US08114762B2
A method for manufacturing trench MOSFET device with low gate charge includes the steps of providing a substrate of first conductivity type; forming an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type on the substrate; forming a body region of second conductivity type in the epitaxial layer, the body region extends downwards from the surface of the epitaxial layer; forming a plurality of trenches in the epitaxial layer, the body region having the trenches formed therethrough; forming a first insulating layer on the body region and on an inner surface of each trench; forming a ploy-silicon spacer on the first insulating layer on an inner side-wall of each trench; filling a dielectric structure in the lower portion of each trench; and filling a ploy-silicon structure on top of the dielectric structure in each trench. Through the trench MOSFET device, the gate capacitance and resistance thereof are reduced so the performance is increased.
US08114759B2
With the invented dicing method, by increasing the cohesive strength while decreasing the adhesive strength of an ultraviolet-curing adhesive in advance, mixing of the ultraviolet-curing adhesive layer of an adhesive sheet with a die attach film on a dicing line can be decreased and pickup failures can be reduced, when picking up chips having a die attach film after dicing. The dicing method for a semiconductor wafer with a die-attach film comprises a first gluing step in which a die attach film is affixed to an adhesive sheet having an ultraviolet-curing adhesive laminated on a base material film, a second gluing step in which a semiconductor wafer is affixed to the opposite side of the die attach film affixed to the adhesive sheet, an ultraviolet irradiation step in which the ultraviolet-curing adhesive is irradiated with ultraviolet light, and a dicing step in which the semiconductor wafer and the die attach film affixed to the adhesive sheet are diced.
US08114758B1
Methods directed to avoiding die cracking resulting from die separation are described herein. A method may include providing a substrate including a first die, a second die, and a monitor structure in an area between the first die and the second die, the monitor structure including a first dielectric material, removing the first dielectric material from the monitor structure, and after removing the first dielectric material, cutting the substrate along the area between the first die and the second die to separate the first die from the second die.
US08114754B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor structures and devices include bonding a seed structure to a substrate using a glass. The seed structure may comprise a crystal of semiconductor material. Thermal treatment of the seed structure bonded to the substrate using the glass may be utilized to control a strain state within the seed structure. The seed structure may be placed in a state of compressive strain at room temperature. The seed structure bonded to the substrate using the glass may be used for growth of semiconductor material, or, in additional methods, a seed structure may be bonded to a first substrate using a glass, thermally treated to control a strain state within the seed structure and a second substrate may be bonded to an opposite side of the seed structure using a non-glassy material.
US08114746B2
Three-dimensional transistor structures such as FinFETS and tri-gate transistors may be formed on the basis of an enhanced masking regime, thereby enabling the formation of drain and source areas, the fins and isolation structures in a self-aligned manner within a bulk semiconductor material. After defining the basic fin structures, highly efficient manufacturing techniques of planar transistor configurations may be used, thereby even further enhancing overall performance of the three-dimensional transistor configurations.
US08114741B2
An integrated circuit structure and a method of forming the same are provided. The method includes providing a surface; performing an ionized oxygen treatment to the surface; forming an initial layer comprising silicon oxide using first process gases comprising a first oxygen-containing gas and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS); and forming a silicate glass over the initial layer. The method may further include forming a buffer layer using second process gases comprising a second oxygen-containing gas and TEOS, wherein the first and the second process gases have different oxygen-to-TEOS ratio.
US08114739B2
Methods are provided for fabricating a transistor. An exemplary method involves depositing an oxide layer overlying a layer of semiconductor material, forming an oxygen-diffusion barrier layer overlying the oxide layer, forming a layer of high-k dielectric material overlying the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer, forming a layer of conductive material overlying the layer of high-k dielectric material, selectively removing portions of the layer of conductive material, the layer of high-k dielectric material, the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer, and the oxide layer to form a gate stack, and forming source and drain regions about the gate stack. When the conductive material is an oxygen-gettering conductive material, the oxygen-diffusion barrier layer prevents diffusion of oxygen from the deposited oxide layer to the oxygen-gettering conductive material.
US08114730B2
A shared contact structure, semiconductor device and method of fabricating the semiconductor device, in which the shared contact structure may include a gate electrode disposed on an active region of a substrate and including facing first and second sidewalls. The first sidewall may be covered with an insulating spacer. The source/drain regions may be formed within the active region adjacent the first sidewall, and provided on the opposite side of the second sidewall. A corner protection pattern may be formed adjacent the source/drain regions and the insulating spacer, and covered by an inter-layer dielectric. A shared contact plug may be formed through the inter-layer dielectric, to be in contact with the gate electrode, corner protection pattern and source/drain regions.
US08114729B2
A method of fabricating a CMOS integrated circuit and integrated circuits therefrom includes the steps of providing a substrate having a semiconductor surface, forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor surface and a polysilicon including layer on the gate dielectric. A portion of the polysilicon layer is masked, and pre-gate etch implant of a first dopant type into an unmasked portion of the polysilicon layer is performed, wherein masked portions of the polysilicon layer are protected from the first dopant. The polysilicon layer is patterned to form a plurality of polysilicon gates and a plurality of polysilicon lines, wherein the masked portion includes at least one of the polysilicon lines which couple a polysilicon gate of a PMOS device to a polysilicon gate of an NMOS device. Fabrication of the integrated circuit is then completed, wherein the integrated circuit includes at least one first region formed in the masked portion lacking the first dopant in the polysilicon gates from the pre-gate etch implant and at least one second region formed in the unmasked portion having the first dopant in the polysilicon gates from the pre-gate etch implant.
US08114725B1
The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing MOS device having a lightly doped drain (LDD) structure. The method includes: providing a first conductive type substrate; forming an isolation region in the substrate to define a device area; forming a gate structure in the device area, the gate structure having a dielectric layer, a stack layer, and a spacer layer on the sidewalls of the stack layer; implanting second conductive type impurities into the substrate with a tilt angle to form an LDD structure, wherein at least some of the impurities are implanted into the substrate through the spacer to form part of the LDD structure below the spacer layer; and implanting second conductive type impurities into the substrate to form source and drain.
US08114724B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a plurality of photoresist patterns over a substrate structure; forming an insulation layer for a spacer over a structure including the photoresist patterns; forming a plurality of spacers on sidewalls of the photoresist patterns by anisotropically etching the insulation layer, and forming a first opening through the insulation layer; and forming second openings in the insulation layer to expose the substrate structure.
US08114714B2
An object is to provide an electronic device of a multilayer structure with high density and high reliability that can be reduced in size while incorporating an electronic component therein, and further provide a production method for easily producing such an electronic device. An electronic device of the present invention includes wiring layers and electrically insulating layers stacked on a core board and establishes predetermined electrical conduction between the wiring layers through upper-lower side conducting vias provided in the electrically insulating layers. An electronic component incorporating layer formed by directly forming a lower layer and insulating resin layer having a cutout portion for receiving an electronic component therein and upper-lower side conducting vias and by incorporating the electronic component in the cutout portion is provided at least between one of the wiring layers and one of the electrically insulating layers and/or between the core board and the electrically insulating layer. At least the uppermost-layer electronic component incorporating layer of electronic incorporating layers has a metal frame body surrounding the electronic component and the upper-lower side conducting vias, and a metal cap having a flange portion fixed to the metal frame body of the uppermost-layer electronic component incorporating layer is provided.
US08114713B2
A lead frame includes a base material having a front surface for mounting of a semiconductor chip and a back surface for connection with an external board, and an Ni layer having a thick section and thin section. The thick section is formed on the back surface of the base material, whereas the thin section is formed on all or a part of the front surface of the base material. It is preferable that the thick section has a thickness ranging from 2.5 to 5 μm, and the thin section is 0.5-2 μm thinner than the thick section. The lead frame can be manufactured with improved productivity by forming an Ni layer on both front and back surfaces of the base material, and then etching only the Ni layer formed on the front surface of the base material.
US08114703B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an organic EL device includes providing a structure including a substrate and an electrode positioned above the substrate, and forming an organic layer including a mixture of first and second organic materials above the electrode. The first organic material has a first sublimation point. The second organic material has a second sublimation point higher than the first sublimation point. The formation of the organic layer includes heating an evaporation material including a mixture of the first and second organic materials to an evaporation temperature so as to sublimate the first and second organic materials, and delivering the sublimed first and second organic materials toward the electrode to deposit a mixture including the first and second organic materials above the electrode. The evaporation temperature is, for example, a temperature higher than the second sublimation temperature by 50° C. or more.
US08114692B2
A semiconductor light emitting device comprises a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. The light emitting layer is adapted to emit first light having a first peak wavelength. A first wavelength converting material is adapted to absorb the first light and emit second light having a second peak wavelength. A second wavelength converting material is adapted to absorb either the first light or the second light and emit third light having a third peak wavelength. A filter is adapted to reflect fourth light having a fourth peak wavelength. The fourth light is either a portion of the second light or a portion of the third light. The filter is configured to transmit light having a peak wavelength longer or shorter than the fourth peak wavelength. The filter is disposed over the light emitting device in the path of at least a portion of the first, second, and third light.
US08114691B2
A semiconductor light emitting diode having a textured structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer formed into a textured structure, an intermediate layer formed between the textured structures of the patterned first semiconductor layer, and a second semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a third semiconductor layer sequentially formed on the first semiconductor layer and the intermediate layer.
US08114686B2
A block of phase change material located in a semiconductor chip is reset to an amorphous state. The block of phase change material may be connected to an internal resistance measurement circuit that can transmit the measured resistance data to input/output pads either in an analog output format or in a digital output format. Depending on the ambient temperature, the resistance of the block of phase change material changes. By measuring a fractional resistance change compared to the resistance of the phase change material at a calibration temperature, the temperature of the region around the phase change material can be accurately measured. A logic decoder and an input/output circuit may be employed between the internal resistance measurement circuit and the input/output pads. A plurality of temperature sensing circuits containing phase change material blocks may be employed in the semiconductor chip to enable an accurate temperature profiling during chip operation.
US08114681B2
Methods are provided for detecting and optionally quantitating multiple analytes, including nucleic acid and/or polypeptide analytes, in particle-based assays that can be highly multiplexed. Compositions, systems, and kits related to the methods are also featured.
US08114680B2
A tube and float system for use in separation and axial expansion of the buffy coat includes a transparent or semi-transparent, flexible sample tube and a rigid separator float having a specific gravity intermediate that of red blood cells and plasma. The float includes a main body portion of reduced diameter to provide a clearance gap between the inner wall of the sample tube and the float. One or more protrusions on the main body portion serve to support the flexible tube. During centrifugation, the centrifugal force causes the diameter of the flexible tube to expand and permit density-based axial movement of the float in the tube. The float further includes a pressure relief system to alleviate pressure build up in the trapped red blood cell blood fraction below the float, thereby preventing red blood cells from being forced into the annular gap containing the buffy coat layers.
US08114661B2
The present invention is directed to the detection of target analytes using electronic techniques, particularly AC techniques.
US08114659B2
This apparatus introduces catalysts and fluids into a media to effect remediation of contaminants, improve soil fertility and permeability, control undesirable pests, or create useful chemicals or food. The apparatus generates and releases enzymes, metabolites, and biologically active organisms. Aerobic metabolism of compounds in a media is facilitated through the transfer of fluids, such as air. The apparatus and methods provide an environment for select organisms, including refugia and nutrient substrate. The biodegradable composition of the apparatus is partially transformed by catalytic treatment. Catalysts or remediation agents are produced in-situ, for specific applications that provide a range of retention, activation, activity, and release profiles. The apparatus is placed in contact with media. Catalytic infusion of media by biological consortia, such as fungi, releases exudates that transform or biodegrade materials. As treatment proceeds, the chemical, physical and biological properties of the media are affected.
US08114657B2
Several bacterial species were isolated from marine segment obtained from seabed sediment at depths exceeding 1700 feet. At least four of the bacteria produced a compound that showed antibacterial activity against one or more multiple-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria isolated from hospitals and clinics. One isolate, SJCH-12, exhibited a broad range of activity against MDR strains tested, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
US08114652B2
The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases that can incorporate the unnatural amino acid sulfotyrosine into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides encoding the novel synthetase molecules, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing the unnatural amino acid sulfotyrosine and translation systems.
US08114650B2
A method for producing a ciliate cell with reduced or essentially no dihydrofolate reductase (DHFS) activity or reduced or essentially no thymidylate synthase (TS) activity or both reduced or essentially no dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) activity is claimed, comprising the steps of a) transforming ciliate cells by inserting a construct containing an allele altering the gene encoding the endogenous DHFR-TS into at least one of the endogenous DHFR-TS genes of the ciliate macronucleus (MAC), b) inducing an allelic assortment process in the transformed ciliate cells to generate cells having the construct inserted in most or all functional DHFR-TS genes of the MAC, and c) identifying the cells generated in step b) by cultivation with or without thymidine.
US08114648B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for in vivo incorporation of unnatural amino acids. Also provided are compositions including proteins with unnatural amino acids.
US08114647B2
Bone cages are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The structures of bone are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.
US08114642B2
A method for producing vitamin K2 comprising: culturing Bacillus natto in a liquid medium to obtain a Bacillus natto culture or culture supernatant thereof, wherein the culture or culture supernatant contains vitamin K2; treating the culture or culture supernatant with at least one coagulant selected from the group consisting of an inorganic coagulant and a cationic polymer coagulant, with the proviso that the coagulant excludes chitosan, so as to obtain a treated coagulant to which vitamin K2 is absorbed or aggregated; separating the treated coagulant from the treated culture or culture supernatant, and obtaining an oily product that contains vitamin K2 from the separated coagulant.
US08114636B2
Provided in certain embodiments are new methods for forming azido modified nucleic acid conjugates of reporter molecules, carrier molecules or solid support. In other embodiments are provided methods for enzymatically labeling nucleic acids with an azide group.
US08114632B2
The present invention relates to a method of producing a biologically active polypeptide having insulinotropic activity, the method comprising steps of: (a) transforming a genetically modified host cell that has protease gene knockout, with a polynucleotide vector encoding the polypeptide; and (b) growing the transformed host cell to produce the biologically active polypeptide; and a method of producing a biologically active polypeptide having an N-terminal recognition site His-Gly with insulinotropic activity, the method comprising steps of: (a) transforming a genetically modified Pichia pastoris that has protease gene STE13 knockout, with a polynucleotide vector encoding the polypeptide; and (b) growing the transformed Pichia pastoris to produce the biologically active polypeptide.
