US08067075B2
A multilayer tube including at least three layers including a layer (a) formed of (A) polyamide 11 and/or polyamide 12, a layer (b) formed of (B) a polyamide (semi-aromatic polyamide) including a dicarboxylic acid unit containing a terephthalic acid and/or naphthalenedicarboxylic acid unit in a proportion of 50 mol % or more based on all dicarboxylic acid units, and a diamine unit containing an aliphatic diamine unit having a carbon number of 9 to 13 in a proportion of 60 mol % or more based on all diamine units, and a layer (c) formed of (C) a fluorine-containing polymer having introduced into the molecular chain thereof a functional group having reactivity with a polyamide-based resin, is provided as a multilayer tube excellent in an alcohol gasoline permeation-preventing property, interlayer adhesion, low-temperature impact resistance, heat resistance and chemical resistance.
US08067053B2
Disclosed is a method for selective chemical binding and immobilization of macromolecules on solid supports in conjunction with self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces. Immobilization involves selective binding of peptides and other macromolecules to SAM surfaces using reactive landing (RL) of mass-selected, gas phase ions. SAM surfaces provide a simple and convenient platform for tailoring chemical properties of a variety of substrates. The invention finds applications in biochemistry ranging from characterization of molecular recognition events at the amino acid level and identification of biologically active motifs in proteins, to development of novel biosensors and substrates for stimulated protein and cell adhesion.
US08067051B2
A process for preparation of milled cocoa shell including grinding cocoa shell in a single unit operation in a short-duration manner without the need for moving mechanical parts. The milled cocoa shell product obtained from the grinding treatment has reduced heat degradation and avoids equipment maintenance concerns otherwise associated with mechanical milling of the cocoa shells while providing an edible granular product useful for food manufacture such as chocolate food production.
US08067049B2
Roasted coffee beans are cooled and stored to a temperature of 0° C. or below before elapse of forty eight hours of holding time at room temperature or below after roasting.
US08067047B2
The present invention is predicated upon methods and devices for forming numerous articles for various applications including nutritional applications, medicinal applications, or other useful applications for plants, animals or otherwise. In one aspect, the present invention provides methods and devices for forming high quality pellets using alginates as a retention agent for the ingredients. This may be achieved through the creation or modification of pre-existing forming devices, wherein an alginate applicator is provided for applying the alginate to the ingredients, before, during or after formation of the articles, or combinations thereof, to retain the ingredients of the articles together.
US08067046B2
Provided is an oral pouch product including a pouch having a plurality of pores. At least one portion of soluble dietary fibers is contained in the pores of the pouch and/or coated thereon. The oral pouch product is filled with a botanical material. The oral pouch product is placed in the mouth to release the soluble dietary fibers directly into the user's mouth.
US08067039B2
An extract of plant Dendrobii Caulis and preparing process thereof are provided. A physiologically active extract of a plant Dendrobii Caulis and the method thereof are provided in the present invention. The extract is obtained by an extraction of the plant or parts thereof with a water miscible organic solvent or a mixture thereof with water.
US08067038B2
Disclosed is an ophthalmic composition for a soft contact lens, which is characterized in that the adsorption of a terpenoid contained in the composition onto a soft contact lens is reduced. The ophthalmic composition comprises a combination of Component (A) 0.005 to 0.01 wt % of a terpenoid and Component (B) alginic acid and/or a salt thereof.
US08067037B2
A topical drying composition is providing containing trehalose as the effective moisture (sweat) removing ingredient. The composition may be used in aqueous form or preferably as a cream and in addition to trehalose it contains several ingredients such as sorbitan monolaurate, polysorbitan, a moisturizer, a thickener, a softener, an antibacterial agent and a pH adjusting component to adjust the pH of the composition between about 5.5 to about 7.5. Sterilized water is used as the carrier for the composition.The topical composition can be applied to the area which is vulnerable to sweating after vigorous exercise in order to moisturize sweating on the skin.
US08067030B2
A controlled release composition containing a physiologically active substance in high content, suppressing the initial excess release, and achieving a stable release speed over a long period of time is provided.A controlled release composition comprising (1) a physiologically active substance or salt thereof in an amount of about 14% (w/w) to about 24% (w/w) based on the total composition weight, (2) hydroxynaphthoic acid selected from the group consisting of 3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid and 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid or salt thereof, and (3) a lactic acid polymer or salt thereof having a weight-average molecular weight of 15000 to 50000 in which the content of polymers having molecular weights of 5000 or less is about 5% by weight or less, wherein the molar ratio of said hydroxynaphthoic acid or salt thereof to said physiologically active substance or salt thereof is from 3:4 to 4:3.
US08067024B2
Implantable medical devices having anti-restenotic coatings are disclosed. Specifically, implantable medical devices having coatings of certain anti-inflammatory agents, are disclosed. The anti-inflammatory agents are selected from the group consisting of Sanglifehrin A, Sanglifehrin B, Sanglifehrin C, Sanglifehrin D, and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof. The anti-restenotic medical devices include stents, catheters, micro-particles, probes and vascular grafts. Intravascular stents are preferred medical devices. The medical devices can be coated using any method known in the art including compounding the anti-inflammatory agent with a biocompatible polymer prior to applying the coating. Moreover, medical devices composed entirely of biocompatible polymer-anti-inflammatory agent blends are disclosed. Additionally, medical devices having a coating comprising at least one anti-inflammatory agent in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent are also disclosed. Furthermore, related methods of using and making the anti-restenotic implantable devices are also disclosed.
US08067021B2
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a peptide composition for non-covalently localizing fibrous connective tissue-inducing growth factor to a surface of an implant, the composition comprising a peptide having binding affinity for a surface material of an implant coupled to a peptide having binding affinity for a fibrous connective tissue-inducing growth factor. Methods are provided for delivering fibrous connective tissue-inducing growth factor GDF-7 in an amount effective to promote fibrous connective tissue repair and fibrous connective tissue formation. Also provided are methods of applying the peptide composition to an implant by contacting the composition with a surface of the implant; and kits comprising the compositions.
US08067019B2
Disclosed herein are burnable air treatment chemical dispensing substrates, such as mosquito coils, in which wax is incorporated. In one form the wax portion is a separate coating layer in which the air treatment chemical is also placed. This permits the underlying base to be dried without loss of air treatment chemical. Methods for forming such coils are also disclosed.
US08067017B2
This invention provides methods and compositions to preserve bioactive materials in a dried foam matrix. Methods provide non-boiling foam generation and penetration of preservative agents at temperatures near the phase transition temperature of the membranes.
US08067015B2
The invention features methods and compositions for treatment or prevention of infection by, or disease caused by infection with, certain species of bacteria, including in particular bacteria in which a RAP-type and/or TRAP-type molecule plays a role in pathogenesis. This includes Staphylococcus species.
US08067012B2
Use as an anti-cancer agent of a mutant herpes simplex virus wherein the mutant virus comprises a modification in the γ34.5 gene in the long repeat region (RL) such that the γ34.5 gene is a non-functional, manufacture of medicaments and methods of testing cancer in mammals employing HSV mutant.
US08067010B2
The invention provides HSV antigens that are useful for the prevention and treatment of HSV infection. Disclosed herein are antigens and/or their constituent epitopes confirmed to be recognized by T-cells derived from herpetic lesions or from uterine cervix. T-cells having specificity for antigens of the invention have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against cells loaded with virally-encoded peptide epitopes, and in many cases, against cells infected with HSV. The identification of immunogenic antigens responsible for T-cell specificity provides improved anti-viral therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Compositions containing antigens or polynucleotides encoding antigens of the invention provide effectively targeted vaccines for prevention and treatment of HSV infection.
US08067007B2
Screening and diagnostic reagents, kits and methods for primary and/or metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer are disclosed. Compositions for and methods of imaging and treating primary and/or metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer are disclosed. Vaccines compositions and methods of for treating and preventing primary and/or metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer are disclosed.
US08067004B2
The invention provides a novel surface polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis as well as nucleic acid and nucleic acid sequence homologues encoding this protein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the polypeptide and nucleic acids of the invention are also disclosed as well as methods useful in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of N. meningitidis infection.
US08067002B2
The invention relates to humanized anti-human Factor D monoclonal antibodies, their nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, the cells and vectors that harbor these antibodies and their use in the preparation of compositions and medicaments for treatment of diseases and disorders associated with excessive or uncontrolled complement activation. These antibodies are useful for diagnostics, prophylaxis and treatment of disease.
US08066999B2
A method to treat conditions associated with Aβ peptide activity both prophylactically and therapeutically is described. The method employs humanized antibody fragments that specifically bind human Aβ peptide between amino acid positions 13-28, wherein the antibody fragments are covalently attached to a polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecule.
US08066994B2
Disclosed are methods and compositions for efficiently expressing antibody fusion proteins. Antibody fusion proteins of the invention include a hybrid antibody moiety containing sequences from more than one type of antibody and/or mutant antibody sequences. Hybrid antibody fusion proteins of the invention may be produced at high levels and may combine functional properties characteristic of different antibody types in addition to functional properties of a non-antibody moiety.
US08066993B2
The present invention relates to the use of MRI monitoring of ventricular enlargement rate as an objective measure for the purpose of assessing disease progression in patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and for the purpose of determining therapeutic effectiveness of a treatment regimen for Alzheimer's patients. Methods for treating Alzheimer's Disease and monitoring therapeutic effectiveness are provided.
US08066982B2
An isolated antiviral peptide is characterized by the amino acid sequence GDEPLENYLDTEYF and a significant in vitro binding affinity for HIV-1 gp 120 and gp 41 and human CD4 cells. The peptide exhibits anti-retroviral activity in vivo, particularly anti-HIV-1 activity.
US08066981B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods related to Toll-like receptor (TLR) polypeptides. In some embodiments, the invention relates to managing TLR3 related diseases. In further embodiments, the invention relates to methods of preventing and treating inflammation. In some embodiments, the invention relates to antagonists of TLR3, to amino acid sequences that act as dominant negative molecules, and to nucleic acid sequences that encode said amino acid sequences. In additional embodiments, the invention relates to the manipulation of biological materials to evaluate TLR3 activity.
US08066957B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a test strip container which provides easy access to test strips. The test strip container includes a lower housing, an upper housing, and a retaining member configured to releasably retain the test strips in a nested configuration. The nested configuration of the test strip container provides easy access to test strips by arranging the test strips so that they extend radially outward from the retaining member. The radial arrangement of the test strips operates to separate the test strips so that test strip users may easily select a single test strip from a plurality of test strips. Alternatively, the test strip container includes a lower housing, an upper housing, and a retaining member configured to releasably retain the test strips in a longitudinal configuration.
US08066951B2
A method for removing soot particles from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, especially of a diesel engine, includes feeding the exhaust gas through a collecting element through which the exhaust gas can pass freely but which is provided with a plurality of deflections and/or zones of swirl and calming or stabilization. At least a proportion of the particles are held or swirled around in the collecting element until there is a sufficient probability of reaction with nitrogen dioxide and a majority of the collected particles have been removed. A collecting element has flow channels through which the exhaust gas can pass freely. However, the flow channels are configured in such a way as to form deflections or zones of swirl and calming or stabilization. A system having the collecting element is also provided.
US08066948B2
A device for degassing a flowable, viscous and pasty product includes a reactor having a product inlet and a product discharge outlet. A plurality of rotors each defining a reaction zone are located side-by-side in the reactor and a separate driving system mounted outside of the reactor for rotating each rotor with each driving system being an hydraulic system.
US08066945B2
Apparatus comprising a surface site comprising a substantially inorganic surface having a chemical composition selected from the group consisting of metals, semiconductors, insulators, and mixtures thereof, the surface positioned within a polypeptide bonding region and having a selective bonding affinity for a polypeptide; a plurality of interlayers between which the surface site is interposed; a distal site end on the surface site and distanced from the interlayers, the surface being provided on the distal site end; the surface site and the interlayers being interposed between first and second supports; first and second conductors provided on the first and second supports and having respective first and second distal conductor ends positioned within the polypeptide bonding region; the conductors being capable of applying an external voltage potential across the polypeptide bonding region. Apparatus, optionally comprising such first and second supports and conductors; and comprising a third conductor in electrical communication with the surface site, the third conductor positioned for electrical communication with a source of an external bias voltage. Techniques for making apparatus.
US08066937B2
Discontinuous diamond particulate containing metal matrix composites of high thermal conductivity and methods for producing these composites are provided. The manufacturing method includes producing a thin reaction formed and diffusion bonded functionally graded interactive SiC surface layer on diamond particles. The interactive surface converted SiC coated diamond particles are then disposed into a mold and between the particles and permitted to rapidly solidify under pressure. The surface conversion interactive SiC coating on the diamond particles achieves minimal interface thermal resistance with the metal matrix which translates into good mechanical strength and stiffness of the composites and facilitates near theoretical thermal conductivity levels to be attained in the composite. Secondary working of the diamond metal composite can be performed for producing thin sheet product.
US08066925B2
In a moulding process for producing automobile parts, the female part (1) of a two part mould is sprayed with a metal such as stainless steel, tin, nickel-tin, copper or zinc. A thermal expansion compensation layer (3) is laid on the sprayed mould surface (1) and a layer of a resin impregnated fibrous material is applied thereto. The resultant assembly is cured and then removed from the female part of the mould or removed from the mould and then cured. The metal surface (2) of the composite part may be subject to further treatment such as polishing, coating and painting, or a combination of these. “Windows” may be produced by leaving areas of the mould part unsprayed with metal. In this way panels for lights, aerials or proximity sensors may be integrally formed.
US08066919B2
The present invention provides spherical rubber chemicals and the method for preparing the same. The spherical rubber chemicals of the present invention include spherical antioxidants, spherical vulcanization agents, spherical processing aids, spherical reinforcing agents, or spherical adhesive agents. With the spherical rubber chemicals of the present invention, the shortcomings of powdery or semi-spherical rubber chemicals are overcome, including eliminating the dust pollution during granulation procedure and avoiding the raw material loss and the environmental pollution, while solving the quality problem of lower melting point of product caused by the presence of fine powder crystal. Furthermore, the resultant rubber chemicals has an improved smoothness of surface, which is helpful to improve the flowing and mixing behaviors of the rubber chemicals in mixing or open milling process with rubbers.
US08066917B2
Disclosed is a photochromic curable composition comprising [A] not less than 0.1 part and less than 5 parts by mass of a specific radically polymerizable monomer having an epoxy group, [B] 1.0 to 15 parts by mass of a specific polyfunctional radically polymerizable monomer, [C] 1.0 to 30.0 parts by mass of a specific di(meth)acrylate monomer, [D] more than 50.0 parts and not more than 97.9 parts by mass of a (meth)acrylate monomer except the components [A] to [C] and/or a thio(meth)acrylate monomer, and [E] 0.001 to 10 parts by mass of a photochromic compound based on 100 parts by mass of the total of the polymerizable monomers.
US08066902B2
Methods for inhibiting corrosion in brazed metal surfaces and coolants and additives for use therein
Disclosed are coolants comprising brazed metal corrosion inhibitors. In one embodiment, the disclosed brazed metal corrosion inhibitor will comprise a polycarboxylic acid functional compound having the structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, C1-C10alkyl groups, glycol esters, anhydride groups, —COOM, and combinations thereof, wherein M is at least one of H, alkali metal ions, alkali earth metal ions, NH4+, amines, imidazoline, polyalcohol esters, C1 to C12 alkyl groups, and combinations thereof; wherein (1) at least three of R1, R2, R3, and R4 contain the group —COOM, wherein M is defined above; or (2) at least two of R1, R2, R3, and R4 contain an anhydride group, and at least one of R1, R2, R3, and R4 contain the group —COOM, wherein M is defined above.
US08066901B1
Provided are azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene (HFO-1336mzz(E)) and water. Such azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions are useful in isolating HFO-1336mzz(E) from impurities during production. Azeotropes of the instant invention are similarly useful in final compositions, such as blowing agent, propellants, refrigerants, diluents for gaseous sterilization and the like.
US08066900B2
Azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1-bromopropane and 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoro-3-methoxy-propane, and uses thereof, are described.
US08066895B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for processing a substrate with increased uniformity. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus comprises a chamber body defining a processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume, a showerhead disposed in the processing volume opposite to the substrate support, and a plasma generation assembly configured to ignite a plasma from the processing gases in the processing gas in the processing volume. The showerhead is configured to provide one or more processing gases to the processing volume. The showerhead has two or more distribution zones each independently controllable.
US08066892B2
A method for manufacturing a write pole for a perpendicular magnetic write head. The method employs a damascene process to construct the write pole with a very accurately controlled track width. The method includes depositing a layer of material that can be readily removed by reactive ion etching. This material can be referred to as a RIEable material. A mask is formed over the RIEable material and a reactive ion etching is performed to form a tapered trench in the RIEAble material. A CMP stop layer can the be deposited, and a write pole plated into the trench. A CMP can then be performed to define the trailing edge of the write pole. Another masking, etching and plating step can be performed to form a trailing, wrap-around magnetic shield.
US08066887B1
Disclosed is a system for reducing the demand of wastewater volume flowing through a wastewater collection piping system and thereby increasing the effective capacity of the system. A portion of the wastewater is diverted from a sewer main. The solids are separated from the liquid, for example, by a vortex separator. The recovered liquid can be treated and made available for local reuse. The concentrated solids are reintroduced into the main sewage line in a portion that adjusts the wastewater loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range. Also disclosed is a system capable of reintroducing the concentrated solids into the sewer main in a portion that adjusts the solids loading in the sewer main to a predetermined amount or predetermined range.
US08066886B2
A method and apparatus provide pulsed fluid treatment at a plurality of distinct points utilizing pulsed magnetic energy concentrated in a plurality of distinct areas along a fluid flow path. The instant invention prevents the formation and accumulation of contaminants within conduits and on equipment utilized in the transportation, delivery and processing of fluid columns. It may also be utilized to accelerate the separation of oil and water and increase the efficiency of oil/water separation equipment.
US08066880B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for denitrifying a solution that includes a denitrification tank configured to receive a portion of the solution for a period of time. Controlling an amount, duration and frequency of introduction of polyethylene glycol into the solution promotes indigenous heterotrophic bacteria depleting dissolved oxygen in the solution and obtaining oxygen from nitrate in the solution.
US08066879B2
An apparatus and method for passively generating a current flow in a body of water is disclosed. The passive water circulating apparatus has an aeration plate having a central opening; a plurality of flotation members joined to the aeration plate, the plurality of flotation members being adapted and disposed for maintaining buoyancy of the aeration plate above a water surface; an uplift tube member having a central orifice in fluid communication with the central opening of the aeration plate; a concentrator member disposed at an end of the uplift tube opposite the aeration plate, the concentrator member having a bottom opening in fluid communication with an upper opening, the bottom opening being wider than the upper opening and the upper opening being connected to the uplift tube member; and a plurality of bio-substrates suspended from the concentrator member below the bottom opening, the plurality of bio-substrates providing a substrate for growth of microbes.
US08066872B1
A skimmer system for removing a substantially liquid substance such as oil floating on the surface of a body of water has a reservoir body defining an collected fluid reservoir and having a primary weir edge. A weir tube extends upwardly within the reservoir and provides a secondary weir edge being of less height than the primary weir edge and defines a vortex chamber. A plurality of buoyancy members support the reservoir body in relation to the surface of the body of water and are adjustable relative to the reservoir body by power operated or mechanical devices for selective positioning of said primary weir edge relative to the water surface. A pump having a suction inlet is in communication with the vortex chamber and has a discharge outlet conducting recovered oil to a collection barge. A power source such as a hydraulic fluid supply is connected in driving relation with the pump.
US08066867B2
Methods are disclosed for the hydrotreating and hydrocracking of highly aromatic distillate feeds such as light cycle oil (LCO) to produce ultra low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel. Optimization of hydrotreater severity improves the octane quality of the gasoline or naphtha fraction. In particular, the operation of the hydrotreater at reduced severity to allow at least about 20 ppm by weight of organic nitrogen into the hydrocracker feed is shown to lead to these important benefits. Post-treating of the hydrocracker effluent over an additional hydrotreating catalyst bed may be desired to meet specifications for ultra low sulfur fuel components.
US08066865B2
An electrochemical co-deposition method and solution to plate uniform, defect free and smooth (In,Ga)—Se films with repeatability and controllable molar ratios of (In,Ga) to Se are provided. Such layers are used in fabrication of semiconductor and electronic devices such as thin film solar cells. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an alkaline electrodeposition solution that includes an In salt, a Se acid or oxide, a tartrate salt as complexing agent for the In species, and a solvent to electrodeposit an In—Se film possessing sub-micron thickness on a conductive surface.
US08066849B2
Absorbent sheet prepared with papermaking fiber and synthetic fiber exhibiting improved wet strength
A wet-laid absorbent sheet includes a mixture of pulp-derived papermaking fibers and synthetic polymer fibers, a strength agent selected from carboxymethylcellulose and anionic starch as well as an epihalohydrin/amine functional wet strength resin. Also included is an anionic olefin copolymer resin effective to increase the wet/dry tensile ratio of the sheet.
US08066827B2
The invention is directed to Pd-based metallic glass alloys useful in biomedical applications having no Ni or Cu. Exemplary metallic glass alloys are represented by AaBb{(Si)100-c(D)c}d, where A may be selected from Pd, and combinations of Pd and Pt, B may be selected from Ag, Au, Co, Fe, and combinations thereof, and D may be selected from P, Ge, B, S. Also, a, b, c and d are atomic percentages, and a ranges from about 60 to about 90, b ranges from about 2 to about 18, d ranges from about 5 to about 25, and c is greater than 0 and less than 100.
US08066826B2
A steel-made rolling-contact shaft with a joint claw improved in both the rolling contact fatigue life at the raceway and the static fracture strength (torsional strength) at the claw includes a joint claw at one end, and has a portion of the outer cylindrical surface functioning as a raceway of a needle roller qualified as a rolling element of a needle bearing. The joint claw is subjected to tempering by induction heating. A nitrogen-enriched layer is formed at the surface layer of the rolling-contact shaft with a joint claw. The grain size number of austenite grains in the nitrogen-enriched layer exceeds number 10. The hydrogen content of the rolling-contact shaft with a joint claw is not more than 0.5 ppm.
US08066815B2
A multi-workpiece chamber includes at least two processing stations, for exposing workpieces to a treatment process. A partition cooperates with the chamber such that the partition is disengagably removable from the chamber and re-engagable with the chamber for selectively dividing the processing stations. The partition is configured to provide for non-line-of-sight travel of certain ones of the process related products between the processing stations. An exhaust arrangement divides exhaust flow into at least two approximately equal exhaust flow portions that leave the multi-workpiece chamber in a way which enhances uniformity of the treatment process for the stations. A partition configuration is described including a partition portion between the stations and a baffle portion extending into an exhaust arrangement. A modified partition arrangement is provided for use in establishing a modified exchange characteristic of the process related products.
US08066811B2
The invention disclosed a pigment having angle dependence of the interference colors and its production process, in which mica is used as the substrate and the first metal oxide coating with high refractive index has the optical thickness of silver to golden interference color. And the second metal oxide coating with low refractive index has the optical thickness of the second circle green to the fourth circle interference color. The third coating is a highly refractive metal oxide. The lowly refractive metal oxide is SiO2 and the highly refractive metal oxide is TiO2, SnO2, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, CoO, Co2O3, ZrO2, Cr2O3 or their mixtures as well as complexes. The mica substrate is wet-milled mica powders with a thickness of 0.1-0.9 micrometers and a diameter of 5-250 micrometers. The process involves wet chemical hydrolysis steps to alternately deposit the coatings and modulating the optical thickness of each coatings, to produce the pigment having angle dependence of the interference colors, which has various hues and ranges of angle dependence of the interference colors as well as higher brightness and vivid colors.
US08066801B2
A membrane dryer includes a shell having an inner tube and an outer tube and a bundle of hollow fibers supported in the shell. A dryer air inlet into the hollow fibers and a sweep air outlet from the inner tube are at a first end of the shell. A dryer air outlet into the hollow fibers and a sweep air inlet from the inner tube are at a second end of the shell. The inner tube has a first set of circumferential openings into the sweep air space adjacent the first end of the shell and a second set of circumferential openings into the sweep air space adjacent the first end of the shell; and a second plug is in the inner tube between the first and second set of openings.
US08066800B2
A method for separating CO2 from a processed fluid includes exposing a film to the processed fluid and reacting the CO2 with tetrahedrally coordinated zinc hydroxide moieties contained within the film to facilitate the transport of the CO2 through the film.
US08066798B2
A method for selecting a filtering structure for a gas laden with particulates, said structure comprising a filtering part formed from a porous ceramic material and comprising at least one, and preferably a plurality, of porous walls, said method being characterized in that, starting from a first image of the surface of the wall, a processing operation is carried out on said first image comprising a morphological erosion by a structuring element in such a manner as to obtain a second characteristic image of the regularity and of the uniformity of the microstructure of said wall.Silicon carbide filtering structure obtained by application of said method.
US08066795B2
A thermal spray powder including cermet particles, each of which contains metal containing at least one selected from the group consisting of cobalt, chrome, and nickel, and tungsten carbide. The ratio of the summed weight of cermet particles having a particle size of 25 μm or more in the thermal spray powder with respect to the summed weight of the entire cermet particles in the thermal spray powder is 0.5 to 15%. A thermal spray coating formed from the thermal spray powder is suitable for the formation of a tungsten carbide-based cermet thermal spray coating for use in rolls such as corrugated rolls.
US08066784B2
The invention relates to a method for production of a membrane/electrode unit, whereby a conducting polymer membrane is compressed with two electrodes until a given compression is achieved. Said method permits an increase in resting voltage of the membrane/electrode unit in use, the amount of damage during production is reduced and a constant thickness within a production run is achieved.
US08066778B2
An acetabular cup assembly can include a cup portion and a bearing. The cup portion can include a porous metal outer layer having a first thickness and a solid titanium inner layer having a second thickness. A mating feature can be formed between the cup portion and the bearing. The bearing can be adapted to be selectively secured to the titanium inner layer. In one example, the bearing is formed of cobalt.
US08066773B2
An artificial intervertebral disc for at least partially replacing a diseased or damaged intervertebral disc. The artificial disc includes a concave-convex articulating surface. The artificial disc can be used in the cervical region of the spine, where a concave-convex articulating surface is advantageous for improved anatomical fit and region appropriate kinematics. The artificial disc of the present invention also includes an anchor for attachment to bone.
US08066761B2
A method of imposing a shape on an intact blood vessel other than a graft includes inserting a stent in the vessel. The stent includes a supporting portion which internally supports an interior wall of the vessel. The supporting portion includes a hollow tube, the walls of which have openings therein so that the interior wall of the vessel is exposed via the openings to fluid flow along the vessel. A central axis of the hollow tube forms a non-planar three dimensional at least partially helical shape. The hollow tube imposes the three-dimensional at least partially helical shape on the central axis of the vessel, inducing a swirling fluid flow within the stent supported part of the vessel.
US08066758B2
A self-sealing vascular graft with kink resistance is described. The vascular graft includes a substrate that can be a PTFE, having a self-sealing region that may include several layers of material. The central section of the vascular graft may be constructed differently from surrounding self-sealing regions, in order to provide kink resistance following the clamping of the graft. Also described is a graft with a flared cuff attached to one or both ends, the attachment or transition region including reinforcement beading.
US08066756B2
A deployment device for deploying stents, stent-grafts and other implants into a patient includes a catheter (112) with a containment sheath (116). Held onto the catheter (112) is a stent-graft structure (120). The containment sheath (116) extends over the entirety of the stent graft section (122) so as to constrain it in its entirety on the catheter (112), until the sheath (116) is removed. The containment sheath (116) extends from the distal position (126) of the stent graft section (122) to the tip (114) and then into the central lumen (128) of the catheter (112). It may extend throughout the lumen (128) to the proximal end of the deployment device (10), in other words to the external manipulation section of the delivery device (10). The sheath (116) is withdrawn by pulling towards the external manipulation section of the delivery device. As this is effected, the containment sheath (116) is pulled over the end (114) of the catheter and into the central lumen (128) of the catheter (112). As this occurs the containment sheath (116) is in effect withdrawn into the catheter (112), thereby releasing the stent-graft section (122) gradually. Continued pulling will gradually pull the entirety of the containment sheath (116) into the open end of the catheter (112), thereby releasing the entirety of the stent-graft section (122).
US08066753B2
A specialized catheter is used in a method to place a stent assembly in a bifurcated vessel in an animal body, such as a human. Primary and secondary guidewires are inserted from a location external of the body through the primary vessel, the secondary guidewire being further inserted into a secondary vessel beyond a bifurcation area. The guidewires are inserted into a primary stent and catheter assembly such that the assembly can move along the guidewires to the bifurcation area where the primary stent is expanded. While retaining the secondary guidewire in the vessels, the primary catheter assembly and primary guidewire are removed, the secondary guidewire passing through specialized openings in the primary catheter. Then the secondary stent, mounted on a catheter, is passed through the primary vessel guided by the secondary guidewire, and into the secondary vessel. There, the secondary stent is expanded to form the bifurcated stent assembly in an efficient manner.
US08066746B2
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a connection assembly that can be used to securely connect a spinal implant to a bone anchor. In particular, the present invention preferably provides a variable angle connection assembly that is able to securely connect the spinal implant to the anchors even when there is a variance in the angle and position of the anchors with respect to the spinal implant. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a connection assembly that will not inadvertently lock the components of the connection assembly preventing the relative movement of the components.
US08066744B2
A coupling assembly may include an anchor member, a receiver member, and a seat member. The receiver member may have an anchor member end that cooperates with the anchor member and may have an implant receiving aperture for receiving an implant. The seat member may be disposable within the receiver member between the anchor member and the implant receiving aperture. First and second rotation-limiting features may be engageable to limit rotation of the seat member relative to the receiver member.
