using pins and the torque arm is bolted to the tie-down ring fitting. A hoist slip having a horn is attached to an end of the boom.
US08052089B2
An apparatus comprises a structure having a leading edge, a skin covering the structure, a tip, and a channel. The tip is located at the leading edge, wherein the tip has a number of openings. The channel extends through the structure to the tip, wherein the channel is in communication with the number of openings in the tip.
US08052060B2
An improved physical access control system has an online portion and an offline portion. A smartcard is configurable to transport access control information between the online portion and offline portion. The smartcard is further configurable to receive an offline reader identifier from an offline reader, and to control access of the smartcard holder to an offline entry/exit point. The smartcard is further configurable to carry a revoked list that is transmitted to each offline reader accessed. Methods of operating the improved physical access control system are also disclosed.
US08052058B2
A method of identifying or authenticating a product by providing an analog identification indicia including a randomized pattern of identification features on a first part of the product wherein one or more attributes of the randomized pattern of identification features correspond to an item identifier. A digital identification record is provided on a second part of the product including an encoded digital version of the item identifier. The product is viewed from two angles and confirmation of the information from both angles assures product authenticity.
US08052056B2
An authorization code is entered into a card terminal reader from a security card. The authorization code is first entered into a card and stored in a secret memory location or stored into or onto the card with a alternate element. A characteristic physical state of an element on the card is temporarily changed from a first state to a second state. When the card is inserted into a card reader terminal within a pre-defined period of time, the authorization code is transmitted to the card reader terminal and the state is reset from the second state to the first state.
US08052053B2
Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture and methods are provided for establishing (e.g., online) a buyer price for a first plurality of products. In one embodiment, the buyer price is lower than a retail price of the first plurality of products. A second plurality of products that the buyer has actually received during the subsequent transaction is determined. A penalty may be assessed if the first plurality of products does not correspond to the second plurality of products.
US08052052B1
Embodiments of a payment card (such as a credit card), a financial-transaction system that uses the payment card, and a method are described. These embodiments may be used to protect financial information stored on the payment card, while providing ease of use to a user of the payment card when conducting a financial transaction. In particular, the payment card may include a transducer that detects a physical phenomenon. If this physical phenomenon is detected, a wireless communication circuit in or on the payment card is enabled, so that the wireless communication circuit can provide the user's financial information in response to an external signal received from an external reading device (such as an a radio-frequency identification signal from a card reader).
US08052050B2
An automated banking machine system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system is operative to read a financial card bearing account indicia with a card reader. A user is enabled to perform at least one banking operation responsive to account indicia read from the card. Such banking operations may include dispensing cash and accessing financial accounts. While a user operates the system to dispense cash or perform other banking operations, the system may further permit at least one portable wireless device to wirelessly access the system to conduct transactions.
US08052040B2
A negotiable instrument with fraud and identity theft protection and method of use is provided. The method includes step accepting a negotiable instrument having a pre-printed bar code, reading the bar code on a negotiable instrument using a bar code scanner, and receiving from the writer a code presented to the merchant for deriving personal information associated with the account holder and banking information associated with the account from the bar code. The method also having the step of comparing the personal identification information from the bar code with information provided by the writer. The merchant using the bank processing information derived from the bar code to process the negotiable instrument.
US08052032B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a composite material that can prevent a powdered additive to be mixed from scattering and control a quantity of the additive dispersed in the composite material.A method for producing a composite material in which an additional material different from a base material is dispersed into a part of the base material comprises the steps of providing a wire rod formed by applying a metallic film to the additional material to be dispersed or by stuffing a metallic tube with the additional material to be dispersed, fixing the wire rod on a surface or into an inside of the base material, and applying stirring along the fixed wire rod with a tool for friction stirring to disperse the additional material into the part of the base material.
US08052030B2
A spindle head for performing friction stir welding includes concentric spindle shafts driven by stacked, coaxial motors contained within a spindle housing. The coaxial arrangement of the motors results in a more compact package. Each of the motors is concentrically arranged around one of the spindles by directly connecting a rotor of the motor to a spindle shaft. The stators of the motors are mounted on the housing and are concentrically arranged around the concentric spindle shafts.
US08052026B2
An ultrasonic horn used in, for instance, a wire bonding apparatus and formed with mounting flanges, including a slit and a cross-sectional shape varying portion; the slit being on the central axis in the horn's longitudinal direction and extending fore and aft relative to the center of the mounting flanges, the length of the slit(s) being equal to or greater than the width direction of a flange region that is between the opposing flanges, and at least a part of the cross-sectional shape varying portion being on the outer surface of the horn at a slit region in which the slit is formed. The stress center point in the cross-section of the ultrasonic horn at the flange region is positioned more to the inside than a straight line joining the stress center points in the cross-sections of the ultrasonic horn at the front and rear end portions of the slit.
US08052023B2
A light weight hand-operated stapler which comprises a pressing cap, a plastic head, a metal drive plate, a base and a plastic magazine which is connected to the base via a hanger and connected to the plastic head via a pin, a metal guide head disposed at a front end of the plastic magazine and substantially covering the front wall of the plastic magazine, a first elastic mechanism for pushing the staples down the plastic magazine to reload the stapler, a second elastic member disposed between the pressing cap and the plastic head for pushing the pressing cap up to its original position after stapling, and a third elastic member disposed between the base and the plastic magazine for pushing the plastic magazine up to its original position after stapling.
US08052020B1
The pliable fisherman's caddy apparatus provides hands free carry of fishing equipment. Additionally, hands free carry of two fishing poles is provided. The apparatus is worn by the provided waist belt by a user, much like a fanny pack. Absolutely no impingement on a wearer's torso, arm movements, or leg movements are in any way experienced. Quick movement of the case from back to front, on a wearer, is as easy as spinning the belt. As the fisherman's caddy apparatus is lightweight, and waist worn, a user does not experience any balance issues when negotiating varied terrain.
US08052011B2
A device and method for dispensing a bag from a stack of bags, the device including a plate having a frame, a rotatable shaft coupled to the frame, at least one roller non-rotatably affixed to the shaft and arranged to engage a bag of the stack of bags, means for rotating the shaft, and means for automatically stopping rotation of the shaft after a single bag has been dispensed, wherein the stack of bags is held against one side of the plate, and the single bag is dispensed to an opposite side of the plate.
US08052008B2
One aspect of the present invention includes a cover assembly for a floor box supporting at least one receptacle mounted therein. The assembly comprises at least one cover plate, at least one lid and a lock. The cover plate for at least partially covering the floor box includes at least one lock receiving channel. The at least one lid is pivotally secured to the cover plate for movement between a closed position covering the receptacle and an open position permitting access to the receptacle. The lock retains the lid in the closed position. Also, the lock is disposed at least partially within the channel and moveable between a locking position for retaining the lid in the closed position and at least one release position wherein the lid is not retained by the lock.
US08052007B2
A container is disclosed including a plurality of seal blocks adapted to militate against the entry of a fluid into coolant channel headers formed in bipolar plates during a dip coating process, wherein the seal blocks are interconnected and include a fastening portion and a sealing portion, the sealing portion capable of being interchanged.
US08052002B2
A collapsible box that provides access through both its top and front side, said box comprising sets of interior and exterior sidewalls, said interior sidewalls folding inward along a hinge and said exterior sidewalls folding along a hinge that runs along a bias. Said box capable of being made from either flat sheet material or molded parts.
US08051991B2
A process for manufacturing of an asymmetric hollow fiber membrane, comprising the steps of extruding a polymer solution through the outer ring slit of a hollow fiber spinning nozzle, simultaneously extruding a center fluid through the inner bore of the hollow fiber spinning nozzle, into a precipitation bath, whereby the polymer solution contains 10 to 26 wt-% of polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES) or polyarylethersulfone (PAES), 8 to 15 wt-% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), 55 to 75 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 3 to 9 wt-% water the centre fluid contains 70 to 90 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 10 to 30 wt-% water, and the precipitation bath contains 0 to 20 wt-% N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (NAP) and 80 to 100 wt-% water.
US08051987B2
Systems and methods for wirelessly provisioning a mobile communication device are provided. To provision the mobile communication device to operate with an electronic messaging system, a provisioning request message may be generated at the mobile communication device. The provisioning request message may include a wireless identification for identifying the mobile communication device in a wireless network. The provisioning request message may be transmitted from the mobile communication device to the electronic messaging system using a pre-established communication link. In response to detecting the provisioning request message, the electronic messaging system may be provisioned by storing the wireless identification for use in communicating with the mobile communication device.
US08051986B2
A process for the production of a range of improved biomass material products suitable for use as a fuel and which have been derived from municipal solid waste (MSW). The process comprises the steps of delivering a stream of mixed, MSW derived biomass material into a separator which operates under negative pressure enabling the biomass material to fall down the separator while inducing a sole air stream through the falling material to create a vortex of spinning material within the turbo chamber to separate out by centrifugal action selected denser components of the biomass material enabling such to continue falling to an outlet for collection while redirecting by entrainment in the air stream the remaining biomass material to a second outlet for subsequent processing or for collection.
US08051980B2
The present invention relates to a protective sleeve for a portable electronic device includes a sleeve frame, a cover, two connecting members, and a locking member. The sleeve frame includes four connecting sidewalls cooperatively defining a space for receiving the portable electronic device. The cover is covering the space of the sleeve frame. The connecting members are configured for pivotally/rotably attaching an end of the cover to the frame. The locking member is configured for latching and releasing, and thereby opening and closing the cover to the frame at another end of the cover. The protective sleeve for portable electronic device is convenient for use, and can fully protect the portable electronic device.
US08051978B2
Disclosed is a container having a novel structure for storing contact lenses by which biofilm formation can be prevented at a high cost efficiency and from which lenses can be easily taken out. A container for storing contact lenses wherein the inner face of a dish-shaped storage chamber in a case is entirely made of a radius of curvature which is a smooth face with no irregularity and shows a continuous change, the inner face entirely comprises a smooth face with a surface roughness of 60 nm or less, and the solution capacity of the dish-shaped storage chamber is set to 3.8 mL or more.
US08051970B2
The hinge assembly of the present invention is a novel configuration that utilizes multiple arcuate shaped clevis elements. The configuration produces a compact, stable, and efficient means for transmitting an actuation force to retract or deploy one or more sections of a folding chute assembly utilized on transit concrete mixing vehicles.
US08051969B2
In a torque coupling having an input flange, an input shaft, an actuator, and a multiple clutch pack, and a driving mechanism, the present invention broadly comprises an actuator for transferring the input toque to the output shaft. The actuator comprises an actuator plate which is limited to only rotational movement, a pressure plate which is limited to only axial movement, and a plurality of actuator pins. The driving mechanism rotates the actuator plate through a gear set and forces the actuator pins to move vertically. The vertical movement of the actuator pins forces the pressure plate in an axial direction. In a torque coupling, the actuator is used to transfer the input torque to the output shaft through compression of the multiple clutch pack by the actuator.
US08051965B2
A clutch actuator is configured to change operational force applied to a clutch in cases that a worm wheel is rotated by a motor. The clutch actuator may include a motor provided with a rotatable worm shaft, a screw thread formed along an exterior circumference of the worm shaft, a worm wheel provided with a worm gear engaging the screw thread, and a cam recess, an operation rod mounted to the worm wheel, the operation rod configured to engage or release a clutch, and a rotatable operation unit disposed within the cam recess, and configured to apply elastic force to the worm wheel. Methods of using the clutch actuator are also described.
US08051963B2
A motorcycle with a disk brake device and an anti-dip device for improving the external appearance of the front forks and for simplifying the fixing of the hoses. A single hose includes a hydraulic passage k extending from a secondary master cylinder and one end of the hose is connected to one opening of a three-way opening coupling fixed to the front forks. One end of a single hose is supported by the secondary master cylinder and the other end is supported by the three-way opening coupling. Thus the hose clamps may be omitted, the number of components is conspicuously reduced and the arrangement is simplified. In comparison to extending two hoses from the secondary master cylinder, only a single hose is extended according to the present invention. Thus, the handling of the hoses is simplified and the outer appearance near the front forks is improved.
US08051960B2
A braking apparatus for a blind, used to reduce the speed of a shielding member of the blind when it is lifted and lowered, in which weights are stably supported and operated without an increase in the size of the braking apparatus. The braking apparatus has a casing, a rotor rotatably supported with in the casing, and weights adapted to rotate together with the rotor in such a way that they can be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the casing. A cylindrical shaft portion and weight support portions radially projecting from the peripheral surface of the shaft portion at equal intervals in the circumferential direction are formed on the rotor. One end of each weight is swingably supported by the weight support portion extending over the axial-direction entire length of the weight.
US08051959B2
An overrunning coupling assembly includes a control element mounted for controlled shifting movement between coupling faces of annular coupling members relative to a first set of pockets in the first member. The control element is operable for controlling position of only reverse struts in the first set of pockets without controlling the position of forward struts in a second set of pockets in the coupling face of the second member. The control element allows at least one of the reverse struts to engage at least one of a set of locking formations on the coupling face of the second coupling member in a first position of the control element. The control element maintains the reverse struts in their pockets in a second position of the control element.
US08051958B1
An improved guide pin structure adapted for use in a vehicle disc brake assembly comprises a first end including a head portion; a second end including an end face and a lead-in zone, the lead-in zone provided with a rounded generally bullet nose shaped radius adapted for insertion into an aperture of a component of the vehicle disc brake assembly; and a center section defining a shank having a slide surface, the center section defining a guide pin axis; wherein the bullet nose shaped radius of the lead-in zone includes an axial offset relative to the end face and a radial offset relative to the slide surface, and wherein the axial offset is larger than the radial offset by a ratio of at least 2 to 1.
US08051957B2
The invention relates to a ball screw for a motor vehicle brake, in particular for an electromechanically actuable motor vehicle brake, comprising a rotatable spindle, a nut that is axially movable relative to the spindle in accordance with the rotation thereof and rolling body arrangement that is disposed between, and displaceable relative to, the spindle and the nut. In this ball screw it is provided that the rolling body arrangement is preloaded into a predetermined normal position by means of at least one spring element. The invention further relates to a vehicle brake having such a ball screw.
US08051954B2
The present invention includes a method and a system for communicating with a controller of an elevator car (10). A first input device (40) is inserted between a pair of elevator car sliding doors (12, 14). Energy beams (36) transmitted between the pair of elevator sliding doors (12, 14) are selectively blocked to communicate information to the controller.
US08051953B2
A hydrogen cooled generator includes a lubricant drain system. The lubricant drain system includes a hydrogen detraining tank having a hollow interior portion. A sensor is operatively mounted in the hydrogen detraining tank. The sensor is configured and disposed to detect an interface zone between an amount of lubricant and an amount of hydrogen gas in the hollow interior portion. A drain line is fluidly coupled to the hydrogen detraining tank. The drain line includes a first end portion that is exposed in the hollow interior portion and a second end portion. A valve is mounted in the drain line. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor and the valve. The controller is configured to selectively open the valve allowing a portion of the amount of lubricant to flow from the hollow interior portion when the interface zone is above the first end portion of the drain line.
US08051947B2
The present invention relates to a method for vibration damping and noise reduction by using thermoplastic vulcanizate compositions and to multilayer structures for use in vibration damping and noise reduction applications comprising at least one polymeric layer made of a thermoplastic vulcanizate composition.
US08051945B2
An electric power steering system for a vehicle includes a motor for providing assistance in turning the wheels of the vehicle. The motor is electrically connected to a controller. The controller includes a power device, such as a power transistor, electrically connected to the motor to variably provide electric power to the motor as needed. The controller also includes a gate drive device electrically connected to the power device for regulating operation the power device. A shutdown mechanism is electrically connected between the gate drive device and a power input. In the event of a fault, the shutdown mechanism isolates electrical power from the gate drive device. This prevents the power device from providing electric power to the power steering motor.
US08051943B2
The invention relates to car control means. The stator of an electric motor is provided with a magnet core comprising n pronounced poles and a rotor comprising n−2 poles embodied in the form of permanent magnets. The stator three-phase winding is provided with coils placed in the six equal alternating phase areas in such a way that one area is assigned to one pole and with several coils belonging to one phase in each phase area. The winding coils in the areas belonging to one phase are connected in a parallel aiding configuration. The steering wheel booster body is provided with input and output shafts which are interconnected with the aid of a torsion bar embodied in the form of a torque sensor sensing element and are linked with the sheering wheel and sheering mechanism by the other ends thereof. The electric motor rotor is mounted on the output shaft. The inventive device also comprises a controllable source for supplying the stator winding, a rotor position sensor and a control unit which is connected to the outputs of the torque and rotor position sensors by the inputs thereof and to the control input of the supply source by the output thereof. Said invention excludes the transmission of an outside disturbance torque to the steering wheel and makes it possible to improve the productability of the electric motor and the steering wheel buster and to increase the useful properties thereof.
US08051942B2
The present invention improves response characteristics in turning traveling of a vehicle while traveling stability at the time of turning is kept. The present invention provides a system in which toe angles of left and right rear wheels are controlled based on a steering angular velocity, not a steering angle of a steering. In a steering system in which toe angles of left and right rear wheels are controlled independently, a steering angular velocity is calculated from a steering angle, and toe angle changers are controlled to tilt the toe angle of the right rear wheel to the left when the steering angular velocity is on the left side, and is controlled to tilt the toe angle of the left rear wheel to the left when the steering angular velocity is on the right side.
US08051940B2
A steerable vehicle knuckle has an inboard portion defining upper and lower arms, with a kingpin between them, and has an outboard portion defining a spindle that cooperates with a fluid driven motor. The arms define a cavity where an axle end portion is pivotally received. Fluid supply ports, which supply fluid to energize the motor, are located on an upper surface of the knuckle's inboard portion. Fluid drain lines extend within the knuckle from the motor to the cavity and are utilized to drain fluid from the motor. The supply ports and drain lines are each connected to separate hoses formed in a small arc that follows closely the circular curvature of the kingpin. This arrangement of port, lines, and hoses is less expensive to produce, easier to package, more robust, allows for faster steering reaction, and is easier to assemble than conventional arrangements.
US08051936B1
A human-portable modular system is provided for remotely controlling an automotive vehicle by an operator physically unconnected thereto. For a typical vehicle, the system includes a radio control transmitter that sends command signals from the operator, a pedal control assembly, a steering control assembly, an electronics case disposable on the driver's seat, coupling mechanisms that respectively connect said assemblies to the electronics case, and a package for stowing and transporting the transmitter, the electronics case, and the assemblies. The pedal control assembly includes a linkage arm, an actuator pivotably connected to the linkage arm at its proximate end, and first and second arms pivotably connected to the linkage arm to controllably push the respective control pedals for acceleration and braking. The steering control assembly includes a motor that provides torque, and an attachment that couples the motor to the vehicle's steering wheel. The electronics case includes a receiver that receives the command signals from the transmitter, a controller that communicates the command signals to the motor and the actuator, and a portable power supply to provide electrical power to the controller and to the receiver. The package can include shoulder straps to facilitate backpack transport. The coupling mechanisms include detachable hinge connectors to pivotably attach the pedal control and steering control assemblies to the electronics case. The pedal control assembly can further include near the linkage arm's distal end a linkage arm feedback potentiometer that sends an angular position indicator signal to the controller.