US08114628B2
This invention provides compositions and methods for producing translational components that expand the number of genetically encoded amino acids in eukaryotic cells. The components include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases and unnatural amino acids. Proteins and methods of producing proteins with unnatural amino acids in eukaryotic cells are also provided.
US08114622B2
Novel reporter bacteriophages are provided. Provided are compositions and methods that allow bacteriophages that are used for specific detection or killing of E. coli 0157:H7 to be propagated in nonpathogenic E. coli, thereby eliminating the safety and security risks of propagation in E. coli 0157:H7. Provided are compositions and methods for attaching active bacteriophages to the surface of a polymer in order to kill target bacteria with which the phage comes into contact. Provided are modified bacteriophages immobilized to a surface, which capture E. coli 0157:H7 and cause the captured cells to emit light or fluorescence, allowing detection of the bacteria in a sample.
US08114620B2
The present invention discloses a dysregulation of a PRKX gene and the protein products thereof in Alzheimer's disease patients and individuals being at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Based on this finding, the invention provides methods for diagnosing and prognosticating Alzheimer's disease in a subject, and for determining whether a subject is at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, this invention provides therapeutic and prophylactic methods for treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders using a PRKX gene and its corresponding gene products. Screening methods for modulating agents of neurodegenerative diseases are also disclosed.
US08114619B2
Biological markers for multiple sclerosis, and their use in the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease, are described. Also described are methods for treating multiple sclerosis by administering an inhibitor of cathepsin B activity or a neuroprotective composition comprising a modified terpenoid compound. Also described are isolated polypeptide biomarkers, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptide biomarkers, and antibodies that bind specifically to the polypeptide biomarkers. Further described are kits that include the above-mentioned isolated polypeptide biomarkers, the polynucleotides encoding them, or specific antibodies against the polypeptide biomarkers.
US08114609B2
The present invention provides a method, an assay and a kit for providing an indication of abnormal cell function. It was surprisingly found that the change in the serum ADAM12 concentration in individuals was useful as a prognostic tool to predict the clinical outcome, complications and mortality following an abnormal cell function.The present inventors describes ADAM12 as a overall general marker for abnormal cell function, and the present inventor for the first time demonstrate that ADAM12 is an important indicator of fetal chromosomal disease and placenta function. Specifically ADAM12 is a good marker for e.g. Downs's syndrome, trisomy 18, preeclampsia, Turner syndrome in both first and second trimester.The present inventors developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a time-resolved immunofluorometric assay for the quantification of ADAM12 in serum.The present application demonstrates in several examples the variation of the ADAM12 level in fetal abnormality and/or adverse pregnancy outcomes correlated gestational age when compared to normal controls. It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement of the existing marker tests that exhibits a decreased false positive rate.
US08114605B1
Disclosed are major allergenic proteins in cashew nut, which are legumin-like proteins and 2S albumins. Also disclosed is a polypeptide allergen in the 7S superfamily, which includes vicilin-like and sucrose binding proteins. Several linear epitopes of the cashew nut are identified and characterized. The invention further discloses the sequence of cDNA encoding the allergenic polypeptide, the allergen being designated Ana o 1, and also describes the characterization of the expressed recombinant polypeptide and associated methods employing the polypeptide.
US08114588B2
This invention provides a novel marker of vesicoureteral reflux or interstitial cystitis and a simple and non-invasive method for detecting vesicoureteral reflux or interstitial cystitis. This method comprises detection of uroplakin expression in a sample obtained from a subject.
US08114587B2
This invention relates to non-radioactive markers that facilitate the detection and analysis of nascent proteins translated within cellular or cell-free translation systems. Nascent proteins containing these markers can be rapidly and efficiently detected, isolated and analyzed without the handling and disposal problems associated with radioactive reagents. Preferred markers are dipyrrometheneboron difluoride (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) dyes.
US08114586B2
Conformational epitopes of the envelope proteins E1 and E2 of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been identified and characterized using a panel of monoclonal antibodies derived from patients infected with HCV. These conserved conformational and linear epitopes of the HCV protein E1 or E2 have been determined to be important in the immune response of humans to HCV and may be particularly important in neutralizing the virus. Based on the identification of these conformational epitopes, vaccines containing peptides and mimotopes with these conformational epitopes intact may be prepared and administered to patients to prevent and/or treat HCV infection. The identification of four distinct groups of monoclonal antibodies with each directed to a particular epitope of E1 or E2 may be used to stratify patients based on their response to HCV and may be used to determine a proper treatment regimen. Pharmaceutical compositions for prevention and treatment of HCV, comprising one or more the monoclonal antibodies, are provided.
US08114584B2
The present invention provides an array of polymers and methods of forming arrays of polymers by providing a substrate having a first layer including one or more dielectric coatings on a solid support and a second layer including a plurality of polymers disposed on the first layer. The invention also provides methods for forming an array of polymers on a substrate using light-directed synthesis by providing a substrate having a first layer including one or more dielectric coatings on a solid support, derivatizing the first layer by contacting the first layer with a silanation reagent, and a second layer disposed on said first layer wherein the second layer includes functional groups protected with a photolabile protecting group.
US08114580B2
The present invention provides for novel analogs of fresh human platelets for use in hematological instrument. Methods for preparing such analogs are also described.
US08114578B2
Provided are a method of manufacturing a photosensitive epoxy structure using a photolithograph process, and a method of manufacturing an inkjet printhead using the method of manufacturing a photosensitive epoxy structure. The method of manufacturing the photosensitive epoxy structure includes forming an epoxy material layer formed of photosensitive epoxy; forming a first exposure pattern in the epoxy material layer by performing a first exposure operation; forming a second exposure pattern in the non-exposed portions of the epoxy material layer by performing a second exposure operation; and developing the epoxy material layer, wherein the amount of first UV energy used in the first exposure operation is different from the amount of second UV energy used in the second exposure operation.
US08114574B2
A photosensitive resin composition of the present invention includes an acid group-containing vinyl ester resin and a photopolymerization initiator as essential components, wherein the acid group-containing vinyl ester resin is an acid group-containing vinyl ester resin having a multiple-branched molecular structure obtained by the following steps where a polybasic anhydride (a3) is reacted with an epoxy vinyl ester resin (v1) that is a reaction product of an aromatic epoxy resin (a1) and a radically-polymerizable unsaturated-double bond-containing monocarboxylic acid (a2); a radically-polymerizable unsaturated-double bond-containing monoepoxy compound (a4) is subsequently reacted with an acid group formed by the reaction; and a polybasic anhydride (a3) is subsequently reacted with a secondary hydroxyl group formed by the reaction of the compound (a4) with the acid group, thereby obtaining the acid group-containing vinyl ester resin having a multiple-branched molecular structure; and contains 1.75 to 3.5 radically-polymerizable unsaturated double bonds per aromatic ring in the acid group-containing vinyl ester resin, and the acid groups within a range where the acid value of the acid group-containing vinyl ester resin reaches 30 to 150 mg KOH/g. According to the present invention, a resin composition for a resist ink that simultaneously has ultrahigh sensitivity, excellent developability, and broad heat control range can be provided.
US08114573B2
A mask having features formed by self-organizing material, such as diblock copolymers, is formed on a partially fabricated integrated circuit. Initially, a copolymer template, or seed layer, is formed on the surface of the partially fabricated integrated circuit. To form the seed layer, diblock copolymers, composed of two immiscible blocks, are deposited in the space between copolymer alignment guides. The copolymers are made to self-organize, with the guides guiding the self-organization and with each block aggregating with other blocks of the same type, thereby forming the seed layer. Next, additional, supplemental diblock copolymers are deposited over the seed layer. The copolymers in the seed layer guide self-organization of the supplemental copolymers, thereby vertically extending the pattern formed by the copolymers in the seed layer. Block species are subsequently selectively removed to form a pattern of voids defined by the remaining block species, which form a mask that can be used to pattern an underlying substrate. The supplemental copolymers augment the height of the copolymers in the seed layer, thereby facilitating the use of the copolymers for patterning the underlying substrate.
US08114566B2
There is provided a photosensitive resin composition for a solvent-developing or thermally-developing flexographic printing plate, the photosensitive resin composition comprising: (a) a block copolymer containing a polymer block having conjugated diene as a main component and a polymer block having a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon as a main component; (b) a photopolymerizable monomer; (c) a photopolymerization initiator; and (d) an organosilicon compound. A photosensitive resin composition for printing in which the organosilicon compound is a silicone oil containing a specific group is preferable, and a photosensitive resin composition for printing in which the organosilicon compound is a silicone oil containing an amino group or an aryl group is most preferable.
US08114560B2
The present invention provides a toner containing at least a binder resin, a releasing agent, and a colorant, wherein the binder resin contains at least a polyester resin (A) having a softening point Tm (A) of 120° C. to 160° C., a polyester resin (B) having a softening point Tm (B) of 80° C. or more and less than 120° C. and a composite resin (C) containing a condensation polymerization monomer and an addition polymerization monomer, at least any one of the polyester resins (A) and (B) is a polyester resin prepared by condensation-polymerizing an alcohol component substantially composed of only aliphatic alcohol with a carboxylic acid component, and 65% or more of the alcohol component is 1,2-propanediol.
US08114553B2
A fuel cell, which employs power generation units that have an electrolyte membrane and electrodes respectively disposed to either side of the electrolyte membrane, comprises a stack that includes a stacked plurality of the power generation units, a clamping member, and a shear elastic member. The clamping member is used for clamping the stack in the stacking direction. The shear elastic member is interposed between the clamping member and an end face of the stack in the stacking direction, and elastically deform in a shearing direction which lies orthogonal to the stacking direction.
US08114552B2
There is provided an electrode structure for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having excellent power generation performance and excellent durability and a method for manufacturing the same. Also provided is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell including the electrode structure and an electrical apparatus and a transport apparatus using the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The electrode structure includes a polymer electrolyte membrane 2 sandwiched between a pair of electrode catalyst layers 1, 1 containing carbon particles supporting catalyst particles. The polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is made of a sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer. The sulfonated polyarylene-based polymer has an ion exchange capacity in the range of 1.7 to 2.3 meq/g, and the polymer contains a component insoluble in N-methylpyrrolidone in an amount of 70% or less relative to the total amount of the polymer, after the polymer is subjected to heat treatment for exposing it under a constant temperature atmosphere of 12° C. for 200 hours. A catalyst paste containing catalyst particles and a polymer electrolyte is coated on a sheet-like support 6 and dried to form an electrode catalyst layer 1 containing a solvent in an amount in the range of 0.5% or less by weight of the total membrane. The electrode catalyst layers 3, 3 are thermally transferred and joined on both sides of the polymer electrolyte membrane 1.
US08114550B2
A reinforced electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell which is reinforced by a porous membrane, characterized by containing void portions in a joining portion between the surface of the porous membrane and/or pore surface and the electrolyte for buffering swelling when water is contained. This reinforced electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell has improved dimensional stability even if the electrolyte swells.
US08114525B2
A component capable of being exposed to a plasma in a process chamber has a structure having an electroplated coating comprising yttrium-containing species. The electroplated coating can include zirconium oxide, or can have an oxide layer thereon. In another embodiment the electroplated coating comprises a first species and is coated with a second electroplated coating comprising a second species that is different from the first species. The electroplated coating is resistant to corrosion in the plasma. In another embodiment, the electroplated coating has an interface having a thickness with a first concentration gradient of an yttrium-containing species and a second concentration gradient of a second species. An electroplated coating having a layer comprising first and second concentration gradients of first and second metals can be formed by varying the concentration of the first and second metal electrolyte species in the electroplating bath to electroplate the coating.
US08114521B2
A gas barrier laminate comprising: a plastic substrate (I); a gas barrier layer (II) formed from a gas barrier layer-forming coating material (C) containing a polyalcohol-based polymer (A) and a polycarboxylic acid-based polymer (B); an overcoat layer (III) formed from an overcoat layer-forming coating material (F) containing at least one of a monovalent metal compound (D) and a bivalent or higher metal compound (E); and a top coat layer (IV) formed from a top coat layer-forming coating material (G); wherein the gas barrier layer (II) is laminated to the plastic substrate (I), either directly or with an anchor coat layer disposed therebetween, the overcoat layer (III) is laminated on top of the gas barrier layer (II), and the top coat layer (IV) is formed on top of the overcoat layer (III).
US08114519B2
Derivatized solid epoxy resins of the formula (I), which are outstandingly suitable as impact modifiers; and compositions which include such derivatized solid epoxy resins and are outstandingly suitable as one-component heat-curable adhesives, and as structural foams which have a high impact resistance and high mechanical stability.
US08114517B2
A micronetwork made from microcapsules with or without nanomaterials and/or micromaterials such as microtubes, nanotubes and/or buckyballs; the micronetworks can be formulated to provide for unique properties such as reduction of crack propagation and/or corrosion.
US08114512B2
Blackened layers 23A and 23B are formed by depositing Cu—Co alloy particles on the surfaces of a metal layer 21. The metal layer 21 coated with the blackened layers 23A and 23B of the Cu—Co alloy particles is subjected to a chromating process to form density-intensifying layers 25A and 25B on the blackened layers 23A and 23B. A base 11 is laminated to the density-intensifying layer 25A or 25B. A conductive structure 109 consisting of the meal layer 21, the blackened layers 23A and 23B, and the density-intensifying layers 25A and 25B is processed by a photolithographic process to complete an electromagnetic shielding sheet 1 having a mesh conductive structure.
US08114508B2
The present invention provides a composition of the modified maleic anhydride and the epoxy resins, including (A) one or more of the epoxy resin mixtures, (B) a modified maleic anhydride copolymer, (C) additives and (D) inorganic filler materials, wherein component (A) the epoxy resin mixture accounts for 35%˜56% by weight of the composition solids, component (B) the modified maleic anhydride copolymer accounts for 44%˜65% by weight of the composition solids, based on 100% by weight of total components (A), (B) and (C). According to the present invention, the modified maleic anhydride copolymer curing agent is prepared by reacting styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer with a modifier having hydroxy groups (OH), wherein the modifier having hydroxy groups (OH) can be a brominated, phosphorus-based or halogen-free material; the epoxy resin composition of the present invention shows good heat resistance and outstanding electrical properties, is suitable for the production of prepreg material, bonding films and copper clad laminates, thus can be used in the field of the general or high-frequency printed circuit boards.