US08066740B2
Cephalad and caudal vertebral facet joint prostheses and methods of use are provided. A pair of fixation elements are adapted to be secured within a vertebra in an orientation that best assures a secure and durable attachment to cortical and/or cancellous bone. Artificial facet joint surfaces are mounted on the fixation elements, either directly or with the aid of a support. The artificial facet joint structure may be carried by an arm. The artificial facet joint structure is adapted for articulation with a complementary natural or artificial facet joint structure. Bilateral prostheses may by coupled by a brace to further secure and stabilize the prostheses. Artificial facet joints can be used in combination with artificial intervertebral discs to treat a spinal pathology.
US08066737B2
An apparatus and a method for surgical suturing with thread management. An apparatus for tissue suturing including a cartridge having a suturing needle having a pointed end, a blunt end and notches, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis; a pusher assembly comprising a cartridge holder having a needle rotation drive capable of releasably engaging the cartridge and rotating the suturing needle about the axis; and an actuator capable of releasably engaging the needle rotation drive to rotate the needle rotation drive. A method for suturing tissue including placing a suturing device having a cartridge containing a suturing needle to span separated tissue segments; activating an actuator to cause rotational movement of the suturing needle through the separated tissue segments; and deactivating the actuator to stop an advancing movement of the suturing needle to cause a suturing material to be pulled through the separated tissue segments forming a stitch.
US08066734B2
To bring about an improvement in comparison with known implants, in particular with regard to economical mass production, an implant for the closing of defect openings in the body of a human or animal is proposed, with a load-bearing structure which, in a first operating state (primary form), has a great ratio of length to transverse extent along an axis and, at least in a further operating state (secondary form), has a much smaller ratio of length to transverse extent along the axis, the load-bearing structure being capable of being reversibly transformed from the secondary form into the primary form by exertion of a force against elastic material forces, the secondary form assuming approximately the form of a double disc with a proximal disc element and a distal disc element for receiving the surroundings of the defect opening between the disc elements, and the load-bearing structure being formed essentially in one piece without joining connections, and a placement system, in particular for such an implant, is proposed, with a stretching element and at least one, preferably two, holding wires, the stretching element serving for interacting with a distal end of an implant and the holding wire or wires serving for interacting with a proximal end of an implant, the implant being capable of being transformed from a primary form into a secondary form and vice versa by relative movement of the holding wires in relation to the stretching element.
US08066721B2
An apparatus for the transoral invagination and fundoplication of the stomach to the esophagus includes a clip applier having sharp toothed jaws for grasping and damaging the fundus prior to applying the clip. The clip applier has an overall diameter of less than 7 mm. The clip applier jaws are coupled to a pull wire via a linkage which increases the mechanical advantage and thus permits greater grasping force. A plurality of clip designs are also provided.
US08066719B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for forming a gastrointestinal tissue fold by engaging tissue at a first tissue contact point, moving the first tissue contact point from a position initially distal to a second tissue contact point to a position proximal of the second contact point to form a tissue fold, and extending an anchor assembly through the tissue fold near the second tissue contact point.
US08066717B2
Device and method for harvesting and implanting hair follicular units is provided. A combined harvesting and implanting tool or tool assembly provides a harvesting cannula portion detachably coupled to an implanting cannula portion. The harvesting and implanting cannula portions may be coupled by a connector that could be designed to allow for multiple uses of the tool assembly, or alternatively may be designed for single use and rendered non-functional when the implanting cannula portion of the tool is separated from the harvesting cannula portion of the tool.
US08066714B2
Instruments for inserting an implant in a space between adjacent bony portions include upper and lower guide members and a drive assembly between the spreaders with an implant positioned forwardly of the drive assembly. The drive assembly is coupled to a handle assembly, and the handle assembly is operable to move the implant forwardly between the guide members to position the implant in a space between the bony portions. The handle assembly includes a mounting portion to which the drive assembly is mounted and an actuating portion operable to effect linear movement of the drive assembly.
US08066710B2
A method and instrumentation for spinal interbody fusion is disclosed. The instruments and methods are particularly adapted for interbody fusion from a posterior approach to the spine. One instrument is a retractor having a lockable pivotally mounted handle. Another instrument is a template for straddling the dura. A modular distractor is also provided and preferably includes a tapered shaft with a visualization window disposed therein. Yet another instrument is a depth gauge to verify bone opening depth and dimension, preferably including a radiopaque portion. A method contemplates the use of these instruments to prepare a disc space to receive an implant.
US08066708B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08066702B2
A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to the spine and nervous system. The stimulation lead includes electrodes that may be selectively positioned along various portions of the stimulation lead in order to precisely direct electrical energy to ablate or electrically stimulate the target tissue. The invention also includes a method of activating electrodes in the electrical stimulation lead whereby an ablative lesion can be formed in a desired shape and size. The invention further includes a method of managing pain in a sacrum of a patient, and a method of assembling an electrical stimulation device.
US08066697B2
A cryosurgery apparatus is disclosed. The cryosurgery apparatus an introducer having a hollow and a distal portion, the distal portion being sufficiently sharp so as to penetrate into a body, the hollow of the introducer being designed and constructed for containing a plurality of cryoprobes each of the cryoprobes being for effecting cryoablation, such that each of the plurality of cryoprobes is deployable through the distal portion of the introducer when the distal portion is positioned with respect to a tissue to be cryoablated.
US08066686B2
A fastener (10) comprising an attachment section (30) for permanent attachment to an anchoring area, a target section (60) for permanent attachment to a landing area, and a fastening section (40) for selective attachment and detachment from the target section (60). A breakable connection (70) initially connects the fastening section (40) and the target section (60), and this connection (70) is broken to disconnect the fastening section (40) from the target section (60) when fastener (10) is converted from a closed condition to an opened condition. A single fingerlift (80) can be gripped both when converting the fastener (10) from an installed condition to the closed condition, and when converting the fastener (10) from the closed condition to the opened condition.
US08066676B2
A guidewire lumen for a catheter includes a tubular member. At least a portion of the tubular member is formed of a compound comprising a polymer and particles or fibers. The particles or fibers can reduce a friction coefficient of the portion of the tubular member while having minimal to no adverse effects with respect to bondability, flexibility, and processability.
US08066664B2
A catheter capable of articulating in two and three directions is provided. Articulation at the distal tip of the catheter is facilitated by applying selective tension on a steering wire disposed in a lumen that resides peripheral to a central working lumen. Tension on the steering wire through the peripheral lumen causes the catheter tip to bend while the central working lumen resists compression.
US08066659B2
An apparatus for administering a therapeutic is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a syringe having a barrel and a plunger and having a material treatment module associated therewith. The material treatment module may be an ozone generator that is initiated such that material containing ozone accumulates within the barrel. The material can then be delivered from the barrel into a target site via a needle, thereby delivering therapeutic effects to that target site.
US08066657B2
An improved abdominal binder is provided. The abdominal binder can include at least one external securing mechanism for holding a drainage bulb. In one embodiment, the securing mechanism can include one or more strips of hook or loop type material. In another embodiment, an improved abdominal binder that can support multiple drainage bulbs externally of the abdominal binder is provided. The improved abdominal binder can further include one or more openings to receive a drainage tube of a bulb held external to the abdominal binder.
US08066655B2
A protective glove is disclosed that provides a user with protection against radial luxation or subluxation of the user's thumb during activities in which the user's thumb can be subjected to forces that may dislocate the thumb in relation to the hand. In one preferred embodiment, the protective glove is a ski glove that includes a bracing element to prevent injurious movement of a snow skier's thumb when a ski pole used by the skier forcefully reacts to movement of the ski pole as the pole is inserted or dragged within the snow upon which the skier is skiing. In other embodiments, the present invention may also be utilized by as user participating in activities such a skiing, rodeos, football, hockey, polo, baseball, and lacrosse.
US08066653B2
Disclosed is a scoliosis brace having an angle adjustment unit and a plurality of support units connected to one another so that the relative position can be changed to support different parts of a human body. The body is pressurized according to the relative position of respective support units so that the spinal column is corrected precisely.
US08066650B2
A system for monitoring strain as an indicator of biological conditions, such as spinal fusion, glucose levels, spinal loading, and heart rate. The system includes an inter-digitated capacitor sensor, and RF transmitter, and an associated antenna, all of which are microminiature or microscopic in size and can be implanted in a biological host such as a human or animal. An inductively coupled power supply is also employed to avoid the need for implantation of chemical batteries. Power is provided to the sensor and transmitter, and data is transmitted from the sensor, when an external receiving device, such as a handheld RF ID type receiver, is placed proximate the location of the implanted sensor, transmitter and inductively coupled power supply. The implanted sensor, transmitter and inductively coupled power supply can be left in place permanently or removed when desired.
US08066649B2
An integrated lancet and testing striplet for measuring a body analyte level in a health care regimen includes a skin piercing member and an analyte sensor coupled together.
US08066648B1
A fluid connector is provided for a biopsy system that includes a vacuum assisted biopsy device, a first fluid source and a second fluid source. In an embodiment, the fluid connector includes a body member having a first input port, a second input port and an output port. The first input port includes a first check valve in fluid communication with the first fluid source, the second input port includes a second check valve in fluid communication with the second fluid source and the output port is provided in communication with the vacuum assisted biopsy device. A biopsy system including a fluid connector of the present invention is also provided.
US08066641B2
A method and system for ultrasound treatment of photoaged tissue are provided. An exemplary method and system are configured for first, ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, second, delivery of ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and third to monitor the treatment area during and after therapy to assess the results and/or provide feedback. The exemplary treatment method and system can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal and deep dermal components of photoaged tissue.
US08066637B2
Method and apparatus for determining the state of entrainment between biological systems which exhibit oscillatory behavior such as heart rhythms, respiration, blood pressure waves and low frequency brain waves based on a determination of heart rate variability (HRV) and an evaluation of the power spectrum thereof. Entrainment reflects a harmonious balance between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system within the body. This internal state of heightened physiological efficiency enhances health and promotes optimal performance. According to one embodiment a method is used to determine the entrainment level based on an entrainment parameter related to HRV. The method first determines the power distribution spectrum (PSD) and then calculates an entrainment parameter (EP), which is a measure of the power distribution in the HRV spectrum. High EP values occur when this power is concentrated within a relatively narrow range of frequencies, and lower values when the power is distributed over a broader range of frequencies. In one embodiment, an apparatus is provided for monitoring the heart beat and presenting this information via a personal computer, handheld device, or other processing means.
US08066631B2
The invention relates to an endoscope having a bendable guide element, by means of which a tool can be securely guided and simultaneously steered outward into a broad operating area at the head of the endoscope.
US08066627B2
A delivery system and method for interstitial radiation therapy comprising substantially axially stiff and longitudinally flexible elongated members made of material which is bioabsorbable in living tissue and a plurality of radioactive seeds dispersed in a predetermined array within the elongate member. The radioactive seeds can be dispersed within assembled half-shells made of the same material. The housing for the radiation seeds can also be manufactured from extruded material. A system for manufacturing the interstitial radiation therapy seed strands that automatically makes the seed strands at the patient's bedside. The delivery system and method further customize the member based on a prescription.
US08066626B2
The conductive rubber member of the invention has a conductive elastic layer to which conductivity has been imparted and which serves as an outermost layer, and a surface-treated layer formed through impregnating a surface of the conductive elastic layer with a surface-treatment liquid containing at least an isocyanate component and an organic solvent, wherein the surface-treated layer is formed of an upper portion on the outermost side, and a lower portion beneath the upper portion, the upper portion has a density of the isocyanate component which is greater on the inner side than on the surface side within the upper portion, and the lower portion has a density of the isocyanate component that gradually decreases inwardly.
US08066623B2
An in-water training and rehabilitation device capable of individually training and rehabilitating an objective muscle of forearms at home with ease is provided. The in-water training and rehabilitation device according to the present invention is an in-water training device 10 that is held with a hand and moved in water for the purpose of strengthening a desired muscle of, mainly, forearms, and includes a substantially planar resistance part 14 whose area is variable and a plurality of handles 13 of different kinds. In the present invention, the plurality of handles 13 of different kinds may be constantly fixed to the resistance part 14 as in (d) or may be adapted to be replaceable as appropriate through an attaching and removing mechanism.
US08066617B2
A method of controlling an automated step-down transmission, arranged in a drivetrain between an engine and a drive axle, which includes a multi-stage main transmission and a range group. The main transmission has an intermediate transmission style with a countershaft having a transmission brake and an input shaft connected, via a clutch, to the engine. The main transmission shifts, without being synchronized, and the range group shifts, after synchronization, such that the engaged gear ratio of the main transmission remains engaged during a range shift operation. The range shift is accomplished by firstly reducing drive engine torque; secondly, disengaging the existing gear ratio of the range group; thirdly, remotely synchronizing the target gear ratio in the range group; fourthly, engaging the target gear ratio in the range group; and fifthly, increasing the drive engine torque.
US08066616B2
A control apparatus for a vehicular automatic transmission, which permits effective reduction of deterioration of vehicle drivability upon operation of a brake operating member, and which is configured to increase a sweeping rate in a sweep control of the torque capacity of a coupling element of an automatic transmission portion 20 to be engaged to perform a shifting action when a regenerative braking command is generated according to the operation of the brake operating member during an inertia phase of the shifting action, so that the coupling element is rapidly engaged for the purpose of generating an engine braking force when the regenerative braking command is generated according to the operation of the brake operating member during the inertia phase of the shifting action. Accordingly, the braking force generated during the shifting action is equal to the braking force generated in the normal state (in the absence of the shifting action).
US08066613B2
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a main shaft configured to support and position various components of the CVT. Shift cam discs cooperate with ball-leg assemblies to shift the transmission ration of the CVT. Load cam discs, a torsion disc, rolling elements, and a hub cap shell are configured to generate axial force, transmit torque, and manage reaction forces. In one embodiment, a splined input shaft and a torsion disc having a splined bore cooperate to input torque into the variator of the CVT. Among other things, various ball axles, axle-ball combinations, and reaction force grounding configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a CVT having axial force generation means at both the input and output elements is disclosed.
US08066611B2
An electrical tool includes a multi-stage gear transmission (10) located in the gear transmission housing (6) and having at least two axially displaceable indexing gear (42a, 42b), a shifting device (12) for shifting the gear transmission from one stage to another stage and having a shifting slide (14) linearly displaceable between different shifting positions, and at least two connection elements (32) for connecting the shifting slide (14) with respective indexing gears (42a, 42b), with the shifting slide (14) having a tracing profile (20) having two control tracks (22, 24), and the connection elements each having a first and second tracing sections (30a, 30b) to which the tracing profile (20) applies a shifting force in stages and which are arranged on opposite sides of a pivot axis (SA) of a respective connection element (32).
US08066598B2
An apparatus for tensioning a chain is provided that compensates for the affect of temperature on oil viscosity by providing, in addition to a continuously open oil leakage path, an additional leakage path open only at lower temperatures when oil is more viscous and leaks at a slower rate. Thus, overall oil leakage at lower temperatures is similar to that at higher temperatures, when the additional leakage path is closed, and the less viscous higher temperature oil leaks at a faster rate from the continuously open oil leakage path. Accordingly, the affect of temperature on hydraulic stiffness of the tensioner assembly is minimized.
US08066597B2
A derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member; a linkage mechanism including a link member coupled to the base member and to the movable member so that the movable member moves relative to the base member, a motor including a drive member, and a driven member driven by the drive member. The driven member is coupled to the link member so that the link member moves relative to the base member to move the movable member relative to the base member. A clutch is disposed in a power transmission path between the motor and the link member.
US08066595B2
A hydraulic control system for a vehicular drive system including a hydraulically operated belt-and-pulley type continuously variable transmission and a hydraulically operated frictional coupling device engaged for running of a vehicle, the hydraulic control system including: a first solenoid valve for regulating a belt-tensioning hydraulic pressure for tensioning a belt of the transmission, a second solenoid valve for regulating a transient coupling hydraulic pressure to be applied to the frictional coupling device in the process of an engaging action, a line-pressure regulating valve for regulating a line pressure used for hydraulically operated devices of the mechanism, and a hydraulic-circuit switching device operable to apply a control pressure of the second solenoid-operated valve to the line-pressure regulating valve after the frictional coupling device has been placed in a fully engaged state, and to apply a first control pressure of the first solenoid-operated valve to the line-pressure regulating valve while the frictional coupling device is in the process of the engaging action.
US08066594B2
Baseball bats described herein may have handle, throat and/or barrel portions that include non-circular cross-sections.
US08066586B2
Embodiments of grooves of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08066585B2
A pre-molded or moldable shaft grip includes a pre-configured or moldable section disposed within a substantially circular outer grip layer. A pre-configured or moldable section substantially conforms to a player's grip, facilitating consistent finger placement. The pre-configured section may comprise the shaft, a separate section, or multiple sections of varying durometer. The moldable section may include a layer of moldable material, or a cavity disposed between the outer grip layer and the shaft containing a moldable substance. Overall grip durometer can be adjusted by varying the pressure within the cavity.
US08066584B2
A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.
US08066577B2
Infant swing has a front leg frame and a rear leg frame pivoting to each other and connecting to a seat assembly via a driving module at the pivot between the front leg frame and the rear leg frame for swinging the seat back and forth. Two protection guards are mounted and connected between the front leg frame and the rear leg frame for preventing the toddler from being harmed when reaching his/her hands out between the frame and the seat as the toddler sits in the seat and swings relative to the frame. A battery assembly that provides power for the driving module is configured at the bottom of the frame for effectively lowering the center of gravity of the infant swing and providing higher stability. Skidproof foot assemblies mounting at the elbows of the front leg frame and the rear leg frame can further provide stability and integrity.
US08066571B2
A system and method for providing virtual spaces, where a character associated with a user can be manifested within instances of a plurality of the different virtual spaces. Since a single character can be manifested within instances of different virtual spaces, the character can be transferred by the corresponding user between instances of different virtual spaces and controlled by the user to interact with the different virtual spaces. When the user transfers the character between instances of different virtual spaces (and/or different types of virtual spaces), various aspects of the character may persist between the different virtual spaces (and/or the different types of virtual spaces). This may provide an enhanced continuity to the character between the different virtual spaces.
US08066563B1
Various embodiments are directed to a reel spinning game having one or more shared award-modifier reels that enhance any winning outcome in a reel spinning game.
US08066551B2
A retaining ring can be shaped by machining or lapping the bottom surface of the ring to form a shaped profile in the bottom surface. The bottom surface of the retaining ring can include flat, sloped and curved portions. The lapping can be performed using a machine that dedicated for use in lapping the bottom surface of retaining rings. During the lapping the ring can be permitted to rotate freely about an axis of the ring. The bottom surface of the retaining ring can have curved or flat portions.
US08066547B1
A lapping row tool comprising a plurality of bending nodes having a space between adjacent ones of said nodes and each of which has an end surface to manipulate a row of magnetic heads during lapping. A bridge extends along the end surfaces of the bending nodes and across the space between the adjacent bending nodes. The bridge provides a surface for holding the row of magnetic heads that prevents the flexing of the row into the space between the bending nodes during lapping while allowing the bending nodes to manipulate the row during lapping.
US08066546B2
A brassiere is provided with a front piece forming the breast cups and with two side pieces extending around the upper body of an individual, the first ends of which are fastened to the front piece and the second ends of which can be connected in the back area of the wearer. Each side pieces has a support piece forming an outline of the side pieces with an upper edge and a lower edge. On the outside of the side pieces an outer textile blank is provided, which is connected with the supporting element in the area of the upper edge and the lower edge. The outer textile blank is folded over twice with its edge, over the upper edge and the lower edge, wherein the first fold, travels directly along the upper or lower edge and the second fold travels between the support piece and the first fold.
US08066542B2
A transformable toy which can be automatically transformed despite the fact that members are merely pivotably connected as in conventional transformable toys is provided. The transformable toy, which is transformed from a box-like configuration to a robot configuration, is vertically and longitudinally divided into two parts, when in the box-like configuration, includes an upper front member, an upper rear member, a lower front member, and a lower rear member, and has a frame disposed therein for supporting the above members. The upper front member and the upper rear member are each pivotably connected to the frame directly, or through a link, and are foldably connected with each other. The connecting portion between the frame and the upper rear member has an elastic member for urging the upper front member and the upper rear member in a direction to be folded.
US08066529B2
Disclosed herein is a condenser connector for a vehicle, in which a condenser is installed at a position which is nearest or virtually nearest to a noise source, thus effectively eliminating or reducing noise. The condenser connector includes a housing having an insertion part. One end of a terminal is connected to a wire, and the other end thereof is fitted into and secured to one end of the insertion part. A holder is fitted into and secured to the other end of the insertion part. A condenser has a contact terminal which is in contact with the terminal, and is mounted to the holder.
US08066527B2
A surge snap-on module assembly includes a plug connector adapted to be received by an electrical device. A second housing is connected to a first housing. A surge protection device is disposed between the first and second housings. At least one first opening is formed in the second housing. A plurality of wires pass through the at least one first opening and are connected to the surge protection device. Accordingly, the surge protection device protects electrical apparatus connected to the electrical device from electrical surges.
US08066523B1
A power socket device having switches is disclosed and has a housing, socket units, positioning members and conductive frames. The housing is formed with recesses communicated with an inner space thereof. The socket unit is installed in the recess, and can be slid forward and backward therein. The socket unit has a socket body and conductive terminals, each of which has a conductive block. The positioning member can be elastically received in the recess and stand upward. The conductive frames are engaged in the housing, and the conductive block can be in contact with or disconnected from the conductive frames. Thus, when the socket unit is slid forward or backward, a close circuit or an open circuit will be formed between the conductive block and the conductive frames, so that it is convenient to switch off the power without additionally adding redundant switches.
US08066517B2
An electrical connector using an isotropic conductive elastomer as the interconnect medium.
US08066516B2
There is provided a coaxial connector having a good radio-frequency characteristic includes a main body having a hole, or opening for allowing a probe to be inserted, a fixed terminal is fixed to the main body, a movable terminal including a fixed portion fixed to the main body and a plate spring portion extending from the fixed portion toward the fixed terminal. The plate spring portion is in contact with the fixed terminal and in contact with the main body at its tips. The plate spring portion can be displaced by the probe in a direction away from the fixed terminal.
US08066514B2
Embodiments of a method and system for developing a training program for a trainee are provided. In one embodiment, in a training system, the method may include profiling the trainee by processing at least one of physiological data, psychological data and training program data associated with the trainee; designing a training program for the trainee in accordance with the profile of the trainee; receiving training activity data communicated in association with the trainee performing at least one training activity; and, automatically modifying at least a portion of the training program in the training system in accordance with at least the communicated training activity data.
US08066506B2
A manifold of an injection molding apparatus includes a primary melt channel and secondary melt channels extending from the primary melt channel. A shear rod is disposed at the junction between the primary and secondary melt channels. The shear rod extends from the junction into the primary melt channel and is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the primary melt channel.
US08066499B2
Installation of a flexible cured in place liner by inverting the liner with air and curing the liner with steam introduced through a perforated lay flat hose without deflating the liner between the inversion and cure. The installation is performed with an apparatus having two independently operable glands with at least one fluid inlet port installed on the line downstream of the second gland liner. As the liner reaches the distal end of the conduit to be lined, it enters a sample and porting pipe with an exhaust pipe gland and exhaust pipe and it is pierced by a rigid porting tool. Steam is then introduced into the lay flat hose to cure the resin and is exhausted through an exhaust hose connected to a controllable exhaust pipe. After curing steam is replaced with air to cool the liner, the ends are cut to restore service through the host pipe.
US08066497B2
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a positive-displacement pump, in particular a vane cell pump, having a pump element, in particular a rotor, which is situated within a contour ring and rotatable between two side surfaces where a limited coating is located on at least one of the side surfaces.
US08066492B2
A drive device (2) for the oil pump (6) of a motor vehicle automatic transmission, in which the oil pump (6) on the one hand can be coupled to the drive motor by way of an overrunning clutch (34) and on the other hand is drivingly connected to an auxiliary electric motor (22), which is powered by the on-board power supply of the motor vehicle. The electric motor (22) is arranged outside of the pump housing (8) and is drivingly connected to a driven pump impeller wheel (ring gear 10) that is arranged in the pump housing via a non-rotatable connection.
US08066489B2
An aerofoil assembly includes a plurality of rotatable blades. A damping member is disposed between at least two of the blades, each of the at least two blades having an aerofoil portion, a stem portion and a root portion. A recess is provided on two cooperating stem portions with a first shelf extending from a first end of each recess, and a second shelf extending from a second end of each recess to define a compartment. When the blades are aligned the damping member is held on one side of the shelves within the compartment. The damping member is provided with a projection at one corner and a projection on a diagonally opposite corner, the longitudinal distance between ends of the projections being greater than the distance between edges of the first and second shelf.
US08066488B2
The present invention relates to a rotor for gas or steam turbines having a disk (1), an outer cover (2) and a plurality of blades (3). The disk (1) defines the portion of less diameter of the rotor and has an inner surface configured to be coupled on a shaft (100) of the turbine or connected to an axially adjacent disk (1′, 1″); an outer surface configured for housing a plurality of blades (3). The outer cover (2) defines the portion of greater diameter of the rotor. The blades (3) have a root (31) configured to be coupled on the disk (1) and a tip (32) opposite to the outer cover (2). Between these blades there is a plurality of blades (3) welded together at the tip (32) to form groups of blades (3a) and individual blades (3b) intercalated between groups of blades (3a).
US08066480B2
A high volume low speed (HVLS) fan provides improved air circulation and thermal control in a building by incorporating composite fan blades pivotable to both positive and negative pitch angles. The blades are molded of polymer material over a metal tube core for strength and ease of attachment to the fan hub, and have a symmetrical airfoil shape to produce an efficient bi-directional conical airflow. The fan includes a control unit providing manual and automated intelligent control over blade angle and rotational speed, as well as startup with approximately zero blade angle for more economical power consumption and less motor wear. The fan structure and mounting system allows the fan to be installed at an optimal height inside a variety of buildings to provide increased efficiency of air destratification and air mixing. An array of multiple HVLS fans with alternating directions of airflow can further increase efficiency of air movement.
US08066476B2
A pump stage is disclosed for use with an electrical submersible pump. The stage includes an impeller and diffuser, each having a hub, blades and an outside ring. In such pump stage, the stage flow area is constructed from separate segments manufactured from wear resistant material. Furthermore, each separate segment is retained by the hub using an external compression fit ring.
US08066473B1
A gas turbine engine with a floating air seal to form a seal between a rotor disk and an adjacent stator vane segment shroud and allow for both axial and radial shifting of the rotor disk with respect to the stator while maintaining the sealing capability. The floating air seal includes an annular piston that slides within an annular groove formed within the stator in an axial direction. The annular piston includes an annular groove on the rotor disk side to form an air cushion against the rotor disk, a pressure buffer surface on the opposite end, and a central passage to supply the air cushion chamber with pressurized fluid from the buffer pressure chamber. A balancing force on the annular piston is formed between the air cushion formed and the pressure force acting to push the annular piston toward the rotor surface. The pressurized air used to form the floating air seal is also supplied to internal cooling air passages of the turbine blades through passages formed within the rotor disk or by a cover plate attached on the rotor disk side.
US08066467B2
An apparatus for moving parked aircraft with an omni-directional tractor via an aircraft lift dolly that is revolvably coupled thereto. The aircraft lift dolly may be removably coupled to the omni-directional tractor or may be integral to it. The aircraft lift dolly includes a lift mechanism having a lift carriage which is selectively elevated. The lift carriage includes a fixed forward chock and a rear chock that moves longitudinally and laterally with respect to the forward chock. The chocks are positioned about the aircraft nose gear without movement of the aircraft. Elevating the lift cradle elevates the chocks and the nose gear cradled therebetween.
US08066455B2
A connection system which produces an aligned connection between first and second tool parts includes a spigot projecting from the first tool part, and a spigot-receiving recess formed in the second tool part. The spigot and the recess have correspondingly shaped, non-circular cross-sections. The spigot is not oversized relative to the recess, and may be smaller than the recess, so that the spigot can be inserted into the recess without the recess being expanded or the recess being compressed.
US08066451B2
The proposed invention is a flood and wind resistant building foundation. The building construction consists of an attached superstructure to a buoyant raft foundation with steel pipe anchor and bent steel plate guide assemblies attached at the foundation corners. The raft foundation is uniformly supported on grade during dry conditions, and on water during flood conditions. The corner anchor/guide assemblies resist wind forces during dry conditions, and provide lateral stability during flood conditions. The raft foundation has plumbing trenches and access space that permit continued use of the building utilities during a flood. This building is made with standard, light weight, low technology construction materials and products with a cost comparable to traditional construction.
US08066450B2
Device and method for the towing of underwater pipelines (1) comprising the removable connection of a series of devices (101) to the pipeline, positioned at a suitable distance from each other, said devices being capable of providing a float buoyancy to the pipeline which varies according to the distance from the sea bed so that said pipeline can establish a substantially stable attitude at a fixed distance from the bottom, without dragging and with a neutral weight, and wherein said devices form a guide by means of at least one element (5) embedded in the sea floor in order to oppose side stress and impart variations in the direction of the movement of the pipeline.
US08066446B2
An apparatus and a method for disabling a ground engaging traction device of a land vehicle includes at least one penetrator configured to breach the traction device, an articulated strap configured to move a plurality of times between a retracted arrangement and an extended arrangement, an inflatable bladder configured to deploy the articulated strip to the extended arrangement, and a retractor configured to retract the articulated strip to the retracted arrangement. The articulated strip includes a plurality of plates coupled to the penetrators and a plurality of joints, wherein individual joint couples individual adjacent plates.
US08066439B2
A camera dolly has a base on which an elevator is mounted. The elevator has a sliding shelf for mounting a camera, a counterweight to balance the weight of the camera. A fixed shelf is provided to hold accessories such as a video monitor. The base is provided with removable wheels for use on most surfaces. The base also has rollers which move along a track made of PVC pipe or hoses filled with compressed air. An alternative embodiment has the camera mounted to a sliding mount connected to the base. A tripod may also be mounted on the base.