US08051934B2
There are included a side member formed to support a battery pack, and a rear bracket securing the battery pack to the side member. The rear bracket has one side pivotably coupled to the battery pack, and the other side pivotably coupled to the side member.
US08051928B2
This invention relates to a downhole assembly and to a cutter assembly, and in particular to a downhole assembly including an apparatus for breaking up large-scale material which is present behind a drill bit, and to a cutter assembly for use in such a downhole assembly. The downhole assembly is suitably for use in a drillstring, the downhole assembly comprising a drill bit, a sensitive component, and at least one rotatable set of cutter blades located between the drill bit and the sensitive component.
US08051926B2
The present invention relates to a control device for an impulse-generating device for inducing a shock wave in a tool, in which said impulse-generating device comprises an impact element for transmitting said shock wave to said tool, a counter pressure chamber acting against the impact element and a device for reducing a pressure in the counter-pressure chamber. The control device comprises control means for regulating the reduction of the pressure in said computer-pressure chamber. The invention also relates to an impulse-generating device.
US08051925B2
A braking device for drilling operations in a borehole includes a brake retainer having a plurality of brake connector openings defined therein, a body member having a tapered surface having a first diameter and a second diameter, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, at least one brake element positioned at least partially between the brake retainer and the body member and in communication with the tapered surface and at least one of the brake connector openings, and a bias member configured to exert a biasing force on the body member to move the body member toward the brake retainer to move the brake element from contact with the first diameter of the tapered surface toward contact with the second diameter.
US08051918B2
A method and apparatus for weed removal, wherein using a depilatory method (new use) with an extension spring having an arcuate axis and being driven in a rotational sliding motion relative to the soil-bearing weed to be removed. For this purpose the apparatus is equipped with a spring (10), having an arcuate axis that is bent at 180 degrees and the spring is made in the shape of a spring of variable rate, so that the spring has a large diameter in its middle zone and conically reduced cylindrical ends of smaller diameter.
US08051907B2
The desander (10) for positioning downhole includes a generally tubular desander body (16) and a generally sleeve-shaped vortex body (39, 94). The desander with a seal or packer may be positioned in a well below the casing perforations. The desander with an ESP may be used with gas separator (60), which may include a seal (24) for positioning above the producing formation. The separator (60) may be used independent of the desander for some applications.
US08051905B2
In one embodiment, a cooling system is disclosed. The cooling system comprises: a cooling channel for receiving a cooling media, a substrate disposed near the cooling channel, and a fluidic jet disposed within the substrate and in fluid communication with the cooling channel. The cooling channel is for thermal communication with a component to be cooled. The cooling channel has a height of less than or equal to about 3 mm and a width of less than or equal to 2 mm. The fluidic jet comprises a cavity defined by a well and a membrane. In one embodiment, a method of cooling an electrical component comprises: passing a cooling media through a cooling channel, drawing the cooling media into one or more of the fluidic jets, expelling the cooling media from the one or more fluidic jets into the cooling channel, and removing thermal energy from the electrical component.
US08051899B2
A heat dissipating module includes a fan and a heat sink. The heat sink comprises a body and at least one movable member. The body comprises a plurality of fins, at least one first slot and at least one second slot. The first and second slots are integrally formed on the body as a single piece. The movable member, rotatably or movably coupled to the first slot, comprises a pivoting portion, an operating portion, a jointing portion and at least one fixing portion. The pivoting portion is rotatably or movably received in the first slot. A first end of the operating portion connects to the pivoting portion, rotating or moving the pivoting portion. The jointing portion, at a second end of the operating portion, selectively connects to or separates from the second slot. The fixing portion protrudes from the pivoting portion, abutting and securing the fan to the heat sink.
US08051898B2
A water cooling type heat dissipation module for an electronic device includes a base disk, a suction disk, a water guide and a cover. The base has two containing spaces and a plurality of cooling strips in the containing space. The suction base is attached to the base disk and further includes two water chambers for receiving sucked water, two inlets and two outlets. The water guide is attached to the suction disk with two guide port at the periphery thereof. The cover closes the suction disk and is movably joined to a guide fan. When the heat dissipation module is full with fluid, the fluid can flow therein rapidly while the guide fan rotating such that the fluid is discharged from and flows into the heat dissipation module more effectively.
US08051894B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for centering a submerged entry nozzle. The present invention includes: a plurality of laser beam generators 20 that is disposed above a mold 3 for continuous casting to radiate a laser beam toward the center of the mold; a tundish moving unit 15 that moves a tundish 1 above the mold 3; and a control unit that is linked with the laser beam generators 20 and controls the tundish moving unit 15 to center the installation position of the submerged entry nozzle 5 provided at the lower portion of the tundish, in response to signals transmitted from the laser beam generators 20. According to the present invention, in addition to accurately and quickly centering the submerged entry nozzle 5, it is possible to maintain the submerged entry nozzle that has been centered, such that it is possible to minimize a channeling phenomenon of molten steel. Accordingly, it can be expected to improve the quality of a slab.
US08051893B2
A liquid-cooled permanent chill mold for the continuous casting of metals, including a permanent chill mold plate (2) made of copper or a copper alloy and an adapter plate (3), on which the permanent chill mold plates (2) are fastened via fastening bolts (12). The permanent chill mold plates (3) are coupled to the adapter plates (3) via sheet metal holders (19) situated in their top regions and base regions (20, 21), in addition to via the fastening bolts (12).
US08051891B2
A bracket member (9) of a supporting means for supporting a screening device in a frame structure, which has at least one pair of opposed frame pieces (5, 6), said supporting means comprising a pair of bracket members (9, 9′) provided for mounting on a respective frame piece (5, 6) of said pair of opposed frame pieces and a pair of coupling members (30) positioned at either of two opposing ends of the screening device. The bracket member (9) comprises a base (10) for abutment on the frame piece (5), a main face (11) opposite the base (10) and at least one bracket member engagement side (12) for engaging a coupling member of the screening device. A part of the main face (11) is provided by a releasable cover member (15), below which an electrical contact point is provided. The coupling member comprises a recess having at least one coupling member engagement side for engaging a bracket member (9) and an electrical terminal in the recess.
US08051888B2
Provided is a seed crystal fixing device 1 for fixing a seed crystal 9 to a seed crystal placing part 3 of a reaction vessel with an adhesive interposed in between. The seed crystal fixing device 1 includes: a chamber 10 capable of installing the seed crystal placing part 3 in the inside thereof; and a flexible pouched body 16 placed on an upper surface of the chamber 10. The flexible pouched body 16 is inflated with a delivery of gas and is deflated with an exhaust of the gas. The flexible pouched body 16 is configured to come into contact with a surface of the seed crystal 9 when inflated, and thereby applies pressure uniformly across the entire surface of the seed crystal 9. The upper surface of the chamber 10 forms convex shape towards the seed crystal placing part 3, and thereby uniform press-bonding of the seed crystal 9 to the seed crystal placing part 3 is accomplished.
US08051883B2
The industrial container filling lance is an elongate pipe having a hose connector allowing connection of a hose from a fluid source to the lance, a ball valve for regulating flow of fluid through the pipe, and a fill spout for delivery of the fluid to an industrial container. The lance is disposed atop a hinged slide clamp attached to a telescoping lance support assembly, which extends vertically from a pedestal base. The elongate locking handle, rotated in the open position, allows the lance to be swung upward away from a fill container, and alternatively allows the lance to be longitudinally positioned precisely over a container to be filled. The elongate locking handle can be rotated over the lance to prevent movement of the lance during the container filling procedure. A rotating lock collar on the support stand assembly secures the support height while allowing angular rotation of the lance.
US08051875B2
A protection apparatus detects and reduces overpressure in a fluid pipeline. First and second pipeline valves are connected in series along the pipeline and are independently switchable between open and closed positions. A pressure transducer determines the fluid pressure in the pipeline at a point intermediate the first and second pipeline valves. A bypass line has a first end connected to the pipeline between the input end and the first pipeline valve and a second end connected to the pipeline between the first and second pipeline valves. A bypass valve is connected along the bypass line. A vent line is connected to the bypass line between the bypass valve and the second end of the bypass line. A vent valve is connected along the vent line.
US08051872B2
A subsea equipment (1) used for natural gas or crude oil production, such as a subsea actuator (2) for a valve, a restrictor or the like, a control module or other means, comprises at least an oil-filled first component (3) and a compensator unit (4) which is associated with said first component and which is in fluid communication therewith for pressure compensation. To improve such a subsea equipment in a structurally simple manner in such a way that it is capable of functioning and that pressure compensation is still possible, even if the associated compensator unit is damaged or fails to operate, a second compensator unit (5) is in fluid communication with said first component (3) or said first compensator unit (4) for pressure compensation.
US08051871B2
A tensiometer for use in determining matric potential of a soil comprising: a water inlet; a hydraulic coupler comprising a porous material for providing hydraulic coupling between water that enters the inlet and the soil; and a septum that seals water that enters the inlet against ingress of air via the porous material.
US08051868B2
A tent including a structural member and an end cap insertable into the structural member and a method of forming a tent are provided. The structural member is preferably a rafter. The rafter has C-channels aligned with support troughs of the end cap. The C-channels and support troughs receive edge portions of a fabric panel therein to secure the fabric panel to the rafter. The end cap supports the weight of the fabric panel during assembly to reduce or avoid engagement of the fabric panel with corners of the C-channel or burs formed in the end of the C-channel of the rafter as the fabric panel is fed through the C-channel. The end cap may also include an optional tension push down bar assembly for providing additional tensioning of the fabric panel.
US08051860B1
An eyebrow makeup application device includes a handle and an eyebrow-shaped stamp. The handle is preferably configured with a first handle end comprising a first fastening connection and with a grip section. The stamp has a skin-facing front surface configured with the desired eyebrow design. The front surface is configured to contact the cosmetic coloring composition and to retain enough of the composition to imprint the desired eyebrow design onto the eyebrow area. A second fastening connection on the rear base of the stamp is configured to connect the stamp to the handle via the first fastening connection, either permanently or removably.
US08051859B2
Nanoscale particles are formed and deposited in situ on tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter materials by physical vapor deposition. The nanoscale particles are capable of acting as an oxidant for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and/or as a catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
US08051853B2
The apparatus provides for the determination of the instantaneous phase in the respiratory cycle, subject's average respiration rate and the provision of ventilatory assistance. A microprocessor (16) receives an airflow signal from a pressure transducer (18) coupled to a port (17) at a mask (11). The microprocessor (16) controls a servo (19), that in turn controls the fan motor (20) and thus the pressure of air delivered by the blower (10). The blower (10) is coupled to a subject's mask (ii) by a conduit (12). The invention seeks to address the following goals: while the subject is awake and making substantial efforts the delivered assistance should be closely matched in phase with the subject's efforts; the machine should automatically adjust the degree of assistance to maintain at least a specified minimum ventilation without relying on the integrity of the subject's chemoreflexes; and it should continue to work correctly in the presence of large leaks.
US08051850B2
A nasal dilator includes a contact pad attachable to a user's facial region below the user's eye and outboard from the user's nose. A tugging device is coupled with the contact pad and urges the contact pad in a direction away from the user's nose. With this structure, effective dilation of the nasal passages can be achieved in a comfortable manner. The dilator may also be incorporated into a CPAP mask and/or form part of an automated control system.
US08051849B2
A gas cooking appliance having a plurality of spaced-apart taps situated in fixed and non-moveable locations within the gas cooking appliance, each of the taps having a rotatable operating shaft coupled to an associated control knob situated on a pivoting control panel. The pivoting control panel is connected to a pivot shaft and is pivotal between a first angular position and a second angular position. Each of the control knobs is coupled to its associated tap by a coupling, each of the couplings including a stationary transmission, a pivoting transmission shaft having a first end and a second end and a joint that couples the pivoting transmission shaft to the stationary transmission shaft. The pivot shaft, by means of which the control panel pivots, being situated proximate the coupling joints.
US08051848B2
A trigger sear is placed between a trigger and a bolt sear. The engagement between the bolt sear and a bolt is removed by pulling the trigger. The bolt makes reciprocating motion in the back and forth direction of the toy gun. While it reciprocates once, the bolt opens and closes a valve portion and fires off a bullet B. When the trigger is pulled, a stopper pawl and a driving pawl are engaged with a control plate having a ratchet gear structure. In conjunction with the reciprocating motion of the bolt, the driving pawl rotates and displaces the control plate in a forward direction. When the toy gun fires a predetermined number of bullets B, a sear bar is displaced. The sear bar moves the trigger sear and causes it to break away from the bolt sear.
US08051846B2
Through holes formed on an atomization pipe can prevent fuel adhering on inner walls of the through holes from escaping. In addition, when fuel adhering on an inner circumferential surface of the atomization pipe flows toward a downstream side, the fuel enters the through holes. Thus, the fuel can be confined therein. Furthermore, an absorbing member can absorb the fuel that has adhered to a downstream inner wall of the atomization pipe and flows toward the downstream side. Moreover, a periphery of the intake passage hole of a gasket protrudes from the inner wall, so that flow of the fuel that the absorbing member fails to absorb toward the downstream side can be blocked. Accordingly, a rapid increase in the amount of fuel flowing into the engine body can be reliably prevented. Therefore, fluctuation in the number of revolutions of the engine can be sufficiently restrained.
US08051844B2
Apparatus is provided for removing oil from crankcase gases flowing from an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes filtration particles, contained within an outer case, that collect oil particles and allow drainage of the oil into an accumulator. An inner shell may be used as a water accumulator.
US08051841B2
A charging fluid suctions module is provided for an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing forming a flow path for a gaseous charging fluid, particularly air, a gas, and/or an air/gas mixture. Whereby, a heat exchanger is disposed in the housing for the gaseous charging fluid. In order to allow for an improved exhaust gas return the housing comprise an inlet channel for an exhaust gas, and the inlet channel flows into the flow path downstream of the heat exchanger for the gaseous charging fluid.
US08051836B2
An internal combustion engine (1) is provided with an in-cylinder pressure sensor (15) for detecting an in-cylinder pressure in a combustion chamber (3) and an ECU (20). The ECU 20 calculates a heat release quantity parameter showing a combustion state based upon a detected in-cylinder pressure, calculates a combustion delay based upon the detected in-cylinder pressure, and determines fuel property based upon a comparison between a calculated heat release quantity parameter and the calculated combustion delay; and a heat release quantity parameter and a combustion delay corresponding to reference fuel.
US08051832B2
An air intake control system is provided for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The control system includes an intake port of a cylinder head for an engine main body, a throttle body having a throttle valve and connected to the intake port, an electric actuator having an electric motor and arranged on the throttle body to drive open or close the throttle valve, and a connector disposed on a housing of the electric actuator in a position facing toward one axial end of a crankshaft. The connector is provided in order to connect to an outside conductor to the electric motor of the electric actuator. The resulting configuration facilitates the work to connecting the outside conductor to the connector.
US08051830B2
A reciprocating two-stroke uniflow internal combustion (IC) cylinder and multiple cylinder engine, the cylinder having a cylinder wall and a cylinder head, the cylinder head having an exhaust port, a fuel injector, and a spark means disposed through the cylinder head, a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder for movement alternately through compression and power strokes, and a scroll plenum extending unidirectional around the outside of the cylinder wall and having an inlet and a plurality of swirl ports disposed through the cylinder wall providing fluid communication from the scroll plenum into the cylinder chamber, wherein the plurality of swirl ports enter the cylinder chamber tangentially with respect to the axial centerline of the cylinder, and wherein the plurality of swirl ports are subject to opening and closing in response to movement of said piston.
US08051827B1
Applying the law of conservation of energy to the analysis and design of internal combustion engines
A method for designing internal combustion engines can include selecting a compression ratio that produces a compression temperature just below the autoignition temperature of a fuel/air mixture, selecting a fuel equivalence ratio that produces a combustion temperature below the threshold temperature at which NOx formation or autoignition of the mixture occurs, and selecting an expansion ratio greater than the compression ratio.
US08051825B2
An engine assembly may include an engine block, a cylinder head, and a valvetrain assembly. The cylinder head may be fixed to the engine block. The valvetrain assembly may include a valve actuating member, a support member, and a first fastener engaged with the support member and the engine block that fixes the support member to the engine block. The valve actuating member may be rotatably supported on the support member.
US08051819B2
An overhead-camshaft internal combustion engine having an outer wall of a crankcase provided adjacent a crankshaft, with a spiral-surfaced opening through which the crankshaft is passed. The outer crankcase wall is integrally provided with a loop guide engaging recess formed thereon. The loop guide engaging recess supports a base end portion of a loop guide for guiding an endless chain. A loop-retaining member for preventing the timing endless chain from dropping is arranged at a position on the lower side of a loop drive sprocket integrally formed at an end portion of the crankshaft.
US08051815B2
A valve stopping mechanism wherein when hydraulic fluid pressure is low a cylinder operating state is set and a response of a switch from a cylinder stop state to the cylinder operating state is high. An intake valve and an exhaust valve, a first intake valve spring and a first exhaust valve spring are provided for energizing the valves in the direction of closing the valves, valve drive cams, valve stopping mechanisms, on the basis of a stop hydraulic fluid pressure and energization of plunger springs, for selectively generating valve operating and valve stop states. The valve stopping mechanism generates the operating state when the energizing force of the plunger spring is larger than the press force of the stop hydraulic fluid pressure and generates the stop state when the press force of the stop hydraulic fluid pressure is larger than the energizing force of the plunger spring.
US08051810B2
A cylinder head having a coolant passage therein includes a coolant inlet, an exhaust valve seat portion, intake valve seat portion, and a spark plug mounting portion formed centrally in the cylinder head, wherein a guide rib is formed close to the coolant inlet for coolant to flow near the spark plug mounting portion along the exhaust valve seat portion and a coolant outlet is disposed near to a corner of the intake valve seat portion.
US08051805B2
A one way gate primarily for pigs is located between a pair of parallel panels to be mounted in a fence line and includes two gate portions each defined by a transverse rail across the passage between the panels at a height above the passage and a plurality of fingers hanging from the rail separately pivotal in one direction only to the animal to pass and prevented from rotation in the opposite direction. The distance between the gate portions is less than 3.0 feet so as to be less than the length of the animal to prevent an animal being located between the rails and greater than 0.5 feet such that an animal attempting to lift the second fingers cannot simultaneously lift the first fingers.
