US08076009B2
The invention provides an OLED device comprising a cathode, an anode, and having there between a light-emitting layer, further comprising, between the cathode and the light emitting layer, a non-luminescent electron transporting layer containing a compound with a 7,10-diaryl substituted fluoranthene nucleus having no aromatic rings annulated to the fluoranthene nucleus and desirably comprises still further an additional layer containing an organic alkali metal compound, located between the cathode and the electron transporting layer. Devices of the invention provide improvement in features such as efficiency, drive voltage, and operational stability.
US08076006B2
Composite panels may be prepared using a moisture resistance additive having a formulation that includes a triglyceride having a saponification value of at least 150 and an iodine value of at least 35. The additive may be used in the form of a water emulsion. The water emulsion may be prepared by dispersing the components of the additive formulation under conditions sufficient to at least partially saponify the triglyceride. The moisture resistance additive can impart resistance to moisture absorption and thickness swelling to composite panels prepared therewith.
US08076004B2
Disclosed is a release material applied to a sheet material that provides for temporary repositioning of an adhesive over the release material. Over time the adhesion between the release material and the applied adhesive builds such that the adhesive cannot be removed from the release material without damaging the underlying sheet material. The release material includes an free nitrogen containing basic group. The release material is dispersed on a flexible substrate and the release material allows for repositioning when contacted with a pressure sensitive adhesive, which includes a free carboxylic acid group, for at least 1 minute and not more than 10 minutes.
US08075997B2
The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.
US08075991B2
A stainless steel material for a fuel cell, used for a fuel cell or a cartridge for the fuel cell, having a magnetic permeability of 1.000 to 2.500, and forming a layer having a value of chromium atomic %/iron atomic % of not less than 3.0 in the most surface thereof, and/or the layer of thickness of not less than 12 nm calculated as SiO2 having an oxygen atomic % of not less than 20%. Even when brought into contact with the content solution exhibiting acidity of the fuel cell, the stainless steel material reliably suppresses the elution of metal ions thereof.
US08075980B2
A self-cleaning material is generally described that may include a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. A self cleaning layer may be disposed on the first surface of the substrate. A diffraction grating may be formed in an exposed surface of the self cleaning layer, where absorption of light by the self cleaning layer incident on the exposed surface may be enhanced by the diffraction grating in accordance with a blaze condition corresponding to the diffraction grating.
US08075975B2
An optical recording medium is an optical recording medium having an inorganic recording film and has a transparent conductive film on the inorganic recording film. The inorganic recording film has a first recording film containing titanium (Ti) and a second recording film containing an oxide of germanium (Ge). The transparent conductive film is provided on the side of the second recording film. The transparent conductive film contains an oxide of tin (Sn).
US08075974B2
An optical recording medium having first protective layer, recording layer, second protective layer, and reflective layer, wherein the recording layer contains a phase-change material represented by Formula (1″1), Formula (1-2), or Formula (1-3); the second protective layer contains one selected from zinc oxides, indium oxides, tin oxides, mixtures thereof, and materials Formula (2), and materials Formula (3). Formula (1″1): InαiSbβiX1γi(X1: Ge, Te, Zn, Mn, or mixture thereof, 0.10≦α1≦0.25, 0.65≦β1≦0.80, and 0.04≦γ1≦0.15) Formula (1-2): Gaα2Sbβ2SnY2Ges2X2∈2 (X2: Te, Zn, Mn, In, or mixture thereof, 0.04≦α2≦0.09, 0.56≦62≦0.79, 0.05≦γ2<0.30, 0.03≦δ2≦0.19, and 0≦∈2≦0.09) Formula (1-3): Mnα3Sbβ3SnY3Geδ3X3∈3 (X3: Te, In, Zn, Bi, or mixture thereof, 0.04≦α3≦0.09, 0.56≦63≦0.79, 0.05≦γ3≦0.29, 0.03≦δ3≦0.23, and 0≦∈3≦0.09) Formula (2): ZnO—Al—Y [(100−α4−64):α4:β4] (Y: Mn, Ge, Ti, or mixture thereof, 0.5≦α4≦10.0, and 0≦B4≦25.0) Formula (3): ZnO—Al2O3—Z [(100−α5−65):α5:β5] (Z: Mn oxide, Ge oxide, Ti oxide, or mixture thereof, 0.5≦α5≦10.0, and 0≦65≦30.0).
US08075972B2
To provide an optical recording medium exhibiting favorable write/read characteristics in high-speed recording. In an optical recording medium including a reflective layer, a dye-containing recording layer, and a transparent resin layer on a substrate in this order, a barrier layer is disposed between the recording layer and the resin layer, where the barrier layer comprises a material having a bulk thermal conductivity M of 70 W/m·K or more at 300 K and has a thickness t less than 5 nm.
US08075971B1
A chair mat includes two first flat panels having sufficient rigidity to support a chair with a person therein. The panels have abutting straight panel edges. Flexible fabric is permanently adhered to and fully covers one side of the abutting panels. The other side of the abutting panels has an anti-skid surface provided by the panels themselves or covering material not essentially providing tensile strength across the abutting straight panel edges. A material strip extends the length of the abutting first and second straight panel edges permanently adhered to the panels between the flexible fabric sheet and the panels with high tensile strength filaments oriented laterally of the material strip.
US08075965B2
Elastomeric film-like products such as natural latex gloves are coated with novel lubricity compositions and compositions which protect the skin of the wearer from certain undesirable medical conditions. In powder-coated gloves, the coating composition comprises rice starch, and optionally USP-grade colloidal oatmeal in pharmaceutically accepted concentration. In powder-free gloves, the coating composition comprises colloidal oatmeal enhanced water or beta glucan solution, optionally in combination with one or more other starch components. Colloidal oatmeal enhanced water, and methods of making the colloidal oatmeal enhanced water are also disclosed. In addition, beta glucan solution, and methods of making the beta glucan solution are also disclosed. A liquid referred to herein as Polycoat may also be made by mixing colloidal oatmeal enhanced water with beta glucan solution, and the resulting liquid may be applied to elastomeric articles such as gloves.
US08075964B2
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a barrier film that maintains an oxygen barrier after being subjected to autoclaving conditions. The film comprises one EVOH layer positioned as a core layer, and one EVOH layer positioned directly adjacent to an outer layer comprising highly permeable material having a moisture vapor permeability greater than about 40 g-mil/100 in2-day-atm. During autoclaving, the barrier properties of the EVOH layer positioned adjacent to the outer layer allows improved recovery of oxygen barrier properties. In addition, during rewetting applications, the internal EVOH layer maintains the oxygen barrier. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the disclosed barrier film.
US08075963B2
The present invention relates to a material intended for forming images by inkjet printing having good stability to ozone and to light as well as a uniform surface, to obtain a high-quality printed image. The material comprises a support and at least one ink-receiving layer, wherein the ink-receiving layer comprises at least one polysaccharide, such as carrageenan, and at least one hydriphillic polymer having hydroxyl groups, such as polyvinyl alcohol and guar gum, and inorganic particles having a neutral or positive surface charge.
US08075958B2
The present disclosure is generally related to providing thin hydrogen separation membranes coated on porous substrates that are useful in membrane steam reformers and methods for making same. These reformers can be integrated with protein exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells to form power systems.
US08075957B2
Disclosed herein is a method of preventing corrosion degradation in a defective region including an expansion transition region and/or an expansion region of a heat transfer tube of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant by using nickel (Ni) plating or nickel (Ni) alloy plating. The method can prevent various types of corrosion damage, such as pitting corrosion, abrasion, stress corrosion cracking, lead-induced stress corrosion cracking and the like, occurring during the operation of the steam generator, and particularly, pitting corrosion or primary and secondary stress corrosion cracking, so that the life span of the steam generator is increased, maintenance costs are reduced, and the operation rate of a nuclear power plant is increased, with the result that the unit cost of the production of electric power can be decreased, thereby improving economic efficiency. Further, the method can be usefully used to prevent the corrosion damage of parts and equipment of nuclear, hydroelectric or thermoelectric power plants or of petrochemical plants, and that of industrial and machine parts and equipment, and parts and equipment in a defense industry.
US08075955B2
A method for making a positive photosensitive planographic printing plate including of a base having formed thereon in this order an undercoat layer and an image recording layer, wherein the undercoat layer is obtained by applying an undercoat layer solution containing a solvent and an acrylic resin having an alkali-soluble group, followed by drying the coating, the image recording layer contains a novolac resin and an infrared absorbing agent, and the applied undercoat layer solution is dried in an undercoat layer drying step which includes a steam-containing hot air drying step using steam-containing hot air having a temperature of 90° C. to 200° C., and a relative humidity of 8% to 70%.
US08075941B2
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement in a coating line, in which a fibre (2) is uncoiled from a fibre start (1) by means of a pulling device (5) to an extrusion head (3) that comprises a die part (7) and a torpedo part, by means of which on the surface of a primary coated fibre there is arranged a buffer layer which is in tight contact with the primary coated fibre, and in which method the tightly coated fibre is cooled downstream of the extrusion head (3) in a predetermined manner. First there is determined a target value for line tension by means of the correlation between a line tension and a force required for stripping a buffer layer and the line tension between the extrusion head (3) and the pulling device (5) is measured. The obtained measurement data is compared with the target value to be obtained by means of the correlation between the line tension and the force required for stripping the buffer layer and the position of the die part (7) and/or the torpedo part of the extrusion head (3) is adjusted in the axial direction of the fibre such that the measurement value to be obtained from the line tension measurement attains the target value.
US08075935B2
A method brewing a beverage or coffee, and an associated system, include a water reservoir having a fixed capacity, an electric pump, a steel vessel with an inlet and an outlet for water and with a heater for heating the water, a container for holding coffee grounds having a removable insert for selectively optimizing coffee strength including but not limited to optimizing for amount of coffee brewed, and an optional heater to keep brewed coffee at a desired temperature until dispensed.
US08075919B2
The present invention is related to a method for preparing small spherical particles of an active agent by providing a solution in a single liquid phase. The single liquid phase comprises an active agent, a phase separation enhancing agent, and a first solvent. A phase change is induced at a controlled rate in the solution to cause a liquid-solid phase separation of the active agent and to form a solid phase and a liquid phase. The solid phase comprises solid small spherical particles of the active agent. The liquid phase comprises the phase separation enhancing agent and the solvent. The small spherical particles are substantially spherical and having a size from about 0.01 μm to about 200 μm.
US08075915B2
The present invention provides a physiologically compatible conductive agent comprising (a) a long chain water-soluble ionic polymeric thickening agent selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, carboxy polymethylene polymer, and mixtures thereof, present in an amount from about 0.05 wt. % to about 10 wt. %; (b) an unbranched or branched alcohol having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms present in an amount up to about 70 wt. %; and (c) the balance water. The present invention also provides a physiologically compatible conductive agent comprising long chain water-soluble ionic polymeric thickening agent selected from the group consisting of a copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, carboxy polymethylene polymer, and mixtures thereof, present in an amount from about 0.05 wt. % to about 10 wt. %; (b) a surface tension reducing amount of a surfactant; and (c) the balance water. The present invention further provides methods for transmitting electrical or ultrasonic impulses to a surface in contact with a transducer with a conductivity gap by applying to the conductivity gap the novel physiologically compatible conductive agents. The present invention also provides methods for preparing the physiologically compatible conductive agents of the present invention.
US08075909B2
A bioactive agent delivery system comprising an optically transparent contact lens having dispersed therein (1) an ophthalmically bioactive agent capable of diffusion through the contact lens and into the post-lens tear film when placed on the eye and (2) associated with the bioactive agent, an ophthalmically compatible polymeric surfactant in an amount sufficient to slow the rate of migration of the bioactive agent through the contact lens.
US08075903B2
The invention relates to a dengue virus tetravalent vaccine containing a common 30 nucleotide deletion (Δ30) in the 3′-untranslated region of the genome of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, or antigenic chimeric dengue viruses of serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4.
US08075900B2
The present invention is concerned with cancer treatment and diagnosis, especially with melanoma associated peptide analogues with improved immunogenicity, epitopes thereof; vaccines against melanoma, tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes recognizing the antigen and diagnostics for the detection of melanoma and for the monitoring of vaccination. The peptides according to the invention can be exploited to elicit native epitope-reactive Cm. Usage of the peptides with improved immunogenicity may contribute to the development of CTL-epitope based vaccines in viral disease and cancer.
US08075899B1
The present invention relates generally to the field of immunotherapy and immunodiagnosis of autoimmune conditions. More particularly, the present invention provides peptides of the A-chain of proinsulin or insulin, which are recognized by or are specific for proinsulin- or insulin-sensitized T-cells. The present invention further contemplates the use of the these agents in therapeutic and diagnostic applications for Type 1 diabetes.
US08075896B2
A composition comprising liposomes associated with a nucleic acid operatively encoding an antigenic protein and with an assistor protein, wherein the assistor protein shares at least one epitope with the antigenic protein, and wherein the nucleic acid and said assistor protein are associated with the same liposomes is described. The composition provides an improved immune response compared to mixtures of liposomes some of which are associated with the nucleic acid and some of which are associated with the assistor protein.
US08075885B2
This invention relates to methods of treating a patient suffering from heart failure, or a patient at risk for heart failure, using a GM-CSF antagonist.
US08075877B2
An antiviral/immunomodulatory response in an animal is induced by oral administration to an infected animal, including humans, of a human α-interferon. Methods of conferring resistance or mitigating the effects of exposure to a virus including avian influenza are described.
US08075876B2
Methods of treating animal litter and/or bedding material for control of volatile ammonia and soluble phosphorous include applying granular partially hydrated ferric sulfate to the litter. The partially hydrated ferric sulfate ranges from gray to tan in color and is spread onto the litter at a rate effective to reduce ammonia volatilization and reduce soluble phosphorous. Relative to reagent grade ferric sulfate, the partially hydrated ferric sulfate exhibits lower hygroscopicity and higher deliquescence. The ferric sulfate is prepared by a process comprising oxidizing ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid using a molecular oxygen oxidizing agent at an elevated pressure relative to atmospheric and at a temperature of 60° C. to 140° C. to produce a gray to tan colored granular product.
US08075871B2
The present invention is directed to a method for making a new crystalline molecular sieve designated SSZ-83 using a 1,4-bis(N-butylpiperidinium)butane dication or a 1,4-bis(N-butylpyrrolidinium)butane dication as a structure directing agent.
US08075870B2
The invention relates to a process for obtaining hydrogen from natural gas which comprises (a) reacting the natural gas with a mixture of air and steam in a single reactor to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO, (b) reacting the CO produced at a high temperature with steam to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO2, and (c) reacting the CO which has not reacted in step (b) at a low temperature with steam to obtain a gas comprising H2 and CO2, characterized in that in step (a) the natural gas, the air and the steam are fed simultaneously and react on the same catalyst and in that the pressure used in steps (a) to (c) varies between 1 and 8 atm, as well as to a H2 production plant for carrying out the mentioned process.
US08075869B2
A method for producing a hydrogen enriched fuel includes the steps of providing a flow of methane gas, and providing a catalyst. The method also includes the steps of heating the catalyst instead of the reactor walls and the methane gas using microwave irradiation at a selected microwave power, directing the flow of methane gas over the catalyst, and controlling the microwave power to produce a product gas having a selected composition. A system for producing a hydrogen enriched fuel includes a methane gas source, a reactor containing a catalyst, and a microwave power source configured to heat the catalyst.
US08075867B2
The invention concerns a method for manufacturing nanoporous metal oxide or metal active sites frameworks in which the metal oxide precursor is distributed into the framework in the form of a metal soap surfactant.The invention also covers a nanostructure framework comprising metal oxide active sites which are evenly distributed in the framework.
US08075858B1
An injector element that can be used to inject pollution reacting chemicals or other reactants into a container of waste gas or aqueous streams so as to improve the function of the process by removing any pollutants contained therein. This injector element has an exit defined as a trumpet-shaped device which forms an angle of 45 to 135 degrees between the axial line formed by the placement of the injector element within the waste gas or aqueous stream. This device is eminently suitable for use in solid, liquid or gas fired steam generating facilities. By placing the device just above the waste gas stream generated by the boiler the early removal of the pollutants using this element can enable the facility to comply with environmental regulations and increase the steam generating efficiency of the facility.
US08075856B2
The present invention is a multiple reaction set for the production of chemicals by equilibrium limited reactions utilizing plate-type or extended surface heat exchangers. The heat exchangers effectively cool the reaction products in order to condense the methanol contained within the reaction products for separation, and also to warm incoming feed reactants prior to entrance of the reactants into a reactor utilized for the production of methanol. The various reactors, heat exchangers, and separators can be formed as separated zones within the enclosed vessels, thereby eliminating the need for separately constructed reactors, heat exchangers, and separators. Multi-stream plate-type of extended surface heat exchangers can be utilized to allow efficient cooling and methanol separation. The multiple reaction set can also be used for the recovery of methanol from a waste or purge gas stream utilizing multiple reactors, multiple plate-type or extended surface heat exchangers and multiple separators as a substitute for or in conjunction with a conventional methanol synthesis loop.
US08075848B1
An apparatus for sterilizing various articles includes a cabinet defining a chamber and having a door coupled to the cabinet for selectively sealing the chamber in an airtight manner. The apparatus includes a vacuum pump in communication with the chamber for withdrawing air from the chamber and any respective article placed therein, e.g. a pillow, the vacuum pump causing a reduced air pressure within the chamber. The apparatus further includes an ozone generator in communication with the chamber for introducing ozone into the chamber and into any respective article placed therein. Still further, the apparatus includes an ozone filter in communication with the chamber and having a non-consumable catalyst for converting the ozone into oxygen.
US08075842B1
A purge and trap concentrator system that includes a sparge vessel, and includes a variable gas flow valve for controlling the gas pressure in an analytic trap or the sparge vessel; a sensor that detects both a foaming sample state and a high liquid level in the sparge vessel, using one optical sensor; a control scheme that re-directs the purge gases to a second inlet of the sparge vessel during a foaming condition; a control scheme that uses a split flow to enhance the quantity of sample gases passed from an analytic trap; an electrically powered thermal energy source with a fan raising the sparge vessel temperature via thermal convection.
US08075839B2
A wroughtable, cobalt alloy capable of through thickness nitridation and strengthening using practical treatments and practical sheet thicknesses contains in weight percent about 23 to about 30% chromium, about 15 to about 25% iron, up to about 27.3% nickel, about 0.75 to about 1.7% titanium, about 0.85 to about 1.9% niobium or zirconium, up to 0.2% carbon, up to 0.015% boron, up to 0.015% rare earth elements, up to 0.5% aluminum, up to 1% manganese, up to 1% silicon, up to 1% tungsten, up to 1% molybdenum, and the balance cobalt plus impurities and the total weight percent of titanium plus niobium or equivalents is from about 1.6 to about 3.6.
US08075828B2
Disclosed is a method of molding molded articles, amongst other things.
US08075823B2
The present invention relates to processes for preparing an antimicrobial plastic body, said processes comprising molding a precursor and being characterized in that prior to molding at least one component of the precursor is treated with a metal colloid.
US08075817B2
The invention is to provide an in-line screw type injection molding machine which can have a simplified configuration of an injection mechanism and a metering mechanism. The in-line screw type injection molding machine is characterized by comprising: a metering motor 9 which rotationally drives a rear end side of a screw; a screw mechanism which includes a nut body rotating integrally with the screw, and a screw shaft fitted to the nut body, the screw mechanism converting rotational motion of the screw shaft into linear motion of the screw through the nut body; an injection motor 16 which rotationally drives the screw shaft; an injection motor drive circuit which drives the injection motor 16 to allow a position of the screw to follow a predetermined position command pattern; a metering motor drive circuit which drives the metering motor 9 to allow rotation of the metering motor 9 to follow a predetermined speed setting pattern; and an adder-subtracter circuit which adds or subtracts a speed setting pattern signal of the metering motor drive circuit to or from a speed command signal of the injection motor drive circuit so as to compensate an axial displacement of the screw caused by the rotation of the metering motor 9.
US08075811B2
Method for manufacturing particulate chemical substances and particulate products of such substances
Particulate chemical substances and method of manufacturing thereof wherein the resultant particles have a narrow particle size distribution and sufficient hardness to ensure that particles can withstand intact being driven through pneumatic transportation equipment. The method comprises granulating raw material using a spray granulation apparatus having a nozzle plate equipped with nozzle pipes having a length in the range of 2-100 mm.
US08075809B2
In a method for the production of optical bands with several optical fibers, the surface of the optic fibers in said bands is treated such as to increase the optical damping in sections of the optic fibers. The generated damping may be reliably adjusted, whereby during (or after) the processing of the surfaces a measuring light is introduced into the fiber optic and the light output at the other end of the band is measured by means of a sensor such as a CCD camera. Possible production errors can thus be compensated for during the production process, for example, by an increased process time for the optic fiber. Optical sensor bands can be produced by the above method for application in the bumpers of motor vehicles as recognition sensors for the impact of a pedestrian. Other applications in which the bending of a sensor band is to be determined by optical means are also envisaged.
US08075801B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for moveable pieces of equipment comprising a passively charged photoluminescent material to improve visibility of the equipment in low light conditions. This moveable piece of equipment may be a piece of ground support equipment such as that used in support of an operation. Further, these operations may include, for example, nautical operations (e.g., Naval operations or ocean-going cargo transportation), construction of a structure (e.g., building construction), aviation (i.e., flight) operations (e.g., in support of an airport), transportation of goods (e.g., via rail or truck), drilling operations (e.g., drilling for oil, water, gas or explosives), mining operations, oil processing (refinery) operations etc.
US08075784B1
Methods and apparatus for efficient implementation and control of water treatment bypass loops combining ozone and chlorine injection are disclosed. Combined use of ozone and chlorine exploits high oxidation potential of ozone while retaining longer lived residual effectiveness of chlorine for high efficacy against contaminants, particularly biological and organic. Embodiments including automated monitoring and control of chlorine concentrations in presence of high oxidation potentials from ozone are disclosed, as is an inexpensive circuit for using a signal from a redox sensor for controlling output from an electrolysis cell. Also disclosed is a multipurpose enclosure that may be used, with different inserts, to implement an electrolysis cell, an ultraviolet ozone generator, an advanced oxidation unit, or an erosion feeder for adding dissolved salt to water for use in an electrolysis cell. The multipurpose enclosure helps reduce cost associated with maintaining inventories of different components used in water purification systems.
US08075782B2
A method is disclosed for filtering a protein in a liquid mixture in a manner that does not substantially damage or otherwise limit the recovery of the protein in the filtration filtrate. The method generally includes passing a liquid mixture containing a protein (e.g., an aqueous vWF mixture) through a filter while applying a counter pressure to the liquid mixture filtrate to accurately reduce and control the pressure differential across the filter. The disclosed method has the advantage that relatively high filtration flow rates can be achieved at relatively low pressure differentials, in contrast to high pressure differentials, which actually reduce the filtration flow rate of protein liquid mixtures. Further, the method can recover substantially all of the protein that is initially present in the liquid mixture.
US08075772B2
The present invention provides an oil pan with a built-in filtering element which does not easily receive influence of lateral swing of oil, which has high support rigidity of a filter, or which has excellent assembling operability of the filter, or which is light in weight as compared with a conventional oil pan. The oil pan P1 with a built-in filtering element has a filter 20. The filter 20 is provided therein with an oil flow path Q which is in communication with an oil pump. The filter 20 filters oil flowing toward the oil pump. An oil flow path includes a bottom flow path Qb having a flow path wall 7 extending along a bottom wall 5 of the oil pan, and a side flow path Qs having a flow path wall 8 extending along a first sidewall 1 of the oil pan. The first sidewall includes a drain hole 1h which opens at the bottom flow path and through which the filter can be inserted into the bottom flow path. The bottom flow path is provided with a filter retaining portion 7k which retains the inserted filter. The drain hole is provided with a plug fixing portion 1m which fixes a closing plug 10 of the drain hole. The closing plug is formed with a filter receiver 11k against which a terminal end 20k of the inserted filter is abutted.
US08075760B2
A method for determining the concentration of a reduced or oxidized form of a redox species is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an electrochemical apparatus is provided in which the apparatus includes a hollow electrochemical cell for measuring a concentration of glucose in a blood sample, a current of the cell is measured, and a concentration of a redox mediator is determined, at least in part from, a measured current of the cell. The hollow electrochemical cell can include at least one non-metal working electrode, at least one counter electrode or counter/reference electrode, and a spacer interposed between the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode. In one embodiment the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are not co-planer and are separated by a distance of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns. In another embodiment the working electrode and the counter or counter/reference electrode are not co-planer and the cell has an effective cell volume of less than 1.5 microliters.
US08075751B2
A water chlorinator includes an aqueous chloride ion source; and a pair of dual functional electrodes configured to electrolyze the aqueous chloride ion source, each one of the pair of dual functional electrodes comprising a titanium substrate and a mixed metal oxide coating deposited thereon and consisting essentially of ruthenium oxide and titanium oxide having a molar ratio of 5:95 to 25:75, respectively.
US08075750B2
In one embodiment of the present invention an electrolytic cell is provided comprising a containment vessel; a first electrode; a second electrode; a source of electrical current in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; an electrolyte in fluid communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; a gas, wherein the gas is formed during electrolysis at or near the first electrode; and a separator; wherein the separator includes an inclined surface to direct flow of the electrolyte and the gas due to a difference between density of the electrolyte and the combined density of the electrolyte and the gas such that the gas substantially flows in a direction distal to the second electrode.
US08075747B2
Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating removal of molten metal from an electrolysis cell are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a container and an electrical source coupled to the container. The electrical source may be configured to provide complementary current to a spout of the container. This complementary current may create a complementary electromagnetic field at least proximal a tip portion of the spout. When the spout of the container receives the complementary current, and when the spout is in liquid communication with the molten liquid of the electrolysis cell, the complementary electromagnetic field of the complementary current may at least partially assist to increase the flow of molten metal into the spout of the container.
US08075745B2
A polishing pad includes a guide plate having a plurality of holes therein and being affixed to a compressible under-layer; and a plurality of conducting polishing elements each affixed to the compressible under-layer and passing through a sealed contact with a proton exchange membrane and corresponding hole in the guide plate so as to be maintained in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to the compressible under-layer but being translatable in a vertical direction with respect to the guide plate. The polishing pad may also include a slurry distribution material fastened to the guide plate by an adhesive. Pad wear sensors may also be provided in the polishing pad.
US08075735B2
The present invention relates generally to the timber products industry, and particularly to methods and apparatus for the separation of bast fibers. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for use in the separation of inner core from outer bast of bast plants using soaking, cutting, and scrimming methods and apparatuses.
US08075734B2
The present invention generally includes a remote plasma source and a method of generating a plasma in a remote plasma source. Cleaning gas may be ignited into a plasma in a remote location and then provided to the processing chamber. By flowing the cleaning gas outside of a cooled RF coil, a plasma may be ignited at either high or low pressure while providing a high RF bias to the coil. Cooling the RF coil may reduce sputtering of the coil and thus reduce undesirable contaminants from being fed to the processing chamber with the cleaning gas plasma. Reduced sputtering from the coil may extend the useful life of the remote plasma source.
US08075726B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a hermetically sealed container, which method comprises conducting hermetic sealing of a container for beverage or food using a laser welding method, whereby the process speed of the sealing process can be made fast, strict control of the scanning position of laser spots is unnecessary, partial oversupply of energy does not occur easily, and there is no reduction in the welding area or welding strength per area due to the gathering of water drops.The method for producing a hermetically sealed container for beverage or food according to the present invention is characterized in being a method for producing a hermetically sealed container for beverage or food, the method comprising a container body and a lid mounted on the mouth portion of the container body according to a laser welding method to an airtight state, wherein the method comprises a process of welding the entire intended welding site of the container body and the lid simultaneously or almost simultaneously.
US08075724B2
The sealing strip roll has a partially compressed, open-cell, soft foam, which undergoes delayed recovery after compression and subsequent release. A thin, closed layer of a flexible or film-like material with a thickness of 0.002-0.5 mm is bonded to the foam on at least one side surface of the foam.
US08075708B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pretreatment method for coating, which does not limit a coating method, places a less burden on the environment and can apply good chemical conversion treatment to all metals such as iron, zinc, aluminum and so on.A pretreatment method for coating comprising treating a substance to be treated by a chemical conversion coating agent to form a chemical conversion coat,wherein the chemical conversion coating agent comprises: at least one kind selected from the group consisting of zirconium, titanium and hafnium; fluorine; and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of amino group-containing silane coupling agents, hydrolysates thereof and polymers thereof.
US08075704B2
The present invention discloses a method for the removal of a number of molecular contaminants from surfaces within a device. A purge gas containing oxygen and/or water is introduced into the interior of the device, contacting at least a portion of the interior surfaces. A contaminated purge gas is produced by transferring a portion of the contamination from the interior surfaces into the purge gas. The contaminated purge gas is removed from the device and the process is continued until the contaminant concentration in the contaminated purge gas is below a predetermined level.
US08075695B2
The invention utilizes single and multiple frequency ultrasound generators driving single and multiple frequency resonant and harmonic transducer arrays at frequencies into the megasonic range. Generator signals that increase cavitation efficiency improve the performance of the cleaning, microbiological inactivation, sonochemistry or processing systems.
US08075682B2
Biocompatible wear resistant nanostructured thin film materials are provided for application as coatings in the fabrication of load-bearing implants, for example, orthopedic and dental prosthetics, dental crowns, implants for maxillofacial surgery, artificial limbs, fixtures etc. Requirements to these materials include high hardness, fatigue resistance, wear and corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and absence of toxicity. The multicomponent nanostructured coating (MNC) has high hardness, low elastic modulus, high adhesion to the substrate, low friction coefficient and wear rate, high resistance to long elastic strain to failure and plastic deformation, low surface roughness, negative surface charge in physiological media (4.5
US08075672B2
Hydroxylamine is formed in a reactor through a partial hydrogenation of nitric oxide gas (NO) with hydrogen gas (H2) in an aqueous medium with nitrogen gas (N2) as an inert gas. The formation of the hydroxylamine forms nitrous oxide gas (N2O). The gases and the water vapor are flowed away from the reactor in a vent gas stream enabling recycling of the gases. The N2O is removed from the vent gas stream to reduce flammability. Once the N2O is removed, the NO, H2, and N2 are recycled and re-used in the reactor to form additional hydroxylamine. The N2O removed from the vent gas stream is of high purity and can be commercially sold or economically discarded.
US08075670B2
A hydrogen permeable module includes a hydrogen permeable membrane that permeates hydrogen, an outer peripheral part of the hydrogen permeable membrane being restricted, an inside of the outer peripheral part of the hydrogen permeable membrane being not restricted. The hydrogen permeable module permeates the hydrogen by constantly keeping a pressure of a primary side to a pressure that is equal to or more than a pressure of a secondary side. The inside of the outer peripheral part of the hydrogen permeable membrane is not restricted so as to be capable of expanding to the secondary side.