US08114499B2
The subject invention provides an optical film comprising a substrate and a resin coating having a convex-concave structure on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein said resin coating comprises a plurality of organic particles and a binder, the organic particles being formed from a polyacrylate resin which comprises at least one multi-functional acrylate monomer as polymerization units, and said multi-functional acrylate monomer is in an amount from 30 wt % to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the monomers, and wherein the organic particles have a single mean particle size, the particle size distribution of the organic particles ranges within about ±30% of the mean particle size, and the organic particles are in an amount from about 110 to about 360 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the solids content of the binder.
US08114487B2
An inkjet printing system, comprises an inkjet printer, an ink composition, and an inkjet recording media comprising a support, and coated on the support in order from the support, a porous base layer, a porous intermediate layer, and a porous uppermost layer, each with particular limitations. The inkjet recording media and printer system is manufacturable using low-cost materials in an efficient process requiring only a single coating and drying step and that gives images with excellent gloss, color density and image quality.
US08114475B2
A surface-modified adsorbent and a process for making a surface-modified adsorbent are provided. The process involves providing an adsorbent and a non-volatile organic compound to a vessel, adjusting the temperature and/or pressure to provide supercritical conditions for a supercritical fluid, and introducing the supercritical fluid into the vessel. The supercritical fluid dissolves the non-volatile organic compound, and impregnates the adsorbent with the non-volatile organic compound. The surface-modified adsorbent can be used, for example, in cut filler compositions, cigarette filters, and smoking articles. Methods for making cigarette filters, cigarettes and for smoking a cigarette comprising the surface-modified adsorbent are also provided. The surface-modified adsorbents can be used to remove one or more selected components from mainstream smoke, without removing other components, such as those that contribute to flavor.
US08114465B2
Processes are provided for preparing a substrate coated with a biomolecule, comprising: a) providing a substrate; b) coating the substrate with a polysiloxane, typically by exposing the substrate to a reactive gas containing siloxane functional groups and to plasma energy to yield a plasma-deposited polysiloxane surface on the substrate; c) rendering the polysiloxane surface amino functional; and d) contacting the amino-functional polysiloxane surface with a biomolecule under conditions effective to attach the biomolecule to the substrate. The coated substrate may be a medical device that demonstrates an ability to maintain gas permeability when in contact with blood or blood components, compared to a substantially identical medical device that has not been coated with a biomolecule using this process.
US08114464B2
Hybrid thin films that incorporate lamellar phospholipid layer assemblies and transmembrane proteins
The present disclosure provides various novel methods for forming hybrid thin films that contain multi-lamellar assemblies of phospholipid bilayers and can incorporate proteins, polypeptides, biological complexes, transmembrane proteins and other membrane-associated compounds. The present disclosure further provides uses for such bilayer lipid membranes including, biosensing for medical diagnosis and environmental monitoring, chemical and biological warfare agent sequestration, actuator development, and bio-fuel cell development.
US08114458B2
The present embodiments generally relate to beverages with enhanced flavors and aromas and method of making same. Some embodiments of the present application are directed to soluble coffee and methods of making soluble coffee with improvements in such qualities as taste and aroma.
US08114453B2
A synergistically heat stable therapeutically active triglyceride and cholesterol controlling oil composition including the usually highly unsaturated Eicosa Pentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosa Hexaenoic Acid (DHA). The invention avoids limitations of presently available impure sources of EPA/DHA such as fish oil, algae and the like and provides for a synergistically stable edible oil formulation involving the Eicosa Pentaenoic Acid and Docosa Hexaenoic acid of at least 50% to less than 100% purity in a free of any encapsulated/protected form in combination with synergistically stability contributing oil constituents/ingredients. The invention also provides for benefit applications/uses of the surprising and unexpected heat stability of the beneficial actives EPA and DHA. The invention is therefore directed to serve in possible provision of variety of alternative media including heat stable media for regular consumption of EPA/DHA and provide for maintenance of safe and healthy lifestyle.
US08114444B2
The present invention is providing a new sustained release drug preparation comprising such and inclusion complex of a medical compound with safe botanic drug (SBD), which sustains or retards the dissolution and release of the SBD at a controlled rate from the inclusion complex and hence from the drug preparation containing the SBD, so as to maintain the concentration of the SBD in blood at an effective level for prolonged time.SBD contains Kuguasu (KU) and saponins of Kugua (SAK). SBD is very safe and it is used for treating and preventing diabetes.
US08114442B2
A pharmaceutically delivery system and method of use therefor are described comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and acidified nitrite as an agent to produce local production of nitric oxide at the skin surface. The dosage form may be in any pharmaceutically acceptable carrier means and comprises an acidifying agent adapted to reduce the pH at the environment. In one embodiment, a barrier consisting of a membrane allows diffusions of the anaesthetic and nitrite ions while preventing direct contact of the skin and acidifying agent.
US08114432B2
A treatment solution used to prevent posterior capsular opacification is applied or introduced into the lens capsular bag before, during, or after cataract surgery. The treatment solution comprises an ion transport mechanism interference agent, which either alone or in combination with other treatment agents such as an osmotic stress agent and an agent to establish a suitable pH, selectively induces detachment and/or death of lens epithelial cells such that posterior capsular opacification is prevented. While the ion transport mechanism interference agent is capable of interfering with the cellular mechanisms and cell ion distribution of a broad range of cells, a concentration of agent is selected such that the treatment solution interferes selectively with the cellular mechanisms of lens epithelial cells while leaving other ocular cells substantially unharmed. The treatment solution selectively induces cellular death and/or detachment of lens epithelial cells while other ocular cells and tissue remain substantially unharmed and without lengthy preoperative pre-treatment.
US08114431B2
Methods and compositions are provided for improving tissue growth and device integration in vivo. Substrates and devices coated with an α2β1 or α5β1 integrin-specific ligand are provided. The substrates and devices coated with an α2β1 or α5β1 integrin-specific ligand are shown to have greater tissue formation on the surface relative to controls, in particular greater bone formation.
US08114429B2
A method and device for local delivery of a water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the tissue of a normal or diseased body lumen is disclosed. An expandable structure of a medical disposable device, such as a balloon of a balloon catheter, is coated with a non-durable coating which comprises poly(HEMA) complexed with iodine and has a substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent dispersed therein. The medical disposable device is inserted into a body lumen, and expanded to contact the non-durable coating against the body lumen and deliver the substantially water-insoluble therapeutic agent to the body lumen tissue.
US08114425B2
Process for the production of wood-based materials containing wood parts, comprising the steps a) bringing wood parts into contact with a1) alkaline binder and a2) thiacloprid and b) pressing a bed of wood parts, containing wood parts treated according to step a), under pressure at a temperature of the press contact surfaces of 126° C. to 240° C.
US08114423B2
This invention relates to deodorant compositions containing polytrimethylene ether glycol homo- and copolymers and/or polytrimethylene glycol ester(s) in a variety of physical forms. In at least one embodiment, the polytrimethylene ether glycol homo- and copolymers and/or polytrimethylene glycol ester(s) are derived predominantly from monomers (e.g., 1,3-propanediol) obtained from renewable resources, and are thus more environmentally friendly in terms of manufacture, use and disposal.
US08114417B2
The present invention discloses amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences relating to a Streptococcus pneumoniae surface associated Pneumo Protective Protein (PPP) having a molecular weight of about 20 kilo Daltons (kDa). The PPP exhibits the ability to reduce colonization of pneumococcal bacteria. Thus the present invention also pertains to compositions for the treatment and prophylaxis of infection or inflammation associated with bacterial infection.
US08114392B2
Method for smoothing fibers containing keratin, in particular human hair. Fibers are subjected to a thermal treatment and to a treatment with an agent containing at least one conditioning compound selected from cationic polymers, quaternary ammonium compounds, silicones and protein hydrolyzates. The invention also relates to the use of an agent containing at least one of the conditioning compounds concerned in said method for smoothing fibers containing keratin. The inventive method achieves an excellent, uniform smoothing of the fibers, which are also conditioned.
US08114389B2
Oil-in-water nanoemulsions comprising oil globules with an average size of less than 150 nm and comprising at least one oil, at least one amphiphilc lipid, and at least one nonionic polymer comprising at least one hydrophobic block and at least one hydrophilic block. Processes comprising such oil-in-water nanoemulsions.
US08114388B2
Goniochromatic/light reflecting cosmetic compositions well suited for making up the skin, lips, hair or integuments, contain (a) at least one goniochromatic coloring agent and (b) an amount of light reflective particles different from said at least one goniochromatic coloring agent and selected from the group consisting of (i) particles of a natural or synthetic substrate at least partially coated with at least one layer of at least one metal, (ii) particles of a synthetic substrate at least partially coated with at least one layer of at least one metallic compound, (iii) particles which comprise a stack of at least two layers of materials having different refractive indices, at least one of such layers optionally comprising a polymer, and (iv) metal oxide particles, formulated into (c) a topically applicable, physiologically acceptable medium therefor.
US08114383B2
The present invention relates to an abuse-proofed, thermoformed dosage form containing, in addition to one or more active ingredients with abuse potential optionally together with physiologically acceptable auxiliary substances, at least one synthetic or natural polymer with a breaking strength of at least 500 N and to a process for the production thereof.
US08114380B2
The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and a bioactive agent for oral delivery. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and enhanced permeability for oral drug delivery.
US08114374B2
In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of sequestering carbon dioxide. The process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a metal silicate with a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide to produce a hydroxide of the metal formerly contained in the silicate; (b) reacting carbon dioxide with at least one of a caustic alkali-metal hydroxide and an alkali-metal silicate to produce at least one of an alkali-metal carbonate and an alkali-metal bicarbonate; and (c) reacting the metal hydroxide product of step (a) with at least one of the alkali-metal carbonate and the alkali-metal bicarbonate produced in step (b) to produce a carbonate of the metal formerly contained in the metal silicate of step (a).
US08114369B2
Catalyst containing platinum and palladium for the selective reduction of NOx with hydrogen (H2-SCR)
The invention relates to a novel catalyst having excellent activity and selectivity for reducing nitric oxides (NO/NO2) to nitrogen gas (N2) with hydrogen (H2) being used as a reducing agent under strongly oxidizing conditions (e.g., 2-10 vol % O2) (H2-SCR) in the 100-400° C. range, but in particular to the low-temperature range 100-200° C. The inventive catalyst is a combination of platinum and palladium which are in contact with solid phases of a mixed MgO and CeO2 medium.
US08114362B2
Mechanisms are provided for automatically removing tips from a pipette nozzle and/or for detecting the type of tip mounted to the nozzle. For detipping, mechanical energy is stored when the tip is mounted to the nozzle and is released when the tip is to be removed to facilitate removal thereof. A mechanism is preferably provided which limits the force with which the tip is mounted to the nozzle and an overforce mechanism may be provided to facilitate removal of a stuck tip. For detecting tip type, each tip type has a different base configuration which results in a different relative displacement between the nozzle and a surrounding component as a result of the tip contacting both during tip mounting, the difference in relative displacement being detected to identify tip type.
US08114355B2
A metal tube in the present invention is a metal tube for pyrolysis reaction with superior characteristics of both the heat exchange and the pyrolysis reaction, which is suitable for use in a process in which hydrocarbons are pyrolytically decomposed. The tube is a metal tube for pyrolysis reaction consisting of 3 or 4 spiral ribs 1 provided on an inner surface which are inclined at 20 to 35 degrees to an axial direction of the metal tube, and characterized in that h/Di of 0.1 to 0.2 and h/w of 0.25 to 1.0 when a height of the rib 1 is defined as “h”, a width of the rib 1 at its bottom part is defined as “w” and an inner diameter of the tube at the bottom part is defined as “Di” in cross section of the spiral rib 1.
US08114347B2
A pipette chip supply device for supplying a pipette chip for suctioning liquid, the pipette chip supply device comprising: a chip accommodating section for accommodating pipette chips; a conveying section for conveying the pipette chips supplied from the chip accommodating section; and a static eliminator for removing electrification charge of the pipette chips.
US08114341B2
Provided are a nickel alloy sputtering target, and a nickel silicide film formed with such a target, enabling the formation of a thermally stable silicide (NiSi) film, scarcely causing the aggregation of films or excessive formation of silicides, having low generation of particles upon forming the sputtered film, having favorable uniformity and superior plastic workability to the target, and which is particularly effective for the manufacture of a gate electrode material (thin film). This nickel alloy sputtering target contains 22 to 46 wt % of platinum and 5 to 100 wtppm of one or more components selected from iridium, palladium, and ruthenium, and remainder is nickel and inevitable impurities.
US08114324B2
A method of pressing an outer wall of polymer pipe is provided. The method includes extruding a layer of polymer onto a pipe to form an outer wall of pipe; conveying the pipe including the outer wall of pipe through a pressing apparatus having a pressing element configured to rotate about the pipe; and urging the pressing element against an exterior surface of the outer wall as the pressing element rotates about a pipe conveyed through the pressing apparatus. An apparatus for pressing an outer wall of polymer pipe is also provided.
US08114319B2
The invention provides a device (1, 301, 501) for producing a spherical segmented flow of fluid, which device includes: a functional fluid conduit (6, 506) arranged to contain a functional fluid (15, 515); at least two carrier fluid conduits (7, 8, 507, 508), each carrier fluid conduit arranged to carry a carrier fluid (16, 514), the functional fluid conduit merging with the carrier fluid conduits at a junction (9) to form an encased flow conduit (9a, 529) thereby permitting functional fluid to be sandwiched (or encased) by the carrier fluid to form an encased flow, the encased flow conduit having a discontinuity (10, 510) therein such that the encased flow forms into a flow of alternate segmented spheres after the discontinuity, wherein the device is provided with a segmented flow conduit (11, 511) downstream of the encased flow conduit, the encased segmented flow conduit being provided with an enlargement (21, 512) in cross-section.
US08114317B2
A polyimide powder for an antistatic polyimide molded product is disclosed. The polyimide powder comprises a polyimide-powder prepared from an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component and a diamine component, and a conductive carbon black having a DBP oil absorption of 300 ml/100 g or more; wherein the amount of the conductive carbon black is within a range of 0.75 wt % to 5 wt % relative to the polyimide-powder. A polyimide molded product with sufficient antistatic property can be formed by molding the above polyimide powder.