US08051802B2
Monogastric digestion animals, such as pigs and chickens, are raised in a completely environmentally sound and effective manner that has numerous other advantages over conventional feed lot confinement. The animals are allowed to roam and feed freely in a confined and managed at least one acre fodder tree orchard with pasture base (20-40% swine-compatible legumes, 80-55% grasses). The fodder trees are at least primarily honey locust, mulberry, chestnut, and persimmon, about 30-45 mature trees per acre. Swine may first be raised on primarily pasture alone, and the pasture base from the orchard harvested to produce hay, which is removed for use at a later time and/or place. A hog may be raised having a weight of about 250-340 pounds, and a lean weight of at least about 38%, and at least 5% leaner and heavier on average than if raised in feed lot confinement.
US08051800B2
In an immobilization process of electrostatically spraying a nanomaterial dispersion liquid 13 from an electrostatic spray nozzle 20 and immobilizing a nanomaterial on a sample 10, a voltage is applied between the dispersion liquid 13 and the sample 10 to electrostatically spray the dispersion liquid 13 onto the sample 10 from a spray outlet 22 of the nozzle 20 under a condition where one or zero particles of the nanomaterial 18 are contained in each individual droplet 16 sprayed and electrostatically deposit the nanomaterial 18 onto a surface of the sample 10 after drying a solvent 17, contained in each individual droplet 16, in an atmosphere to immobilize the nanomaterial 18 on the sample 10. Aggregation of the nanomaterial in each droplet is thereby prevented and the nanomaterial can be immobilized favorably on the sample.
US08051796B2
A robotic painting system includes a device for generating a vacuum and a dump line disposed upstream from a connection between an isolation line and a canister, wherein the device for generating a vacuum and the dump line are employed for filling and cleaning the robotic painting system.
US08051794B2
A rowing boat footrest assembly includes a footrest member coupled to a boat structure and a shoe retaining mechanism supported to the footrest member. The shoe retaining mechanism includes a permanent magnet mechanism operable between a shoe retaining mode and a shoe releasing mode.
US08051789B1
A mooring device is disclosed for securing a floating structure to a layer of soil. A body of water is displaced by the vessel. The floating structure supports an individual having a first hand and a second hand. The mooring device comprises a shaft extending between a first end and a second end. A point is secured to the first end of the shaft for permitting the shaft to transverse the layer of soil. A handle is secured to the second end of the shaft for receiving a descending vertical force or an ascending vertical force. The handle includes a concave upper surface extending between a primary end and a secondary end for receiving the first hand and/or the second hand of the individual during the descending vertical force. The handle includes a first convex surface and a second convex surface.
US08051781B1
A shelf for overlying a shower barrier uses a pair of shelves that are connected by a connector shelf allowing the device to telescope. Each of the pair of shelves abut a side wall and overlie a curtain rod or the top of a shower door. Each shelf has a flat upper surface and a decorative downwardly depending front surface for enhancing the aesthetics of the shower enclosure and concealing the rod or top of the door. Various devices can be used to hold the shelves against the walls including telescoping rods attached to the connector shelf and the other two shelves with a set screw holding the rods in place. A compression spring can also push on the outer shelves; or screws can pass through either screw bosses on the two other shelves and into the respective walls or a bracket can, be attached to the outer shelves and the walls.
US08051779B2
A railcar having a longitudinal axis and a movable cover. The movable cover includes a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slideable hatch connected to the plurality of linear bearing devices. The slideable hatch is movable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis.
US08051775B2
A detonating device includes a high explosive portion comprising high explosive; a low explosive portion comprising low explosive; and a transition portion between the high explosive portion and the low explosive portion, wherein the transition portion comprises a mixture of high explosive and low explosive.
US08051761B1
A system and methods for broad area visual obscuration around a platform. In one embodiment the system comprises a source of visible light, shaping optics and projecting optics. The system projects a light beam onto an illumination area in a sweeping pattern to repetitively illuminate all portions of the illumination area, such that a stationary observer within the illumination area receives repeating pulses of the light at a power, intensity, frequency and duration sufficient to visually impair the observer so as to substantially prevent the observer from discerning the platform between pulses. The light pulses are capable of temporarily blinding human eyes but incapable of causing permanent vision loss.
US08051753B2
A radially adjustable drive bracket (126) is affixed to, and rotatable with the drive gear (32), and a radially adjustable support bracket (128) is affixed to, and rotatable with the driven gear (42). A pair of parallel slide rails (30) are coupled at opposite ends to the drive bracket (126) and support bracket (128). A cutting head assembly (28) is slidably mounted on the slide rails (30), wherein a threaded lead screw (124) carrying a traveling nut (134) thereon causes longitudinal displacement of the cutting head assembly (28) along the slide rails (30). A cam arm (140) coupled through a one-way clutch to the lead screw (124) and adapted to be actuated by a tripper assembly (136) mounted so as to engage the cam arm (140) during orbiting movement of the drive and driven gear (32, 42).
US08051751B2
A lockable torque-limiting driver includes a body and a sleeve received in a sleeve chamber of the body and secured therein by recesses inside the body. The sleeve is provided with projecting edges on the outer wall to be respectively fitted in the recesses of the body, plural recessed grooves at the inner wall for fixing an upper cam, and female threads at the inner wall to be screwed with the male threads of a torque-limiting member, further disposed with plural positioning serrations at topside and a center chamber inside. The upper cam and a lower cam respectively have one-way serrations to be mutually engaged. The torque-limiting member is fixed with positioning projections to be actuated to move on the positioning serrations of the sleeve and give out sounds by which a user can know a torque limiting extent desired.
US08051743B2
A throttle control device for a hand held tool, such as a chain saw, is provided. The tool is provided with a forwardly extending wire for transmitting a motion from a throttle control lever turnably arranged about a first axis to a throttle valve. One end of the wire is secured to a wire arm that is turnably arranged about a second axis. The wire arm is provided with one or several teeth cooperating with the throttle control lever and the second axis is arranged behind the first axis.
US08051736B2
A ball screw device includes a screw engaged into a nut member for forming an endless ball guiding passage between the nut member and the screw and for receiving a number of ball bearing members, the nut member includes two orifices aligned with the helical grooves of the nut member and an axial ball return channel communicating with the orifices of the nut member, a deflecting device includes two deflecting members engaged into the orifices of the nut member and each having a ball deflecting channel communicating with the helical grooves and the axial ball return channel of the nut member for increasing the strength and the working life of the deflecting device.
US08051734B2
In a gear shift device for an automated shift transmission of a motor vehicle having a main transmission and an auxiliary group, wherein a series of gear shift elements, for example in the form of gear shift forks, have to be operated, piston cylinder units for shifting the main transmission are combined in a gear shift module and the piston cylinder units for shifting the auxiliary group are arranged spaced apart from the gear shift module of the main transmission but connected to the gear shift module via a fluid line.
US08051726B2
A pipette [1] is equipped with a jet [10] and handpiece [6]. A piston assembly, housed within the pipette [1], at one end has a seal [9] affixed to a rigid section [2] which extends to a flexible section [4]. At the junction of the rigid [2] and flexible [4] sections is an enlarged shoulder [7]. The flexible section [4] extends through the handpiece [6]. A movable sleeve [3] is positioned between the flexible section [4] of the piston rod assembly and the interior wall [11] of the pipette. At one end, the sleeve [3] passes over the shoulder [7] of the piston assembly and terminates in a constriction [8]. The other end of the sleeve [3] extends from the open end of the pipette [1] and terminates in a shoulder [5] of an external diameter greater than the bore diameter of the pipette [1].
US08051724B1
A conduit system comprising: a conduit formed by a surface extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the conduit is configured to channel a mixture stream from the first end to the second end; and a plurality of fluid delivery features disposed along the conduit between the first end and the second end, wherein each fluid delivery feature is configured to deliver a conditioning fluid into the conduit in an annular formation in a direction angled towards the second end in the same direction as the flow of the mixture stream, thereby providing a sheath of conditioning fluid between the conduit surface and the mixture stream.
US08051717B2
The measurement of a flaw height in a thick welded portion of a stainless steel specimen, which is difficult to perform by the TOFD method, can be conducted with more ease, with higher accuracy and in a shorter time than in the case of using tip echo techniques. In addition, it is possible to reduce variations in measurement results among individual inspectors.An ultrasonic wave 21 is launched by a transmitting probe 1 into a specimen 20 in a direction oblique to a flaw 24 to generate diffracted waves at the tip 25 of the flaw 24, then a diffracted wave 22 propagating upward directly from the flaw 24 and a diffracted wave 23 propagating upwardly of the flaw 24 after once reflected off the back 27 are received by a receiving probe 2 disposed above the flaw 24, and the height of the tip of the flaw 24 from the back 27 is measured from the propagation time difference between the received diffracted waves.
US08051715B2
The present disclosure provides a device and method for non-destructive testing of an object using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, wherein the device is provided with a reconfigurable nest for placement of objects of various shapes and sizes on the device. The reconfigurable nest includes a plurality of transducers that are held in place using a rheological fluid. As each transducer is arranged, for example, using a robotic tool, an electric or magnetic field is applied to the rheological fluid in contact with said transducer, thereby holding the transducer in place. This device and method thus provide a nest for a resonant inspection device that may be reconfigured in much less time and with much less effort when compared to existing solutions.
US08051705B2
This invention provides a tire (10) equipped with a sensor (14), attached to a rubber member (15) in the surface of the tire (10), for detecting deformation of the tire (10). The sensor (14) is adhered to the rubber member (15) with the aid of an elastic adhesive formed of a room-temperature moisture cure adhesive agent composed mainly of an acryl modified silicone resin or the like. The adhesive between the sensor (14) and the rubber member (15) is cured to form an elastic adhesive layer (16). According to the above constitution, the deformation of the rubber member (15) in the tire surface can be transmitted to the sensor (14) with high accuracy, and, at the same time, the durability of the sensor (14) can be improved.
US08051700B2
An exhaust gas sensor and a method for determining concentrations of exhaust gas constituents are provided. The exhaust gas sensor includes a NO2 Nernst cell that generates a first voltage indicative of a NO2 concentration in the exhaust gases communicating with the NO2 sensing electrode. The exhaust gas sensor further includes a NOx Nernst cell that generates a second voltage indicative of a NOx concentration in the exhaust gases communicating with the NOx sensing electrode. The exhaust gas sensor further includes a NH3 Nernst cell that generates a third voltage indicative of a NH3 concentration in the exhaust gases communicating with the NH3 sensing electrode.
US08051695B2
The method for cooling a hot strip which is obtained after a hot rolling process to the temperature range of 500° or less. Cooling water is brought into contact with the hot strip. The method includes a first cooling step and a subsequent second cooling step. Cooling is stopped at a strip temperature that is higher than a transition boiling initiation temperature in the first cooling step, and the cooling is conducted using the cooling water having a water flow rate that causes nucleate boiling in the subsequent second cooling step. Entering the temperature range of transition boiling can be completely prevented to avoid thermal instability in cooling resulting from the transition boiling, and the temperature variation of the strip after cooling is controlled to be small while the cooling end temperature can be precisely controlled.
US08051694B2
A shaft manufacturing apparatus includes a first drawing die having a cylindrical first cavity defined therein which is open at both ends thereof and a second drawing die having a cylindrical second cavity defined therein which is open at one end thereof. The angle formed between a first tapered part of the first drawing die and the axis of the first cavity is greater than the angle formed between a second tapered part of the second drawing die and the axis of the second cavity.
US08051687B2
A system, method, and computer program product for detecting and compensating for a traction steer event is provided. A first wheel speed of a first driven wheel is compared with a second wheel speed of a second driven wheel to determine whether a wheel slip condition has occurred. If a wheel slip condition is determined to have occurred, a current operating state of a vehicle is compared to an expected operating state of the vehicle to determine if a traction steer event has occurred. If a traction steer event is determined to have occurred, brake pressure is selectively applied to the first or second driven wheel to compensate for the traction steer event.
US08051685B2
The present invention relates to a controller effectively controlling the power for a washing machine and a drier, and a method of doing the same. More particularly, it relates to a controller for a washing machine or a dryer, and a method for supplying the power so that a washing machine and a drier as a one body may perform an optimal efficiency in a range of a current limit, when supplied the power by the same power source. A controller for a washing machine comprising a micom; and communication means for communicating with a controller of a dryer. A controller for a dryer comprising a micom; and communication means for communicating with the controller of the washing machine.
US08051679B2
Methods of using a laser to separate a glass sheet is presented that employs an elongated and, preferably, asymmetrically-truncated laser beam. The methods allow glass sheets suitable for use in modern display applications to be separated at speeds up to about 200 mm/s with low levels of residual stress, e.g., levels of residual stress which are less than or equal to 100 psi, and preferably less than 50 psi. Glasses with high coefficients of thermal expansion (e.g. greater than about 35×10−7/° C.) may be separated at faster speeds. Such low levels of residual stress translate into low levels of distortion during the manufacture of display panels (e.g., LCD panels) as well as in improved properties (geometry, strength, defect-free etc.) of the separated edges. The methods can be used with glasses of various types including glasses having high coefficients of thermal expansion and also with glass sheets of different thickness.
US08051677B1
Disclosed is a float bath system for manufacturing a float glass, comprising a block assembly having a plurality of blocks connected to each other and configured to store a molten metal therein; a steel casing surrounding the block assembly; an air blower capable of supplying air to the steel casing; and a cooling water spray member capable of spraying a cooling water onto the steel casing. And, a cooling method of said float bath system is disclosed.
US08051676B2
A modular setting diamond jewelry includes a noble metal base with the bottom thereof being in a shape of taper. A plurality of diamond holes is defined in the top of the noble metal base for receiving diamonds therein. A protrusion is formed between each two adjacent diamond holes which locate at the circumference of noble metal base. The peripheral setting diamonds abut against the central diamond with inner edges thereof. The outer edge of each peripheral diamond is aligned to the peripheral edge of the noble metal base. One diamond hole is defined in the center of the noble metal base, and eight diamond holes are defined around the central diamond hole. The modular setting diamond jewelry of the present invention is ready to make with low cost, since the diamond holes defined in the noble metal base and the protrusions formed between the peripheral diamond holes can install several diamonds and the diamonds together with the noble metal base form an artistic whole to have the same effect as a big grain diamond.
US08051673B2
A circulating air refrigerating appliance surrounds at least one storage region and an evaporation chamber containing an evaporator. The evaporator engages with projections extending from an inner wall of the housing defining the evaporation chamber. A separating wall between the storage region and the evaporation chamber is mounted adjacently to the evaporator in the housing.
US08051670B2
A vehicle that includes a frame, a prime mover, an alternator, a cabin, a HVAC system, and a power source. The prime mover is operable in a first mode that is configured for driving the vehicle and a second mode that is configured for standby operation of the vehicle. The cabin includes walls that define a space and that have insulation to insulate the space. The HVAC system is in communication with the cabin to condition the space, and includes a cooling system, a heating system, and a sorption system that dehumidifies air provided to the space. The power source has a battery that is in electrical communication with the alternator and the HVAC system to supply power to the HVAC system from the battery when the prime mover is in the first mode and when the prime mover is in the second mode.
US08051668B2
A controller comprises a first input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a compressor, a second input that receives a signal indicating an energy consumption value of a condenser fan, and an output that provides a control signal to the condenser fan. The controller also comprises a memory that stores a condenser set point, and a processor in communication with the input, output and memory and that modulates the condenser set-point to minimize energy consumption and controls the condenser fan based on the condenser set-point.
US08051667B2
An icemaker control module for controlling an icemaker making ice bodies in a freezer has a base with snap fit components including an insert molded circuit board, a motor assembly, an ice level sensing system using a bail arm or a paddle, and a water fill system. Lance features in the circuit board connect switch and motor leads. The thermostat, ground wire, and heater of the icemaker electrically couple to the insert molded circuit board when the ice maker control module is joined to the ice maker. Energy may be conserved by pausing rotation and turning off the heater. There is a method for manufacturing the insert molded circuit board in a cell.
US08051660B2
The present invention relates to a charging device (1), in particular an exhaust-gas turbo charger for a motor vehicle, comprising a shaft (3) which is supported in a housing (2), and which carries a turbine wheel (6) on the turbine side, and a compressor wheel (8) on the compressor side, wherein the shaft (3) is supported by means of at least one bearing device (9) in the housing (2), wherein a lubricant supply channel (10) is provided through which the bearing device (9) is supplied with lubricant, wherein in the lubricant supply channel (10), a filter device (11) with at least one filter element (12) is arranged. For this, it is essential for the invention that the filter element (12) is pretensioned by means of a spring device (13) against a seal seat (14), wherein the spring device (13) and the filter element (12) is formed in a manner that at exceeding of a predefined lubricant threshold pressure, the filter element (12) disengages from the seal seat (14), and releases a bypass (15) which bypasses the filter element (12).
US08051658B2
A hydraulic element, in particular for arranging in a pressure line between a master cylinder and a slave cylinder of a hydraulic clutch actuating arrangement, having a housing which has a master-cylinder-side hydraulic connection and a slave-cylinder-side hydraulic connection and which holds a valve arrangement, a simpler design is obtained in that the valve arrangement has two valve bodies which are mounted in a floating fashion in the housing and which can be moved relative to one another counter to the force of a spring.
US08051644B2
A system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter with multiple zones. An electrical heater includes heater segments that are associated with respective ones of the zones. The electrical heater is arranged upstream from and proximate with the PM filter. A post fuel injection system injects fuel into at least one of a cylinder of an engine and an exhaust system. A control module selects one of the zones, adjusts post fuel injection based on the selected one of the zones, and electrically heats the one of the zones via a respective one of the heater segments.
US08051642B2
Method of controlling an NOx purification system provided with an NOx occlusion reduction catalyst and a control unit that conducts NOx regeneration control and sulfur poisoning regeneration control. A degree of deterioration of the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst due to sulfur poisoning is estimated on the basis of an amount of an integrated value of a difference between an oxygen concentration on an outlet side of the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst and an oxygen concentration on an inlet side thereof. In so doing, the amount of sulfur poisoning in the NOx occlusion reduction catalyst is accurately estimated, excessive sulfur poisoning regeneration can be avoided, and fuel consumption can be reduced.
US08051637B2
A heat absorbing radiator and a gas turbine engine or a reciprocating piston engine are used to recapture and reconvert wasted heat energies into electric power and finally into hydrogen-deuterium fuel by having the engine's tailpipes submerged in cold compressed air inside the heat absorbing radiator pipes in reverse air flow to further drive the same engine. In order to capture fusion heat energy a hydrogen bomb is detonated in deep ocean to catch the flames by the water and the hot water energizes compressed air inside heat absorbing radiator pipes. In order to produce fusion energy an electric arc is passed thru/across liquid or gaseous deuterium by an electro-plasma torch and by a sparkplug in an internal combustion engine, or by detonating a dynamite inside liquid deuterium. Diamond is produced by placing carbon inside a hydrogen bomb which is then detonated in deepwater. Deuterium fusion flame is used first in smelting glass into large structural sizes before running an engine.