US08075669B2
There is described a composite material such as venting materials and vents containing said venting materials. The vents are air- or more generally gas-permeable venting composites that are oleophobic and liquid repellent.
US08075666B2
A process for treating particulate material containing heavy metal generated during a manufacturing process is disclosed. The process includes providing particulate material containing heavy metal within an enclosed area and mixing an additive of calcium silicate forming material with the particulate material in the enclosed area to create an additive-particulate material. The additive-particulate material can be passed into a waste collection device located downstream of the enclosed area. The calcium silicate forming material can be provided as particles with a particle size of minus 50 to plus 325 mesh. An additional aspect of the invention is an additive for use in such a process for treating metallic oxide impregnated dust, which has a particle size of plus 325 mesh and consists essentially of calcium silicate forming material.
US08075664B1
Metal nanostructures formed by photocatalytic interfacial synthesis using a porphyrin-stabilized emulsion template and the method for making the nanostructures. Catalyst-seeded emulsion droplets are employed as templates for hollow-nanoshell growth. The hollow metal nanospheres may be formed with or without inclusions of other materials.
US08075662B2
A nickel braze alloy composition includes a blend of a first nickel alloy and a second nickel alloy. The first nickel alloy includes about 4.75 wt %-10.5 wt % of chromium, about 5.5 wt %-6.7 wt % of aluminum, up to about 13 wt % cobalt, about 3.75 wt %-9.0 wt % of tantalum, about 1.3 wt %-2.25 wt % of molybdenum, about 3.0 wt %-6.8 wt % of tungsten, about 2.6 wt %-3.25 wt % of rhenium, up to about 0.02 wt % of boron, about 0.05 wt %-2.0 wt % of hafnium, up to about 0.14 wt % of carbon, up to about 0.35 wt % of zirconium, and a balance of nickel. The second nickel alloy includes about 21.25 wt %-22.75 wt % of chromium, about 5.7 wt %-6.3 wt % of aluminum, about 11.5 wt %-12.5 wt % of cobalt, about 5.7 wt %-6.3 wt % of silicon, boron in an amount no greater than 1.0 wt %, and a balance of nickel.
US08075651B2
An improved Exhaust Intake Bonnet (EIB) for an Advanced Maritime Emissions Control System (AMECS) includes a ribbed frame lowered and then drawn around a stack of an Ocean Going Vessel (OGV), and a shroud unfurled over the ribbed frame. The ribbed frame has a more flexible structure to better conform to rectangular and oval stacks. The bonnet includes a peak with a duct for receiving exhaust gasses captured by the shroud. The bonnet is positioned over the stack using a deployment arm. A duct carries exhaust from the stack to an Advanced Maritime Emissions Control Unit (AMECU) where the exhaust gasses are processed before releasing to the air. The AMECU) may reside on a ship, a barge, a trailer next to a docked OGV, or be a stationary AMECU) on a dock.
US08075642B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing liquid fuel and chemical intermediates from biomass-derived oxygenated hydrocarbons. The method includes the steps of reacting in a single reactor an aqueous solution of a biomass-derived, water-soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon reactant, in the presence of a catalyst comprising a metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au, at a temperature, and a pressure, and for a time sufficient to yield a self-separating, three-phase product stream comprising a vapor phase, an organic phase containing linear and/or cyclic mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, and an aqueous phase.
US08075639B2
Provided is a dyeing composition for coloring human keratin fibers, comprising, at a pH less than 8, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one oxidative dye precursor; at least one cationic surfactant; at least one fatty acid ester; and at least one fatty alcohol, wherein the at least one fatty alcohol is chosen from non-(poly)oxyalkylenated and non-(poly)glycerolated, saturated and unsaturated fatty alcohols, and wherein the weight ratio of the at least one fatty alcohol to the at least one fatty acid ester is greater than 2:1 and less than 10:1. Also provided are methods and devices for coloring the keratin fibers.
US08075638B2
The invention relates to the dyeing of keratin materials using dichromophore dyes with a carbonyl or heterocyclic linker. The invention relates to a dye composition comprising a dye with a carbonyl or heterocyclic linker, and to a dyeing process with a lightening effect on keratin materials, in particular keratin fibers, especially human keratin fibers such as the hair, using said composition, optionally in the presence of a cosmetically acceptable acid or base. It similarly relates to novel dyes and to the uses thereof in lightening keratin materials. This composition makes it possible to obtain a coloring with a lightening effect which is particularly resistant and visible on dark keratin fibers.
US08075637B2
Novel modified lignin polymers containing anionic, cationic, and/or alkoxy substitution are disclosed. Further, new cleaning compositions including the novel substituted lignin polymers are disclosed. Methods of forming the modified lignin polymers and cleaning compositions are disclosed.
US08075635B2
The present invention relates to a material for removing dye released from laundry into the wash water, and for removing limescale, comprising a substrate made of natural and/or synthetic fabric, natural and/or synthetic non-woven fabric and paper, at least one ‘dye scavenging’ additive selected from: cationic heterocyclic polymers, proteins, chitin, chitosan, polyvinylamine (PVA), polyethylenimine (PEI), acrylic polymers, vinyl polymers, polyamine-N-oxide and at least one calcium and magnesium ion sequestrant additive selected from: polyacrylate, polyphosphonate and an EDTA salt. The invention also relates to a process for obtaining said material.
US08075631B2
A temporary diagnostic prosthetic socket mounting system and kit including a generally circular test mounting block defined by an annular groove and four axial cutouts extending from the lower surface of the block to the upper surface. The axial cutouts are at least as deep as the annular groove. A band extending around the perimeter of the block is provided which spans the axial cutouts, thereby forming a void in the cutouts beneath the tape. The block is secured to a prosthetic diagnostic socket by adhesive with the band extending up over the upper edge of the block and onto the outer surface of the socket. Casting tape is applied over the socket/block joint extending into the groove. After diagnostic fitting and transfer of the alignment, a cast saw can be passed around the joint through the casting tape and into the adhesive between the upper surface of the block and the rounded distal end of the socket. The gap behind the band in the cutouts provides a void space for the saw that avoids damage to the block, and the casting tape is severed and easily removed.
US08075613B2
An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for replacing a damaged aortic valve is provided. In one embodiment, the prosthesis includes a balloon-expandable stent, a tubular conduit that extends into the ascending aorta, and a self-expanding stent. The tubular conduit extends across the balloon-expandable stent. The tubular conduit includes an artificial valve. The self-expanding stent extends across the tubular conduit into the ascending aorta. The balloon-expandable stent, the tubular conduit, and the self-expanding stent are coupled to provide unidirectional flow of fluid into the aorta and further into the coronary arteries. Also provided is a method for implanting the endoluminal prosthesis.
US08075595B2
Systems and devices for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The systems include a superior component for attachment to a superior vertebra of a spinal motion segment and an inferior component for attachment to an inferior vertebral of a spinal motion segment. The interconnection between the two components enables the spinal motion segment to move in a manner that mimics the natural motion of the spinal motion segment. Methods are also provided for stabilizing the spine and for implanting the subject systems.
US08075588B2
A device serves to insert an anchoring element and a suture thread into a bone to attach a tendon or a ligament without drilling a hole into the bone. The device comprises an anchoring element, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis and further a continuous channel, and a tool for inserting the anchoring element and the suture thread, having a longitudinal axis, a distal end section and a further section being designed in such a way that it can be introduced into the anchoring element from the proximal end to the distal end. The tool can be inserted into the continuous channel of the anchoring element in such a way that the distal end section of the tool projects distally beyond the anchoring element, wherein the projecting distal end section is designed as a stable driving head. The anchoring element further has an external thread.
US08075581B2
A method, kit, and system to separate muscle fiber prior to threading pedicle screws. The kit and system include at least one dilator that is sized and shaped with a leading edge to expand and separate muscle fibers between the first and second pedicles. The dilator(s) expose the surgical area by separating the muscle fiber prior to threading the pedicle screws. Because the muscle fiber is spread, it does not need to be cut to place rods, which facilitates minimally invasive surgical methods.
US08075579B2
Minimal Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) as a surgical approach is increasingly utilized because of the advantages it offers over conventional spine surgery. The smaller incision results in decreased tissue damage, less blood loss, decreased hospital stay & faster postoperative recovery. The drawbacks of MISS are the long learning curve of working through a smaller incision, longer length of surgery, & potential higher complication rate due to compromised visual field. These limitations can be overcome by more effectively using imaging and navigational devices. The pedicle device simplifies the hardest part of MISS instrumented fusion of conventional pedicle screw insertion by introducing a percutaneous temporary device to locate and create the channel for later conventional pedicle screw implantation using available imaging techniques. This results in faster conventional pedicle screw insertion with precision, thereby decreasing implantation error and minimizing soft tissue injury and blood loss, as well as neurological, vascular, and dural injuries and complications.
US08075572B2
A surgical suturing apparatus is described. The suturing apparatus has a needle having at least one pointed end, a channel for releasably receiving the needle, a needle positioning assembly having members for moving the needle and an actuation assembly for actuating the needle positioning assembly. The needle includes a first puncturing point at a proximal end thereof and an engagement section adjacent thereto, a distal end, which may have a second puncturing point, and another engagement section adjacent the distal end. A structure, such as an eye or a slot, is provided to secure a length of suture material to the needle. The members for moving the needle include an engagement member for releasably engaging one of the engagement sections of the needle to effect axial movement of the needle within the channel, a ramp member for effecting movement of the needle in the distal direction along the longitudinal axis of the channel and for urging the proximal end of the needle out of the channel, and a snare axially movable within the channel and having a portion releasably housed within the channel. The snare portion is configured for capturing the proximal engagement section of the needle to guide the needle in a proximal direction when the needle is out of the channel and to guide the return of the needle to the channel.
US08075570B2
Systems and method implant prostheses in the body. The systems and methods provide permanent attachment of the prosthesis in the body. The prosthesis can comprise, e.g., an endovascular graft, which can be deployed without damaging the native blood vessel in either an arterial or a venous system. The endovascular graft can comprise, e.g., a radially expanding vascular stent and/or a stent-graft. The graft can be placed in the vasculature, e.g., to exclude or bridge an aneurysm, for example, an abdominal aortic aneurysms. The graft desirably adapts to changes in aneurysm morphology and repairs the endovascular aneurysm. The fastening systems and methods can be deployed through the vasculature and manipulated from outside the body, to deliver a fastener to attach the graft to the vessel wall.
US08075545B2
A system for mixing or reconstituting a drug contained in a first container with a diluent or fluid contained in a second container. The second container has a port docking assembly for engaging the first container. The first container is rotatable and axially slidable within the port docking assembly. The port docking assembly has an actuator to urge a stopper fluidly sealing the first container into the interior of the first container. The port docking assembly further includes a movable plug constructed to fluidly seal the second container in a first, docked position and to provide access to the interior of the second container in a second, activated position, whereby fluid communication between the first and second containers is provided when the first and second containers are in the second, activated position.
US08075529B2
An indwelling needle assembly usable in combination with an infusion system for infusion into a patient's body is disclosed. The indwelling needle assembly is comprised of a needle having a needlepoint insertable into the patient's body; a sleeve slidably fitted on the needle; a catheter including a catheter tube slidably fitted on the sleeve; a base body fixed to a proximal end of the needle; and a slider fixed to the sleeve and slidably engaged with the base body so as to be movable between a first position to have the needlepoint projecting out of the sleeve and a second position to have the needlepoint retracted in the sleeve, wherein the needle, the sleeve, the base body and the slider are unitarily extractable from the catheter.
US08075528B2
A surgical access device for surgical instruments comprises a housing with an instrument port and zero closure valve. A cannula is disposed distally relative the housing. The cannula comprises a distal end, a proximal end, and a flexible tube having a longitudinal axis between the distal and proximal ends. An instrument seal is positioned adjacent the distal end of the cannula. The instrument seal is dimensioned to have an interference fit with a surgical instrument inserted into the cannula. Longitudinal movements of a surgical instrument are accommodated by buckling of the flexible tube while the relative longitudinal position of the instrument seal and instrument are substantially unchanged.
US08075520B2
A fluid control device is attached to tubes carrying irrigation solution to form the system. The control device splits the flow through a fiber optic scope and a fluid control unit. The fluid control unit controls rate of flow and direction. The operator utilizing a fluid rate and flow direction control device easily controls the flow of fluid into the joint, out of the joint, or no flow. The increased flow prevents collapse of a joint space and maintains clear visualization. The fluid flow solely relies on a gravity feed by having a fluid reservoir positioned at a high point in the system. It contains no fluid pump, vacuum or electronic controller while safely and reliably performing the functions of more complex devices.
US08075517B2
The present invention relates to medicament delivery device comprising a generally tubular distal housing part (19); a generally tubular medicament container holder (16); a medicament container (18); a plunger rod (32); resilient force; an actuation means (34) comprising flexible locking means and an activation button; a release means (40); and a resilient means (60) characterized in that said plunger rod comprises a number of stop engagements (38) arranged on its outer circumferential surface and arranged to co-act with corresponding stop engagements (37) on the flexible locking means, such that when said activation button is proximally depressed said stop engagement (37) on said flexible locking means come out of contact from one stop engagement (38) of the plunger rod; and such that when said activation button (48) is released, said resilient means (60) forces the activation button and thereby the flexible locking means to move distally such that said stop engagements (37) on said flexible locking means come into contact with another stop engagement (38) of the plunger rod.
US08075514B2
An infusion data communication system provides a communication link among a fluid container, an infusion pump, and a patient through which identification data may be communicated. Data devices are located at the fluid container and the patient and conduct low frequency RF energy at a low power level containing the data into the medical fluid. The data-laden RF energy propagates through the medication fluid to data readers at the infusion pump which receives the RF energy and reads the data. A comparison is made to verify that the right medication is mounted to the infusion pump for administration to the right patient. RFID devices may be used for the data devices and readers. Pump programming data may also be propagated to the infusion pump from the container RFID tag. The RFID device at the patient may be writable and may be used to store a patient MAR.
US08075496B2
The present invention provides an integrated measuring device that includes a blood collection system for collecting blood for diagnostic purposes. The blood collection system comprises an electric motor which provides energy for propelling a lancet. The blood collection system comprises a mechanical energy store in which the electric energy that is converted by the motor is stored in the form of mechanical energy. The use of a mechanical energy store allows the use of known mechanical drive elements. The blood collection system can also be electrically activated and is thus easy to use for the operator. The motor can also be coupled to another system component, such as a test strip or lancet drum, to operate it.
US08075490B2
A system and a method for assessing the patency of a vessel or a graft during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery or PTCA, said system comprising a syringe capable of electronically measuring the pressure and flow of a fluid that is injected into the vessel or graft. The system also comprises a reading device connected to said syringe for displaying flow, pressure and flow resistance parameters.
US08075488B2
The invention provides apparatus and methods for semi-automatic or automatic imaging or treatment of occlusions in vessels using pulsed or unpulsed focussed sound waves, preferably ultrasound, in Doppler technology. The apparatus comprises at least one sound transducer member including at least one sound-emitting element for producing at least one sound wave beam; means to adjust the parameters of said at least one sound wave beam; means to spatially locate said at least one sound-emitting element; means to move said at least one transducer member; means to control movement of said at least one transducer member automatically or semi-automatically; means to automatically or semi-automatically focus sound waves generated by said at least one sound-emitting element into a beam; and means to accept sound signals from sound-emitting element or elements. The invention provides method for semi-automatically or automatically locating an occlusion in a vessel, including the steps of identifying regions of a body in which emboli might be found are identified; selecting a region of interest for sonication; sonicating the region of interest with at least one sound wave beam by moving said sound beam across the region of interest; receiving reflected sound signals from the region of interest; and calculating the Doppler effect parameters of flow and turbulence from said reflected sound signals.
US08075487B2
An ultrasound diagnosis system including a motor driving multi-plane ultrasound probe for acquiring image data at a voluntary scanning plane in a body of a patient is provided. The data acquisition is performed by driving rotation of a plurality of transducers arranged in a head portion of the probe toward a target angle of a prescribed rotation range by driving an arranged surface of the plurality transducers so as to make a plurality of scanning planes toward a first direction in a normal mode. The driving direction of the head portion is automatically reversed by 180 degrees to a second direction opposite to the first direction at a high speed in a reverse mode when the rotation angle of the head portion arrives at the target angle. The reversed head portion can continue to acquire image data at the same scanning planes to the previous scanning planes of the rotation drive to the first direction.
US08075486B2
Using specialized cardiac catheters for image acquisition, features of the heart are readily identifiable on an ultrasound image, based on a previously generated electrical activation map of the heart. The electrical activation map is automatically registered with the ultrasound image using information obtained from position sensors in the catheters. Features identifiable on the electrical activation map, presented as points, tags, design lines, and textual identification, are projected into the plane of the ultrasound fan and overlaid on the ultrasound image, thereby clarifying the features that are visible on the latter.
US08075484B2
In a system and method for assessing and modifying fatigue, an input device receives current work-rest pattern and/or sleep data from an individual. A data aggregation and processing platform combines the current work-rest pattern and/or sleep data with previous data related to the individual to generate a fatigue assessment result, a diagnostic assessment result, and a corrective intervention result. At least one output display outputs the fatigue assessment result, diagnostic assessment result and corrective intervention result in a user-readable format to a user. The user uses this information to revise the work-rest pattern to reduce or control future fatigue risk.
US08075474B2
An endoscope system according to the present invention includes: an endoscope equipped with a long insertion portion; a medical instrument which includes a treating portion installed in a distal part and used to perform various treatments in a body cavity and a long sheath including a rigid portion with predetermined flexibility and a flexible portion more flexible than the rigid portion, the rigid portion and flexible portion being installed consecutively starting from a distal side, where the sheath is inserted in a channel of the insertion portion of the endoscope; an operation instruction apparatus used to give commands regarding operation of the medical instrument; a first medical instrument drive apparatus which operates the treating portion of the medical instrument; and a second medical instrument drive apparatus which moves the sheath forward and backward.
US08075468B2
Blood separation methods are provided for mid-processing calculation of blood composition. Blood is conveyed into a device having an outlet line and the device is spun to separate platelets from the blood. A flow of platelets is conveyed from the device by the outlet line and the platelets in the outlet line are optically measured. With said optical measurement, a current platelet yield, a platelet pre-count, the volume of blood to process to collect a target amount of platelets, and/or the processing time required to collect a target amount of platelets is calculated. The optical measurement can also be used to calculate an amount of storage fluid to convey into a collection container with the platelets.
US08075466B2
A machine for forming boxes which have at least a main body with the possibility of also having a lid hinged to it, from flat blanks, comprises a carousel (4) rotating about its own axis of rotation (4a), a plurality of pick up and transfer arms (5) mounted radially on the carousel (4) and able to rotate with it about the axis of rotation (4a) and a plurality of operating stations (6, 8, 9, 10) positioned along a circular path (P) described by the arms (5). The operating stations comprise at least a pick up station (6) for the blanks (3), a gumming station (8), a folding station (9) and a station (10) for releasing the at least partly formed boxes. Each arm (5) comprises a pick up element (11) able to slide radially away from the carousel (4) to pick up the blank (3) directly from the pick up station (6) and to accompany the box (2) as far as a supporting surface (15) at the releasing station (10).
US08075459B2
The present invention relates to an adjustment device (2) for a training machine (1), especially a triceps extension or a biceps curl, for strengthen training and rehabilitation, having an arm or elbow rest member (50, 51) and pivotably connected handles (23, 24) are provided on each side of a seat (17). Furthermore, the arm or elbow rest members (50, 51) as well as the handles (23, 24) are provided at the lower ends of at both sides of the seat arranged arms (18, 19) pivotably suspended at a position at the top of the training machine (1). Moreover, the adjustment device (2) includes control element (41, 42, 48, 49) for laterally adjusting the positions of the arms and in turn also the arm or elbow rest members (18, 19) as well as the handles (23, 24).
US08075456B2
A squat training device. A generally planar base is shaped to receive a shoed foot of a user. A plurality of straps are coupled to the base and are configured to secure the shoed foot to the base. A vertical member is detachably coupled to a front toe portion of the base and extends upwardly from the base to provide the user thereof with feedback regarding a predetermined exercise form.
US08075454B2
Disclosed in this specification is a compact gym that comprises both a recumbent exercycle and a weight system. The recumbent exercycle may be rotated by 180° to offer users a greater variety of workouts. The compact gym's various components may be folded into a cupboard for storage.
US08075446B2
A key interlock system of a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission satisfies a condition of a key interlock system that allows a shift lever 3 inserted in a P-range groove (Parking) 2a to be shifted to other ranges (R-range, N-range, and D-range) only by turning a key inserted in a key hole of an ignition lock cylinder 42 to ‘ON’, and a condition of a key interlock system that allows the key to be removed from the key hole of ignition lock cylinder 42 only when shift lever 3 is positioned at P-range (Parking) 2a, by using a mechanical structure. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a key interlock system that can be manufactured at a low cost, does not make noise, and does not easily break down, as compared with electronic devices.
US08075440B2
The present invention relates to a power train of an automatic transmission that realizes eight forward speeds and one reverse speed by using two double pinion planetary gear sets, one single pinion planetary gear set, four clutches, and two brakes wherein the friction members are selectively connected to the operating members of the pinion planetary gear sets to the input shaft, other operating members, or the transmission case.
US08075438B2
An apparatus and method for transmitting a rotary input into counter-rotating outputs is disclosed herein. An exemplary apparatus for performing the method includes a planetary gear set having a sun gear rotatable by a rotary input, a plurality of planet gears in meshed engagement with the sun gear, a carrier coupling the plurality of planet gears together, and a ring gear encircling and in meshed engagement with the plurality of planet gears. The exemplary apparatus also includes a first shaft member coupled to the carrier for transmitting motion in a first rotational direction. The exemplary apparatus also includes a second shaft member coupled to the ring gear for transmitting motion in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The first shaft member at least partially encircles the second shaft member.
US08075436B2
A hybrid gear train of a motor vehicle that has an internal combustion engine with a drive shaft, an electric motor with a rotor that operate as a motor and a generator, a transmission with two input shafts and an output shaft, as well as a differential transmission. At least one of the input shafts can be connected, via an assigned de-coupler, to the drive shaft, both of the input shafts can be connected by alternately assigned gearwheel sets of different ratios and in each case one assigned gear clutch to the output shaft. The differential transmission is designed as a simple planetary gearset that is coaxial with the first input shaft. The ring gear of this transmission is rotationally fixed to the one input shaft. The planet carrier is rotationally fixed to the second input shaft, and the sun gear is connected to and drives the rotor.
US08075431B2
Sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, casings for sporting balls with enhanced visual acuity, and methods for enhancing visual acuity of a soccer ball are described. In embodiments, the sporting ball has an exterior with a substantially spherical surface including a first pole opposing a second pole and an equator circumferentially intermediate the first pole and the second pole. Additionally, in embodiments a first exterior region of a first color may include a first hub section oriented at the first pole generally opposite a second hub section oriented at the second pole on the substantially spherical surface. The first hub section may have one or more first hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator, and the second hub section may have one or more second hub spokes extending spherically outwardly therefrom toward the equator. Further, in embodiments, the sporting ball may have a second exterior region of a second color.
US08075428B2
A lacrosse head comprising a frame, a plurality of vertical attachment projections, and a pocket. The frame includes a pair of sidewalls with each sidewall including an exterior surface and an interior surface. The vertical attachment projections are spaced along each sidewall wherein each vertical attachment projection is vertically attached to the interior surface of one of the sidewalls. The pocket is then attached to the vertical attachment projections.
US08075424B1
A sports training device comprising a stand alone unit comprising a ball securing member attached to a telescopic member. The ball securing member comprises a collar, one or more arms attached to the collar, and one or more receiving elements attached to each arm, wherein each receiving element is configured to hold a playing object, such as, a basketball. The collar is adjustably attached to the telescopic member, wherein such attachment effects the variation in the position of each receiving element. Furthermore, the to telescopic member is adjustable in height. The training device, then, allows an athlete to practice throwing a basketball from a variety of positions when received from a variety of heights from the ground of the court.
US08075422B2
A multilayer golf ball with at least one layer made from an expandable polymeric composition is disclosed comprising a thermally expandable microsphere encapsulating foaming agent wherein the expandable polymeric composition expands from 5% to 200% of its pre-expand thickness when the expandable polymeric composition is exposed to a triggering environmental factor.
US08075420B2
A golf club head with a hardened striking face portion that improves durability and performance is disclosed. More specifically, the golf club head disclosed may have a martensitic striking face portion that may be at least about 1.3 times harder than the rear portion of the golf club head due to the martensitic crystalline structure of the striking face portion formed by heating and quenching the striking face portion of the golf club head.
US08075415B2
A cue stick handle includes: an exterior casing of conical members; a rigid inner core, which includes linearly interlocked and glued components, including (a) a rigid tube composed of a hard, tensile material that provides steel-like characteristics, including rigidity and stiffness and (b) a pin holder composed of a strong composite or plastic material, having a high tensile and high bending strength, and adhesively coupled to the tube. The first end of a joint pin is securely inserted within the pin holder and a second end of the joint pin extends in an axial direction away from the tube. The tube is filled with a vibration-dampening, foam-like material. The rigid inner core may include a wood core securely mated to an end of the rigid tube. A pair of collars is coupled to each end of the rigid inner core to secure the rigid inner core inside the exterior casing.
US08075411B2
Constant-velocity fixed joints may comprise an outer joint part with outer ball tracks, an inner joint part with inner ball tracks, torque transmitting balls which are guided in pairs of tracks each formed of an outer and an inner ball track, and a ball cage with circumferentially distributed cage windows in which the balls are received. Here, the balls are held in a common central plane and are guided onto the bisecting plane when the joint is deflected. Constant-velocity rotary joints of this type are known as Rzeppa fixed joints (RF) or as undercut-free fixed joints (UF).
US08075409B1
A fencing strip includes a plurality of light assemblies, in communication with the scoring controller and console. The light assemblies are embedded at predetermined locations within the fencing strip to project at least two different types of light through the perforations, indicating which fencer has scored. The light assemblies are located at spaced-apart positions along the overall length of the strip which includes an electrically conductive top surface that completes a circuit when a fencer's conductive blade contacts the strip surface (a non-scoring touch). The conductive top surface is perforated to maintain a continuous contact surface that can differentiate a non-scoring touch from a fencer's blade, via an interconnection between the top surface and scoring console. The perforations allow for transmission of light therethrough. A plurality of ramped placards extend outwardly from the overhang of the elevated subsurface and the adjacent floor in a downwardly angled direction.
US08075389B1
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.
US08075388B1
A gaming machine includes a gaming console. A display is mounted in the gaming console for displaying a wagering game and its result. A controller controls operation of the game, the controller displaying the result of a first game on the display, making payment of a prize if the first game has a prize winning result and, thereafter, irrespective of the result of the first game, varying a result displayed on the display without requiring any additional wager by a player whether before or after completion of the first game.
US08075386B1
A method and a surface for playing a wagering game of chance against a house in which the player selects at least one indicia from each of two or more groups of a first indicia, and at least one indicia from a plurality of second indicia associated with each group. The player selects the indicia which he believes the house will randomly generate from the same groups and pluralities of indicia associated with each group, and places a wager with the house based upon the odds of that happening. The house then randomly generates indicia from the same groups and pluralities associated with each group, determines the number of matches and awards the player payouts based upon the number of matches.
US08075376B1
A customizable ridge ventilator includes a pair of support brackets, a perforated support and a ridge cover. A bottom of one support bracket is attached to one side of a ventilation opening and the other support bracket is attached to the other side of the ventilation opening. The perforated support is a formed plate with a plurality of perforated openings. The perforated support is attached to a top of the pair of support brackets. The ridge cover includes snap clips that are sized to receive snap flanges extending from the perforated support. A top of the perforated support, supports a bottom surface of the ridge cover. A second embodiment of the customizable ridge ventilator includes a pair of support brackets for corrugated roof applications.
US08075347B2
An electrical connector for transmitting data signals between the insulated conductors of a first data cable and corresponding insulated conductors of a second data cable, including a socket shaped to at least partially receive a plug of said first data cable; and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts including resiliently compressible spring finger contacts extending into the socket for electrical connection with corresponding conductors of the first cable, wherein one or more of the spring finger contacts have end sections having a first cross-sectional area, and one or more of the spring finger contacts have end sections having a second cross-sectional area that is less than that the first cross-sectional area.
US08075331B2
A quick lock connector assembly includes of a first electrical connector or receptacle connector, of a complementary electrical connector or plug, of a system for locking and unlocking connectors forming the connection assembly in order to allow its coupling and uncoupling, in which the receptacle connector and the plug each have at their respective ends a system of integrated sleeves and spring housings actuated by a push force. The disclosed embodiments have a particular application in severe environments.
US08075322B2
In order to separably connect an electric conductor (16) to a printed circuit board (2), it is proposed to insert a connecting element (1) into an opening (3) in the printed circuit board (2). In this case, a sleeve-like contact region (21) of the connecting element (1) is clamped against the inner surface (4) of the opening (3) by means of a clamping pin (7).
US08075320B2
The invention concerns a matrix connector comprising a first pair of plug-in connectors and a second pair of plug-in connectors, in which the first pair of plug-in connectors has a housing, in which at least one flexible printed circuit board with at least one array of contacts is designed, which is contacted with at least one second array of contacts, which is designed in the second pair of plug-in connectors.
US08075318B2
A USB connector for connecting with a USB female comprises a rotating shaft assembly which is capable of rotating, metal legs, a connecting line, and a substrate, and said rotating shaft assembly includes a rotating shaft, a rotating shaft sleeve and a rotating shaft support, the rotating shaft is disposed in the rotating shaft sleeve and is capable of rotating relative to the rotating shaft sleeve, the rotating shaft sleeve is located in a support hole of the rotating shaft support, and the rotating shaft assembly with the rotating shaft support is fixed on the surface of the substrate by the rotating shaft support. According to the USB connector and the USB device, the metal legs are formed on the surface of the substrate to ensure the connecting strength of the metal legs and reduce the thickness of the USB device.
US08075316B2
An apparatus for indicating a duration of time for brushing designated teeth and specific portions thereof has a tooth carrying body including an upper tooth carrying structure and a lower tooth carrying structure. The tooth carrying structures are in spaced apart relation with respect to each other in a manner whereby the tooth carrying structure resembles dental gums in a fully or partially open orientation. A first set of tooth-shaped bodies is attached to the upper tooth carrying structure and a second set of the tooth-shaped bodies is attached to the lower tooth carrying structure. Each one of the tooth-shaped bodies includes at least two discretely illuminatable portions. Each one of the discretely illuminatable portions has a respective selectively activatable light output device coupled thereto for allowing each one of the discretely illuminatable portions to be selectively illuminated.
US08075313B2
A transfer coping configured to take an impression of an implant is disclosed. The transfer coping has an impression material contact portion and an implant mating portion. The implant mating portion has at least one support portion and at least one deflection portion configured to be received within an opening on a coronal portion of an implant. The at least one protrusion is disposed on the at least one deflection portion and is configured to engage in a snap-fit manner with a coordinating feature of an implant. A method for identifying the position of an implant in a patient is also disclosed.