US08066424B2
The invention relates to a mixing device which is arranged in a flow channel and a mixing method for mixing a fluid flowing through the flow channel in a main direction of flow. The mixing device has a plurality of mixer disks which generate leading edge eddies in a fluid flowing through the flow channel in a main direction of flow. The mixer disks are arranged in mixer disk rows in row axes running essentially across the main direction of flow. The mixer disk rows are arranged side by side in the main direction of flow in a common flow channel section where the mixer disks of neighboring mixer disk rows are alternately angled in a positive angle of attack and in a negative angle of attack with respect to the main direction of flow.According to this process, the fluid flowing through the flow channel is mixed thoroughly by a leading edge eddy system, whereby in the mixing method presented here at least two contra-rotating leading edge eddy systems are generated in a common flow channel section.
US08066416B2
A head lamp assembly having a main functional head lamp and a UV LED light source configured to direct UV light through a decorative accent light pipe is provided. The light pipe extends at least partially about the functional head lamp, wherein the light pipe has a phosphor coated surface to convert the UV light traveling through the light pipe into visible, luminous light. The visible light is emitted from the light pipe to provide the desired decorative appearance about the functional head lamp.
US08066413B2
A recessed light fixture having a rotation ring allowing rotation of a lamp mounted over the fixture frame aperture, the rotation ring easily rotatable on the frame and held in place by a ring clamp. The recessed light fixture rotation ring has a mechanical brake for locking the ring in place after positioning of the lamp. The ring also has a slip disc positioned between the surface of the frame and the ring to allow easy rotation. The housing of the fixture has junction boxes mounted on side walls which are hinged to the sidewalls of the housing and which swivel into the interior of the housing for ready access after installation through the aperture of the frame. The lamp of the fixture movable about a horizontal adjustment and vertical adjustment axis while also maintaining position with respect to the reflector.
US08066411B1
An LED lighting tube having a first segment, a second segment, and a rotating connector between the segments. Each segment has an elongated cylindrical housing, an aperture in the sidewall of the cylindrical housing, a reflector centered within the aperture, a circuit board within the cylindrical housing, and a rotatable electrical coupling connected to an outer end of the cylindrical housing. The circuit board has an LED that aligns with the aperture. The rotatable electrical coupling has a limiter insert that provides a rotative stop, a collet that at least partially surrounds the limiter insert and is rotatable about the limiter insert, and an interface connector secured to the limiter insert and in electrical communication with the circuit board. The rotatable electrical coupling permits the LED lighting tube to connect to a light fixture while also permitting the cylindrical housing to rotate relative to the light fixture. The rotation of the collet about the limiter insert is limited by the rotative stop.
US08066408B2
Light incoupling structures for lighting applications, such as lightguides. The incoupling structures include an optically substantially transparent medium for transporting light emitted by a light source and an optical element including at least one hole in the medium for coupling light together with optional further optical elements. A lighting element includes a light source with related integrated optics.
US08066397B2
First and second magnets of a light pen according to the present invention are used for replacing a conventional spring to be a switch structure of the light pen. Whereby, the elastic fatigue problem is not yielded, the switch structure is enabled to be more durable and dependable and can be used as a switch structure for a light pen whose stroke between two electric contact points from a separation state to a contact state is shorter.
US08066385B2
A lighting unit that optimizes an oscillation frequency for oscillating a diffusion device and its amplitude amount and a projecting display using the lighting unit are provided. Driving of a light source driving unit is controlled on the basis of driving of the oscillation driving unit.
US08066380B2
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a projector which includes several optical elements, reflective devices and beam splitters, arranged to reduce back reflection effects. At least one exemplary embodiment includes a mirror, two beam splitters, three reflection devices, and two optical elements affecting polarization of incident light upon the optical elements.
US08066376B2
A vision testing system and method to assess vision function. In one embodiment, the vision testing system comprises: (1) a display; (2) a computer coupled to the display and configured to provide dynamic images, each including a substantially constant fixed point of fixation; and (3) a human input device coupled to the computer, wherein responses from a test subject are fed back to the computer to assess the test subject's vision function.
US08066375B2
The present invention relates to automatic registration and tracking of the eyes of at least one subject. An optical system, including a lens structure, a mask and an image sensor, receives incoming light from a scene containing the subject and directs at least a portion of this light towards the image sensor, which registers spatially distributed light and thus produces primary data. The mask is to alter a basic optical transfer function of the lens structure and the image sensor into an enhanced optical transfer function, which is substantially less sensitive to variations of an unknown distance between the optical system and the subject than the basic optical transfer function. The processing unit is to receive the primary data and process this data to produce resulting eye-tracking data representing a position estimate of the at least one eye and/or a gaze direction for the at least one eye.
US08066374B2
The invention is directed to an optical system for a fundus camera for reflection-free opthalmoscopy having a beam path with refractive and reflective optical elements which are used substantially in common for illumination and observation or recording. An imaging mirror system substantially comprising a plurality of reflecting optical elements in the form of mirrors and is provided for illuminating and imaging the fundus. At least one optical element, for example, mirror, is formed as a freeform mirror with an imaging, reflecting freeform surface. The optical elements are arranged in a housing in a precisely defined position and attitude relative to one another in such a way that an imaging of the reflecting surfaces of the optical elements on the image of the imaged retina is prevented within a wide diopter range of the patient's eye to be examined.
US08066370B2
The invention provides tinted contact lenses that use a crescent-shaped pattern or pattern element to enhance the lens wearer's iris.
US08066366B2
A release agent applicator applies release agent to an imaging drum and absorbs release agent metered from the drum to extend the operational life of an image drum maintenance unit. The applicator includes a reservoir for storing release agent, the reservoir having a plurality of perforations for enabling release agent to seep from the reservoir, a containment membrane for wicking release agent from the perforations of the reservoir, and a delivery layer for delivering release agent from the containment membrane to an imaging drum, the delivery layer having pores in a range of about 50 μm to about 200 μm.
US08066365B2
An image forming apparatus that includes: an intermediate transfer member; an ink absorbing particle supplying unit for supplying ink absorbing particles on a surface of the intermediate transfer member; an ink ejecting unit for ejecting ink to the ink absorbing particles; a transfer unit for transferring the ink absorbing particles to a recording medium; a fixing unit for fixing the transferred ink absorbing particles onto the recording medium; a particle collecting unit for collecting remaining ink absorbing particles on the intermediate transfer member; a humidity reducing unit for reducing humidity around the collected ink absorbing particles; and a particle supplying unit for supplying the ink absorbing particles with humidity reduced by the humidity reducing unit.
US08066358B2
A fluid interconnect for a fluid enclosure includes an overmolded sealing surface of a thermoplastic elastomeric material, the sealing surface having an opening, the sealing surface overmolded upon a thermoplastic surface of a fluid enclosure; and a wall of the thermoplastic elastomeric material connected to the sealing surface, the wall enclosing a pathway, the pathway communicating with the opening at a first end; and a layer connected to the wall, the layer closing the pathway at a second end.
US08066356B2
A thermal inkjet printhead is provided including a substrate, and a chamber layer, which is stacked on the substrate. The chamber layer includes an ink chamber that is filled with ink supplied from an ink feed hole. The printhead includes a heater inside the ink chamber that heats the ink, an island, which is formed on the substrate at an ink inlet port of the ink chamber, and a nozzle layer, which is stacked on the chamber layer, including a nozzle for ejecting the ink. The walls of the ink chamber and the island that face each other are symmetrical with respect to the center of the nozzle.
US08066355B2
A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current, a shift register comprising a plurality of successive registers, the shift register receives input data in a first register, and shifts the input data to successive registers upon receipt of a shift signal, a transfer register for latching data in one of the registers of the shift register; a control gate for outputting a control pulse in response to data in the transfer register, and a drive transistor for providing an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator upon receipt of the control pulse. The nozzle assembly covers an area of less than 20,000 square microns.
US08066343B2
The invention relates to a liquid detecting apparatus that drives a liquid detecting unit that outputs two detection signals having phases opposite to each other in accordance with the amount of liquid. The liquid detecting apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes: a driving unit that outputs a driving signal to the liquid detecting unit; a differential amplifying unit that performs differential amplification on said two detection signals that are output from the liquid detecting unit on the basis of the driving signal so as to output a differential amplification detection signal; and a signal detecting unit that makes a judgment as to whether the amount of liquid is not less than a predetermined amount or not by means of the differential amplification detection signal input from the differential amplifying unit.
US08066342B2
A refrigerator with a home bar includes a main body of the refrigerator having a cooling chamber, a refrigerator door configured to open or close the cooling chamber and having an opening, and a home bar. The home bar includes a housing coupled to the opening and having a storage space therein, a home bar door for opening or closing the opening, and a home bar door driving unit for driving the home bar door to open or close the opening. Consequently, a gap increasing between the home bar door and the opening can be avoided so as to prevent leakage of cold air.
US08066339B2
A vehicle and a method for controlling regenerative braking are provided. To take advantage of regenerative braking, the maximum available regenerative braking torque is utilized for some time during a braking event. As the vehicle speed and/or powertrain torque decreases, the regenerative braking torque is controlled to deviate from the maximum. The point at which the regenerative braking torque deviates from the maximum is chosen based on the level of vehicle deceleration. The regenerative braking torque is then smoothly blended out until it reaches zero. The regenerative braking torque is brought to zero when the vehicle speed is very low, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies associated with operating a motor at a very low speed. This control of the regenerative braking torque provides a smooth and consistent feel to the vehicle operator.
US08066332B2
The present invention provides a wheelchair armrest adjusting mechanism comprising a support unit having a horizontal support connected to a top of an upright support, and a plurality of locking units located one side of the horizontal support; wherein an armrest has a slide channel for engaging with the horizontal support, a stop hole for creating a passage to the slide channel in order to fit one of the locking units when the stop hole is aligned with the locking unit, and a control unit fitted in the stop hole for pushing against the locking unit. When the control unit is pushed and held, the armrest can be slid along the horizontal support to align with one of locking units; and when the control unit is released, the locking unit is pushed into the stop hole and thereby locks the armrest in place.
US08066324B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seating surface, wherein the seating surface defines a plurality of temperature controlled zones. At least one electrically actuated heating/cooling source provides one of heating and cooling to the plurality of zones. A controller individually controls electrical power supplied from the source to each zone and is operative to reduce power consumption in one zone relative to another zone in accordance with a predetermined profile designed to limit the overall power consumption of the assembly.
US08066321B2
A structural shear panel for forming a floor panel for support by a vehicle frame is formed by a composite of top and bottom sheets and a core with a vacuum infused resin. The panel is mainly planar and terminates at its side edges at a portion which lies in a common plane and portions are provided which are deformed out of the generally planar shape to form depending or elevated sections. The structure is formed on a generally flat plate defining the planar panel portion with removable sections to define the depending and elevated sections. Edge pieces are attached to the plate to define the edges of the panel. Accessories are attached to the panel without compressing the core by a base plate of the accessory which is bolted to a bracket which has a backer plate and collar through a hole in the panel.
US08066315B2
An all terrain vehicle includes a pair of right and left front wheels, at least a pair of right and left rear wheels, a vehicle body frame, a pair of right and left first roof supports, a pair of right and left second roof supports, a pair of right and left roof members, a seat, a front panel, a front upper cover, a meter unit and a cover. The front upper cover is connected to an upper portion of the front panel and extends forward in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The meter unit includes a display. The meter unit is disposed on the front panel such that the display is viewable from the seat. The meter unit is positioned in a transversely center portion of the vehicle. The cover extends from the front upper cover to the front panel so as to cover at least an upper portion of the meter unit. The cover is disposed in a higher position than an upper surface of the front panel in the transverse direction of the vehicle.
US08066313B2
A vehicle console having a quick release fastener and being formed of a console frame comprising two side panels and two end panels; spaced apart mounting lip portions provided on the console frame; a face plate comprising connection portions thereof securable with a respective one of the mounting lip portions; and a quick release fastener comprising an actuator operable through the face plate adjacent to one of the connection portions, and a jaw portion that is responsive to actuation of the actuator for moving between an unclamped state extended over the respective connection portion and spaced away therefrom, and a clamped state adjacent to the respective connection portion with a portion of the mounting lip portion clamped therebetween.
US08066306B1
A printable form comprising a printable face ply and a wristband releasably bonded to a surface of the printable face ply. In at least one embodiment the wristband may be detached from the surface of the printable face ply and secured to around a body part for use in identification. In at least one embodiment the printable face ply comprises one or more labels that may be detached therefrom and applied to the wristband.
US08066305B2
An adjustable fender vehicle has an upper wall with inner and outer side walls. The inner side wall includes an elongated longitudinal clamping edge and an interior wall depends from the underside of upper wall between the inner and outer walls. The interior wall has an elongated longitudinal opening in registry with the elongated longitudinal clamping edge in the inner side wall for receiving a fastener for adjustable mounting of the fender to a vehicle. The inner side wall includes an elongated longitudinal opening in registry with the elongated longitudinal opening in the interior wall and the elongated longitudinal clamping edge is formed in the elongated longitudinal opening in the inner side wall. The elongated longitudinal opening is configured to receive a mounting arm that is adapted to extend through the elongated longitudinal opening to the interior wall. Fasteners on the mounting arm clamp the fender to the mounting arm.
US08066303B2
A vehicle occupant restraint system includes: a lap belt that restrains a hip of a seated occupant; a shoulder belt that has a lower end portion coupled to a middle portion of the lap belt in a seat width direction and that is used to restrain an upper body of the seated occupant; a lap belt tensioner that applies tension to the lap belt; and a shoulder belt tensioner that applies tension to the shoulder belt. When a vehicle collision is predicted or detected, the lap belt tensioner is activated before the shoulder belt tensioner is activated.
US08066298B2
A coupling system for connecting supply lines between a trailer and a tractor vehicle, with a socket which is arranged on the tractor vehicle and a support element, having a plug, which is arranged on the trailer. The invention is based on the problem of providing a robustly operating coupling system in which an automatic connection of all of the provided supply lines is possible. The problem is solved by a coupling system in which the socket is arranged in a positionally fixed manner on the tractor vehicle, the plug is guided in a laterally moveable manner in the support element, and the plug can be placed into a connecting position with the socket by an actuator which is arranged on the tractor vehicle.
US08066294B2
A portable jogging tricycle includes a main frame, a handle base, a rear wheel support frame connected to opposite sides of the handle base, two front wheel support frames and two foldable frames attached between the handle base and the front wheel support frame. The foldable frame includes a plurality of scissor lifts and is used for folding the two front wheel support frames close to the handle base. The main frame includes a plurality of pivoted arms for folding the main frame together to fold in the handle base and the rear wheel support frame.
US08066293B2
The invention relates to an assembly (1) of bicycle components in mutual rotation, like for example a bottom bracket assembly. The assembly of the present invention comprises a support element (15), a rotary element (5) rotatably coupled with the support element (15) and at least one bearing (20) arranged between the support element (15) and the rotary element (5). The bearing (20) comprises at least one bearing element (30, 40) firmly coupled with one from the support element (15) and the rotary element (5). The bearing element (30, 40) and the element (5, 15) with which it is firmly associated have, at respective mutually coupled interface surfaces (36, 38, 42, 44), a standard reduction potential difference lower than or equal to 0.3 V, in absolute value.
US08066288B2
This document provides components comprising a predetermined sealing surface and a curable composition thereon. The cured reaction product of the curable composition forms a seal having improved resistance to vapor permeation when exposed to hydrocarbon fluids and especially to hydrocarbon fluids comprising low molecular weight components, oxygenated compounds, polar compounds or blends containing polar and non-polar compounds such as alcohol and alcohol containing fuels.
US08066285B2
A wagering game that deals a hand to a player and a dealer. A numerical total of the player's hand is compared to a numerical total of the dealer's hand in order to determine which hand, the player's or the dealer's, is higher (and hence the winner). Before reaching the comparison, the player must make at least one additional raise wager(s) before being dealt an additional card(s).
US08066279B2
A sheet conveyance apparatus capable of detecting a sheet end portion in a short time period even if sheets are conveyed at a narrow interval and at high speed, thus making it possible to expedite the start timing of a subsequent sheet alignment operation. In accordance with results of detection by lateral registration detection sensors performed when a sheet reaches a lateral registration detection sensor unit, the sensor unit is moved in a width direction for sheet end detection. Based on a moving distance of the sensor unit from a standby position to a position where the sheet end is detected, a shift amount to be shifted the sheet in the width direction, i.e., a lateral registration error, is computed.
US08066271B2
A business form product (10) broadly including a printable sheet (12), a magnetic sheet (14) aligned edge-to-edge with the printable sheet (12) to define a seam (16), and a heat-resistant tape (18) applied over the seam (16) to retain the sheets (12,14) in the edge-to-edge relationship is disclosed. The inventive business form product (10, 106) is formed by joining multiple continuous webs (38, 58) edge-to-edge and marrying the webs (38,58) with a continuous streamer of tape (86) in a press (36). A preferred embodiment of the inventive method of forming the continuous sheet (106) is disclosed wherein at least one rotatable mechanical web guide (72) is used to align the webs (38,58) in the edge-to-edge relationship, thereby enabling precise alignment not available with existing optic-type web guides. A preferred embodiment of the printable business form product (10) is disclosed wherein heat-resistant tape (18) enables the business form product (10) to be printed in high-heat printing applications (e.g., printed in an offline laser printer) without fracturing the taped seam (16).
US08066262B1
A device for opening a cylindrically bilateral filter canister, such as that houses the M98 chemical, biological, radiological filter for storage and transport. The filter canister is sealed with an epoxy-covered pull-cord that ends in an eye-loop. The device is disposed on a platform for the opening operation. The device includes a frame, first and second rollers, and a winch. The frame includes first and second support members. The first support member engages the platform and supports the second support member. The first and second rollers are disposed parallel to the platform to support the canister along its periphery. The winch includes a drum and a motor and is disposed on the frame. The drum engages the eye-loop. The motor turns said drum to receive the pull-cord from the canister.
US08066256B2
An actuator assembly for actuating a valve includes an extensible bellow having an open end and a closed end, a stem operable to contact the closed end and to actuate a stopper mechanism, and a driver configured to move the bellow. The movement of the bellow effects movement of the stem to actuate the valve. In one embodiment, the driver acts to compress the bellow, the compression causing movement of the stem to open the valve. The bellow may be hermetically sealed to the valve housing, thereby allowing a higher range of fluid pressures.
US08066249B2
A video projector and mounting assembly that securely mounts and protects the projector from theft. A video projector unit is adapted with a housing that defines a through bore extending completely through the housing from top to bottom. A suspension member attached to an overhead structure is inserted through the hole with a portion thereof projecting from the bottom of the projector. A projector mount is secured to the end of the projecting portion of the overhead suspension member in locking relation therewith such that the projector may not be removed without first unlocking and removing the mount. The mount is preferably adapted with openings to allow for access to the projector controls. Tilt adjustment of the projector is facilitated by rotatably adjustable fasteners in threaded engagement with the mount. The projector and mount may include mating concave and convex surfaces to provide for adjustment in tilt, pan, and yaw axes.
US08066248B2
The present invention concerns a mounting device for fastening a chair or seat to a groove (41), said groove comprising engagement means (45), where the mounting device comprises locking means (20) prepared for entering the groove and for being moved along the longitudinal axis of the groove; said locking means having means (23) for engaging with the engagement means (45) of the groove. The mounting device further comprises positioning means (30) for finding a position of the mounting device where the locking means will be able to engage with the engagement means of the groove. The mounting device comprises a first cam (22) for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the locking means with said engagement means; a second cam (32) for switching the positioning means into an active position, where the positioning means extend into the groove in selected parts (46) thereof, and one shaft (5) for rotating both the first and the second cam. The invention also concerns a method for mounting a mounting device according to the invention.
US08066244B2
A lifting platform with microadjustment mechanisms comprises plural microadjustment mechanisms. The microadjustment mechanisms can cooperate with adjustment pieces to adjust the level degree of the lifting platform, and the relative distance between each two microadjustment mechanisms can be adjusted by moving the support portions of the respective microadjustment mechanisms within the displacement clearance defined between the holding grooves of the lifting platform and the adjustment discs. By such arrangements, the microadjustment time can be relatively reduced.
US08066237B2
A device for holding a plurality of dispensing packages enables the packages to be independently removed and replaced. In one embodiment, the holding device includes a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending at an angle from said rear wall. The sidewalls each include a plurality of retaining elements, with each retaining element on one of said sidewalls being uniquely associated with a retaining element on the other sidewall. The rear wall of the holder may be selectively adjusted to vary the distance between opposing retaining elements. Each retaining element may separated from adjacent retaining elements so that each retaining element is independently flexible. Each retaining element may also include a retention hook that angles from the retaining element to hold a box behind the hook. The hook may additionally include a ramped surface that facilitates flexing of the retaining element as a box is inserted into the holder.
US08066228B2
A device for adjusting the lift characteristics of an aircraft with a high lift device that is movably attachable to a wing element and that includes at least one slot covering device, where the at least one slot covering device, is movably attachable to the wing element. The slot covering device is designed to regulate the size of a slot between the wing element and the high lift device.
US08066220B2
A balanced thrust vectoring system for an aircraft designed to provide even weight distribution, simple thrust vectoring, and hover stability. The system includes a main diverter that connects to a jet output port. Located inside the diverter is a 4 way splitter that divides the diverter into four equal volumes. Attached to the diverter and adjacent to the two upper volumes are two front upward extending ducts. Attached to the diverter and adjacent to the two lower volumes are two rear upward extending ducts. Each duct includes an upper bend that and diagonally aligned nozzle opening. Each duct has only two bends which help vector the exhaust downward in an efficient manner. The diameter of each duct is consistent to allow their entire length to maximize air flow.
US08066215B2
A roller press (1) is described for grinding particulate material such as cement raw materials, cement clinker and similar materials, the roller press having two oppositely rotating rollers (2, 3) with one roller being movably supported relative to the other roller and with the rollers (2, 3) forming between them a roller gap (4). A co-rotating annular disc is attached to one of the rollers (2), which subject to actuation by a number of springs (7), is movable in the direction of the roller axis and which, in the area around the roller gap (4,) extends over the end surface (3a) of the other roller. The annular disc is divided into a number of ring sectors (5) over its circumference, each individually biased by springs towards the end surface (3a) of the other roller (3). Hence, it is possible to maintain the grinding bed thickness at the ends of the rollers, thereby attaining a uniform pressure distribution across the rollers, as well as uniform grinding efficiency and uniform wear on the rollers.
US08066213B2
Advantageously, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system that allows easy replacement of one or more worn rotor teeth and/or rotor tooth mount(s) mounted on a waste fragmenting machine. The present invention may further provide a system that allows minimization of stress during fragmentation on the attachment mechanisms between the mount and the rotor.
US08066204B2
A shower assembly is provided that includes a shower head having an integrated diverter valve. The shower head receives a detachable hand-held shower wand. The diverter valve is arranged upstream of an adjustable connector so that length is not added to the shower assembly that would interfere with headroom. A cam shaft of the diverter valve is rotated to selectively control fluid flow between the shower head and the hand-held shower wand. Cam followers are moved linearly in response to rotation of the cam shaft to selectively block first and second outlet ports.
US08066200B2
The invention is hollow structural members, a rail system based thereon and method of manufacturing such hollow structural members. Embodiments of the structural members may be hollow triangular prism-shaped with a cross-section that is triangular, isosceles, hexagonal or otherwise. Embodiments of rail systems based on hollow structural members are also disclosed. Embodiments of the rail systems disclosed herein may also include reaction assemblies for local dissipation of stresses due to thermal expansion of track materials.
US08066191B1
Laminated cards with user interfaces are provided. The user interfaces can have enhanced tactile feel. In one embodiment, a card may be constructed to have a dual-layer user interface. In another embodiment, a card may be constructed to include a support structure. In yet another embodiment, a card may include a relatively soft material that covers at least a portion of the user interface. In yet another embodiment, a card may include a user interface that is fluidically coupled to a bladder. In a further embodiment, a card can include any combination of a user interface, which may be a dual-layer user interface, a support structure, a soft material that at least partially covers a user interface, and a bladder.
US08066190B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a transparent or translucent transaction card having multiple features. An optically recognizable compound may be associated with a portion of the card for blocking infrared radiation and may comprise an infrared ink having nanocrystalline indium tin oxide particles. Moreover, a portion of the transaction card may include a second optically recognizable compound disposed thereon. The second optically recognizable compound may comprise an infrared phthalocyanine dye, an infrared phosphor, and a quantum dot energy transfer compound. The infrared ink may be detected by a sensor found in an ATM or card assembly line.
US08066185B2
A diagnostic system for an oven chamber, an oven system, and a method of wirelessly monitoring item temperature in an oven chamber are disclosed. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor used for sensing the temperature of an item is moved or transported with the item by a conveyor system. Also, in some embodiments, a wireless transmitter coupled to the temperature sensor can transmit a temperature signal to a receiver located outside of the oven chamber, and can also be moved or transported with the item. Data representative of item temperature can be stored, displayed, and/or used to modulate operation of the oven in some embodiments.
US08066177B2
A receptacle includes a first panel, a second panel opposite the first panel, and a third panel contiguous with the first and second panels on different sides. An opening is formed between a first side of the first panel and a second side of the second panel. A lid covers the opening. A first portion of the lid is contiguous with the first side of the first panel and with a second portion of the lid that folds into an interior of the receptacle. One of the first and second panels has a perforation extending from a first end of the second side of the one of the first and second panels to a second end of the second side of the one of the first and second panels. A portion of the perforation is positioned away from the second side of the one of the first and second panels.
US08066173B2
A method for joining first and second components, using brazing material to enable the formation of a brazed joint by heating the brazing material when the first and second components are in a juxtaposed position, comprises bringing the first and second components into a juxtaposed position so that the brazing material is in contact with the first and second components and plastically deforming the brazing material to interlock the first and second components.
US08066172B2
A quick-loading soldering apparatus for soldering PCBs comprises a rotatable deck which has a plurality of angularly spaced PCB work sites. While a first PCB work site is angularly positioned for pre-loading and pre-heating PCB components at a pre-loading station, a second PCB work site is angularly positioned for soldering pre-loaded PCB components at a soldering station. Correct rotation of the deck is ensured by a sensor mounted on the deck. If the rotation angle is correct, locator pins provided externally of the deck become actionable by an operator to register the deck prior to the PCB being soldered.
US08066156B2
A beverage dispensing device using a pressure regulator to maintain the pressure inside the beverage container as the beverage is dispensed is disclosed. The pressure regulator includes a second chamber separate from the space containing the beverage. The second chamber contains a sorbent on which a propellant gas is adsorbed. The pressure inside the beverage container controls the opening and closing of a flow regulator that allows either the beverage being dispensed or a displacing agent contained in a third chamber to flow into the second chamber when the pressure in the beverage container is decreased. If either the beverage or the displacing agent flow into the second chamber, it will liberate the propellant gas adsorbed to the sorbent, and the gas is released through an outlet into the beverage container. This increases the pressure in the beverage, which in turn closes the flow regulator and stops the liberation of the propellant gas from the sorbent. This process is repeated as the beverage is being dispensed to maintain the pressure of the beverage inside the dispenser.
US08066153B2
A fluid dispenser device comprising: a reservoir (R) of variable working volume comprising a sealing slide-cylinder (100) and a follower piston (2) that is in sliding sealing contact in said cylinder; dispenser means (3) that are suitable for putting the fluid stored in the reservoir under pressure in such a manner as to drive a fraction of the fluid through a dispenser orifice (37), and under suction in such a manner as to move the follower piston in the direction that decreases the working volume of the reservoir; and non-return means that are suitable for preventing any substantial movement of the follower piston in the direction that increases the working volume of the reservoir; in which device the non-return means include at least one chamber (C) of variable volume that is filled with fluid from the reservoir during the suction stage.
US08066149B2
A container for holding goods comprises a basket having a base and a sidewall, a lid mateable with the basket, and a support structure. The support structure includes a pillar extending between the base and the lid and a tie connected between the pillar and the sidewall.
US08066143B2
A storage container includes a base having side walls and end walls extending upwardly from the base. Lid halves are hingeably connected to upper edges of the side walls. A security recess is formed in the side walls adjacent to each hinge and corresponds with a security tab projecting from the lid halves preventing vertical movement of the outer edge of the lid half when the lid is in the closed position. The lid halves also include a lip adjacent to the hinge and upper and lower leaves that overlap with the opposing lid half to prevent moisture from seeping into the storage container.
US08066141B2
A sealed package for pourable food products includes a removable portion and a closable opening device. The opening device has a frame defining a pour opening and fixed to the package about the removable portion, and a cap fitted to the frame to close the pour opening and movable to free the pour opening. A pull-off opening device is housed in the frame and has a rigid plane integral with the removable portion and extractable from the frame, by pulling action, together with part of the removable portion. A pull tab of sheet material is interposed between the removable portion and the plate and attached to both.
US08066138B2
A collapsible protective case for surfboards, musical instruments, or other large asymmetrically shaped objects, including a housing having a rigid, impact-resistant outer surface, the housing being formed from a multiplicity of adjoining sections that are selectively configurable between an expanded transport position and a collapsed storage position.
US08066137B2
A flexible, stackable container for storing a quantity of a product may include a sealed package formed from a single sheet of film and retaining the quantity of the product disposed therein, and a lid fitment attached to a first side of the package. The first side of the package may have an outer first surface of the film and outwardly extending first corner seals formed in the film at the edges of the first side and surrounding the first side of the package. The package may also have a second side disposed opposite the first side and outwardly extending second corner seals formed in the film at the edges of the second side and surrounding the second side of the package. The lid fitment may include a base having a central opening and a lid having a complimentary shape to the base to form a seal therebetween when the lid is closed down onto the base. The base may be sealed to one of the first surface of the first side, to the first corner seals surrounding the first side, or to both, such that a portion of the first surface is accessible from the exterior of the container when the lid is separated from the base of the lid fitment.
US08066125B2
A package comprising a rear member pivotally connected to a front member at a pivot. The package has a closed position wherein the front member is engaged with the rear member to define an interior space therebetween and an open position allowing access to the interior space. At least one of the front member and the rear member includes support structure for supporting products in the interior space. A projection having an aperture for allowing the package to be hung on a rod extends from the front member and the rear member. The rear member includes a foot allowing the package to stand substantially upright on a horizontal surface. The front member and the rear member include a latch and a slot, with the latch being configured to be inserted into the slot for maintaining the package in the closed position.