US08114309B2
A lithium-manganese composite oxide for a lithium ion battery having a good cycle property at high-temperature and battery property of high capacity is provided. A spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide for a lithium ion battery represented by a general formula: Li1+xMn2-yMyO4 (wherein M is one or more elements selected from Al, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Cu, Ba, W and Pb, and, −0.1≦x≦0.2, and 0.06≦y≦0.3), and when D10, D50 and D90 are defined as a particle size at which point the cumulative frequency of volume reaches 10%, 50% and 90% respectively, d10 is not less than 2 μm and not more than 5 μM, d50 is not less than 6 μm and not more than 9 μm, and d90 is not less than 12 μm and not more than 15 μM, and BET specific surface area thereof is greater than 1.0 m2/g and not more than 2.0 m2/g, and the tap density thereof is not less than 0.5 g/cm3 and less than 1.0 g/cm3.
US08114301B2
Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures in line arrays utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.
US08114300B2
Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale polymeric microstructures utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.
US08114293B2
A liquid treatment plant has sets of membrane trains and processing trains with flow between them through channels. Steps of withdrawing permeate and sludge from the trains are described. Cyclic aeration is provided to the membrane trains. Methods of foam control, backwashing and chemical cleaning are described. Single membrane trains or process trains may be isolated for various functions. An isolated membrane train may be used to thicken sludge.
US08114290B2
A filter device includes a housing (2) having at least two rotation bodies (4,) which are arranged therein and are driven by a shaft (3). The rotation bodies (4) are designed and arranged for producing a centrifugal pumping effect. A guidance device (7) is provided between the rotation bodies (4), which connects the pressure side (6) of a first rotation body (4) to the suction side (5) of a rotation body (4, 18) arranged therebehind in the flow direction (8). The intermediate spaces between the rotation bodies are provided with a filter arrangement.
US08114285B2
A filter element and assembly which has three flow paths, has particular application to a fuel supply system for a diesel engine for filtering flow from the fuel tank as well as fuel returning from the engine that is to be recirculated back to the engine. The filter element and assembly provide a third flow path for also providing for venting of both fuel paths to a drain flow path internally of the filter element.
US08114282B2
A chromatography or supercritical extraction method is disclosed, in which the eluent comprises a mixture of a fluid and a modifier and in which the fluid is recycled. One exemplary method comprises an operation consisting in determining at least one quantity linked to the level of modifier that is mixed with the recycled fluid and, if necessary, a correction operation in order to limit variations in the level of modifier in the eluent at the inlet of the column or the extractor. The disclosure also relates to a chromatography or extraction installation.
US08114279B2
A process for removing microorganisms and/or precursors of disinfection by-products from a medium sought to be treated comprising treating the medium with one or more elements capable of forming an oxide, a hydroxide, and/or an oxyhydroxide through corrosion is disclosed. A system for effecting the removal or inactivation of microorganisms and/or disinfection by-product precursors is also contemplated.
US08114269B2
According to an embodiment of the invention, a method of determining hydration of a sensor having a plurality of electrodes is disclosed. In particular embodiments, the method couples a sensor electronics device to the sensor and measures the open circuit potential between at least two of the plurality of electrodes. Then, the open circuit potential measurement is compared to a predetermined value. In some embodiments, the plurality of electrodes includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode. In still further embodiments, the open circuit potential between the working electrode and the reference electrode is measured. In other embodiments, the open circuit potential between the working electrode and the counter electrode is measured. In still other embodiments, the open circuit potential between the counter electrode and the reference electrode is measured.
US08114263B2
The invention relates to a polyvinylammonium compound, to a method of manufacturing said compound, to an aqueous acidic solution containing at least said Polyvinylammonium compound for electrolytically depositing a copper deposit as well as to a method of electrolytically depositing a copper deposit using said aqueous acidic solution, said polyinylammonium compound corresponding to the general chemical formula (1): as well as to polyvinylammonium compounds of the general chemical formula (1), wherein one of the monomer units or both having indices I and m are present in the neutral form.
US08114261B2
A microfluidic device for electrochemically regulating the pH of a fluid includes: an ion-exchange material; an anode chamber having a surface defined by a surface of the ion-exchange material and an anode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the anode chamber; and a cathode chamber having a surface defined by an opposite surface of the ion-exchange material and a cathode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the cathode chamber.
US08114260B2
A water treatment system provides treated or softened water to a point of use by removing a portion of any hardness-causing species contained in water from a point-of-entry coming from a water source, such as municipal water, well water, brackish water and water containing foulants. The water treatment system typically treats the water containing at least some undesirable species before delivering the treated water to a point of use. The water treatment system has a controller for adjusting or regulating at least one operating parameter of the treatment system or a component of the water treatment system to optimize the operation and performance of the system or components of the system. A flow regulator regulates a waste stream flow to drain and can be operated to recirculate fluid through electrode or concentrating compartments of an electrochemical device and can opened and closed intermittently according to a predetermined schedule or based on an operating parameter of the water treatment system. The flow regulator can also be charged so that ionic species can be generated in the surrounding fluid, which, in turn, can lower the pH of the surrounding fluid.
US08114235B2
A method of continuously making a disposable pants-type diaper includes feeding first and second webs in a machine direction and bonding the first and second webs together to obtain first composite web. From the first composite web, a substantially circular section defined between each pair of the adjacent chassis in the middle region as viewed in the cross direction is clipped out to obtain a second composite web. The second composite web is folded in two and halves of the second web facing each other are locally bonded together by bonding agent to obtain a third composite web. The third composite web is provided on both sides of a cutting line extending in the cross direction with seal regions to obtain a fourth composite web and finally the fourth composite web is cut along the cutting line to obtain the individual pants-type diapers.
US08114234B2
An apparatus for producing an elastomeric nonwoven laminate including a plurality of elastomeric strands joined to a nonwoven web in a controlled distribution is provided. The apparatus includes an extruder for extruding a plurality of elastomeric strands onto a cooled surface of a rotating drum, which transports the strands in parallel alignment to a nip formed between two rollers rotating about parallel axis. The drum transfers the plurality of strands to the nip in a controlled distribution where it is bonded with the nonwoven. The apparatus also includes elements which automate the apparatus for creating the elastomeric nonwoven laminate.
US08114233B2
Surfaces are adhesively bonded by employing a highly reactive alkoxysilyl-functional foamable mixture, and pressing the surfaces together with the foam prepared from the foamable mixture between the surfaces.
US08114231B2
A method for gassing an emulsion explosives to sensitize the explosive to detonation and/or for density modification is described. The method comprises reacting a compound having an enol group, or a deprotonated enolate form of the enol group, with a nitrosating agent to generate nitric oxide to gas the explosive. The compound reacted with the nitrosating agent can be a lactone such as ascorbic acid. Dinitrogen trioxide is particularly useful as the nitrosating agent.
US08114230B1
High fidelity, non-explosive training aids (simulants) which simulate the properties of the explosive composition 4 (C-4) are described. The materials of the training aid are formulated to simulate the appearance, manifest rheological properties (pliability, plasticity), density, and “feel” of the actual C-4 as well as simulate the combustion behavior of C-4 when subjected to the informal “flame test” used to identify the material in the field. Additionally, the materials give the same signature as actual C-4 when tested by portable detection equipment such as electronic trace detectors or color forming reagents. The materials also generate the same imagery as C-4 when subjected to X-ray analysis.
US08114221B2
The narrow diameter channel has a diameter of about 0.02 centimeter to about 1.6 centimeters and a length of about 0.75 meter to about 5 meters. The internal surface of the narrow diameter channel is hydrophobic, and the surface flow entities exhibit an advancing contact angle of greater than 50 degrees and a receding contact angle of greater than zero degree. The detachment of contaminants from the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel is produced by a sweeping of the internal surface of the narrow diameter channel with the three-phase contact lines of the surface flow entities, the cleaning medium is not predispersed in the gas before entering the channel, and less that 10% of the surface of the channel is covered by a contiguous annular film.
US08114213B2
A self-compacting concrete and mortar additive is prepared, comprising an aqueous suspension matured and stabilized for 1-7 days, preferably 1-2 days, and having a consistency adapted to the dosing equipment used for dosing the additive when mixing concrete or mortar, and having a pH of 6.5-8, preferably 7 and containing 5-30, preferably 8-20, preferably 10-12% by weight of dry solid of a type of clay, consisting of clay minerals selected from the smectite, vermiculite and/or chlorite group.
US08114209B2
The invention provides an oil type release agent die casting containing 70 to 98 parts by weight of a solvent having a specified flash point, 1 to 10 parts by weight of mineral oils and/or synthetic oils having a high viscosity, 15 parts by weight or less of a silicone oil, and 1 to 5 parts by weight of additives having a lubricating function, wherein the flash point of the agent is in the range of 70 to 170° C., and dynamic viscosity of the agent is 2 to 30 mm2/s or higher at 40° C., and a method for setting a mixing ratio of the solvent, a casting method, and a spraying unit for the case of using the release agent.
US08114202B2
A spray nozzle assembly and hub combination for operation in a boiler feedwater deaerator is disclosed, the combination including a tubular hub capable of being affixed to a wall of a deaerator tank and a spray nozzle assembly that is removably engageable with the hub, the nozzle assembly including a nozzle body, a twist lock for retaining the nozzle body relative to the hub when the nozzle body is in a fully engaged position, and a spreader moveably coupled to the nozzle body and biased by a spreader spring against opening, the spreader is capable of moving to an open position against the spreader spring bias in response to boiler feedwater pressure to form an annular opening about the spreader, thereby enabling feedwater flow.
US08114200B2
A portable multi-dimensional gas chromatograph, the gas chromatograph including a carrier gas container, a regulator fluidly connected to the carrier gas container, a dopant chamber containing a reference chemical, at least one pre-concentrator which is fluidly connected to the regulator and the dopant chamber, a first separation column fluidly connected to the at least one pre-concentrator, a second separation column fluidly connected to the at least one pre-concentrator, a first detector fluidly connected to the first separation column, and a second detector fluidly connected to the second separation column.
US08114199B2
A membrane dryer includes a shell having an inner tube and an outer tube and a bundle of hollow fibers supported in the shell. A dryer air inlet into the hollow fibers and a sweep air outlet from the inner tube are at a first end of the shell. A dryer air outlet into the hollow fibers and a sweep air inlet from the inner tube are at a second end of the shell. The inner tube has a first set of circumferential openings into the sweep air space adjacent the first end of the shell and a second set of circumferential openings into the sweep air space adjacent the first end of the shell; and a second plug is in the inner tube between the first and second set of openings.
US08114194B2
A gas separation vessel has a vessel shell and a partition therein. A first bed support is mounted between the partition and the shell, and a second bed support is mounted within the partition to define a second bed space. First and second ports on the vessel shell beneath the bed supports permit gas flow between the bed spaces and the exterior of the vessel shell. A separation medium is placed in the bed spaces. A feed gas is introduced into the vessel to flow through the first bed and then through the second bed to separate at least one component of the feed gas from the other intermixed gases. Output gas is then collected from the vessel. The vessel may have a L:D ratio of not more than 4:1.
US08114189B2
A method of reducing or preventing the amount of iron sludge or precipitate that forms as a result of the recovery of silver from chemical solutions, such as a standard photographic solution. The method generally involves the introduction of a source of a conjugate organic base, such as a weak organic acid like citric acid or a salt of the conjugate organic base like a citrate salt, to the chemical fluid either before or during the silver recovery process. Preferably the source of conjugate organic base is introduced by combining it with a binder to form a time release cake or placing it in a container that has a semipermeable membrane that maintains the concentration of the conjugate organic base in the chemical fluid from about 0.2 to about 78 milimolar over a period of time.
US08114181B2
A reflux trap for use in a plasma generator and delivery system to prevent back flow of fluid and debris from a patient during a surgical procedure including a trap housing having a proximal diffuser chamber and a distal deflection chamber with a collection area separated by a baffle disposed within the trap housing including a diffuser member disposed in the proximal diffuser chamber to diffuse gas through a gas flow aperture to the surgical site on the patient and a deflection member disposed in the distal deflection chamber to deflect fluid and debris away from the gas flow aperture to the collection area to prevent fluid and debris from migrating into the proximal diffuser chamber to isolate the plasma generator against back flow of fluid and debris from the patient.
US08114179B2
A separation device with a gas inlet port that accepts an inlet gas. The inlet gas is composed of a mixture of at least two separable particle components with each component having a different mass. A rotating separation rotor accepts the inlet gas and uses a separator to substantially separate the gas according to mass into two fractions, a heavier and a lighter fraction. One of the fractions is passed to a second separator that further separates that fraction into another two fractions consisting of heavier and lighter fractions. The desired fractions are collected and exhausted from the separation device for use.
US08114177B2
Continuous processes are provided for converting a carbonaceous feedstock comprising biomass containing alkali metal, non-biomass components, and at least one gasification catalyst including an alkali metal recovered from solid char, into a plurality of gaseous products including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons.
US08114168B2
A momentum free bearing assembly for use in orthotic and prosthetic devices and a prosthetic knee incorporating the same are disclosed. The bearing assembly includes an engaging ring having a swivel portion received within the engaging ring. The engaging ring is received within a bore in a mount. Retainer rings may be placed on either side of the engaging ring within the bore to retain the engaging ring within the mount. Seals having sealing members may be provided on either side of the engaging ring to seal the engaging ring within the mount. A cylindrical rod engages the swivel portion and the seal through bores provided in each of the seal and the swivel portion. The ends of the cylindrical rod can be press-fit within bores on a mount and a frame of a prosthetic knee.
US08114157B2
A new reversibly gelling polyurethane (RGP) polymer composition is described, as well as novel processes for its preparation, and its medical uses for filling spaces in tissue, or bulking tissue, or for restoring organ function. The novel RGP polymer forms a gel on standing, liquefies during shear and reversibly reforms a macroscopic gel on standing after being sheared. Methods of use include delivering the improved gel to a site on the body to fill voids or to augment local tissue bulk.