US08075308B2
An apparatus for obtaining images of a tooth comprises at least one image sensor disposed along an optical axis to take polarized reflectance image and fluorescence image, at least one broadband illumination apparatus for reflectance imaging, and a narrow-band ultraviolet illumination apparatus for fluorescence imaging. In order to remove the specular reflection, one or more polarization elements are disposed along the optical axis. A filter is disposed along the optical axis to block narrow-band ultraviolet light, and a switch for selecting one of the operation modes.
US08075306B2
Method and system for detecting and correcting deviation during an orthodontic treatment plan is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving an un-segmented current teeth image representing a patient's teeth after an orthodontic treatment plan has begun and before the plan ends for the patient; matching a previously segmented teeth model with the current teeth image; and generating at least one corrective stage to define an intermediate tooth arrangement, wherein the at least one corrective stage repositions a digital teeth image so that a prescribed tooth arrangement of the previously segmented teeth model can be used.
US08075303B2
Method for homogenizing the heat distribution as well as decreasing the amount of NOx in combustion products when operating an industrial furnace with at least one conventional burner using air as an oxidant. An additional oxidant including at least 50% oxygen gas is caused to stream into the furnace through a lance. The total amount of oxygen supplied is balanced against the amount of fuel being supplied through the air burner. Firstly, the combination of at least 40% of the supplied oxygen is supplied through the additional oxidant, the lance is arranged at a distance from the air burner of at least 0.3 meters, and the additional oxidant streams into the furnace through the lance with at least sonic velocity, and secondly the additional oxidant is supplied only when the air burner is operated at a certain lowest power or at a higher power.
US08075301B2
A suction blowmold (1) having a cavity (3) formed by two mold halves (9) for producing extrusion suction-blowmolded plastic molded parts (10) using the suction-blowing method, in which an extruded, plastically deformable preform (2) in the form of a plastic melt tube is brought into the closed cavity (3) and in position in the cavity at least partially sliding on the mold surface (5). The suction blowmold (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that at least a part of the mold surface (5) of the cavity (3) has a structuring which provides a reduced sliding friction to the preform (2). A method for producing such a suction blowmold (1), the use thereof for producing extrusion suction-blowmolded plastic molded parts (10), and corresponding extrusion suction-blowmolded plastic molded parts (10) are additionally disclosed.
US08075297B2
A method and apparatus for modifying the surface texture of pre-cast building blocks including a pressure-applying device so positioned as to selectively engage blocks and being adapted to apply a pressure on the surface of blocks so as to modify their texture thereof prior to the curing of the blocks. Also disclosed is an apparatus for modifying the surface texture of pre-cast building blocks including mechanisms and structures adapted to provide a plurality of longitudinal movements and a plurality of rotational movements to adjust the direction of the wearing tool in respect to the alignment of the blocks when modifying the surface texture of these blocks as well as a block-stabilizing device for stabilizing blocks during surface-texture modification operations.
US08075288B2
A screw pump and pumping arrangement including a screw pump having a chamber and externally threaded rotors mounted on shafts for counter-rotation and flow paths with fluid inlets located at a common low pressure side of the chamber.
US08075284B2
An oil pump includes a shaft bearing bore, a drive shaft supported by the shaft bearing bore, an annular space between an inner peripheral surface of the shaft bearing bore and an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft, a communication passage portion formed on the side of a pumping chamber inside the shaft bearing bore, and a communication groove formed opposite to the communication passage portion inside the shaft bearing bore. The communication passage portion is communicated between a discharge port and the annular space, and the communication groove is communicated with the annular space. Oil is stored in the annular space from the discharge port via the communication passage portion, and the oil flows into sliding clearance spaces of first and second journal portions via the annular space and the communication passage portion and the communication groove.
US08075277B2
There is described a method for casting a component comprising at least partly of fiber-reinforced plastic laminate by which the fiber-reinforcement is arranged in a casting mould, wherein at least one venting duct is placed, wherein said fiber-reinforcement and said venting duct are at least partly wetted by the plastic during the casting process in such a way that venting is achieved through said venting duct, and wherein the surface of the venting duct is at least partially made with a semi-permeable membrane that allows the passage of gases but does not allow or only slowly allows the passage of plastics. Furthermore there is described a component comprising at least partly of fiber-reinforced plastic laminate, wherein the plastic laminate inside comprises of one or more venting ducts, wherein the surface of a venting duct is at least partially made with a semi-permeable membrane that allows the passage of gases but does not allow or only slowly allows the passage of plastics.
US08075276B2
A cooling fan includes a housing, a cover arranged on the housing, and an impeller received in a space formed between the housing and the cover. The impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending radially and outwardly from the hub. Each of the blades includes a windward surface and a leeward surface opposite to the windward surface. A porous layer is disposed on the leeward surface of each of the blades, adjacent to a free end thereof. The porous layer has one side surface attached to the leeward surface and an opposite side surface facing the windward surface of an adjacent blade.
US08075273B2
A winglet is coupled with an end of a fan blade. The fan blade has an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The fan blade defines a chord and a maximum thickness. The winglet comprises a substantially vertical member that has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, which meet at rounded corners. The rear edge of the vertical member has a length that is greater than the maximum thickness of the end of the fan blade. The vertical member has a length that is greater than the chord of the fan blade. The rear edge of the vertical member protrudes rearwardly relative to a vertical plane tangential to the trailing edge of the end of the fan blade. A mounting member may extend from the vertical member to couple the winglet with the fan blade.
US08075260B2
A centrifugal turbomachinery in accordance with the present invention can lower a fluid loss in a return flow path. In the centrifugal turbomachinery, a plurality of centrifugal impellers is attached to a rotating shaft, and the centrifugal turbomachinery is provided with a diffuser having a plurality of blades introducing a fluid boosted by a front stage impeller to a rear stage impeller, and a return flow path means. The return flow path means has a side plate arranged in a back surface side of the front stage impeller, a plate opposing the side plate and arranged in a front surface side of the rear stage impeller, and a plurality of blades arranged between the side plate and the plate so as to be spaced in a peripheral direction. A maximum diameter portion of the side plate is changed in the peripheral direction.
US08075253B2
A gas turbine compressor presents a first fixed stage having a plurality of first adjustable vanes and a further fixed stage, which has an inner ring extending about a first axis; an outer ring arranged about the inner ring and coaxial with the inner ring; and a plurality of second adjustable vanes, each of which extends along a second axis in an essentially radial direction with respect to the first axis between the inner ring and the outer ring; and it is adjustable about the corresponding second axis independently from the first adjustable vanes.
US08075249B2
The present invention relates to a rotorcraft blade (1) provided with a dynamic balancing system having a balancing device (10). The balancing device (10) is embedded in the inside (INT) of the body of the blade (1) in such a manner that it does not open to the outside (EXT) of said blade (1).
US08075248B2
A fan assembly (20) used for dissipating heat from an electronic device. The fan assembly includes a bracket (30) and a fan module (40). The bracket has two parallel retaining walls (31). Each retaining wall defines an opening (311) and two recesses (313) at opposite sides of the opening. The fan module is received in the bracket. The fan module includes a fan (50) and a pair of clamping members (60). The fan has a pair of fan openings in alignment with the openings of the bracket for airflow flowing therethrough. The clamping members are respectively attached to opposite sides of the fan. A pair of resilient arms (67) extends out from each clamping member. Each resilient arm has an engaging portion (671) received in the corresponding recess of one of the retaining walls. The fan module is retained in the bracket via the engaging portions engaging with the recesses and being sandwiched between the retaining walls.
US08075233B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a bolt, the axial force of which can be measured by a supersonic wave, or the like, with high accuracy and which can be manufactured in a shortened process.A bolt 1 having an angular polygonal shaped bolt head 2 is provided in the present invention. A recess 4 is formed on the bolt head 2 and a projection 5 having a plane upper face 6 is formed on the inner side of the recess 4, and at the end of the bolt shaft 3, a plane end face 8 is formed, and a wall, the outside of which being a C-face part is formed around the plane end face 8.
US08075213B2
A medium transport apparatus includes a feeding roller configured to rotate around a rotational axis. A guide rail extends along the rotational axis. A slider is supported by the guide rail and movable along the rotational axis. A rotatable pinch roller is configured to clamp medium between the feeding roller and the pinch roller to move the medium. A lever is connected to the pinch roller and movable to change a clamping state with respect to the medium between the feeding roller and the pinch roller. An arm is connected to the slider and configured to take an engaging position where the arm moves the lever to change the clamping state when the slider moves along the rotational axis and a standby position where the arm is not engaged with the lever when the slider moves along the rotational axis.
US08075205B2
An image pickup apparatus having a construction which enhances the degree of freedom in layout and enables size reduction. The image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel, and an upper barrier group and a lower barrier group that open and close a front face of the lens barrel. The upper and lower barriers are rotated about respective upper and lower barrier rotary shafts disposed on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens barrel. A first spur gear and a second spur gear connected thereto are provided on a side of the lens barrel. A member transmits the rotation of the first spur gear driven by a motor to the lower barrier group, and another member transmits the rotation of the second spur gear to the upper barrier group.
US08075188B2
A liner for use in a bulk container is provided. The liner comprises a first flexible portion, a second flexible portion, a first seal joining the first and second portions, a second seal joining the first and second portions, a third seal joining the first and second portions, and a fourth seal joining the first and second portions. The first portion is a better barrier than the second portion.
US08075179B2
A procedure for a reasonability check of the signal of a temperature sensor that is arranged in a reducing tank, in particular a HWL-tank, is thereby characterized, in that the tank level is detected by a tank level sensor that is arranged almost at the same filling level position as the temperature sensor, in that the tank level sensor signal is compared to the temperature sensor signal and then, if default tank level sensor signals correlate within default limits with default temperature sensor signal values, a functioning temperature sensor and/or a functioning tank level sensor are indicated.
US08075176B1
A method using a mixer for disbursing an additive in a tube of compound. The mixer includes a rigid cylinder and a plunger assembly. The cylinder is configured for receiving an opened tube of compound, to which additive has been introduced. The plunger assembly includes a shaft, on which a cap is slidably and rotatably mounted. A mixer blade is mounted on a first end of the shaft and a second end of the shaft is provided with a handle. The cap is provided with a pair of cutouts designed for receiving a pair of studs mounted on the outside surface of the cylinder, such that the cap may be fitted on the cylinder and turned to engage the studs with the cutouts and connect the cap and the cylinder. The handle may be rotated and reciprocated to move the mixer blade through the contents of the tube for mixing.
US08075172B2
A self cooling light effects device for use in a standard light bulb socket having a socket adaptor, surface embedded LEDs for generating light effects, controllable light effects, and various ways for cooling. Fiber optic cables provide further light effects. Controlling light effects may include a logic board. Cooling may be accomplished by any combination of fans, heat sinks, heat pipes, thermoelectric cooling, a heat conductive filler, and a heat conductive housing.
US08075169B2
A lighting strip along the side of a schoolbus or other passenger vehicle between a door near the front of the schoolbus and the back side of the schoolbus to reduce the risk of people or other objects being injured by the schoolbus. The lighting strip may be focused downward to illuminate the ground and may provide vehicle status information and guiding information. Lighting strips may be provided on both sides of the schoolbus, and may also be provided on the back side of the schoolbus and on mirrors or mirror arms. Further, the lighting strips may be provided on the underside of the schoolbus along the passenger side. One or more floodlights may be provided on the roof or near the top of the schoolbus along the side with the door. An expandable crossing gate on the driver's side of the exterior wall is also provided.
US08075166B2
A light, and particularly a vehicle light, can prevent a reflected image of a resin injection trace (reflected in an adjacent connecting surface surrounding a reflecting surface) from being observed through a projecting surface, thereby preventing deterioration of appearance of the light. The light can include a light source and a lens body having a resin injection trace by injection molding. The lens body can include, as its surface, optical surfaces including an incident surface, a reflecting surface, and a projecting surface that are configured to form a predetermined light distribution pattern. Connecting surfaces that shape and define a structure of the lens body can connect the optical surfaces, and can be configured so as not to engage in the formation of the light distribution pattern. The incident surface can be a lens surface that can receive light from the light source to allow the light to enter the lens body. The reflecting surface can reflect the light from the light source toward the projecting surface so as to form the light distribution pattern. The projecting surface can be a lens surface that can receive the light directly from the light source and the light reflected by the reflecting surface, and project the same. The adjacent connecting surface of the connecting surfaces can be configured so as not to generate a light path from the resin injection trace via the connecting surface to the projecting surface.
US08075163B2
An illumination lamp includes a mounting frame and at least a rotatable light-emitting module. The at least a rotatable light-emitting module includes at least one bracket with one end securely mounted on the mounting frame, a heat sink being pivotally connected with the other end of the at least one bracket, and a light source mounted on the heat sink.
US08075159B1
An LED lamp includes an LED body and a fool-proofing device. The LED body includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The first end portion extends a first connector and a second connector. The second end portion extends a third connector and a fourth connector. The first connector and fourth connector are arranged at the same sides of the LED body and with different polarities. The second connector and the third connector are arranged at the same sides of the LED body and with different polarities. The fool-proofing device is arranged on the first connector and the third connector, which are diagonally opposite to each other.
US08075149B2
A nightlight including a light emitting diode (LED) is provided. The nightlight includes a switch that is operative to control the flow of power to the LED. The nightlight also includes a driver circuit that is configured to convert alternating current to direct current, where the direct current provides power to the LED. The nightlight also includes a housing coupled to the nightlight that contains the driver and is configured to fit within a single-gang junction box. The switch includes an LED that is powered by the driver circuit, where the LED is illuminated without regard to the position of the switch.
US08075144B2
A telescope design having an integrated baffle is disclosed herein. The integrated baffle is configured as both a baffle and a mirror support. The integrated baffle can be shaped to the F-cone between the primary and secondary mirrors of a given telescope design. The baffle design can be adjusted to minimize or otherwise reduce the total obscuration of the baffle to improve the optical throughput. The interior facing surfaces of the integrated baffle can be configured with corner reflectors, so that the detector views itself, instead of the baffle.
US08075137B2
Disclosed herein is a method of producing a stimulus for electrophysiological assessment of a visual field. The method comprises the steps of: generating a pseudorandom sequence of elements selected from at least two different element types, wherein elements of the sequence are assigned equal time intervals; and displaying the pseudorandom sequence. Each element of a first element type is associated with a baseline value, the baseline value being constant throughout a respective assigned time interval. Each time interval assigned to an element of a second element type is divided into a plurality of portions, each successive portion being associated with a display value of the element, wherein display values associated with, adjacent portions differ from one another, and further wherein display values associated with at least two of the portions are different from the baseline value.
US08075134B2
The following is a method to represent images for dissociative stereoscopic vision, which allows, by means of some simple operations on stereoscopic images, to develop a device comprising a processing card and LCD shuttering goggles, which together with a computer equipped with a graphic card with LVDS output and any image display device, enable to perform visual acuity tests on patients.
US08075125B2
An ink containing a hydrophobic colloid charged with a positive zeta potential when the pH of the ink is within a range of over 4 and under 6. Silicon or silicon compound can be limited from being eluted into the ink from a circuit board formed from a silicon wafer or the like. Additionally, silicon or silicon compound, if eluted into the ink can be prevented from being deposited on a resistance heater and causing “cogation”, or to prevent the silicon or silicon compound from being deposited in an ink channel and nozzle to clog the nozzle.
US08075123B2
An ink set for inkjet recording is provided that includes at least a colored liquid composition having at least a radically polymerizable compound, a photopolymerization initiator, and a colorant, and an undercoat liquid composition having at least a radically polymerizable compound and a photopolymerization initiator, the colored liquid composition having as the photopolymerization initiator at least one type of α-aminoacetophenone compound, and the undercoat liquid composition having as the photopolymerization initiator at least one type of compound selected from the group consisting of an acylphosphine oxide compound, an α-hydroxyacetophenone compound, and an oxime ester compound. There is also provided an inkjet recording method employing the ink set for inkjet recording, the method including a step of applying the undercoat liquid composition on top of a recording medium, a step of semi-curing the undercoat liquid composition, and a step of carrying out image formation by discharging the colored liquid composition on top of the semi-cured undercoat liquid composition.
US08075122B2
An inkjet ink set includes eleven colored inks and a surface enhancing ink. The eleven colored inks include a magenta ink, a light magenta ink, a yellow ink, a cyan ink, a light cyan ink, a medium gray ink, a light gray ink, a photo black ink, a red ink, a green ink, and a blue ink. The surface enhancing ink is configured to enhance gloss of an image formed with at least one of the eleven colored inks.
US08075116B2
An ink cartridge that self seals its outlet opening with an outlet valve that connects to an inlet on the printhead. The outlet valve has a radially extending flange fixed within the outlet opening and an annular skirt of resilient material extending from the side of the outlet opening to the valve seat. The annular skirt is biased into sealing engagement with the radially extending flange to close the outlet valve until installment when the printhead inlet lifts the annular skirt off the flange so that ink flows around the flange into the printhead.
US08075114B2
A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes an apparatus antenna and photoreceptor means, the liquid container includes a container antenna communicatable with the apparatus antenna without physical contact therebetween; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; and a controller for controlling light emission of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative individual information supplied through the container antenna and the information stored in the information storing portion.
US08075112B2
A printhead assembly is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead assembly includes an elongate ink distribution molding assembly. The ink distribution molding assembly defines longitudinal ink ducts and an air duct. A laminated ink distribution stack is mounted to the ink distribution molding assembly. The laminated ink distribution stack defines ink passages and at least one air passage in fluid communication with respective ones of the ink ducts and the air duct. A plurality of ink ejection integrated circuits (IC's) is mounted to the laminated ink distribution stack in fluid communication with the ink ducts to eject ink supplied from the ink ducts. A cover defines a plurality of apertures through which ink ejected from the IC's can pass. The cover is mounted to define a space between the IC's and the cover in which pressurized air can be provided from the air passage so that air can pass through the apertures to clean the apertures.
US08075111B2
An inkjet printhead that has an elongate chassis, first groups of apertures spaced along the elongate chassis, an ink distribution unit defining a plurality of ink distribution passages and second groups of apertures in fluid communication with respective ink distribution passages, the ink distribution unit being mounted to the elongate chassis so that the first group of apertures and the second group of apertures coincide and, a plurality of printhead modules for ejecting ink supplied through the ink distribution passages and the aligned first and second groups.
US08075106B2
A liquid ejecting head which includes a flow passage forming substrate that has pressure generating chambers which communicate with nozzles capable of ejecting a liquid, pressure generating elements which apply pressure to the pressure generating chambers in order to eject the liquid from the nozzles, lead electrodes that supply electric signals to the pressure generating elements, wiring substrates that supply the electric signals to the lead electrodes, and a supporting member that supports the wiring substrates so as to raise the wiring substrates from a surface of the liquid ejecting head having the lead electrodes provided thereon.
US08075103B2
An ink jet print head substrate is provided which can prevent voltage drop variations during driving, no matter in what way the ejection energy generation elements are driven, and which can also apply a stable energy to the ejection energy generation elements at all times. The ink jet print head substrate of this invention has a plurality of kinds of ejection energy generation elements to generate different magnitudes of ink ejection energy and wiring portions. The print head substrate also has a plurality of wiring layers arranged to at least partly overlap one another. The wiring portions connected to the different kinds of ejection energy generation elements are provided at least partly in different wiring portions.
US08075098B2
An electronic apparatus includes an electrical load and a flexible wiring member, on which a circuit element is mounted, and which transmits a signal from an external signal source to the electrical load via the circuit element, by a plurality of electroconductive wires. The flexible wiring member is a band-shaped member, and on one surface of the flexible wiring member, an output electrode for connecting to the electrical load is formed in an area facing the electrical load and a connecting electrode for mounting the circuit element is formed in a drawing area in which the electroconductive wires are drawn from the electrical load. An opening is formed in the drawing area and the flexible wiring member is folded such that the circuit element is exposed, through the opening to a side of the other surface of the flexible wiring member.
US08075097B2
A method of modulating a peak power requirement of a modular printhead is provided. Each module of the printhead has respective segments of each of a plurality of rows of inkjet nozzles so that each nozzle row is comprised in a respective color channel. In the method each of the modules fires a respective segment within a predetermined segment-time such that at least one of the fired segments is contained in a different color channel from at least one of the other fired segments.
US08075094B2
An aspect of the present invention is a process for producing a liquid ejection head including an ejection orifice member provided with ejection orifices for ejecting liquid. The process includes supplying to a surface of a base material for forming the ejection orifice member a mixture of a first composite for imparting a hydrophobic characteristic to the surface and a second composite being able to exhibit a hydrophilic characteristic by being irradiated with light; imparting a hydrophobic characteristic to the entire or a part of the surface by utilizing the first composite; and then irradiating the second composite with light in a partial region of the surface for imparting a hydrophilic characteristic to the region irradiated with the light.
US08075093B2
A pagewidth inkjet printhead assembly includes a printhead integrated circuit; an LCP ink manifold; and a flex PCB wire-bonded to bond pads on the printhead integrated circuit. The flex PCB wraps around the LCP ink manifold. The ink manifold includes an LCP lower micromolding having a plurality of ink inlets and an LCP upper micomolding having a plurality of ink outlets. The printhead integrated circuit is bonded to the LCP upper micromolding.
US08075092B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes: a conveyance mechanism which conveys a recording medium in the conveyance direction; an inkjet head; a first movement mechanism; a first movement printing controller; a fixed printing controller; and a mode instructor which instructs which one of the first movement printing controller and the fixed printing controller is to be active. The first movement mechanism causes the inkjet head to make a first movement parallel to the conveyance direction. The first movement printing controller controls the conveyance mechanism so that the recording medium stops at a predetermined position. The first movement printing controller also controls the inkjet head and the first movement mechanism so that the inkjet head ejects ink to a stopped recording medium during the first movement. The fixed printing controller controls the conveyance mechanism so that the recording medium passes through an area where the recording medium faces the ejection surface. The fixed printing controller also controls the inkjet head so that the stopped inkjet head ejects ink to the moving recording medium.
US08075091B2
A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a nozzle that ejects fluid; a transporting section that transports in a direction of transportation a medium on which the fluid lands; and a mist sucking section that sucks air including a mist portion when the nozzle ejects the fluid, so as to move the mist portion from a route that extends from the nozzle to the spot on the medium where the fluid lands. The mist portion is a portion of mist, which is part of the fluid ejected by the nozzle that does not land on the medium and is floating.
US08075078B2
A head driving device, an inkjet printer comprising the same and data processing method of an ink jet printer are provided, in which a nozzle driving unit turns on/off a plurality of thermal elements that correspond to a plurality of nozzles and heat ink discharged from the nozzles, a data processing unit processes printing data and outputs a nozzle select signal corresponding to an image to the nozzle driving unit; and a head logic unit receives the printing data externally, divides the printing data of one address group into a plurality of data groups, transmits the plurality of data groups to the data processing unit via different data buses corresponding to the plurality of data groups, respectively, and controls the data processing unit to process the divided printing data. Accordingly, an EMI characteristic between signals can be improved by lowering the data buses density in one area, and a data processing speed can be adjusted by dividedly processing printing data.
US08075077B2
A method of calculating a correction value including: forming a first test pattern on a medium by using a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group and a third nozzle group of a liquid discharging device, forming a second test pattern on the medium, setting the first test pattern in a scanner, setting the second test pattern in the scanner, acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the second nozzle group, and acquiring a read-out result of a portion formed by the third nozzle group from a read-out result of the second test pattern as a fourth read-out gray scale value, converting the first read-out gray scale value, the second read-out gray scale value, the third read-out gray scale value, and the fourth read-out gray scale value into corrected read-out gray scale values, and calculating a correction value based on the corrected read-out gray scale values.
US08075076B2
A signal processing apparatus has a first circuit board having a digital/analog converter, a second circuit board having an operational amplifier, a connector connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board, a transmitter on the first circuit board, and a controller on the second circuit board. The digital/analog converter converts, to an analog signal, a digital signal as a reference of a voltage to be applied to a capacitive load and outputs the analog signal. The operational amplifier is connected to the capacitive load at an output terminal thereof via a switching element, and amplifies the voltage of the analog signal to output. The transmitter transmits a predetermined signal to the second circuit board via the connector. The controller prevents the voltage of the analog signal from being applied to the capacitive load when the predetermined signal is not received in the second circuit board.
US08075075B2
A cooling appliance, in particular to a refrigerator or to a freezer, has at least one tray located in the cooling space of the cooling appliance, with an insert provided which is movable with respect to the tray and which forms the surface of the unit having the tray and the insert, at least regionally in at least one position.
US08075072B2
Provided are a home bar and a refrigerator including the home bar. The home bar includes a home-bar frame, a home-bar door, and a damping hinge. The home-bar frame is mounted on a refrigerator door around an opening formed through the refrigerator door. The home-bar door is rotatably mounted on the home-bar frame for selectively opening and closing the opening. The damping hinge is detachably installed on the home-bar frame and is coupled to a side of the home-bar door for dampening a rotation force of the home-bar door. Therefore, the home bar can be easily repaired or replaced with low costs.
US08075069B2
A combination of a drive tumbler and a track includes a track made of a plurality of connected track shoes and a plurality of driven surfaces. The track is wrapped around the drive tumbler so that a plurality of the shoes are in contact with the drive tumbler. The drive tumbler has a plurality of drive surfaces and a circumferential rim surface that includes a plurality of shoe contact surfaces that each contact the inside surface of one of the track shoes that are in contact with the tumbler. The shoe contact surface has a shape such that a line normal to the tangent of the shoe contact surface does not pass through the axis of rotation of the drive tumbler, thereby allowing the shoe contact surfaces on the rim of the drive tumbler to transmit a tractive force to the track. A preferred drive tumbler comprises a center hub and a plurality of individual tooth members connected to the center hub by welds.
US08075064B2
The invention provides motorist a lock-unlock wheel that rotates independently around its center hub, which remains mounted to the axle of a subject vehicle. The rim allows vehicles to be towed without vehicle axle rotation, while eliminating odometer reading due to towing. The invention comprises an inner hub spindle that is able to be unlocked from the wheel, allowing for independent rotation of the inner spindle. And, when unlocked via a bolting system, the invention's wheel section rotates while also eliminating effects of a vehicle drive and brake system while the vehicle is in tow.
US08075057B2
According to the present invention there is provided a module for use with a chair having a seat portion supported by a support portion, for triggering movement of a person sitting thereon. The module is adapted for attachment to the chair between the seat portion and the support portion, and comprises a driving motor, a base platform adapted for fixed attachment to the seat portion, and an angled axis system (AAS). The AAS has a main rotary element having a main axis, and an auxiliary rotary element having an auxiliary axis and coupled with the first rotary element so that the auxiliary axis is oriented at an angle to the main axis. The module is designed such that when the main rotary element rotates about its main axis, the auxiliary rotary element also rotates about the main axis. The base platform is coupled to the auxiliary rotary element so that the rotation of the auxiliary axis moves the base platform entailing the seat portion to perform an oscillating combined rotary-tilting motion, the amplitude of the movement being defined by the angle. The motor is adapted to rotate either of the main rotary element or auxiliary rotary element to provide desired oscillation frequency so that the person seated on the seat portion is triggered to operate his joints and muscles to compensate for the movement in order to remain focused on a target. The frequency and the amplitude being such that the compensation of the movement by the person allows the person to remain focused on the target.
US08075054B2
A seating system designed to accommodate a variety of activities that can be performed while a person is sitting or resting, and more particularly waiting. A single tandem row of seats or a back to back configuration of tandem seats has an electrical wire way extending behind or between each seat back, respectively. A cover plate encloses the wire way, and a plurality of electrical and data ports are accessible from the cover plate. Laptop computers, music players and other electrical devices can be plugged into the seating system so that the user can comfortably operate such a device while waiting.
US08075052B2
A vehicle seat comprises a rectangular-shaped seat back frame having right and left side frames; a flexible plate member provided between the right and left side frames; a seat back cushion provided in front of the flexible plate member; a mechanism for pushing the seat back cushion to a front direction by forwardly protruding the flexible plate member that results from the flexible plate member being bent; a headrest for supporting a head of a seat occupant, wherein the headrest is forwardly movably connected to the right and left side frames via right and left link members; and a rear-end collision detecting plate disposed at a portion of the seat back frame behind the seat occupant, wherein the rear-end collision detecting plate detects rearward movement of the seat occupant.
US08075045B2
A family of vehicle cover sections is disclosed, including at least one first cover section comprising a flexible material at least two second cover sections comprising a flexible material. One of the at least two second cover sections is non-permanently connectable to the at least one first cover section to form therewith a first vehicle cover configured to generally fit the contour of at least an upper portion of a first vehicle having a first configuration. Another of the at least two second cover sections is non-permanently connectable to the at least one first cover section to form therewith a second vehicle cover configured to generally fit the contour of at least the upper portion of a second vehicle having a second configuration, the second vehicle cover being removably attachable to the second vehicle. A method of forming a vehicle cover and a cover formed by the method are also disclosed.
US08075041B2
An improved device for attaching a truck top or appliance fitted with an angle on its base, which rests on a profile attached to the top of the side walls of the vehicle bed and standby parts for coupling to accessories to be used, thus making possible the installation and removal thereof.
US08075037B2
A vehicle storage assembly of a vehicle includes a deployable and retractable shelf member connected to a tailgate of the vehicle. In a deployed configuration, the shelf member is supported spaced-above the tailgate to provide a horizontal support surface with the tailgate in an open position and the shelf member is supported spaced horizontally from the tailgate to provide a sidewall of a storage compartment with the tailgate in a closed position.
US08075034B2
A mounting structure for vehicle interior parts includes a console member and a shift panel having an upper panel and a lower panel. An insertion portion that is inserted into a dent formed in a rear end of the console member is provided on a rear end of the lower panel. Left and right outer side surfaces of the insertion portion of the lower panel and left and right inner side surfaces of the dent of the console member are configured to be engageable by inserting engaging projections into engaging recesses. The engaging recesses are provided so as to restrict movements of the engaging projections in their longitudinal direction, and to allow positional deviation of the engaging projections in the vertical direction.
US08075033B1
A livestock trailer providing a dual level livestock loading entrance with a first loading area at a level for loading and unloading livestock or other animals at a dock height and a built-in chute within a second loading area at a level for ground loading and unloading livestock at or near ground level, the trailer further providing a combination interior wall and floor panel with a central rotating mechanism providing either an interior wall separating the first and second loading areas or lying securely flat over the recessed floor in the second ground loading area to prevent access to the recessed floor of the ground loading area during loading and unloading in the first loading area and also providing a ramp in the recessed floor of the second loading area, the ramp being adjustable at a front end to be raised or lowered, the raised position utilized during the loading and unloading operation forming a ramp between the principle trailer floor and the recessed floor of the second loading area, and a lowered position during transport for an additional livestock, animals or other related item storage area.