US08051629B2
A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.
US08051628B2
The invention relates to a device for gas filling of a duct (7) in a container (1) of a collapsible type, said duct (7) being defined by a first and a second side wall (2) of the container (1), the side walls (2) being joined along a common connecting portion (4), and said duct (7) comprising an inlet (15) arranged in the first side wall (2). The device comprises an abutment (21) and a gas module (26) with an outlet (28), which is arranged in a surface of the gas module (26) facing the abutment (21), and a clamping means (29) arranged outside the outlet (28), which clamping means (29) is applicable to the abutment (21) for clamping the container (1), and which outlet (28), in connection with the clamping of the container (1), is applicable to said inlet (15) for supply of gas to the duct (7) of the container. The device is characterized by a groove (30) formed in said surface of the gas module (26), which groove surrounds the outlet (28) and is positioned radially inside said clamping means (29), said groove (30) being arranged to prevent, when supplying gas to the duct (7) intended to be filled with gas, build-up of a pressure above atmospheric on the side, facing the gas module, of said first side wall (2) surrounding said inlet (15). The invention also relates to a method for filling such a duct with gas.
US08051619B2
A reinforcing and spacing device is described for use in a masonry wall structure of successive courses of brick, block, stone or other similar masonry material. The reinforcing spacer device includes parallel side rods with interconnecting intermediate rods and spacing nodes disposed on the side rods and the intermediate rods. The embedment of the reinforcing spacer device in the horizontal and vertical mortar joints of a masonry wall structure provides simultaneous reinforcement of the horizontal mortar joint and uniform spacing of the brick, block, stone or other similar masonry material. The reinforcing spacer device is a labor-saving, combination device that is economical to manufacture and allows for proper positioning and strengthening of a masonry wall structure.
US08051608B1
A wind tower transport cover for covering an opening at an end of a wind tower section. The wind tower transport cover includes a main section and a packaging section. The main section is capable of substantially covering the opening at the end of the wind tower section. The packaging section extends from the main section. The packaging section is positionable in a storage configuration where the packaging section is substantially adjacent the main section and wherein the main section is positionable in a shipping configuration where the main section is at least partially within the packaging section.
US08051591B2
The present invention relates to a guide and tensioning system for a billboard, comprising a facing area surrounded by trim pieces. The trim pieces each comprise a back plate, a side plate and a front plate. Guide groups may be located at various locations along the outside edge of the back plate. The guide groups may comprise an arced guide located between two tab guides or a keeper tab may be centered over the arced guide. The guide group may also comprise a clip that selectively secures to the arced guide. The clip has a complimentary shape to the arced guide and to a gap in the back plate. Hook-like structures on the clip selectively engage with the end edge portions of the arced guide. When engaged with the arced guide, the clip preferably prevents a cable member from falling behind the back plate.
US08051586B2
A customization system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The customization system comprises an insert system. The insert system includes an insert and a heel member. Both the insert and the heel member may be interchangeable, allowing the user to modify the article of footwear to provide a customized fit or performance optimization. An article of footwear may also include a full length composite plate to be used as part of an outsole assembly. The full length composite plate may comprise a composite material that has a certain percent elongation, and can include a heel cup for heel stability and improved traction.
US08051576B2
An attitude arm mounted to a support arm is rotatable about a pivot. The attitude arm holds a stylus gauge, which generates a signal representing deflection of the stylus in a measurement direction as the stylus follows a surface of a workpiece rotated on a turntable. An attitude switching mechanism allows switching between a first stylus attitude generally aligned with the turntable spindle axis and a second stylus attitude generally aligned perpendicular to the turntable spindle axis. To enable alignment of the measurement direction with the spindle axis, first and second adjusters enable the stylus tip to be moved perpendicular to the spindle axis and the measurement direction when in the first and second stylus attitudes, respectively. An orientation mechanism is provided to rotate the measurement direction of the stylus. A stylus tilt mechanism is provided to tilt the stylus about a tilt axis parallel with the measurement direction.
US08051571B2
A hair clipper includes a housing and a blade assembly coupled to the housing. The blade assembly is coupled to the housing at a cutting end and is movable between an operating position and an open position. The clipper also includes a release assembly including a release mechanism. The release assembly is switchable between a hold state and a release state. In the hold state, the release assembly holds the blade assembly in the operating position. In the release state, upon application of a force on the release mechanism, the release assembly releases the blade assembly to permit the blade assembly to move to the open position in the absence of an additional force.
US08051568B2
The present invention relates to a temporary grate cover apparatus for placement over a storm water grate to filter sediment and trash from entering the storm drain during a construction project and to a method of making and attaching a storm water grate cover to a storm water grate.
US08051555B2
An assembling apparatus includes a chip transfer unit, a heating unit, a testing unit, and an output unit. The chip transfer unit mounts first semiconductor chip to a circuit board to form an electrical circuit. The heating unit heats a solder connection to electrically connect the semiconductor chip to the circuit board. The testing unit tests the semiconductor chip, and, when the testing unit determines that the first semiconductor chip is not functioning properly, the heating unit reheats the solder connection to remove the non-functioning semiconductor chip from the circuit board.
US08051553B1
Apparatus for adjusting the static attitude of a head suspension having a gimbal with at least one gimbal arm. One embodiment of the invention includes a pair of first contacting members contacting a first side of the gimbal arm at a pair of spaced apart locations, and a second contacting member contacting a second side of the gimbal arm at an intermediate location between the spaced apart locations. The first and second contacting members move together relative to each other, plastically deforming the gimbal arm by the relative movement between the second and first contacting members while the spaced apart location between the first contacting members is maintained during the plastic deformation such that at least one of a pitch and roll parameter of the gimbal is adjusted to a desired amount.
US08051545B2
Landing gear for selectively supporting a semitrailer and a method of assembly of the landing gear is provided. The landing gear includes a leg having an upper section and a lower section telescopingly received in the upper section. A lead screw extends and retracts the upper and lower sections relative to each other upon rotation thereof. An input shaft applies a torque to the lead screw to drive rotation thereof, the input shaft being rotatable about a rotation axis and movable in translation along the rotation axis for shifting between a first position for low gear operation and a second position for high gear operation. An output shaft, axially aligned with the input shaft, has an output gear for transmitting torque to the lead screw. A gearing subassembly is received in the upper leg section and is configured to augment lift when the input shaft is in the first position and augment speed in the second position.
US08051538B2
The invention provides a handle of a hand tool. The handle has a grip section and a neck section. Multiple abutment regions are disposed on a circumference of the neck section for a user's thumb to press against the abutment regions. Multiple grip regions are disposed on a circumference of the grip section for the user's palm and other fingers to hold. The grip regions and the abutment regions are asymmetrically arranged, whereby different grip regions and different abutment regions of handle cooperate to provide many different holding ranges. Different users can choose their most suitable holding positions to hold the handle in accordance with the sizes of their hands.
US08051536B2
A drapery holder releasably engages a header jamb of a window. A vertical front wall and back wall are disposed in parallel relation to one another and are interconnected to one another by a horizontal bottom wall. Co-planar horizontal flanges are formed integrally with the front wall and the back wall and extend toward one another. Respective inboard ends of the horizontal flanges are spaced apart from one another to capture drapery carriers that are slideable along the extent of the horizontal flanges under the control of a drapery control apparatus. A channel is formed by the horizontal bottom wall and respective upper ends of the front and back walls and a plurality of magnets is positioned within the channel. Each magnet magnetically engages ferrous materials that form a part of the header jamb so that the drapery holder is releasably secured to the header jamb by a magnetic field.
US08051534B1
A pneumatic door closer for effecting the closing of an associated door having a controlled rate of a closing motion that is generally uniform, smooth and safe in moving from an opened to closed position of an associated door. The door closer includes an elongated cylinder with a displaceable piston defining a vacuum chamber and a pressure chamber within the elongated cylinder wherein the piston is normally biased toward a door closing position by a suitable spring. A piston rod connected to the piston has its free end extending through a rod opening that includes an air impervious seal formed about the piston rod extending therethrough. Disposed in communication with the vacuum chamber is a breather arrangement for diminishing in a controlled manner the level of vacuum being created within the vacuum chamber during the closing stroke of the piston to control the resulting resistance forces acting on the piston such that the closing speed is essentially uniform throughout the closing stroke.
US08051529B2
A material-removal system can include a spray-head assembly with a plurality of rotatable fluid bars arranged in a single shroud with overlapping sweeps. A gear-box assembly can index the rotations of the fluid bars to coordinate their rotation and prevent the fluid bars from interfering with one another. The material-removal system can be mounted on a mobile platform, such as a vehicle. The vehicle can have a fluid-storage tank and a debris tank that can be tilted for dumping operation while the fluid-storage tank remains stationary. A peristaltic pump can advantageously remove liquid waste from the debris tank while a vacuum system has the debris tank operating under vacuum. The spray-head assembly can be coupled to the vehicle with an articulating-arm assembly that can include a four-bar mechanism and a pair of rotary actuators to facilitate vertical and rotational movement of the arm assembly and the spray-head assembly.
US08051525B2
A brush is made up of: a handle an aluminum tubular body which is coated with an artificial plastic material, vinyl fluoride polymer, and holes with polygonal shape, arranged in a herringbone pattern, which end in bevelling and are arranged forming oblique lines in respect of the longitudinal axis of the brush. Nylon fibers are ionized by radiation, and are fixed helicoidally to a supporting center rod, located inside the tubular body. The fibers emerge through the holes of the tubular body, and a front top closes the fore end of the tubular body.
US08051523B1
A tube cleaning implement with elongate shaft supporting a brush in a median section and similar scrapers or wipers fitted to opposite ends of the shaft to provide for a scrape-brush-scrape cleaning action of tube interiors, and to provide a reversible implement having extended useful life.
US08051520B2
The invention relates to an electric toothbrush (10) having a rechargeable energy store (24) that is arranged in an inner space (36) in the body (12) of the toothbrush (10). The inner space (36) is sealed by a primary sealing element (56) against splash water and other detrimental influences. At least one contact element (28) for an external power supply unit (46) produces an electrically conductive connection to the energy store (24). The contact element is located either within the inner space (36), it being possible for the primary sealing element (56) to be removed for charging purposes, or outside the inner space (36), in which case it is optionally protected by an additional secondary sealing element (76). The invention also relates to a process for producing such a toothbrush.
US08051514B2
The invention generally pertains to a pillow convertible between an open position as a food and beverage holder and a closed position as a pillow. By way of example, the pillow has a first and second pillow portion that may be coupled and uncoupled to switch between a closed position and an open position. The pillow also has a food surface member with one or more beverage holders that is sized to fit within the interior of the pillow in the closed position. In another example, the food surface member is a two-piece construction with a slidable tray lock that moves between a first position when the pillow is closed and a second position that secures the two pieces together as a substantially coplanar surface when the pillow is open. In yet another example, the beverage holder is tapered so as to fit a variety of sizes of beverage containers.
US08051497B1
A head-covering apparatus is disclosed, which extends over the top of a human head and down its sides and toward the back of the neck. The apparatus has a forward extending portion with two pocket-style openings, the first pocket for receiving a flexible material that makes up the head-covering portion of the apparatus, and the second pocket for receiving the visor or bill of a baseball-style hat. The apparatus can be affixed to the visor/bill of a baseball-style hat and used in two different configurations: in the first configuration, the invention is “unfurled” so that its flexible material covers the human head and portions of the baseball hat; in the second configuration, the invention is compacted such that its flexible material is rolled or folded into a small compacted size, and then placed into the second pocket of the forward extending portion.
US08056133B1
In one embodiment, a peer-to-peer (P2P) protect server may include a crawler to obtain files available for P2P data transfer. The P2P protect server may employ a scan engine to scan the files for computer viruses, and store the results of the scanning in a database. A P2P protect application running in a P2P client may request the P2P protect server for information on whether or not a particular file available for P2P data transfer is infected with a computer virus. This allows the user of the P2P client to make an informed decision before downloading the file from another P2P client.
US08056128B1
A system includes a data repository and a processing unit. The data repository stores data associated with a corpus of documents hosted on one or more servers. The processing unit analyzes data associated with a suspect document from the corpus of documents. The processing unit further assigns a score, based on the analyzed data, to the suspect document that indicates whether the suspect document is potentially fraudulent.
US08056127B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method that comprises receiving and storing a power-on password. Embodiments of the invention include a method that comprises receiving and storing a power-on password. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a power-on password, wherein the receiving of the power-on password occurs during power-on operations of a computer. The method can also include storing the power-on password, wherein the storing includes saving the power-on password in memory. The method can also include loading an operating system to control the computer, wherein the loading occurs after the power-on operations. The method can also include detecting, after the loading, that a peripheral devices has been added to the computer and determining that an access password is needed to access the peripheral device. The method can also include transmitting the power-on password to the peripheral device and presenting a prompt requesting a secondary password; receiving the secondary password. The method can also include transmitting the secondary password to the peripheral device; and accessing the peripheral device.
US08056126B2
An authentication system for an instruction processing apparatus includes first and second authentication portions each for performing user authentication at the time of using the instruction processing apparatus, and a controller which makes the first authentication portion execute the user authentication and switches from the first authentication portion to the second authentication portion when the user authentication by the first authentication portion cannot be established.
US08056116B2
This invention is to appropriately cope with abnormal states. A control method according to the present invention includes: identifying an abnormal level according to abnormal level reference data stored in advance in an abnormal level reference data storage, from context relating to abnormalities, which has been collected in advance and stored in a context storage; and converting the identified abnormal level to an authentication strength level according to a predetermined authentication strength level setting rule, and causing an authentication server to carry out an authentication processing according to the authentication strength level. By carrying out such a processing, it becomes possible to cause the authentication server to carry out an authentication having an authentication strength level corresponding to an abnormal state.
US08056115B2
System, method and program product for generating an attack profile. A set of messages from a same source IP address sent to a plurality of different destination IP addresses of a same company during an interval of time is identified. Each of the messages contains a respective signature characteristic of a malicious message. First and second messages of the set that are correlated to each other as part of a same attack are determined based on frequency of occurrence of the first message, frequency of occurrence of the second message in the set and similarity in a number of occurrences of the first message in the set to a number of occurrences of the second message in the set. The first message has a first signature and the second message has a second, different signature. An attack profile based on a combination of the first and second messages is generated and recorded. A rule can be automatically generated to detect a combination of the first and second messages.
US08056106B2
The present invention provides a method for an interactive media services system to provide media to a user through an interactive media services client device. The client device is coupled to a programmable media services server device. The method includes the step of implementing an interactive media guide. Additionally, the client device is implemented to present the interactive media guide to the user. A system operator is provided an interface to the programmable media services server. Control options are provided within the interface to allow the system operator to configure a plurality of rental options available to the user. Finally the interactive media service system is implemented such that the plurality of rental options can be executed by the user in a requested active media session.
US08056103B2
In one embodiment, a method and system for receiving in a set-top-box a signal including a conditionally accessible content and encoded based on a first audio/video encoding standard (AVES); conditionally accessing the content of the signal in set-top-box based on predetermined access criteria; transmitting the content to a device external to the set-top-box; transcoding the content by the device from the first audio/video encoding standard to a second AVES; and providing the transcoded content to the set-top-box. In another embodiment, an apparatus including a set-top-box including a conditional accessing logic to access the content of a signal; and a set-top-box housing including an opening to allow interfacing between set-top-box and a transcoder system, the transcoder system to receive the content from the set-top-box via the opening, to transcode the content from a first AVES to a second AVES, and to provide the transcoded content to set-top-box via the opening.
US08056084B2
A method of allocating a resource in a computer system having a plurality of operating systems, and related system, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) operating to facilitate interactions between at least one of the plurality of the operating systems and one or more of the resource, a hardware device, and firmware, and determining whether the resource is allocated to a first of the plurality of operating systems. The method further includes ejecting the resource from the first operating system, and allocating the resource to a second of the plurality of operating systems.
US08056081B2
Described herein is a method of controlling memory usage in a computer system having limited physical memory, wherein one or more application programs execute in conjunction with an operating system. At a first memory usage threshold, the operating system requests at least one of the application programs to limit its use of memory. At a second memory usage threshold that is more critical than the first memory usage threshold, the operating system requests at least one of the application programs to close itself. At a third memory usage threshold that is more critical than the first and second memory usage thresholds, the operating system terminates at least one of the application programs without allowing its further execution.
US08056080B2
Execution units process commands from one or more command queues. Once a command is available on the queue, each unit participating in the execution of the command atomically decrements the command's work groups remaining counter by the work group reservation size and processes a corresponding number of work groups within a work group range. Once all work groups within a range are processed, an execution unit increments a work group processed counter. The unit that increments the work group processed counter to the value stored in a work groups to be executed counter signals completion of the command. Each execution unit that access a command also marks a work group seen counter. Once the work groups processed counter equals the work groups to be executed counter and the work group seen counter equals the number of execution units, the command may be removed or overwritten on the command queue.
US08056076B1
A method and system for acquiring a quiesceing set of information associated with a virtual machine. A virtual machine is cloned. The cloned virtual machine has an associated persistent storage device. The state of the persistent storage device is transformed into a quiesced state of the cloned virtual machine by utilizing a shut-down process. The shut-down process is executed on the cloned virtual machine to quiesce the cloned virtual machine and the quiesceing set of information of the cloned virtual machine is automatically reduced to information stored on the persistent storage device.
US08056074B2
A system and program product for enabling dormant computer hardware resources in a computer system having a set of dormant computer hardware resources. The method includes accepting a customer request to enable a set of dormant hardware resources, and providing computer readable instructions to a customer accessible console in communication with the computer system. The instructions are installable by the customer, and are capable of enabling dormant computer hardware resources upon installation. An order process establishes prerequisites, facilitates customer order placement, and provides rapid order fulfillment. Prerequisites include contract terms, information describing the computer system configuration, access to provider systems, and customer system setup. Ordering is facilitated through information management, configuration rules, and an interactive interface, presenting valid configuration options to the customer. Fulfillment is facilitated through parallel processing, providing computer readable upgrade instructions nearly concurrently with provider's internal order approval. An alternative embodiment provides upgrade instructions before provider's internal order approval.
US08056063B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for minimizing code duplication in a statically typeable language program is presented. A plurality of trees of functional instructions for a program are received, each of the plurality of trees including at least one functional node. The plurality of trees of functional instructions for a program are compared and similar trees of functional instructions are merged to eliminate similar function nodes. A combined module is produced from results of the merging, the combined module having code duplication removed therefrom.