US08114155B2
An annuloplasty ring having a three-dimensional discontinuous form generally arranged about an axis with two free ends that are axially offset. The ring is particularly suited for repair of the tricuspid valve, and more closely conforms to the annulus shape. The ring is more flexible in bending about radially extending axes than about the central axis. The ring may have an inner structural support covered by a pliable sleeve and/or a fabric tube. The structural support may have a varying cross-section, such as a C-shaped cross-section in a mid-section between two free ends and a rectangular cross-section at the free ends. A deliver template having a mounting ring with about the same shape as the ring facilitates implant, and may be releasably attached to a delivery handle. The deliver template may include a plurality of cutting guides for releasably attaching the annuloplasty ring thereto while presenting maximum outer surface area of the ring. The template may have an outwardly-facing groove to receive and retain the ring.
US08114154B2
An instrument for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis, including a plurality of radially expandable portions, at an implantation site, includes a plurality of deployment elements each independently operable to obtain the radial expansion of a radially expandable portion of the valve prosthesis. Additionally, the instrument is adapted to provide a de-aired, fluid-filled, or gas filled environment in order to minimize and/or prevent air embolism during the implantation procedure. The fluid can contain a drug. A method for deploying the cardiac valve prosthesis includes advancing the instrument to an implant site and independently actuating the radially expandable portions.
US08114152B2
An expandable stent for use within a body passageway having a body member with two ends and a wall surface disposed between the ends. The body member has a first diameter to permit delivery of the body member into a body passageway and a second expanded diameter. The surface of the stent is coated with a biological agent and a polymer which controls the release of the biological agent.
US08114151B2
A stent can include a tubular body, a plurality of circumferential serpentine bands, a plurality of connectors extending between immediately adjacent serpentine bands, and a plurality of tabs. The plurality of tabs include peak tabs and trough tabs. Each peak tab and each trough tab have a first end and a second end wherein only the first end is engaged to a serpentine band, each peak tab extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis from a peak on a serpentine band toward a peak on an immediately distal serpentine band. Each trough tab extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis from a trough on a serpentine band toward a trough on an immediately proximal serpentine band. Each serpentine band defines a plurality of holes and each tab defines a plurality of holes. The holes are constructed and arranged to contain a therapeutic agent.
US08114150B2
Provided herein is a medical device that includes RGD attached to the device via a spacer compound.
US08114148B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, at least one ionic therapeutic agent is delivered from an implantable or insertable medical device that comprises an ion-conductive polymeric region that is disposed on a metallic region. The metallic region is in electrical contact with a dissimilar metallic region, such that a galvanic current is generated by the dissimilar metals when the device is implanted or inserted into a patient. Delivery of the ionic therapeutic agent from the ion-conductive polymeric region may be, for example, either accelerated or retarded by the galvanic current. According to another aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided which comprise: (a) a first metallic region having a first corrosion potential, (b) a second metallic region in electrical contact with the first metallic region and having a second corrosion potential that is greater than the first corrosion potential, and (c) a solid ion-conductive polymeric region, comprising an ion conducting polymer and an ionic therapeutic agent, disposed on the first metallic region, the second metallic region, or both.
US08114147B2
The present invention relates to stent structures having improved migration resistance. In particular, the invention relates to mesh stents, such as braided or twisted stent designs, where at least a portion of the stent is folded back over itself to form a multi-layered stent device. Such multi-layered portions provide for migration resistance, among other advantages.
US08114137B2
Implants (7) for forming a positive connection with human or animal parts include a material, such as thermoplastics and thixotropic materials, that can be liquefied by means of mechanical energy. The implants (7) are brought into contact with the tissue part, are subjected to the action of ultrasonic energy while being pressed against the tissue part. The liquefiable material liquefies and is pressed into openings or surface asperities of the tissue part so that, once solidified, the implant is positively joined thereto. The implantation involves the use of an implantation device that includes a generator (2), an oscillating element, and a resonator (6). The generator (2) causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator (6). The resonator (6) is used to press the implant (7) against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant (7).
US08114134B2
A dynamic spinal stabilization linkage for use in stabilizing of the spine. The linkage connects adjacent vertebrae to provide load-sharing and stabilization while allowing natural kinematics. The linkage comprises three rigid bodies joined in series with 3-degree-of-freedom spherical joint between each body. The joints have range-of-motion constraints which limit undesirable intervertebral motion.
US08114133B2
A multi-axis spinal fixation device which can use a fixed head spinal or pedicle screw in combination with a multi-axial rod assembly to achieve anatomically correct fixation of vertebrae. The orthopedic fixation can be controlled by a different combination of rod elements to provide a varied range of motion between adjacent vertebrae as well as specific flexibility between the adjacent vertebrae or levels. The surgeon can make intra-operative adjustments from rigid fixation to dynamic stabilization and where desired also provide ‘soft-stabilization’ or ‘micro motion’. The unique combination of elements can provide fixed stabilization for the purpose of fusion or dynamic stabilization without fusion.
US08114126B2
A modular, reduced-pressure, wound-closure system for generating a closing force on a surface wound on a patient includes a sealed contracting member, a plurality of attachment base members, and a plurality of connecting members. The combination of the plurality of attachment base members and plurality of connecting members forms a circumferential wall around the surface wound. The sealed contracting member is operable to be disposed within an interior space defined by the circumferential wall and coupled to at least of portion of the circumferential wall. When reduced pressure is provided to the sealed contracting member, the sealed contracting member contracts and the circumferential wall delivers a closing force. Other systems and methods are presented.
US08114120B2
A surgical instrument can include tips and an actuation rod having a pin and slot design where the driving slots are moved from the tips to the actuation rod in one aspect of the invention. As a result, the back end of each blade or tip can be dramatically reduced in area so that during full deflection, very little or no part of the blade or tip extends beyond the outside diameter of the shaft. In addition, the depth of each slot can be varied such that during actuation, increased tension can be put on the blades or tips throughout the cut.
US08114119B2
A surgical grasping device is disclosed. The surgical grasping device may comprise a clevis; a first jaw member pivotably coupled to the clevis; a second jaw member pivotably coupled to the clevis; and an actuating mechanism coupled to the clevis, the first jaw member and the second jaw member and a translating member coupled to and extending proximally from the actuating mechanism. The actuating mechanism may be configured to cause the first jaw member and the second jaw member to close in response to a first proximally directed force received via the translating member. The actuating mechanism may also be configured to cause the first jaw member and the second jaw member to open in response to a subsequent proximally directed force received via the translating member.
US08114118B2
A medical instrument has an instrument insert and an instrument handle, which are detachably connected to one another. An actuation rod of the instrument insert is releasably connectable to a movable grip of the instrument handle via a locking connection. A blocking element is provided which blocks the movable grip when the actuation rod has been released.
US08114115B2
A support 103 for an embolic protection device comprises round wires 116 which may form one or more support hoops for a filter body. The circumferential hoop formed by the wires 116 ensures that in the expanded position, the filter body 102 will be supported by the support frame 103 in circumferential apposition with the interior wall of the vasculature. The wires 116 may have a strain distributing linkage element in the form of a loop 120. The loop 120 acts as a diameter or circumference adjuster allowing an embolic protection device to adapt to different Bessel contours and sizes whilst maintaining apposition with the vessel wall. The strain relieving geometry of the loops enhances the compliance of the bend points without creating a weakened hinge point, thus ensuring that there is no discontinuity in the circumferential seal against the vessel wall.
US08114113B2
A suctioning and irrigating sinus balloon catheter is provided for treating a patient's paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities and choana. The catheter has a number of fluid carrying conduits to provide irrigation, suction and inflation/deflation to the distally mounted balloon. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, choana or sinus to be excised. Some catheters can be hand bendable by the surgeon. Some catheters provide the capability of threading an endoscope through one of the conduits. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, choana, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them.
US08114111B2
Laparoscopic instruments and trocars are provided for performing laparoscopic procedures entirely through the umbilicus. A generally C-shaped trocar provides increased work space between the hands of the surgeon as well as S-shaped laparoscopic instruments placed through the trocar when laparoscopic instrument-trocar units are placed through the umbilicus. In order to facilitate retraction of intra-abdominal structures during a laparoscopic procedure, an angulated needle and thread with either one- or two sharp ends is provided. Alternatively, an inflatable unit having at least one generally C-shaped trocar incorporated within the unit's walls can be placed through the umbilicus following a single incision. Generally S-shaped laparoscopic instruments may be placed through the generally C-shaped trocars to facilitate access to intra-abdominal structures.
US08114104B2
An ultrasonic clamp coagulator system that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation and clamping of tissue during surgical procedures. An elongated portion of the instrument can be configured for endoscopic applications and has an outside diameter of less than 6 mm. The system includes a one-piece torque wrench that is provided with cantilever arms aligned in an annular fashion about the centerline of the torque wrench. The cantilever arms include teeth in an inward perpendicular fashion in relation to cantilever arms. The clamp coagulator includes an outer tube retainer that includes spline gears projecting in a perpendicular fashion along the outer circumference of retainer. Torque is transmitted through the cantilever arms to the spline gears for attaching a handpiece to the clamp coagulator.
US08114099B2
A method of forming and deploying an improved absorbable anchor for hernia mesh fixation is disclosed. The absorbable anchor of the present invention functions to securely fasten tough, non macro-porous, and relative inelastic mesh to soft tissue. The anchor is formed from co-polymers of lactide and glycolide.
US08114098B2
An insertion apparatus for an endoscope comprises a tubular body which is inserted into a surgical tool insertion channel of the endoscope, and a wire member which is inserted into an inside cavity of the tubular body. The tubular body includes a distal end coil which is provided in the distal end side of the tubular body, a proximal end coil which is provided at the proximal end of the distal end coil, and has an inside diameter smaller than an inside diameter of the distal end coil, and an inside diameter changed member which is provided between the proximal end of the distal end coil and the distal end of the proximal end coil, and changed in the inside diameter to connect the proximal end of the distal end coil and the distal end of the proximal end coil.
US08114097B2
A robotic medical system comprises a catheter having an elongated shaft with a plurality of flexible segments spaced apart along the catheter, and a drive unit coupled to the catheter. The catheter may have a plurality of cables respectively terminating at the flexible segments, in which case, the drive unit will be coupled to the plurality of cables. The robotic medical system further comprises a user interface remote from the drive unit and configured for generating at least one command, and an electric controller configured, in response to the command(s), for directing the drive unit to independently bend the flexible segments (e.g., three flexible segments).
US08114096B2
A disposable neonatal circumcision device that secures the foreskin of the penis in a precise location, applies radially circumferential clamping, and delivers a longitudinal circumferential cutting device along the path precisely controlled by the device itself, not the operator, ensuring the incision to the clamped foreskin is made in the precise location, independent of the operator.
US08114092B2
An inserter for implanting an intervertebral spacer into a spinal disc space is disclosed. The inserter comprises a jaw assembly connected to a shaft assembly that is connected to a handle assembly. The user operates the handle assembly to open and close the jaw assembly to thereby connect to and release from the intervertebral spacer. Furthermore, the handle assembly is operable to lock and unlock rotation of the jaw assembly while still connected thereto to permit angulation of the jaw assembly relative to the shaft assembly without losing hold of the intervertebral spacer.
US08114080B2
A bone fixation device bone fixation device includes a first construct comprising a plurality of first flexible plates configured to bend when a first threshold force is applied to the first construct and the plurality of first flexible plates are in an unlocked relationship and a second construct including a plurality of second flexible plates. The plurality of second flexible plates are configured to bend when a second threshold force is applied to said second construct and the plurality of second flexible plates are in an unlocked relationship. The device also includes a first locking member configured to compress first flexible plates and second flexible plates together and into a locked relationship, wherein the first threshold force applied to the first construct and the second threshold force applied to the second construct is insufficient to bend the first flexible plates and second flexible plates in the locked relationship.
US08114075B2
A method and apparatus for ablation of cardiac tissue at a selected cardiac location is achieved by providing at least one flexible elongated guide facility having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second ends and by providing an ablation instrument which includes at least a pair of relatively moveable clamping jaws being disposed to engage and ablate the selected cardiac location. Each guide facility is adapted for introduction into a patient's chest through an opening and for advancement to the selected cardiac location such that the intermediate portion engages the selected cardiac location and the guide facility is withdrawn through the instrument receiving passage. At least one jaw of the ablation instrument engages with the guide facility and is guided to the selected cardiac location with the aid of the guide facility to ablate the selected cardiac location.
US08114071B2
An electrosurgical system and method for treating hard and soft tissues in the body comprises a shaft, a distal end section, an active electrode associated with the distal end section, a first fluid supply adapted to deliver a first electrically conductive fluid to the target site, and a second fluid supply adapted to deliver a second electrically conductive fluid to the active electrode. The system is adapted to treat a wide variety of hard tissues such as, for example, bones, calcified structures, calcified deposits, teeth, plaque, kidney-stones, gall-stones and other types of tissue by generating plasma in the vicinity of the active electrode, and applying the plasma to the tissue or structures.
US08114070B2
A system for treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) of a prostate. At least first and second mono-polar electrodes are configured to be introduced at or near a BPH tissue site of the prostate gland of the patient. A voltage pulse generator is coupled to the first and second mono-polar electrodes. The voltage pulse generator is configured to apply sufficient electrical pulses between the first and second mono-polar electrodes to induce electroporation of cells in the BPH tissue site, to create necrosis of cells of the BPH tissue site, but insufficient to create a thermal damaging effect to a majority of the BPH tissue site.
US08114050B2
A retractable syringe (10) and plunger (20) therefore are provided, the syringe having a barrel (20), a retractable needle mount (40) to which is mounted or is mountable a needle (11), and a plunger (80), the plunger comprising an initially compressed spring (60), a means for engaging the retractable needle mount, an integrally formed plunger seal (22) and a removable controlling means (70) for facilitating control of the rate of retraction of needle mount when engaged with plunger. The needle mount is held in the barrel by a holding means which prevents inadvertent retraction of the needle mount when the plunger is withdrawn to fill the syringe. The holding means comprises a plurality of clips (196A, 196B, 196C) that may be integrally formed with the barrel or may be present on a cap mounted to the barrel. An ejector means (52) is also provided, whereby plunger depression can urge the ejector means to release the needle from the holding means and thereby allow retraction of the needle mount following decompression of the spring.
US08114049B2
Catheter devices having an expandable balloon for delivering a therapeutic agent to a body site. The balloon has one or more folds which serve as a reservoir for containing the therapeutic agent. The fold may have any of various configurations to hold the therapeutic agent. In some cases, the balloon comprises one or more lobes that forms the fold(s). The therapeutic agent may be provided in various ways. For example, the therapeutic agent may be contained in packets that rupture upon expansion of the balloon, or as a plurality of discrete bulk masses, or sealed within compartments.