US08066122B2
A child-resistant package includes a case and blister cards. The blister cards are mounted for movement between stored positions inside the case and exposed positions outside the case.
US08066115B2
An apparatus (10) for working on metal containers, especially suitable for high speed machines and intended for performing a sequence of operations on the metal containers themselves including a chain composed of a plurality of elements (12) linked in a succession and cooperating in simultaneous transporting and processing of metal containers.
US08066111B2
A signature transport device is provided. The signature transport device includes a saddle conveyor for transporting signatures, an escalator tucker for lifting the signatures off the saddle conveyor and a linear gripper conveyor located adjacent to the escalator tucker and having a plurality of grippers for gripping the signatures. The linear gripper conveyor has a velocity component that is equal to or greater than a velocity component of the escalator tucker when the signatures are gripped from the escalator tucker. A method for transporting signatures is also provided.
US08066110B2
A conveyor segment for use in a train of such conveyor segments in high wall mining is provided with at least one hook located and at least one coupling element, wherein the hook and the coupling element are suited for coupling, wherein the hook is moveable between an open position and a closed position, and the conveyor segment is provided with locking means for securing the hook in a closed position. An assembly includes at least two such conveyor segments. A method of coupling of such conveyor segments includes bringing the hook of a first conveyor segment in contact with a coupling element of second conveyor segment. A method of releasing such conveyor segments includes urging two coupled conveyor segments together while moving the hook from the closed position to the open position.
US08066106B2
An oscillation damper for a hand-held power tool (D) has at least one first spring (4) and at least one second, additional spring (9) for axially compressively preloading a damping mass (3) of the damper against the tool housing, and a user-operated switching element (8) having a first position in which the damping mass (3) is axially compressively preloaded against the power tool housing only by the at least one first spring (4), and a second position in which the switching means (8) connects the damping mass (3) with the at least one second additional spring (9) so that the damping mass (3) is axially compressively preloaded against the power tool housing by both the at least one first spring (4) and the at least one second, additional spring (9).
US08066100B2
An oil pan is provided with an oil pan separator that partitions a first chamber that communicates with a moving part inside a cylinder block and a second chamber outside the first chamber. A communicating hole is provided to a bottom panel of the oil pan separator. The communicating hole is shielded from a strainer.
US08066097B2
An acoustic enhancement device adapted for being placed on a support and under a covering, and containing a first flexible layer adapted for being placed facing the support, a second rigid layer joined to the first flexible layer and adapted for being placed opposite the support, and a damping element, wherein the damping element is integrated in the second rigid layer or forms a third layer placed on the second rigid layer and opposite the first flexible layer.
US08066093B2
A power steering system includes a wormshaft housed in a shaft housing portion and rotatably supported at one end by a bearing, a worm wheel adapted to mesh with the wormshaft, a bottomed, cylindrical bearing holder configured to enclose and fit onto the bearing for holding the bearing, and a preloading means located in the bearing holder for preloading the bearing in a direction of meshed-engagement of the worm gear. An adjustment-mechanism housing portion is formed at one end of the shaft housing portion for housing and retaining the bearing holder. A restriction wall is formed in the adjustment-mechanism housing portion for restricting a movement of the bearing holder. The preloading means includes a preload portion formed integral with the bearing holder, for forcing the bearing in the direction of meshed-engagement by a force of resiliency of the preload portion, thus ensuring sufficient accuracy of meshed-engagement without complicated machining.
US08066092B2
An electric power steering device is configured to transmit an auxiliary torque to a steering unit of front wheels, and includes: an operator; an electric motor configured to generate the auxiliary torque in accordance with at least a steering torque generated by input from the operator; the steering unit of front wheels which includes a pinion shaft; and a rotation terminating mechanism which provides a motion terminating end of the operator, the rotation terminating mechanism being disposed between the operator and the pinion shaft.
US08066074B2
The present invention is embodied in systems and methods for mitigating temperature-related pressure buildup in the trapped annulus of an oil or gas well, wherein such systems and methods employ production and/or tieback casing having one or more pressure mitigating chambers, and wherein such chambers make use of pistons, valves, and burst disks to mitigate pressure increases within the annulus.
US08066072B2
A tubular introduced into a wellbore is perforated at pre-selected locations after the tubular has been cemented into place. The locations of the perforations are determined by modeling inflow performance of a stimulation fluid within the formation. The inflow performance parameters include reservoir porosity, permeability, pressure, damage skin and intrusion depth, perforation diameter and penetration depth or perforation crushed zone damage and intrusion depth.
US08066071B2
Apparatus for multi-zone wellbores that can by-pass upper hydrocarbon bearing zones and deliver fluid to lower hydrocarbon bearing zones. The apparatus can include at least one housing, and at least one port can be formed through the housing. An inner sleeve can be positioned within the housing. At least one cavity can be radially disposed on an outer diameter of the inner sleeve, and each cavity can be located within an annulus formed between the inner sleeve and the housing. A ball can be disposed within each cavity, and the ball can be adapted to selectively engage the port.
US08066068B2
A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars. The well treatment fluid can include fibers to provide reinforcement and consolidation of the proppant and, additionally or alternatively, to inhibit settling of the proppant in the treatment fluid.
US08066067B2
Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retrofitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described.
US08066061B2
A reusable metal seal for a wellhead provides a metal-to-metal seal and includes upper and lower tapered sealing flanks which may be deflected by tapered wall surfaces on the wellhead engaging the taper sealing flanks, and the seal may have a plurality of annular relief grooves.
US08066059B2
A tubing conveyed tool for use in perforating a well bore utilizing abrasive perforating techniques. The perforating tool is particularly useful in non-vertical wells. The perforating tool is designed to permit running and setting a bridge plug, and then perforating the well bore without requiring the removal of the tool string. An eccentric weight bar can also be used to allow for directional perforating in non-vertical wells. The eccentric weight bar uses gravity to cause the bar to rotate to a predetermined position.
US08066055B2
A system including a primary evaporator facilitating heat transfer by evaporating liquid to obtain vapor is disclosed. The primary evaporator receives a liquid from a liquid line and outputs the vapor to a vapor line. The primary evaporator also outputs excess liquid received from the liquid line to an excess fluid line. A condensing system receives the vapor from the vapor line, and outputs the liquid and excess liquid to the liquid line. The excess liquid is obtained at least partially from a reservoir. A primary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, and the vapor line, and provides a heat transfer path. Similarly, a secondary loop includes the condensing system, the primary evaporator, the liquid line, the vapor line, and the excess fluid line. The secondary loop provides a venting path for removing undesired vapor within the liquid or excess liquid from the primary evaporator.
US08066051B2
A partition mount system includes an integrated plunger assembly. The integrated plunger assembly is constructed and arranged to be integrated into an interior of an end of an extension pole, for example a standard telescoping extension pole. Mounting of the plunger in an interior portion of the pole in this manner provides for a sleek design that is relatively lightweight. Assuming that the pole in which the anchor is mounted is part of a telescoping pole system, the anchor and plunger do not interfere with full travel of the interior pole with respect to other poles in the telescoping system. In this manner, operation of the telescoping pole system is not inhibited by the integrated plunger assembly.
US08066047B2
Labels are permanently attached to a substrate, e.g., a tissue cassette, by use of a staking device. The device comprises a staker assembly and a cassette fixture assembly. The cassette fixture assembly includes a slot and a clamping assembly for securing the cassette within the device. The staker assembly includes a set of probes that are heated and sequentially moved into a position to burn a hole in a label that is provisionally attached to the cassette, and then the substrate is melted and displaced through the hole to form a collar bond that permanently attaches the label to the cassette. The label remains attached to the cassette when exposed to harsh environmental conditions, e.g., high heat, high humidity, solvents, etc.
US08066046B2
A cutting and transfer drum in a continuous-film labeling machine, which allows disassembly into sectors comprised between two contiguous blades, each sector being provided with elements for locking in the active position, which comprise a rotating rod which is provided with an actuation crank, said rod having a portion which is adapted to mate with a reference element provided on the sector, elements adapted to retain the sector in the locking position, a cam adapted to make contact with an abutment provided on the sector, so as to ensure a contact pressure of the sector on a supporting ring which ensures the retention of the fluid that provides suction.
US08066045B2
A hand held labeler has a support liner wheel that is driven by a motor to accurately advance the label web, while providing adequate storage for the support liner of an entire label web. In one embodiment, the labeler includes a micro-controller that controls the motor to vary the speed of the support liner wheel to accommodate for the increased speed of the label web as the circumference of the support liner grows on the support liner wheel. The labeler also includes an applicator to separate the labels from the support liner. The applicator may include a trigger mechanism that is connected to the micro-controller to signal the micro-controller that a label has been placed on an item. The micro-controller may be programmed to start the motor upon receiving the signal from the trigger mechanism. In another embodiment, the support liner wheel is sized to accommodate the support liner of an entire label web, such that the support liner wheel does not need to be emptied or replaced before depositing all of the labels of a particular label web.
US08066036B2
A complex coil and a fixture for forming same configured such that loops are formed having various configurations relative to each other. The configurations provide improved thrombus formation and reduced rotation or tumbling once implanted. The complex coil is formed of a material that may deformed for purposes of placing the complex coil into a catheter and returns to a complex shape that includes said loops once deployed.
US08066032B2
An apparatus for rapidly terminating of the flow of any fluid or particulate material through a conduit responsive to predefined dangerous conditions. A particular application will terminate fuel flow through a large fuel supply conduit in a racing vehicle responsive to a fire or accident or other dangerous condition. The apparatus includes a gas supply source that is opened responsive to actuation of the apparatus such that gas passes into a cylinder which moves to force a liquid to hydraulically expand an inflatable member which is operative to expand within the flow conduit to instantaneously terminate material flow therethrough.
US08066027B2
The Present Invention enables energy to be extracted from the atmosphere by creating a vacuum into which atmospheric air is drawn through a vacuum operated motor. The motor operates on the pressure differential between atmospheric pressure at the motor inlet and the vacuum level created by liquid flowing vertically through a tube via gravity. The greater the pressure differential, the greater the airflow through the motor, and the greater the energy extracted by the vacuum motor. The Present Invention is a workable and sustainable vacuum energy recovery system based on siphon principles, and specifically addresses problem areas immediately identifiable to a siphon-based system with air infusion. A scavenger loop operates independently to prevent air and/or gas from accumulating at the siphon apex. Micro-diffusers designed for sweeping effects across the air-liquid interfaces also provide for the optimal ratios of air volumes and bubble sizes compatible with the liquid flow rates within a given siphon. Additional flow controlling valves are not required.
US08066023B2
A system and a method for recovering and increasing the pressure of seal leak gas for recycle or passage to further processing.
US08066020B2
A substrate cleaning apparatus, comprises a process tank that holds a mixture containing a hydrogen peroxide solution and sulfuric acid and is used for cleaning a substrate immersed in said mixture; circulation piping that extends between a primary side of said process tank on which said mixture is injected into said process tank and a secondary side of said process tank on which said mixture is discharged from said process tank and has a pump for causing circulation of said mixture; a heater disposed in said circulation piping configured to heat said mixture to a predetermined temperature; a chemical injection pipe configured to inject a hydrogen peroxide solution into said circulation piping at a position between the primary side of said process tank and a secondary side, which is a downstream side, of said heater; and a filter disposed in said circulation piping configured to remove particles in said mixture.
US08066017B1
An attachment for a hair dryer has a hollow body portion with an upper end in fluid communication with a lower end, a lip connected to and extending upwardly from the upper end of the hollow body portion, and a nozzle extending through an opening in the lip. The nozzle has a connector for connecting the attachment to a hair dryer and a tip interior of the lip pointing generally downwardly toward the hollow body portion. The nozzle is rotatable such that the tip of the nozzle can be directionally adjusted. A baffle is affixed to an opening at the lower end of the hollow body portion.
US08066003B2
The present invention discloses a method for improving control and detection precision of tidal volume by introducing R value, comprising the steps of: a plateau pressure Pplate is used to calculate a system compliance C with C=ΔV/(Pplate−PEEP); VT, the tidal volume obtained currently at patient terminal, is calculated with VT=ΔV×(C−Ctube)/C, wherein ΔV is the variation of tidal volume, PEEP is the positive end expiratory pressure and Ctube is the compliance C of the line. Depending on the calculated VT, the tidal volume which is actually obtained by the patients during this period, the processing unit calculates the tidal volume VT′, which the airway is intended to reach during the next expiration period, by VT′=VT+ΔVT×K wherein K is a scaling factor for control and adjustment, VT is the tidal volume obtained by the patient during the current period, VTset is the presetted tidal volume, ΔVT=VTset−VT. And the processing unit accordingly controls the opening position of the inspiratory valve during the next inspiration period, so as to achieve the purpose of improving control and detection of precision tidal volume.
US08066001B2
In a therapeutic device (1) for assisting respiration, clearing of mucus and expectoration by a patient by means of which an oscillating air resistance can be generated in the air flow during exhalation and inhalation, with a mouthpiece (2) having an inlet opening (7) provided at one end of it and an elastically deformable hose piece (3) attached to its other end opposite to the inlet opening, it should be possible to adjust the respiration frequencies and pressure amplitudes for the individual patient during inhalation and exhalation. This is achieved in that a contact plate (21) is attached to the mouthpiece (2) and is aligned to run in parallel to the hose piece (3) in the area of the mouthpiece (2), that an articulating joint (22) is provided at the free end of the contact plate (21) by means of which a resistance body (23) is in an articulated connection with the contact plate (21), and that the resistance body (23) interacts with the section (5) of the hose piece (3) allocated to it in such a way that the passage area of the hose piece (3) can be variable adjusted from the outside.
US08066000B2
An extendable hood and mounting bracket for mounting on the underside of a microwave oven which is positioned above a cook top, the extendable hood being frictionally engaged in the bracket and selectively removable or slidably retracted when not in use, the extendable hood extending over the front burners of the cook top and capturing and directing any fumes, smoke, or odors generated from cooking on the front burners to the fan and filter unit mounted on the underside of the microwave oven.
US08065987B2
Apparatus and method are disclosed for converting an internal combustion engine from a normal engine operation (20) to an engine braking operation (10). The engine includes exhaust valve train components comprising at least one exhaust valve (300) and at least one cam (230) for cyclically opening and closing the at least one exhaust valve (300). The apparatus comprises actuation means (100) having at least one component integrated into at least one of the exhaust valve train components, such as a rocker arm (210) or a valve bridge (400). The actuation means (100) has an inoperative position and an operative position. In the inoperative position, the actuation means (100) is retracted and the small braking cam lobes (232 & 233) are skipped to generate a main valve lift profile (220m) for the normal engine operation (20). In the operative position, the actuation means (100) is extended to form a mechanical linkage so that the motion from all the cam lobes (220, 232 & 233) is transmitted to the at least one exhaust valve (300) for the engine braking operation (10). The apparatus further comprises control means (50) for moving the actuation means (100) between the inoperative position and the operative position to achieve the conversion between the normal engine operation (20) and the engine braking operation (10). The apparatus also includes valve lash adjusting mechanism, oil retraining means (350), and engine brake reset means (150).
US08065974B1
Apparatus for coating an item with a dry particulate material. An electrically operated sifter in a dry coating assembly generates a shower of the dry particulate material which coats the items held in an open mesh basket. A collector recovers residual material which can then be returned to the sifter. Extraneous clumps formed from the dry particulate material and any liquid coating can be readily removed from the sifter. An optional wet coating assembly allows an operator to coat the items with a batter before the application of the dry particulate material.
US08065972B2
An underwater vehicle comprising an electrical power generation system that converts thermal energy from a body of water into electrical energy is disclosed. The vehicle comprises the electrical power generation system and a thermal mass whose temperature is based on the temperature of water at a first depth of a body of water. The vehicle is moved to a second depth of the body of water, wherein water at the second depth is a different temperature that the water at the first depth. The electrical power generation system generates electrical energy based on the difference between the temperature of the water at the second depth and the temperature of the thermal mass. The electrical power generation system is able to generate electrical energy when the temperature difference is negative as well as when the temperature difference is positive.
US08065968B2
A method of managing timberland generally includes planting within a plot a first genetic tree crop of a first tree species that is selected for at least a first tree trait in a substantially linear pattern defining a first plurality of adjacent substantially linear beds at a first crop spacing and at a first row spacing between adjacent substantially linear beds. The method further includes interplanting a second genetic tree crop of the first tree species that is selected for at least a second tree trait in the first plurality of adjacent substantially linear beds at a second crop spacing that is shorter than the first crop spacing, such that adjacent substantially linear beds include trees of the first and second genetic tree crops.
US08065959B1
The present invention provides an explosive device for use with a warhead comprising a rupturable core having a spherical interior chamber which is filled with a volume of a flammable gas. A frequency generator resonates the gas at a high frequency to fully resonate the gas to produce a new and more powerful type of explosion. Means for securing the frequency generator to the core are also provided, as well as a detonator having a high-temperature metal as a conductive material and means for inserting the conductive material into the core.
US08065943B2
Woodworking machines are disclosed having a blade adapted to cut workpieces, and an actuating mechanism operable to move the blade toward the workpiece. The machines also include a detection system configured to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a user and the blade, and a reaction system configured to stop the movement of the blade toward the user upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.
US08065938B1
A shaft has a driving end and a driven end. A plurality of driving adaptors with various handles are releasably connected to the shaft driving end. A plurality of driven adaptors with various tools for performing operations within a limited space work area, such as an inaccessible space, a confined space, or keyhole excavation, are releasably connected to the shaft driven end. The driving adaptors are positioned outside of the limited space work area. The driven adaptors are positioned within the limited space work area. The handle is manipulated at the shaft driving end to transmit selected rotational and translational movements through the shaft to the tool to perform operations in the limited space work area.
US08065932B2
A bicycle component actuating device is provided with a base member, a first user operating member and a locking member. The base member includes a tube mounting structure having a tube receiving bore with a center mounting axis. The first user operating member is rotatably mounted relative to the base member for rotation between a first operating position and a second operating position about a rotational axis that is parallel to and offset from the center mounting axis of the tube mounting structure. The locking member is movably mounted relative to the base member for selective movement between a locking position to lock the first user operating member in the second operating position and a releasing position to release the first operating member from the second operating position.
US08065931B1
A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having lower and upper steering column members that are slidingly interengaged. The upper column member is attached to a structural part of the motor vehicle by a ride down mechanism that allows the upper steering column to move in the event of a collision. A load transfer means is provided to bypass the ride down mechanism when an adjustment lever is moved to a position allowing the position of the upper steering column member to be adjusted thereby preventing accidental damage occurring to the ride down mechanism due to operator abuse.
US08065929B2
An environmental mechanical test apparatus includes a pressure generation source and an isolation cylinder in fluid communication with the pressure generation source. The test apparatus further includes a pressure containment cell configured to receive a test specimen, an environmental chamber disposed about the pressure containment cell, and a load frame operably associated with the pressure containment cell. The pressure containment cell is in fluid communication with the pressure generation source and the isolation cylinder and includes a viewing window.
US08065925B2
The static pressure, the differential pressure, and the temperature must be known in order to be able to determine the mass flow rate, the volumetric flow under standard conditions, or the enthalpy flow of a fluid. Desired variables are detected by individual sensors located in an integrated sensor unit, and the values detected by the individual sensors are then processed in a computing unit that is also integrated in the sensor unit. The sensor unit outputs a value, which also takes other parameters and/or physical constants into account, to a control unit that is connected downstream. Some of the computing is advantageously done in the sensor unit so that some load is relieved from the control unit.
US08065923B2
A flow rate measuring method for a multiphase fluid mixture flowing into a line is provided. The method comprises the steps of passing the fluid mixture through a Venturi tube having a pressure drop, measuring a differential pressure across the Venturi tube and a line pressure of the fluid mixture, measuring by a second measuring device, measured parameter(s) of the fluid mixture correlated to first and second phase relative quantities, determining estimated parameter(s) of the fluid mixture correlated to the first and second phase relative quantities based on the measured parameter and an extrapolating scheme, determining phase flow rate(s) based on the differential pressure, the line pressure and the measured parameter(s) of the fluid mixture, and determining flow rate(s) based on the differential pressure, the line pressure of the fluid mixture and the estimated parameter(s) of the fluid mixture.
US08065916B2
Provided is a bearing state diagnostic apparatus in which a sound generated from a bearing is detected by a sound sensor, a detected value of the sound sensor is compared with data which was previously formed, thereby diagnosing a state of the bearing, wherein at least one sound sensor is disposed at a position separated away from an outer surface of a cylindrical support body in which at least one bearing is accommodated, the corresponding bearing and sound sensor are in communication with each other through a detection sound propagation path.
US08065915B2
Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. A MEMS accelerometer includes a proof mass suspended by at least one hinge type flexure, at least one planar coil located on the proof mass, and at least one magnet positioned such that a magnetic flux field passes through the at least one planar coil at an angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane. In an example embodiment, the angle is approximately 45 degrees. The at least one magnet may include a first annular magnet positioned on a first side of the proof mass and a second annular magnet positioned on a second side of the proof mass. A method includes sensing a capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil.
US08065912B2
A fill-level measuring device for measuring a fill level of a fill substance in a container, which, following a single commissioning, can be used in a plurality of applications. The fill-level measuring device includes: A measuring unit, which serves to produce a measurement signal dependent on the fill-level; a memory, in which parameter sets for different applications are stored; and an evaluating unit, which serves for selecting a parameter set, for deriving, on the basis of this parameter set, the fill level from the measurement signal, and for making such fill level available for further processing, evaluation and/or display.
US08065909B2
A device for measuring the effective volumetric ratio of at least one cylinder in a variable compression-ratio engine, includes at least one target passage sensor (91) attached on the cylinder casing (100) and detecting the passage of at least one target (92) connected to the piston (2) of the engine, the target passage sensor interacting with at least one angular position sensor of the crankshaft (93) of the engine, and one calculator (94).
US08065903B2
An energy absorber comprises at least one layer of energy absorbing material, each layer having a plurality of cells within the respective layer of energy absorbing material, wherein each layer of energy absorbing material deforms when a force applied to the at least one layer of energy absorbing material reaches a threshold force level; a fluid filling the plurality of cells in each respective layer of energy absorbing material; and a skin covering external surfaces of each respective layer of energy absorbing material to contain the fluid within the cells of the respective layer of energy absorbing material until the force applied to the energy absorbing material causes the respective layer to deform; wherein the threshold force level for each layer of energy absorbing material is based on a viscosity of the fluid in the cells of the respective layer and on a crush strength of the respective layer of energy absorbing material.
US08065902B2
A lower platen of the hemming apparatus is provided with a hem punch capable of being pressed against an inner periphery bent portion of a workpiece having a frame and a cam follower. The cam follower is disposed on the lower platen to come outside the frame of the workpiece. The cam follower and the hem punch are connected through a connecting member. An upper platen of the hemming apparatus is provided with a driver cam engageable against the cam follower. The driver cam moves the cam follower, whereby the hem punch is pressed against the inner periphery bent portion.
US08065896B2
A key ring according to embodiments is press-fitted onto a steering shaft (column shaft) at a position that is radially outer side of a fit portion at which multiple shaft members that constitute the steering shaft (column shaft) are fitted to each other, and that is substantially the same as the position of the key ring in the axial direction. When a lock bar is inserted into a lock bar insertion portion formed in an outer periphery of the key ring, the key ring restricts rotation of the steering shaft.
US08065895B2
A bicycle lock device for public use is disclosed. The device is comprised of an enclosure, a retractable reel with a retractable cable, a lock/unlock device having a first member attached to the cable free end, and a second member secured in the enclosure, and a lock control device. The user accesses the device by inserting a payment such as a coin or credit card in a user interface of the device. If the payment is accepted, the user then enters a user-specified key code in a keypad on the lock control device. The lock control device unlocks the lock/unlock device. The retractable cable may then be extended. The user weaves the cable through the bicycle components and then enters the cable free end into the lock/unlock device, thereby locking the lock/unlock device and securing the bicycle. When the user later enters the key-code, the device unlocks the cable.
US08065890B2
An LNG plant is configured to receive rich LNG and to produce LPG, lean LNG, and power using at least one fractionation column, wherein the fractionation portion of the plant can be optionally thermally coupled to a power cycle utilizing residual refrigeration from the processed lean LNG. Most preferably, a liquid portion of the rich LNG is pumped to pressure and heated, and the pressurized and superheated portion is expanded to produce electric energy before being fed into the column. The column overhead vapor is partially condensed, providing column reflux for high NGL recoveries, and the residual vapor is further condensed using refrigeration content of the rich LNG forming the lean LNG product, that is further pumped to pipeline pressure and subsequently vaporized using heated working fluid of the power cycle.
US08065882B2
Disclosed are the use of fluorine substituted olefins, including tetra- and penta-fluoropropenes, in a variety of applications, including connection with blowing agents, foams, foamable compositions, foaming methods, heat transfer compositions and methods, propellants, and solvating methods.
US08065881B2
A transition duct for routing a gas flow from a combustor to the first stage of a turbine section in a combustion turbine engine is disclosed. The transition duct may have an internal passage extending between an inlet to an outlet. An axis of the transition duct body may be generally linear such that gases expelled from the transition duct body flow in a proper direction into the downstream turbine blades. The linear transition duct may include an outlet with exhaust mouths that are configured such that sides of the transition duct are coplanar with adjacent transition ducts, thereby eliminating destructive turbulence between adjacent, linear transition ducts.
US08065875B2
A method for springing a movement of an implement of a work machine during a movement of the work machine is provided, in which at least one hydraulic cylinder is connected to the implement for controlling its movements, comprising the steps of connecting a hydraulic machine to the hydraulic cylinder, and of controlling the hydraulic machine in response to a disturbance acting upon the implement during the movement of the work machine.
US08065869B2
In a method for determining the conversion performance of an oxygen storage-capable catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine, it is proposed that the catalytic converter be supplied with a stoichiometric exhaust gas composition, a known emission change is briefly undertaken and at the same time the signals of a lambda probe located downstream from the catalytic converter are detected so that based on the emission change and signals of the lambda probe a differentiated conclusion about the conversion performance of the catalytic converter for the pollutants hydrocarbon HC and nitrogen oxides NOx is delivered. According to the invention a simple and cost-effective method for differentiation of the pollutants hydrocarbon HC and nitrogen oxides NOx and thus for carrying out an improved diagnosis method is made available.
US08065859B1
An agricultural bagger apparatus and method for compacting feed into a horizontally deployed bag including a moving hopper wall and mechanism for moving the wall at an input end of hopper. The wall moving mechanism and the moving wall of the hopper sweeps the feed adjacent to the sloping wall to prevent feed bridging. A safety enclosure isolates the wall moving mechanism from contaminants and prevents exposure to the wall moving mechanism. Some embodiments also compact feed in the upper portion of a tunnel, for example, by reciprocating a hinged piston above a primary compression mechanism. A tunnel-adjustment mechanism varies a cross-section area of the tunnel exit in order to control the amount of compaction on the feed as it leaves the tunnel and enters the bag. In some embodiments, dual counter-rotating toothed compression mechanism force feed between the rotors and into the tunnel at a rate and pressure greater than what is possible with only one multiple-toothed compressor rotor.
US08065853B2
This invention relates to a structural cementitious panel (SCP) panel able to resist lateral forces imposed by high wind and earthquake loads in regions where they are required by building codes. These panels may be used for shear walls, flooring or roofing or other locations where shear panels are used in residential or commercial construction. The panels employ one or more layers of a continuous phase resulting from the curing of an aqueous mixture of inorganic binder reinforced with glass fibers and containing lightweight filler particles. One or more reinforcement members, such as mesh or plate sheets, are bonded to at least one surface of the panel to provide a completed panel that can breathe and has weather resistant characteristics to be capable of sustaining exposure to the elements during construction, without damage.
US08065847B2
An exhibit or display for tradeshows or the like having a plurality of support members and an axial connection assembly. The support members include opposing ends and a body portion, and further include an exterior channel and a central bore, the channel defining a flange portion and the bore being in communication with a retention feature. The axial connection assembly is configured to releasably couple an end of a first support member to an end of a second support member such that the two support members are axially aligned. The axial connection assembly includes a collar releasably coupled in the bore of each member, with each collar including at least one locator portion to interact with the retention feature, and a pin having a mid portion and two ends, the mid portion configured to be rotatably selectively restrained within the collar.
US08065845B1
A post-tension apparatus has an anchor member having a cavity formed in an interior thereof, a tendon extending through the cavity of the anchor member the has an unsheathed portion and a sheathed portion, an encapsulation affixed to the anchor member and extending thereover that has a trumpet formed at one end of the anchor member, a sheathing lock positioned in the cavity and engaged with the sheathed portion of the tendon, a seal affixed within the trumpet so as to reside in liquid-tight sealing relation with the sheathed portion of the tendon, and wedges recessed in the cavity of the anchor member. The pair of wedges is engaged with the unsheathed portion of the tendon. The sheathing lock is positioned adjacent an end of the pair of wedges.
US08065842B2
A bird deterrent device is presented having a base that is at least partially composed of a metal or metal composite. The base can be configured such that the base has sufficient resiliency to revert to an original form after being bent at least 15°. A plurality of spikes can be coupled to the base so that the device is stackable with other such devices while the spikes are oriented at least 5° out of parallel with respect to a plane of the base. It is contemplated that the devices can be stacked such that the base of one device is less than 3 cm from the base of an adjacent device in the stack.
US08065840B2
A modular building construction system including a plurality of free-standing, molded polymer components that may be assembled to form a weatherproof structure. Components include a center, corner, interior passageway, door, and roof panels, as well as supporting beams that may be arranged in a nearly infinite number of configurations to easily, quickly and inexpensively form nearly any structure desired by the user.