US08075028B1
A self-contained lever device that can engage and lift and hold the lid of a large trash container open for ease of access. The lever device has oppositely disposed contoured engagement ends and an intermediate grip and deployable storage hooks can be disassembled into three sections for initial transportation prior to assembly.
US08075020B2
A pipe fitting for a heatable piping of a SCR (“Selective Catalytic Reduction”) system presents a body defining a hydraulic connection to make flow an urea solution from/to such piping; the pipe fitting further presenting an electrical connection, which is provided with a first terminal connectable to an electrical power supply, and with a second terminal connectable to a heating element of the piping (9); the electrical connection being also provided with an electrical resistor embedded in the body of the pipe fitting, whose material is a polymeric base and is thermally conductive to heat up the urea solution when the electrical resistor is powered.
US08075017B2
A trolley including a frame and a supporting part connected to the frame, one side of which forms part of an infant seat or a baby seat. Another side of the supporting part disposed opposite the one side forms part of the baby seat. The supporting part is detachably or pivotally connected to the frame. No complex operations are required on the part of the parents or attendants for adapting the trolley to requirements of either a baby or a child. One side of the supporting part forms part of the infant seat, while the opposite side of the supporting part forms—possibly the entire—baby seat after simply being turned. This enhances ease of conversion and makes the trolley more universal, safer and more suitable for use by the average user at seaports or airports, in stations or in shopping centers or supermarkets.
US08075016B2
An improved shopping cart having retractable legs is provided that allows the cart to be loaded into a vehicle while contents remain in the shopping cart basket.
US08075015B2
The present invention relates to a retainment strap for bindings particularly for snowboards that comprises an actuation lever fixable to a tie-rod coupleable to one side of a binding and engageable with a toothed strip fixable to the other side of the binding, the retainment strap further comprising an external sheath fixable to the base of the actuation lever and having a passage channel for the tie-rod. The tie-rod is provided with a plurality of selectively adjustable fixing zones for the base. Symbols that are viewable from a small window in the sheath are provided on the tie-rod in a manner to indicate outwardly the length adjustment for the retainment strap. The tie-rod is provided with a longitudinal slot for rendering the tie-rod more flexible.
US08075011B1
A teaching device for sport configured motorcycles that restricts the angular inclination of the motorcycle and therefore its effective height from the ground when performing a wheelie in which the motorcycle is positioned on its rear wheel as it is driven. A bracket assembly extends from the rear wheel of the motorcycle with pavement engagement wheels positioned on its free end. The bracket assembly can be adjusted to afford different engagement angles to safely stabilize and restrict the effective height of the sport motorcycle's front wheel off the pavement during the “wheelie” maneuver thus providing a teaching platform for individuals practicing the art of wheelies on sport configured motorcycles.
US08074994B1
A system includes a first cable support, a second cable support, a first cable and a second cable. The first cable is moveably mounted between the first cable support and the second cable support. The system also includes a supporting structure supported by the first cable and by the second cable, wherein the supporting structure is connected to the first moveable cable to move with the first moveable cable.
US08074993B2
A free-standing device for launching a liquid projectile is described. The device comprises a body, a fluid reservoir supported by the body, and a liquid projectile launching mechanism supported by the body and in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir.
US08074990B2
A Halloween Afternoon at Dracula's Castle board game which comprises a game board having a first outer pathway level, a second middle pathway level and a third inner pathway level. A plurality of playing pieces is for use by players, wherein the playing pieces are positionable on the spaces. A plurality of player residences, trespass tokens for use by the players. A chance determining mechanism is for indicating a number of the spaces to be traversed by each playing piece. A plurality of play money, spookology cards, lucky/unlucky cards, Possession Cards, item cards are provided to the players. In addition, a plurality of player sound pieces is provided with light and a silhouette to replicate a spooky player and Halloween theme sounds. A three dimensional plastic pentagon shape castle was built on the game board. The 3-D castle has light and a silhouette to replicate Halloween theme sounds and songs.
US08074987B2
A device for reading, transporting, and storing playing cards that have been collected after a card game at a gaming table. The system includes an input compartment to receive the collected playing cards, a reader, a conveyor system to transport the playing cards past the reader one at a time, an output compartment to store the collected playing cards after reading, and an elevator mechanism to raise the output compartment to the table surface. In addition, the system may include a modular erasing and printing device to erase portions of the playing cards and then print over the erased portions and/or print onto blank playing cards.
US08074986B1
A set of playing card indicia is applied to a set of five, fourteen sided dice. The dice can be provided in a variety of shapes, including a cuboctahedron, a truncated octahedron, a modified octahedron, a trapezoidal-based fourteen sided shape, and a spherical polyhedron. The indicia comprising a card value series defined as a series of nine numerical attributes two (2) thru ten (10) and four face value attributes Jack, Queen, King, and Ace. The indicia further comprising a suit series consisting of a club set, a heart set, a spades set, a diamond set and a fifth set of a different reference. Each disposed indicia comprising a unique combination of a value selected from the card value series and a suit series, such that no two indicia are replicated. The set of dice provides for games such as blackjack and poker. An optional wild value can be disposed upon the fourteenth side of the die.
US08074982B2
An assembly including nip assemblies spaced apart from one another along a first axis extending in the lateral direction. Each nip assembly including a driven wheel and an idler roller. The driven wheel rotatably supported about the first axis and the idler roller cooperating with the driven wheel to engage the sheet there between. The idler roller rotatably supported about a second axis. The first or second axis being selectively moveable relative to the other of the first or second axis between a first and second orientation. In the first orientation, the second axis extending parallel to the first axis, and in the second orientation the second axis extending at an oblique angle to the first axis. The selective movement of the second axis pivoting about a third axis substantially extending through a centerline common to both the driven wheel and the idler roller of each nip assembly.
US08074978B2
An image-forming apparatus and sheet feeding device capable of feeding sheets without skewing or multi-feeding of sheets using a small number of side air blowing drive sources. The sheet feeding device has a plurality of side discharge nozzles comprising side discharge outlets for blowing air onto the respective side edge surfaces of a paper stack, and two sirocco fans which are communicatively connected in series as a side air blowing drive source, and are communicatively connected, via a side discharge drive source chamber and a side discharge relay tube (duct), to the plurality of side discharge nozzles. The respective side discharge nozzles capable of moving in linkage with side fences, and an immovable fixed side discharge nozzle are disposed at different distances from the leading edge of the loaded and set paper stack with respect to a sheet feeding direction.
US08074977B2
An apparatus for processing flat parts, in particular plastic substrates, preferably plastic cards, having a store containing the parts to be processed, at least one processing device defining a processing section and a transport device for transporting the parts over the processing section is characterized in that, before the processing device, a feed device extending over a feed section is provided, and in that the feed device comprises aligning means for aligning the parts over the feed section. A suitable method has appropriate method steps.
US08074976B2
In an image forming device, images of originals up to an upper limit number of stapling are read (S1 to S5) and image data thereof are processed (S6 to S8). If a paper sensor has detected a subsequent original even when the number of pages of the read images reaches NS0 (S1, S2), a finisher discharges a bundle of printed papers without stapling. Consequently, the number of the printed papers included in the discharged bundle is made less than the upper limit number. In a case where the number of the printed papers sent to the finisher (S12, S13) is less than a set number NS1 (S15), the bundle is discharged without being stapled after the number of the printed papers reaches NS1 (S17).
US08074970B2
A fragrance disperser in one form includes a single fan that passes air over a wicked single or double fragrance. A second form has the fan reversible to provide two different airstreams that evaporate respective different fragrances one after the other. Where two fragrances are provided, the evaporation may be by respective electrical heaters. A fragrance source may be formed by two sheets joined together to form two chambers each receiving a respective wick and having respective exposed wick portions. The source may incorporate a source of electrical power. An alternative source has a reservoir for fragrance and a wick located in an air passage forming part of the source so that an air flow is guided through the passage past the wick to evaporate fragrance. Where two fragrances are provided, the fragrance sources may be located side-by-side and matching fragrances may have, for example, matching indicia on the sources so that the match can be easily determined visually.
US08074968B2
The laying device of a slender element in a tube comprises on the one hand an introduction cassette and on the other hand a driving body, these two elements being able to be mounted independently around the slender element to be laid, then joined to form said laying device. This makes installation of said device in a laying site easier.
US08074967B2
A gate valve for vacuum capable of preventing a seal member from being cracked or particles from being produced due to a stress concentration even if the seal member is repeatedly compressed in the state that the adhesive agent is separated from the open side of a seal member mounting groove and capable of suppressing particles from being produced due to the rub of the seal top part with the seal surface.
US08074966B2
A driving device for adjusting an activating element of a throttle, of a valve, of a connecting device, of a metering device or the like in particular in the field of oil and gas exploration with at least one rotary gear movably connected to the activating element and a gear arranged between the rotary gear and at least one motor. To improve such a drive device in that the structure is simple and compact and efficiency is increased wherein simultaneously high axial forces are avoided and only a small number of assembly parts are necessary, the gear unit comprises a reduction gear assigned to the rotary gear in particular the so called harmonic drive gear, and a spare gear assigned to the motor which is in particular self locking.
US08074965B2
A device for connecting gas equipment to a valve of a gas cartridge, having a tap body fixed to the gas equipment, an axial coupling ring fixed to the body of the tap and having at least one elastic lug which can engage radially in a groove of a valve of the cartridge, a rotary locking ring which can occupy a locking position in which the rotary ring keeps each lug engaged in the groove and a release position in which the rotary ring allows each elastic lug to be disengaged from the groove, and a cylinder having a tube which can override the shut-off device of the valve, wherein the rotary locking ring has radial coupling means which can interact with complementary radial coupling means provided on the gas cartridge valve, so that the device can be moved from a locking position to a release position by the rotation of the cartridge.
US08074961B2
Proposed is a magnetic valve with manual override, through the actuating element of which a magnetic core that serves as a valve element or that is connected to a valve element can be shifted from an off position into an operating position without excitation of a magnetic coil system assigned to it. To detect the position of the magnetic core that is held in the operating position by the manual override there is provided a coil current monitoring device that monitors the rise of the coil current after the magnetic coil system has been switched on, which device has a detection device for detection of the absence of a drop in current as formed by movement of the magnetic core after being switched on and a signaling device for electrical signaling of a position of the magnetic core that is held in the operating position by the manual override if said drop in current is absent.
US08074960B2
A method and system for restricting access to a valve stem of a valve by employing a valve locking assembly is disclosed. The locking assembly comprises a first means for receiving a valve stem of a valve and an engaging member. The locking assembly additionally comprises a second means for receiving the valve stem of the valve and comprising a slide for engaging the engaging member of the first means, the slide having a first length along an outer periphery of the second means and a second length intersecting the first length such that the second length is shorter than the first length. The locking assembly additionally comprises a third means for releasably securing the second means in position about the valve stem of the valve, wherein the first means is capable of being positioned over the second and the third means about the valve stem.
US08074942B2
A mounting apparatus includes a bracket for receiving a storage device, and a latching member. The bracket includes a sidewall, and a top wall perpendicular to the sidewall. The latching member includes a main body pivotably fixed to the sidewall of the bracket, and a latching portion retainable on the top wall of the bracket. The main body forms two pins to extend through the bracket for fixing the storage device.
US08074941B2
An aircraft flight control (10) includes a control stick (11) with a handle (14) and a root (13) that are interconnected by an intermediate segment (12) of the control stick (11). The flight control (10) includes a pitch shaft (20) and a roll shaft (30) that are mutually perpendicular, the control stick (11) passing through an oblong orifice (21) formed in the pitch shaft (20), the root (13) being mechanically connected to the roll shaft (30) by a mechanical connection (40), while the intermediate segment (12) is connected to the pitch shaft (20) via a connection pin (70) that passes through the intermediate segment (12) and that is arranged axially in the oblong orifice (21).
US08074939B2
A system and method is described generally for deforming a surface of a body to alter a fluid flow in order to change the characteristics of the fluid flow about the body.
US08074938B2
A system and method is described generally for deforming a first surface of a body and deforming a second surface of a body to alter a fluid flow in order to change the characteristics of the fluid flow about the body and thereby control the fluid dynamic forces on the body.
US08074933B2
An aircraft (10) having a cabin (14) with a plurality of potable-water-using stations (22) that drain graywater to a transfer tank (24). The graywater ejection system pressurizes the transfer tank (24) at appropriate times and/or places, so that graywater can be ejected through a drainmast (26) without the help of gravity. This graywater ejection system eliminates the need for a discharge line from the transfer tank (24) and frees the aircraft's fuselage (12) from having an inconvenient port associated with such a discharge line.
US08074931B2
An in-flight refueling device includes an arm, ring and actuator. The arm has a proximate end and a distal end. The ring is secured to the distal end and is configured to releasably secure a drogue for a refueling hose. The actuator is secured to the proximate end and is configured to extend the arm a predetermined distance.
US08074923B2
An engine mounting apparatus for attaching an engine to a suspension pylon includes a mounting block, first and second links connectable between the engine and the mount block and first and second fixings connectable between the suspension pylon and the mount block. The apparatus further has a catcher link, located between the first and second links, that is connectable to the engine at a first end and to the suspension pylon at a second end via a third fixing with a clearance between the catcher link and the engine such that no load is transferred between the engine and the suspension pylon in normal operation. The apparatus also has a catcher fixing between the mount block and the catcher link, the catcher fixing having a clearance with respect to the mount block such that no load is transferred between the mount block and the catcher link in normal operation.
US08074921B2
A rotor for a helicopter, the rotor having a drive shaft rotating about a first axis; a hub connected functionally to the drive shaft in angularly fixed manner with respect to the first axis and in rotary manner with respect to a second axis crosswise to the first axis; and two blades connected to the hub in angularly fixed manner with respect to the first and second axis and in rotary manner with respect to respective third axes; the rotor also having supporting means for supporting the blades with respect to the hub in rotary manner about the respective third axes; the supporting means having at least one supporting member made at least partly of elastomeric material and interposed between a first surface and a second surface integral with a respective blade and the hub respectively; and the supporting member deforming, in use, to permit rotation of the blade, with respect to the hub, about the respective third axis.
US08074917B1
A flying cycle apparatus comprises a fuselage and a pair of wings extending laterally from the fuselage to provide lift. A jet engine is mounted within the fuselage with the air intake thereof extending through the front of the fuselage. The jet engine has a jet exhaust extending through the rear thereof with one or more jet exhaust ports extending downwardly through the bottom thereof. The one or more jet exhaust ports provide vertical take off and landing capability. A pilot seat is positioned on top of the fuselage with the pilot seat being adapted to have a pilot's legs straddle the fuselage. The pilot seat if further adapted to have an occupant able to access to a control panel. The control panel has means for controlling the proportion of jet exhaust exiting from each of the jet exhaust and jet exhaust ports. The control panel further including a control joystick which allows the user to maintain a stable position during vertical take off and landing maneuvers and to turn and bank when flying.
US08074916B2
A cable reel or cable reel assembly is provided for storing, deploying, retrieving and transporting a cable assembly (having a cable and connectors). The cable reel includes a central hub and two side flanges constructed, in one embodiment, of composite plastic material having reinforcing material(s). An annular rim and spaced apart spoke sections in each side flange function to provide multiple carrying handles. In a specific embodiment, a secondary hub (and third flange) adjacent the central hub is positioned and disposed within a side periphery defined by the annular rim of one of the side flanges enabling two cable reels to be stacked together such that the annular rims of respective cable reels may be in close or actual contact. In another embodiment, a retractable handle is disposed within the side periphery when in the retracted position.
US08074909B2
The present invention is directed to a method for dry milling a material containing a carbonate ore. The method comprises the following steps: (a) dry milling the material in at least one milling unit: (i) in the presence of at least one polyalkylene glycol polymer having monomer units forming a backbone, where at least 90% of the monomer units forming the backbone of the polymer are constituted by ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or their mixtures, and where the polymer has a molecular weight of at least equal to 400 g/mole, (ii) such that the milling unit contains a quantity of water that is less than 10% in dry weight of the material in the milling unit; (b) optionally classifying the material from step a) with at least one classification unit; and (c) optionally repeating steps a) and/or b) with all or part of the material from step a) and/or step b).
US08074902B2
A nozzle for dispensing a random pattern of liquid adhesive filaments generally comprises an adhesive shim plate positioned between first and second air shim plates. The first air shim plate includes air slots configured to direct pressurized process air along a first angle relative to the adhesive shim plate, and the second air shim plate includes air slots configured to direct pressurized process air along a second angle relative to the adhesive shim plate. The first angle is different than the second angle so that the first and second air shim plates direct the pressurized process air asymmetrically toward adhesive filaments discharging from liquid slots in the adhesive shim plate.
US08074896B2
The invention is an apparatus and methods for optimizing the performance and protecting one or more aerosol generating transducers from deterioration while operating in a chemically reactive aqueous solution by utilizing one or more protective barrier techniques to eliminate chemical interaction between the aqueous solution and the transducers. The method of the present invention produces an aerosol producing transducer with the transducer housing and assembly to be constructed in such a way as to assure its efficient and effective long-term and problem free operation in an aqueous solution that is chemically reactive.
US08074892B2
Methods and systems for operating a fuel fired appliance that may include an optional hardware component such as a damper are disclosed. In some cases, the presence of the optional hardware component is detected, and it is determined whether the optional hardware component is required for future operation of the fuel fired appliance. The fuel fired appliance may be operated normally if the optional hardware component is present and required, or, in some cases, if the optional hardware component is determined to be not required. If the optional hardware component is absent but required, normal operation of the fuel fired appliance may be stopped.
US08074887B2
The invention in one embodiment is an optical reader having a plurality of imaging modules. In one method for operating a multiple imaging module reader of the invention, a second frame of image data captured via actuation of a second imaging module is automatically captured and subjected to decoding in the case an attempt to decode using a frame of image data captured via actuation of a first imaging module fails. In another embodiment, a frame of image data captured via actuation of an image sensor of a first module and actuation of illumination of a second imaging module is subjected to decoding. In another embodiment, frames of image data captured via actuation of image sensors of spaced apart modules are combined. The various modules of a multiple imaging module reader can be adapted to have different best focus positions so that a field depth of the reader is improved.
US08074885B2
An integrated RF card reader includes an integrated RF transmission unit including a Felica chip and a Felica security unit performing a security function that is needed to process a Felica type RF card where an RF function is removed. Since a variety of types can be embodied through a single RF transmission circuit by using the integrated RF card reader, a manufacturing cost can be reduced.
US08074878B1
The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method, and more particularly to a system and method of pre-approving applicants for visa processing using an emerging country's international travel approval control card, i.e. an electronic data card that includes biometric verification means for verifying a biometric identifier stored thereon, used to uniquely identify the card holder to a local foreign embassy as pre-approved for visa application processing.
US08074875B2
The invention is especially intended for visually impaired persons who are not able to read text printed on products or product containers. With the invented method at least a part of a product description, which corresponds to a bar code read and which is fetched from a product information database, is stored in at least one memory accessible to the terminal. After this, in response to a command ordered by a user of the terminal, the RFID identifier attached to the terminal is read and the product description is presented in speech format so that the information readable in the memory and the RFID identifier is utilized in the presentation. The terminal is preferably a mobile station equipped with a speech synthesizer. A visually impaired person can point with the terminal to one or more products and listen via an audio system of the terminal to the product descriptions related to them. When RFID identifiers are attached to the product, the products need to be pointed to as precisely when reading bar codes. The products are, for example, foodstuff or medicine.
US08074873B1
Systems and methods are provided to perform credit valuation adjustment analyses.
US08074872B2
An electronic payment terminal includes a data entry device, a processor and a memory. The memory contains a structure arranged to list at least one customer identifier, a personal identification number and an amount, all associated. The memory also contains a program having comprising instructions for storing, in an example of the structure after entry, the customer identifier and the personal identification number. The same example of the structure is then updated locally by payments out and in made on the terminal on behalf of the customer identified.
US08074871B2
Methods and systems for validating a negotiable instrument. One method can include obtaining an electronic image of the negotiable instrument, electronically determining a first value and a second value of the negotiable instrument based on the electronic image, and automatically validating the negotiable instrument if the first value is substantially equal to the second value.
US08074857B2
A mechanical device and method for gathering and securing tissue with a fastener. The device includes an applicator assembly configured to deploy a fastener in a first direction, a tissue manipulation assembly configured to move from a relaxed position to a grasping position in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and a translating trigger assembly coupled to the applicator assembly and the tissue manipulation assembly. The trigger assembly is configured to move from a relaxed position, through a first position, to a second position along a third direction transverse to the first and second direction. Operation of the trigger assembly from the relaxed position through the first position along the third direction causes the tissue manipulation assembly to move in the second direction to gather a portion of the tissue. Continued operation of the trigger assembly along the third direction causes the applicator assembly to deploy the fastener.
US08074851B2
The invention provides improvements for an enclosed carrier configured for mounting on top of a car.
US08074850B2
A holster assembly for integral attachment to a garment of the type typically worn by individuals engaged in law enforcement and related activities. The holster assembly comprising a flexible backing member having an outer mountable surface for sewingly attaching thereto an intermediate backing member, which is capable of supporting and mounting thereon a pocket for receiving and accepting therein a rigid sleeve fitted interiorly with a Taser® device. The pocket is fabricated from a unified piece of material and shaped accordingly to distinctly define a frontal tapered member bounded by a right side member and a left side member integrally incorporating an outer extending flange. The pocket is further supported by and fitted with a base member connected along its leading edge to a bottom end of each side member, along a leading edge of the frontal tapered member, and to a lowermost portion of the intermediate backing member. A shortened sleeve strap is connected to a top end of the right side member, while a second end is connected to a portion of the rigid sleeve to assist in securing its position within the pocket. A lengthened strap member, which comprises an end mounted to the outer mountable surface and a second end temporally connected to an apex section of the outer mountable surface, slippingly engages over a lower handle portion of the Taser® device to further retain its position within the rigid sleeve.
US08074849B2
A toggle-action dispensing closure is provided for manipulation between a closed, non-dispensing orientation and an open, dispensing orientation that is easily assembled, resists inadvertent opening and has an improved aesthetic appearance for variously shaped closures. The closure includes an actuator rotationally mounted on a housing whereby the housing may be secured to a container. The axis of rotation of the actuator is asymmetrically disposed in the housing. The actuator has a rear flange with an articulatable hinge that is longer than its front flange. When the closure is securely mounted to a container, the portion of the rear flange below the hinge resiliently contacts the container assisting in preventing inadvertently opening the closure.
US08074843B2
A two-part double syringe or double cartridge having associated, isolated containers with respective outlets which are connected to each other by a connecting element, the connecting element forming a unit that includes a holder with two container receptacles, a support wall, and a one-piece retaining flange, the support wall having recesses for receiving the container outlets and the container receptacles having respective guiding sleeves, and the outlet side being configured as a fastening area for the attachment of a mixer or accessory. Such a double syringe allows the containers to be filled separately, is very solid, and can be operated like a one-piece double syringe.
US08074839B2
A fluid dispenser assembly includes an outer receptacle with an opening, the receptacle including an inside wall defining an inside space; internal trim disposed in the inside space; a dispenser member, such as a pump, for dispensing the fluid; and a barrier envelope for containing the fluid, the envelope being disposed inside the internal trim so that the fluid is not in contact with said internal trim. The receptacle is made of a transparent or translucent material, such as glass, so that the internal trim is visible through the receptacle, and the internal trim is substantially opaque so as to mask at least some, and preferably all, of the barrier envelope.
US08074826B2
A linerless tank structure has a body that defines an enclosed interior volume. The body has a cylindrical section having an axis of symmetry and a dome section coupled with the cylindrical section. The construction of the pressure vessel includes multiple fiber plies. At least one of the fiber plies is a helical ply having fibers traversing the dome helically about the axis of symmetry. At least a second of the fiber plies is a braided or woven ply.
US08074822B1
A packaging system is provided including a container having a plurality of walls and a flexible liner film placed in a product receiving chamber defined by the walls. The liner film comprises a base film having a first surface, a second surface and at least one side margin. A cold seal cohesive material layer is applied to the second surface of the base film so that at least a portion of at least one side margin of the base film is substantially free of cold seal cohesive material. A release film is laminated to the cold seal cohesive material layer and at least partially overlaps a portion of side margin substantially free of cold seal cohesive material.
US08074821B2
A container assembly including a container and a cap disposed on the container. The cap is moveable between a closed condition and an open condition. The cap has two opposing side wall regions and an end region disposed between the two opposing side wall regions. At least one of the side wall regions has a container-engaging portion moveable between a closed position where the container-engaging portion engages the container to resist opening of the cap, and a second position where the container-engaging portion is disengaged from the container to allow opening of the cap. The end region of the cap is in a snap-fit relationship with the container. Also included is a cap having these features.
US08074816B2
The crane includes a rotating part composed of a jib and of a counterjib, and a mechanism for slewing the rotating part that has at least one geared motor unit with a motor and reduction gear, and an internal main brake which is deactivated when the crane is placed out of service, in order to allow the rotating part to slew freely according to the direction of the wind. The geared motor unit also includes an internal auxiliary brake which is interposed between the motor and the reduction gear and which is activated when the crane is placed out of service in order to exert on the rotating part a braking torque which avoids uncontrolled rotation of said part when placed in weathervaning mode. The auxiliary brake can be designed to exert an adjustable braking torque.
US08074815B2
A rack for use in an operating room during surgery to hold surgical instruments. The rack includes a vertical support (including an adjustable height portion); rack support braces; rack support arms; a base interface member; casters; a base; and lighted trays. The lighted trays radiate ultraviolet and/or visible light to provide visible light in low light conditions and/or to inhibit bacterial growth. The trays are detachably attachable from the rack support arms which helps the trays to be maintained in a sterile condition, even if the rest of the rack is not maintained in a sterile condition.
US08074804B2
Methods for increasing the amount of cenospheres in a fly ash sample are disclosed. The cenospheres are obtained in a dry state by using air as the “fluid” media for separation. In one version, the invention is a two step process, that is, screen by size followed by density separation such as in a fluidizing vertical column by density. In another version of the invention, the separation by density is followed by screening by size. Additional cycles can improve purity as defined by concentration of cenospheres.
US08074803B2
A flexible package for accommodating a multiplicity of articles, wherein the package comprises at least a side wall with an aperture defined by an aperture edge. The aperture provides a structure for gripping and for tearing away a tearaway portion of the side wall, defined by lines of weakness. The tearaway portion is adapted to create an opening in the side wall through which articles may be removed from the package. The package further includes a strap adjacent to an upper edge of the side wall and defined in part by a upper portion of the aperture edge.
US08074779B2
A clutch system has a clutch device, an actuating device for the hydraulic actuation of the clutch device, and a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes a master cylinder that is actuated by the actuating device, a slave cylinder for actuating the clutch device fluidically connected with the master cylinder through a pressure line. A first branch line is connected to the pressure space of the master cylinder or between the pressure spaces of the master cylinder and slave cylinder. The first branch line is also connected to a compensating tank volume. A second branch line is connected to the pressure space of the slave cylinder or arranged between the pressure spaces of the master and slave cylinders. The second branch line is also connected to the compensating tank volume. A device is disposed to blocking the second branch line during an actuation of the clutch device by way of the actuating device. This provides for an inherently safe, self-ventilating hydraulic system.
US08074766B1
An acoustic panel having rigid, damped faces and an interior layer assembly. The assembly can constructed with minimal layer coupling and common construction adhesives and without the use of mechanical fasteners. The panel is capable of providing significant noise attenuation while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity such that the panel is suitable for a broad range of construction applications.
US08074762B2
A vehicle body mounting configuration is obtained which can properly mount an exhaust system heat exchanger on a vehicle body. The configuration includes an exhaust system heat exchanger which extends in a vehicle front-rear direction, a floor tunnel which opens downwards in a vehicle vertical direction, a body cross member which bridges wall portions of the floor tunnel, and a support portion which supports in a suspending fashion the exhaust system heat exchanger relative to the body cross member. The body cross member overlaps at an upper side in the vehicle vertical direction relative to a partition wall pipe which lies outside of a range where a cooling medium flow path is placed in a longitudinal direction, and the support portion is fixed, respectively, to the exhaust gas exhaust portion of the partition wall pipe and the body cross member.
US08074756B2
A straddle-type rough-road running vehicle includes a vehicle body frame supporting front and rear wheels, an engine unit mounted to the vehicle body frame and including an engine body and a power transmission case, a straddle type driver's seat, an intake control unit for controlling an air/fuel ratio, and an air-cleaner case for supplying a clean air to the intake control unit. The intake control unit and the air-cleaner case are connected to each other, and the air-cleaner case is disposed above the power transmission case. An engine mounting portion is formed in a frame shape opened such that the engine unit is surrounded from a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction. The engine body, the power transmission case, the intake control unit, and the air-cleaner case are disposed in an arrangement offset from the engine mounting portion in a side view.
US08074755B2
In a hybrid vehicle, a motor includes a first rotor having permanent magnets, and a second rotor having a cores. The first rotor is connected to front wheels, and the second rotor to an engine. When the magnetic poles of rotating magnetic fields of armatures and of the permanent magnets are in respective positions opposed to each other, if either of the magnetic poles of the rotating magnetic fields and either of the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets have polarities different from each other, the others of the magnetic poles of the rotating magnetic fields and of the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets have the same polarities. If either of the cores are between the magnetic poles of the rotating magnetic fields and of the permanent magnets, the others are positioned between adjacent two pairs of the magnetic poles of the rotating magnetic fields and the permanent magnets.
US08074747B2
Stabilizer assemblies and tools incorporating same may comprise a body having at least one bearing pad receptacle therein, and a bearing pad disposed in the receptacle. The bearing pad includes at least two separated bores extending transversely therethrough, the bores being aligned with transversely extending bores in the body on laterally opposite sides of the bearing pad receptacle. A lock rod extends through each bearing pad bore and into the associated body bores.
US08074732B2
A discontinuous drive power tool assembly for generating rotational torque. The tool assembly includes a spindle having a first end portion configured to receive a socket. The first end portion has a primary engaging surface and a tapered surface spaced from a distal end of the first end portion. The primary engaging surface and the tapered surface are configured to engage corresponding surfaces on the socket. The tool assembly also includes a pulse hammer engagable with a second end portion of the spindle that is opposite the first end portion, and a motor including a motor shaft engagable with the pulse hammer, the motor being configured to rotate the pulse hammer.
US08074730B2
A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.
US08074729B2
A vertical tilling implement to be pulled behind and agricultural vehicle having a number of gangs of fluted-concave disc blades, rolling baskets, and wheels connected to a main frame. As the vertical tilling implement is pulled, the fluted-concave disc blades move the soil in a direction lateral to the side of the blades as well as up. Meanwhile, the rolling bars aid in leveling the seedbed and crushing the remaining large pieces of soil. The vertical tilling implement reduces the amount of subsoil compaction and cuts through heavy residue making it ideal for use in the fall or in the spring.