US08056059B2
A method for detecting the occurrence of rare events in an executable logic code includes assigning a first probability of a chance of traversal of one or more decision paths, in which each path connects two decision points defined by execution of the logic code. As a result of execution of the logic code, the decision paths traversed are evaluated to determine whether said traversal conforms to a predefined performance function. The performance function defines a goal to be achieved pursuant to the execution of the logic code. A second probability is assigned to the chance of traversal of at least one of said one or more decision paths to increase the likelihood that the one or more decision paths are traversed in a subsequent execution of the logic code in a closer conformity with the predefined performance function.
US08056026B2
The manufacturability of a lithographic mask employed in fabricating instances of a semiconductor device is determined. Target edges are selected from mask layout data of the lithographic mask. The mask layout data includes polygons distributed over cells, where each polygon has edges. The cells include a center cell, two vertical cells above and below the center cell, and two horizontal cells to the left and right of the center cell. Target edge pairs are selected for determining a manufacturing penalty in making the lithographic mask, in a manner that decreases the computational volume in determining the manufacturing penalty. The manufacturability of the lithographic mask, including the manufacturing penalty in making the lithographic mask, is determined based on the target edge pairs selected. The manufacturability of the lithographic mask is output. The manufacturability of the lithographic mask is dependent on the manufacturing penalty in making the lithographic mask.
US08056023B2
The manufacturability of a lithographic mask employed in fabricating instances of a semiconductor device is determined. Target edge pairs are selected from mask layout data of the lithographic mask to determine a manufacturing penalty in making the lithographic mask. The mask layout data includes polygons, where each polygon has edges, and where each target edge pair is defined by two of the edges of one or more of the polygons. The number of the target edge pairs is reduced to decrease computational volume in determining the manufacturing penalty in making the lithographic mask. The manufacturability of the lithographic mask, including the manufacturing penalty in making the lithographic mask, is determined based on the target edge pairs as reduced in number. The manufacturability of the lithographic mask is output. The manufacturability of the lithographic mask is dependent on the manufacturing penalty in making the lithographic mask.
US08056021B2
Photomask patterns are represented using contours defined by level-set functions. Given target pattern, contours are optimized such that defined photomask, when used in photolithographic process, prints wafer pattern faithful to target pattern. Optimization utilizes “merit function” for encoding aspects of photolithographic process, preferences relating to resulting pattern (e.g. restriction to rectilinear patterns), robustness against process variations, as well as restrictions imposed relating to practical and economic manufacturability of photomasks.
US08056013B2
A method for arranging a set of graphic assemblies within an area includes establishing a candidate tree associated with the set of graphic assemblies; determining if the candidate tree is a feasible candidate tree; and in response to the candidate tree being a feasible candidate tree, arranging the set of graphic assemblies within the area in accordance with the candidate tree.
US08056012B2
Devices, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing a graphical workflow programming environment for routing documents. First a workflow design platform is provided that comprises a process canvas for receiving at least one graphical workflow programming object. Next, a graphical representation of the graphical workflow programming object is provided where the graphical representation is adapted to be selected by an administrator of the graphical workflow programming environment and inserted into the process canvas, wherein the graphical workflow programming object comprises a graphical decision point that is adapted to route the documents based on contents of the documents.
US08056001B2
A method of classifying elements of a document includes receiving a file defining a document having at least one page and a plurality of elements. Each selected element is classified into one of a plurality of categories based on at least one of the element type, location, size (area, height, or width), or recurrence throughout the document.
US08055997B2
A system and method is provided for implementing a dynamic form using file data retrieved from an external file source. An application executing on a server computer is responsive to a form request received from a user system computer to transform the retrieved file data into a format that includes new input elements. Unique namespaces are assigned to each of the new input elements, and the requested form and transformed file data are transmitted to the user system. The application is configured to create new XML file data that is mapped to the original XML file data in response to a user of the user system inputting data into the form. The new XML file data is compared to the original XML file data to identify missing elements. Missing elements are inserted into the new XML file data, and the new XML file data is stored in a memory.
US08055996B2
A pattern validation method can include retrieving a value for a form based input field from a form defined in markup rendered in a content browser. The retrieved value along with a validation pattern for the form based input field can be passed to a validation process disposed within a lightweight validation library coupled to the rendered markup. Subsequently, the retrieved value can be validated in the content browser according to the validation pattern. Notably, each step of retrieving, passing and validating can be repeated for at least one additional value for at least one additional form based input field disposed in the markup rendered in the content browser. In this regard, the retrieving, passing, and validating steps can be performed in a validation shell function disposed in the markup rendered in the content browser.
US08055990B2
Aspects of a method and system are provided for error detection for improving data integrity in protocol offloading. Aspects of the invention may enable receiving a block of data having a modulo-based input error detection code and an error correction term appended thereto, calculating an output error detection code of the block, combining the input error detection code and the error correction term to produce a modified error detection code, and comparing the calculated error detection code to the modified error detection code so as to detect an error in the block. The error correction term may be equal to a binary difference between the input error detection code and the output error detection code. The input error detection code and the error correction term may be combined by applying an XOR operation.
US08055987B2
An apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving a signal in a communication system are provided. The signal transmission apparatus generates a parity check matrix for an LDPC code in accordance with a code rate to be used and generates a codeword vector by encoding an information vector using the parity check matrix. When the code rate is a first code rate, the signal transmission apparatus generates a first parity check matrix as the parity check matrix for the LDPC code. When the code rate is the second code rate, the signal transmission apparatus generates a second parity check matrix supporting a second code rate lower than the first code rate by adding columns of a degree of 1 and columns of a degree of 2 to the first parity check matrix and generates the second parity check matrix as the parity check matrix for the LDPC code.
US08055982B2
A method includes receiving payload data from a data source at error correction code (ECC) logic, where the ECC logic is adapted to process a block of data of a particular size via a plurality of stages. The ECC logic is initialized to a selected stage of the plurality of stages. The selected stage includes an initial value and an initial number of cycles. The initial value and the initial number of cycles are related to a number of symbols of padding data corresponding to a difference in size between the payload data and the block of data. The selected stage is related to a state of the ECC logic as if the number of symbols of padding data had already been processed by the ECC logic. The payload data is processed via the ECC logic beginning with the selected stage to produce parity data related to the payload data.
US08055979B2
A solid state non-volatile memory unit includes, in part, an encoder, a multi-level solid state non-volatile memory array adapted to store data encoded by the encoder, and a decoder adapted to decode the data retrieved from the memory array. The memory array may be a flash EEPROM array. The memory unit optionally includes a modulator and a demodulator. The data modulated by the modulator is stored in the memory array. The demodulator demodulates the modulated data retrieved from the memory array.
US08055976B2
A system and method for providing error correction and detection in a memory system. The memory system includes a plurality of memory devices, and error detection and correction logic. The error detection and correction logic includes instructions for generating an error correction code (ECC) word that includes bits from two more of the memory devices and from different memory device transfers.
US08055975B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a check/correct circuit coupled to a control circuit. The check/correct circuit is coupled to receive a block of data and corresponding check bits. The block of data is received as N transmissions, each transmission including M data bits and L check bits. The check/correct circuit is configured to detect one or more errors in each of a plurality of non-overlapping windows of K bits in the M data bits, responsive to the M data bits and the L check bits. The control circuit is configured to record which of the plurality of windows have had errors detected and, if a given window of the plurality of windows has had errors detected in each of the N transmissions of the block, the control circuit is configured to signal a device failure. Each of K, L, M, and N are integers greater than one.
US08055974B2
There are provided a content data transmission method, device, and program that minimize serious disturbances in reproduced content on the reception side, caused by a transmission error of encoded data, without sending feedback information from the reception side to the transmission side. When an encoder creates encoded data to be distributed, the encoder creates plural items of encoded data at the same time or creates FEC data at the same time in advance and, when storing the data in a file, stores the data as if the data were one item of encoded data. When a distribution server distributes the data using the file, the plurality of items of encoded data are automatically distributed at the same time and the FEC data is distributed. A client receives the plurality of items of encoded data or the FEC data to reduce the probability of data shortage due to a packet loss and, as a result, the deterioration in the image quality and the audio quality is reduced.
US08055968B2
A panel driving circuit that produces a panel test pattern and a method of testing a panel are provided. The driving circuit includes a pattern generation unit and a selection unit. The pattern generation unit responds to a system clock and produces pattern test data and pattern test signals. The selection unit responds to a test signal and selects and outputs either (a) the pattern test data and the pattern test signals that are outputted from the pattern generation unit, or (b) the pattern test data and pattern test signals that are directly applied from the outside. The driving circuit and the method of the panel test generates the panel test data, the horizontal synchronizing signal, the vertical synchronizing signal, and the data activating signal within the driving circuit using a system clock so that the testing of the panel can be carried out without using a separate test device.
US08055967B2
An IC includes an IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port (TAP) interface and an additional Off-Chip TAP interface. The Off-Chip TAP interface connects to the TAP of another IC. The Off Chip TAP interface can be selected by a TAP Linking Module on the IC.
US08055962B2
Special test circuitry in an IC for wafer level testing selectively connects the specialized test circuitry to the functional circuitry during wafer test. Following wafer test the special test circuitry is electrically isolated from the functional circuitry and power supplies such that it does not load functional circuit signals nor consume power.
US08055957B2
An integrated circuit device contains a flash memory, a flash control unit for controlling the rewriting and reading on the flash memory, and a processor unit. The processor unit includes a normal mode and a fail-safe mode as the operating states. In normal mode, when a defect is detected during the verify operation after writing data onto the flash memory then any further use of the flash memory is stopped. In fail-safe-mode, when a defect is detected during the verify operation after writing data onto the flash memory, the error is corrected and flash memory usage continues. The operating state is normal mode, and when the verify operation detects a defect after normal mode erase operation, the operation shifts to fail-safe mode.
US08055953B2
The present invention is directed to an information processing system composed of plural information processing units adapted for mutually executing data communication, and for executing data processing in which communication data has been applied. The first entity A transmits error notification data on the basis of error detection to execute initial state return processing on the condition that data reception after error notification data has been transmitted is made, and the second entity B transmits error notification data on the basis of error detection to execute initial state return processing on the condition that transmit processing of error notification data is executed. Thus, the both entities A and B can return to the initial state in a manner synchronous with each other. As a result, it becomes possible to perform reliable error recovery and data processing restart.
US08055950B2
A data processing apparatus having one or more trace data sources is provided in which the trace data sources operate to generate respective streams of trace data. At least one of said trace data sources comprises a trace data generator responsive to activity in monitored circuitry to generate trace data representing said activity. A synchronization marker generator is coupled to the trace data generator and operates to generate a synchronization marker and insert the synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The synchronization marker identifies a synchronization position in the trace data stream. A controller is coupled to the synchronization marker generator, and operates to initiate the synchronization marker generator to generate and insert a synchronization marker into the trace data stream. The controller controls initiation in dependence on behaviour of the data processing apparatus downstream of the trace data generator with respect to trace data flow. In this way, the downstream behaviour of the data processing apparatus can be made to influence the rate and timing of insertion of synchronization markers into a trace data stream, thereby reducing the likelihood of the volume of trace data resulting in an overflow condition in the downstream circuitry.
US08055949B2
A software error subsystem is provided that can log, report, and may optionally correct defective interactive objects in a virtual game environment. The subsystem may form part of a larger and more general logging and error catching system. By automatically correcting certain defects, recourse to redevelopment efforts can be postponed or eliminated. Even if error correction is not automatically performed, a more specific and helpful error message may be generated and displayed to the player, increasing player satisfaction.
US08055947B2
An identification (ID) process comprises in each of a plurality of bit times, a debug test system asserting a control signal at a predefined state to a plurality of target systems, and each target system, having a bit pattern and the bit patterns being different among the target systems, outputting a bit from its bit pattern on the control signal. The process further comprises each target system comparing the resulting state of the control signal to that target system's output bit. If the target system's output bit differs from the resulting control signal state, the target system ceases participating in the ID process or, if the target system's output bit matches the resulting control signal state, the target system continues to participate in the ID process.
US08055944B2
An apparatus and a method is provided for verifying the setup of a current computer in need of repair, parsing and updating a previously created activity log file to provide usable steps that refer to the appropriate configuration settings for the computer being repaired. The method includes obtaining an indication of a problem on a remote computer, reviewing stored log files to determine if an old log file associated with the problem exists and if the old log file does not exist, creating a new log file to store steps associated with repair operations. The method also includes if the old log file exists, retrieving the old log file and obtaining the remote computer configurations, parsing the old log file to identify references to configuration settings and comparing the configuration settings in the old log file with the remote computer configuration. The method further includes updating at least one configuration setting of the old log file to reflect the remote computer configuration, if the at least one configuration setting in the old log file is different from the remote computer configuration and executing steps in the old log file to solve the problem on the remote computer.
US08055940B2
A system and method detects communication error among multiple nodes in a concurrent computing environment. One or more barrier synchronization points/checkpoints or regions are used to check for a communication mismatch. The barrier synchronization point(s)/checkpoint(s) can be placed anywhere in the concurrent computing program. Once a node reaches a barrier synchronization point/checkpoint, it is not allowed to communicate with another node regarding data that is needed to execute the concurrent computing program, even if the other node has not reached the barrier synchronization point/checkpoint. Regions can also, or alternatively, be used to detect a communication mismatch instead of barrier synchronization points/checkpoints. A concurrent program on each node is separated into one or more regions. Two nodes communicate with each other when their regions are compatible. If their regions are not compatible, a communication mismatch occurs.
US08055933B2
Mechanisms are provided for performing a failover operation of an application from a faulty node of a high availability cluster to a selected target node. The mechanisms receive a notification of an imminent failure of the faulty node. The mechanisms further receive health information from nodes of a local failover scope of a failover policy associated with the faulty node. Moreover, the mechanisms dynamically modify the failover policy based on the health information from the nodes of the local failover scope and select a node from the modified failover policy as a target node for failover of an application running on the faulty node to the target node. Additionally, the mechanisms perform failover of the application to the target node based on the selection of the node from the modified failover policy.
US08055930B2
An integrated circuit device may include a main clock signal input pad configured to receive a main clock signal having a main clock frequency, a high speed clock signal input pad configured to receive a high speed clock signal having a high speed clock frequency greater than the main clock frequency, a frequency divider, and a phase controller. The frequency divider may be configured to generate a plurality of preliminary internal clock signals responsive to the high speed clock signal wherein each of the preliminary internal clock signals has the same main clock frequency and a different phase. The phase controller may be configured to select one of the preliminary internal clock signals having a phase most closely matched with a phase of the main clock signal, and to translate the preliminary internal clock signals to internal clock signals so that the preliminary internal clock signal having the phase most closely matched with the phase of the main clock signal is translated as a primary internal clock signal, so that the internal clock signals have the main clock frequency. Related methods, systems, and devices are also discussed.
US08055925B2
A method and structure to optimize computational efficiency in a low-power environment. The method includes determining an optimal point for maximizing computational efficiency in a low-power environment, and selectively controlling operation of at least one processing unit of a plurality of processing units in accordance with the determined optimal point. The structure includes a plurality of processing units, a load manager controlling selective parallel operation of at least one processing unit of the plurality of processing units, and an unregulated power source.
US08055921B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for a low power data transfer mode for mobile computing devices. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for low power data transfer in a battery powered computing device can be provided. The method can include powering up a battery powered computing device, booting into a primary personal computing operating system in the device and storing a document into fixed storage for the device, and subsequently re-booting into an auxiliary low-power consumption operating system in the device, establishing a short range radio frequency communications link between the battery powered computing device and an external pervasive device, and transmitting the stored document to the pervasive device over the short range radio frequency communications link.
US08055917B2
A computer includes a system unit which has a plurality of electronic components, a battery unit which supplies auxiliary electric power to the system unit, an adapter which receives a first alternating current (AC) electric power and outputs a second AC electric power; a rectifying unit which rectifies the second AC electric power and supplies a direct current (DC) electric power having a level higher than a minimum electric power level required to operate the system unit and lower than a charging electric power level required to charge the battery unit, to the system unit, a battery charging unit which charges the battery unit, and an electric power amplifying unit which amplifies the DC electric power that branches off from a point of an electric power supplying path between the rectifying unit and the system unit, and supplies a charging electric power to the battery charging unit.
US08055915B2
A network device checkout system is accessed by another program that powers off unused systems. The checkout system keeps track of the usage of various systems on a network so that only the systems that need to remain on for productivity will consume power, with systems in a check-in state being powered off. Records of system usage are stored in an associated database. Systems that are no longer being utilized are powered off.
US08055908B2
A data transmission method is achieved by transmitting a contents data transmission request from a host device to a module; by dividing a first contents data into a plurality of blocks in the module; by transmitting the plurality of blocks from the module to the host device; and by combining the plurality of blocks to produce a second contents data. A plurality of data buses are used for the transmission of the contents data transmission request and the plurality of blocks.
US08055903B2
A method is disclosed that enables the transmission of a digital message along with a corresponding information signal, such as audio or video. The supplemental information contained in digital messages can be used for a variety of purposes, such as enabling or enhancing packet authentication. In particular, a telecommunications device that is processing an information signal from its user, such as a speech signal, encrypts the information signal by performing a bitwise exclusive-or of an encryption key stream with the information signal stream. The device, such as a telecommunications endpoint, then intersperses the bits of the digital message throughout the encrypted signal in place of those bits overwritten, in a process referred to as “watermarking.” The endpoint then transmits the interspersed digital message bits as part of a composite signal that also comprises the encrypted information bits. No additional bits are appended to the packet to be transmitted, thereby addressing compatibility issues.
US08055897B2
Embodiments for generating digital title and transmission information are disclosed.
US08055893B2
A technique for booting a stateless client includes booting a virtual machine (VM) monitor on the client. The VM monitor is stored in a non-volatile memory area of a memory subsystem (of the client) and a first portion of an operating system (which does not include any state information for the operating system) is stored in the non-volatile memory area of the client. Booting of the operating system for the client is initiated and a remote storage (that stores a second portion of the operating system that includes state information for the operating system) is accessed via a communication link. Booting of the operating system for the client is completed using the second portion of the operating system.
US08055886B2
An electronic circuit (4000) includes a bias value generator circuit (3900) operable to supply a varying bias value in a programmable range, and an instruction circuit (3625, 4010) responsive to a first instruction to program the range of said bias value generator circuit (3900) and further responsive to a second instruction having an operand to repeatedly issue said second instruction with said operand varied in an operand value range determined as a function of the varying bias value.
US08055877B1
A method of responding to an attempt to write a memory address including a target instruction which has been translated to a host instruction for execution by a host processor including the steps of marking a memory address including a target instruction which has been translated to a host instruction, detecting a memory address which has been marked when an attempt is made to write to the memory address, and responding to the detection of a memory address which has been marked by protecting a target instruction at the memory address until it has been assured that translations associated with the memory address will not be utilized before being updated.