US08065827B2
Embodiments described herein include a single-use beverage container assembly having a beverage container which includes an inner surface defining a chamber capable of receiving a liquid, an opening configured to provide access to the chamber and an outer surface comprising a receiving cavity. In certain embodiments, the beverage container further includes an informational attachment including promotional information. The receiving cavity can be configured to receive the informational attachment such that the informational attachment can be stowed in the receiving cavity. The beverage container assembly can also be configured to permit the informational attachment to be at least partially removed from the receiving cavity such that the informational attachment can be separated from the beverage container.
US08065826B2
The present invention relates to a label (1) comprising at least one formable cup in the form of at least one cup sheet (2), and to a drinking system (100) comprising a container (102) with a label comprising at least one cup sheet (2). The label (1) comprises at least one cup sheet (2), each cup sheet (2) having an outer edge (12), a first surface, and a second surface (58), wherein the at least one cup sheet (2) is detachable from the label (1) and formable such that the at least one cup sheet (2) can be formed into at least one cup.
US08065825B2
An article to be worn, such as a badge, displays indicia such as identification and advertising. The article includes a housing, a first indicia member positioned on the first indicia portion of the housing and a second indicia member positioned on the second indicia portion of the housing. The first and second indicia portions are discrete from one another and can receive interchangeable indicia members. The invention further includes a method of identifying a wearer of the article, such as a sales clerk or food service preparer, and advertising a product or service, all with the same badge.
US08065823B2
A snow blower has an auger housing that pivots relative to an axle supporting ground engaging members of the snow blower or about an axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the snow blower.
US08065822B2
A method and an adjustable plow hitch frame. The plow hitch frame is configured to pivotally couple with a plow blade at one end and coupled with a vehicle at another end. The adjustable plow hitch frame includes a pair of elongated side members maintained in a spaced apart relationship by a traverse member. Each side member defines a front portion and a rear portion. A pivot assembly is coupled to the front portion of each side member and configured to couple to the plow blade. An adjustment lug is coupled to the rear portion of each side member, with each adjustment lug defining a plurality of orifaces aligned vertically. The height of the adjustable plow hitch frame relative to the vehicle is fixed with corresponding orifaces in the adjustment lugs coupled to the vehicle.
US08065820B2
A ski boot, designed for ski mountaineering, includes a rigid shell and sole, an inshoe of soft material, and a leg portion pivotally secured to the shell. A lever is located on one side of the leg portion for operating a traction cable located on the other side of the leg portion. The remote end of the traction cable is engaged with, or secured to, a retention element on the leg portion. A spoiler is pivotally mounted at the rear of the shell, and is interposed between the rear of the leg portion and the rear of the inshoe. A lug, or similar coupling element, is formed on the lever. The lever is mounted for pivotal movement in the horizontal direction, between an opened, and closed, configuration or condition. When the lever is in its closed configuration, the lug engages the leg portion and the spoiler, and blocks their pivotal movement, or articulation, relative to the shell.
US08065818B2
Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) a sole structure; (b) an upper having lateral and medial side elements engaged with the sole structure, the upper made from a polymer matrix structure that extends through at least a heel region; (c) a size adjustment mechanism located at the heel region; (d) a heel tongue element located adjacent the size adjustment mechanism; (e) a shoe securing mechanism; (f) an instep tongue member; and/or (g) a bootie member located at least partially within the foot-receiving chamber. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.
US08065816B2
A dryer has complex angled surfaces and a plurality of grip elements thereon. The angled surfaces have varying angles of inclination relative to a base of the dryer vane and the characteristics of the grip elements vary in relation to the angle of inclination of the surface portions upon which they are disposed. The grip elements may protrude from the vane surfaces and the height of the grip elements may vary in relation to the varying angle of inclination of the surfaces. Taller grip elements may be provided on the less inclined surfaces and shorter grip elements may be provided on the more inclined surfaces.
US08065815B2
An apparatus, method and system is provided for treating sewage sludge by heating the same in a container to drive off pathogens and/or pasteurize the sewage sludge while the material is tumbled in the container, and with moisture gases being evaporated therefrom and drawn off from the container. After treatment the treated sludge is discharged from the container. There is provided at least one weight-responsive member on which the container is mounted, and a control is provided connected to the one or more weight-responsive member whereby the solids content of the treated material can be determined by measuring the difference in weight of material in the container, before and after moisture is drawn off from the material and prior to its discharge from the drum. The control is preferably effected by means of a computer.
US08065811B2
A device for locating vertical wall features and for translating those features onto drywall board or sheeting material to be placed onto the vertical wall. The device includes a main body having a top edge and a bottom edge, at least one channel, the at least one channel being substantially perpendicular to the bottom edge. A rail is provided having first and second terminal ends sized to be slidably and selectively retained within the at least one channel and a lock that selectively prevents sliding of the rail within the channel The rail is of a length such that as its first terminal end locates the features, the second terminal end translates the position of those features onto drywall board to be later placed upon the vertical wall proximate the features.
US08065804B1
A knife opening assist removably attached to a folding knife blade. The assist is comprised of an attachment element with a channel formed therein for positioning over a portion of any blade edge opposite to the sharp blade edge. The element is attached to the blade by attachment means through apertures formed in the attachment element sides. The top of the attachment element has a hook-shaped element hooking toward the forward end of the blade. The hook is adapted to snag a pocket, holster or other container as the pocket knife is being drawn out for use.
US08065793B2
An application method for resin includes applying resin to a first electronic component in an application chamber under a first internal pressure, moving a second electronic component into an internal pressure adjustment chamber under a second internal pressure which is higher than the first internal pressure and adjusting an internal pressure of the internal pressure adjustment chamber from the second internal pressure to the first internal pressure, and moving the second electronic component into the application chamber while moving the first electronic component into the internal pressure adjustment chamber after the step of application of the resin has been completed.
US08065792B2
A method for packaging integrated circuit chips (die) is described that includes providing a base substrate with package level contacts, coating a base substrate with adhesive, placing dies on the adhesive, electrically connecting the die to the package level contacts, and removing the backside of the base substrate to expose the backside of the package level contacts. Accordingly, an essentially true chip scale package is formed. Multi-chip modules are formed by filling gaps between the chips with an encapsulant. In an embodiment, chips are interconnected by electrical connections between package level contacts in the base substrate. In an embodiment, substrates each having chips are adhered back-to-back with through vias formed in aligned saw streets to interconnect the back-to-back chip assembly.
US08065788B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic head for magnetic data recording, that allows a lapping termination point to be easily and accurately determined during lapping. The method includes constructing a lapping guide that has an electrically is formed to provide an abrupt change in resistance at a point where lapping should be terminated. This point of abrupt resistance change is located relative to the flare point of the write pole that the distance between the flare point and the air bearing surface can be accurately maintained. This abrupt resistance change also makes it possible to monitor both a stripe height defining rough lapping and an angled kiss lapping process using a single measurement channel.
US08065783B2
Brake pipe connection to a brake hose includes a fixing bushing through which the brake hose is inserted through a first side and a brake pipe through a second side. The brake pipe includes an external diameter DT, a wall thickness eT, and a connection end. The brake hose includes an internal diameter dH that is less than the external diameter DT of the brake pipe. The connection end includes a built-in pipette which is housed on the inside of the fixing bushing and inserted in the brake hose. The built-in pipette is formed by the stretching of the connection end to obtain an external diameter of the pipette DP that is less than the external diameter DT of the brake pipe, a pipette wall thickness eP that is less than the wall thickness eT of the brake pipe, and a pipette length LP.
US08065781B2
An adjustable tourniquet includes a first component, a second component, a third component and a band. Two ends of the first component respectively have an axle for fixing the band and a buckling trough with an engaging element, wherein two ends of the axle respectively have a ratchet. The first and second components respectively have a rejecting element and a driving element to stop the ratchet. The axle is clamped by an axial cover, and two ends of the axle are respectively connected with a connecting axle for penetrating the second component. Furthermore, the ratchet includes an inner and an outer ratchet surfaces respectively for butting the rejecting element and the driving element, and the teeth of the inner and outer ratchet surfaces are respectively bent toward the same direction and the arrangement of the inner and outer ratchet surfaces are perpendicular to each other.
US08065777B2
A centrifugal water separator for mop includes a bucket, a separating device and a drive device respectively mounted in the bucket. A first room, a second room and a third room respectively defined in the bucket, wherein an L-shaped partition is formed in the bucket to separate the third room from the first room and the second room, and the first room laterally communicates with the second room. The separating device includes an axle perpendicularly extending through the partition and a separating trough securely mounted to an upper end of the axle. The drive device includes a pedal mounted thereon for driving the axle with the separating trough when being stepped. The drive device includes a planet gear set sleeved on the axle and connected to the pedal for effectively drive the axle and used as a speed increaser.
US08065775B2
A mop includes a molded mop casing having two mophead supporting faces connected together to show a double beveled configuration, a detached part pivotally connected to the molded mop casing between the mophead supporting faces, a mop shaft connected to the detached part and biasable with the mop shaft relative to the molded mop casing, a handle coupled to the mop shaft and movable forwards/backwards along the mop shaft, and an extending device mounted in the handle and the molded mop casing and movable by the handle between an extended position and a received position for locking/unlocking a consumptive material for enabling a user to mount/dismount the consumptive material conveniently without direct hand contact.
US08065773B2
The microbial scrub brush employs an insert of foam material that is impregnated with an anti-bacterial disinfectant that is housed within a housing of alcohol compatible material and sealed over by a removable lid. The insert is maintained in sterile condition until ready for use. After the removal of the lid, the insert of foam material is moved over the end of a female luer and rotated in order to clean the outer surface of the luer as well as the interior of the luer.
US08065767B2
The present invention provides a safety apparatus as an aid for the prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A mattress, fitting the dimensions of a standard-sized crib, is composed of three different layers, allowing a free flow of air through it to the infant lying in any position. The lowest layer has transverse channels allowing cross-wise air movement. The middle and top layers have vertical perforations through them allowing a vertical flow of air. Being composed of 3 layers, differing in density and firmness, the mattress is both firm and pleasant to the touch. Therefore, in addition to its primary function, the mattress provides a method to counter a potential delay in the motor development of the infant, which can result from prolonged lying in the supine position. A mesh sheet is stretched taut over the mattress and fastened securely to the vertical bars of the crib.
US08065765B2
A collapsible, foldable transport surface capable of supporting an individual when carried by one or more assisting personnel utilizing hand hold components. The transport surface includes a primary body support surface and a secondary leg extension support surface that are connected together. The primary body support surface incorporates an array of straps extending across the back side thereof to form loop based hand holds positioned on the side edges of the transport surface. A set of longitudinally oriented straps are positioned on the support surface and extend from a top edge to form two loop based hand holds which further together terminate into a single loop hand hold at the opposite edge. The secondary leg extension support surface includes a smaller array of straps that extend across the extension support surface forming additional hand holds on either side. The secondary leg extension surface may be retained against the primary support surface when not in use. Each of the loop based hand holds are constructed from flexible tubing through which the support straps are threaded. The balance of the support straps likewise extend across and are sewn to the underside of the support surface. The device may be rolled into a cylindrical configuration and secured utilizing a closure tab. A peripheral strap is positioned on the upper and side edges of the primary support surface to open and fully extend the body support surface.
US08065764B2
A bed having a frame and a deck is disclosed. The deck has at least a horizontal position and a chair position. The deck has an adjustable-length foot section.
US08065763B2
A climate controlled bed comprises a cushion member having an outer surface comprising a first side for supporting an occupant and a second side, the first side and the second side generally facing in opposite directions. In some embodiments, the cushion member includes one or more recessed areas along its first side or its second side. In one embodiment, the bed further includes a support structure having a top side configured to support the cushion member, a bottom side and an interior space generally located between the top side and the bottom side, the top side and the bottom side of the support structure generally facing in opposite directions, a flow conditioning member that may be at least partially positioned with the recessed area of the cushion member, an air-permeable topper member positioned along the first side of the cushion member and a fluid temperature regulation system. The fluid temperature regulation system includes a fluid transfer device, a thermoelectric device and a conduit system generally configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid transfer device to the thermoelectric device. The fluid temperature regulation system is configured to receive a volume of fluid and deliver it to the flow conditioning member and the topper member.
US08065746B2
A winged collar support for a shirt collar including an elongated body portion having a first end, a second end and a center portion. A pair of wings protrudes from one of the first and second ends of the elongated body portion. The pair of wings has an inner side facing the center portion of the elongated body portion and an outer side opposite to the inner side. A plurality of rows of notches are formed in each wing. The plurality of rows of notches extend from the inner side of the wing to the outer side of each wing. Each notch extends from the surface of the wing to a depth of no more than half the thickness of the wing.
US08069476B2
Techniques for validating identities are provided. A sign-on request is authenticated for a given principal. Attributes associated with that principal are acquired from an identity service and compared against local maintained attributes for that principal. If the identity-service acquired attributes match the local attributes, then the principal is validated for access. During principal access, selective events drive updates to the identity-service acquired attributes, and the comparison with the local attributes is performed again to determine whether the validated principal is to be invalidated or is to remain validated.
US08069472B2
Exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing issue notification and resolution activities. A method includes receiving a request for access to a network service from an end user client system associated with an account. Upon determining an issue is associated with the account, the method includes flagging a user profile for the account to reflect the issue. Flagging accounts includes assigning a unique flag for each type of issue for determining a location for routing the request associated with flagged user profiles. The method also includes redirecting the request for access to a web server of the service provider network. Upon successful resolution of the issue, the method includes providing access to the network service for the end user client system.
US08069471B2
Systems, program product, and methods related to dynamic Internet security and risk assessment and management, are provided. For example, a system, program product, and method of identifying and servicing actual customer requests to a defended or protected computer or server can include the steps/operations of receiving by the defended computer, a service request from each of a plurality of IP addresses associated with a separate one of a plurality of service requesting computers, sending an inspection code adapted to perform a virtual attack on each existing service requesting computers at each respective associated IP address, and restricting provision of services from the defended computer to a subset of the service requesting computers identified for restriction when a security feature of the respective service requesting computer is determined to have been defeated by the virtual attack.
US08069469B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and apparatuses for addressing security by keeping track of handshake messages received by security elements along paths in an asymmetrical network. An Intelligent Security System receives handshake messages, thereby determining whether a session is allowed, and communicating information about the handshake messages, associations, and allowed sessions, to the security elements.
US08069449B2
A method and system for enabling an auxiliary system, such as a WINDOWS® SIDESHOW™ device, to support enhanced features is provided. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of emulating a physical communication channel to establish a virtual communication channel, encapsulating data associated with a first function defined by a first Application Programming Interface (API) and utilized to implement an enhanced feature, and sending the encapsulated data through the virtual communication channel for an embedded operation system (OS) to manage hardware resources of the auxiliary system to perform the enhanced feature.
US08069446B2
Parallel programming and execution systems and techniques are discussed herein. In accordance with one technique, a parallel programming model is used to decompose a complex process into parallelizable tasks with proper dependencies set by data objects as interfaces. Another technique features a scheduling mechanism that provides thread affinity and automatic load-balance management among an assortment of processing units such as CPUSs/CPU cores, GPUs/GPU cores, and/or hardware threads in a scalable manner. The models and techniques are applied in an exemplary manner to a digital media encoding process.
US08069437B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a framework for composite applications. A computer-implemented framework for a composite application includes an object access layer to exchange data with enterprise base systems and to present the data to a composite application through a uniform interface, a business object modeling layer including a business object modeler to provide a user interface (UI) for constructing a business object, and a service layer to enable services to the composite application, the service layer including a collaboration services module to enable collaboration services to the composite application, the business object modeling layer linking at least one of the collaboration services associated with the business object to the business object.
US08069433B2
A multi-format centralized framework for the distribution of resources. The framework allows product teams to update resources independent of a product build process and, to store and distribute the resources from a central repository (a shared resource server system) in multiple formats. The central repository includes a storage structure that can support all markets and all products. Resources can now be updated on the product frontend or delivered directly to the client when requested. Team resources can be stored in a single file format (e.g., RESX) and distributed in multiple formats (e.g., XML, RESX, JS, etc.). Both server-side and client-side rendering are supported. In further support of the deployment of updated localized strings without requiring a build, the architecture supports the sub-versioning of strings. In support of scalability, different levels of caching of the strings through edge cache and custom designed cache mechanism are provided.
US08069427B2
A method of designing a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: performing a circuit simulation of a cell with changing a parameter that specifies a layout pattern around the cell; and generating a delay function expressing a delay value of the cell as a function of the parameter, based on a result of the circuit simulation. The method further includes: generating a layout data indicating a layout of the semiconductor integrated circuit, based on a cell-based design technique. The method further includes: referring to the generated layout data to extract the parameter associated with a target cell included in the semiconductor integrated circuit; and calculating a delay value of the target cell by using the extracted parameter and the delay function.
US08069424B2
An enhanced library accessible by an EDA tool can include a base curve database and a plurality of curve data sets. Each curve data set refers to a standard cell having certain timing characteristics. To determine those timing characteristics, each curve data set identifies at least one base curve (in the base curve database) as well as a starting current, a peak current, a peak voltage, and a peak time. In one embodiment, each base curve can be normalized. The base curve(s), the starting current, peak current, peak voltage, and peak time can accurately model the functioning of the IC device, e.g. represented by an I(V) curve.
US08069413B2
Extensible online help systems and methods are described. There can be at least two parts to the extensible help facility, such as may include a help system and a help display. A help system can be integrated with runtime extensibility mechanisms to process documentation content upon import of an extension. A help display can support help display operations, such as providing search capabilities and a table of contents.This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
US08069412B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for mapping facilities data. A graphical mapping of facilities information, overlaid onto a map of roads, is generated and displayed. An outer perimeter of a geographic area is defined, and the outer perimeter is displayed in the graphical mapping. A bill of materials that corresponds to the outer perimeter is then generated.
US08069410B2
Systems and methods of retrieving and presenting partial (skipped) document content are provided. A typical system includes a document parsing stage, a device request for content stage and a delivery of requested content stage. A target device can include a device presentation of the requested content stage. The system parses the content of an electronic document and generates a document object model (DOM) representation of the electronic document, where each source and destination target is assigned a document object model identifier (DOM ID). In some instances, upon completion of parsing, the document object model is then paginated in computer memory into segments of a certain size called chunks; in such instances the pagination operation can update each DOM ID with an additional information attribute containing the chunk index with the purpose of establishing a relationship between a document object model identifier and the corresponding chunk index. Thus, when a device requests specific content corresponding to the DOM ID the chunk index value indicates the correct chunk to be returned to the device. The device initiates a document viewing experience by requesting, parsing and displaying an initial chunk of document content as delivered by the corresponding server. The device can, upon parsing the data chunk, record navigational information provided in the form of link information containing corresponding DOM ID and Chunk Index information. The link information can in certain instances be presented visually by a dotted underline.
US08069403B2
A circuit is presented for determining whether or not to invert a bus, for example a data bus that is operable having multiple widths. The circuit includes comparison circuitry that can receive both the current and next values for the bus and individually compare the current and next values of the bits on the bus to determine whether these have changed. A voting circuit receives the result of these determinations and also receives an indication of width with which the bus is being operated. The voting circuit then determines a bus inversion values based upon whether the number of bits on the data that have changed exceed a value that depends upon the indication of bus width.
US08069402B2
This disclosure relates to method, device and system for detecting errors in a communication system. A signal is received from a transmitter at a receiver wherein the signal includes a data portion and a result of a hash function. The hash function is computed in part from a transmitter identification code. The receiver determines if the result of the hash function matches both the data portion and the transmitter identification code. The receiver discards the signal if the result of the hash function does not match both the data portion and the transmitter identification code of the transmitter.
US08069399B2
A method and system for decoding signals includes a transmitter configured for transmitting signals encoded with a mapping, with different and separable configurations in a real part and an imaginary part of the signal. The signals may be encoded according to a Gray or QAM mapping, and may be transmitted on a selective MIMO channel and/or multiplexed with an OFDM technique. The corresponding receiver is configured for decoding the real part and the imaginary part of the signals separately, and may include a filter for subjecting the encoded signals to a Wiener filtering and a MMSE detector for minimizing the mean-square error between the encoded signals and the result of the Wiener filtering. The receiver may also include a soft decoder for performing a soft estimation of the signals and cancelling, using the results of the soft estimation, an interference produced on the signals.
US08069395B2
An Error Correction Code (ECC) encoding module encodes an input data word by calculating parity bits according to an ECC index mapping. An ECC correction/detection module receives the encoded data word that may have become corrupted due to noise or distortion. The ECC correction/detection module executes a parity calculation on the encoded data word based on the ECC index mapping. Based on the parity calculation, the ECC correction/detection module can detect and correct a single bit error, detect if there is an error to an even number of bits, and detect the occurrence of a three consecutive bit burst error.
US08069389B2
An error correction circuit, an error correction method, and a semiconductor memory device including the error correction circuit are provided. The error correction circuit includes a partial syndrome generator, first and second error position detectors, a coefficient calculator, and a determiner. The partial syndrome generator calculates at least two partial syndromes using coded data. The first error position detector calculates a first error position using a part of the partial syndromes. The coefficient calculator calculates coefficients of an error position equation using the at least two partial syndromes. The determiner determines an error type based on the coefficients. The second error position detector optionally calculates a second error position based on the error type. The semiconductor memory device includes the error correction circuit, an error checking and correcting (ECC) encoder generating syndrome data based on information data and generating the coded data by combining the syndrome data with information data, and a memory core storing the coded data. Multi-bit ECC performance is maintained and ECC for a predetermined (1 or 2) or less number of error bits is quickly performed.
US08069366B1
A cluster system comprises a plurality of nodes that provides data-access service to a shared storage, each node having at least one failover partner node for taking over services of a node if the node fails. Each node may produce write logs for the shared storage and periodically send write logs at predetermined time intervals to a global device which stores write logs from each node. The global device may detect failure of a node by monitoring time intervals of when write logs are received from each node. Upon detection of a node failure, the global device may provide the write logs of the failed node to one or more partner nodes for performing the write logs on the shared storage. Write logs may be transmitted only between nodes and the global device to reduce data exchanges between nodes and conserving I/O resources of the nodes.
US08069364B2
A system and method for recovering from logical path failures is set forth. More specifically, when a host detects a logical path failure, the host enters a path discovery mode of operation. If the host continues to detect a logical path failure while operating in the logical path discovery mode of operation, the host removes the logical path from a logical path mask, and the host does not use the removed logical path again. Additionally, the system and method facilitates recovery of the failed logical paths by using a plurality of logical path masks. A first mask is referred to as an intermediate failure logical path mask and a second mask is referred to as a permanent failure logical path mask.
US08069354B2
Power management control software including power management policies is provided with those policies divided into observation code and response code. When predetermined execution points within the operating system 2 are reached or an application specific task is executed, registered observation code is triggered and executed to store event data within an event data store. The operating system subsequently executes the response code to read the event data from the event data store and generates power control predictions and control signals therefrom.
US08069348B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for inserting programs into broadcasted primary programs by a conditional access (CA) module that is inserted into a host device, such as a digital-ready television. The CA module utilizes primary and secondary program map tables and/or primary and secondary packet identifiers. A splicer splices the secondary packet identifiers, which is associated with a secondary program, into the primary packet identifiers, which is associated with a program, such as a broadcasted program. Additionally, the CA module may contain memory that is capable of storing the secondary program's packet identifiers and/or program map table that can be used for insertion into the primary program.
US08069346B2
A method of computing a cryptographic key to be shared between a pair of correspondents communicating with one another through a cryptographic system is provided, where one of the correspondents receives a certificate of the other correspondents public key information to be combined with private key information of the one correspondent to generate the key. The method comprises the steps of computing the key by combining the public key information and the private key information and including in the computation a component corresponding to verification of the certificate, such that failure of the certificate to verify results in a key at the one correspondent that is different to the key computed at the other correspondent.
US08069344B2
Monitoring of boot progress for a multiprocessor information handling system is performed with a test module running on a CPLD. RAM integrated in the CPLD stores boot progress information passed through an I/O buffer located between the processors and the firmware that boots the processors. Downloading of the boot progress from the RAM to an external device, such as through a serial port, provides a processor trace that is analysis and debugging of the firmware by recording processor operations through the boot progress.
US08069338B2
A data processing device includes a program execution section to supply an operation direction signal to a peripheral device based on an executed program and execute a branch operation in response to a branch direction signal, and a branch wait operation section to receive the branch direction signal and a peripheral device status notification signal indicating whether an operation performed in the peripheral device is being executed. The branch wait operation section outputs an instruction issue stop signal directing waiting of the branch operation to the program execution section if the branch direction signal is input during a period when the peripheral device status notification signal is active indicating that the operation in the peripheral device is being executed.
US08069335B2
A processing system for executing instructions comprises a first part (11) having address information and a plurality of data bits, E0 to EN. According to one embodiment, each data bit E0 to EN directly selects a corresponding element 130 to 13N forming a second part of the instruction set (for example a VLIW). In this manner, the first part (11) is used to only select elements that do not comprise NOP instructions, thereby avoiding power being consumed unnecessarily. According to an alternative embodiment, different groups of elements in the second part (13) may be selected by a number encoded in the first part (11), using data bits Eo to EN. Preferably, these different groups reflect the most likely used combinations in a program.
US08069334B2
The present invention provides histogram calculation for images and video applications using a SIMD and VLIW processor with vector Look-Up Table (LUT) operations. This provides a speed up of histogram calculation by a factor of N times over a scalar processor where the SIMD processor could perform N LUT operations per instruction. Histogram operation is partitioned into a vector LUT operation, followed by vector increment, vector LUT update, and at the end by reduction of vector histogram components. The present invention could be used for intensity, RGBA, YUV, and other type of multi-component images.
US08069331B2
This storage system has an allocation unit for allocating a storage extent in prescribed units to the dynamic logical volume upon storing the data sent from the host computer in the dynamic logical volume; a management unit for managing the storage extent recognized as being currently used by the file system among the storage extents allocated to the dynamic logical volume by the allocation unit; and a release unit for releasing the storage extent that is not being managed by the management unit from the dynamic logical volume.
US08069328B2
Methods and systems provide recognition of a device in a daisy chain cascade configuration. Input circuitry at a device receives an input signal that indicates device configuration following a power-up, reset or other operation of the device. A pulse generator generates a pulse in response to the operation, the pulse occurring while the input signal indicates device configuration. A state latch register stores the state of the input signal in response to the received pulse, thereby storing a state indicating configuration of the respective device. Following this operation, the input circuitry may receive signals unrelated to the device configuration, thereby obviating the need for additional pin assignment.
US08069325B2
A memory region protection unit is disclosed that comprises a first register for storing a memory region address, a second register for storing the memory region size, an arithmetic function block for executing an arithmetic function on a memory address provided to the region protection unit and the address value in the first register. The unit further has a comparator for comparing the output of the arithmetic function block with the size value in the second register, the comparator being coupled to an output for signalling the validity of the memory address on the bus The region protection unit has a controller configured to retrieve the memory region address and the memory region size from instructions issued to the region protection unit for associating the unit with said region, and to dissociate the unit from its memory region in response to a further instruction.
US08069324B2
In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a controller to read data from and write data to a first storage medium. The controller is adapted to monitor logical block addresses (LBAs) of each read operation from the first storage medium and to selectively store files associated with the monitored LBAs that are less than a predetermined length at a second storage medium to enhance performance of applications associated with the LBAs.
US08069315B2
A system and method for parallel scanning among multiple scanning entities. According to various embodiments of the present invention, buffers are allocated from a pool of memory pages, with one packet being located on each page. Each of the pages is mapped such that unprivileged scanners, privileged scanners, and hardware-based scanners are all capable of accessing the pages. By having the packets located on separate pages, additional data other than the packets at issue do not have to be shared, and copying is not necessary to complete the scanning process.
US08069314B2
A shared memory architecture for a GPS receiver, wherein a processing memory is shared among the different processing functions, such as the correlator signal processing, tracking processing, and other applications processing. The shared memory architecture within the GPS receiver provides the memory necessary for signal processing operations, such as the massively parallel processing, while conserving memory cost by re-using that same memory for other GPS and non-GPS applications. The shared memory architecture for a GPS receiver provided in accordance with the principles of this invention thereby significantly minimize the costly memory requirement often required of extremely fast signal acquisition of a GPS receiver.
US08069311B2
A method includes detecting a cache miss. The method further includes, in response to detecting the cache miss, traversing a plurality of linked memory nodes in a memory storage structure being used to store data to determine if the memory storage structure is a binary tree. The method further includes, in response to determining that the memory storage structure is a binary tree, prefetching data from the memory storage structure. An associated machine readable medium is also disclosed.
US08069309B1
Memory is serviced. In response to an input indicating a serious condition, a service is invoked that is unaffected by the serious condition. By the service, it is determined whether other instructions are available to be executed that are not being affected by the serious condition. By the other instructions, data is copied from a write cache to a nonvolatile memory before the data is lost from the write cache.
US08069305B2
A disk is divided into K angular regions. A log write request is replicated K times and K number of identical log writes are issued to the disk to be written to each of the angular regions of the log. Upon completion of the first write, the application requesting the log write is informed of its completion resulting in a reduction of rotational latency by a factor of K.
US08069290B2
A processing system operable in various execution environments. The system comprises plural processor cores having respective interrupt inputs, respective wait for interrupt outputs, and respective security outputs. The system also comprises a register coupled to at least one of the processor cores for identifying active execution environments. The system also comprises a global interrupt handler operable to selectively route interrupts to one or more of the interrupt inputs of said plural processor cores. The system also comprises a conversion circuit having plural interrupt-related output lines, and said conversion circuit fed with at least some of said respective wait for interrupt outputs and respective security outputs and fed by said register.
US08069289B2
A Modbus data protocol register formatting system and method are disclosed. The system and method provide for the Modbus communications protocol request and recall of data stored in a register in the data base native format, and the conversion of the data into a different requested format. The system and method similarly provide for the writing of data into a device register from a known variable format into the data base native format. The ability to convert the data by a format converter after recalling the data, or before storing the data, obviates the need to store or write data in different or multiple formats. The inventive method uses a modified register mapping that comprises defined mapping elements identifying the data address location, the requested data format, along with the data variable. The register mapping is fully variable to provide for a wide range of data formats and data address formats. The inventive system uses, in addition to the Modbus master and slave devices, a format converter that converts the data recalled into the requested data format, or converts the data to be written into the slave device native data format.