US08114043B2
A connection of a patient's vascular system to an extracorporeal blood treatment machine is monitored to ensure the patient's safety during a procedure. The procedure may be hemodialysis, apheresis, plasmapheresis, a coronary by-pass operation, or other procedure. To ensure safe electrical connection, a contact and a return are connected via a conductive connection into the extracorporeal blood circuit. A current is then generated between the contact and the return and is monitored by a non-contact sensor near an access site of the patient. If the current or other quantity related to the current changes significantly, a signal is sent to the machine or a controller to notify a caregiver or a medical professional. The signal may also be sent to immediately stop a blood pump or other component of the machine.
US08114042B2
An orthotic apparatus for assisting a person having an orthotic disability, such as foot drop, comprising an ankle belt component and a shoe/foot belt component connected by a pair of coil springs which are adjustably and releaseably attached between the belts. The foot at the beginning and end of the step will flex, due to the springs, and still return to lift the foot, which allows for normal walking and requires no special adaptation to the shoe.
US08114030B2
Presented is a method for quantifying breastfeeding between a mother and a baby, the method including measuring a physiological volume indicative of stomach fullness volume for the baby; setting a signal threshold value of the physiological volume to correspond to a stomach level that is less than or equal to the stomach fullness volume; obtaining an objective measurement of the physiological volume indicative of a level of fullness of the baby's stomach; and providing an indication to the mother when the objective measurement equals or exceeds the signal threshold value. In one embodiment, for instance, the baby's swallows may be recorded for determining the volume of breast milk consumed by the baby.
US08114029B2
An actuator for driving a test element is disclosed. The test element can comprise a lancet for perforating the skin of a living organism. The actuator can comprise an engaging part for engaging and driving the test element in a lancing motion. The actuator can further comprise a lancing actuator and a lancing spring. The lancing actuator can bias the lancing spring by executing a forward movement and thereby can exert a biasing force on the engaging part. The actuator can further comprise a latch element. The latch element can be a force-sensitive latch element for exerting a retention force to hold back the engaging part. The retention force can counteract the biasing force. The latch element can release the engaging part when the biasing force exerted by the lancing actuator exceeds the retention force exerted by the latch element, thereby allowing the test element to perform the lancing motion.
US08114028B2
An analyte determination analysis system with a disposable integrated sample acquisition and analysis element is disclosed. A piercing element has a tip for generating a bodily puncture wound and a test strip having a body fluid sample receiving zone to perform an analysis on a body fluid sample. A reusable analysis instrument comprises a coupling unit that couples the integrated sample acquisition and analysis element to a drive that drives a piercing element in a piercing movement comprising two phases: a propulsion phase wherein the piercing element moves on a puncture path in a puncture direction and a retraction phase wherein the piercing element moves opposite to the puncture direction after reaching a reversal point. A measuring and analysis unit measures a variable characteristic for the determination of the analyte and determines a desired analysis result on the basis of the measurement. The sample receiving zone of the test strip forms a sample contact. The piercing element, located parallel to the test strip, moves on a movement path relative to the test strip a puncture path. The piercing element, located adjacent to the sample contact, has a capillary channel with a sample inlet for body fluid entry after the piercing and a sample outlet for body fluid exit. The piercing element movement has a sample transfer position wherein the sample outlet is adjacent to the sample receiving zone such that the body fluid may be transferred from the capillary channel through the sample outlet to the sample receiving zone.
US08114015B2
According to the present invention, the light source (7) is elastically mounted on the electric housing (5) and it can be pushed back by the projecting proximal end (4P) of the light conduit, when said housing is inserted into the disposable handle (3). As a result of being pushed back, the light source (7) actuates a microswitch (8) which enables it to be powered from a power source (6).
US08114014B2
A capsule medical apparatus is provided with a plurality of rigid boards which are connected in line via a flexible board; and molded bodies. The molded bodies are formed in a manner of covering functional components mounted on the respective rigid boards. The molded bodies keep an inter-board interval between the rigid boards by intervening between facing rigid boards. The molded bodies keep an inter-board interval between the rigid boards by intervening between facing rigid boards.
US08114003B2
A centrifugal blood processing apparatus comprising a centrifuge rotor, a separation chamber, a tubing set for conducting blood components and fluids and having an inlet line, and an outlet line. Apparatus tests flow conditions using a red light-green light sensor to detect non-recoverable hemolysis during priming by identifying a high R/G ratio, preferably a ratio of greater than or equal to fifty (50), prior to the beginning of the first return of blood components to a donor followed by identifying a R/G ratio at least as great as one and one tenth (1.1) together with a green signal less than a predetermined value, preferably less than or equal to one thousand (1000) reflectance units. If these conditions are detected, an alarm is given and the apheresis procedure is discontinued.
US08113992B2
The invention relates to a rope-tensioning device for rope networks. The object of the invention is to develop a tensioning device, in particular for rope networks, with a tensioning mechanism which is arranged outside of areas accessible to players and which is covered completely or to a significant part. Maintenance of the tensioning device and operation of the tensioning mechanism should not be limited. The rope tensioning device for rope networks of the invention is characterized by a rope tensioner for rope networks arranged to the greatest extent possible inside a short section of pipe (pipe section). Advantageously, a pipe element with the rope tensioner can be combined with different framework elements, such as support masts, center masts, framework nodes and mounting devices located close to the ground.
US08113990B2
A method for controlling an exercise apparatus via a control interface of an exercise apparatus, including steps of controlling a touch screen to display an information field, and then monitoring the touch screen to detect whether a touch has occurred on the surface of the touch screen and whether the touch is located in an input zone which has a plurality of sensing areas in the information field. A user can use one of specific actions, such as drag, to move a first tag in the input zone from a first sensing area to a second sensing area. And one of the steps of the method relocates the first tag proximate to the second sensing area to have a portion of the first tag to point at the second sensing area. Then, the final step of the method operates the exercise apparatus from a first condition using a first value corresponding to the first sensing area to a second condition using a second value corresponding to the second sensing area.
US08113983B2
A multi-step transmission with forward and reverse gears comprises planetary gearsets, shafts and shift elements. The input shaft is coupled to the sun gear of gearset (P2) and, via a clutch (15), to a shaft (5) which is coupled to the carrier of gearset (P3) and, via brake (05), to the transmission housing and, via clutch (57), to shaft (7). Shaft (7) is coupled to the carrier of gearset (P2) and the ring gear of gearset (P1). Shaft (6) is coupled to the sun gear of gearset (P3) and the ring gear of gearset (P2) and, via clutch (36), to shaft (3) which is coupled the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via brake (03), to the housing. Shaft (4) is connected to the sun gear of gearset (P1) and can be coupled, via brake (04), to the housing. The output shaft (2) is connected to the ring gear of gearset (P3).
US08113980B2
A transmission is disclosed having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include five clutches and one brake arranged within a transmission housing.
US08113971B2
A composite locking upright having low weight and great rigidity for installation into a playing surface with built-in sleeves, supporting and securing a net at a playing height for athletic sports such as, volleyball, tennis, and badminton. The composite locking upright may have a composite tube, a multi-material tube, an upper protective collar, and in some embodiments a lower protective collar, and a locking tool. The composite tube may be made of a light-weight, fiber-reinforced composite. The multi-material tube may be made at least in part of the same material and may incorporate at least one abrasion resistant area, which may be a partial or full thickness insert which may be formed of a metal. The multi-material tube is extendable and retractable from the composite. The locking tool locks the multi-material tube with respect to the composite tube and thereby fixes a net at a playing height.
US08113964B2
Identification of the tee-off bay (52;53) from which a golf ball landing on a golf-range target (51) originated, is made by calculating an estimate of flight duration (Edurk) of the descending ball as a function of the measured angle (β) of descent in elevation, and, in respect of each ball launched from the bays (52,53), comparing this estimate for a match with a measured interval between the launch of the respective ball and descent of the descending ball. The originating bay (52;53) of the launched ball for which there is the closest match is identified as the origin of the descending ball, and ambiguity or uncertainty between which bay (52,53) is identified is resolved through comparison of the measured angle (αdes) of descent in azimuth of the descending ball with estimates (Edirk) of it calculated for each launched ball, and through similar comparison in respect of a calculated decelaration ratio (Edeck) and flight duration (Durk).
US08113961B2
In one embodiment, a race set is described. The race set may comprise a portable race management device, comprising: a detachable lane defining element configured to be actuated; a starting indicator; a finishing indicator; and circuitry configured to receive start and/or finish signals via actuation of the detachable lane defining element, control actuation of the starting indicator upon race starting, and control actuation of the finishing indicator upon race finishing. Various alternative embodiments and alternative example race sets are also included.
US08113960B2
Provided is an introducing system in which a server device introduces users of terminal devices to each other while motivating the users to join the system by presenting appropriate information to them during a wait time before they receive introduction. When a terminal device requests introduction of another terminal device during a time slot (303) shifted from a time period (304) between times ti−1 and ti by a margin time period (305), the server device assigns an introduction time ti to the terminal device. The terminal device displays the difference between the assigned introduction time and the current time on a screen as a remaining wait time and the number of terminal devices in an introduction waiting list. When the time ti comes, the server device groups terminal devices that are assigned the introduction time ti to match an introduction target, and notifies the introduction target to each terminal device.
US08113953B2
A player can be notified both visually and aurally that his/her action is recognized. A velocity vector-calculating unit calculates a velocity vector of the movement of an object manipulated by a player moving toward an assumable contact surface W by using an image of the movement of the player captured by a camera. A travel time calculating unit calculates the travel time required for the object to reach the contact surface W by using the velocity vector and a distance between the object and the contact surface W. A lag time acquisition unit acquires a lag time that sound output from a speaker takes to reach the player. A sound control unit allows the player to hear the sound substantially at the same time the object contacts the contact surface by outputting a predetermined sound after the time passes which is obtained by subtracting the lag time from the travel time.
US08113950B2
A method of: enabling an entrant to enter a competition; and limiting subsequent communication between a competition administrator and the entrant; via a sensing device interacting with machine-readable coded data on a printed competition entry form, the method comprising the steps, performed in a computer system, of: receiving interaction data representing the interaction of the sensing device with the coded data, the interaction data enabling the competition entry to be electronically captured in the computer system; transmitting the competition entry to the competition administrator; and enabling transmission of up to a predetermined number of electronic messages from the competition administrator to the entrant.
US08113949B2
In a game conducted in this invention, a player makes bets with respect to numbers which will appear on 3 dice. If the player wins the bet, he/she can earn a payout in accordance with the bet. Once the player makes a bet with respect to the numbers which will appear on the 3 dice, he/she can also place a bet with respect to directions which will appear on the 3 dice. In this case, if the player wins the bet with respect to numbers and wins the bet with respect to directions, as well, he/she can earn a payout in accordance with the bet with respect to directions, in addition to a payout in accordance with a bet with respect to numbers. Alternatively, no payout is awarded if the player wins the bet with respect to numbers but loses the bet with respect to directions.
US08113947B2
A method of playing a wagering game having a plurality of players playing at a plurality of gaming terminals, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game. The method includes the steps of conducting the basic game at a first gaming terminal, fulfilling a bonus game entry event at the first gaming terminal and satisfying, at the first gaming terminal during a bonus game, a bonus prize unlocking event to unlock a bonus prize. The method also includes satisfying, at any of the plurality of gaming terminals, a bonus prize win event subsequent to the bonus prize unlocking event to win a bonus prize and awarding bonus prize to a player satisfying the bonus prize win event.
US08113946B2
A method is provided for providing payments at a gaming device, where the payments may occur at predictable times and are of predictable amounts. In one or more embodiments, a gaming device may provide a guaranteed payment every hour on the hour, so long as a player meets one or more criteria. Criteria may include a total amount wagered, a total number of handle pulls completed, or a total amount of time spent at a gaming device. One or more embodiments provide a method for withholding value from a player in order that the value may delivered later in the form of a guaranteed payment. One or more embodiments provide a method whereby multiple gaming devices may provide payments simultaneously, thereby creating mutually reinforcing sounds and visual displays.
US08113941B2
A game, gaming machine apparatus and game method wherein game elements are assigned to a matrix of game element locations. Play is initiated by evaluating the game elements for predetermined transformative conditions, such as a match of game elements. If a transformative condition is found, the game element(s) are transformed with at least one being removed from the matrix. The remaining game elements are moved, if permitted, according to a movement methodology. The steps of evaluating, transforming, removing, and moving the remaining game elements are repeated so long as a transformation is subsequently available for continued gameplay.
US08113936B2
Tournament-Style casino games bring players all of the advantages of gaming tournaments such as rapid play, building excitement, and player vs. player competition in a manner that addresses limitations of existing games by: a) generating revenue for tire casino in all featured embodiments; b) being available on-demand; c) paying winners instantaneously; and d) featuring a casino hold that is stable enough to meet regulator requirements. In one embodiment of tournament style gaming, a high score progressive jackpot is provided such that players are playing against both the game's built in pay table and against the daily performances of other players. Inefficient game play results in increasing the progressive jackpot by a value of the time wasted by such inefficient game play.
US08113928B2
A blower wheel housing for an air conditioning system is formed of a single molded element having a base section and a nozzle section with included vanes having complex shapes. This is accomplished by employing a pair of mold core elements which together form a cavity into which a plastic material is injected to form the cover with its integral nozzle and vanes, and the mold core elements are then withdrawn in opposite directions but at an angle to the direction normal to the two mold core elements to thereby accommodate the complex shapes of the vanes. In one embodiment, the top wall of the nozzle is disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal plane of the cover, and the mold core elements are also withdrawn in a plane that is parallel to this wall.
US08113925B2
A displacer assembly for a clip machine, in particular a sausage clip machine, including at least a first pair of displacer shears and a second pair of displacer shears arranged parallel thereto. The displacer shears are arranged pivotably about a common axis and are reversibly movable towards each other for constriction of the filled packaging casing for forming a filling material-free plaited portion. In that respect the first pair of displacer shears comprises two displacer shears which are at least approximately identical in minor image relationship and the second pair of displacer shears has a second displacer shear which is at least approximately identical to the displacer shears of the first pair of displacer shears, as well as a first, shorter displacer shear. The first displacer shear of the first pair of displacer shears has a reinforcement which at least approximately reproduces the contour of the part, which is cut off for shortening purposes, of the first displacer shear of the second pair of displacer shears.