US08074726B1
In an aspect, the invention is directed to a ripping mechanism for a vehicle. The ripping mechanism includes a support frame, a ripping member and an impact mechanism which is configured to reciprocate the ripping member forwardly and rearwardly. The impact mechanism is preferably a vibrator mechanism. In a particular embodiment, the ripping mechanism has a longitudinal axis, is mountable to the vehicle and is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. The ripping member has an engagement head that is configured for plowing a groove in the ground and that is pivotally supported on the support frame about a ripping member pivot axis that is positioned such that pivoting of the ripping member displaces the engagement head longitudinally. The impact mechanism is preferably a vibrator mechanism. The vibrator mechanism is connected to the ripping member wherein activation of the vibrator mechanism causes reciprocating pivoting movement of the ripping member.
US08074723B2
A ring member for a downhole apparatus includes a swellable material selected to increase in volume on exposure to at least one triggering fluid. The ring member is configured to cooperate with a swellable member disposed on a body of the apparatus, and may function as a gauge ring or a retaining member. The ring member is secured to the apparatus via a coupling arrangement which couples the body to an adjacent well string section. The ring member may be threaded into the well string. Alternately, the ring member may be disposed over an upstanding formation such as a coupling sleeve by clamping.
US08074722B2
A technique for securing a subsea well that has had some of its components damaged as a result of a storm or other catastrophic event. The techniques utilizes a casing head assembly that may secured to the casing of the damaged well by tightening a plurality of set screws to drive slips into the casing. The casing head assembly may also comprise a tubing hanger. Tubing head set screws may then be tightened to activate the tubing hanger to secure the production tubing to the casing head. The casing head assembly may also comprise a latch-lock connector that may be secured to the casing head by stabbing the latch-lock connector into the casing head and rotating the connector approximately one-quarter turn. A corrosion cap may then be secured to the latch-lock connector to cover the end of the production tubing.
US08074716B2
A fluid bypass tool that can be incorporated into a fishing arrangement between a fluid-operated latching tool and a fluid-operated jarring tool. The latching tool is actuated with fluid from the surface to be latched to and unlatched from a stuck tool in the wellbore. The bypass tool permits fluid flow to the latching tool to be interrupted so that the jarring tool may be operated without risk of inadvertently causing the latching tool to unlatch from the stuck tool.
US08074712B2
A stop collar assembly used for axially securing and/or to resist axial sliding of a downhole tool device. The assembly provided on a housing of the downhole tool and includes a generally annular ring having an inner circumference beveled outward proximate to the ring edge. A clamp ring having a raised portion on its outer surface is disposed adjacent and substantially coaxial with the annular ring. Pushing the annular ring against the clamp ring compresses the clamp ring onto the housing to resist axial sliding of the annular ring.
US08074697B2
The present invention comprises two sheets of canvas fabric or curtains and means for rolling up vertical strips or bands connected to intermediate crosspieces that move along guides when the strips are taken up. The crosspieces have a hollow cross section with an upper ridge and a lower ridge with holes for the strips to pass through. The crosspieces have, on the outer lateral faces, at least one groove for the fastening, by means of a bead, of bands for joining to the adjacent curtain. The inner faces of the crosspiece have one or more rounded longitudinal projections for guiding the displacement strips. The crosspieces comprise shock-proof elastic element arranged on the upper and/or lower ridge.
US08074689B2
A method for making an artificial rattan web, includes: (a) providing a guiding body having a curved surface, and a threading block that is disposed downstream of the guiding body and that is formed with a rattan hole and a thread hole; (b) passing an artificial rattan strip and a thread through the guiding body, and respectively through the rattan hole and the thread hole in the threading block; (c) weaving the artificial rattan strip and the thread; and (d) fusing together the artificial rattan strip and the thread at intersections thereof.
US08074683B1
A valve system that includes (i) first and second longitudinally facing members defining a gap therebetween in fluid communication with transversely offset first and second orifices through the members, (ii) a primary biasing means longitudinally biasing the members away from one another, (iii) an elastic element positioned within the gap between the first and second orifices, and (iv) a repositioning means for longitudinally repositioning one of the members towards the other member against the bias of the primary biasing means for adjusting the longitudinal height of the gap. The members can be repositioned between (a) a first position wherein the elastic element does not seal the gap so as to allow fluid flow from the first orifice to the second orifice through the gap, and (b) a second position wherein the elastic element is compressed between the members and seals the gap so as to prevent fluid flow from the first orifice to the second orifice through the gap.
US08074680B2
A modular electrical bus system has a grounding circuit through a plurality of modular I/O units with each unit being both electrically and mechanically connectable together via a bridge member connecting adjacent units and the main communication module. The bridge member and modular I/O units are grounded together with a ground circuit that extends within both components.
US08074675B2
A faucet handle assembly configured to couple to a valve stem extending outwardly from an escutcheon. The faucet handle assembly includes a handle base axially adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the valve stem. A glide surface is supported by the handle base and is configured to contact an outer surface of the escutcheon.
US08074674B2
A block for chemically dosing a stream of fluid flowing past the block, the block comprising at least one surface for the fluid to flow past to dissolve and/or erode the block, wherein the block is shaped to enable the at least one surface to be dissolved and/or eroded without a substantial change in the area of the at least one surface.
US08074665B2
A cosmetics container for storing and applying a cosmetic product is provided. In one embodiment, a cosmetics container includes a container body having an opening and a double walled cavity and a cap wherein the cap accommodates an applicator by way of a biasing means wherein said applicator includes a rod and an applicator element connected to a first end of the rod, and wherein said double walled cavity is closed by the rod when the applicator is mounted on the container.
US08074664B2
A hair device comprising a cone shaped form with a defined narrow neck near the top that curves in where an elastic band can be wrapped around to secure the hair in place. The hair conceals the device from all angles of the head and gives the impression of the hair standing on end without styling products. There are various decorative attachments that can be attached at the opening in the top or stuck into the holes on the body of the device to pin up loose hair and/or add styling flair.
US08074660B2
Face masks that are provided in a generally flat configuration and are capable of being expanded to a cup-shaped configuration. Such masks include at least one porous layer that includes at least one pleat and that is capable of being expanded by at least partially unfolding the at least one pleat. The mask further includes at least one stiffening element that comprises at least one engaging feature. Upon expanding the porous layer, the engaging feature engages with the porous layer so as to enhance the ability of the mask to maintain the expanded, cup-shaped configuration.
US08074647B2
An impeller, a pressure generator using such an impeller, and a pressure support system and method using such a pressure generator to deliver a flow of breathing gas to a patient is disclosed. The impeller enables a pressure of a flow of breathing gas delivered by a pressure support system to a patient to remain substantially constant despite variations of the output flow rate. The impeller includes a plurality of impeller blades disposed on a face of the impeller body with an inlet area between each pair of adjacent blades being substantially equal a corresponding outlet area for each pair of adjacent blades.
US08074646B2
The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling breathing of a patient. A system for controlling breathing of a patient includes a respiratory conduit. The respiratory conduit is configured to be coupled to a patient interface device and is further configured to be coupled to a pressurized air generating device. The respiratory conduit includes at least two air flow control devices, positioned between the patient interface device and the pressurized air generating device. The respiratory conduit includes at least two volumes, wherein one volume is positioned between a first air flow control device and a second air flow control device and another volume is positioned between a second air flow control device and a third air flow control device.
US08074636B2
A warm air furnace capable of reliably carrying out a fuel consumption conserving operation regardless of a heating load is equipped with an ecology operation setting unit for setting a saving operation function and a moderate operation function. The saving operation function makes a target temperature setting unit decrease a target temperature by a first predetermined temperature after a lapse of a predetermined time after a room temperature reaches the target temperature. The moderate operation function limits a target combustion amount when the room temperature is higher than the target temperature by a second predetermined temperature or more. An eco-operation switch is capable of turning the ecology operation setting unit on and off.
US08074632B2
An improved paintball gun uses a low-pressure pneumatic sear to hold the firing valve closed against the high pressure gas occupying the other side of the valve. In this manner, only one operation is required between depressing the trigger and the firing of the paintball gun because a double-acting cylinder is not required as an interface between the trigger depression and actuation of the valve. The paintball gun is also substantially faster than existing electro-pneumatic paintball guns because it uses a blow forward bolt, in which higher-pressure gas is held directly behind the bolt and has only one direction to travel during the firing of the paintball gun.
US08074631B2
A circuit configuration for switching current flow through an ignition coil, in which the switching process is able to be executed by at least one first transistor that is controllable by a control signal which is able to be supplied via a control signal input of the circuit configuration, and the control signal input is connected to at least one variable resistor.
US08074621B2
The invention provides an in-cylinder injection type internal combustion engine that is capable of controlling gas flow velocity in the vicinity of an ignition part of a spark plug and maintaining an air-fuel mixture suitable for ignition for a long time. The engine includes deflecting parts 28 that have a passage 25 located on a wall face of a combustion chamber between an injection part 11 and an ignition part 17, and deflect a portion of the fuel injected from the injection part 11 to indirectly direct the fuel to the vicinity of the ignition part. Due to the above construction, there is a difference in reaching timing between direct and indirect routes, and moreover a flow velocity of gas that reaches the ignition part is reduced by fuel deflection. An air-fuel mixture suitable for ignition therefore remains in the vicinity of the ignition part for a long time.
US08074620B2
A pre-chamber for use with a spark plug or glow plug, the chamber being secured at an upper end attachable unit associated with an internal combustion cylinder. The pre-chamber is designed to promote faster ionization resulting in more efficient spark to flame ignition (due to voltage buildup being delayed until a generated spark jumps the gap), or beat to flame ignition (due to the introduction temperature of the injected plasma) and, in each instance, results in faster propagation of flame within the compressed cylinder, thereby achieving more efficient and consistent (cycle to cycle) output in combination with lower exhaust temperatures. A plurality of outlet ports are defined, such as perimeter/radially extending fashion, in an outlet end of the pre chamber body and communicate the combusted fuels as a plurality of flame outlets with a remaining volume of atomized fuel within the combustion chamber during a power outlet stroke.
US08074618B2
In a gas-engine-mounted working machine, a gas engine is mounted on a machine body and supplied with fuel gas from a cassette gas canister, a handle column extends rearwardly and upwardly from the machine body, and the cassette gas canister is detachably attached to the handle column. Operating handle is collapsably attached to the handle column. Collapsing-movement-preventing member is provided on the operating handle for preventing collapsing movement of the operating handle, utilizing presence of the cassette gas canister attached to the handle column, so that the collapsing movement of the operating handle is prevented as long as the cassette gas canister is attached to the handle column.
US08074616B2
Apparatus includes a motor-vehicle, internal-combustion-engine air intake manifold having an intake-manifold first shell attachable or monolithically joined to an intake-manifold second shell to surround an internal manifold volume. The first shell has a wall with at least a portion having undulating concave and convex regions as defined exterior to the internal manifold volume of the attached or monolithically-joined first shell and second shell.
US08074606B1
A door section for fitting in a sliding door frame is preferably made of plastic, e.g., PVC. The door section contains a built in pet door. The door section is formed by tubular sides and cross members, and has plastic brackets or fittings that press fit within the tubular members and preferably also may be screwed in place, or otherwise fixed in place, e.g., using epoxy, or both screws and epoxy. Alternatively, the corners of the door section may be welded or otherwise fixed together. The door section has brackets on its side edges for hanging or connecting to the inside of the sliding door frame, and the door section may also have a bracket or catch on the other side edge from which the door section connects to the frame. This bracket or catch is for the existing sliding door's lock. Preferably, insulation strips are provided and preferably an H-shaped vertical section may fit on top of the door section and inside the frame for a fit with less play, and for a smoother or cleaner look. Rubber or rubbery elements may be placed over the sliding door's bottom track, for the door section to sit more securely. The door section preferably also has a glass or other clear material in it above the pet door.
US08074605B2
An odor control additive present in a litter formulation provides release of fragrance or odor masking scent only when litter is used by a cat or other animal within a litter box. The odor control additive comprises a plurality of fragrance scent microcapsules that contain fragrance scent oil. This central, fragrance scent oil is encapsulated in a microcapsule cell wall, which prevents evaporation of the fragrance scent oil and prevents overpowering of litter smell in a closed room resembling an unscented litter composition. When cat or animal enters the litter box, a load is applied to the fragrance scent microcapsules, which readily breaks releasing the fragrance contained therein. The fragrance scent microcapsule cell walls also degrade by swelling and degradation when wet by animal urine thereby releasing fragrance. Fragrance evaporating from the ruptured microcapsules provides odor control and a pleasant scent.
US08074594B2
An indicating device suitable for indicating a number of metered dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container. The indicating device includes at least one primary indicator member having primary dosage indicia, configured as numeric indicia, and a second indicator member having secondaiy dosage indicia, configured with at least two different colors. The primary and secondary indicator members are coaxially mounted. In one embodiment, a device for dispensing dosages of the substance also includes a dispenser housing and a container.
US08074592B2
In one aspect, a submarine with a boat hull and a propulsion drive for the submarine the propulsion drive is arranged outside the boat hull and comprises a housing and a first electric motor, with the housing embodying a channel for a flow of water through the channel in a main direction of flow from an inlet to an outlet of the channel, and with the first electric motor featuring a rotor which is arranged in the channel and is supported rotatably around an axis of rotation in the housing, with the rotor being embodied in the shape of a ring with a ring inner side and a ring outer side, and with blades for propelling the submarine being arranged on the ring inner side of the rotor.
US08074586B2
A seed delivery apparatus has a moving member that captures and entraps the seed from the seed meter and physically moves the seed from the meter to the lower outlet opening. In so doing, the seed engages and travels along an interior surface of the seed delivery apparatus. A seed sensor is mounted on the housing wall such that the seed passes directly in front of the sensor. The sensor has both the light emitting devices and the photo-sensitive elements on the same wall of the delivery apparatus, or on two opposed walls. The moving member prevents ambient light, dust and dirt from entering the housing and impacting the sensor output signal.
US08074580B2
There is provided a housing apparatus in and out of which a keyboard and a mouse can be put and taken. The housing apparatus includes a keyboard housing section 11 that houses a keyboard in a vertical position, and a mouse housing section 18 on which a mouse can be placed, the mouse housing section 18 provided integrally with the keyboard housing section 11. The mouse housing section 18 allows mouses to be placed on both sides of the keyboard housing section 11. The keyboard housing section 11 is formed of a pair of supporting frames 12 that stand parallel to each other with a gap therebetween, and the mouse housing section 18 is formed of a flat plate 14 to which the lower ends of the supporting frames 12 are connected.
US08074574B2
A penetrator can substantially affect the fragmentation properties of a projectile. As a rule, the penetrator is enclosed by an envelope which combines the projectile core and penetrator in one unit. On hitting the target, a fragmentation of the projectile envelope must first occur which needs energy, influencing the further fragmentation of the projectile and the exit from the target. The invention thus relates to a hard-core projectile (1), with the penetrator (3) provided in a cylindrical drilling (4), in the projectile core (2), running centrally on the projectile axis (5), the length of the penetrator (3) extending over the middle (8) of the projectile, the core (2) enclosing the penetrator (3) in the ogival region (6) to the open tip (16) and the cylindrical part (7) of the core (2), serving as guide in operation, is enclosed by an envelope (9).
US08074572B1
A cargo round (e.g., 155 mm high explosive projectile) is provided for dispensing submunitions. The round includes a nose tip, a casing attached thereto forming a chamber, a tail and a payload in the chamber between the tip and tail. The payload includes a plurality of axi-symmetric darts mounted on a plurality of front and rear tandem plates. Each dart has fore and aft ends along a polar axis. Each dart is shaped as a cone at its fore end and includes a cavity at its aft end. Each plate has a plurality of orifices arranged in a regular pattern. Each orifice receives a corresponding dart to protrude from both obverse and reverse sides of the plate. Each fore end of its dart in the rear plate inserts into the cavity of a counterpart dart in the front plate, and each plate shears apart on release of the payload to disperse the darts. The plates preferably have a plurality of notches arranged in rows on the reverse side, together with a lip at an outer rim and bounded recess region within the lip on the obverse side, with the orifices are disposed in the region.
US08074570B2
In a row of lottery tickets each ticket has variable image printing game data printed onto a base layer on a substrate and a series of covering layers including at least one sealing layer and at least one scratch-off layer. Onto the scratch-off layer is a multi-color digital image for each ticket using a variable image printing system. At least part of the scratch-off layer can be left free from printed overlay graphics and the multi-color digital image can be printed subsequently at a different location from the ticket manufacturing location. The graphics can indicate different values for different ones of the tickets. The tickets in the row can be of different lengths and the graphics can be different for different length ones of the tickets.
US08074564B2
A sip and dip cookie apparatus. The sip and cookie dipper apparatus is made up of an upper elongated portion configured to hold a straw, a lower portion configured to hold a cookie, and a cookie cover. The upper elongated portion and lower portion are integrally connected.
US08074553B1
An apparatus for providing protection from ballistic rounds, projectiles, fragments and explosives. The apparatus includes a core, grinding layer and bonding layer. The core is shaped and configured as a structural truss of the apparatus, in which the core includes a plurality of parallel, adjacent rows and the core distributes and dissipates force impacting on the apparatus. The grinding layer is positioned on at least one side of the core facing towards potential threats, in which the grinding layer grinds rounds, projectiles, fragments or other materials impacting the apparatus, helping to dissipate the impacting material and its momentum. The bonding layer bonds the grinding layer together and the grinding layer to the core and provides an outer coating to the apparatus on a side of the apparatus facing potential threats and through which rounds, projectiles, fragments or other materials impact and penetrate the apparatus.
US08074545B1
Systems and methods described herein for aligning a block in a microtome attempt to save time, money, and the sample by aligning a block in any rotary or cryostat microtome. One such device for aligning a block in a microtome has a knife holder component removably attached to a knife holder of the microtome and a pin alignment component extending vertically from the knife holder component in a direction substantially parallel to the block. The pin alignment component has a plurality of front pins extending from a front surface of the pin alignment component configured to slide in response to an angle of the block and a plurality of rear pins extending from a rear surface of the pin alignment component and coupled to the front pins. The rear pins are configured to indicate the extension of the front pins from the pin alignment component.
US08074544B2
A cylindrical grinding apparatus grinding a side face of a cylindrical ingot, having a centering means of at least three rollers and an arm holding the rollers. The cylindrical ingot is placed on a table longitudinally, its end faces being held vertically with a pair of clamps. Afterward, the centering means moves backward and forward against the ingot horizontally to bring the rollers into pressure contact with the side face of the ingot while the ingot is rotated about a central axis with a rotation means, and thereafter the ingot is ground with the grinding wheel. The cylindrical grinding apparatus and the method for grinding enable improvement of grinding processing efficiency of the ingot.
US08074537B2
Spin-in and spin-out apparatus and methods are presented wherein an oilfield tubular spinner used in combination with a wrench detects the shouldering-up of tubulars during make-up and tubular thread disengagement during break-out. Sensors are employed to quantify measurables indicative of shouldering-up and thread disengagement, the measurables being used to shutdown spin-in and spin-out operations. Thresholds are employed to detect measurable values of interest. Timers are employed to monitor and control the spin-in and spin-out operations.
US08074532B2
A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle, in particular for a low-floor bus (31) with a rear axle (33) and having a drive motor (34) positioned transverse to the direction of travel (X) and integrally built-in to a rear section (32) of the low-floor bus. The motor, via the gear train, is connection with a first, motor-sided bevel gear stage (36) and a second, axle-sided bevel gear stage (38) leading to a driving connection with the rear axle. The motor-sided bevel gear stage possesses an input driving bevel gear (36a) aligned co-axially to a transversely positioned motor shaft (34a), which is in meshed gear engagement (36a/b) with an output driving bevel gear (36b). The meshed gear engagement is placed behind the motor shaft when seen in the direction of travel (X).
US08074530B2
A multi-speed internal bicycle hub transmission assembly includes a stationary hub axle, a driver, a hub shell, a power transmission mechanism and a shift control mechanism. The stationary hub axle includes a positioner that is movable in a radial direction. The driver and the hub shell are rotatably supported to the hub axle. The power transmission mechanism is operably disposed between the driver and the hub shell for transmitting rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through a plurality of power transmission paths. The shift control mechanism includes a pawl control member movable in rotational directions relative to the hub axle to a plurality of orientations. Each orientation corresponds to selection of a corresponding one of the plurality of power transmission paths of the power transmission mechanism. The positioner is disposed to urge the pawl control member to remain the selected orientation.
US08074524B2
A piezoelectric measuring element comprises at least one bar with transverse effect which can be used with two conductor technology. Poles comprising the metallizations, electrodes and lines in the measuring element are embodied with one or more piezoelectric bars with transverse effect such that the electric capacitances thereof with respect to the housing are identical. There can be a completely symmetrical design of the poles. A capacitor from one pole to the housing can correspond to the difference in capacitance of both poles to the environment.
US08074514B1
An assembly with liquid level sensor probes which rotate down into a container by means of torsion springs, thereby eliminating failure to the springs due to bending. The torsion springs also act as conductors in an electric circuit without any electrical slip joints or rotating electrical contact joints which can become contaminated or oxidized and thereby interrupt electric continuity of the circuit.
US08074506B2
An apparatus for testing a tire (10), which has a center (M), a width (B1, B2) which extends in an axial direction (z) and a diameter (D1, D2) on a tire plane (RME, RME1, RME2, MBE) which is orthogonal to the axial direction (z), is provided with a measuring head (20) which can be used to scan the tire (10). The apparatus also has a positioning means (30) which can be used to position the measuring head (20) in an observation position and to align the measuring head in an observation direction. The positioning means (30) can be controlled with the aid of a control and display device (40). The control and display device (40) has at least one control panel (44, 45, 46, 47) which can be used to input the coordinates of the position of the measuring head (20). Alternatively or additionally, the control and display device (40) has at least one display panel (44, 45, 46, 47) which can be used to display the coordinates of the position of the measuring head (20). The coordinates are determined using a coordinate system whose origin (0) is at the point of intersection of the tire plane (RME, RME1, RME2, MBE) and a roll axis (R) which extends through the center (M) of the tire (10) in the axial direction (z).
US08074505B2
A system for analyzing a substrate material for a diesel or other internal combustion engine exhaust filtration performance includes a valve that actuates within an exhaust system to modulate engine exhaust back pressure and correspondingly maintain a desired filtration velocity to influence a variable parameter within the system, based at least in part on an exhaust characteristic such as a sensed exhaust pressure differential defined across a substrate material.
US08074495B2
Disclosed is fitting at least one equipment measurement to a performer of a pre-determined activity to improve performance. Said equipment measurement is fitted via an analysis of pre-swing or pre-action movement or position, before the swing or action of the pre-determined activity is determined to begin. Said fitted equipment measurement may be used to fit at least one further equipment measurement as applicable based on a performance analysis of said performer. The fitting of golf equipment in such manner is particularly disclosed, including fitting a golf club measurement of a pre-swing rotation point location (waggle weight point) and using said measurement to further fit a golf club measurement (waggle weight) about said rotation point location based on golfer performance. Disclosed is making golf clubs or other equipment using the at least one fitted equipment measurement. Also disclosed is the producing and using of devices to aid in fitting said equipment measurement(s) and making said equipment, including a test golf club to aid in measuring a golf club pre-swing rotation point location and a waggle weight scale with a fulcrum, its fulcrum placed at a location corresponding to a fitted golf club pre-swing rotation point location.
US08074488B2
A device for measuring the coefficient of friction between a test surface and a test material, comprising a frame, a skid pad comprising the test material and attached to an underside of the frame to contact the test surface, a longitudinal force measuring device attached to the frame and having an axis, and a longitudinal pulling assembly exerting a longitudinal pulling force on the drag sled and the longitudinal force measuring device. The longitudinal force measuring device is capable of outputting data indicative of the longitudinal force applied to the device. The longitudinal pulling force is vertically aligned with the axis of the longitudinal force measuring device.
US08074485B2
A tool head assembly for a pressing device includes a tool head frame having a first die and a moving ram having a second die operatively coupled to the moving ram. The moving ram is movable along a gripping stroke between an open position and a closed position. The second die is configured to hold a work piece between the second die and the first die when the moving ram is in the closed position. The tool head assembly also includes a latch mechanism, wherein the latch mechanism is actuated to release the moving ram from the open position to the closed position to thereby hold the work piece within the tool head assembly.
US08074483B2
We manufacture a two-piece can by the method using a laminated steel sheet as the base material, having the steps of: drawing a cylindrical blank for several times to form a can body in a shape of cylinder integrated with bottom; forming a tapered part extending outward from the can body in the radial direction thereof at the tip of the opening of the can body; applying diametral reduction to the tapered part to the diameter of the can body; and applying diametral reduction to the opening side of the can body to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the can body, while satisfying the formulae (1) and (2), 1.5≦h/(R−R) (1) d/R≦0.25 (2) where h is the height from the can bottom to the tip of the opening, R is the circular blank positional radius, r is the radius of the can bottom, and d is the radius of the tip of the opening.
US08074479B2
An electromechanical locking system (8) comprises a lock (12) and a key (14). The lock includes a cylinder (16), an electronic control unit (18) which is housed within the cylinder, a tailpiece (20), and an electrically-operable clutch mechanism (22) which is housed within the cylinder (16). The cylinder (16) is rotatably mounted to a first component to be locked and the tailpiece includes an adapter (24) which is operable to interfere with the movement of a second component to be locked to the first component. The control unit (18) draws power from the key and is operable to generate an actuation signal for actuating the clutch mechanism (22) which releasably connects the cylinder and the tailpiece when actuated, thereby causing them to become rotatably coupled.
US08074478B1
A horizontal locking case lock includes a coupler fastened to a case and a lock with a housing surface latchable horizontally by the coupler for locking. The coupler includes at least a first wedge portion and at least one latch trough. The lock contains a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism drives and controls movement of a first retainer to further drive a second retainer to force a steel ball into or out of the latch trough, thereby control locking or unlocking of the coupler and the lock. Such a structure can safely lock the case at a public location to avert hitting and pilferage.
US08074472B2
A ceramic consisting essentially of: about 51% to about 68% by weight ZrO2; about 20% to about 40% by weight Al2O3; about 9% to about 12% by weight CeO2; about 0.05% to about 0.2% by weight SiO2; about 0.01% to about 0.1% by weight MgO; about 0.1% to about 0.6% by weight MnO; and about 0.01% to about 0.8% by weight CaO.
US08074466B2
There is provided a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a storage space receiving food, a door, and a dispensing apparatus. The door selectively opens and closes the storage space. The dispensing apparatus dispenses contents stored in the storage space without opening the door. The dispensing apparatus substantially protrudes from an outer surface of the door.
US08074462B2
An indoor unit of an air conditioner includes an indoor unit casing, a front panel, and a moving mechanism. A first suction port is provided at a front surface of the indoor unit casing. The front panel is provided at the front surface of the indoor unit casing, and opens and closes the first suction port. The moving mechanism moves the front panel to: a closed state, in which the front panel closes the first suction port; a first open state, in which the front panel moves frontward from the closed state and opens the first suction port; and a second open state, in which the front panel moves further frontward from the first state and more widely opens the first suction port.
US08074461B2
A pre-cooling system for use with a condenser of an air conditioning system is provided. In one embodiment, the pre-cooling system comprises a housing that is coupleable to a top of a condenser of an air conditioner wherein the condenser has a substantially-vertical exhaust. The pre-cooling system further comprises a valve mounted in the housing that is coupleable to a water source and wherein the valve is capable of operating independent of electrical power. The pre-cooling system further comprises a vane that is coupled to the valve and positionable in the substantially-vertical exhaust, wherein the vane has an aerodynamically-shaped cross section useable to operate the valve. The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing the pre-cooling system.
US08074456B2
A thermal management system includes a first thermoelectric module, a second thermoelectric module, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a pipe having a first section, a second section and an intermediate section arranged between the first section and the second section. The intermediate section maintains the first section and the second section in spaced apart planes and the first thermoelectric module is thermally attached to the first section and the second thermoelectric module is thermally attached to the second section. The first thermoelectric module is spaced apart from the second thermoelectric module to enable fluid to flow between the first thermoelectric module and the second thermoelectric module.
US08074452B2
A multiple conduit system for a gas turbine engine, the multiple conduit system extending between a plurality of conduit inlet and outlets. A channel, adapted for conveying fuel flow, is formed in a surface of a gas turbine engine component. The channel includes at least a first discrete conduit and a second discrete conduit. The first and second discrete conduits are each adapted to direct an independent fluid flow from respective inlets to respective outlets.
US08074450B2
The invention relates to a wind energy system with hydraulic energy transmission with non-symmetric actuation. The non-symmetric actuation is caused by valve control and mechanical means for controlling the actuation of the pistons. A cylinder unit is provided comprising a drive unit and an output unit associated with two hydraulic connections. The drive and the output unit comprise a minimum of two cylinders, in which pistons are reciprocating. Some of the cylinders can be switched off during low wind speeds. The cylinders communicate with a low pressure manifold and a high pressure manifold. These manifolds are part of the hydraulic connections. Use of the fluid-working machine as transmission in wind energy systems increases the overall economical efficiency.
US08074445B2
Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reducing NOx emissions on an SCR catalyst. For example, according to one representative embodiment, an apparatus for reducing NOx emissions in an engine exhaust includes a NOx reduction target module that is operable to determine a NOx reduction requirement that includes an amount of NOx in the exhaust gas stream to be reduced on a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst. The apparatus also includes an ammonia target module that is operable to determine an ammonia addition requirement that includes an amount of ammonia added to the exhaust gas stream to achieve the NOx reduction requirement. The apparatus also includes a reductant target module that has a hydrolysis module and an inverse hydrolysis module. The hydrolysis module is operable to determine a predicted amount of ammonia and isocyanic acid entering the SCR catalyst. The inverse hydrolysis module is operable to determine a reductant injection requirement based at least partially on the predicted amount of ammonia and isocyanic acid entering the SCR catalyst.
US08074432B2
An agricultural machine including a carrying vehicle and plural work units configured to cut a standing product. The agricultural machine includes at least two front work units arranged, during work and viewed in a direction of forward travel of the carrying vehicle, at the front of the carrying vehicle, and at least two lateral work units arranged, during work, on either side of a work area of the front work units. The front work units and the lateral work units can advantageously be moved with respect to the carrying vehicle to occupy a transport position or a work position.
US08074431B1
The present invention relates to compact palletizers that include a stretch-wrap operation as the pallet is built. Specifically, the present invention uses a robot to place items from a fixed infeed elevation either above or, alternatively, below the height of the finished load. A four-sided compression mechanism compresses the rough-built load to the final pallet size and then the entire layer is released to the pallet.Individual items or group of items are picked and placed onto a layer support device in a loose orientation. The loose orientation enables a much faster palletizing operation because the robotic arm that pick-and-places the item, the items, or the row of items, can travel much faster as it does not have to precisely locate the item, items, or row of items. During the time that a layer is being loosely constructed on the layer support device concurrent wrapping can occur.