US08055867B2
A method can include identifying a storage area in the storage system for access control, assigning a switching criterion to modify allowable access to the identified storage area, where the identified storage area supports pre-staging of provisioned data, and blocking a select access attempt to the identified storage area as a function of the switching criterion.
US08055864B2
A method is provided for managing the storage of a file that has been selected for migration from a first storage level within a file system to a second storage level. The method comprises copying each of one or more data blocks of the selected file that are stored in the first storage level at a physical disk address maintained in a corresponding reference of an inode for the selected file from the first storage level to the second storage level; maintaining a logical ditto address in each reference of an inode for each snapshot file in the file system that refers to one of the one or more data blocks of the selected file that were copied to the second storage level; and updating the file system to include a managed region for controlling access to the one or more data blocks through the inode for the selected file.
US08055860B2
Read-copy-update (RCU) is performed within real-time and other types of systems, such that memory barrier usage within RCU is reduced. A computerized system includes processors, memory, updaters, and readers. The updaters update contents of a section of the memory by using first and second sets of per-processor counters, first and second sets of per-processor need-memory-barrier bits, and a global flip-counter bit. The global flip-counter bit specifies which of the first or second set of the per-processor counters and the per-processor need-memory-barrier bits is a current set, and which is a last set. The readers read the contents of the section of the memory by using the first and second sets of per-processor counters, the first and second sets of per-processor need-memory-barrier bits, and the global flip-counter bit, in a way that significantly reduces the need for memory barriers during such read operations.
US08055847B2
A method and system for configuring a cache memory system in order to efficiently process processor requests. A group of cache elements, which include a Region Cache, a Region Coherence Array, and a lowest level cache, is configured based on a tradeoff of latency and power consumption requirements. A selected cache configuration differs from other feasible configurations in the order in which cache elements are accessed relative to each other. The Region Cache is employed in a number of configurations to reduce the power consumption, latency, and bandwidth requirements of the Region Coherence Array. The Region Cache is accessed by processor requests before (or in parallel with) the larger Region Coherence Array, providing the region coherence state and power efficiently to requests that hit in the Region Cache.
US08055844B2
A memory card and a memory storage device using the memory card may be provided. The memory card may include a host connector, a memory controller connected to the host connector and enabled or disabled in response to a capacity expansion signal, a non-volatile memory connected to the memory controller, a memory connector configured to connect to the memory controller and the non-volatile memory, and a capacity expansion switch configured to generate the capacity expansion signal. Accordingly, when the memory cards are connected to increase storage capacity, only a memory controller of one memory card may operate, thereby reducing power consumption.
US08055839B2
A storage manager application implemented in a first computational device maintains a virtual logical volume having a plurality of segments created by the storage manager application, wherein space is reserved at the end of a physical volume corresponding to the virtual logical volume, and wherein the physical volume comprises a linear storage medium. A request is received to write data, at the first computational device, from a second computational device. The data is written to the reserved space, wherein the writing of the data causes new segments to be created in the reserved space.
US08055834B2
A method for preventing read-disturb happened in non-volatile memory and a controller thereof are disclosed. The non-volatile memory includes a plurality of blocks, and the blocks are grouped into at least a data group and a spare group, each block includes a plurality of pages. The method includes recording read times of at least a first block of the blocks within the data group and then renewing the original data stored in the first block when the read times of the first block is greater than a predetermined value.
US08055826B2
A communication system comprises a multiplicity of slave units and a master unit. The slave units are coupled to one another via a first communication path and a second communication path, the first communication path and the second communication path operating in opposite directions to one another, and a master unit, the master unit being coupled to the multiplicity of slave units via the first communication path and the second communication path. The master unit comprises a transmit control unit, the transmit control unit separately transmitting an information signal with a data field which has for each slave unit an associated data area, on the first communication path as a first information signal and on the second communication path as a second information signal. The master unit further comprises a receive control unit, the receive control unit superimposing the data field of the first information signal circulated on the first communication path and the data field of the second information signal circulated on the second communication path.
US08055819B2
An information processor (program processing unit 1) for managing a data sequence in a fixed order comprises a direction array (reference data storage section 2) for storing a reference to each data item of the data sequence in an element of the index associated with the key to the data, and means (CPU 3) for changing all data keys referenced by elements within an arbitrary range of indexes in the direction array by the same amount, where memory contents within the range of the direction array are shifted by the number of indexes corresponding to the changed amount.
US08055817B2
Computer program products and methods for efficient handling of queued-direct input/output (QDIO) requests and completions at an adapter in communication with an I/O device are provided. A method includes accessing a queue with one or more storage block address lists (SBALs), where each SBAL includes a plurality of storage block address list entries (SBALEs) and is associated with an SLSB. The method further includes reading an SBAL count in one of the SBALEs, where the SBAL count indicates a number of the SBALs forming an I/O request to the I/O device. In response to determining that the SBAL count is greater than one, a number of the SBALs from the queue and associated SLSBs equivalent to the SBAL count are prefetched without waiting for a notification of completion of each of the SBALs forming the I/O request, and states of the associated SLSBs transition from adapter-owned to program-owned.
US08055809B2
A system and associated method for distributing signals with efficiency over a microprocessor. A performance monitoring unit (PMU) sends configuration signals to a unit to monitor an event occurring on the unit. The unit is attached to a configuration bus and an event bus that are daisy-chained from PMU to other units in the microprocessor. The configuration bus transmits configuration signals from the PMU to the unit to set the unit to report the event. The unit sends event signals to the PMU through the event bus. The unit is configured upon receiving configuration signals comprising a base address of a bus ramp of the unit. A number of units and a number of events for monitoring is flexibly selected by adjusting a length of bit fields within configuration signals.
US08055805B2
Methods and apparatus for opportunistic improvement of Memory Mapped Input/Output (MMIO) request handling (e.g., based on target reporting of space requirements) are described. In one embodiment, logic in a processor may detect one or more bits in a message that is to be transmitted from an input/output (I/O) device. The one or more bits may indicate memory mapped I/O (MMIO) information corresponding to one or more attributes of the I/O device. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08055799B2
A method and apparatus for accessing messages from a message server. Messages are stored on the message server in their current format without transcoding. When a client opens a session with the message server, a data transfer rate is determined for the client. In response to a message retrieve request, the bit rate of the message is compared to the data transfer rate, and if less than the data transfer rate, the message is downloaded to the user terminal without transcoding. If the bit rate is greater than the data transfer rate, then the message is transcoded to a lower bit rate according to a codec supported by the user. The codec may be selected from a set of codecs supported by the user terminal. The user is provided with the capability to override the system selected codec, for example, to pick a codec for secure encoding or encryption.
US08055784B2
There is provided a method for use by a content navigation module for managing delivery of content. The method comprising communicating an identifier contained in the content navigation module with a first computing device to enable the first computing device to receive a selected content from a presentation server over a network; receiving a delivery progress of the selected content from the first computing device periodically; storing the delivery progress of the selected content; losing communication with the first computing device after storing the delivery progress; and communicating the identifier contained in the content navigation module and the delivery progress of the selected content with a second computing device to enable the second computing device to resume receiving the selected content from the server over the network according to the delivery progress of the selected content stored in the content navigation module.
US08055779B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for using data keyframes. In one aspect, a method includes storing a data keyframe transmitted as part of a live streaming broadcast; receiving a request from a client to join the live streaming broadcast in-progress; determining that the stored data keyframe was transmitted before the request from the client was received; transmitting the stored data keyframe to the client; and distributing streaming content associated with the live streaming broadcast to the client. Further, the data keyframe can be generated by a publisher of the live streaming broadcast. Distributing streaming content further can include storing a plurality of data keyframes transmitted as part of the live streaming broadcast and transmitting the plurality of stored data keyframes to the client before distributing streaming content associated with the live streaming broadcast to the client.
US08055777B2
An information processing apparatus can be installed in a DMZ and is connectable to an intranet and to an external network. The apparatus includes first means for transmitting or receiving a signal over the intranet, and transmitting or receiving a signal over the external network, to cause a call to be established over both of the intranet and the external network; and second means for transmitting and receiving data over the established call.
US08055776B1
A system, method, and computer program product which allows a user to view and navigate reduced-content web pages on a wireless connection. Upon the user's selection of specific web pages, the pages are then delivered to the user by a less expensive connection, as in a conventional wired internet connection. The delivery is accomplished by several methods, according to different embodiments, including by an electronic mail message, by “push” delivery to an internet-connected data processing system, and by providing a set of hyperlinks to the wired internet connection which reference the selected pages, among other methods. The user is thereby able to view, on a second internet-connected data processing system, the data selected when using the wireless internet-connected data processing system.
US08055774B2
An IMS system including a Home Subscriber Server including data for terminals connecting to the IMS. The Home Subscriber Server being arranged to transmit a reset message to components such as application servers and S-CSCF in the IMS when it undergoes a reset. The receipt of a reset message causing the component to mark the terminals that the HSS stores the data for as not confirmed. The component then, either automatically or in response to a message, transmits a message to the Home Subscriber Server to request user profile data for a user terminal connecting to the IMS or accessing services from the IMS.
US08055771B2
A network traversal method is provided. A plurality of endpoints in a plurality of network address translators (NATs) is grouped into a plurality of groups, and an on-line server is deployed for managing information related to the groups and information related to connections that have traversed the NATs, wherein the endpoints in the same NAT are grouped into the same group. In addition, when one of the endpoints is about to establish a connection with another one of the endpoints, whether there is a peer-to-peer direct connection between the groups corresponding to the two endpoints is determined. If there is the peer-to-peer direct connection between the groups corresponding to the two endpoints, the connection between the two endpoints is established by using the peer-to-peer direct connection. Thereby, the network traversal method can effectively reduce the time, cost, and complexity for traversing the NATs.
US08055765B2
A service take-over method based on apparatus disaster recovery, the method includes: transferring, by a service transfer apparatus, a service control message originally sent to a production machine to a backup machine which configures disaster recovery ability for the production machine, when detecting that the production machine gets a failure; starting, by the backup machine, a process of taking over the service control message transferred from the service transfer apparatus, when receiving the service control message meeting a prescribed condition transferred from the service transfer apparatus. In the present invention, when the apparatus configured with the disaster recovery ability gets a failure, the take-over speed of the service control message may increase so as to reduce the interruption time of the service as much as possible, thereby configuring the disaster recovery ability for the apparatus is realized.
US08055745B2
A system for providing secondary data storage and recovery services for one or more networked host nodes includes a server application for facilitating data backup and recovery services; a first data storage medium accessible to the server application; a second data storage medium accessible to the server application; at least one client application for mapping write locations allocated by the first data storage medium to write locations represented in a logical view of the first data storage medium; and at least one machine instruction enabling direct read capability of the first data storage medium by the server application for purposes of subsequent time-based storage of the read data into the secondary data storage medium.
US08055739B2
Mechanisms for dynamically sharing performance information among multiple computing nodes are provided. One implementation involves dynamically obtaining performance information from deployments of an information technology (IT) product/solution at the computing nodes, and transmitting the obtained performance information to a server over a communication network for storing the obtained performance information in a knowledge database. The server operates to dynamically determine new configuration information based on the information in the database, store the new configuration in the database, and provide the new configuration information to the deployments by transmitting the new configuration information over the network.
US08055737B2
The compliance of a virtual machine image to a set of requirements is determined during a process to potentially introduce the virtual machine image into a network. One or more virtual machine images are identified. During compliance testing, the identified virtual machine image is controlled such that it cannot connect to the network. One or more tests are carried out to determine if the virtual machine image is compliant with one or more predetermined requirements. If a virtual machine is compliant with said one or more predetermined requirements, the virtual machine image is connected to the network.
US08055730B2
A system includes a network, multiple different types of survey sensors connected to the network, and a controller connected to the network. The multiple different types of survey sensors are configured to communicate different types of measurement data over the network to the controller.
US08055726B1
Method and system for writing data in a network is provided. The method includes receiving an original write command from a host system to write data to a target; sending a command notifying the host system to send data, wherein a local router sends the command to the host system; receiving data from the host system, wherein the local router receives data; segmenting the original write command into a plurality of write commands; sending the plurality of write commands with data to a remote router; sending a status command to the local router for the plurality of write commands except for a first write command; assembling the plurality of write commands with data to a single write command, wherein the remote router assembles the plurality of write commands with data; and sending the single write command to the target.
US08055725B2
A method for restoring a remote server that is not responding due to a memory constraint is provided. The method comprises providing a remote server connected to a network communications channel, pinning a reserve memory segment program to the memory in the remote server to control a reserve memory segment allocated within the memory in the remote server when a memory constraint arises. The method further comprises continuously running the reserve memory segment program to listen for a request packet to release the reserve memory segment that is allocated, releasing the reserve memory segment within the memory in the remote server in response to the request packet received, and performing any corrective action at the remote server for restoring the remote server when the reserve memory segment is released.
US08055723B2
A method, system, and computer program product of configuring a virtual array site on a remote storage server is provided. The virtual array site provides on-demand storage capacity to a local storage server of a customer. The method includes creating a virtual array. The virtual array incorporates an attribute selectable by the customer. A virtual extent pool is created. The virtual extent pool is associated with the virtual array. A volume associated with the virtual extent pool is created. The volume comprises at least a portion of the virtual array site.
US08055718B2
Management of e-mail. A user at the originating workstation enters a first e-mail address into a primary address field, a second e-mail address into a secondary address field, a third e-mail address into a tertiary address field and text into the text field of an e-mail form to form an original e-mail, and requests to send the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses to the first, second, and third e-mail addresses. A first recipient having the first e-mail address receives the original e-mail including the first, second and third e-mail addresses and the text, selects a command option to reply to all addressees in the primary address field and the secondary address field. In response, the reply e-mail is sent to a fourth e-mail address corresponding to said user and the second e-mail address but not the third e-mail address.
US08055713B2
In at least some embodiments, a system may comprise a user voice interface, a processor coupled to the user voice interface, wherein the processor interprets words spoken by a user, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores an email application, wherein the email application summarizes email messages and navigates a plurality of email messages according to the words spoken by the user.
US08055711B2
Systems and methods are provided for atomic single-failure non-blocking and double-failure non-blocking commitment protocols. The protocols may be used for a variety of transactions that involve two or more parties including an initiator of the transaction, a coordinator of the transaction, and one or more participants in the transaction. The participants notify the coordinator when they are prepared to commit the transaction. The coordinator then determines when to commit or abort the transaction. If the coordinator disconnects from one or more of the participants, the participants can resolve the transaction independently. Some embodiments also include a distributor that interacts with the coordinator and the participants to resolve the transaction. If one or more parties become disconnected from the coordinator or the distributor, the participants vote to determine whether to receive instructions from the coordinator or the distributor.
US08055709B2
Methods and systems are provided herein for the analysis of clickstream data of online users. The analysis methods and systems allow for the creation of new offline business methods based on online consumer behavior. In embodiments, the output file enables the third party to track and analyze competitive product pricing.
US08055706B2
Systems and methods for providing an efficient partitioned resource server. In one embodiment, the partitioned resource server comprises a plurality of individual servers, and the individual servers appear to be equivalent to a client. Each of the individual servers may include a routing table that includes a reference for each resource that is maintained on the partitioned resource server. Requests from a client are processed as a function of the routing table to route the request to the individual server that maintains or has control over the resource of interest.
US08055704B2
An exemplary method provides Internet Protocol (IP) devices of passengers of an in-flight airplane with terrestrial Internet IP communications. One airplane in a group of in-flight airplanes functions as a ground link airplane with a direct communication link to a ground station. Each airplane in the group travels in a substantially linear direction. A daisy chain of communications between adjacent airplanes in the group supports inter-airplane IP communications for carrying IP information of the IP devices of the passengers. The ground link airplane collects the IP-based information of the IP devices of the passengers and relays this information to the ground station that is connected to the terrestrial Internet. A communication satellite is not utilized to support any of these communications.
US08055701B2
Indexing and storage of context of a plurality of interactive points within an interactive document is provided. The context of the interactive points within the document is stored in a server such that it can be located by the server via the index. Furthermore, information may be received at the server identifying context data for an interactive point stored in the server upon a user activating the interactive point within the document. The server may then transmit to a client the context data stored by the server identified by the information received.
US08055700B2
A system or method that extends a communication test/measurement agent by providing the communication test/measurement agent with built-in functionality to allow a central communication test/measurement system to generically communicate with and operate the agent, and by providing the communication test/measurement agent with built-in functionality to allow the agent to automatically recognize and dynamically incorporate plugins that are specific to different types of communication interfaces and which allow the network test/measurement system to communicate with the respective different types of communication interfaces.
US08055688B2
A unique application within Video that allows for user generated Meta-tagging to be delivered in real time to individual clips is provided. This meta-tag creates its own tail based upon the user generated words population, which is searchable via a “spider network” that runs invisible behind the web pages of the site. These same “tagged” words are broadcast over various delivery networks including but not limited to live feeds from SMS, MMS, News Feeds within Community Web Sites, Video Sharing Web Sites, Widget applications any other forms of electronic communication that will be dropped in real time to identified users and friends of users.
US08055683B2
A method, system and article of manufacture for managing relationships between database tables and, more particularly, for identifying and accurately describing relationships between tables in a database. One embodiment provides a method for identifying relationships between tables in a database. The method comprises receiving user input selecting a plurality of tables from the database. The plurality of tables is organized into a logical island defining a logical unit related to a particular logical entity. The method further comprises receiving user input identifying, for each of the plurality of tables, a table column containing information that identifies the particular logical entity in the table, whereby the identified table columns of different tables define logical relationships between the different tables in the logical island. On the basis of the identified table columns, relations specifications are created which describe the logical relationships between the different tables in the logical island.
US08055666B2
A method and system is provided that optimizes performance in non-relational databases. According to one aspect, view index size is kept at a level that optimizes performance by categorizing and sorting only a subset of the columns contained within the corresponding view. The remaining columns are marked as having been categorized and sorted, but are not actually categorized and sorted until these columns are queried.
US08055660B2
A method of accessing program meta-data is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of program meta-data virtual containers, at least one of the virtual containers comprising normalized program meta-data of programs having instances in a plurality of time windows, receiving an input indicating a selected time window, the input at least one of comprises and refers to a time-window identifier identifying the selected time window, and using the time-window identifier to filter the plurality of virtual containers, so as to obtain a subset of the program meta-data which corresponds to the selected time window. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
US08055656B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for searching for virtual objects of an immersive virtual environment based on user interactions within the virtual environment. Generally, embodiments provide an attribute index storing data describing attributes of virtual objects, and an interaction index storing data describing user interactions with virtual objects. Search queries may be evaluated using both the attribute index and interactions index. Thus, virtual objects may be searched in terms of object attributes as well as user interactions with the virtual objects.
US08055655B1
Methods and systems to locate related digital content items in a content access log. In one embodiment, the method comprises extracting user events from a content access log, tagging each event as positive or negative, determining if a content item is positively interacted and processing the tagged items in a sliding window to determine positive interactions between a pair of content items.