US08069288B2
A method and apparatus for supporting multiple device numbers on point-to-point interconnect upstream ports. In one embodiment, the method includes a downstream component (DC) that performs discovery of internal device components of the DC during initialization of the DC. Subsequent to the discovery of internal devices of the DC, the DC may issue a multiple device number (MDN) request to an upstream component (UC) of the DC. In one embodiment, the MDN request may include an indication that the DC supports a “multiple device number capability,” as well as a quantity of the internal device components of the DC. The DC may receive an acknowledgement MDN from the UC to indicate a quantity of device numbers allocated to the DC. Subsequently, the DC may assign device numbers to the internal device components of the DC according to configuration requests received from the UC. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08069285B2
Methods and systems for improving communication throughput of a link between SAS/SATA devices. The link, initially established at a first signal rate, is one of a SATA link and a SAS link. A SAS/SATA device increments one of the at least one counter based on an error sensed on the link. Based on the at least one counter, the SAS/SATA device determines whether to maintain the first signal rate. The link is re-established at a second signal rate based on the determination such that the second signal rate is lower than the first signal rate.
US08069282B2
A method for arbitrating between a host device and a cellular base band mode for use of a shared SD storage, including requesting, by a cellular base band modem from a host device, access to an SD storage, including writing an access request message, notifying the host device of the access request message, reading, by the host device, the access request message, granting, by the host device, the access request, including writing an access grant message, notifying the cellular base band modem of the access grant message, reading, by the cellular base band mode, the access grant message, holding an SD host bus in a busy state, thereby forcing the host device to hold and not access the bus, accessing, by the cellular base band modem, the SD storage, and upon completion of the accessing, removing the busy state from the SD host bus.
US08069276B2
An image display device and method of changing extended display identification data (EDID) information includes a first storage unit which stores extended display identification data (EDID) information to be provided to the source providing device, a second storage unit which stores at least one version of the EDID information which is different from the EDID information stored in the first storage unit, and a control unit which replaces the EDID information stored in the first storage unit with the different version of the EDID information stored in the second storage unit if an EDID information change request signal is input. Accordingly, compatibility of the EDID information between the source providing device and the image display device can be maintained.
US08069274B2
A communications device includes a communications circuit, a memory, an identifier generator, and a latency controller. The communications circuit exchanges serial data with a host computer and a downstream device, and includes a first input, a first output, a second input, and a second output. The first input receives data from the host computer. The first output transmits data to the host computer. The second input receives data from the downstream device. The second output transmits data to the downstream device. The memory is accessible through the communications circuit. The identifier generator generates an identifier number unique to the communications device in response to an identifier setup request received at the first input. The latency controller determines, based on the generated identifier number, a period of latency required to access the memory through the communications circuit.
US08069265B2
Methods and systems for controlling network traffic in a network are disclosed herein and may include monitoring network traffic characteristics for a plurality of communication channels in a home network, by at least one processor within the home network. The at least one processor may re-route network traffic for at least a portion of the plurality of communication channels in the home network, based on analysis by the at least one processor of at least the monitored network traffic characteristics. Network traffic can be estimated for at least a portion of the plurality of communication channels in the home network by the at least one processor within the home network, based on the monitored network traffic characteristics. The at least one processor may re-route network traffic for a portion of the plurality of communication channels in the home network, based on the estimated network traffic.
US08069253B2
Methods of establishing an IP link between first and second applications running at respective first and second nodes are provided. The first and second applications are arranged to initiate link establishment over a transport layer by issuing a call to their respective operating system socket Application Programming Interfaces. The methods include at said first node, intercepting a socket call generated by said first application and redirecting the socket call to a SIP-based application resident at said first node; and initiating an IP session with said second node using the SIP protocol.
US08069230B2
Methods and systems for configuring a network are provided. A method may include monitoring properties of a connection between a computing device and a network. The method may also include detecting a change in the properties of the connection. The method may also include verifying the connection to the network is provided by a service provider when the change in the properties is detected and providing network configuration options based on the change.
US08069223B2
In one embodiment, a method for transferring web browser data between web browsers includes collecting browser data pertaining to a first web browser, packaging the browser data into an intermediate format, and storing the packaged data for a subsequent import into a second web browser.
US08069210B2
Computer implemented methods are disclosed for detecting bot-user groups that send spam email over a web-based email service. Embodiments of the present system employ a two-prong approach to detecting bot-user groups. The first prong employs a historical-based approach for detecting anomalous changes in user account information, such as aggressive bot-user signups. The second prong of the present system entails constructing a large user-user relationship graph, which identifies bot-user sub-graphs through finding tightly connected subgraph components.
US08069208B2
A system for providing secure asynchronous message publishing and retrieval in a serverless environment. The system may be used on ad-hoc and segmented networks such as peer-to-peer networks. The system may provide a method of sending and storing asynchronous message requests/responses via a Distributed Hash Table (DHT), a method for establishing RSS feeds via the asynchronous messaging service, a method for publishing a request for Internet Message buddy authorization and of retrieving pending buddy requests.
US08069203B2
A method for controlling digitally storable events on a computer system that can be accessed via the Internet, the events being predefinable by a user, includes receiving movement information of a user. Route information is recorded digitally in a user-specific manner so as to save a starting point and an end point. A digitally stored event is associated user-specifically with at least one item of the route information that determines a digitally controlled process. The route information is used at an early point in time to determine which of a plurality of routes is being traveled so as to determine the digitally stored event and start the digitally controlled process.
US08069195B2
A method of providing wiring efficiency in a permute unit. Multiple selectors receive input data and shared control signals from multiple register files. The permute unit includes multiple multiplexors (MUXs) coupled to multiple logical AND gates. The multiple logical AND gates are coupled to multiple logical OR gates. The logical AND gates are physically separated from the logical OR gates. The logical AND gates receive input from one or more output data signals from the selectors. The logical OR gates combine the one or more output signals from the logical AND gates and provide output data from the permute unit.
US08069192B2
A computing device includes a processor, a storage device having an executable file, and a file system for executing the file in place on the storage device on behalf of the processor. The file is divided into multiple non-contiguous fragments on the storage device, and the computing device further includes a virtual address translator interposed between the processor and the storage device for translating between physical addresses of the fragments of the file on the storage device and corresponding virtual addresses employed by the processor.
US08069186B2
A computer system models human memory by deriving associations between objects, events, and the context of the computer user or users. These associations can be dynamically generated, changing depending on the behavior of the user and context. Examples of areas in which this system can be used include time management (e.g., a calendar that presents time-based groupings of objects), people management (e.g., use analysis of user communications to rank importance of people to the user, groupings, and associations between people/groups and other objects such as documents, email), and general computer management (e.g., use analysis of user behavior to identify important objects and objects that are related to a current focus and context of the computer user).
US08069180B1
Systems and methods are provided for automated employee resource delivery in a variety of situations that may commonly arise in modern large company settings. Employee identification data may be identified, and a subset of such data that is required for release of a particular resource may be identified. An automatic notification may be generated for the resource owner, where the automatic notification comprises the required subset of employee identification data. This approach is combined with one or more techniques for ascertaining the resources an employee will require and updating information regarding the resources employees are using.
US08069178B1
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented technique for accessing heterogeneous objects in an array is discussed. The method determines a greatest common base class hierarchically common to elements populating a heterogeneous array. A common subset of methods that is available for use with the elements is identified. The common subset of methods belongs to the greatest common base class. A method supported by the common subset of methods is called with the array as a parameter. The method operates on the array as an array consisting of greatest common base class objects.
US08069177B2
An information selection method and an information selection apparatus are provided. The information selection method includes continuously selecting arbitrary program information out of a plurality of program information, extracting selection candidate program information to be selected after predetermined program information based on a previous selection order of the plurality of program information, and determining one of the extracted selection candidate program information as program information to be selected after the predetermined program information.
US08069168B2
The disclosure details the implementation of apparatuses, methods, and systems for information querying and serving in a virtual world based on profiles. Such virtual worlds may include, for example, massively multiplayer online games like The Sims Online, Everquest, World of Warcraft, Second Life, and/or the like. Information and/or advertisement providers may use a code triggered information server to serve context, demographic, and behavior targeted information to users in a virtual world. Users, in turn, trigger the provision of information by scanning or observing codes or information, or by making decisions within a virtual world such as attempting a mission within a game. The triggers, together with virtual world geographic, temporal, and user-specific information, are obtained by the server that receives, processes, and records the message. Based on these messages and a user profile—which may include continuously updated user-specific behavior information, situational and ambient information, an accumulated history of triggers, and integration with outside database information—the server selects information to serve to the user in a virtual world from an information base. For example, a user in Second Life who likes modern clothing for his/her avatar may be presented with ads on virtual billboards from advertisers of virtual in-game clothing stores that are near his/her virtual position. In another example, an advertisement tailored to a user's particular interests or behavioral patterns may be placed at a location within a virtual world that the user is known to routinely pass.
US08069165B2
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for use in searching a geographic database to retrieve geographic objects one cell from a neighborhood of cells at a time. A cell neighborhood can be defined using a grid of cells and an initial, or center, point. A first neighborhood is identified based on its proximity to the initial search point, and corresponds to a first geographic area defined using the initial point and a distance from the initial search point in a number of directions. In a case that more than one cell neighborhood is used, each subsequent cell neighborhood is defined so that it excludes cells belonging to a previously-searched cell neighborhood. A subsequent neighborhood corresponds to a geographic area that is a distance from the initial point greater than the distance associated with a previously-searched neighborhood.
US08069160B2
A system and method for dynamically monetizing keyword values based on a correlation between one or more indices. The method includes generating a first index for a subject being searched by users via web server, and a second index for the subject based on a corresponding level of popularity. The first index is correlated with the second index to predict a future second index for the subject based on the first index.
US08069157B2
A system and method for context-aware computer management is disclosed. The method of the present invention includes the steps of, assigning database information clearance levels; assigning smart badges one of the clearance levels; identifying smart badges having a lowest clearance level; and providing access to database information having clearance levels no higher than the lowest clearance level. The system of the present invention includes a database storing information differentiated by several clearance levels; a beacon; a set of smart badges, in visible communication with the beacon and assigned one of the clearance levels; a system service module, connected to the beacon, for identifying a lowest clearance level assigned to the smart badges; and a software application, connected to the service module and the database, for providing access to information within the database having clearance levels no higher than the lowest clearance level.
US08069147B2
A system and method for managing data repositories may include providing techniques for end users to access and manipulate reports stored in the repositories. Text-based, image-based, or other types of reports may be stored in online and/or offline repositories, and in response to a search request, reports stored in the online and/or offline repositories may be retrieved. End users may export report data from text-based and/or image-based formats by converting the data into a spreadsheet format using various customization techniques. Thus, end users may edit, modify, analyze, or otherwise manipulate information in online and/or offline reports, while maintaining integrity of the information in the repositories.
US08069140B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for facilitating the assigning, generating, managing, and distributing of identifiers. In one implementation, a system is provided that comprises a first Web service for returning an identifier to a requester in response to an identifier request of the requester. The system also comprises a second Web service for mirroring identifiers that have been returned by the first Web service.
US08069136B2
A system is described that dynamically enhances a software application executing on a computing device without having to change and recompile the original application code. The system includes a staging environment that monitors the execution of the application and indexes each item of graphical and/or audio information generated by the application into a first database. A second database is then populated by manual or automated means with one or more business rules, wherein each business rule is associated with one or more of the objects indexed in the first database. The system further includes a run-time environment that identifies items of graphics and/or audio information as they are generated by the application during run-time, uses the second database to determine if an identified item is associated with a business rule, and, responsive to a determination that an identified item is associated with a business rule, applies the business rule.
US08069135B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for predictive notification including a notification engine adapted to receive a sequence of data values for a parameter from a medical device. The notification engine is adapted to determine a prediction based at least in part on the sequence of data values. The notification engine is adapted to generate a notification based on the prediction.
US08069127B2
A method and system for solving an optimization problem comprising a plurality of dynamic constraints. A genetic algorithm is used to iteratively generate potential solutions to the problem. A constraint graph is used to model the plurality of dynamic constraints, and any potential solution that does not correspond to a connected subgraph of the constraint graph is infeasible and discarded. Real-time changes in dynamic constraints are incorporated by modification of the constraint graph between iterations of the genetic algorithm. An exemplary embodiment comprising the scheduling of air missions is presented.
US08069126B2
A method for ranking politically exposed persons and/or other persons and entities that pose a heightened risk based on their importance wherein an exposure index is determined for each person in the population as a function of the existence or absence of a relationship with each of the other members of the population and each of one or more exposure factors such as position held by the person, country in which the position is held, and source of information about the person. The politically exposed persons in the population are ranked in accordance with their respective exposure indexes. The population is sorted and a subset of the population containing those politically exposed persons having exposure indexes indicative or the highest likelihood of illicit financial activity is thereby identified.
US08069125B2
Avatars, methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out presenting to at least one member of a population a plurality of avatars associated with at least one instance of media content; measuring at least one physiologic activity of the at least one member of the population, the at least one physiologic activity proximate to at least one presented avatar among the plurality of avatars associated with at least one instance of media content; associating the at least one physiologic activity with at least one mental state; and identifying at least one instance of media content based on the at least one mental state.
US08069122B2
Predictive cost reduction based on a thermodynamic model, in which parameters associated with a process are accessed. The parameters include a quantity of units of work-in-process at first and second times, and first and second constants respectively indicative of growth between the first and second times, and of a translated reduction of the work-in-process to a reduction of cost. A thermodynamic model is applied to the accessed parameters, and a predictive cost reduction associated with an improvement of the process based on applying the thermodynamic model is output.
US08069119B2
The present invention is a method and system for software license management. The License Management System (LMS) is comprised of three components. These three components are the License Client (LC), the License Server (LS) and the Network License Manager (NLM). For the system to function the LC and LS are required. The NLM exists to facilitate and manage concurrent license usage.
US08069115B2
Provided is a method and system for payment processing, including emailing a billing statement including an online payment hyperlink to a payer by a biller. The online payment hyperlink includes a payer personalized URL and a token uniquely identifying the payer. The online payment hyperlink is selected by the payer, who is then presented with the biller's online payment form, including pre-populated data fields. The biller's online payment form is reviewed, completed and corrected by the payer, and sent to a secure payment form server.
US08069108B2
According to one embodiment, a method of generating a display of a limit order book is provided. Data regarding a plurality of limit orders entered onto an electronic market is received and recorded, at least temporarily. The data regarding each limit order includes a price and a time associated with that limit order. Based on the received data, a graphical display is generated that indicates, for each recorded limit order entered into the electronic market within a period of time, the price and the time associated with that limit order. The price associated with each limit order is indicated by a first axis of the graphical display and the time associated with each limit order is indicated by a second axis of the graphical display. The graphical display may be displayed using an electronic display device.
US08069107B2
A computerized method for online trading of options is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an interface screen that shows market data and market data analysis useful to conduct a transaction and allows a user to input various transaction parameters, wherein the market data and market data analysis shown on the interface screen are continuously updated; dynamically receiving selected transaction parameters for an option from the user; calculating an option premium for the option based on the selected transaction parameters and the continuously updated market data; providing the dynamically calculated option premium to the user; receiving an on-line offer for purchasing the option from the user; and presenting the received offer to a seller of the option for acceptance or rejection.
US08069106B2
The present invention comprises systems and methods for facilitation of electronic securities trading. A preferred system embodiment comprises a trade facilitation computer system comprising a facilitator module, a financial information exchange server, a transactional database, and an analytics server operative to calculate reference prices for securities. A preferred method embodiment comprises the steps of receiving market data for a security; calculating a reference price for the security; receiving a first order comprising a first price limit and a first quantity limit; receiving a second order contra to the first order and comprising a second price limit and a second quantity limit; and executing a trade comprising the first order and the second order at a price whose difference from the reference price is minimized, wherein the trade complies with the first and second price and first and second quantity limits.
US08069091B1
A method of generating a stitch file for an embroidery design selected by a user where the embroidery design includes a plurality of elements. According to one embodiment, the method includes acts of rendering an image of the selected embroidery design at a display visible to the user, receiving an order placed electronically by the user for the embroidery design; and generating, following the act of receiving, a stitch file corresponding to the embroidery design, wherein the embroidery design includes both text elements and design elements.
US08069084B2
Enhanced access devices, e.g. credit cards and/or check cards, are issued with enhanced security features and processes that allow a customer to control circumstances under which their account can be accessed. If a fraudster tries to access the account without knowledge of the consumer set controls, the system can take remedial action with reduced instances of false positives. An account is typically established for an account holder through a central entity, e.g. an issuer. At least one access device is established for the account, wherein at least one user is associated with the access devices for one or more transactions. Use of the access devices is defined by a set of rules defined by the central entity and a set of rules that are controllable by the customer, typically comprising any of the account holder and the user of the account. The customer can input, control, and/or update at least one parameter associated with the customer-controllable rules. Subsequent authorization of the access devices is then controlled based on the customer input and other controls.
US08069081B2
Targeted advertising using object identification techniques is described. In an implementation, an object is identified by a client that is placed on a surface of the client. An advertisement is located that corresponds to the identified object and is output.
US08069064B1
A method and/or system determines a benchmark premium for evaluating an insurance policy for a company. In alternative embodiments, a method and/or system evaluates an insurance policy using a benchmark premium. In one exemplary embodiment, a class action lawsuit frequency distribution, a class action lawsuit severity distribution and/or a non-class action lawsuit loss distribution are determined. A benchmark premium for the company is determined responsive to the class action lawsuit frequency distribution, the class action lawsuit severity distribution and/or the non-class action lawsuit loss distribution.
US08069058B2
A system and method for health providers to assert their rights of fair trade and financial interest in optimizing revenue and full fee collection for bills relating to their rendered services in cases of patients, who receive treatment and subsequently utilize related health provider's billings as a part of an injury related to a tort or injury claim.A healthcare-related lien network, which is comprised of a computer network, various lien-network members and an owning entity of the network, whom all work together to establish, monitor, recognize and effect payment of a contingency-based, health provider—patient lien, where the patient or a patient's legal representative has billed the health provider's billings to a payer, other than a health insurer, as part of a patient's injury claim.The system and method relating to the healthcare-related lien network has business-to-business and business-to-consumer variations, offering health providers the ability to recover monies, which would have normally been written-off or otherwise uncollected.Additionally, there are payment methods associated with the healthcare-related lien network, allowing the owning entity of the lien network as well as non-health provider members of the lien network, to profit by properly recognizing and dispersing monies relating to satisfying an existing health provider—patient lien, held within the healthcare-related lien network.
US08069055B2
Scheduling techniques are disclosed that employ one or more predictive scheduling classification algorithms configured to exploit historical data of previously scheduled and completed medical procedures. Thus, a new patient that is similarly-situated to previously treated patients can have a medical procedure automatically predicted and scheduled based on historical procedure data associated with those previously treated patients.
US08069054B2
Transaction management for contract and contract-related approaches is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management computer is programmed to automatically set contract terms for a transaction based on business rules previously established between parties to a transaction. In one implementation, the transaction management node automatically derives a contract term including a pricing-related term for a transaction between a buyer and seller using contract information therefor. In one instance, previously-agreed-upon price approaches, such as fixed pricing, seller-controlled pricing, quantity-related tiered pricing and pricing management schemes are stored and used by the transaction management node to automatically derive the prices. With these approaches, pricing disputes that can occur after a transaction has been processed are reduced and/or eliminated.
US08069047B2
Dynamically defining a VoiceXML grammar of a multimodal application, implemented with the multimodal application operating on a multimodal device supporting multiple modes of interaction including a voice mode and one or more non-voice modes, the multimodal application operatively coupled to a VoiceXML interpreter, and the method includes loading the X+V page by the multimodal application, from a web server into the multimodal device for execution, the X+V page including one or more VoiceXML grammars in one or more VoiceXML dialogs, including at least one in-line grammar that is declared but undefined; retrieving by the multimodal application a grammar definition for the in-line grammar from the web server without reloading the X+V page; and defining by the multimodal application the in-line grammar with the retrieved grammar definition before executing the VoiceXML dialog containing the in-line grammar.
US08069031B2
This application discloses A multi-lingual output device for output of transactional information for a given customer, the device that includes a data base for determining what transaction information needs to be outputted, the local language in which the information is to be outputted, and the preferred language of the customer in which the information is to be outputted; and, a local transaction subsystem in communication with said database, wherein said local transaction sub system includes input device receiving means for accepting an input device and output generating means for generating a signal to an output device.
US08069030B2
The invention relates to an electronic device, which includes a voice user interface (VUI), speech-recognition devices (SR) for implementing the voice user interface (VUI), and memory (MEM), in which language-configuration data is arranged for the user interface (VUI, UI), including several language packages (LP1-LP9), in which packages (LP1-LP9) several languages (L1-L34) are grouped, of which at least some of the languages (L1-L34) may belong to several language packages (LP1-LP9), and at least one language package (LP1) is arranged to be selected for use in the user interface (VUI, UI). In the invention, the language package (LP1-LP9) is selected by the device.
US08069028B2
A method of enabling the selection of a language to be employed as a method input language by a disambiguation routine of a handheld electronic device having stored therein a plurality of method input languages and disambiguation routine number, includes detecting a selection of a language, detecting as an ambiguous input an actuation of one or more input members, outputting at least a plurality of the language objects that corresponds to the ambiguous input, outputting an indicator which one of the method input languages is currently employed by the disambiguation function, and enabling an alternate one of the input language methods to be selected in response to a selection of the indicator in lieu of one of the plurality of language objects.
US08069017B2
In one aspect of the invention, each bolt is modeled using a beam element in a FEA model. To apply desired pretension to one or more bolts, at least one pretension-versus-time curve is specified. Each pretension-versus-time curve includes ramp portion, desired pretension portion and optional unloading portion. Duration of the pretension-versus-time curve generally covers first 0.5-1% of total simulation time of a car crashworthiness analysis. Ramp portion starts from zero to desired pretension in a substantially linear manner, and hence being configured for applying desired pretension to a bolt gradually with smaller increments. Desired pretension portion is configured for ensuring the desired pretension can actually be applied to the beam element during an initialization process—a series of quasi-static analyses. Since the method is independent of the deformation of the beam, the method completely avoids the need to iteratively determine an axial strain or displacement that gives the desired pretension.
US08069013B2
A water heater is provided with monitor/diagnostic display apparatus that selectively provides a user with visual or other type of indicia of the recovery time for the water heater. The apparatus includes a monitoring unit that may be mounted on the water heater, and a display unit that may be mounted either on the water heater or remotely therefrom.
US08069012B2
Sampling sufficiency determinations are performed using probability calculations and statistical analysis during a testing process of a population of items. For example, an auditing or reviewing process may involve testing a predetermined sample set of items from the population in order to draw statistical conclusions about the passing or failing rate of the population as a whole. During an ongoing testing process, probability calculations and statistical analyses may be performed regarding the likelihood of the population to pass or fail according to an acceptable failure rate, based on the test results of a subset of the sample set. The sampling sufficiency analyses may potentially allow determinations that the testing process may be stopped before the complete testing of the sample set, and that the population may be declared a passing or failing population within a desired level of confidence.
US08069005B2
To facilitate the recognition and interpretation of actions undertaken within an environment, the environment is associated with a precision positioning system (PPS) and a controller in communication with the PPS. Within the environment, an entity moves about in furtherance of one or more tasks to be completed within the environment. The PPS determines position data corresponding to at least a portion of the entity, which position data is subsequently compared with at least one known action corresponding to a predetermined task within the environment. Using a state-based task model, recognized actions may be interpreted and used to initiate at least one system action based on the current state of the task model and correspondence of the position data to the at least one known action. In an embodiment, an entity recognition system provides an identity of the entity to determine whether the entity is authorized to perform an action.
US08069002B2
Apparatus and method for monitoring a system in which a fluid flows and which is characterized by a change in the system with time in space. A preselected place in the system is monitored to collect data at two or more time points correlated to a system event. The data is indicative of a system parameter that varies with time as a function of at least two variables related to system wash-in and wash-out behavior. A calibration map is made on a calculated basis with each pixel or voxel representative of a color hue indicative of wash-out behavior and a color intensity indicative of wash-in behavior. The calibration map serves as a criteria for selecting the time points. Software and a data processing system are provided to develop a color coded output map. The calibration map, the color coded output map and image of the preselected place are also novel implementations.
US08069001B1
An isotherm sensor tracks space vehicle temperatures by a thermal protection system (TPS) material during vehicle re-entry as a function of time, and surface recession through calibration, calculation, analysis and exposed surface modeling. Sensor design includes: two resistive conductors, wound around a tube, with a first end of each conductor connected to a constant current source, and second ends electrically insulated from each other by a selected material that becomes an electrically conductive char at higher temperatures to thereby complete an electrical circuit. The sensor conductors become shorter as ablation proceeds and reduced resistance in the completed electrical circuit (proportional to conductor length) is continually monitored, using measured end-to-end voltage change or current in the circuit. Thermocouple and/or piezoelectric measurements provide consistency checks on local temperatures.
US08068998B2
An electromagnetic flowmeter that prevents fluctuations in the frequency of synchronized pulse signals due to momentary fluctuations of the power source voltage. The comparator of an AC synchronizing circuit that generates pulse signals synchronized to the frequency of a commercial power source is given a hysteresis function in which a first threshold value Vth1 and a second threshold value Vth2 are set up in the comparator. The comparator compares the level of divided AC signals from a dividing circuit with the first threshold value Vth1, and if the level of the divided AC signals exceeds the first threshold value Vth1, the level of the synchronized pulse signals is inverted from the “L” level to the “H” level; and if the level of the divided AC signals falls below the second threshold value Vth2, the level of the synchronized pulse signals is inverted from the “H” level to the “L” level.
US08068993B2
A system and method of diagnosing diseases from biological data is disclosed. A system for automated disease diagnostics prediction can be generated using a database of clinical test data. The diagnostics prediction can also be used to develop screening tests to screen for one or more inapparent diseases. The prediction method can be implemented with Bayesian probability estimation techniques. The system and method permit clinical test data to be analyzed and mined for improved disease diagnosis.
US08068989B2
An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are described that access a first dataset in response to a first request associated with a treatment parameter and a first predictive basis, determine a graphical illustration of a first possible outcome of a use of the treatment parameter with respect to at least one body portion, based on the first dataset, access a second dataset in response to a second request associated with the treatment parameter and a second predictive basis, and determine a modified graphical illustration of a second possible outcome of the use of the treatment parameter with respect to the at least one body portion, based on the second dataset.
US08068985B1
The disclosed earthquake vapor theory, statistically significant in practice, overcomes two difficulties: the dependency on cold weather to pinpoint an earthquake epicenter and the time window not being short enough for evacuation. Finding a vapor nozzle based on boiling temperature can solve the former. Isolating the nozzle to find the next peak of daily maximum after vapor eruption can solve the latter by narrowing the time window to 1-2 days. The embodiments may also be utilized to prevent mysterious air and sea accidents.
US08068975B2
A method, system and computer program product for determining an estimate of the weight and balance of an aircraft automatically in advance and up to the point of take-off. A weight and balance system may receive information from a flight operating system, a reservation system, a bag loader and/or a pilot in advance and up to the point of take-off. The information received from the flight operating system, the reservation system, the bag loader and/or pilot is used to estimate the weight and balance of an aircraft automatically in advance and up to the point of take-off, such as via software. For example, the flight operating system may provide information related to fuel, weather, airplane, airports, and flight information. The reservation system may provide information related to passenger and bag information. The bag loader may provide additional information related to bag information.
US08068967B2
To determine an inhomogeneous roadway in μ-split situation during active ABS control and active yaw torque control (YTC) of a front wheel (HM-wheel) on the high-coefficient-of-friction side, it is arranged that at least the following conditions must be satisfied before the μ-split situation is flagged: a) a front wheel (LM wheel) undergoes ABS control in a pressure reduction phase; a1) the LM front wheel is in the first ABS control cycle; b) the LM front wheel exhibits a deceleration exceeding a defined threshold; c) the locking pressure level of the LM front wheel is lower than a defined threshold; d) the front wheel on the high-coefficient-of-friction side (HM wheel) exhibits a filtered deceleration that is lower than a defined threshold; e) the vehicle deceleration calculated by ABS is lower than a defined threshold.
US08068964B2
A method for determining the driving resistance of a motor vehicle simultaneously with a shift of an automated shift transmission from a load gear to a target gear such that if a difference between a first driving resistance value F_fw_1 and a second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is large, the shift operation can be corrected. The second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is determined during the shift operation. a time interval Δt which contains the traction-force-free phase of the shift, a plurality of acceleration values a_i of the motor vehicle are measured to obtain the minimum acceleration a_min if the shift operation is a traction shift or the maximum acceleration a_max if it is thrust shift. With the mass m of the vehicle, the second driving resistance value F_fw_2 is calculated with one of the formula F_fw_2=−m*a_min or F_fw_2=−m*a_max.
US08068962B2
A construction system utilizing 3D control includes a fixed base station of known location; a self-propelled construction machine located in the general vicinity of the fixed base station; and a rotating mobile unit assembly mounted on the self-propelled construction machine and having a location-determination device arranged to rotate around an axis. The location-determination device is adapted to operate in conjunction with the fixed base station to determine geodetic information about the self-propelled construction machine.
US08068960B2
A control device of an adjustment apparatus of a motor vehicle for controlling a driven adjustment element of the motor vehicle in an adjustment movement along an adjustment path includes a memory unit with a non-volatile digital memory with more than 108 writing cycles and is configured to acquire a plurality of adjustment data items which are assigned to a position or a speed of the adjustment element along the adjustment path. The control device continuously stores the acquired adjustment data items in the non volatile digital memory when triggered by a triggering process.
US08068958B2
A method for monitoring the adjustment movement of a component, in particular a window pane or a sunroof in motor vehicles, which is driven by a drive device and can be adjusted in a translatory or rotary fashion. A plurality of input signals which can be derived from the drive device and which represent a deceleration of the adjustment movement of the drive device are input at input neurons of an input layer of a neural network with at least one hidden layer having hidden neurons. Said network outputting, at at least one output neuron of an output layer, an output value which corresponds to the adjusting force or to a trapped state or nontrapped state.