US08074429B2
A packaging apparatus comprises one or more packing machines (MC1, MC2, MC3) which are operable to join together at least two assembled packs (P1, P2). A strap applicator (MC4) applies a strap system (S) to one face of all but one of the assembled packs (P1, P2). Conveying means (TC) guide the assembled packs (P5 P1, P2) such that the face of each assembled pack (P1, P2) having the strap attached thereto abuts a face of another of the assembled packs such that the strap (S) is sandwiched between the abutting faces. Fixing means, which fix the strap (S) about adjacent packs such that the packs (P1, P2) are joined together and are movable relative to each other by rotation about one or more edges.
US08074427B2
A method and an apparatus for producing a container packing filler are provided, which ensure that a net can be correctly and speedily rolled up into a bulk or ball shape. A stretchable tubular net (N) is fitted around a columnar support member (6). Then, a distal portion of the net is forcibly folded radially outward or inward by a plurality of roller belts (30) disposed circumferentially of the net (N), while the roller belts (30) are moved toward a net proximal side axially of the net (N), whereby the net (N) is rolled up radially outward or inward with the distal portion thereof being forcibly folded by circular rotation and axial movement of the roller belts (30) to form an annular roll portion (C).
US08074424B2
A cladding assembly comprises first and second cladding panels, each having top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, and a corner connection element disposed to couple a pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels together. The corner connection element includes top and bottom edge portions and a pair of lateral sides, wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of female connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of male connectors for mating with the female connectors, or wherein the corner connection element comprises a pair of male connectors disposed at its lateral sides and the pair of adjacent lateral sides of the first and second cladding panels comprises a pair of female connectors for mating with the male connectors of the corner connection element.
US08074422B2
A support bracket is provided for fastening to a concrete molding form. The bracket has a first and second distal end connected by a middle portion. The distal ends are generally in a first plane and the middle portion extends from a side of each distal end at an obtuse angle relative to that plane. The distal ends are releasably fastened to the form during use of the bracket, with the middle portion extending to be embedded in the concrete. After removal of the form, one or both of the distal ends are bent away from the concrete during use, with pipes being inserted through the openings in the distal ends. The support bracket may incorporate an internally-threaded and generally tubular structure attached to the middle portion of the support bracket, with one end of the tubular structure embedded in the concrete during use and the other end exposed at the plane of the concrete surface for useful access to the internal threads.
US08074420B2
Structures built from square metal tubing and methods for their construction, wherein curved sections of square tubing are welded to substantially straight sections of metal tubing according to the design requirements of the structures. The curved components are stronger and lighter than equivalent components made by bending. In addition, the curved components can be manufactured in a much wider range of configurations, sizes and dimensions than equivalent components made by bending.
US08074415B2
A space structure is composed of a post member and a horizontal beam member. The post member has a post member groove portion that constitutes a semi-closed space having an opening portion in a cross section of the post member and extends along its axial direction. The horizontal beam member has one or plurality of horizontal beam member groove portions each of which constitutes a semi-closed space having an opening portion in a cross section of the horizontal beam member and extends along its axial direction. Connection of the post member and the horizontal beam member is achieved by connecting connection means that can be moved inside the post member groove portion that the post member has or the horizontal beam member groove portion that the horizontal beam member has to an arbitrary position along its axial direction and can be fixed at that position, with the post member or the horizontal beam member through the opening portion of the post member groove portion or the horizontal beam member groove portion. Thus, it is possible to design a new space structure easily to flexibly adapt it to newly developed information apparatuses or replacement of information apparatuses.
US08074400B2
A combination sealing system and seal activation system for use with a combination of a panel and a frame includes a plurality of sealing systems and a seal activation systems. Each of the sealing systems include an anchor, at least one movable member, and an actuator. The anchor engages one of the panel and the frame, and the anchor movable from a first position to a second position towards the panel. The at least one movable member is positioned in an other of the panel and the frame and moves the anchor between the first position and the second position. The actuator is connected to the at least one movable member and drives the at least one movable member. The seal activation system is connected to each of the actuators of the plurality of sealing systems.
US08074399B2
A modular sealing and seal activation system for use with a combination of a panel and a frame includes a plurality of sealing system modules and a seal activation system. The plurality of sealing system modules are disposed within the frame and are removably attachable to the frame. Each of the sealing system modules is movable between a disengaged configuration and an engaged configuration. The seal activation system is connected to at least one of the sealing system modules, and the seal activation system moves the at least one of the sealing system modules between the engaged configuration and the disengaged configuration. The plurality of sealing system modules are substantially, identically sized, and the seals, in combination, are formed substantially, completely around the panel.
US08074397B2
To provide an illuminator for plant growth that can illuminate a plant intermittently (pulse illumination) or continuously to cause an effect similar to sunbeam spot phenomenon, thereby accelerating photosynthetic reaction.Specifically, the illuminator for plant growth includes a light source composed of a semiconductor optical device, a control unit for outputting a turn-on timing signal for the light source, a rhythm signal detecting unit for A/D converting an input rhythm signal, a timing signal modulating unit for modulating the turn-on timing signal with the output signal from the rhythm signal detecting unit, and a pulse drive unit for pulse-modulating a power signal with the modulated turn-on timing signal outputted from the timing signal modulating unit and supplying the pulse-modulated power signal to the light source.
US08074395B2
A suction device for catching, for example, insects includes a piston arranged for axial movement in the axial direction inside a housing having a suction tube, and a spring attached between the piston and the suction tube. A locking member releasably locks with a latching member when the suction tube is moved in the axial direction against the piston. A trigger is actuated from outside the housing to release the latching member of the piston from the locking member of the suction tube. A spring force from the spring then causes the piston to move away from the suction tube toward the rear wall of the housing, producing a vacuum inside the housing which draws in the insects, spiders and other small animals.
US08074388B2
The invention provides a media display system and method that allows a user to easily maneuver through crowded areas while providing advertisements that can be selected and altered even while the media display system is in use. According to the invention, the system operates on a regenerative breaking system that recharges the battery as the system is in brake-mode or as a result of the media display in the shape of an airfoil contributing to the regenerative breaking mechanism.
US08074380B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a ski boot system with a modular binding interface. The system includes a shell encasing a user's foot and lower leg. A first and second block are interchangeably coupled to the shell below the base to effectuate alternative binding interfaces. The first and second blocks include a binding interface surface and a sole surface. The positioning and shape of the blocks with respect to the shell results in the binding interface surface extending distally from the toe region of the shell and the sole surface being the lowest surface on the boot system. The binding interface surfaces for each block are positioned at different sagittal heights with respect to the shell to facilitate the interconnection with alternative binding coupling systems. The sole surfaces for each block are positioned at substantially identical sagittal heights with respect to the shell to maintain optimum and consistent performance characteristics among different bindings.
US08074378B2
A shock-absorbing method and device of an insole of a resilient shoe is provided. At least one transverse partition is set in a gas or liquid chamber of the insole. The gas or liquid chamber of the insole is partitioned into a fore cavity and a rear cavity by the partition. The fore cavity and the rear cavity are communicated reciprocally through the region external of the ends of the partition. Preferably, a fish-bone shaped partition is set longitudinally in the gas or liquid chamber. A column is set at the end of each of fish-bone branches of said fish-bone shaped partition and is positioned corresponding to a relevant acupoint of a human foot bottom. The gas or liquid chamber is filled with soft or resilient materials. The insole according to the invention could be shock absorbing and resilient.
US08074374B2
A shoe sole includes an insole having front vent holes; and an outsole comprising a heel comprising an open cavity, a first check valve extending from the cavity to the external, and a flexible protrusion on the heel bottom; a cover fitted on the cavity and comprising grooves and a second check valve communicating with the grooves and the cavity; front projections on the outsole top; and a channel on the arch top. Foot stepping will compress the protrusion to close the first check valve and open the second check valve such that air within the cavity is expelled to a sole of the foot via the second check valve, the grooves, the channel, and the vent holes. Foot lifting will return the protrusion to its original shape with the first check valve open and the second check valve closed so as to draw air into the cavity.
US08074373B2
An electrically heatable in sole may include at least one sole base body and one covering layer, at least one heating electrode, at least one rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to the heating electrode, and a control circuit for controlling the heating process and the charging of the battery. Heating electrodes, rechargeable batteries and a control circuit are arranged in the base body of the sole and/or between the base body and the covering layer. The control circuit includes a remote control device for starting and stopping the heating process, and a protection circuit for disconnecting the rechargeable batteries in the event of an error.
US08074372B2
A system configured to dry containers before a date coding process includes a blower assembly, an air manifold and a bracket assembly. The blower assembly includes a centrifugal air blower. The air manifold is connected to the blower assembly and includes a plurality of air nozzles. The air nozzles are configured to be positioned over a conveyor line, wherein the air nozzles are configured to expel air moved by the centrifugal air blower. The bracket assembly is configured to adjustably mount the air manifold over the conveyor line, wherein the bracket assembly allows the air manifold to be horizontally and/or vertically adjusted with respect to the conveyor line.
US08074361B2
A rose pruning and stripping device includes first and second jaws pivotally connected between handle and cutting portions thereof. An inner edge of the cutting portion of the first jaw sharpened into a cutting edge, and the opposite inner edge of the cutting portion of the second jaw defines a dull edge. A multi-faceted notch is formed in each cutting portion of the first and second jaws between the pivotal connection and the sharpened edge. A leaf and thorn stripping aperture is formed as the handles of the first and second jaws, and particularly the cutting portions thereof, are brought towards one another.
US08074353B2
The invention includes methods of utilizing removable mechanical precising mechanisms and/or optical-based precising mechanisms to align chips within sockets. The sockets can be configured so that compression of the sockets opens a clamping mechanism. A chip can be placed within a socket with a manipulator and aligned during compression of the socket. Subsequently, the compression of the socket can be released while the manipulator remains in contact with the chip to hold the chip in place until the clamping mechanism is retaining the chip in the socket. The chip can then be released from the manipulator. The invention also includes systems for utilizing removable nests to align various chip geometries within generic socket designs.
US08074350B2
A method of printing electronic circuits uses pattern recognition to detect locations of interconnects on electronic components oriented on a substrate such that the interconnects face away from the substrate, the interconnects having ramps between the interconnects and the substrate, adjusts routing paths as needed based upon a difference between an intended placement and an actual placement of the electronic components, and generates a new image file for printing with adjusted routing paths. A device has at least one electronic component having interconnects, a ramp from a surface of the substrate to the interconnects, wherein the ramp is formed of one of either a polymer or an adhesive, a printed, conductive path on the ramp providing electrical connection to at least one of the interconnects.
US08074347B2
A structured cabling tool includes an outer frame base supporting axle mounts that in turn support cable axles, the outer frame being extended in a ready for use condition and compacted in a ready for transport condition; inner frame arms supported within the outer frame base, the inner frame arms fixable upright orthogonal to the extended outer frame base in the ready for use condition and coextensive with the compacted outer frame in the ready for transport condition; a cable sorting threader supported between the inner frame arms; and a revolvable tape segmenting spindle supported by the inner frame arms below the cable sorting threader.
US08074342B1
A method for using a standard cable to replace the proprietary cables currently used to connect radio components. The invention also includes the hardware provided to carry out the method. A pair of jumper boxes are provided. Each jumper box contains a control jack, a microphone jack, an audio jack, and a VGA jack. The control and microphone jacks are not directly connected to the VGA jack. Instead, the control and microphone jacks are connected to certain pins within a jumper pin array. The VGA jack is connected to other pins within the same jumper pin array. The user can place jumpers within the jumper pin array to connect selected pins within the control and microphone jacks to selected pins within the VGA jack. The two jumper boxes are connected using the VGA cable. One jumper box is connected to the radio, and the other jumper box is then connected to the remote components.
US08074338B2
Methods of manufacturing septa for use with vascular access devices include forming a septum body and forming a slit within the septum body.
US08074337B2
A metal plate member fixation device installation method includes the step of preparing a barrel, the step of bonding the barrel to one of two metal plate members to be affixed by a reflow soldering process, the step of providing a screw member and a cap and coupling the screw member and the cap tightly together, the step of preparing a spring member and sleeving the spring member onto the shank of the screw member and then inserting the screw member and the spring member into the barrel at the metal plate member, the step of axially slidably coupling the cap to the barrel to let the spring member be stopped between a step in the barrel and a part of the shoulder of the screw member, and the step of releasing the pressure from the cap to finish the installation.
US08074336B2
A method of forming a torsional vibration damping disk, including the steps of: stamping a concave surface at a periphery of a disk; heat treating the stamped disk; placing at least one forming element at least partially in contact with at least a portion of the concave surface; and curling the periphery to partially surround the at least one forming element so that the at least one forming element is removable from the disk. In a second embodiment, the method includes the step of removing the at least one forming element after curling the periphery and includes the step of replacing the at least one forming element with at least one spring element.
US08074333B2
A method to avoid discarding a worn non-adjusting clutch cover by converting the worn non-adjusting clutch cover to an adjusting clutch cover for re-use. First, the convex portion of the non-adjusting cover is adapted to receive an adjusting ring having the embodiments of the adjusting rings known in the art. The convex portion is cleaned by taking about 0.20-0.030 of one inch depth from an inner surface of the convex portion. A threaded wall is defined in the inner surface such that the adjusting ring having an externally threaded surface can be threadably coupled to the internally threaded surface of the inner surface of the convex portion. An adjuster aperture is drilled through the cover to receive a ring adjuster that engages the adjusting ring for positional adjustment.
US08074332B2
A method for removing mineral scale from tubing is disclosed. The method may include the steps of making a first longitudinal cut along a length of the tubing, making a second longitudinal cut along a length of tubing, and removing a plurality of sections of tubing, wherein the sections of tubing are defined by the first and second longitudinal cuts.
US08074326B2
A strap assembly comprises an attachment member structure includes a main body and a plurality of attachment members. A first end portion of the main body is pivotable with respect to a second end portion thereof. Attachment members are connected to the main body at its opposing ends. A clasping device attached to the main body is engagable with one of the attachment members when a control portion of the clasping device is in a first position and selectively disengagable therefrom when a control portion of the clasping device is sufficiently displaced. A control structure is attached to the control portion of the clasping device such that sufficient displacement of the control structure with respect to the clasping device causes sufficient displacement of the control portion. A storage structure integral with the main body includes a passage configured for receiving at least a portion of the control structure therein.
US08074321B2
The disclosed vacuum cleaner has a smaller, separable vacuum unit that is releasably attached to a larger, base unit tank assembly. It provides a combination vacuum cleaner that has small- and large-capacity configurations suited for vacuum applications having different volumes, locations, or other features. The vacuum cleaner includes a single vacuum source sized for use with the larger tank structure, yet coupled to and removable integrally with the smaller vacuum unit. The smaller vacuum unit can be quickly and easily attached to and removed from the larger tank assembly to facilitate use of the vacuum cleaner in the desired configuration.
US08074315B2
It is provided a connecting portion for a boarding bridge that eliminates the level difference between the doorway portion of the aircraft and the passage, reduces the anxiety of the passengers, and can be raised and lowered smoothly. A passage (27) is formed by a stationary passage (29) and an alignment passage (31) that is arranged at the distal end portion of the stationary passage (29) and adjusts the level difference between the stationary passage (29) and the doorway portion (23); the alignment passage (31) includes an elevating floor (35), on the stationary passage (29) side, having a pivot shafts (41) that is substantially perpendicular to the passenger traffic direction (T) and pivots centered on the pivot shafts (41), and an alignment floor (37), at the stationary passage (29) side, having a pivot shafts (53) that extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the passenger traffic direction (T) and that pivots centered on the pivot shafts (53); and wherein one of either the elevating floor (35) or the alignment floor (37) is installed at the stationary passage (29), the latter is installed in-plane to the former, and thereunder a sliding floor (39) that can be raised or lowered is installed in the passenger traffic direction (T).
US08074307B2
An air circulation unit introduces air into a space under the bed cover from a foot-end of a bed. The air circulation unit includes an assembly for suspending the bed cover so that an occupant or occupants of the bed are partially relieved of the full weight of the bed cover. In use, the unit serves to introduce air which may be heated or cooled or at ambient temperature into the space under the bed cover and so circulate air over the occupant or occupants of the bed to keep the occupant or occupants as comfortable as possible during sleep despite surrounding conditions.
US08074305B2
A bubbling bath additive 42 made of a surfactant 46 and a bubbling agent 44, and a housing member 12 for housing the bubbling bath additive 42 are provided. A floating part 22, 34 that is situated above the housing member 12 and floats on the water surface, and an ejection port 33 that is provided above the waterline of the floating part 22, 34 and through which bubbles formed by the bubbling bath additive 42 are ejected outward from inside, are provided. A suction port 14 through which water flows inward from outside is provided near a lower end part of the housing member 12.
US08074300B1
An article of clothing, comprising a coat assembly having a front side, a backside, and first and second sleeves. The front side and the backside define a shoulder area where they meet above the first and second sleeves. A hood assembly has a crown. Extending from the crown is a flap that terminates at an end. Also extending from the crown at a predetermined angle is a visor. The visor extends from the crown a first predetermined distance. The hood assembly comprises a first zipper tape. The first zipper tape comprises first zipper teeth. A shield assembly comprises a shield. The shield has a second zipper tape. The second zipper tape comprises second zipper teeth. The second zipper teeth have means to engage the first zipper teeth.
US08074295B2
The present invention relates to new fabric designed for improved utility in swimwear applications, as well as the method for producing such fabric as well as garments made from such fabrics. The fabric can be characterized in terms elongation, instantaneous fabric growth at 15% strain and dimensional stability. The fabric comprises an elastic crosslinked polyolefin elastic yarn and a second yarn selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, and polypropylene.
US08079091B2
Performing compliance processing is disclosed. An indication is received that compliance processing is to be performed with respect to content that is subject to an access restriction that would prevent the compliance processing from being performed if the content were not able to be accessed without the restriction. It is ensured that the content can be accessed without the restriction to perform the compliance processing.
US08079087B1
A URL verification service is provided that is used to evaluate the trustworthiness of universal resource locators (URLs). As a user browses the world wide web, the URL for a web page to which the user is browsing is evaluated. A brand and a second level domain portion may be extracted from the URL and used as search engine inputs in evaluating the trustworthiness of the URL. The content of the web page can also be analyzed. Page elements may be extracted from the web page and compared to page elements in a brand indicator table to identify page brands associated with the web page. The brand extracted from the URL is compared to the page brands to detect cross-branding. If cross-branding is detected, the URL verification service helps to prevent the user from submitting sensitive information over the internet.
US08079078B2
An encryption apparatus capable of effectively preventing encryption data from being illegally generated is provided. Based on apparatus identification data of an integrated circuit (IC), which is input from a computer, a secure application module (SAM) selects an encryption method from among a plurality of different encryption methods. Based on the code of the IC, the SAM selects plaintext data to be encrypted from among the plurality of different pieces of plaintext data. The SAM outputs encryption data such that the selected plaintext data is encrypted by the selected encryption method.
US08079077B2
A system and method for a distributed multi-processing security gateway establishes a host side session, selects a proxy network address for a server, uses the proxy network address to establish a server side session, receives a data packet, assigns a central processing unit core from a plurality of central processing unit cores in a multi-core processor of the security gateway to process the data packet, processes the data packet according to security policies, and sends the processed data packet. The proxy network address is selected such that a same central processing unit core is assigned to process data packets from the server side session and the host side session. By assigning central processing unit cores in this manner, higher capable security gateways are provided.
US08079075B2
A computer implemented method can include receiving a request from a user on an untrusted domain and forwarding the request to an application on a trusted domain. A response can be received from the application and modified based on rules. The modified response can then be provided to the user.
US08079069B2
Before a relying party grants a client access to a resource, the last use of the security token by the client to access the resource of the relying party can be verified. Verification can be accomplished by comparing the last time the client sent the security token to the relying party with the last time the relying party received the security token from the client. If the last use of the security token is not verified, the possibility exists that the security token has been fraudulently used by a third party.
US08079066B1
A method, a computer readable medium and a system of multi-domain login and messaging are provided. The method for multi-domain login comprises inputting a local password by an agent, accessing a password vault with the local password, and retrieving at least one hidden password from the password vault, and logging the agent into at least one agent application using the at least one hidden password. The method for multi-domain messaging comprises retrieving information of an agent from a database, retrieving at least one skill group to which the agent belongs from the information, retrieving a message linked to the at least one skill group, and sending the message to the agent.
US08079063B2
A method of controlling at least one home network device, in which a home network periodically connects to a rich site summary (RSS) server, fetches a control command for the at least one home network device, and controls the at least one home network device on the basis of the fetched control command.
US08079055B2
A method of obtaining metadata associated with an element of television programming involves instructing an access device to generate and communicate a signal to a control device suitable for driving a display, wherein the signal contains metadata suitable for rendering on a display device in a visual representation; receiving the signal and storing a representation of the video frame; processing the video frame using OCR to extract enough information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; processing the video frame to extract sufficient information to identify an element of television programming content from the video frame; and retrieving metadata associated with the identified element of television programming content from a television programming content source of metadata. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08079053B2
Systems and methods of deferred multimedia content delivery are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving a request from a first customer premises equipment (CPE) device to receive multimedia content. The method also includes selectively recording the multimedia content at a server based on a comparison of a measured bandwidth associated with the first CPE device and a bandwidth threshold. The method may also include delivering the multimedia content to the first CPE device from a network when measured bandwidth is available.
US08079050B2
A method for configuring a device using a remote control, includes transmitting a signal from the remote control to a configuration proxy requesting configuration status of the device; waiting for a predetermined period of time for a response from the configuration proxy to the remote control; obtaining help information based on the response received at the remote control from the configuration proxy; and displaying the help information on a display.
US08079048B2
A method of scheduling an event related to an advertisement includes transmitting media content to a set-top box. The media content includes an advertisement having a selectable reminder indicator related to the advertisement. The method further includes receiving an input selection related to the selectable reminder indicator and scheduling a reminder related to the advertisement for transmission to one or more selected devices based on the input selection.
US08079042B2
An IPTV group profile is dynamically generated based on individual IPTV user profiles, whenever a user joins or leaves a shared IPTV session at an IPTV Terminal Function (ITF). The IPTV group profile may be implemented as a modification to the IPTV user profile of each user. In one embodiment, a “group” branch includes the additional access privileges and/or restrictions from the IPTV user profiles of other group members. The modified IPTV user profiles of users in the group are placed on a network entity such as an XDM Server (XDMS), to which the ITF subscribes via XCAP. As users join or leave a shared IPTV session at an ITF, the IPTV-AS updates the IPTV user profiles on the XDMS, which notifies the ITF of the changes. Each user's IPTV user profile at the ITF thus reflects group access privileges, preferences and restrictions for the duration of the shared IPTV session.
US08079038B2
An invention for creating, sending, and using self-descriptive objects as messages over a network is disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, self-descriptive persistent dictionary objects are serialized and sent as messages across a message queuing network. The receiving messaging system unserializes the message object, and passes the object to the destination application. The application then queries or enumerates message elements from the instantiated persistent dictionary, and performs the programmed response. Using these self-descriptive objects as messages, the sending and receiving applications no longer rely on an a priori convention or a special-coding serialization scheme. Rather, messaging applications can communicate arbitrary objects in a standard way with no prior agreement as to the nature and semantics of message contents.
US08079037B2
Presented is a system and method for monitoring events derived from a computer target application presentation layer including the steps of providing, independent of recompiling the target application's source code, a script running at a level within the target application. The script scans run-time instantiations of objects of the target application, and allocates structures in real-time to the object instantiations. These allocated structures are adapted to create a reflection of the target application structure, which is used along with detected object instantiations that match a predetermined object structure to capture a portion of an environmental spectrum of the detected object. Further, the system can process state machine events occurring on at least one of a server machine and a client/localized machine, correlate the state machine events with the environmental spectrum, and deduce a user experience based on the correlated state machine events.
US08079032B2
A method and system for rendering harmless a locked pestware executable object is described. In one illustrative embodiment, a locked pestware executable object is detected on a storage device of a computer, the locked pestware executable object being inaccessible via the computer's operating system; the locked pestware executable object is accessed through direct drive access; and data in the locked pestware executable object is modified in a manner that renders it harmless to the computer.
US08079025B2
Asynchronous loading of source dependencies is disclosed. An indication is received in the course of executing a script that a source file on which a current class or function depends is not available. Execution of remaining portions of the script, if any, that do not depend on the source file, continues, or other processing tasks are performed if no such portions remain, while the source file is loaded asynchronously.
US08079022B2
Systems and methods facilitate accurate and rapid simulation of software by periodically saving simulation states and design stimuli for use as a replay model. Divergences from the stored information may be detected during subsequent re-executions, which can in turn be run using the saved stimuli and states.
US08079017B2
A method is provided for verifying an Element Management System-Network Management System (EMS-NMS) interface. A pattern file is used in a test tool that can emulate an NMS for testing the respective EMS side of the EMS-NMS interface. The pattern file includes specifications on valid data which may be sent to or received from the EMS, such as valid data ranges, allowed actions on specific devices, and valid data values for objects for various software releases. The pattern file can be created based on the design interface specifications for new EMS and NMS software releases, which provides a significant benefit because it allows interface verification to be decoupled from EMS and NMS verification, which can greatly shorten the verification cycle of new EMS/NMS software releases.
US08079006B2
A simulation method, to be implemented in a computer, carries out a simulation of a semiconductor integrated circuit. The simulation method carries out a layout analysis based on layout data of a circuit formed by cells and stores values of layout parameters obtained by the layout analysis. Basic cell characteristics of the cells are read from a net list representing the extracted basic cell characteristics by the layout parameters and the basic cell characteristics represented by the layout parameters are stored. The stored values of the layout parameters are read and substituted into the basic cell characteristics represented by the layout parameters to obtain cell characteristics, and the cell characteristics are stored. An operation of the circuit is analyzed using the cell characteristics that are obtained.
US08079004B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that performs an efficient path-based static timing analysis (STA) in a circuit design. During operation, the system identifies a set of paths within the circuit design, wherein each path includes one or more segments. For a path in the set of paths, the system determines if at least one segment in the path is shared with a different path which was previously computed by performing a path-based STA, wherein the at least one segment in the different path is associated with previously computed path-based timing information. If so, the system then performs an estimation of a path-based delay for the path based at least on the path-based timing information associated with the shared segment in the different path. Otherwise, the system computes a path-based delay for the path by performing a path-based STA on the path.
US08078999B2
A design structure embodied in a non-transitory machine readable medium used in a design process includes an apparatus for implementing speculative clock gating of digital logic circuits, including operation valid logic configured to generate, in a first pipeline stage n, a valid control signal input to a first register in a second pipeline stage n+1, the valid control signal indicative of when an operation is qualified to be performed by the second pipeline stage n+1; and speculative valid logic configured to generate, in the first pipeline stage, a speculative valid control signal used to gate a clock signal to a plurality of additional registers in the second pipeline stage, wherein the speculative valid control signal is generated using only a subset of a total number of control inputs used in generating the valid control signal, and wherein the clock signal is sent directly to the first register. The design structure includes a netlist describing the apparatus for implementing speculative clock gating of digital logic circuits included in a multiple stage pipeline design.
US08078998B2
Integrated circuits and methods of manufacture and design thereof are disclosed. For example, a method of manufacturing includes using a first mask to pattern a gate material forming a plurality of first and second features. The first features form gate electrodes of the semiconductor devices, whereas the second features are dummy electrodes. Based on the location of these dummy electrodes, selected dummy electrodes are removed using a second mask. The use of the method provides greater flexibility in tailoring individual devices for different objectives.
US08078997B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a method, system, and computer program product for implementing direct measurement model with simulation and calibration of manufacturing process model in the manufacturing of precision devices such as electronic integrated circuits. The method and the system determine the measured measurement result and the direct measurement information and compare the direct measurement information against the other to determine whether to adjust the process models and the empirical parameters thereof.
US08078986B1
In general, the invention relates to a method for capturing information from a web site. The method includes accessing the web site using a browser with a browser module, where the web site comprises a number of web pages having information in a first format, and obtaining a profile corresponding to the web site, where the profile defines a manner to capture information in a first format from the web site. The method further includes capturing information, by the browser module, from at least one of the number of web pages based on the profile and sending the information captured by the browser module to a destination application, where the destination application is external to the browser and where the destination application is configured to use the information in a second format.
US08078985B2
A graphical user interface displays an ordered series of items. Each of the items has an index value indicating a position of the item within the series. The graphical user interface includes a scroll bar to scroll through the first ordered series. Items with index values that are outside of a first threshold range around a reference index value corresponding to a position of a slider of the scroll bar are displayed to have an appearance that is different from items having index values inside the first threshold range.
US08078979B2
A web page editor displays a web page including at least two elements that are at least partially overlapping. The web page editor includes an element selection mechanism displaying a list of overlapping elements of the web page at a selected point on the web page. The element selection mechanism allows a user to unambiguously select between the elements of the web page at the selected location from the displayed list.
US08078977B2
A method and system for intelligent electronic information processing. The method and system include selecting one or more portions of a set of electronic information including any unwanted portions that have been reviewed and are to be eliminated from display. The selected portions are recording thereby eliminating any unwanted previously reviewed portions of the set of electronic information from display with any additional sets of electronic information. The method and system may be used to review search engine results, electronic auction results, syndicated news items and to purchase tickets for transportation and events and for reserving lodging.
US08078975B2
A method for creating a metadata field in a template, which includes receiving a template selection, receiving a selection of a new metadata field, receiving properties of a metadata field to be added to the template, storing the properties of the metadata field, and downloading the metadata field to a scanning device in response to a signal from the scanning device.
US08078973B1
A method of providing visual indication of a device connection speed proceeds by determining a connection speed of the device and selecting a visual indicator representative of the connection speed. Once the appropriate indicator has been selected, the visual indicator is then displayed.
US08078971B2
The present invention provides provide GUI-type server scripting explorer that allows a user to browse, invoke, and update via its GUI all kinds of management objects available on a server. The explorer embeds a command interpreter through which the user can invoke server scripting commands directly from within the tool. All the actions that the user performed can be recorded to a file to build a server configuration script that can be used to repeat the same actions to config the server in the future. 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.
US08078969B2
A user interface for a computer device includes an image collage layout including a plurality of image receiving areas each configured to receive an image, a first control configured to select a number of the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, a second control configured to select tilt angles of one or more of the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, a third control configured to select an amount of padding between the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, and a fourth control configured to select a width of a canvas border for the image receiving areas in the image collage layout, wherein the first control, the second control, the third control, and the fourth control are configured to be actuated by a user.
US08078963B1
Some embodiments provide a method that efficiently designs a document. The method initially provides the user with a selection of templates, each with a default configuration for content. After the user selects a template, the method provides the user with a selection of page designs to add to the selected template. When the user selects one of the page designs, the method adds the page design to a document that it presents to the user based on the selected template. Some embodiments provide methods for modifying default content of template documents that have several default text fields. When a user selects a default text field, the method of some embodiments selects the entire default text field for immediate editing by the user. In some embodiments, the method highlights a text field selected by the user. Also, in some embodiments, the method deletes the entire default content of the text field when the user provides new content for the selected field. In some embodiments, the new content can be text, image, or other type of content.