US08055631B2
A method for reducing data loss and unavailability by integrating multiple levels of a storage hierarchy is provided. The method includes receiving a read request. In addition, the method includes recognizing a data failure in response to the read request. The method further includes locating an alternate source of the data to be read in response to recognizing the data failure. The alternate source includes data cached at devices in the storage hierarchy, data in a backup system, and cumulative changes to the data since the last backup. Moreover, the method includes responding to the read request with data from the alternate source.
US08055617B2
A console for an enterprise suite is disclosed. The enterprise suite addresses the increasingly complex problem of keeping critical systems updated, compatible, and free of security holes. It uses Fixlet® technology to identify vulnerable computers on the network and then allows authorized personnel to correct problems across any subset of the network with a few simple mouse-clicks. The enterprise suite helps keep the networked computers updated and properly patched, all from a central console which, along with supporting architectural enhancements, is the subject matter of this document. The invention allows rolling out a security patch in minutes instead of months, thus allowing an administrator to stay ahead of potential hacker attacks. The invention also makes it possible to track the progress of each computer as updates are applied, thus making it simple to gauge the level of compliance across the entire enterprise.
US08055613B1
A method and apparatus for efficiently logging changes to a file system are disclosed. A file system filter driver intercepts I/O requests directed to a file system, and analyzes the I/O requests to determine whether the requests are write or modify requests directed to a file included in a list of files to be monitored for changes. If the I/O request is directed to such a file, the file system filter driver logs the I/O request to a b-tree structured change log file. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the file system filter driver is configured to log file system changes to multiple log files to coincide with snapshot operations, such that the file system changes to be included in each snapshot are included in separate log files.
US08055611B1
Simplified XPath evaluation in Extensible Markup Language (XML) document validation. XML schema is compiled into a one dimensional array of schema nodes, where a schema node represents a complex/simple type definition in the XML scheme. Identity constraints are processed during compilation and Xpath expressions within these constraints are extracted and parsed. Further, these Xpath expressions are evaluated at compilation time to identify the schema nodes corresponding to the XML nodes referred in the identity constraints. The identity constraints are then enforced at runtime without the need to evaluate the Xpath expressions at the runtime.
US08055592B2
A system for clustering data objects includes a module for calculating an importance value of at least one member in a first data object represented as a variable length vector of 0 to N members and a clustering module for dynamically forming a plurality of clusters containing one or more data objects. The clustering module is configured to associate the first data object with at least one of the plurality of clusters in dependence upon the at least one member's similarity value in comparison to members in other data objects. The clustering module may be configured to cluster the first data object into a plurality of clusters if it has at least two members and each member belongs to a different cluster.
US08055585B2
One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method. For example, the method includes storing movie content with a distribution station that can be subsequently purchased and/or rented. The movie content can be encrypted. A determination can be made as to whether a storage apparatus is coupled with the distribution station. Provided the storage apparatus has been coupled with the distribution station, a determination can be made as to whether the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content. Provided the storage apparatus is authorized to receive the movie content, encrypted movie content can be downloaded to the storage apparatus from the distribution station. Note that the download of movie content to the authorized storage apparatus can be part of a purchase and/or rental transaction.
US08055584B2
Systems and methods for monitoring and/or preventing fraud in relation to account acquisition. In some cases, this account acquisition is ongoing in relation to stored value accounts. Some of the methods provide for receiving suspicious activity indications from one or more issuer analysis engines that are operable to monitor activities occurring in relation to various stored value products. A global negative file is maintained including an update of various of the suspicious activities. An activity request is received from a user in relation to a stored value account, and the activity is checked against the global negative file. A response is generated based at least in part on the information accessible from the global negative file.
US08055582B2
A method and apparatus for facilitating online payment transactions in multiple currencies between participants of a network-based transaction facility are described. In one embodiment, an exchange rate associated with a currency is stored in a database. The exchange rate is received from a third party system and is associated with a rate expiration date. One or more payment transactions conducted in the currency are also stored. A determination is made whether a determinable time period has expired, whereby the determinable time period is set to expire prior to the rate expiration date. In response to the determinable time period expiring, instructions are sent to the third party system to execute trades on the one or more payment transactions using the stored exchange rate.
US08055568B2
A Entertainment Concept Evaluation is achieved through the use of a Decision Matrix Method. The decision process is a critical tool for aggregating entertainment content on the Internet as well as the monetization of chosen concepts.
US08055566B2
A system and method for determining a desirous funding source and/or sources based upon at least one of user information, home information and portfolio information, wherein said desirous funding source(s) is/are based, at least in part, upon maximization of a user's assets.
US08055565B2
A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a method of creating and managing an index fund based on an index of funds of hedge funds, including steps of (a) identifying potential funds for an index of funds of hedge funds; (b) identifying which of the potential funds meet specific criteria selected so as to minimize biases including selection bias and survivorship bias; (c) creating an index by indexing funds identified as meeting the criteria; (d) acquiring a portfolio of funds in the index; and (e) allocating capital to funds in the portfolio.The invention also includes software to perform the steps of the method described above. In particular, the invention includes software wherein data regarding potential funds is stored in a database according to object role modeling. A preferred database structure is described.
US08055562B2
A process for optimizing a portfolio of products produced from a crop includes the use of an objective function to determine optimized quantities of the products in the portfolio. The objective function, for example, includes quantity terms for the products. The objective function may also include additional terms such as an energy term and/or a storage term. The energy term, for example, relates to an amount of energy required to produce the products. The storage term, for example, relates to the cost of storing products. The crop, for example, may be sugarcane, and the products, for example, may be sugar, molasses, bagasse, biofuel, electricity, and/or carbon credits.
US08055556B2
A user interface for receiving time entries in a timesheet is described. This user interface includes a user-interface element in the form of a calendar, where the calendar contains one or more time entries associated with at least a financial activity. Moreover, a given time entry, which is associated with a corresponding block of time, is graphically represented as an adjustable region in the calendar. Additionally, a user can change one or more temporal parameters associated with the time entry by using a pointing device to select and modify one or more geometric properties of the adjustable region.
US08055554B2
An inventory storage and retrieval system and method are provided for a shipping or storage facility. In an embodiment, the system includes: (a) a mobile computer and radio on a load-handing vehicle; (b) sensors on the vehicle to determine the ground location and orientation of the vehicle; (c) encoders that determine the position of a lifting mechanism relative to a chassis of the vehicle; and (d) a base computer and radio that communicates with the vehicle. The system maintains an inventory database of items and their respective storage locations in three dimensions as a result of the loading activity of the vehicle. The data can be used to guide the vehicle for ground movement generally to a storage location, appropriately orient the vehicle, and then to move the lifting mechanism of the vehicle to deposit or retrieve the item at a particular storage location.
US08055545B2
A system and method are disclosed for conducting secure electronic transactions using dual-authentications. A secure server stores security information for a plurality of users and authorizes transactions being conducted by these users. A user computer system having a trusted platform module is used for storing security information relating to at least one user account. Protected environments are created to facilitate secure connections based on at least the security information stored in the trusted platform module. Transactions between the user/electronic merchants and between the user/secure server are conducted within protected environments. When a user conducts an electronic transaction with an electronic merchant, the transaction is authenticated by the secure server before can be completed.
US08055539B1
The invention broadly comprises a computer-based method for tracking Internet-related revenue, including: recording, in an Internet-based system, a sign obtained from a business entity; correlating a first item purchased through the system with the sign; and compensating the business entity for the purchase of the first item. The registering, correlating, and compensating are performed by at least one specially programmed general-purpose computer. In some aspects, the sign is regarding an offer to sell a second item. In some aspects, the second item is real estate. The invention further broadly comprises a computer-based system for tracking Internet-related revenue, including: registration, posting, tracking, and assignment elements to: register, in an Internet-based system, a sign advertising an item for sale, obtained from a retail establishment; post the item in the system; track revenue from the system in response to the posting; and assign a portion of the revenue to the retail establishment, respectively.
US08055535B2
A method and apparatus are provided for tracking customer purchases using a unique anonymous identifier. Customer purchases are monitored by obtaining a unique anonymous identifier from the customer as part of a current transaction; and associating the current transaction with a prior transaction using the unique anonymous identifier. The unique anonymous identifier can be, for example, a purchase identifier associated with the prior transaction, and provides a link among a plurality of transactions associated with the customer. The current or prior transaction (or both) can optionally be clustered with one or more transactions associated with registered users having known demographics to obtain demographic information for at least one of the current and prior transactions.
US08055534B2
Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for charging travel fees or awarding benefits as a function of vehicle occupancy. Variable travel fee schedules include a plurality of different rate values, each rate value associated with ride-sharing service points of a vehicle infrastructure and vehicle occupancy counts. Occupants within a vehicle traveling via a vehicle infrastructure are counted, the counting generating discrete occupant counts correlated with the ride-sharing service points. Subsets of variable travel fee schedule rate values are selected as a function of association with discrete occupant counts and correlated ride-sharing service points. Owners, occupants or other parties associated with the vehicle are accordingly charged a travel fee or awarded a benefit as a function of the rate value subset and an amount of the vehicle traveling.
US08055529B1
A legal process management system facilitates simultaneous dynamic dialogs between legal process managers and networked attorneys and contractors providing services in connection with security interest enforcement actions (SIEAs). The legal process managers submit queries and deadlines selected to timely guide the attorneys and contractors through the requirements of the SIEAs. The attorneys and contractors submit responsive answers revealing the status of their SIEAs In some embodiments, an events based management system uses a stochastic model to calculate completion times for the milestones of the SIEA, including the “events” that make up subparts of the milestones. This provides a flexible and powerful system for managing prosecution of the SIEA and for predicting likely durations. The stochastic model incorporates the concept of both fixed-frequency events and random-frequency events, and also allows for both controlled events and managed events. A reporting system is also provided for keeping track of event and milestone completion.
US08055528B2
A system and method are provided for informing business management personnel of business risk. The method can include the operation of defining a plurality of business risk rules that are tied to specific risk events and information. The plurality of business risk rules can be stored in encapsulated data points. Another operation is defining predicate risk rules and core risk rules for the business risk rules in the data points. A query can be made of whether predicate risk rules in a section of data points are satisfied using the predicate risk rule in a core data point. The core risk rules for the core data points can be applied after predicate risk rules for the core risk rule have been satisfied. A further operation is displaying a graphic icon to an end user for core risk rule status representing whether a core risk rule has been satisfied.
US08055527B1
A method is provided for implementing a computer network system for managing a supply chain, wherein the computer network system comprising a plurality of application server computers. The method includes: identifying a business context for the supply chain; identifying a set of business policy rules for the business context, the set of business policy rules governing the relationship between two or more entities involved in the supply chain; creating at least one use-case description from the set of business policy rules; creating a plurality of executable code modules corresponding to the use-case description; specifying a plurality of name/value pair for modeling the set of business policy rules; provisioning the plurality of application server computers of the computer network system with the executable code modules; and provisioning a central directory database with the plurality of name/value pairs; whereby the computer network system, in response to one or more events in business transactions between at least two entities involved in the supply chain, is operable to dynamically deliver at least one name/value pair from the central directory database and to execute at least one code module.
US08055526B2
An intelligent solution for monitoring, assigning, and accounting fueling operations. An automated dispatch fueling system comprises a fuel management server populated with airport profile and dispatcher configurations. Utilizing information stored in the database and received from external systems, the automated dispatch fueling system can automatically assign and monitor fueling operations.
US08055519B1
Methods for self-sufficient healthcare coverage are described. Some embodiments may include receiving requests to pay healthcare claims. The money to pay these claims may be allocated from one or more healthcare-related financial account associated with employers and employees. Some healthcare-related financial accounts may be associated with investment accounts. By investing funds from a healthcare-related financial account into an investment account, at least a portion of the income from the investment account may be reallocated back to the originating healthcare-related financial account to allow it to grow. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08055511B2
A system and associated methods provide medication selection guidance at the time of a prescription event for a given patient, or at other times, such as when changes occur in the patient's healthcare plan coverage. In one medication selection guidance method, information is received regarding a clinician-preferred medication prescription related to a selected patient, and based on at least one record of the selected patient, a specific information set is retrieved. For instance, the specific information set may include medications the patient is currently taken, healthcare plan coverage for the patient, or other types of information. Then, other medications that can be prescribed to the patient as alternatives to the clinician-preferred medication prescription may be determined based on the specific information set. These alternative medications may be evaluated against the patient's healthcare plan coverage to present available medication options and associated out-of-pocket costs to the patient.
US08055505B2
Digital watermark detection apparatus including detection units which calculate detected values of watermark signals by use of keys for PCM data of channels of audio content, a plurality of units which add the detected values corresponding to each of the channels and each of the keys for each possible combination of the respective channels and the respective keys, and a unit which selects and outputs one adding result from the respective adding results by the plurality of detected value adding units. Moreover, it includes units which accumulate the detected values in accumulation cycles different from one another to restore messages embedded as digital watermarks from the accumulated detected values, and perform boundary detection of the audio contents to detect the audio contents in which the digital watermarks are embedded, and a detection result output unit which synthesizes and outputs respective processing results by the message restoration units.
US08055498B2
The present invention automatically builds a contracted dictionary from a given list of multi-word proper names and performs fuzzy searches in the contracted dictionary. The contracted dictionary of proper names includes two linked trie-based dictionaries: a first dictionary is used to store single word names, each word name having an ID number; and a second dictionary is used to store multi-word names encoded with ID numbers. Information related to the multi-word names is also stored as a gloss to the terminal node of the multi-word entry of the trie-based dictionary. An approximate lookup for a multi-word name is conducted first for each word of the multi-word name using an approximate matching technique such as a phonetic proximity or a simple edit distance. Accordingly, N suggestions is determined for each word of the multi-word name under consideration. Then, multi-word candidates are assembled in ID notation. Finally, an approximate search for each assembled candidate is performed based on an edit distance or a n-grams approximate string matching. Edit distances and N-grams are used to measure how similar two strings are. The result is a set of multi-word suggestions in an ID notation. This ID notation is encoded back to the original form using the first trie-based dictionary.
US08055495B2
An associated-information storage unit stores a name of associated information and a display position in association with each other. An example storage unit stores a semantic class, an example in a source language, and an example in a target language in association with each other. A dictionary storage unit stores the name of associated information and the semantic class in association with each other. An acquiring unit acquires the name of the associated information corresponding to the display position of the selected associated information from the associated-information storage unit, and acquires a semantic class corresponding to the acquired name of the associated information from the dictionary storage unit. A translation unit acquires an example in the target language corresponding to the acquired semantic class and a speech recognition result from the example storage unit, thereby translating the recognition result.
US08055492B2
A design verification system that verifies the operation of multi-processor architecture by generating test programs in which the behavior of the processor, when executing the test program, is evaluated against the behavior required by the design specification. The test program generator produces scenarios for a multi-processor design in which non-unique results may occur. The system is provided with facilities to report expected outcomes, and to evaluate the validity of non-unique results in multiple resources under conditions of non-unique result propagation and dependencies among adjacent and non-adjacent resources.
US08055489B2
A method for simulating the effect of trapped charge in an electrostatic chuck on the chuck performance comprises creating a trapped-charge electrical model having a trapped-charge capacitor and a gap-trapped resistor, and coupling the model to a plurality of voltage sources. The trapped-charge capacitor and the gap-trapped resistor may be varied in relation to a plurality of electrostatic chuck physical parameters.
US08055488B2
A design support method comprising reading a two-dimensional cross-sectional model created by a computer-aided design system, saving information on a locus of travel of the recording medium, recognizing parts in a vicinity of the locus of the recording medium, and creating a simulation model in which parts other than the parts recognized in the recognizing are excluded from objects subject to contact calculation.
US08055481B2
A method is provided for planning sheet pile wall sections via a user-oriented network—in particular, the Internet—in which at least technical characteristics of a suitable component for the layout of a sheet pile wall section and/or the layout of a sheet pile wall section itself are determined for the user by a computer system. The method comprises the steps of: (a) entering at least two constructional parameters of the sheet pile wall section, via the user-oriented network, into the computer system, within which various data of components for the layout of a sheet pile wall section, data of layouts for sheet pile wall sections, and technical characteristics of the components and the layouts are stored in a database of the computer system; (b) determining at least one suitable component and/or at least one suitable layout, via the computer system, on the basis of the entered construction parameters and the technical characteristics stored in the database; and (c) providing the user with the data of the component and/or layout determined in step (b) and the technical characteristics of the determined component and/or the layout, via the user-oriented network.
US08055480B2
The invention relates to a method for the simplified, physically correct representation of flexible elongate volume objects. The volume object is divided up into sections and each section begins and ends with an interaction point and is connected to an adjacent section by means of said point. Each interaction point has six degrees of freedom and the physical properties of the sections are defined according to several factors. The invention also relates to obtained experimental values which are used to represent another elongate volume object using a model function.
US08055476B2
In a system and method to minimize downtimes of medical apparatuses one or more medical apparatuses each has at least: one detection module to detect error situations of the respective medical apparatus, one local database to provide data and information regarding error situations, associated error correction measures and additional information, one analysis module to analyze a present error situation with regard to measures for error correction and/or continued usability of the medical apparatus on the basis of the data stored in the local database, and one output module to output the results of the analysis. The apparatuses are connected with a central database in which data regarding known error situations of the medical apparatuses, associated error correction measures and additional information are provided. The local databases are updated on the basis of the central database. Given detection of a previously unknown error situation at an apparatus, the error situation is evaluated, error correction measures are established, additional information is compiled such as information regarding usability of the medical apparatus before implementation of the error correction measures, etc., the aforementioned data and information are provided to the central database, and the local databases are updated on the basis of the data of the central database.
US08055471B2
A method for discriminating particle groups comprises generating, by a particle analyzer, a particle characteristic distribution histogram in which the abscissa indicates respective channels for representing the characteristics of the particles, and the ordinate indicates the particle count; setting a valid area selection height in the particle characteristics distribution histogram; and generating an equivalent negative histogram based on the set height and the particle characteristic distribution histogram.
US08055466B2
A method for global calibration of a multi-view vision-based touch probe measurement system is provided which encompasses calibrating camera frame distortion errors as well as probe form errors. The only required features in the calibration images are the markers on the touch probe. The camera frame distortion calibration comprises a process that depends on a portable calibration jig and the touch probe, but that process is unaffected by probe form distortion errors in the touch probe and/or tip. The probe tip position calibration depends on applying the results of the camera, frame distortion calibration. When the same probe tip is used throughout the global calibration, the probe tip position calibration uses images from the set of images used by the camera frame distortion calibration. The global calibration method is particularly advantageous for low cost portable versions of multi-view vision-based touch probe measurement systems.