US08068953B2
A driving skill judging apparatus for a vehicle includes: a steering angle detecting section configured to detect a steering angle of the vehicle; a high order function calculating section configured to calculate a high order function of a third order or more, and which is for approximating a transition state of the steering angle based on the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting section; and a skill judging section configured to judge a driving skill based on a comparative result between a transition state of the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting section and the high order function calculated by the high order function calculating section.
US08068945B2
The present invention relates to a method for homogenizing measurement units used for displaying communication messages containing numerical data notably messages exchanged by an aircraft with the air traffic control authority. The choice of the working units of the flight management computer are recovered in the configuration database. The measurement unit of the numerical data item of the displayed message is determined. When the measurement unit of the numerical data item of the message does not form part of the system of measurement units, the numerical data item is connected into a unit forming part of the system of units. The display of the communication message on the onboard screen is formatted.
US08068943B2
A flight control system is provided that includes a reference system and flight control actuators. The reference system includes one or more sets of gyroscopes and accelerometers. At least one set of the gyroscopes and accelerometers are configured to provide a first output of a first set inertial signals for normal mode flight control and second output of a second different set of inertial signals for backup mode flight control. The flight control actuators are configured to be controlled by one of the first set of inertial signals and the second set of inertial signals.
US08068941B2
A system and a method for a controllable power-assisted application of pressure includes a force sensor capable of sensing a user-applied force; and a force generator responsive to the sensed user-applied force and capable of generating a force that is applied to a pressure-applying device. A force magnitude of the force applied to the pressure-applying device is based on a magnitude of the sensed user-applied force. One embodiment provides that the force applied to the pressure-applying device by the force generator exerts a predetermined amount of pressure against a surface. Another embodiment provides that the force magnitude is greater than a magnitude of the sensed user-applied force. Yet another embodiment provides that the force magnitude is proportional to a magnitude of the sensed user-applied force.
US08068938B2
A method for managing electrical demand on a power grid in response to electrical supply conditions is described. The method includes determining a first energy demand forecast using stored information, determining a first energy supply forecast based on a known energy production and transmission capacity, and comparing the first energy demand forecast to the first energy supply forecast. The method also includes transmitting at least one of an adjusted price signal and an electrical load shedding signal to a customer over a bi-directional communication system based on the comparison of the first energy demand forecast to the first energy supply forecast.
US08068933B2
Products and processes are disclosed for defining at least one inventory group. This at least one inventory group includes at least two products that are available for sale by a vending machine. The vending machine outputs an indication of products that the at least one inventory group includes. The vending machine receiving, from a customer, a selection of a first product that the at least one inventory group includes. The vending machine processes a sale of a unit of the first product and a respective unit of at least one additional product for a single price.
US08068931B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for dispensing one or more pills from a pill box by applying power when the one or more pills are poured from the pill box; identifying an opened compartment and an opening time; and recording the opened compartment and the opening time.
US08068927B2
A method of processing audio information for broadcast to an audience can include changing first audio information from occurring in a first time interval to occurring in a second time interval to provide time-changed audio information. The time-changed audio information can be combined with second audio information that is responsive to the first audio information to provide broadcast audio information.
US08068925B2
A routing screen is presented on an electronic device by a user interface application in response to receiving a notification that an external audio device is connected to the electronic device. The routing screen displays representations of an internal audio device and the external audio device. In one aspect, the representations are buttons. In another aspect, the representations are entries in a list. If a user selects one of representations, the user interface application causes the audio signals to be routed to the audio device represented by the selection. An application control screen having a set of objects that represent functions for an audio application may also be displayed. One of the objects on the application control screen is modified in response status changes in the external audio device. A user may select this object to access the routing screen when the external audio device is connected.
US08068920B2
A transcoronary sinus pacing system comprising a sheath having a lumen, a pacing catheter having a pacing needle, wherein the catheter can be advanced within the lumen and placed in the LV summit, and a right ventricular pacing device. A LV summit pacing device. An early mitral valve closure pacing device configured to operate with a right ventricular apex pacing device. A method for implanting a pacing device at a target coronary sinus tissue location, wherein the target can be the posterior LV summit. A method for achieving early closure of a mitral valve. A method for using visualization devices such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound and/or catheter features such as a radiopaque marker to locate a target location for LV pacing and to avoid piercing an artery or the pericardium when anchoring the LV pacing electrode.
US08068918B2
A treatment system includes a regulator implanted within a patient, a computing device storing at least one patient database associated with the patient in whom the regulator is implanted, and a data transfer device. The data transfer device provides bidirectional communication (e.g., voice communication) and a data exchange (e.g., a treatment history, a patient database, and operational instructions) between the regulator and the computing device. A programmer can obtain patient reports and/or default treatment values from the computing device based on the data exchange.
US08068916B2
A new apparatus of pure digital medical amplifier used for clinical and non-clinical biomedical signal acquisition purposes is disclosed, which include: multiple single-stage amplification buffers connected to biomedical signal inputs for receiving and buffering various biomedical and reference signals, one or more high resolution analog-to-digital converter whose analog inputs connected to the output of said buffers for digitizing biomedical signals, one or more digital signal controller whose inputs/outputs are connected to said buffers and analog-to-digital converters for receiving the digitized biomedical signal data and controlling the processing and output of said digitized biomedical signal data according to preset control program or user's commands. By real-time or non-real-time method said digital signal controller does the following signal processing on the digitized biomedical signal data: filtering, compressing, decompressing, encoding, decoding, transferring, storing and retrieving, analyzing, and displaying the required said digitized biomedical signal data. This invention of amplifier requires only a few electronic components, and yields extremely low internal noise, extremely low distortion of analog output, extremely high external noise rejection and immunity, extremely high flexibility in filtering frequency setting for various biomedical signals.
US08068911B2
A medical device system includes a housing, the housing at least partially supporting a therapy module and a processor, and a respiratory monitoring element coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to activate the therapy module upon detection of a respiratory event in a respiratory signal. In some embodiments, the system may further comprise a brain monitoring element, and the processor may be configured to monitor a brain signal and change the therapeutic output based upon the brain signal.
US08068908B2
In a system and method for monitoring cardiac synchrony in a human heart, a first sensor is positioned at a first cardiac wall location of a heart that is subject to movements related to longitudinal valve plane movements along the longitudinal axis of the heart, and the first sensor measures said cardiac wall movements at the first cardiac wall location and emits a first sensor output signal corresponding thereto, a second sensor is positioned at a second cardiac wall location of the heart that is subject to movements related to longitudinal valve plane movements along the longitudinal axis of the heart, and the second sensor measures the cardiac wall movements at the second cardiac wall location and emits a second sensor output signal corresponding thereto. A lead arrangement is electrically connected to the first and second sensors and conducts the first and second sensor output signals therefrom to processing circuitry that processes the first and second sensor output signals to produce a synchronization signal therefrom indicative of synchrony in the respective valve plane movements at the first and second cardiac wall locations.
US08068904B2
Described here are implantable devices and methods for monitoring physiological information relating to sleep. The implantable devices are generally designed to include at least one sensor for sensing physiological information, a processor for processing the physiological information using low computational power to detect a sleep stage, and a battery. The detected sleep stage information may then be used to indicate sleep quality, identify or monitor a medical condition, or guide treatment thereof.
US08068903B2
Systems and methods for detecting and/or treating nervous system disorders, such as seizures, are disclosed. Certain embodiments of the invention relate generally to implantable medical devices (IMDs) adapted to detect and treat nervous system disorders in patients with an IMD. Certain embodiments of the invention include detection of seizures based upon comparisons of long-term and short-term representations of physiological signals. Other embodiments include prediction of seizure activity based upon analysis of physiological signal levels. An embodiment of the invention monitors the quality of physiological signals, and may be able to compensate for signals of low signal quality. A further embodiment of the invention includes detection of seizure activity following the delivery of therapy.
US08068899B2
Biological thick tissue such as skeletal and cardiac muscle is imaged by inserting a probe into the tissue and scanning the tissue at a sufficiently fast rate to mitigate motion artifacts due to physiological motion. According to one example embodiment, such a probe is part of a system that is capable of reverse-direction high-resolution imaging without staining or otherwise introducing a foreign element used to generate or otherwise increase the sensed light. The probe includes a light generator for generating light pulses that are directed towards structures located within the thick tissue. The light pulses interact with intrinsic characteristics of the structures to generate a signal such as SHG or intrinsic fluorescence. Reliance on intrinsic characteristics of the structures is particularly useful for applications in which the introduction of foreign substances to the thick tissue is undesirable.
US08068898B2
This invention relates to method and apparatus for collection of the complete fluorescence emission spectrum and the transient decay of a selected spectral band simultaneously with data acquisition times of less that one second. This invention is useful for studying human tissues and cells in vivo.
US08068892B2
The present invention relates to electrode assemblies, neurostimulation systems and methods for implanting and using same. In exemplary embodiments, the electrode includes a body having a conductive contact surface dimensioned and configured to contact a patient's skull; and an electrode head associated with the body. The electrode head is sized for subcutaneous positioning adjacent the subject's skull, and the electrode body is of a length and configured such that the electrode body extends at least partially through the patient's skull but does not contact the patient's dura mater. As these electrodes need not directly contact the brain nor penetrate the dura mater to be effective in neurostimulatory applications, they avoid many of the disadvantages, e.g. increased risk of infection and invasive implantation procedures, associated with conventional electrode design.
US08068891B2
There is provided a sensor for pulse oximeter systems. The sensor comprises a first source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a first wavelength, a second source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a second wavelength, and a third source of electromagnetic radiation configured to operate at a third wavelength. The emission spectra of the first and third sources of electromagnetic radiation overlap at their half power level or greater and correspond to a center wavelength in the range of 650 to 670 nm.
US08068888B2
A base has a clamp adjustably affixed to the reverse side thereof to support a cell phone. An elongated securing band is elastically attached to the base, the securing band having a transparent panel portion and a distal end including a fastener for securing the cell phone to the support by tightening the securing band around the phone and securing the fastener. The securing band is sized and shaped to allow at least partial operation of the cell phone when the cell phone is secured in the cell phone support.
US08068884B2
A device comprising a circuit for picking up acoustic signals with the microphone; a circuit for playing back audio signals with an amplifier and a loudspeaker; an interface circuit for interfacing with a telephone network or a cell phone; and a circuit for digitally processing audio signals and reducing the acoustic echo that results from interaction of the loudspeaker with the microphone. The circuit for digitally processing audio signals comprises: an echo cancellation stage with an adaptive linear filter suitable for subtracting from the signal picked up by the microphone a reference signal that is derived from the signal received at the output from the interface; a gain control stage for suppressing the residual echo, and a stage for selectively reducing the background noise present in the signal received at the output from the echo suppression stage.
US08068880B1
The wireless communication device, which implements voice communication, which further implements a first function and a second function, wherein when the first function is implemented, the video image generator generates a plurality of two-dimensional text images and the plurality of two-dimensional text images are displayed on the display, and when the second function is implemented, the video image generator generates a plurality of three-dimensional graphic images and the plurality of three-dimensional graphic images are displayed on the display, and the current location of the wireless communication device is identified by utilizing the current location identifier.
US08068879B2
Hardware not currently being used is re-oriented to a new purpose. Sensors on a personal communication device monitor the environment around the device. Based on an analysis of that monitoring, an appropriate visual message is shown on an outside display screen of the device. The visual message is targeted toward those around the device rather than to the device's user. In some embodiments, the monitoring devices include a camera and a microphone. Images taken by the camera are analyzed in an attempt to detect persons or objects around the user or to determine where the user is located. Captured speech is analyzed to determine topics of conversation. The results of these analyses are fed into a decision-making process that determines what visual messages would be appropriate. In one embodiment, the visual message is an advertisement.
US08068862B2
A wireless communication system for supporting multimedia services (MMS) provided to a user of a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) which communicates with the wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a third generation partnership program (3GPP) universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a wireless local area network (WLAN) and an MMS server. The MMS server stores at least one MMS message for the WTRU in a memory until the WTRU retrieves the message. The 3GPP UMTS includes an internet protocol short message gateway (IP-SM-GW) having a short message service (SMS) proxy. The WTRU is registered with the SMS proxy to establish SMS connectivity, and is also registered with the MMS server to establish MMS connectivity. The WTRU is notified when the MMS server receives an MMS message for the WTRU. The WTRU then retrieves the MMS message from the memory of the MMS server.
US08068859B2
A novel and improved method and system for paging a cellular telephone or other wireless terminal using two paging channels that reduces standby mode power consumption described. In one embodiment of the invention, a minimally encoded quick paging channel is established over which short, quick page messages are transmitted during one of a set of quick paging slots. The quick page message indicates that a communications request has been received, and that the receiving communication terminals should process a highly encoded full paging channel over which more detailed, full page messages are transmitted during the next full paging slot. A terminal monitors full paging channel only after a quick page message has been received on the quick paging channel.
US08068858B2
In at least one embodiment, a method for execution on a portable fitness device of providing information about a first user engaged in a physical activity with the portable fitness device includes determining user performance data while the first user is engaged in the physical activity and determining whether or not to transmit the user performance data to a remotely located server computer system via a wide-area wireless network while the first user is engaged in the physical activity, wherein the determination of whether or not to transmit the user performance data is based on an indication of whether or not a remotely located second user is currently monitoring the first user.
US08068854B2
The invention provides a method and a system for forwarding a telephone call. The inventive method includes receiving a telephone call from a calling party line to a called party line, determining a location of the called party, determining a proximity of the location of the called party to one or more subscriber locations, and directing the telephone call to the one or more subscriber locations based on the determined proximity. The subscriber locations may be predefined by the called party. The location of the called party may be determined using a global position system and/or a radio frequency signal, for example.
US08068853B2
A method and system for automatically recording position information of an electronic device are provided. The method includes receiving a header notification from the electronic device; receiving a WAP query message comprising query information and position information of the electronic device; forwarding the WAP query message to a content server; and transmitting the position information of the electronic device to a corresponding GPS database so as to continuously record position information of the electronic device.
US08068847B1
Disclosed herein is a system and method for notifying a person that they have become separated from their mobile communication device. A comparison between location information for the device and presence information for the person is used to determine whether or not a separation exists. Certain corrective actions are possible in order to mitigate the consequences of the separation. A separation may be allowed to exist within a certain maximum allowable distance of separation without the system or method notifying the person.
US08068843B2
A method for transmitting a control signal for multimedia service data of UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) includes MBMS service data that can be transmitted in a wireless system providing various types of MBMS service. An MBMS scheduling block including an MBMS service identifier list and scheduling information of MBMS RB set information and an MBMS service information block including one MBMS service identifier and MBMS RB set information for a corresponding service are transmitted to a terminal group.
US08068831B2
A system and method supporting access, coordination, modification, updating, and management of multiple sources of multimedia information resident on a plurality of access device is disclosed. A broadband access gateway may support applications that perform user services involving multiple sources of multimedia information across a network by acting as a focal point for access to multimedia information related to the applications. Using information that identifies such sources, the broadband access gateway may coordinate modification of one or more multimedia information sources based upon the content of other related sources of multimedia information. One such application may include the coordination of calendars for the planning of a meeting involving multiple participants. A representative embodiment of the present invention may identify available meeting dates and times, and the placement of reservations for appropriate travel accommodations using services accessible to the broadband access gateway via a broadband network.
US08068829B2
The Customized Electronic Services Delivery System provides customized electronic services to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft by storing data indicative of a plurality of electronic services that are available to passengers who are located onboard an aircraft, as well as data indicative of preferences of passengers for the plurality of electronic services. Once a correspondence is made between the electronic services and an identified passenger, the Customized Electronic Services Delivery System advises the passenger of the availability of the customized services and establishes wireless communications between the passenger's electronic device and the selected electronic service. The electronic services include in-flight entertainment services as well as destination-based services which link the passenger's existing travel plans with offers for additional services that are available to the passenger at their nominal destination and their planned travel schedule.
US08068827B2
A method, satellite and system utilizes non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) frequency spectrum in geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellite communication in a non-interfering manner. A ground station transmits signals to a GSO satellite using a GSO frequency band and an extended frequency spectrum including the an NGSO frequency band whenever a noninterference situation exists, i.e., when an NGSO satellite is not in-line between the earth terminal and the GSO satellite or when the NGSO satellite is not utilizing the NGSO band of interest. A command module is provided to instruct the ground station to transmit signals to the GSO satellite using the GSO frequency band and the extended frequency spectrum.
US08068826B2
A cognitive radio (CR) device (208 and/or 218) avoids interference with an incumbent (207) receiver by determining maximum allowed transmit power levels of the CR device based on estimates of the incumbent signal level and transmit splatter levels of the CR device. The CR device (208 and/or 218) avoids interference with the incumbent receiver while transmitting with maximum transmit power levels.
US08068823B2
A system and method for optimizing call setup latency for geographically dense groups including updating client location information using at least one application server while the client moves from one sector to another to provide a location update; identifying and updating parameters including location update information uniquely identifying a sector from which a client is receiving communication service; and determining at least one geographically dense call group; and choosing at least one designated responder to the at least call group. A client per cluster is selected as a designated responder for that cluster and when the server needs to set up a geographically dense group call, a random number is included corresponding to the designated responder for that group in a call setup message.
US08068820B1
Systems and methods for providing data to mobile stations are provided. An administrator can select one or more mobile stations and different types of data. The administrator can also set a priority level for the selected data. The selected data is then formed into a package of data, which is then provided to the selected mobile stations. The selected mobile stations can then store the data in memory along with any previously stored data, using the priority level of the selected data to determine whether to overwrite or discard particular data.
US08068819B2
One way to deliver increased wireless communication device performance without using a higher performance processor is to offload processor functions in a wireless communications device. In one example a wireless device selects a processor function to be performed for the wireless device and evaluates the selected processor function to determine whether to offload the processor function. If it is determined that the processor function can be offloaded the wireless device transmits a wireless request to a remote processor to perform the offload processor function. After performing the processor function at the remote processor and generating a result the wireless device receives the result.
US08068810B2
Telecommunication services systems and methods are disclosed. The telecommunication services systems and methods preferably enable the user and/or the responsible party to make payments as the user uses the telecommunication services. The systems and methods may also be employed to provide the user and/or the responsible party with specialized pricing options and other customized services.
US08068808B2
Embodiments of systems and methods are presented to provide local citizenry with the ability to initiate emergency calls on their mobile device through a deployable cellular communication resource, such as a switch on wheels. The mobile device may be provisioned with a primary preferred roaming list (PRL) and a secondary PRL. The secondary PRL is accessed only when a switch-to-secondary-PRL flag is set in the primary PRL. Upon detection of the switch-to-secondary-PRL flag, the mobile device may enter an emergency call mode which only allows the mobile device to initiate an emergency call. If no network listed in the primary PRL and no emergency network listed in the secondary PRL is available, the mobile device may pause for a predetermined time before repeating attempts to access a network in order to conserver battery power until cellular communication networks are repaired or temporary networks implemented.
US08068806B2
A portable terminal apparatus where a talking can be speedily switched to that using a bone conduction speaker even in the talking. In this device, an upper housing (101) has a cutout section (106) for clearing a step section (103). Installation sections (107) are arranged so as to set the cutout section (106) between them and are combined with a hinge provided in the step section (103). The upper housing (101) can be pivoted and folded relative to a lower housing (102). The lower housing (102) has a keypad (110) and also has the step section (103) formed higher by one step than a panel surface (112) of the lower housing (102). The step section (103) receives a bone conduction speaker (104) and has at its top section a vibration surface (105).
US08068805B2
An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor includes circuitry and logic for transmitting outgoing or ingoing communication signals as well as one of a digital data signal or a digital clock on the same antenna signal paths between a radio and a switch fabric. The switch fabric is operable to selectively couple any of a plurality of antennas to antenna signal paths based upon the digital data and the digital clock extracted from at least one of the antenna signal paths conducting RF signals. The switch fabric is further operable to extract all required power from at least one antenna signal path that may be used to conduct RF.
US08068804B2
A ZIF radio compensation method is disclosed. The ZIF radio compensation method employs high gain setting compensation values, which are reliably calculated for low gain settings, during entry of the radio into a communications network. Once the network entry is complete, these coarse calibration values are refined during times when no interfering signal is present. The ZIF radio compensation method allows a receiver to use no additional circuitry to achieve isolation, for potential cost savings. The ZIF radio compensation method further speeds up initial calibration, allowing the radio to join the communications network more rapidly.
US08068802B2
A process and machine for estimating the location of a wireless terminal is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is based on the observation that the signal strength of a signal from a transmitter is different at some locations, and, therefore, the location of a wireless terminal can be estimated by comparing the signal strength it currently observes against a map or database that correlates locations to signal strengths. In accordance with a first example, if a particular radio station is known to be received well at a first location and poorly at a second location, and a given wireless terminal at an unknown location is receiving the radio station poorly, it is more likely that the wireless terminal is at the second location than it is at the first location.
US08068791B2
A Time Division Duplex (TDD) switch of a TDD wireless communication system is provided. By its unique arrangement, the TDD switch protects a receiver of the wireless system. The TDD switch includes an isolator connected to an output port of a transmitter, a first transmission line stub, connected between the isolator and a circulator, for transmitting a transmission signal received from the isolator when in a transmission mode, and for isolating a transmission path when in a reception mode, a first transmission line connected to the circulator, for isolating a reception path when in the transmission mode, and for supplying to a receiver a reception signal provided from an antenna connected to the circulator when in the reception mode, and a second transmission line stub connected between the first transmission line and an input port of the receiver in a stub form, for controlling the first transmission line to isolate the reception path when in the transmission mode, and for supplying the reception signal to the receiver when in the reception mode.
US08068790B2
A method for accessing an RF begins by determining whether information is to be transmitted via the RF bus. The method continues by determining whether the RF bus is available when the information is to be transmitted via the RF bus. The method continues by securing access to the RF bus when the RF bus is available. The method continues by converting the information into RF bus signal and by transmitting the RF bus signal via the RF bus when access to the RF bus is secured.
US08068780B2
The present invention is related to interactive training. In one embodiment, a training system presents a stored scenario to a user via a terminal. The user is provided with the ability to intervene and stop the pre-recorded scenario to identify an error in handling the situation presented in the scenario and/or an opportunity presented in the scenario. Once the user has intervened, the user can be presented with a question regarding the opportunity and/or error. The user is scored based in part on the number of errors and/or opportunities that the user identified and optionally on the user's response to the question.
US08068779B2
A coated-core cleaner blade has a core comprising a first material and a coating surrounding the core. The coating comprises a second material that is different than the first material. Further, the core (first material) is rigid compared to the coating (second material). Therefore, the first material has a first flexibility that is much less than a second flexibility of the second material.
US08068776B2
An intermediate transfer member that is fully coated with a self crosslinked acrylic resin.
US08068774B2
An image-forming apparatus comprises an intermediate transfer member having a hard release layer on the surface that receives a primarily transferred toner image from a latent image-supporting member on the hard release layer and secondarily transfers the toner image to an image-receiving medium, wherein, when the difference Δγsd between the dispersion-force component of surface free energy of the intermediate transfer member surface γsd(itm) and the dispersion-force component of surface free energy of the latent image-supporting member surface γsd(pc) is defined by the following Formula: Δγsd=γsd(pc)−γsd(itm), Δγsd is 5 mN/m or less.
US08068768B2
In an ion generating element, (i) an induction electrode and a heater electrode are provided away from each other on one surface of an insulating base material such that the induction electrode and the heater electrode are insulated from each other, (ii) a dielectric layer is provided on the surface of the insulating base material, and (iii) the dielectric layer has a length covering the insulating base material and the dielectric layer has openings above a ground terminal of the induction electrode and above a ground terminal and a power supply connection terminal of the heater electrode so that the terminals are exposed. As a result, it is possible to provide an ion generating element for generating ions along with creeping discharge, a charging device, and an image forming apparatus, each of which can be produced at low costs and prevent damages when unexpected troubles occur, and each of which is excellent in terms of safety.
US08068756B2
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit configured to form an image on an image carrier, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium, a voltage applying unit configured to apply a voltage to the transfer unit, a current detection unit configured to detect a current that flows through the transfer unit when the voltage applying unit applies the voltage, and a control unit configured to control the voltage applying unit based on a detection result of the current detection unit.
US08068752B2
An image forming apparatus is provided that reduces the occurrence of downtime in the case in which the interval between sheets needs to be expanded, and also suppresses the degradation of a photosensitive drum and a developing roller, when continuously forming images. The image forming apparatus of the present invention predicts the start timing of image formation onto the next printing material, and performs control of the positional relationship between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller without decreasing productivity, based on a result of the prediction. Further, the image forming apparatus performs control of the rotating operation of the photosensitive drum, based on the above prediction result.
US08068751B2
An image forming apparatus that can improve image quality by correcting for variations in the potential characteristics of a photosensitive member and enhance the responsiveness of an image forming operation. The photosensitive member is rotated by a drive unit and exposed to light from an exposure unit. A first generation unit periodically generates a first signal. A second generation unit generates a second signal. A plurality of generation periods of the second signals are included in one generation period of the first signal. A control unit, while the photosensitive member is controlled to accelerate, counts the second signals in response to input of the first signal, identifies an exposure position when the photosensitive member is switched from the acceleration control to constant-speed control, reads correction data corresponding to the identified exposure position from a storage unit, and controls the light quantity of the exposure unit.
US08068749B2
A fixing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a rotating hot roller, a rotating pressure roller, a heating belt that contacts the hot roller and conducts heat, a first support roller and a second support roller that are heated by a heat source, support the heating belt suspended therebetween, and conduct heat to the heating belt, a first temperature detection device that detects a first temperature of an area of the first support roller where it contacts the heating belt or an area of the heating belt where it contacts the first support roller, a second temperature detection device that detects a second temperature of an area of the second support roller where it contacts the heating belt or an area of the heating belt where it contacts the second support roller, and a device for detecting rotation stoppage of one of the support rollers.
US08068744B2
In an optical transmitter comprising a directly modulated laser and a wavelength filter provided on a post-stage of the directly modulated laser, the wavelength filter has a modulated light input port for inputting modulated light output from the directly modulated laser, a filter transmitted light output port for outputting light having a wavelength included in a filter transmission band among the modulated light as filter transmitted light, and a filter cutoff light output port provided separately from the modulated light input port and the filter transmitted light output port and outputting light having a wavelength included in a filter cutoff band among the modulated light as filter cutoff light, and the peak of the filter transmission band is set on a shorter-wave side from the peak of the spectrum of modulated light output from the directly modulated laser.
US08068740B1
In various embodiments, a secure optical communication system is disclosed. Such a system may include a photon-pair generation circuit configured to generate pairs of photons with each photon pair including a first-channel photon and a second-channel photon, a transmitting circuit configured to receive first-channel photons, and modulate the first-channel photons according to a stream of data using a first optical circulator to produce first-modulated photons, and a receiving circuit configured to receive second-channel photons, pass the second-channel photons through a complementary optical circulator to produce second modulated photons, and detect relative timing between the first-modulated photons and the second modulated photons to recover the stream of data.
US08068739B2
Optical modules described herein include optical components such as lasers or photodiodes for communicating on fiber-optic networks. The lasers and photodiodes have analog interface such that the lasers and photodiodes can be controlled by a controller external to the optical modules. The optical modules also include memory modules. The memory modules store operating characteristics of the lasers and photodiodes. The operating characteristics can be read via digital interfaces that are connected to the memory modules. This allows the controller to appropriately adjust signals such that a randomly selected controller may be used with a randomly selected optical module.
US08068736B2
The tunable dispersion compensator 10 of the present invention comprises: the Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) 21 to 25 cascaded on a planar lightwave circuit; and the tunable couplers 31 to 34 connected to between each corresponding pair of the MZIs respectively. The Y-branch waveguide 15 and 16 are used for connecting to between the MZIs 21, 25 as both end sides and the input/output optical waveguides 13, 14 respectively. The waveguide loop mirror 40 is connected to the final stage MZI 25 among the MZIs 21 to 25 which an incident light is propagated last therethrough. The half-wave plate 50 is inserted to the loop waveguide 41 of the waveguide loop mirror 40. And it becomes able to enhance (double) the amount of tunable dispersion because an input light signal is passed twice through the similar path by the waveguide loop mirror 40.
US08068734B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a systems, devices, and methods in which a client signal is divided into a plurality of channels, mapped within transport frames, and combined into a WDM transport signal. These embodiments include intra-nodal redundancy that protects against failure events within the transport transmitter. In particular, redundancy is provided within a network transport transmitter such that redundant paths are available so that electrical channels may be routed around a malfunctioning component within the transmitter.
US08068732B2
A network design apparatus includes an information acquiring unit acquiring optical network information, a section dividing unit dividing an optical network into linear sections, a combination candidate determining unit determining candidates for combinations of various kinds of optical transmission equipment to be placed in each station in each of the linear sections, a noise amount upper limit determining unit determining an upper limit to the amount of noise allowed for each wavelength path, and an equipment placement unit solving an integer programming problem having an objective function that minimizes the cost of the optical transmission equipment and OEO regenerators, subject to the constraints that one optical transmission equipment combination is selected for each linear section and that the number of OEO regenerators necessary for each wavelength path is determined by the cumulative amount of noise of the wavelength path and the noise upper limit determined for the wavelength path.
US08068726B2
A portable, collapsible radiant heater includes a base and a support mounted to the base. The support has a collapsed position wherein the base is configured to at least partially receive the support, and an extended position wherein the support extends upwardly from the base. A heater-head for generating radiant heat is connected to the support. A reflector is mounted to one of the heater-head and the support. The reflector at least partially surrounds the heater-head for downwardly reflecting radiant heat generated by the heater-head. The reflector and heater-head are reciprocally movable between the collapsed position wherein the reflector and heater-head are in close proximity to the base and the extended position wherein the reflector and heater-head are distant from the base.