US08078956B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for creating a second form based on a first form where the first and second forms are defined in extended markup language (XML). In use, a first form is identified. Additionally, a second form is created based on the first form. Farther, the first form and the second form are defined in XML.
US08078953B2
Architecture for a word processing application that facilitates operating on mathematical symbols, expressions, and/or equations input to a word processing document, and returning results back to the document. User input to the document in the form of math symbols, expressions or equations is transformed into a format for processing by a math engine. The engine returns one or more operations to the user that can be performed on the input, including calculating mathematical solutions, graphing equations and viewing steps to solving math problems. A user interface allows the user choose from the possible operations and to interactively manipulate input and graphs in the word application. The results can be inserted directly into the document and also be graded automatically.
US08078950B2
A delay measuring device according to the present invention comprises a memory cell, a delay element and a selector. The memory cell is provided with a non-inversion output terminal and an inversion output terminal, and the memory cell fetches a data value inputted from outside in synchronization with a clock, retains the fetched data value and outputs the retained data value from the non-inversion output terminal and the inversion output terminal. The delay element is connected to the inversion output terminal. The selector selects one of the data value and a delayed data value outputted from the delay element and supplies the selected data value to the memory cell. In the present invention, a comparison result of making a comparison between a delay amount generated in the delayed data value and a time length defined based on the clock is outputted from the non-inversion output terminal.
US08078948B2
A data communication arrangement permits efficient data transfer between a controller module and multiple target modules using a two-phase protocol. The controller module and the target modules can each reside in separate clock domains. Consistent with one example embodiment, a data communication arrangement includes a plurality of target modules, and a first XOR tree arranged to provide a first data integrity-indicating signal and to respond to a respective second data integrity-indicating signal from each of the target modules. A second XOR tree is arranged to provide a first data bus and to respond to a respective second data bus from each of the target modules. Also, a controller module is used to determine availability of data on the first data bus in response to the first data integrity-indicating signal.
US08078937B2
A memory arrangement comprises a first memory module and a second memory module. An item of information to be written to the memory arrangement is written with a first address both to the first memory module and to the second memory module. When reading, the item of information is read either from the first memory module by means of the first address or from the second memory module by means of a second address differing from the first address. Subsequently a check is made as to whether the item of information is defective. If this is the case, the item of information is read from the respective other memory module.
US08078934B2
In a frame sync method, a receiver searches for the presence of an N-symbol long unique word pattern. For each possible frame sync detected, the receiver proceeds to demodulation and FEC processing. After each iteration of the FEC decoder, the detected unique word pattern is compared to the expected one and the frame sync is detected if the number of unique word errors has decreased.
US08078927B2
In a first embodiment a TAP 318 of IEEE standard 1149.1 is allowed to commandeer control from a WSP 202 of IEEE standard P1500 such that the P1500 architecture, normally controlled by the WSP, is rendered controllable by the TAP. In a second embodiment (1) the TAP and WSP based architectures are merged together such that the sharing of the previously described architectural elements are possible, and (2) the TAP and WSP test interfaces are merged into a single optimized test interface that is operable to perform all operations of each separate test interface.
US08078921B2
Embodiments of the present invention help improve the process for updating parities accompanied by the writing process. According to one embodiment, a host controller transmits a write command and new data to a hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD reads old data at a region where the new data are to be written. The HDD then XORs the new data and the old data to generate a pseudo-parity. The HDD sets the pseudo-parity in a data frame addressed to both of a horizontal parity disk drive HDD and a diagonal parity disk drive HDD and transmits it. The horizontal parity disk drive HDD and the diagonal parity disk drive HDD update the parities using the pseudo-parity.
US08078908B2
An apparatus includes a cache memory for storing user data and control information of the apparatus, a nonvolatile memory and a processor for executing a process including when the power failure occurs, saving the user data and the control information stored in the cache memory into the nonvolatile memory, when the power failure recovers, restoring the data stored in the nonvolatile memory into the cache memory, and erasing the data stored in the nonvolatile memory after restoring the data into the cache memory and when another power failure occurs during erasing the data stored in the nonvolatile memory, erasing the control information stored in the nonvolatile memory if the control information is remained in the nonvolatile memory and saving, into the nonvolatile memory, the updated control information stored in the cache memory and the user data which has been erased from the nonvolatile memory.
US08078905B1
A method is used in restoring configurations of data storage system. A captured configuration is produced from capturing a configuration of a data storage system. The configuration includes a mapping of hierarchical objects. The captured configuration is used to help ensure that the configuration is not corrupted.
US08078897B2
This invention is a power management scheme for a shared memory multiprocessor system which splits the control logic between the master-specific logic and memory bank logic. Power-down is initiated from a central power-down controller. This central power-down controller informs the master and target specific logic. Further memory accesses are blocked. All pending activities complete. The central controller then proceeds to power down the memory and informs the master and target specific logic upon completion. No requests for wakeup are initiated by master-specific logic from the time a power-down request is received until the completion of power-down.
US08078896B2
A device may enter a first active state associated with a device, exit the first active state and entering a sleep state associated with the device when user input is not received within a inactivity period, receive a first user input at the device during the sleep state, measure an elapsed time between a start of the sleep state and the first user input, and increase the inactivity period of the device when the elapsed time is less than a particular threshold.
US08078891B2
A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes causing a processor to enter into a first power state. Then an interrupt is received that signals the processor to leave the first power state. The method continues by causing the processor to remain in the first power state if the interrupt was received less than a minimum dwell time after the processor entered the first power state.
US08078878B2
Methods, apparatus, including computer program products, and systems implement and use techniques relating to electronic signatures. In one implementation, a one-way hash is calculated for an electronic document and a digital watermark representing the one-way hash is embedded in a signature document. Based on a user input, the signature document having the embedded digital watermark is altered, and the electronic document is associated with the signature document. The electronic document and the signature document together comprise a signed electronic document. The user input can include biometric information, such as a handwritten signature or a voice recording. For additional security, the one-way hash can be encrypted before a representation of the hash is embedded in the signature document.
US08078872B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication technology field. A method for determining a mobile IP key of a mobile terminal is provided, which includes: receiving a mobile IP registration request message of a mobile terminal, in which the mobile IP registration request message includes a key material field; and reporting material information for determining a key according to the key material field. A method for determining a mobile IP key of a mobile terminal, a mobile IP agent device, a system for obtaining a mobile IP type, and a mobile terminal are also provided. With the technical solutions provided in the present invention, the mobile IP keys and/or the mobile IP type of the mobile terminal can be correctly determined, thus achieving a fast and correct access of the mobile terminal.
US08078866B2
A unique TIO based trust information delivery scheme is disclosed that allows clients to verify received certificates and to control Java and Javascript access efficiently. This scheme fits into the certificate verification process in SSL to provide a secure connection between a client and a Web server. In particular, the scheme is well suited for incorporation into consumer devices that have a limited footprint, such as set-top boxes, cell phones, and handheld computers. Furthermore, the TIO update scheme disclosed herein allows clients to update certificates securely and dynamically.
US08078865B2
A method may for updating system configuration data is provided. A configuration change request may be received from a remote user at a local baseboard management controller (BMC) via a network while a processor associated with the BMC is offline. The configuration change request may be stored in a request log. After the processor comes online, the configuration data may be updated based on the configuration change request stored in the request log. A copy of the updated configuration data from the chipset may be stored in a storage device coupled to the BMC such that the copy of the updated configuration data is accessible when the processor is offline. The copy of the updated system configuration may be provided to a subsequent remote user for a subsequent system configuration update.
US08078864B2
The invention provides a portable computer. When a power input terminal of the portable computer is connected to a power source, a sensor senses the temperature of electronic components of the portable computer to provide a sensed temperature value. When the sensed temperature value is lower than a preset temperature value, a microprocessor controls an indication device to operate and controls the heating unit to heat the electronic components. When the sensed temperature value is higher than the preset temperature value, the microprocessor controls the indication device not to operate and controls the heating unit stop heating the electronic components.
US08078857B2
The invention provides a system and method for adaptively loading frequently loaded dynamic link libraries. The system comprises: a monitor for monitoring loading events of dynamic link libraries while an operating system is running, and logging a name and related loading information of the corresponding dynamic link library into a log file in response to the loading events; and an invoker for automatically loading at least one of the most frequently loaded dynamic link libraries logged in the log file upon a subsequent startup of the operating system. By using the system and method, startup performance of the most frequently used applications can be greatly improved.
US08078856B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media provide for notification of power-on self-test (POST) data using an output device that is externally connected to a target computer system undergoing the POST via a data cable. Embodiments include a data transport module having an interface for receiving POST data from a debug module within the firmware of the target computer system and a notification application executed on the output device. The POST data transport module receives POST data and writes it to one or more hardware registers associated with an external port of the target computer system. The POST data is transferred to the data cable from the hardware registers and is received from the cable by the notification application of the output device. The notification application generates a notification corresponding to the received POST data and displays the notification on a display of the output device.
US08078853B1
Described are methods and systems that allow partial speculation (e.g., speculation within constraints). With partial speculation, after a fault is detected for example, speculation remains enabled for processor registers and other memories private to a microprocessor, while speculation normally permitted for certain other operations is suspended. Accordingly, while the fault is dispatched, some speculation is permitted as opposed to suspending all speculation. As such, microcode that makes use of speculation can be written.
US08078829B2
A system for implementing waveform processing in a software defined radio (SDR) includes a scaleable array processor having a plurality of micro-engines (MEs) interconnected by a two dimensional topology. Each micro-engine includes multiple FIFOs for interconnecting to each other in the two dimensional topology. One micro-engine communicates with another adjacent micro-engine by way of the respective FIFOs. The micro-engines are dedicated to predetermined algorithms. The two dimensional topology includes an array of N×M micro-engines interconnected by the multiple FIFOs. The N×M are integer numbers of rows and columns, respectively, in the array of micro-engines. The micro-engines are dedicated to baseband processing of data for RF transmission or RF reception.
US08078821B2
An asynchronously pipelined SDRAM has separate pipeline stages that are controlled by asynchronous signals. Rather than using a clock signal to synchronize data at each stage, an asynchronous signal is used to latch data at every stage. The asynchronous control signals are generated within the chip and are optimized to the different latency stages. Longer latency stages require larger delays elements, while shorter latency states require shorter delay elements. The data is synchronized to the clock at the end of the read data path before being read out of the chip. Because the data has been latched at each pipeline stage, it suffers from less skew than would be seen in a conventional wave pipeline architecture. Furthermore, since the stages are independent of the system clock, the read data path can be run at any CAS latency as long as the re-synchronizing output is built to support it.
US08078817B2
The present disclosure provides a methodology by which disk level access for storage drives of a storage array may be highly secured based on permission settings applied to the driver interface of the storage drives. Based on specific set of access rules, a security component applies security profiles to permit/deny access to an individual storage drive, sets the storage drive with a first security level, monitors for a triggering event, and sets the storage drive to a second (more restrictive) security access level in response to the triggering event. In addition, the security component generates an alert in response to the triggering event. Thus, disk level access permissions are applied at a driver interface layer and permissions are applied based on administrator-defined policies. The present disclosure provides for complete lock-down of data permissions, management and/or restriction of IO loads, and protection of “read-only” data integrity from overwrites.
US08078814B2
Provided is a copy pair monitoring method which is for a storage system having at least one host computer, at least one storage subsystem, and a management computer, the storage subsystem including volumes storing data requested by the host computer to be written, the management computer being accessible to the host computer and the storage subsystem. The copy pair monitoring method is characterized by including the steps of: obtaining every piece of copy pair definition information that is stored in the host computer; removing duplicate copy pair definition information from the whole copy pair definition information obtained; and collecting the copy pair status based on the obtained copy pair definition information from which duplicate copy pair definition information has been removed.
US08078813B2
Storing recovery data includes providing chunks of data to a remote destination, where each chunk of data represents data written before a first time and after a second time and where the second time for one of the particular chunks corresponds to a first time for a subsequent one of the particular chunks, providing synchronous data to a local destination, and providing an indicator to the local destination in connection with creation of a new chunk of data for storage at the remote destination. The local destination may maintain a plurality of maps, where each of the maps associates synchronous data being provided thereto with a specific chunk of data. In response to receiving an indicator in connection with creation of a new chunk of data, the local destination may point to a new map. There may be two maps or more than two maps.
US08078811B2
The most important data in a first memory of a data processing system are stored in a limited second data memory given upon a transfer thereof. The demarcation between important (and still storable) data on the one hand and less important (and therefore no longer storable) data is made dependent on the available storage volume (SV) of the target data memory. This achieves that an optimal amount of the most important data can be stored on the target data memory.
US08078802B2
A method and system for file-system based caching can be used to improve efficiency and security at network sites. In one set of embodiments, the delivery of content and storing content component(s) formed during generation of the content may be performed by different software components. Content that changes at a relatively high frequency or is likely to be regenerated between requests may not have some or all of its corresponding files cached. Additionally, extra white space may be removed before storing to reduce the file size. File mapping may be performed to ensure that a directory within the cache will have an optimal number of files. Security at the network site may be increased by using an internally generated filename that is not used or seen by the client computer. Many variations may be used is achieving any one or more of the advantages described herein.
US08078794B2
Hybrid solid state drives (SSD) using a combination of single-level cell (SLC) and multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory arrays are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, a hybrid SSD is built using a combination SLC and MLC flash memory arrays. The SSD also includes a micro-controller to control and coordinate data transfer from a host computing device to either the SLC flash memory array of the MLC flash memory array. A memory selection indicator is determined by triaging data file based on one or more criteria, which include, but is not limited to, storing system files and user directories in the SLC flash memory array and storing user files in the MLC flash memory array; or storing more frequent access files in the SLC flash memory array, while less frequent accessed files in the MLC flash memory array.
US08078785B2
A host module is disclosed, in which an interface is used to couple to at least an electronic device through a serial bus and comprises at least first and second ports. A detection unit reports that one of the first and second ports is enabled and the other is not enabled to a serial bus host driver and enables the interface to perform data transmission with the electronic device connected to the first and second ports through two parallel transmission channels of the serial bus, when the first and second ports are both connected to the same electronic device through the serial bus.
US08078782B2
A single main unit manages information on hardware resources and the like of all main units connected to a network in an integrated fashion. A slot management module, a slot control module, and a physical slot/managed slot comparison table are provided between an input/output control module and a slot interface subordinate thereto. The input/output control module accesses the slot interface by using virtual slot identification information. The slot management module refers to the physical slot/managed slot comparison table, converts the virtual slot identification information into physical slot identification information, and accesses a slot control module corresponding to the physical slot identification information obtained by the conversion, thereby realizing a physical access of the input/output control module to the slot interface.
US08078780B2
The invention relates to a communications method of communicating states from an activation unit to a receiver via a communications bus, wherein the state may be activation/deactivation of an activation unit, and wherein the state is communicated to the receiver via a serial data stream timed by a clock signal, said data stream transmitting data packets which comprise an identification part and a data pare wherein: ● the identification part comprises a plurality of bits which identify which activation units the data packet concerns, and ● the data part comprises a plurality of bits which individually identify the state of an activation unit. The invention also relates to a system based on the communications method and comprising an activation unit and a receiver. In addition, the invention relates to an activation unit and a receiver.
US08078766B2
An apparatus of displaying an image connects an external device by using universal serial bus (USB) connection. The apparatus contains a display unit and a control unit that reads device information out of the connected external device and performs display control on the display unit based on the read device information. Under control of the control unit, the display unit displays a message that is used for changing a class of the external device to a class previously specified in the apparatus of displaying the image when the class of the external device is changeable and it is determined based on the device information that the set class of the external device is different from the class previously specified in the apparatus of displaying the image.
US08078764B2
The physical server includes a hypervisor for managing an association between the virtual server and the I/O device allocated to the virtual server. The I/O switch includes: a setting register for retaining a request to inhibit a transaction from being issued from the I/O device to the virtual server; a Tx inhibition control module for performing an inhibition of the transaction from the I/O device to the virtual server, and guaranteeing a completion of a transaction from the I/O device issued before the inhibition; a virtualization assist module for converting an address of the virtual server into an address within a memory of the physical server; and a switch management module for managing a configuration of the I/O switch.
US08078762B2
A method for transmitting measured data from a sensor device to a control device is disclosed. The method is distinguished in that synchronization messages sent by the control device can be received in the sensor device and, on the basis of the reception of synchronization messages, the sensor device is put into a synchronous mode (SM) in which the sensor device sends data messages comprising the measured data to the control device in sync with the reception of the synchronization messages.A sensor device is also disclosed which is suitable for carrying out the foregoing method.
US08078760B2
A method for providing a digital asset to a remote recipient via a network. An unmodified digital asset is received in a native format, transformed into a derived digital asset having a non-native format, and offered to a remote recipient via the network. The method further includes sending the derived digital asset to the remote recipient in response to a request of the remote recipient.
US08078758B1
Techniques are described for automatically setting source address filters within a network device. For example, an apparatus, such as a router, comprises a network interface card to receive routing information from a network device. The routing information specifies at least one unselected network route to a network destination, and includes a tag associated with the unselected route to indicate that the network device does not forward outbound data along the unselected route. The apparatus further comprises a control unit to automatically set a filter to receive inbound data from the network destination specified by the non-selected route. The control unit may automatically set, for example, a source address filter.
US08078748B2
Video contents are delivered by a streaming method via a network to a client from a server with first and second storage areas. The method includes the steps of: delivering a first video content stored in the first storage area from the server to start playback thereof on the client; delivering a list of titles of the video contents stored in the second storage area from the server to be displayed on the client; changing the video content group stored in the second storage area; delivering data for updating the list from the server to be displayed the updated list on the client; receiving an input designating a second video content from the updated list at the client and notifying the server of the designation; and delivering the content B from the server in response to the notification designating the content B to be played back on the client.
US08078745B2
The transmission and playback of digitally coded signals is done by storing files of the digitally coded signals in a data source and sending profiles of the files from the data source to an interface at a remote user. The user interface sends to the data source a control command for preparing the signals and requesting at least one of the files. In response to the control command, the data source prepares the signals in the source by sequentially selecting the requested file, decomposing the selected file into individual data packets, digitally mixing the individual data packets into at least one new data packet, and coding the new data packet in a fixed time grid and transmitting it to the user interface in real time. Finally the received new data packet with is received and played back by the interface at the user.
US08078741B2
Presented herein are systems and methods that facilitate the portability and management of user data maintained at two or more services. In embodiments, a configurable profile management interface or interfaces are provided to a user, which enable the user to identify data elements that may be maintained across one or more services. In embodiments, a user has the ability to set precedence values by identifying which elements from which service or services should be considered as sources of truth. In embodiments, those sources of truth may be used to propagate changes to one or more services. In embodiments, the profile synchronization functionality may be incorporated within a human resources (HR) system. In embodiments, the user can also configure a schedule for transferring data, can import some or all of the data, and/or can export all or some of the data.
US08078740B2
In various embodiments, applications that are configured to interact with the Internet in some way are executed in a restricted process with a reduced privilege level that can prohibit the application from accessing portions of an associated computing device. For example, in some embodiments, the restricted process can prohibit applications from read and write access to portions of a system's computer-readable media, such as the hard disk, that contains administrative data and settings information and user data and settings. In these embodiments, a special portion of the disk, termed a “containment zone”, is designated and used by applications in this restricted process.
US08078739B1
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for handling requests for data from a private network. In general terms, a client who wishes access to secure data, such as a secure web page, from a private network establishes a secure connection with a secure server, such as a secure socket layer (SSL) server, of the private network. The secure server then downloads a software program for handling data requests (made by the client for data located within the private network) to the client. This software program is downloaded automatically by the secure server to the client when the client initiates a secure connection with such secure server. The downloaded software program is generally configured to modify data requests (e.g., by performing a URL substitution) sent from the client to an internal server of the private network such that the data requests are redirected to the secure server. The secure server then processes the data request (e.g., by retrieving the data from the appropriate internal server).
US08078735B2
Information processing system, tunnel communication device, tunnel communication method, and program
Provided are an information processing system, a tunnel communication device, a tunnel communication method, and a program that can make a communication between plural information processing devices belonging to different LANs without a user's making a complex setup. In the information processing system, a first tunnel communication unit encapsulates a packet from a first information processing device, transmits the encapsulated packet through a path of a P2P communication, and decapsulates the packet transmitted from a second tunnel communication device through the path of the P2P communication. A second tunnel communication unit encapsulates the packet transmitted from the second information processing device, transmits the encapsulated packet through the path of the P2P communication, and decapsulates the packet transmitted from the first tunnel communication device through the path of the P2P communication.
US08078726B2
A system and method receives a request for a file containing an identifier of the requested file and a message digest, containing an expected hash result of the requested file. The system and method identifies whether it has already stored a file having that identifier and a hash result matching the message digest. If so, the file is provided, optionally after being checked for authenticity via rehashing and comparing again to the message digest. If the file is not stored in the cache, it may be retrieved from a location included in the identifier, hashed and compared to the message digest to authenticate it, and provided to the requesting program if the hash result matches the message digest.
US08078718B1
A first storage server head and a second storage server head are operated and are configured redundantly to provide a host with access to a plurality of mass storage devices. A diagnostic process is executed in the first storage server head to assess operational status of the second storage server head while the second storage server head is in a mode for providing the host with access to the plurality of mass storage devices.
US08078702B2
A method for detecting a node of a server device includes the following steps. When a node performing a boot procedure at a server slot is detected, a serial number of the node and a slot ID of the server slot are obtained. Then, a step is performed to determine whether the serial number exists in a first data row of a comparison list, and whether the first data row is corresponding to the slot ID. When the first data row is not corresponding to the slot ID, a data address recorded in the first data row is moved to a second data row corresponding to the slot ID. When not existing in the first data row, the serial number is used to update a third data row corresponding to the slot ID, and the data pointed by a data address recorded in the third data row are deleted.
US08078693B2
Technologies are described herein for inserting a multimedia file through a web-based desktop productivity application. A request for the multimedia file is received from a client computer over a network. A request for the multimedia file is transmitted to a server computer over the network. The request for the multimedia file is transmitted via a proxy web service. The multimedia file is received from the server computer over the network upon transmitting the request for the multimedia file. The multimedia file is inserted in a document edited by the web-based desktop productivity application.
US08078691B2
Web page load time production and simulation includes determining an original page load time (PLT) of a webpage and timing information of each web object of the web page in a scenario. Each object is also annotated with client delay information based on a parental dependency graph (PDG) of the web page. The time information of each web object is further adjusted to reflect a second scenario that includes one or more modified parameters. The page loading of the web page is then simulated based on the adjusted timing information of each web object and the PDG of the web page to estimate a new PLT of the web page.
US08078671B2
A system and method for generating a Web services description file is described. In one embodiment, a visualizer process metadata from a configuration file and applies the metadata to a predefined template to generate a portion of a Web services description file. The configuration file stores metadata about a service provided by a Web service. The template file defines structure and syntax of a portion of a Web services description file.
US08078667B2
A system for data transfer comprises a server of a patient data system and an auxiliary server, which has installation data associated with at least one accepted device identifier available. The auxiliary server receives the identifier determining an examination device and transmits the installation data associated with the examination device identifier to the server of the patient data system. The server of the patient data system installs the identifier determining the examination device automatically on the basis of the installation data on the server of the patient data system for data transfer. Data is transferred between the examination device and the server of the patient data system after the identifier has been installed.
US08078666B1
A distributed report processing system. The system includes a management server and a queue server in communication with the management server. The system also includes a plurality of report generators in communication with the management server and the queue server.
US08078658B2
A system, method, and apparatus for the constant time, branchless conversion of decimal integers of varying size in ASCII format to a decimal integer in binary decimal format in a vector processor utilizing simultaneous conversion of the string to a binary format, followed by simultaneous multiplications of the binary result by appropriate powers of ten and a fixed number of steps of vector addition, followed by a final step of a scalar multiplication of a sign value.
US08078653B1
A network storage server implements a method to perform fast crawling of a hierarchical storage structure. The hierarchical storage structure contains data entities stored by a network storage server. The hierarchical storage structure can be recursively divided into a plurality of sections. A plurality of parallel-processing threads can be used to process the plurality of sections. Each thread selects and processes one of the plurality of sections at a time to generate a sorted list of metadata corresponding to the section of the hierarchical storage structure. The sorted lists generated by the plurality of threads are merged to a baseline list. The baseline list contains sorted metadata for entities managed by the hierarchical storage structure. The baseline list can then be outputted as a representation of the state of data stored by the network storage server.
US08078651B2
Techniques for identifying duplicate records in data to be imported into a data hub. In one set of embodiments, a batch of records to be imported into a data hub is received and a match rule for the batch of records is selected. The match rule includes a set of match criteria for matching records in the inbound batch to records stored in the data hub. A matching process is then carried out, prior to importing the batch of records, to determine whether any of the records in the batch are duplicates of records stored in the data hub. By identifying potential duplicate records before (rather than after) importation, the problems associated with prior art duplicate identification techniques are minimized or avoided. In a particular embodiment, an import workbench application comprising a plurality of user interface screens is provided for aiding a user in managing the matching process.
US08078650B2
Systems and methods of processing an unstructured resource which contains one or more data portions are described. The method comprises reading the unstructured resource into memory and accessing a data structure associated with the unstructured resource. This data structure contains a number of elements, each element including position information for a data portion in the unstructured resource. Using this position information, data portions are located from the unstructured resource and processed and the locating and processing steps are repeated for each element in the data structure.
US08078649B2
A system and method for centrally deploying and managing virtual applications in an organization. The method comprises retrieving an existing schema of objects from a management directory of the organization; generating a virtual directory including at least the retrieved schema of objects and a virtual application; and enabling performance of a plurality of management and deployment operations on the virtual directory.
US08078641B2
A method of determining density of a map is described along with an apparatus and computer-readable medium comprising instructions therefore. The method comprises determining one or more nodes of a quad tree applied to a map with which a predetermined query region intersects, calculating a cumulative data size of the query region based on a data size of the one or more intersecting nodes, and determining an average density of the query region based on the query region area and the cumulative data size.
US08078635B2
An information processing apparatus includes a communication connection section that is communicably connected to an external apparatus; a first storage section that stores a predetermined program to be executed by the external apparatus, and for which read/write operation from the external apparatus is inhibited; a second storage section to which read/write operation from the external apparatus is inhibited; and a write section that reads out the predetermined program stored in the first storage section when the information processing apparatus is communicably connected to the external apparatus by the communication connection section and writes the read out program in the second storage section.
US08078627B2
In order to read data from an external storage medium and automatically sort the data into a plurality of folders to manage the data, a plurality of files sorted into a plurality of folders are read from a plurality of external storage media, file attribute information of the files is extracted, and the read files are sorted into a plurality of folders based on the extracted file attribute information and stored in a storage unit.
US08078613B2
A method and apparatus for ranking results from a search engine query is described. In one embodiment, the search engine provides results from a search query. The results contain a list of web pages where each web page has one or more inbound links. The search engine computes the growth of the number of inbound links of each web page over a predefined period of time. The search engine ranks each web page based on a function of its respective computed growth of the number of inbound links.
US08078609B2
A method and potential embodiment for processing streaming data records is described which provides facilities for defining and naming multiple input and output data streams using relational processing definitions and abstractions similar to those found in relational database management systems (RDBMS) and embodied as a set of communicating stream processing nodes. The result is a Distributed Data Stream Management System (DDSMS) which is also a kind of Relational Data Stream Management System (RDSMS). The former comprises a set of Relational Data Stream Management System (RDSMS) nodes, whereas the latter might contain only a single RDSMS node. A unique combination of the method, means, capabilities, interfaces to and potential embodiments of its constituent elements, work together to provide a seamless and complete DDSMS, and in the optimization strategies and capabilities enabled therein, and in the method, means and embodiments of its stream processing nodes.
US08078608B2
A method and system for viral marketing is described. Using the method and system, recruiters may be associated with recruits. Recruiters may be compensated based on activities of recruits. The traceability of a recruit to a recruiter permits analysis of efficacy of the recruiter and recruitment techniques employed. The improved traceability is achieved due to the ability to trace any recruited user associated with an identifier of the recruiter.
US08078583B2
Systems and methods for performing hierarchical storage operations on electronic data in a computer network are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention may store electronic data from a network device to a network attached storage (NAS) device pursuant to certain storage criteria. The data stored on the NAS may be migrated to a secondary storage and a stub file having a pointer pointing to the secondary storage may be put at the location the data was previously stored on the NAS. The stub file may redirect the network device to the secondary storage if a read request for the data is received from the network device.
US08078579B2
A method and system for determining currency of data in a data processing system. The processing steps along a dependency chain used to populate a data reporting program are back tracked recursively through each processing step until a first originating set of processing steps are reached. The currency of each data source for the programs is identified and it is determined whether the program has run since that time. If any one of the sources for the program of the processing step is more recent than a last run time of the program associated with the processing step, the program is re-run and outputs updated. The same process is executed moving forward along the dependency chain, to each other processing step.
US08078574B1
A network acceleration device simultaneously caches and intelligently serves different historical versions of stored network content. For example, the network acceleration device may receive one or more requests for original content; however, subsequent updates to the content may create varying versions of the content, e.g., a pre-update version and one or more post-update versions. Client devices that requested the content prior to the update receive the pre-update version from the network acceleration device. Client devices that requested content after the update receive the post-update version from the network device. Moreover, the network acceleration device facilitates the simultaneous delivery of the pre-update version and the post-update version without waiting for delivery of the pre-update version to be complete. Thus, the network acceleration device may facilitate decreased download times by seamlessly and transparently providing both versions of the content simultaneously.
US08078558B2
In industrial applications, the invention relates to various algorithms for determining optimal resources or assets allocations under various equality and inequality constraints. In particular, constrained quadratic or conic optimization problems of unique importance for portfolio asset allocation are seamlessly solved in analytic and efficient ways. In addition, by providing exact or analytic optimum expressions, robustness can be readily ascertained.
US08078556B2
A novel and useful mechanism enabling a standard learning algorithm to generate rules for complex event processing (CEP) systems. The method creates rules that infer previously defined output events by creating input event feature vectors for each targeted output event. In addition, a method for automatically generating CEP system rules to infer output events which are anomalies (i.e. statistical outliers) of input event sequences is disclosed. Input feature vectors consisting of multiple input events and parameters for each targeted output event are then input into a standard learning algorithm to generate CEP system rules.
US08078551B2
A method for real-time exploitation of documents in non-English languages includes processing an input document in into a processed input document, extracting ontology elements from the processed input document to obtain a document digest (DD), statistically scoring each DD to obtain a DD with category scores, refining the DD and the category scores to obtain a summary of each document in the form of a refined DD with refined category scores. The summary allows a user to estimate in real-time if the input document warrants added attention.