US08055444B2
A user interface for navigating and viewing content is described. In one example, the apparatus includes display logic for displaying at least two content properties, wherein each of the content properties is associated with additional content (e.g., an application, service, media object, or combinations thereof). Further, the apparatus includes selection logic for displaying the content associated with the content properties in response to selections thereof, and the content associated with each content property is displayed in a common (or reusable) display space of the interface. As different content properties are selected, the content displayed within the display space is replaced (e.g., through animation) according to the associated content of the newly selected content properties.
US08055440B2
The present embodiments provide methods, processes and systems for use in determining navigation. Some embodiments provide methods that receive a communication at a mobile navigation system from an external device, determine whether the communication comprises navigation information, extract the navigation information when the communication comprises navigation information, identify a navigation location based on the navigation information, retrieve a current location, and generate navigation instructions between the current location and the navigation location.
US08055431B2
A driving amount controller for reducing the response delay or erroneous deviation in the control of a driving amount of a controlled system, for example, in the control of the opening of a throttle valve. When a target opening DTHR is varied starting from the condition where the throttle valve is stopped, an ECU 20 on a vehicle calculates an output of a motor necessary for a starting operation of the motor, and outputs a control signal Sc obtained through compensation of a deficiency.
US08055423B2
Disclosed are a motor vehicle drive control system, which easily detects accelerations, generated in the up and down, front and rear, and left and right of a motor vehicle body, in high degree of accuracy, and performs the stability control of a motor vehicle, and its sensor unit. Sensor units provided in four corners of the front and rear, and left and right of the motor vehicle body detect accelerations generated in X-, Y-, and Z-axis directions, and digital values of detection result are transmitted to a monitoring device as digital information via an electromagnetic wave. The monitoring device outputs this digital information to a stability control unit. The stability control unit performs the correction control of drive of a subthrottle actuator or a brake drive actuator on the basis of the acceleration values obtained.
US08055408B2
A semi-active suspension system that employs magnetically controlled dampers. The semi-active suspension system includes a plurality of sensors that measure vehicle parameters in response to disturbances on the vehicle and provide sensor signals to a central controller. The central controller converts the sensor signals to a flux command signal that is representative of the force on the dampers at each wheel of the vehicle. The flux command signal is sent to a local controller that generates a coil voltage that is applied to a coil within the damper. A flux feedback signal generated by the coil is estimated or measured and is compared to the flux command signal in the local controller to adjust the coil voltage to minimize the difference between the flux command signal and the flux feedback signal to provide a response to the force without a flux delay.
US08055402B2
A method for detecting a fault state in an automated motor vehicle gearbox having two parallel branches. Each branch has a clutch and is configured to transmit driving torques from a drive unit to at least one driven wheel of the motor vehicle. The method comprises the steps of sensing whether both clutches are at least partially closed; of sensing the rotational speed of the at least one driven wheel and sensing the rotational speed of a non-driven wheel, and of detection of a fault state if both clutches are at least partially closed, and a difference between the rotational speeds of the wheels is greater than a predetermined reference value.
US08055401B2
A method includes diagnosing a transmission auxiliary pump in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) having an engine and an auxiliary power module (APM). A predetermined HEV operating mode is detected during which the engine is running, and the pump is cycled between on and off states. An electrical output value of the APM is determined during the on and off states. A control action is executed when the output value exceeds a corresponding threshold. An HEV includes an engine, a transmission, an APM, a battery connected to the APM, and a transmission auxiliary pump. An algorithm diagnoses operation of the pump. The APM includes an algorithm for diagnosing the pump during a predetermined mode during which the engine is running by determining an electrical output value of the APM during on and off states of the pump, and executes a control action when the output value exceeds a threshold.
US08055399B2
Electronic control systems and related control methods for controlling electric auxiliary motors for performing work, such as electric deck motors for mower blades. The apparatus is shown in use with a vehicle that includes a mowing deck. Features of the control systems allow for safe and efficient use of the vehicle.
US08055384B2
The present invention discloses a positioning control apparatus which receives a moving command and a feedback signal outputted from a controlled device, and controls the controlled device for moving and positioning. The positioning control apparatus includes a first control loop, a second control loop and an arbitration module with a dead point default value, wherein the first control loop is used to control the controlled device moving in response to the error of the moving command and the feedback signal, on the other hand, the second control loop is used to control the controlled device positioning. Furthermore, the arbitration module compares the default value of dead point with the moving command so as to enable either the first control loop or the second control loop.
US08055373B2
An automatic wafer storage system and a method of controlling the system are disclosed. The automatic wafer storage system includes an analysis module and a storage unit. The analysis module estimates the locations between an idle equipment, a transport tool, and the storage unit, so as to control the storage unit and the transport tool to move to the best location for the transport tool to receive wafers from the storage unit. After that, the transport tool carries the wafers to the idle equipment for processing.
US08055364B2
A personal computer connected to the Internet can receive and store audio and audiovisual data or programming from the Internet. This audio and audiovisual programming can be provided by the computer over a digital connection to speakers and/or a monitor located away from the computer at a location convenient for a user. A remote control unit allows the user to send signals back over the digital connection to the computer to control the computer to provide the audio or audiovisual programming that the user desires over the digital connection to the speakers and/or monitor located where the user is. The computer may send a listing of the available programming to the remote control unit from which the user can make selections.
US08055359B1
A system (10) for carrying out transactions between a customer at a customer station (14, 21, 202, 204) and a service provider at a service provider station (12, 194), includes transferring items through transaction devices such as pneumatic carrier delivery and receiving device (21, 200) and a deal drawer (20, 208). The customer at the customer station provides inputs corresponding to a financial account through input devices on the body which is stored in the memory (82, 158) on the body. After transfer to the service provider station, data in the memory is output to a charge device (56) which is operative to assess a charge to the customer's account responsive to data output from the memory. Vehicle sensors (230, 234) sense a vehicle adjacent the respective transaction device. At least one computer calculates at least one time value corresponding to each vehicle and stores the at least one time value and other data values concerning the respective transaction.
US08055355B2
A lead having a distal end electrode assembly adapted for implantation on or about the heart or within a vein and for connection to a system for monitoring or stimulating cardiac activity. The electrode assembly includes conductive fixation features, such as conductive tines or flexible members, in combination with non-conductive fixation features. The conductive fixation features also include tines coated with a conductive material. The fixation features further include conductive tines which are retractable. A defibrillation coil is optionally disposed at the distal end of the lead in combination with the conductive tines.
US08055352B2
This document discusses, among other things, a lead assembly including a lead body, at least one conductor extending through the lead body, and a covering having varied material properties. In an example, the covering is made by forming pieces of material having varied material properties. In another example, the covering is made by varying parameters such as heat or tension during wrapping of a piece of material onto a lead assembly.
US08055339B2
A device comprises a cardiac contraction sensing circuit, a timer circuit, an electrical stimulation circuit, and a controller. The timer circuit provides a time duration of an atrial-atrial interval between successive atrial contractions, a ventricular-ventricular interval between successive ventricular contractions, and an atrial-ventricular (A-V) interval between an atrial contraction and a same cardiac cycle ventricular contraction. The controller includes an event detection module and a pacing module. The event detection module is configured for determining whether A-V block events are sustained over multiple cardiac cycles. The pacing module is configured for providing pacing therapy according to a primary pacing mode that includes AAI(R) mode with independent VVI backup mode, and for switching the pacing therapy to a secondary pacing mode if A-V block events are sustained over multiple cardiac cycles. Other devices and methods are described.
US08055332B2
An implantable medical device such as an implantable pacemaker or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator includes a programmable sensing circuit providing for sensing of a signal approximating a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) through implanted electrodes. With various electrode configurations, signals approximating various standard surface ECG signals are acquired without the need for attaching electrodes with cables onto the skin. The various electrode configurations include, but are not limited to, various combinations of intracardiac pacing electrodes, portions of the implantable medical device contacting tissue, and electrodes incorporated onto the surface of the implantable medical device.
US08055331B2
A method for extracting segments from an electrocardiogram tracing is disclosed. The method selects an electrocardiogram tracing for segment extraction, and associates a dosing time or other time point with the electrocardiogram tracing to align an extraction template within the electrocardiogram tracing for segment extraction. The electrocardiogram tracing is scanned for artifacts and the electrocardiogram tracing is annotated if any artifacts are discovered. If there are any artifacts present in the segment designated for extraction by the extraction template, the extraction template is modified to avoid the artifacts. If the extraction template cannot be modified, the electrocardiogram tracing is annotated as unextractable. If artifacts are not present in the segment designated for extraction by the extraction template or the extraction template was successfully modified, the designated segment is extracted from the electrocardiogram tracing and written to a storage medium.
US08055330B2
A method of detecting gas bubbles in a living body, comprising: transmitting at least one original electromagnetic signal to a body portion; detecting a signal modulated by a flow of blood in said body portion; and analyzing a perturbation in said signal to determine at least one of an existence and a property of a bubble in said blood flow.
US08055322B2
Devices and methods for measuring a target ion concentration uses an electrode pair. The pair includes a working electrode and a reference electrode. The working and reference electrodes are ion-selective electrodes (ISEs). The reference ISE can include a sodium ISE. The ISE pair interacts with body fluids where a target ion concentration changes more than sodium ion concentration over time. Some ISE membranes of a pair vary essentially only in the ionophore. An ISE pair can determine the ratio of a target ion concentration to sodium ion concentration in vivo. Periodic measurement of sodium concentration in drawn blood can be used to calibrate an ISE pair and provide target ion concentration as an output. Or, a potassium/sodium ISE pair beneficially monitors potassium concentration changes over time in heart- or kidney-failure patients. Then, manual or automatic titration of a diuretic material can be implemented to maintain a desired potassium concentration.
US08055319B2
A sensor for measuring living body information includes a light guide member for guiding a first light; a light extracting member, disposed adjacent to the light guide member, for outputting the first light guided by the light guide member to an exterior of the light guide member through contact with the light guide member; and a light coupling member, disposed adjacent to the light guide member, for coupling a second light to the light guide member through contact with the light guide member.
US08055318B1
A new family of superconducting materials with critical temperature up to 55 K have recently been discovered, comprising a crystal structure with atomic layers of iron and arsenic alternating with atomic layers of rare-earth oxide or alkaline earth. The present invention identifies structures for integrated circuit elements (including Josephson junctions) in these and related materials. These superconducting circuit elements will operate at a higher temperature than low-temperature superconductors such as niobium, and may be easier to manufacture than prior-art high-temperature superconductors based on copper-oxides.
US08055316B2
A slide module includes a first slide member configured to slide upwardly and downwardly, a second slide member slidably mounted to the first slide member, an elastic force unit disposed between the first slide member and the second slide member, and having a plurality of elastic members mounted between a first rotation bar and a second rotation bar, wherein an elastic force is generated when the first rotation bar and the second rotation bar are rotated.
US08055313B2
A mobile communication device with a low power receiver for signal detection and a method for utilizing a low power receiver for signal detection in a mobile communication device. Various aspects of the present invention comprise a first receiver module adapted to operate in a sleep mode. The first receiver module may also be adapted to receive a communication signal utilizing a first amount of power, where the communication signal is characterized by a first set of signal characteristics. A second receiver module may be adapted to receive a communication signal characterized by the first set of signal characteristics. The second receiver module may be adapted to receive a communication signal utilizing a second amount of power that is less than the first amount of power. A communication signal received by the second receiver module may be analyzed to determine a mode in which to operate the first receiver module.
US08055310B2
Wireless power receiving apparatus (150) is retrofitted to a portable electrical device (100) to enable the device to receive power wirelessly. The apparatus comprises a power-receiving element (200) adapted to be attached to the device, e.g. by adhesive (201), and also being adapted to receive power wirelessly from a transmitter of power when the element and transmitter are in proximity with one another. One or more power connectors (203) are connected electrically to the power-receiving element and are adapted to be connected, when the apparatus is in use, to one or more corresponding power connectors (101) of the portable electrical device to deliver power received by the element to the device. The power-receiving element may be in the form of a sticker or may be carried by or incorporated in a replacement cover portion for the portable electrical device.
US08055300B2
Devices and methods to use base stations to communicate with user equipment (UE) terminals in an indoor setting are disclosed. For example, user equipments such as mobile telephone devices may be used in a building with multiple floors. The building may be supplied with antenna elements organized into antenna groups with each group serving an area of the building—a floor for example. The base station, utilizing the antenna groups, communicates with the UE terminals via one or more radio resources. The base station manages radio resources to communicate with multiple UE terminals. The base station selectively activates and deactivates the antenna groups to reduce multiple access interference and to efficiently utilize the radio resources.
US08055299B2
A mobile input device of a mobile terminal includes: a selection unit for selecting an application program of the mobile terminal; an execution instruction unit for generating an instruction to execute the application program; and a wireless communication unit for transmitting the instruction to execute to the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile input device inputs information to the executed application program.
US08055291B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing mobile terminal energy consumption during data transmissions by allocating link resources and adapting link parameters in an energy-aware manner, based on throughput requirements and prevailing channel conditions. A combination of transmit parameters that includes a transmit channelization scheme and is designed to minimize the total energy consumed during data transmission is selected based on a throughput requirement and one or more channel conditions associated with the data transmission. The channelization scheme includes a number of subchannels to be used and subchannel configuration parameters for each subchannel, such as spreading codes, spreading factors, and subchannel power levels. The combination of transmit parameters may also include a modulation format, coding scheme, and transmit power setting, as well as parameters relating to multiple-antenna transmit schemes.
US08055281B2
An apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving a paging message in a frequency overlay communication system are provided. The method includes determining if information is to be transmitted to a Mobile Station (MS) that is in an idle state, determining a sub frequency band for allocation to the MS, and transmitting a paging message to the MS using the determined sub frequency band.
US08055280B2
A method for a dual-mode terminal in a HRPD network to respond to 1x paging, the method comprising steps of: after a MS/AT turns to the HRPD network and informs a MSC of the related information via PCF, the MSC sends a 1x service arrive notification message to the MS/AT via PCF including a calling party number if some 1x paging information arrives; after receiving the 1x paging, the MS/AT displays the calling party number to a user and waits for the choice of the user; the MS/AT terminates service in the HRPD network and switches into a 1x network to send a “Page Response” message to the 1x BS if the user chooses to accept the 1x call; if the user rejects to accept the 1x call, the MS/AT sends a user response rejection message to an AN, the AN forwards it to the PCF to indicate that the user can not accept this 1x call; after receiving the user response rejection message, the PCF constructs a “Paging Response” message and sends it to the MSC to inform the MSC to terminate this call; and after receiving the rejection message from the PCF, the MSC terminates this call and releases relevant resources. With the present invention, both network resources and the air link resources are saved, and any unpleasant feeling is avoided to users.
US08055279B2
When information of its own station is transmitted to another mobile station by a CSMA access method, by a transmission control method and device, moving speed information and location information is transmitted with a predetermined minimum transmission power until a moving speed of its own station exceeds a first threshold, and the moving speed information and the location information is transmitted with a first transmission power proportional to the moving speed when the moving speed of its own station exceeds the first threshold. In this case, moving direction information of its own station may be acquired and transmitted in addition to the moving speed information and the location information. If the moving speed of the other mobile station exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold and a moving direction of the other mobile station is an approaching direction to its own station while its own station is not making transmission with the moving speed of its own station exceeding the first threshold, the first transmission power is switched over to a second transmission power proportional to the moving speed of the other mobile station and the moving speed information and the moving direction information is transmitted.
US08055276B2
A crisis response system including a throw module and a command unit connected by a communication cable. The throw module includes at least one covert video camera hidden from view. The covert video camera provides a video signal to the command unit showing the current conditions that exist in the immediate area surrounding the throw module. The throw module further includes a covert microphone hidden within the throw module that transmits an audio signal including the sounds occurring the immediate vicinity of the throw module. The crisis response system includes a cellular phone jamming circuit contained within the throw module that is selectively activated by a switch contained on the command unit. The cellular phone jamming circuit prevents cellular communication within a prescribed radius surrounding the throw phone.
US08055273B1
A mobile station receives a target pilot signal transmitted by a target transmitter in a spread spectrum communication system and measures its phase. The mobile station then defines a search window to search for the target pilot signal at a later time. The mobile station defines the center point of the search window based on the previously-measured phase and the mobile station's direction of motion and speed relative to the target transmitter. If the mobile station is moving toward the target transmitter, the center point is less than the previously-measured phase by an adjustment amount. If the mobile station is moving away from the target transmitter, the center point is greater than the previously-measured phase by an adjustment amount. The adjustment amount may depend on the mobile station's speed. After the search window is defined, the mobile station uses the search window to search for the target pilot signal.
US08055257B2
A radioterminal communications system includes an ancillary terrestrial component configured to receive from at least some of a plurality of radioterminals using frequencies from a first satellite frequency band (e.g., an L-band) and to transmit to at least some of the plurality of radioterminals using frequencies from a second satellite frequency band (e.g., an S-band). The system further includes a space-based component configured to communicate with the plurality of radioterminals using at least some of the frequencies from the first satellite frequency band and/or at least some of the frequencies from the second satellite frequency band. In some embodiments the ancillary terrestrial component communicates with radioterminals using a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode and the space-based component communicates with the same or other radioterminals using a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and/or a TDD mode.
US08055239B2
A communication control device (500) is capable of communicating with both a portable telephone terminal (100) and a location management device (400) that specifies the location of the portable telephone terminal (100). The communication control device (500) includes: a charge area management storage unit (530) that holds data regarding fee payment areas in which businesses that differ from the user of portable telephone terminal (100) pay the communication fees of the portable telephone terminal, a line connection unit (520) that can connect the portable telephone terminal (100) and the terminal of a communication partner while making the communication control device side the payer of communication fees of the portable telephone terminal (100), and a line connection management unit (510) that, upon accepting a communication request from the portable telephone terminal (100), acquires the location of the portable telephone terminal (100) from the location management device (400) and provides connection instructions to the line connection unit (520) to connect the portable telephone terminal (100) with the terminal of the communication partner while making the communication control device side the payer of the communication fees of the portable telephone terminal (100) only when the location of the portable telephone terminal (100) is contained in a fee payment area indicated by data held in the charge area management storage unit (530).
US08055238B1
A system is provided for prepaid handset credit activation. The system includes a prepaid handset, a subscriber identity module, and a server. The prepaid handset is associated with a prepaid handset identifier. The subscriber identity module is associated with a subscriber identity module identifier. The server communicates with a communication device to receive the prepaid handset identifier and the subscriber identity module identifier and determines whether both of the prepaid handset identifier and the subscriber identity module identifier are associated with prior activation. The server also applies credit to account information associated with the prepaid handset in response to a determination that both of the prepaid handset identifier and the subscriber identity module identifier are not associated with the prior activation, and activates the prepaid handset for user communication in response to applying credit to the account information associated with the prepaid handset.