US08068723B2
On a BD-ROM, an AVClip and a plurality of playback section information (PlayItems) are recorded. The AVClip includes a video stream multiplexed with a plurality of elementary streams. The playback section information Playable_PID_entries showing the playback start point and the playback end point in the video stream correlated with the filtering specification of each elementary stream. The filtering specification specifies whether each of the plurality of elementary streams are able to be played back or not.
US08068711B2
The invention relates to an adapter (1) for sleeves (20) with elastomer cable seals (28), comprising at least one tubular element (3) and a support element (2), the support element (2) comprising means for fastening the support element (2) to a lower housing part (21) of a sleeve (20) and to a method for introducing a fiber-optic cable into a sleeve (20) using an adapter (1).
US08068707B1
A lumenaire for mixing and emitting light from multiple light sources which has at least one first light source of a particular type and at least one second light source of a differing type. There is an optical system which includes at least one individual light collecting optical element at least partially surrounding each light source. There is a substantially planar light guide that receives and transports the light from each of the individual optical elements and optically mixes and emanates the light from both types of light sources simultaneously, through a common surface of the planar light guide. The planar light guide is segmented and the segmented sections are angularly disposed, in section in relationship to each other and the individual optical elements project light into at least one of the segments.
US08068706B2
An optical waveguide having a core region with a substantially rectangular cross-section with a selected aspect ratio of width to height. Embodiments include devices incorporating the optical waveguide and methods for using the optical waveguide.
US08068703B2
An optical modulator is provided which suppresses a radiation mode of a microwave generated in a connection substrate or a termination substrate from entering a signal electrode of the optical modulator and suppresses modulation properties from being degraded.The optical modulator includes an optical modulation element (1) having a substrate with an electro-optic effect, an optical waveguide formed on the substrate, and a modulating electrode (or a signal electrode (2)) for modulating light passing through the optical waveguide; and a connection substrate (4), arranged outside the substrate, for supplying the optical modulation element with a microwave signal operating the optical modulation element. A signal input terminal (22) and a signal output terminal (23) are formed on the connection substrate (20). A recombination suppression unit that suppresses a radiation mode (24) of the microwave signal input to the signal input terminal (22) from being recombined with the signal output terminal (23) is provided on the connection substrate.
US08068697B2
A method of correcting a current image taken by a capturing device, the current image captured after a previous image, the method comprising the steps of: determining a noticeable pixel group, such as an edge of an object in the previous image; locating the noticeable pixel groups in the current image, by finding corresponding pixels whose values are most similar to the values of the noticeable pixels, determining the offset between the previous image and the current image, and correcting the current image using the offset. Optionally, multiple offsets are determined for multiple areas in the current image, and other areas in the image are optionally corrected according to interpolations between the determined offsets.
US08068696B2
A method of estimation of the direction of the line of sight comprising forming at least two images representing one and the same portion of the scene (P) at two successive instants using an instrument mounted on a moving carrier, and the determination of the change of orientation of the line of sight by matching homologous points (A1, A2) in the two images of the same portion of scene by calculating the angular variations in attitude between the two instants at which the two successive images are obtained and by correcting on the basis of the deviation, between the estimate of the point (A2) homologous in the image provided by a model, and the actual position of the homologous point, and integrating and time filtering pertaining to a sequence of several successive determinations of attitude variations, leading to an estimate of the direction of the line of sight.
US08068671B2
A scanning system for scanning a wire to determine the characters provided on the wire.
US08068670B2
Systems and methods are described for performing image analysis. A computer-implemented method for analyzing images may include quantitatively analyzing image data to identify image objects relative to a background portion of the image according to predefined object criteria, the image data including a plurality of image objects that represent objects in a sample distributed across a substrate. The identified image objects are further clustered into groups or colonies of the identified image objects according to predetermined clustering criteria.
US08068664B2
A method of sensing a component held by a nozzle of a pick and place machine is provided. The method includes engaging a source of illumination and recording a reference background image when no component is held by the nozzle. Then, a component is adhered to the nozzle. A shadow image of the component is detected while the component is held by the nozzle. The detected shadow image of the component is adjusted based upon the recorded reference background image. Positional information relative to the component held on the nozzle is computed using the adjusted shadow image. The component is then mounted upon a workpiece using the positional information.
US08068659B2
Method and system for determining cumulative foreign object characteristics during fabrication of a composite structure. Images of sequential segments of a composite structure may be recorded during placement of the composite structure. The recorded images may be analyzed for detecting foreign objects on the composite structure. Cumulative foreign object characteristics of the foreign objects detected on the composite structure may be determined, and the cumulative foreign object characteristics may be provided to a user.
US08068656B2
An x-ray inspection apparatus includes a sample image obtaining unit, an ideal curve generating unit, a curve adjustment unit, and a mass estimation unit as a function block generated by a control computer. The sample image obtaining unit obtains 10 x-ray transmission images of sample inspected products each of whose mass is known in advance. The ideal curve generating unit generates a table based on a formula that indicates a relationship between the brightness of an area included in the x-ray transmission images and the estimated mass of the area. The curve adjustment unit refers to the input actual mass of each x-ray transmission image and adjusts the table such that the estimated mass approximates the actual mass. The mass estimation unit determines the estimated mass per unit area based on the post-adjusted table and adds up these masses to determine the total estimated mass of the product.
US08068648B2
A method and system for registering a bone of a patient with a computer assisted orthopaedic surgery system includes retrieving an image of the bone having indicia of the position of a magnetic source coupled thereto, determining first data indicative of the position of the magnetic source in a bone coordinate system, determining second data indicative of a correlation between a coordinate system of the image and the bone coordinate system based on the first data; and displaying an image of the bone based on the second data.
US08068647B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for real-time motion correction in compound ultrasound imaging. Certain embodiments include receiving an image frame, estimating motion between the image frame and a previous image frame, updating a previous motion estimate with the estimated motion to form an updated motion estimate, and correcting the image frame and the previous image frame using the updated motion estimate. The method may also include forming a compound image from the image frames. In an embodiment, motion may be estimated between the image frame and a previous frame using cross correlation, reference point registration, and/or other estimation method, for example. The image frame and the previous image frame may be corrected using the updated motion estimate in an affine transformation or other correction method, for example. In an embodiment, the method provides real-time correction as image frames are being received.
US08068639B2
An image pickup apparatus includes: a face detection section configured to detect a face area from an image obtained by the image pickup apparatus; and a control section configured to detect at least any one of the amount of change in size of the face area detected by the face detection section and a movement speed of the face area, determine whether there is a possibility of occurrence of subject shake blur, which is blur occurring in a captured image due to the movement of a subject, on the basis of information on the detected amount of change in size of the face area or the detected movement speed of the face area, and output a warning when it is determined that there is a possibility of occurrence of subject shake blur.
US08068634B2
A first enforcing rib, a second enforcing rib, and a third enforcing rib are integrally formed at least at one of a front side and a back side of a diaphragm, the first enforcing rib being formed as an aggregate of a plurality of hexagons, enhancing strength and achieving light weight of a speaker using the diaphragm, preventing a difficulty of the speaker in emitting an audio sound.
US08068631B2
A construction of a CIC instrument is provided, along with a corresponding method of manufacturing such a CIC instrument, that prevents floating components from contacting with an isolated receiver and, therefore, assures feedback-free operation. This is achieved through the presence of a compartment for the receiver in which the receiver resides, and a cover placed on top of the receiver compartment in a mating recess of the receiver compartment.
US08068627B2
Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.
US08068626B2
An apparatus, the apparatus includes an electromagnetic signal device; a medium; and a sound wave generator. The sound wave generator includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure includes one or more carbon nanotube films. Each carbon nanotube film includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially parallel to each other and joined side by side via van der Waals attractive force. The electromagnetic signal device transmits an electromagnetic signal to the carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure converts the electromagnetic signal into heat. The heat transfers to the medium causing a thermoacoustic effect.
US08068619B2
A small array microphone system includes an array microphone having a plurality of microphones and operative to provide a plurality of received signals, each microphone providing one received signal. A first voice activity detector (VAD) provides a first voice detection signal generated using the plurality of received signals to indicate the presence or absence of in-beam desired speech. A second VAD provides a second voice detection signal generated using the plurality of received signals to indicate the presence or absence of out-of-beam noise when in-beam desired speech is absent. A reference signal generator provides a reference signal based on the first voice detection signal, the plurality of received signals, and a beamformed signal, wherein the reference signal has the desired speech suppressed. A beamformer provides the beamformed signal based on the second voice detection signal, the reference signal, and the plurality of received signals, wherein the beamformed signal has noise suppressed. A multi-channel noise suppressor operative to further suppress noise in the beamformed signal and provide an output signal. A speech reliability detector provides a reliability detection signal indicating the reliability of each frequency subband. The first voice detection signal, the second voice detection signal, the reliability detection signal and the output signal are provided to the speech recognition engine.
US08068613B2
A virtual security coprocessor is created in a first processing system. The virtual security coprocessor is then transferred to a second processing system, for use by the second processing system. For instance, the second processing system may use the virtual security coprocessor to provide attestation for the second processing system. In an alternative embodiment, a virtual security coprocessor from a first processing system is received at a second processing system. After receiving the virtual security coprocessor from the first processing system, the second processing system uses the virtual security coprocessor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08068607B2
In an information processing apparatus, a first communication unit receives encrypted data from a portable terminal device when the portable terminal device is within a first communication range, a second communication unit receives decryption information from the portable terminal device when the portable terminal device is within a second communication range shorter than the first communication range, and a decryption unit decrypts the encrypted data with the decryption information.
US08068606B2
A method and system for embedding a secret in a bit string for safeguarding the secret. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing the length of the overall bit string as a function of q and t, where q and t are determined from the length of the secret. The method further comprises generating a plurality of information pieces based on q and t, the information pieces including a transformed secret and information for extracting the secret from the overall bit string. The method further comprises concatenating the plurality of information pieces to form the overall bit string.
US08068598B1
An exemplary method for training call center agents over a communications network using automatically selected training scenarios comprises the steps of obtaining confirmations of availability of a plurality of call center agents, determining a proctor based on proctor attributes stored in a database, selecting an agent from the plurality of agents, based on agent attributes stored in the database, to be trained by the proctor, automatically determining a training scenario based on the selected agent's attributes, and enabling the proctor and the agent to engage in the training scenario.
US08068594B2
A communications center supports sales and/or customer support services corresponding to a plurality of business affiliations. Operator terminals within the communications center are configurable. A management module manages the allocation of the operator terminals between the plurality of different business affiliations being supported by the communications center. The management module loads a set of configuration information into an operator terminal to match a determined business affiliation with a customer's communications device capabilities. At different times, e.g. corresponding to an initial communications session and a follow-on communications session, the same customer may be connected to different physical operator terminals and be communicating with different actual operators; however, from the perspective of the customer, the customer is made to think that the communication is with the same operator terminal and same operator.
US08068590B1
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for processing alternatively billed telephone calls, such as, for example, collect calls and third party calls. In some representative embodiments, a method for completing an alternatively billed call between a calling party and a called party comprises establishing a calling party quality score and completing the alternatively billed call if the calling party quality score meets a threshold. In other representative embodiments, the method further comprises establishing a called party quality score and/or a third party quality score, combining the aforementioned quality scores, and completing the alternatively billed call if the combination of quality scores meets a threshold.
US08068578B2
A method and an image evaluation unit are disclosed for recognizing and marking contrast agents in blood vessels of the lung with the aid of a CT examination using at least two different x-ray energy spectra. In at least one embodiment, the method includes scanning a patient at least in the region of the lung with two different x-ray energy spectra, with the patient having contrast agents in the blood stream; reconstructing an at least two or three dimensional tomographic display for each x-ray energy spectrum which reproduces the local spectrum-specific absorption properties of the scanned region, wherein a surrounding area is defined for a multiplicity of voxels for which an average ratio is calculated with the aid of the local absorption values of the at least two x-ray energy spectra, which surrounding area specifies a measure for the ratio of the proportion of contrast agent to the proportion of soft tissue in the surrounding area of the respectively considered voxel, and wherein, in the case of this ratio dropping below a threshold value, this voxel is considered to have reduced circulation and is marked in a tomographic display.
US08068573B1
The present invention is a phase dithered digital communications system that includes a digital receiver, and uses phase dithering to spread the energy of one or more system clocks to minimize receiver de-sensitization. Phase dithering uses a single frequency for each system clock; however, the energy of each system clock is spread over a range of frequencies by changing the duty-cycle of each clock half-cycle. A non-phase dithered clock drives the sampling clock of a receiver analog-to-digital converter to provide accurate correlation with received information, which may allow use of a higher frequency sampling clock than in frequency dithered designs. Phase dithered clocks and non-phase dithered clocks may have constant frequencies that are related to each other by a ratio of two integers; therefore, the time base used for extracting received data is always correlated and accurate.
US08068565B2
A digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having improved receiving performance and signal processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter according to the present invention includes a data pre-processor which processed robust data and generates robust data packet of predetermined format, a TS stream generator which combines robust data packet with a normal data packet to generate a TS stream of a predetermined format, a randomizer which randomizes the TS stream output from the TS stream generator, a convolution encoder which performs convolution encoding with respect to the robust data of the data output from the randomizer, and a RS encoder which performs RS encoding with respect to the data output from the convolution g encoder. Accordingly, digital broadcasting receiving performance can be improved in a poor multipath channel, while maintaining compatibility with existing transmission/reception system.
US08068563B2
Methods and systems for correcting a frequency error in a digital portion of a radio broadcast signal are disclosed. The methods and systems include the steps of receiving a radio broadcast signal having an analog portion and a digital portion, separating the analog portion of the radio broadcast signal and the digital portion of the radio broadcast signal, determining a coarse frequency offset of the analog portion of the radio broadcast signal, generating an error signal for adjusting a frequency of the digital portion of the radio broadcast signal, wherein the error signal is based on the coarse frequency offset of the analog portion of the radio broadcast signal, and adjusting the frequency of the digital portion of the radio broadcast signal with the error signal that is based on the coarse frequency offset of the analog portion of the radio broadcast signal, such that a frequency error in the digital portion of the radio broadcast signal is reduced below a predetermined amount.
US08068559B1
The present disclosure generally relates to pulse width modulation (PWM) clock and data receivers and methods for recovering data and timing information from received signals. A PWM clock and data receiver in one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has comparators for detecting pulses of a received data signal. The PWM clock and data receiver provides fixed frequency, variable duty cycle control signals that are used to control the biasing of the comparators to establish data decision levels for clock and data recovery. At times, the output of at least one comparator is used to perform peak detection, and the receiver controls the duty cycles of the control signals based on such peak detection in an effort to optimize the clock and data recovery process.
US08068552B2
A method and system are provided for achieving spatial diversity of a wireless communications network. The method comprises arranging antennas on a transmitting wireless station into a plurality of antenna subgroups, wherein each of the antenna subgroups forms a virtual antenna, creating a plurality of beamformed MIMO channels using the plurality of virtual antennas, wherein each of the beamformed MIMO channel comprises a plurality of sub-carriers and corresponds to a virtual antenna, dividing sub-carriers in each of the plurality of beamformed MIMO channels into at least a first and second cluster, distributing a first amount of transmitting power to the first cluster and a second amount of transmitting power to the second cluster, wherein the first amount of transmitting power is substantially larger than the second amount of transmitting power.
US08068548B1
A method, an apparatus, and a system for transmitting information bits, where the method for transmitting information bits includes: dividing the information bits to be transmitted into at least two groups; encoding the information bits to be transmitted in each group; modulating the coded bits obtained by the encoding to obtain modulation symbols, in which each modulation symbol is obtained by using the modulation of the coded bits in the same group; and mapping and transmitting the modulation symbols. In this way, the receiving end easily reduces the algorithm complexity, thereby ensuring the performance of the receiving end.
US08068545B2
An MPEG decoder (100-180) can use different formats (linear tiled etc) for image data memory (150) for reference pictures when decoding subsequent pictures. Each format brings advantages and disadvantages. The disclosure illustrates that it is possible for different video sequences to have characteristics which match one image buffer format well, but not another, for example where there is a lot of motion or only a little motion between images. Advantageously, the decoder employs a parameterised image buffer format and analysis of the incoming stream and/or measured decoding performance (190) so as to dynamically choose (90, 160, 170) the best image buffer format for the current part of a stream. Cache control features can also be controlled (198) to suit the particular data received.
US08068543B2
A method and system for determining a measure of reliability of a computed motion estimate based on the histogram of the error block obtained based on the computed motion estimate taking into account some aspects of the image content.
US08068533B2
A module for receiving a plurality of signals that are modulated with a common carrier, where each of the signals includes information that enables a determination of a distance from said receiver to a source that transmits the signal, and outputs to outside the module a digital representation of a downshifted replica of the received signals or, alternatively, outputs a stored and delayed version of the downshifted replica of the received signals together with information about the delay.
US08068526B2
A purpose is to provide a semiconductor optical device having good characteristics to be formed on a semi-insulating InP substrate. Firstly, a semi-insulating substrate including a Ru—InP layer on a conductive substrate is used. Secondly, a semi-insulating substrate including a Ru—InP layer on a Ru—InP substrate or an Fe—InP substrate is used and semiconductor layers of an n-type semiconductor layer, a quantum-well layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer are stacked in this order.
US08068525B2
To achieve a solid-state laser element capable of outputting a high-power laser, in a planar waveguide type solid-state laser element that causes a plurality of fundamental laser beams to oscillate in a direction of an optic axis within a flat plate-like laser medium, and forms a waveguide structure in a thickness direction of the laser medium, which is a direction perpendicular to a principal surface of the flat plate-like laser medium, the laser medium is separated in a principal-surface width direction of the laser medium, which is a direction perpendicular to the direction of the optic axis and the thickness direction of the laser medium, by a groove extending in the direction of the optic axis within the laser medium.
US08068523B2
A laser gain medium includes an optical medium configured to transmit a laser beam and having an incident face, a first face, a second face opposing to the first face; and gain media configured to amplify the laser beam while reflecting the laser beam. At least one of the gain media is joined on a first face of the optical medium as a first face gain medium, and at least one of the remaining gain media is joined on a second face of the optical medium as a second face gain medium. The laser beam is incident into the optical medium, and is amplified by the first face gain medium and the second face gain medium while being alternately reflected by the first face gain medium and the second face gain medium.
US08068521B2
A laser source (10) for emitting a set of sequential, different wavelength output beams (12) includes a gain medium (16), a feedback assembly (26) and a control system (30). The gain medium (16) includes a first facet (16A), and the gain medium (16) generates a beam (12A) that exits the first facet (16A). The feedback assembly (26) includes a feedback device (40) and a device mover (42). The feedback device (40) is positioned in the path of the beam (12A) that exits the first facet (16A) and the feedback device (40) redirects at least a portion of the beam (12A) back to the gain medium (16). The device mover (42) continuously adjusts an angle of incidence (θ) of the beam (12A) on the feedback device (40). The control system (30) selectively directs pulses of power to the gain medium (16) as the device mover (42) is continuously adjusting the angle of incidence (θ) of the beam (12A). Further, the laser source (10) can include a position detector (28) that generates a position signal that relates to the angle of incidence (θ) of the beam (12A) on the feedback device (40). In this embodiment, the control system (30) can selectively direct pulses of power to the gain medium (16) based on the position signal from the position detector (28). Further, the control system (30) can determine a center wavelength of the output beam (12) based on the position signal.
US08068520B2
Method for generating a laser pulse for the fine machining of workpieces using a fiber laser, the laser fiber of which is optically pumped by use of at least one diode laser which is operated by a current pulse whose slew rate, pulse height, and pulse length are adjusted in adaptation to the laser fiber in such a way that the laser pulse (22) is initially composed of a primary relaxation pulse (A), independently of the pulse length of the current pulse.
US08068518B2
In a method and a device for virtual concatenation transmission which multiplex traffics of low-speed frames into a high-speed frame based on a virtual concatenation, a virtual concatenation with an excellent transmission efficiency is provided. Specifically, in order to provide the transmission method and the device which do not waste channels, require little labor of operators, do not cause an instantaneous interruption, and require no memory capacity, a plurality of low-speed frames are multiplexed into arbitrary positions within a high-speed frame to compose a virtual concatenation, and are transmitted together with virtual concatenation information indicating a concatenation state of positions of the low-speed frames, with a phase relationship being maintained.
US08068517B2
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal is disclosed. Herein, the DTV signal is generated by performing Reed-Solomon (RS) encoding on additional data, multiplexing the RS-encoded additional data with main data. RS encoding the multiplexed additional and main data, interleaving the RS-encoded additional and main data, trellis encoding the interleaved additional and main data, and transmitting a Radio Frequency (RF) DTV signal including the trellis-encoded additional and main data. The method to process the DTV signal includes receiving the DTV signal including the additional data multiplexed with the main data through an antenna, in which signaling information is periodically inserted in the additional data. The received DIV signal is demodulated including performing channel equalization on the demodulated DTV signal. Trellis decoding is performed on the channel-equalized DIV signal. Further, the additional data from the trellis-decoded DTV signal is extracted including removing dummy data from the extracted additional data.
US08068515B2
Synchronization of a multimedia broadcast can be achieved by enabling network devices to re-send saved RTCP packets upon a client's join request.
US08068507B2
A method and system for conveying backhaul link information for intelligent selection of a mesh access point (MAP) in a mesh network are disclosed. The mesh network includes a plurality of MAPs. The MAPs send backhaul link information regarding backhaul connections between each MAP and any interconnections in the mesh network to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The WTRU then determines a performance value with respect to the MAPs based on the backhaul link information and selects one of the MAPs to associate with based on the performance value. The WTRU may send information about interconnection needs of the WTRU to the MAPs, and the MAPs may generate the backhaul link information based on the interconnection needs of the WTRU.
US08068499B2
A method for minimizing tunnels in a network, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer to perform the method. The method includes the steps of: obtaining state information associated with a first node connected to a mobile network behind a mobile node; receiving a first message sent between the first node and a correspondent node, wherein a first header was removed from the first message prior to sending the first message; recreating, in one of the mobile node and a mobility agent, the first header using the state information; and sending the first message with the first header.
US08068495B2
A wireless network arrangement includes a host device in communication with a wireless network module (e.g., an ultrawideband (UWB) module, etc.) through a universal serial bus (USB). A protocol is provided to support communication over the USB between the host and the module. In at least one embodiment, the host is able to offload network packet header processing functions to the wireless network module via the USB.
US08068480B2
A handover processing system in mobile communication system, implemented in gateway connected to subscriber network including base station in the mobile communication system, public network and IP network and accompanied by movement of radio terminal in the mobile communication system, wherein the gateway comprises line exchanger performing line exchange processing, VoIP connection unit controlling communication function to transmit/receive IP-packetized data to make communication and call control function for the VoIP communication function, handover detector determining whether or not call originating request from the base station is handover call, communication call detector determining whether or not communication source call of handover is present, call information storage unit storing call information, handover source call retriever retrieving handover source call in IP network, and handover processor taking over communication call from communication partner to continue the communication, and performing handover processing of VoIP communication call.
US08068476B2
A method is provided for efficiently allocating a transmission period in a wireless network system. An access point (AP) transmits a PSMP frame indicating a downlink period provided to each station (STA) and a minimum amount of an uplink period allocated to each STA, and at least one sub PSMP frame indicating an uplink period additionally provided for an STA that transmitted a resource request message for remaining queued data in the uplink period indicated by the PSMP frame. If the uplink period indicated by the PSMP frame is insufficient to transmit the queued data, the STA transmits a data unit including a part of the queued data and a resource request message for the remaining queued data in the uplink period. After transmitting the resource request message, the STA receives the sub PSMP frame after the full period indicated by the sub PSMP frame, and transmits the remaining queued data to the AP in the uplink period indicted by the sub PSMP frame.
US08068475B2
A radio base station apparatus wherein the consumption of transmission power resources in a high-rate packet transmission can be suppressed. In the apparatus, a scheduling part (31) limits the candidates of an upstream line packet transmission rate to part of a plurality of transmission rates indicated by transmission rate combination information, selects an upstream line packet transmission rate from among the limited transmission rate candidates, and creates scheduling result information including transmission rate information indicative of the selected transmission rate. The scheduling result information is wireless transmitted from an antenna (108) to a communication terminal that is permitted to transmit upstream line packets.
US08068467B2
A method for transmitting beacons by nodes in a multi-tier wireless local area network is disclosed. First, a first beacon by a tier 1 node in the multi-tier wireless local area network is transmitted. Then, a second beacon by a tier 2 node is transmitted where the second beacon is transmitted based upon the time that the first beacon is sent by the tier 1 node.
US08068466B2
A transmission of information from a secondary to a primary node occurs in a plurality of N logical time durations. The transmission from the secondary to primary node in a wireless network is performed by first receiving an allocation of M>1 reverse link channels for transmission of N>0 information elements. N information elements are produced. A group of K (possibly only one) reverse link channels is selected from the M allocated reverse link channels, using at least one of the N produced information elements, wherein the group of K reverse link channels comprises at least one channel, such that 0
US08068464B2
An apparatus and method for varying scrambling codes within a radio frame time slot for a user device in a wireless communication environment including detecting interference of the user device; and varying a scrambling code sequence employed to multiply a Walsh code assigned to the user device at least once within a transmission time slot.
US08068453B2
A method and apparatus for selecting a favored transmission slot for communicating non-voice data in conjunction with a voice-data communication. The slot, reflecting a favored power level and transmission rate for transmitting the non-voice data on a supplemental channel, is selected based upon the transmission power levels for voice-data transmitted by a base station to a remote station on a fundamental channel. The favored transmission slot is selected without the remote station messaging information to the base station concerning frequency channel or interference information for the supplemental channel.
US08068450B2
A system and method for enabling users of wireless devices to increase wireless communication bandwidth may include a server in communication with multiple wireless access points. The server may execute software configured to enable a wireless device to communicate with multiple wireless access points of a network during a communications session. The software, in response to determining that the wireless device attempts to communicate with a wireless access point of the network, determines whether the user of the wireless device has a subscription to communicate with multiple wireless access points to aggregate bandwidth from the wireless access points, and enables the wireless device to access the network and communicate with the wireless access points if the user has the subscription agreement.
US08068448B1
A satellite communication system includes a hub, a repeater, a scheduling unit, and a remote. The scheduling unit is configured to synchronize a communication of the system based on an elapsed time between (i) an arrival at the remote of a downstream reference frame transmitted by the hub and retransmitted by the repeater, and (ii) an arrival at the remote of an upstream frame transmitted by the remote and retransmitted by the repeater.
US08068447B2
A power-save system for a network with an access point and an associated power-save client. The access point buffers wireless data that includes a unicast frame and a multicast frame. A periodic scheduled beacon message is transmitted with a unicast indication element and a multicast indication element. The unicast element instructs a client to remain awake to receive a buffered unicast frame, which includes a destination MAC address. The multicast element instructs a client to remain awake following the beacon to receive a buffered multicast frame, which includes a destination multicast address designating a multicast group of which the client is a member. At least one beacon message is designated as a multicast delivery beacon. The buffered multicast frame is transmitted following the designated multicast beacon. The multicast element contains a list of entries, each entry corresponding to either a multicast MAC address, multicast IP address, or client identifier.
US08068446B2
An apparatus and method for efficiently processing a dormant state in a packet service between communication networks providing the packet service using different mobile communication technologies is disclosed. This method includes disconnecting, by a multi-mode terminal, a current packet call and changing to a new serviceable mode, if a multi-mode terminal moves to a poor communication area in a dormant or preservation state occurring during a packet service. In this state, by immediately returning to a packet call reconnection state if a user performs a subsequent operation, an area in which the packet service cannot be provided can be minimized, and a communication mode in which a best communication service can be provided can be established.
US08068439B2
A method of Concurrent Multipath Transfer which is based on the relational paths, characterized in that for a packet lost in a path, it allows other packets sent from the path and/or other paths to point out the lost packet through a gap report. According to the present invention, any lost packets and abnormal paths can be found as fast as possible, and can be retransmitted quickly. So this method can avoid the failure of all paths from handing in packets to upper layer only for the abnormity in one path, which limits the speed of whole association.
US08068438B2
A method for cooperative relaying within multi hop wireless communication systems includes a base station, in an attempt to decode a data packet, combining hard sliced channel bits and Logarithmic Likelihood Ratio (LLR) quality information received from relay stations who had also received the data packet with stored information about the data packet.
US08068436B2
Estimation of available bandwidth on a network uses packet pairs and spatially filtering. Packet pairs are transmitted over the network. The dispersion of the packet pairs is used to generate samples of the available bandwidth, which are then classified into bins to generate a histogram. The bins can have uniform bin widths, and the histogram data can be aged so that older samples are given less weight in the estimation. The histogram data is then spatially filtered. Kernel density algorithms can be used to spatially filter the histogram data. The network available bandwidth is estimated using the spatially filtered histogram data. Alternatively, the spatially filtered histogram data can be temporally filtered before the available bandwidth is estimated.
US08068435B2
A communication system transmitting signals over a network using a transmission waveform in which a plurality of data packets are transmitted in a payload field of a transmission frame, the system includes a transmitter, which has a transmitting portion that sends information including user data in the data packets and a user data rate portion that dynamically changes the data rate of the user data to the highest rate possible for current link conditions by changing the waveform. The communication system also includes a receiver, which has a receiving portion that receives the information data packets and a reconfiguration portion that reconfigures the receiving portion based on the waveform parameters.
US08068432B2
A method and system for reducing fault analysis times in a network having a plurality of pollable objects. Poll responses are received from pollable objects, priorities are assigned to each received poll response in accordance with one or more of a received poll response value, a pollable object status and a type of pollable object, and the assigned priorities are processed and to determine any fault locations, wherein a pollable object with a higher priority is processed before a second pollable object with a lower priority. A status manager is operable to receive poll responses from one or more of the pollable objects, a status analyzer is operable to assign, in conjunction with one or more analyzers, priorities to each received poll response in accordance with the received poll response value, a pollable object status and a type of pollable object, and analyzers coupled the status analyzer use the assigned priorities and the corresponding received poll responses to determine a fault location.