US08113906B2
A noisemaker assembly that includes an annular horn body having an inner wall, an outer wall and a groove disposed there between. The groove is open at the top surface of the horn body. A tubular mouthpiece is provided that extends into the horn body. The mouthpiece communicates with the groove inside the horn body. When air is blown into the mouthpiece, that air passes into the groove within the horn body. A membrane is placed over the horn body so that the membrane covers the top of the groove. When air is blown into the groove, the air slips past the membrane from inside the groove. This causes the membrane to vibrate and generate a loud low frequency noise. The horn assembly can be held within a housing. The housing has perforations to enable sound energy from the horn assembly to escape from the housing.
US08113894B2
Exhaust passage system in an outboard engine unit includes: an engine-side exhaust pipe; a downstream exhaust pipe for directing exhaust gas downstream from the engine-side exhaust pipe, a lower end portion of the engine-side exhaust pipe and an upper end portion of the downstream exhaust pipe being positioned in horizontally parallel to each other and horizontally overlap each other so as to provide fluid communication therebetween via a through-hole formed in the overlapping portions of the end portions; and a vertical partition wall provided, in an upper end region of the overlapping portions for hampering back-flows of fluid.
US08113890B2
A solar module connector comprising: a cable; a housing having a mounting surface at least a portion of which partially defines an opening for facilitating contact with at least one buss lead of a solar module, a cavity, a cable end, and a passageway between the cavity and the cable end; a seal disposed around the cable and at least partially seated in the passageway; and a contact electrically connected to the cable and disposed in the cavity proximate the opening.
US08113887B2
There is provided a card connector for electrically coupling a card with a motherboard. The card connector includes a housing to and from which a contact pad of the card is inserted and ejected, where the housing is mountable on the motherboard; a pair of contacts is configured to hold the card between the pair of the contacts and to be electrically coupled with the contact pads of the card inserted into the housing, and extend in a first direction, and a pair of urging members is configured in the housing to force the pair of the contacts toward the card and extend in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
US08113880B2
The electrical connector includes an insulating housing, for receiving at least one electrical contact terminal connected to a cable, wherein at least one terminal accommodating chamber is formed, said insulating housing including a front face intended to mate with a counterpart connector, and a rear wall provided with a rear slot for introducing each terminal in the respective chamber. It further including a sealing deformable material facing the rear wall, and a press for pressing the sealing deformable material against the rear wall. The press comprises a flap connected to the housing so as to be able to rotate between an open position in which access to the rear slot is allowed, and a closed position in which the flap presses the sealing deformable material against the rear wall, so that the sealing deformable material deforms in order to sealingly close the rear slot and come into contact with the cable when it is inserted.
US08113879B1
A connector for mounting to the terminal end of a coaxial cable includes a connector body having a first body section and a second axially adjacent body section. The first and second body sections are frangibly connected to one another wherein axial compressive force upon the second body section towards the first body section causes the second body section to fracture and be displaced axially over the exterior of the first body section. As such, the second body section is a compression sleeve which when so moved radially compresses at least a portion of the first body section of the connector body to permit compression of a prepared coaxial cable end.
US08113878B2
A coaxial cable connector includes an internally corrugated member, an internally corrugated sealing member, and a back nut. Axial advancement of the back nut causes a back end of the internally corrugated member to compress radially inwardly.
US08113867B2
A cable connection guiding method includes the steps of extracting conductor identification information being used to identify a conductor from a RFID tag connected to the conductor of a cable, and indicating a terminal indicating device associated with an obtained terminal, according to terminal identification information.
US08113865B1
A plug connector includes an insulating housing having a base body and a tongue portion protruded forwards from the base body, a propping lid which has a base block mounted to a rear of the base body and two insertion bolts protruded forwards from two opposite ends of a front face of the base block with a locking bump protruded at a front of an outside thereof, and a shielding shell having a casing sleeved to the tongue portion. A pair of fastening cavities is opened at two opposite sides of the base body for receiving the insertion bolts therein. The casing has two opposite side strips each elongated rearwards to form a clamping arm with a rear being provided with a locking hole. The clamping arm is inserted into the fastening cavity and coupled with the insertion bolt via the locking bump buckled in the locking hole.
US08113864B2
A quick-detachable terminal seat includes a main body and a pull rod. The terminal seat is mounted in a casing of a controller which is provided with two notches and locking slots on its periphery. The pull rod has two hooks engaged with the locking slots. The pull rod is provided with two inclined surfaces at locations corresponding to the notches respectively. When the pull rod is pulled out of the main body with the hooks being disengaged from the locking slots, the two inclined surfaces are moved out of the two notches respectively, so that the terminal seat can move upwardly with respect to the casing. In this way, the terminal seat can be detached there from quickly with less labor, or it can be mounted in the casing easily without additional tools. The present invention further provides a programmable logic controller having the terminal seat.
US08113856B2
A block-out cover is installed in a jack module to prevent entry of undesirable objects. The block-out cover includes at least one window and at least one locking arm. The locking arm secures the cover to the jack module. The window receives a removal tool designed to remove the cover from the jack module. The removal tool includes a body, a lever secured to the body to engage the cover and a prong with a cam surface. The cam surface of the prong deflects the cover from locking engagement with the jack module allowing the removal tool to remove the block-out cover.
US08113850B2
A computer includes an expansion card, a mother board and a connector. The mother board includes an expansion slot thereon. The expansion slot corresponds to the expansion card. The connector connects the expansion card and the expansion slot.
US08113839B2
An image and motion corresponding to the image are presented in response to a request issued by an user. The user transmits image data from a terminal to a motion data generating apparatus. The motion data generating apparatus generates motion data from the received image data. The motion data generating apparatus transmits the generated motion data together with the image data, in a mutually related fashion, to an image/motion control apparatus. The motion data generating apparatus also transmits ID data assigned to the image data and the motion data to the terminal. The image/motion control apparatus stores the received data. When the image/motion control apparatus receives ID data input by a user via an image/motion presenting apparatus, the image/motion control apparatus reads image data and motion data corresponding to the received ID data and transmits the image data and the motion data to the image/motion presenting apparatus. The image/motion presenting apparatus presents an image in accordance with the received image data and also presents motion in accordance with the motion data.
US08113838B2
A simulated land mine for use in a combat simulation or a simulated war game, comprising: a base frame with an opening facing upwards; an inner housing inserted into the base frame and including a first center hole formed vertically therethrough; a gas cylinder mounted in the first center hole and including a second center hole formed vertically therethrough, a gas chamber formed around the second center hole and a discharge aperture communicating the formers and being used for containing compressed gas; a valve mounted in the second center hole for sealing the discharge aperture; a receiving chamber formed at an upper part of the first center hole by the inner housing, the gas cylinder and the valve and being used to contain colored liquid or powder to be ejected; means for supporting the inner housing which enables the movement of the inner housing in relation to the base frame; and a means for actuating the valve to selectively open the discharge aperture to release the compressed gas from the gas chamber into the receiving chamber.
US08113837B2
An oral appliance is provided for delivering a medicament to at least a portion of teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside a mouth, the oral appliance having an interior surface having a porous material disposed on at least a portion of the interior surface of the oral appliance, the porous material containing a medicament and the interior surface being formed to fit contours of at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside the mouth and being capable of supporting and holding the porous material in contact with at least the portion of the teeth and/or soft tissue areas inside the mouth to deliver the medicament.
US08113825B2
A computer-controlled matrix of pixels that emit bursts of fire in a controlled manner to create moving images and text on a plane in front of the matrix. The unit houses a number of pixels in a grid array, with each pixel associated with a solenoid gas valve. The valves are supplied by a main gas bus and when actuated release gas to an individual pixel, where it flows out and over a constantly burning pilot light and combusts. The valves are connected through a main circuit box to a computer, and are controlled by software that allows the user to script and play complex graphical animations, musical compositions, scrolling text, as well as real-time graphical response to specific user inputs.
US08113823B2
A damper mechanism for a gas-fired appliance is disclosed. The damper mechanism is mechanically operated in response to changes in pressure within a portion of the appliance. Changes in gas pressure operate to displace a diaphragm, thereby moving a linkage attached to a flue damper, such that the damper can be moved between open and closed positions. An interim damper control activation arm can pivot in response to movement of the linkage to actuate electrical switches, which act to close a magnetic pilot valve when the damper is in a partially-opened or partially-closed position.
US08113819B2
Disclosed, amongst other things, is a back-up device that is configured to provide a structural support, in use, between a manifold and a housing member within a melt distribution apparatus of an injection molding system. The back-up device is associated, in use, with a valve-gate apparatus within a nozzle drop. The back-up device includes a cold-side member formed from a first material and a hot-side member formed from a second material. The first material is more thermally conductive than the second material. The cold-side member is configured to be thermally connectable, in use, with the housing member and the hot-side member. The hot-side member is configured to be thermally connectable, in use, with the manifold and the cold-side member. The hot-side member is also configured to prevent the cold-side member from directly contacting the manifold.
US08113817B2
A molding apparatus is configured with article molding regions that receive a direct flow of a molding material feed such that external flow channels are not needed. The article molding regions are formed into front sides of opposed “A” and “B” surface mold tools that, when moved into a mating relationship with one another, form closed molding cavities within which molded articles are generated from molding material feed. The article molding regions each generally have a body bounded by a perimeter that establishes an outer edge for an article molded in the one of the closed molding cavities. With at least the “A” surface mold tool, a port is coupled with the body of each article molding region to establish a direct pathway is through which the molding material feed flows to enter the article molding regions, and thus the closed molding cavity, without having to flow along the tool front sides outside of the article molding regions. A distribution channel extends to each port to deliver the molding material feed and a moveable blocking pin is provided for each port to alternately prevent the molding material feed from flowing through the respective port to reach the closed molding cavity and allow the molding material to flow through the respective port to reach the closed molding cavity.
US08113813B2
An optical shaping apparatus includes a light transmissive member, a shaping base, and a movement mechanism. The light transmissive member includes a regulation surface to regulate a liquid level of a photo-curable resin, and causes light used for curing the photo-curable resin to pass therethrough. The shaping base includes a support surface, a first end portion, and a second end portion, the support surface being opposed to the regulation surface and supporting a three-dimensionally shaped object that is formed by laminating the photo-curable resins cured by the light in a stepwise manner, the second end portion being on an opposite side of the first end portion. The movement mechanism moves the shaping base in a direction away from the light transmissive member so that the support surface is gradually moved away from the regulation surface from the first end portion side to the second end portion side.
US08113811B2
Techniques for preparing PNCs are provided. In one embodiment, a polymer extruding device may include a barrel configured to accommodate a composite material, a shaft rotatably disposed in the barrel, and a motor coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft, thereby moving the composite material. The polymer extruding device may further include a die including one or more injectors configured to inject nano particles into the die to cause shear stress to be exerted to the composite material, thereby forming a layer of the nano particles on a surface of the composite material.
US08113810B2
An extrusion die assembly includes a hollow extrusion head which has a head inner surface, a central passage inlet opening, a forming section having a die opening, and a receiving space that extends from the central passage inlet opening to the forming section. A flow-dividing core is disposed within the receiving space, and has a central passage connected to the central passage inlet opening and extending to the forming section, and a grooved outer surface that is disposed upstream of the forming section and that has at least one groove which cooperates with the head inner surface to define at least one accumulating passage. An annular passage is formed in the forming section and around the flow-dividing core and the central passage, is connected to the accumulating passage, and merges with the central passage in the die opening.
US08113804B2
An example vane pump comprises a shaft driving a rotor. The rotor has a plurality of vane grooves, with a vane received in each of the plurality of vane grooves, and an under vane chamber for communicating a pressurized fluid into the grooves to bias the vanes radially outwardly of the rotor. A cam ring is positioned radially outwardly of the rotor. The cam ring is free to rotate with the rotor through friction from the vanes as the rotor rotates. An inlet delivers a fluid to be pumped into an inlet chamber, and an outlet receives the fluid pumped by the vane pump. An outlet for the fluid biasing the vanes communicates to a main outlet through a passage including a valve to increase the pressure of the fluid in the grooves.
US08113794B2
The invention relates to a rotor pump having an internally toothed outer ring and an externally toothed inner ring which is mounted therein and intermeshes therewith, wherein the outer ring and the inner ring are arranged axis-parallel to one another, and the axes of the outer ring and of the inner ring are at a distance from one another, and the outer ring is connected to a hollow shaft motor with a stator which is fitted with windings, and to a rotor which is rotatably mounted therein, characterized in that the outer ring forms the rotor of the hollow shaft motor.
US08113788B2
Disclosed is a surface of the blade having a cylindrical root portion, an airfoil portion and a transition portion connecting the root portion with the airfoil portion, wherein the blade comprises a shoulder at the border between the transition portion to the airfoil portion, wherein the blade comprises an element which is arranged substantially at the root portion and/or at the transition portion which creates a slot between the element and the surface of the blade.
US08113777B2
A device is described for generating energy. The device includes at least two ultralight airfoils rotating along their own axis, which functionally reproduce the characteristics of a propeller. The ultralight airfoils which characterize such aerodynamic configuration use pulling members (such as cables or tie-rods) to keep their shape when operating. An important weight reduction of the structure is thus obtained, which allows different applications in the aeolian generation field.
US08113760B1
A secure loading system operates with a wheelchair lift attached to a vehicle, securing the wheelchair to a platform during the lifting motion and retracting the platform into the vehicle once the wheelchair has been lifted, or performing a reverse operation wherein the platform is extended to the lift for lowering the wheelchair. The secure loading system may be an after-market add-on to a lift, or may be integrated into the lift at design time. The system may also be adapted for many other embodiments wherein a secured platform is needed during a lifting motion.
US08113758B2
A storage rack comprises a plurality of slacked supporting ledges each spaced away from each other arranged in pairs on facing sidewalls for receiving plate-type carriers for stored articles. Storage and retrieval of the carriers in the storage rack is provided by a transport device. The supporting ledges are a snaked press fit in the sheet metal of the sidewalls and the sidewalls are secured to upright rack stanchions. To define a storage rack ensuring exact positioning of the supporting ledges, it is proposed that the rack stanchions comprise horizontally protruding pegs engaging cavities in the supporting ledges.