US08078547B2
Methods for calculating and displaying premium freight costs are provided. The methods comprise the steps of: A) selecting a time period of interest; B) selecting all shipments occurring within the selected time period and indexing the shipments into a list; C) for each shipment in the list, evaluating whether the shipment was delivered in the optimal mode, optimal source, and/or optimal carrier, and if a non-optimal mode, source or carrier was used, calculating premium freight cost; D) if the premium freight cost is not negative, adding the premium freight cost to a lane for the non-optimal mode; and E) displaying the premium freight cost by lane on a computer screen. Information for carrying out the methods of the present invention is contained in various databases containing shipment data and optimality tables.
US08078536B2
Disclosed herein is a method of providing one or more transaction card services to a holder of a transaction card, the method comprising receiving a registration code from the holder, wherein the registration code is associated with the issuer of the transaction card and with the transaction card, determining the issuer of the transaction card based on at least a portion of the registration code, transmitting the registration code to the issuer of the transaction card, receiving account information from the issuer, wherein the account information is associated with the registration code and with the transaction card, displaying at least a portion of the account information to the holder, receiving a verification value corresponding to the account information from the holder, and if the verification value is valid, permitting the holder to select one or more services in which to enroll.
US08078534B1
The movement of physical cash and/or other monetary items along the cash supply chain requires security. Some security includes the continuous recordation of video or other images to provide a visual history of the activities that occurred at a particular location along the cash supply chain. By automatically identifying an item at various points along the cash supply chain and associating it with a particular timestamp, the relevant portions of the video surveillance may be quickly and efficiently identified when a suspicious event occurs.
US08078532B2
A smart card transaction allows a consumer to load value onto a smart card and to make purchases using a smart card with a mobile telephone handset over the telecommunications network. For loading, the system includes: a mobile telephone handset including a card reader; a gateway computer; a funds issuer computer; and an authentication computer. The mobile telephone handset receives a request from a user to load a value onto the smart card. The handset generates a funds request message which includes the value and sends the funds request message to a funds issuer computer. The funds issuer computer debits an account associated with the user. Next, the handset generates a load request message with a cryptographic signature and sends the load request message to an authentication computer which authenticates the smart card. The handset receives a response message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to load. Finally, the handset validates the second cryptographic signature and loads the value onto the smart card. For payment, the system includes a merchant server and a payment server. First, the handset sends an order request message to the merchant server computer, and in return receives a purchase instruction message. The handset processes the purchase instruction message locally, and then sends a draw request message to a payment server computer. The payment server computer sends a debit message which includes a cryptographic signature and an approval to debit the smart card. Finally, the handset validates the cryptographic signature and debits the smart card.
US08078519B2
A system and method for fee-based order priority level modification in an electronic trading environment are described. When an order reaches an exchange, a priority level of the order may be changed to a higher priority level, and the priority level of the order initially at the higher priority level may be changed to a lower priority level of the received order. In one embodiment, a trader who is gaining a higher priority level will be preferably charged a fee for having his order moved to the higher priority level, and at least a portion of that fee may be paid to a trader who is giving up his high priority level.
US08078515B2
Systems and methods are described for providing fraud deterrents during e-commerce, e-transactions, and digital rights management and access. One or more fraud deterrents may be automatically selected by a client, seller, bank, or other 3rd party and may be implemented or presented to the client as a potential fraud deterrent option that may be chosen. Fraud deterrent options may be provided which are associated with particular aspects of the transaction including a client's profile, the value of an item, or the preferences of the seller. The fraud deterrent features can be provided as part of a digital shopping cart and may be highly customized by the client including allowing the client to customize conceptual passwords which are presented during subsequent transactions.
US08078509B2
A system and method for auditing and reconciliation of telecommunications billing data in real-time to prevent fraud. The system and method includes aggregation and maintenance of billing data records, from a service provider billing system database, its network elements and associated databases in one or more countries to a centralized directory system for the purpose of automatic auditing and reconciliation, and the mapping of billing data records between the billing system database and network elements database.
US08078505B2
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for automatically updating a seller application upon connecting to a network-based transaction facility. The method includes receiving a request, by a seller application, to connect to the network-based transaction facility. The method also includes determining whether a category update exists for a category data structure maintained by the seller application. The method further includes downloading the category update to the seller application for each updating of a category data structure maintained by the seller application utilizing the downloaded category update.
US08078488B2
Timely projections of product sales for a reporting time period are obtained by combining actual sales data received from reporting stores and estimated sales data for non-reporting stores. The projections are adjusted to account for trailing data, which may be reported after the end of the subject time period.
US08078486B1
Systems and methods for providing workforce optimization are provided. A representative method includes: planning a first campaign to implement business goals; scheduling and deploying a workforce in accordance with the campaign to produce a plurality of interactions, at least one of the interactions involving a customer and a first agent of a contact center, at least another of the interactions involving a customer and a second agent of a branch office or back office; measuring performance of the first agent and the second agent on at least a portion of the interactions to produce a set of quality metrics for the agents; combining at least a portion of quality metrics to produce performance indicators; and using the performance indicators in the planning step of a second campaign or another iteration of the first campaign.
US08078484B2
A loss reporting system and method for tracking, monitoring and evaluating loss in an enterprise is provided. The system receives product data from enterprise facilities, stores the product data, calculates performance information from the product data, and compares the performance information to a predetermined performance standard. The system can generate a viewable report using the comparison between the performance information and the predetermined performance standard.
US08078471B2
An apparatus for processing sales of articles, such as a store scale, has a microphone which listens to a conversation between a customer and a salesperson and converts words into an electrical speech signal, which signal is converted to a speech recognition result by a speech recognition device. A comparator compares the speech recognition result with keywords stored in a memory, with at least some of the stored keywords being product names which define a group of keywords. A control device, on the detection of a keyword belonging to the group and/or of a permitted combination of keywords which includes a keyword belonging to the group, outputs a piece of information associated with the detected keyword or combination of keywords and available via a data source, or outputs an offer for the output of the information, such as with a section menu, by an output device of the apparatus.
US08078469B2
A distributed voice user interface system includes a local device which receives speech input issued from a user. Such speech input may specify a command or a request by the user. The local device performs preliminary processing of the speech input and determines whether it is able to respond to the command or request by itself. If not, the local device initiates communication with a remote system for further processing of the speech input.
US08078467B2
This invention provides a device and method for language model switching and adaptation, wherein the device comprises a notification manager which notifies a language model switching section of the current status information or the request for the language model of an destination application when the status of the destination application is changed; a language model switching section which selects one or more language models to be switched from a language model set according to the received current status information or the request; a LMB engine decodes a user input using the one or more selected language models; and a language model adaptation section which receives the decoded result and modifies the one or more selected language models based on the decoded result. Therefore, the user input is more accurate even if the language model switching section performs different switches among different language models and the performance of the language models are improved by the language model adaptation section.
US08078465B2
Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for monitoring and analyzing the language environment and the development of a key child. A key child's language environment and language development can be monitored without placing artificial limitations on the key child's activities or requiring a third party observer. The language environment can be analyzed to identify words, vocalizations, or other noises directed to or spoken by the key child, independent of content. The analysis can include the number of responses between the child and another, such as an adult and the number of words spoken by the child and/or another, independent of content of the speech. One or more metrics can be determined based on the analysis and provided to assist in improving the language environment and/or tracking language development of the key child.
US08078449B2
In a speech translation apparatus, a correspondence storage unit stores therein identifiers of terminals and usage languages used in the terminals associated with each other. A receiving unit receives a source speech from one of the terminals. A translating unit acquires usage languages from the correspondence storage unit, and generates a translated speech by using each of the acquired usage languages as a target language. When the translated speech is generated in any one of the target languages, a determining unit determines whether it has been generated in all the target languages. If the translated speech has been generated in all the target languages, an output unit outputs the translated speech. A sending unit sends the translated speech to each of the terminals.
US08078445B2
Systems and methods that characterizes a load as a function of position/movement of mechanical components—as induced by such load in the servo-drive system. By running a plurality of motion profiles, corresponding torque/forces that generate such motions can be calculated and readily represented (e.g., as a table) in form of a position dependent load. In addition, a parsing component can decompose or break up a load (which generates a desired motion) to its subparts or constituent values for further simulation analysis.
US08078444B2
A method is disclosed for optimal lift resource allocation, which includes optimally allocating lift resource under a total lift resource constraint or a total production constraint, the allocating step including distributing lift resource among all lifted wells in a network so as to maximize a liquid/oil rate at a sink.
US08078435B2
Optical regeneration is expensive to implement and maintain. A method or corresponding apparatus in an example embodiment of the present invention enables a user to plan an optical regeneration in a network with a reduction of optical regeneration compared to unplanned deployment. An optical regeneration planning tool according to an example embodiment of the present invention can graphically display a representation of a network topology with optical regeneration sites and enable the user to plan optical regenerations at a subset of the sites as a function of characteristics of models of optical network elements and paths within the network topology. Through use of the optical regeneration planning tool, a service provider can save on network deployment and future servicing of optical regeneration equipment.
US08078432B2
A method for evaluating the binding of an evaluation target molecule with respect to a macromolecular compound based on numerical calculations and which detects the binding sites of the evaluation target molecule with respect to the macromolecular compound as a site where electronic states in a predetermined restricted region including the evaluation target molecule and the part of the macromolecular compound, which is adjacent to the evaluation target molecule, are unstable.
US08078421B1
A multi-cell disk drive test system that provides a power recovery mode is disclosed. The multi-cell disk drive test system includes a test platform having a plurality of cells configured to receive and to provide communication with disk drives loaded therein, respectively, and test logic. The test logic is coupled to a cell and is configured to operate a test application to: execute a series of test modules to test a disk drive loaded in the cell; switch from a normal mode to a power recovery mode responsive to a power recovery flag relating to a power failure; and in the power recovery mode, read a test sequence index identifying a last completed test module before the power failure and execute a subsequent series of test modules following the last completed test module for the disk drive.
US08078418B2
An intelligent electronic device (IED) having a gain control unit adapted to selectively regulate operating ranges of output signals of a sensing circuit of the device is described. In one embodiment, the IED is a digital electric power and energy meter, which operating ranges for supply voltages and supply currents of electrical services may be adjusted to match pre-determined ranges for input signals of a data acquisition system or a data processing module of the meter.
US08078417B2
At time t1 an ignition-off command (IGOFF(1)) is received. In response, a CPU refers to an estimated battery temperature map to obtain an estimated battery temperature (#Tb(1)) corresponding to an outside air temperature (Tout) obtained at time t1. At time t2, an ignition-on command (IGON(1)) is received. In response, the CPU obtains an actual battery temperature (Tb(1)) obtained at time t2 and from the estimated battery temperature (#Tb(1)) and the actual battery temperature (Tb(1)) calculates a modified, estimated battery temperature (#Tb_NEW(1)) for the first received ignition-on command (IGON(1)). Furthermore the CPU updates a value corresponding to the outside air temperature (Tout) obtained at time t1 in the estimated battery temperature map to be the corrected, estimated battery temperature (#Tb_NEW(1)).
US08078415B2
A system and method for monitoring the state of health of the connection between a generator and a battery includes detecting an interruption in power between the generator and the battery, incrementing a counter each time an interruption is detected, generating a trend of a number of interruptions over time based on a number of increments in the counter, monitoring a rate of increase in the number of interruptions over time and determining if the rate of increase in the number of interruptions over time is greater than a predetermined threshold.
US08078409B2
An external quality control method, using an external quality control system which comprises an external quality control computer and a plurality of preprocessing devices connected to the external quality control computer via a network, comprising: performing preprocessing operations on preprocessing quality control samples, the preprocessing devices being adapted to prepare samples for measurement of target nucleic acid; measuring preprocessed preprocessing quality control samples to obtain measurement data; providing the measurement data to the external quality control computer over the network; storing the measurement data; and implementing an external quality control process based on the measurement data, is disclosed. An external quality control method for detection of nucleic acid, an external quality control method for preparation of calibration curve, an external quality control computer, a preprocessing device, and a nucleic acid detecting device are also disclosed.
US08078408B2
Physical changes resulting from an association between a template molecule and a target molecule are detected by monitoring changes in the template molecule. Exemplary changes include a change in a physical dimension or stiffness of the template molecule, a change in electrical conductivity of the template molecule and a change in the energy required to dissociate the target molecule and the template molecule. The magnitude of the change is indicative of the specific identity of the target molecule.
US08078405B2
A method for optimizing the development of a fractured hydrocarbon reservoir wherein the network permeability is determined using a reliable compromise between numerical and analytical methods which has application to oil reservoir development. The reservoir is discretized into a set of grid cells and a geometrical description of the fracture network in each cell is elaborated. A connectivity index is then deduced within each cell for the fractures. The permeability of the fracture network of the cells whose connectivity index is above a first threshold is determined and a zero permeability value is assigned in the other cells. Other thresholds can be determined so as to choose between a numerical method and an analytical method to determine the permeability. These permeabilities are exploited in a flow simulator so as to optimize the development of the reservoir.
US08078399B2
An obstacle-avoidance-processor chip for three-dimensional path planning comprises an analog processing circuit and at least two analog-resistive-grid networks. The analog processing circuit is communicatively coupled to receive data from an inertial measurement unit and from at least one obstacle-detection sensor. The analog processing circuit is configured to construct a three-dimensional obstacle map of an environment based on the received data. The at least two analog-resistive-grid networks are configured to map obstacles in at least two respective non-parallel planes in the constructed three-dimensional obstacle map. The at least two analog-resistive-grid networks form a quasi-three-dimensional representation of the environment. The obstacle-avoidance-processor chip generates information indicative of a three-dimensional unobstructed path in the environment based on the obstacle maps.
US08078396B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for generating a continuum of image data sprayed over three-dimensional models. The three-dimensional models can be representative of features captured by the image data and based upon multiple image data sets capturing the features. The image data can be captured at multiple disparate points along another continuum.
US08078393B2
A navigation apparatus includes a map information updating means (13) for updating map information on a basis of map update information, a mounting detecting means (14) for detecting whether a storage medium is mounted to a storage medium driving means, a map information ID comparison means (15) for comparing a map information ID attached to the map information with a map information ID attached to the map update information to judge whether they match each other, a map information selection control means (16) for, when the storage medium is mounted to the storage medium driving means and the map information IDs match each other, selecting all of the map information, and selecting a part of the map information otherwise, a navigation information calculating means (17) for creating navigation information on the basis of the selected map information, and a navigation information output means (18) for outputting the created navigation information.
US08078389B2
The method comprises operating a calibration engine, and collecting combustion characteristic data and reference accelerometer signals, which are correlated with each other and stored in a calibration table. The calibration table can be used by an engine to determine a real-time normal combustion characteristic when the engine is operating by collecting a real-time accelerometer sensor signal and cross correlating with the correlated data stored in the calibration table. Accordingly, the apparatus comprises a calibration engine comprising a calibration sensor, a reference accelerometer sensor and a data storage device for storing the collected calibration data that is correlated with the collected reference accelerometer signals, and an engine equipped with an accelerometer sensor, a calibration table and an electronic engine controller programmed to receive real-time accelerometer signals and cross correlate them with reference accelerometer signals to determine a real-time normal combustion characteristic.
US08078388B2
An oxygen sensor device and method for a motor vehicle having an electrode within an outer shell for measuring oxygen in exhaust gas exiting the vehicle. A communication device, powered by a capacitor, wirelessly transmits the measured amount of oxygen from the electrode to a powertrain control module. Vibration transmitting from the motor vehicle shakes a magnet, wound inside a coil, for generating the electrical current used by the capacitor.
US08078387B2
Disclosed herein is a control apparatus for a spark-ignition engine that is capable of avoiding knocking at the time of high-load operation. With this control apparatus, a residual-gas suction unit or the like is not used, an exhaust gas does not deteriorate due to injection in a compression stroke, and a thermal efficiency also does not decrease. An engine control apparatus (ECU) 20 is used for the control of a direct-injection type spark-ignition engine. During the high-load operation of the spark-ignition engine, the ECU 20 injects fuel a plurality of times. In addition, the ECU performs first fuel injection toward internal EGR that exists in a combustion chamber of the spark-ignition engine.
US08078384B2
Systems and methods for controlling an internal combustion engine include determining presence of charge dilution and selecting a spark restrike mode to provide multiple spark events during a single combustion cycle. Charge dilution may be determined based on commanded air/fuel ratio and exhaust gas recirculation, for example. Multiple spark events may be controlled using time-based restrike or current-based restrike in response to one or more operating parameters or conditions.
US08078383B2
In a vehicle speed control system, a preset offset distance is taken as a zero value of an inter-vehicle distance in a brake discriminant. When the current value of a corrected distance condition evaluation index is higher than the brake discriminant, a value on the brake discriminant is set as a target value of the corrected distance condition evaluation index. Deceleration control is started to decelerate the subject vehicle so that the deceleration of the subject vehicle becomes equal to the target deceleration of the subject vehicle computed based on the target relative speed corresponding to the set target value and the actual relative speed.
US08078379B2
A traffic system that helps a driver to save fuel by avoiding red light or by minimized fuel supply before stopping a red light. It predicts the colors of a traffic light and automatically control the speed of the vehicle. The system comprising three kinds of moving sections representing three future colors: green, yellow, and red. The moving sections are moving towards the traffic light. There is a microprocessor in each vehicle to receive messages from the traffic light in front and to calculate an optimal speed to the cruise control in the vehicle.
US08078365B2
The invention relates to a control system for controlling a wheelchair having movable parts. The control system comprises a controller and a number of actuators for effectuating movements of the movable parts. The controller comprises a mathematical model of the kinematics of the movable parts and their respective at least one actuator, means for receiving an input signal from one or more of the actuators, and means for setting, based on the mathematical model, limiting positions of the actuators in response to the determined input signal. The invention also relates to a corresponding wheelchair and method of controlling a wheelchair.
US08078363B2
An on-vehicle electronic device control system includes a base-device-layer on which base-inputting-devices and base-driven-devices are disposed and plural control layers on which plural control units are disposed. Each of the control units has a lower-to-higher-layer-data-input-portion for inputting data from a lower layer and a higher-to-lower-layer-data-output-portion for outputting control-command-data to a lower layer. At least one of the control units disposed on one of the control layers has a higher-to-lower-data-input-portion for inputting data from a higher layer. At least one of the control units disposed on one of the control layers has a lower-to-higher-data output-portion for outputting data to a higher layer and one of the control units that has the higher-to-lower-data-input-portion functions as a coordinative-control-command-unit that determines output data based on both data inputted thereto from a higher layer and input data from a lower layer and also functions as an autonomous-control-command-unit that determines the output data based only on the input data from the lower layer if the input data from the higher layer are stopped.
US08078355B2
A failure-diagnosis information collection system facilitates failure diagnosis in a vehicle. Electronic control units (ECUs) constituting an onboard network perform abnormality detection processing for a detected abnormality. When a duration during which an abnormality recognizing condition for a detected abnormality is established reaches an abnormality recognition time, abnormality information and a principal time stamp associated with the time point are stored. When the abnormality recognizing condition is established for the first time, a first preliminary time stamp that is time-instant information associated with the time point is stored. When the duration during which the abnormality recognizing condition is established reaches half of the abnormality recognition time, a second preliminary time stamp that is time-instant information associated with the time point is stored. Consequently, an abnormality that is a major factor having triggered other multiple abnormalities can be readily identified based on the first and second preliminary time stamps.
US08078353B2
A self monitoring vehicle braking system includes multiple sensors that gather data associated with the braking system. The data includes wheel speed, road inclination, moisture associated with a surface of the braking system, and audio associated with the road. A processor receives the data from the sensors and processes the data to determine whether a condition of the braking system falls within defined limits and provides to the driver of the vehicle an indication of the braking system condition.
US08078350B2
The method relates to autonomous flights performed by aircraft without the assistance of an aircrew and without said flights having been scheduled during mission preparation. It comprises negotiation with an air traffic control authority, of the modifications made to the flight plan so as to integrate these autonomous flights into the existing air traffic with minimum disturbance.
US08078337B2
An adjustable bed is controlled through a network. When controlled through a telephone network, a phone provides communication with a control box for the adjustable bed, and optionally a second system associated with the bed and controlled through the control box. When controlled through an internetwork such as the Internet, functions of the adjustable bed and optionally functions of a second system associated with the adjustable bed can be controlled. The network can be wired, wireless, near field, or wide band.
US08078334B2
An unobtrusive system for monitoring the physiological condition of a target user of a vehicle including a wearable device affixed to the target user. A measurement subsystem is releasably coupled to the wearable device configured to measure a concentration of at least one analyte in the blood of the target user at one or more time increments. A proximity sensor is configured to detect the location of the wearable device. A vehicle control subsystem is responsive to the proximity sensor and the measurement subsystem and is configured to determine if the wearable device is proximate a predetermined location in the vehicle and configured to determine if the measured concentration of the at least one analyte exceeds a predetermined threshold concentration level, and based on such a determination, initiate one or more predetermined actions.
US08078328B2
Systems, program product, and methods for providing real-time reservoir management of one or more reservoirs across one or more fields are provided. A system can include multiple monitoring wells and at least one injection well in communication with a central facility including a reservoir management computer or server positioned to provide real-time reservoir management of the one or more reservoirs. The computer can include, stored in memory, reservoir management program code, which when executed, can cause the computer to perform the operations of calibrating an injection well model for each of one or more injection wells positioned in a reservoir responsive to real-time injection rate and wellhead pressure data associated therewith, calculating static reservoir pressure for each of the injection wells responsive to the respective calibrated injection well model and responsive to respective surface injection rate and wellhead pressure data, and generating real-time automated isobaric pressure maps.
US08078324B2
An idle control system for a vehicle is provided.
US08078320B2
A method of adjusting operating parameters of a robot to move an effector tool along a given path in an optimum cycle time including a step of modifying operating parameter values to cause the cycle time to approach a optimal value wherein the parameters are modified so as to approach an extremum of a compromise function including at least first and second terms, the first term being a function of a cycle time and the second term being a function of at least one of temperature and degree of wear of an actuator.
US08078315B2
A control system for a load-handling clamp includes first and second load-engaging surfaces for selectively gripping and releasing a load disposed between said surfaces. At least one of said surfaces is selectively movable toward the other by a hydraulic actuator. At least one fluid valve assembly variably regulates a maximum hydraulic clamping pressure capable of causing the actuator to move one of the surfaces toward the other in a load clamping movement. Preferably, a load geometry sensor produces an electrical effect that varies as a function of the geometric profile of the load. A data receiver preferably also obtains load identification information related to at least one characteristic of the load, other than the load's geometry. A controller, in response to the data receiver and load geometry sensor, operates to control the valve assembly's regulation of the maximum hydraulic clamping pressure. In order to prepare for the load clamping movement, the controller is preferably also capable of enabling the actuator to move one of said surfaces toward the other in an initial clamp closing movement at a maximum hydraulic closing pressure greater than the maximum hydraulic clamping pressure. Thereafter the controller enables the load clamping movement at a pressure level substantially no greater than the maximum hydraulic clamping pressure.
US08078312B2
The invention refers to a Method (69) for automatically inserting at least one part (13) into a storage section (15) of a container (11), wherein the storage section (15) comprises a plurality of holder means (17a-d), wherein the part (13) is inserted (103) by means of an insertion tool (49), and wherein the method (69) comprises the step of detecting (93) the position of the holder means (17a-d) by means of at least one optical sensor (51a-d). In order to provide a method for automatically inserting a part into a storage section (15), wherein collisions are avoided it is suggested that the method (69) further comprises the steps of verifying (95) whether the holder means (17a-d) of a certain storage section (15) are available for insertion of the part (13); detecting (99) the orientation of the holder means (17a-d); determining (100) an insertion path (47) along which the part is inserted; and inserting (103) the part (13) into the available storage section (15) along the determined insertion path (47).
US08078302B2
Systems and methods for audio streaming in a computing device are described. In one aspect an interface to an adapter driver is provided. The adapter driver is associated with an audio device. The adapter driver and a wave real-time (WaveRT) port driver associated with the computing device use the interface to configure direct access by a client of the computing device and by the audio device to a cyclic buffer. The direct access is for rendering and/or capturing an audio stream. The direct access is independent of any copying by a port driver on the computer system of the audio stream to any buffer.
US08078301B2
Methods and apparatus for embedding codes in compressed audio data streams are disclosed. An example method to embed a code in a compressed audio data stream disclosed herein comprises obtaining a plurality of transform coefficients comprising the compressed audio data stream, wherein the plurality of transform coefficients is represented by a respective plurality of mantissas and a respective plurality of scale factors, and modifying a mantissa in the plurality of mantissas and a corresponding scale factor in the plurality of scale factors to embed the code in the compressed audio data stream.
US08078295B2
A method for controlling acceleration and deceleration before interpolating is provided. The method includes steps of previewing and analyzing a processing program to estimate a limitation of a processing velocity and distributing a processing velocity according to the limitation. The step of previewing and analyzing a processing program includes sub-steps of providing the processing program including a pathway formed by plural blocks, unitizing the motion vector of each block into the unit vector ( N ^ i = N _ i N _ i ) , calculating a length (DVi=∥{right arrow over (DV)}i∥) of a vector difference in the unit vectors between each block and its next block ({right arrow over (DV)}i={circumflex over (N)}i−{circumflex over (N)}i+1), calculating a sum of the length of the vector difference in a distance from a starting block (S=ΣDVn), and calculating the limitation of the processing velocity for an end of each block (Vlim) according to an inverse ratio of the sum (1/S).
US08078294B2
Systems and methods that provide for event driven downloading, via defining storage thresholds in an embedded historian (e.g. micro historian). Upon reaching predetermined thresholds (e.g., low/high water marks), stored data in the embedded historians can automatically down load to a central plant historian. An automatic download engine is provided that down loads historian data based on satisfaction of such conditions defined for the download. The download engine can further include a detector component, which detects whether a predetermined condition (e.g., associated with the storage capacity of the micro-historians have been met. Moreover, a notification component can notify the embedded historians that the data have been permanently persisted in the central historian.
US08078293B2
A system, method, and medium, the method including receiving parameter information associated with a mailer, associating the parameter information with a mailing, receiving statistical information, the statistical information including historical performance data of at least one carrier, determining a delivery sequence for the mailing based on the received mailer parameter information and the statistical information, and outputting the determined delivery sequence for the mailing.
US08078292B2
A method of estimating a basepoint includes receiving a plurality of goals, wherein each goal has a desired value, and receiving a plurality of sensor feedback signals from a controlled system. A plurality of predicted output values of the controlled system are received from a mathematical model. A desired change for a plurality of basepoint values is estimated in response to the goals, the feedback, and the predicted output values. An actual change in basepoint values is calculated in response to a plurality of limits and the desired change for the plurality of basepoint values according to a plurality of goal weights while holding limits. The actual change in basepoint values is combined with last pass values of the plurality of basepoint values to produce an updated basepoint estimate.
US08078285B2
An implantable medical device having an acoustic element includes a control module coupled to the acoustic element, an acoustic sensing module coupled to the control module, and a patient alert driver module coupled to the control circuit. The patient alert driver module generates a patient alert drive signal for activating the acoustic element to emit a patient alert signal. The control module includes an isolation circuit for isolating the acoustic sensing module from the acoustic element in response to the patient alert drive signal.
US08078284B2
Polymer materials are useful as electrode array bodies for neural stimulation. They are particularly useful for retinal stimulation to create artificial vision, cochlear stimulation to create artificial hearing, and cortical stimulation, and many related purposes. The pressure applied against the retina, or other neural tissue, by an electrode array is critical. Too little pressure causes increased electrical resistance, along with electric field dispersion. Too much pressure may block blood flow. Common flexible circuit fabrication techniques generally require that a flexible circuit electrode array be made flat. Since neural tissue is almost never flat, a flat array will necessarily apply uneven pressure. Further, the edges of a flexible circuit polymer array may be sharp and cut the delicate neural tissue. By applying the right amount of heat to a completed array, a curve can be induced. With a thermoplastic polymer it may be further advantageous to repeatedly heat the flexible circuit in multiple molds, each with a decreasing radius. Further, it is advantageous to add material along the edges. It is further advantageous to provide a fold or twist in the flexible circuit array. Additional material may be added inside and outside the fold to promote a good seal with tissue.
US08078281B2
An apparatus and a related method for the deep brain stimulation have been invented wherein the parameters of the stimulation supplied at the human nervous system level are adjusted and optimized continuously by the analysis of the bioelectric signals coming from the tissue adjacent the stimulation electrode itself, adapting the therapy continuously and in line to the patient's clinical state. The apparatus is constituted at least by an electro-catheter (1) implantable in a patient's brain and equipped with four contacts (4, 5, 6, 7). Then, there is at least a stimulation module (9) which generates the stimulating signal (15) sent to the electro-catheter (1) and in particular to one of the contacts thereof (6). The electro-catheter (1) contemporarily sends a signal characterizing the brain activity coming from the tissue involved by the stimulating signal (15) to an acquisition module (8). The characterizing signal is used to determine the feedback of the stimulation parameters (15) and, consequently, to adapt the therapy continuously to the patient's clinical state.
US08078276B2
A method and system for determining an optimum atrioventricular delay (AVD) interval and/or ventriculo-ventricular delay (VVD) intervals for delivering ventricular resynchronization pacing in an atrial tracking or atrial sequential pacing mode. Evoked response electrograms recorded at different AVD and VVD intervals are used to determine the extent of paced and intrinsic activation.
US08078274B2
The disclosure of the present application provides for a system for measuring cross-sectional areas and pressure gradients in luminal organs. The disclosure of the present application also provides a method and apparatus for measuring cross-sectional areas and pressure gradients in luminal organs, such as, for example, blood vessels, heart valves, and other visceral hollow organs. In at least one embodiment, a method for measuring a cross-sectional area of a targeted treatment site comprises the steps of introducing a device, injecting two solutions, measuring a first conductance, moving the device, injecting two solutions, measuring a second conductance, and calculating cross-sectional areas based upon the two conductance measurements.
US08078265B2
An imaging system divides image pixels intensities by exposure time to generate image data in units of intensity per time. The imaging system divides a fluorescent light image in intensity per time units by an excitation light image in intensity per time units to provide a quantitative corrected fluorescent light image that is generally invariant to position of an imaging instrument relative to a biological tissue being imaged.
US08078261B2
Generally, the present invention is directed to a light-guided catheter for direct visualization of placement through the skin. An embodiment of the invention includes a method for transcutaneous viewing and guiding of intracorporeal catheters into a body that comprises inserting a catheter into the body having at least one lumen and internally illuminating the catheter with light capable of propagating through the blood and tissue to an external viewer outside of the body.
US08078257B2
Systems and methods for blood flow and perfusion measurement using complex amplitude modulation of MRI pulses are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, inflowing arterial spins can be modulated using a complex modulation function having certain mathematical properties in the frequency domain, such as, for example, a pseudo-random sequence. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter the mathematical properties of such complex modulation functions can be used to measure individual transit times by deconvolving them from a series of acquired images. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter images can be acquired at the same rapid rate as arterial modulation, and transit time distribution in the imaged tissue can be determined as part of a single integrated acquisition.
US08078255B2
Various embodiments of virtual surgical systems and methods are disclosed.