US08113752B2
A cargo restraint system and method with enhanced peel strength characteristics the restraint system including laminated load restraining strips with a layer of adhesive to adhere the restraining strip to a container wall surface having a thickness of approximately greater than 1.6 and less than 3.0 millimeters. The load restraint method for securing cargo within transport containers wherein an angle θ of attachment between a side wall of a container and a reinforcing strip of material attached to the side wall is maintained at approximately 15 degrees or less in accordance with the formula B≦cot θ•A, where θ is the angle formed between an exterior surface of said load restraining strip and an interior plane of the lateral wall surface of the transport container “A” is the distance from a front edge of a load to an adjacent side wall and “B” is the distance along the wall of the container behind the point of contact of the restraining strip with an edge of the load to be restrained.
US08113751B2
A locking device for fastening containers for an aircraft. The locking device comprises at least one locking arrangement that can be affixed to an aircraft floor and that comprises a retaining element. The locking arrangement can be fastened to the aircraft floor such that a gap for adjusting the container is provided between the container and the locking arrangement. The retaining element of the locking arrangement can subsequently be moved in the direction of the payload such that a gap between the locking arrangement and the payload can be adjusted.
US08113750B2
A method includes selecting a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio. A first hypoid gear set defines the first gear ratio and a second hypoid gear set defines the second gear ratio. The first hypoid gear set includes a first ring gear that is formed with at least one first inside blade and at least one first outside blade coupled to a first gear cutter. The second gear set includes a second ring gear that is formed with at least one second inside blade and at least one second outside blade coupled to a second gear cutter. The method also includes identifying parameters of the first inside blade and the second inside blade, commonizing at least a portion of the respective identified parameters and forming at least one of a common inside blade and a common outside blade for forming a first modified ring gear and a second modified ring gear.
US08113749B2
Embodiments of the invention comprise an auger bit for use with a power drill including an elongated member including a first end and an opposing second end, a helical surface having a central axis, where the helical surface defines at least one flute, a head portion integrally formed with the first end of the elongated member and including a primary cutting edge adapted to engage and remove material from a workpiece and a secondary cutting edge adapted to engage and remove additional material from the workpiece, a threaded tip integrally formed with the head portion and a shank integrally formed with the second end of the elongated member and adapted to engage the drill.
US08113743B2
An earth-working apparatus (1) having a drive (1′, 1″) located above the ground is described. The earth-working apparatus has at least two earth-working devices (300, 400), a first earth-working device (300) including a rotating cutter and agitator device (30) that penetrates into the ground to be worked, having first tools and a second earth-working device (400) including a comminuting device (40) having second tools. Each earth-working device (300, 400) is individually mountable on the drive. The earth-working devices (300, 400) may be individually mountable on the drive. It is also possible to combine two or more earth-working devices and to mount them together on the drive. A method for working particularly encrusted ground surfaces is also described.
US08113738B2
The invention relates to a device for compacting road paving materials, comprising a screed board which is fastened on a road finisher and extends at a right angle to the direction of travel of the road finisher and a tamper that is mounted in front and/or behind the screed board. The tamper has a tamper strip that can be driven to perform a striking upward and downward movement and the interior of which is equipped with an electrical heating unit in the form of a rod-shaped heating element that can be clamped into a recess of the tamper strip. The device according to the invention is characterized by a spring accumulator receiving a heating element in the direction of the striking upward and downward movement for clamping the heating element.
US08113728B2
A hand operated marking device includes a pair of housings movably interconnected together, a first one of the housings adapted to be received in a second one of the housings responsive to a compression of the housings; a printer located along a bottom surface of the first housing, the printer including a movable printhead exposed through an aperture of the first housing; a moving mechanism housed within at least one of the housings, the moving mechanism for moving the printhead in a printing direction responsive to the compression of the housings; and a shutter for covering the aperture of the first housing, the shutter adapted to be retracted as the moving mechanism moves the printhead. The moving mechanism includes a pair of arms pivotally mounted at one end to the second housing and at the other end to the printhead, and further comprising an extension return spring extending between the other end of the arms and the first housing.
US08113725B2
An optical module includes: an optical semiconductor section including a first lead, a second lead with one end portion opposed to one end portion of the first lead, an optical semiconductor element bonded onto the first lead, and a first molded body in which the optical semiconductor element, the one end portion of the first lead, and the one end portion of the second lead are embedded; and an optical element section including a third lead, a fourth lead with one end portion opposed to one end portion of the third lead, and a second molded body in which the one end portion of the third lead and the one end portion of the fourth lead are embedded and which can change the optical path of at least one of emitted light from the optical semiconductor element and incident light on the optical semiconductor element. The other end portion of the first lead and the other end portion of the second lead protrude from the first molded body in directions opposite to each other. The other end portion of the third lead and the other end portion of the fourth lead protrude from the second molded body in directions opposite to each other. The protruding first lead and the protruding third lead are joined to form a metal junction. The protruding second lead and the protruding fourth lead are joined to form a metal junction. And at least one of the first and second leads and the third and fourth leads have a bent portion which is convex outward.
US08113720B2
A hybrid fiber/copper connector assembly which permits repair of damaged fibers or copper conductors carried by a hybrid fiber/copper cable without requiring replacement of the entire connector assembly or the cable is disclosed. The hybrid fiber/copper connector assembly disclosed also allows individual hybrid fiber/copper connectors of the assembly to be converted from one gender to a different gender. The hybrid fiber/copper connector assembly disclosed also allows the individual hybrid fiber/copper connectors of the assembly to be converted from being hybrid fiber/copper connectors to being only fiber connectors or only copper connectors.
US08113709B2
A high-pressure tank is provided capable of simply and inexpensively suppressing gas leaks under low temperature condition. The high-pressure tank 10 comprises a tank main body 11 having the opening part 13, in which high-pressure gas is filled, and the reinforcement member 12 covering the outer surface of the tank main body 11 and reinforcing the tank main body 11. The tank main body 11 is provided with the outer projecting part 15 being uncovered with the reinforcement member 12 at a position different from the opening part 13. This outer projecting part 15 is heated from the outside of the tank main body 11 by the electric heater 30 to heat the tank main body 11, and thereby suppressing degradation of the sealing properties of the seal member 22.
US08113704B2
An LED back-light unit and other devices using the LED back-light unit are discussed. According to one embodiment, an LED back-light unit includes a light guide portion that includes a light guide plate and a reflection plate coupled to the light guide plate, wherein the light guide plate has a light input part and a first connection part, and wherein the reflection plate has a second connection part connected to the first connection part, and a light source including at least one light emitting diode, the light source emitting light toward the light guide portion.
US08113702B2
A variable condenser for delivery of illumination, including a recursively nested circle-to-line fiber optic shape-converting cable and a focusable input lens system. At the input of the fiber optic cable, sets of individual optical fibers comprise successively smaller annuli recursively nested about a common center. At the output of the fiber optic cable, the sets of individual optical fibers comprise pairs of line segments recursively nested about the line midpoint, whereby the nesting level of the pairs of line segments has an exact or an approximate correspondence to the nesting level of the annuli. The output may be split into a plurality of lines, whereby the sets of individual optical fibers are distributed among the plurality of lines. The input lens system has a single adjustable focus means to vary the radius of an illumination spot incident upon the input of the fiber optic cable circle input.
US08113699B2
A light source module includes a circuit board on which a circuit pattern is formed; a semiconductor light emitting element; an electrode pad; and a connecting body. The semiconductor light emitting element includes a first surface formed into an oblong shape, and a second surface positioned facing opposite the first surface. The second surface is connected with a second part of the circuit pattern. The electrode pad is provided on the first surface of the semiconductor light emitting element and includes a connecting portion. The connecting body is connected with the connecting portion of the electrode pad and a first part of the circuit pattern. The electrode pad is provided on a portion of the semiconductor light emitting element that includes one end portion of the first surface. The connecting portion of the electrode pad is provided at a position in one of a continuous and spaced manner in the lengthwise direction of the electrode pad.
US08113697B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting device is provided. The LED lighting device includes an LED light bar and a passive heat sink. The passive heat sink includes a base and a plurality of heat sink fins. The LED light bar is placed on one side of the base, and the heat sink fins are placed on the other side of the base. The fins are fixed on the base by soldering.
US08113696B2
A universal light ball system has a light source with a substantially round housing disposed within a substantially elongated housing so that the light source may be directed by changing the orientation of the substantially round housing relative to the substantially elongated housing. The substantially elongated housing may be inserted into another member such as a the hollow top of landscape edging in order to provide unobtrusive and aesthetically pleasing landscape lighting.
US08113691B2
The present invention provides a drive system for an optical light modulation system employing multiple light modulation element pairs. The each pair is driven by a single motor which drives one axis around which one element of the first pair rotates while the other element of the first pair free floats and rotates about a second axis. While the second axis drives the rotation of the first element of the second pair and the first axis provides a rotation pivot for the second element of the second pair. Thus the two pairs share the two axises providing a more compact drive system that can be used more flexibly in an optical train of an automated multiparameter lighting system.
US08113688B2
A configuration of multiple LED modules having a plurality of LED modules that each contain a carrier that has a first main area, a second main area and at least one semiconductor layer. The first main area has a planar configuration. The LED modules also include a plurality of LED semiconductor bodies that applied on the first main area of the carrier. In addition, the multiple LED modules include a common heat sink, where the carrier of the LED modules in each case are connected to the common heat sink on the second main area.
US08113686B2
A guideway illumination system (100) comprises a first member (16) and a second member (18) each having at least one light source (20) and at least one of the first member (16) and the second member (18) receiving a power source (22). The first member (16) has a closed end (16a) and a connecting end (16b) and the second member has two connecting ends (18a 18b). At least one intermediate member (24) has at least one light source (20) and a male connecting end (24a) and a female connecting end (24b). At least one flexible joining member (26) is also provided, the flexible joining member being capable of bending at least 90° and being joinable to any of the first and second end members and the intermediate members.
US08113678B2
A retail shelving assembly comprises a plurality of upright posts, each post having upper and lower portions. At least one horizontally disposed shelf if releasably and adjustably connected to the posts. At least some of the posts comprise transparent light transmitting material, and a light source is associated with those posts for illuminating the posts to thereby produce a decorative and eye catching affect.
US08113669B2
A projection type image display unit has a housing on which a light source and an image display part for transmission or reflection of light from the light source are mounted. The unit includes a position adjusting device, by which a displayed position of an image is adjusted. The position adjusting device comprises: a manipulation member being vertically movable with a part thereof projecting from a side of the housing; a leg member projecting from a bottom of the housing and adapted to freely vary an amount of the projection thereof; and a connecting member connecting the manipulation member with the leg member to set the amount of the projection of the leg member by manipulating the manipulation member in a vertical direction. The connecting member comprises a lever member so that a movement direction of the manipulation member becomes the same as a movement direction of the housing and a movement amount of the manipulation member substantially becomes the same as a movement amount of the housing.
US08113666B2
A projector includes a light source, a light modulator that modulates the light flux emitted from the light source in accordance with an image signal to form image light, a projection optical apparatus that enlarges and projects the image light, a reflection section having a reflection surface disposed along the direction in which the projection optical apparatus outputs the image light, the reflection surface reflecting the image light, and an adjustment section that adjusts the inclination angle of the reflection section with respect to the direction in which the image light travels.
US08113651B2
A corneal inlay protects ocular structures from harmful wavelengths of light while maintaining acceptable color cosmetics, color perception, overall light transmission, photopic vision, scotopic vision, color vision, and/or cirdadian rhythms. The corneal inlay can also include a pinhole effect to increase depth of focus. In some embodiments, the corneal inlay can also correct refractive errors including, but not limited to, higher order aberration, lower order aberration, myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and/or presbyopia.
US08113650B2
A printer is provided having housing, and print head and inlet roller assemblies housed by the housing. The print head assembly has at least one print head for printing on print media fed along a print media feed path and the print head has an arcuate portion in the vicinity of the print media feed path. The inlet roller assembly has at least one inlet roller for feeding print media along the print media feed path. The arcuate portion of the print head has a radius of curvature approximating that of the inlet roller.
US08113647B2
An inkjet printer includes a body defining a print media path through which print media can pass. A printhead assembly is arranged within the body and is configured to print upon print media passing along the print media path. A user interface is located on the body. A print media input tray is pivotally mounted with respect to the body, to locate the print media in register with the print media path and which can pivot with respect to the body to form a protective cover for the user interface. A print media feed arrangement is configured to feed the print media from the input tray and through the print media path.
US08113613B2
A transducer capable of generating vibrational energy is positioned relative to an inkjet cartridge to impart a vibrational force to simultaneously vibrate at least a portion of each of a plurality of ink fluidic columns associated with a plurality of nozzles in a printhead of the inkjet cartridge to maintain or recover nozzle function.
US08113596B2
A solenoid valve for a brake system, which has a simple constitution and can be easily manufactured with reduced manufacturing costs, is disclosed. A valve core is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has a through-hole formed in a longitudinal direction of the valve core and a fluid passage formed in a radial direction of the valve core so as to communicate with the through-hole. A sleeve is coupled to an outer surface of the valve core. The sleeve has a dome-shaped shielding portion at one end, and a flange portion to be fixed to a modulator block at the other end. An armature is slidably mounted in the sleeve. An exciting coil is provided to move the armature. A valve seat is fixed in the valve core, and has a first orifice. A plunger is mounted in the valve core. The plunger moves by movement of the armature to open or close the first orifice. A restoring spring is provided to press the plunger toward the armature. A filter member is coupled to the valve core to surround an outer surface and an end portion of the valve core, which are to be received in a bore of the modulator block. The filter member includes a filtering part to filter oil, a second orifice to rectify oil flow, and a check valve to permit oil to flow back when braking operation is released.
US08113589B2
A vehicle seat includes a seat part and a backrest. The backrest has a first axis of rotation and is rotatable about the first axis through at least 90° from a normal position into a loading position. The backrest has pivoting means and is transferable into an armrest position by the pivoting means. A predominant part of the backrest is mounted higher in the armrest position than in the loading position.
US08113588B2
The base frame of the motor vehicle seat comprises two rail pairs, two front rockers, two rear rockers and one seat support. The seat support has two side parts, a front cross member and a rear cross member. Each rail pair is hinged to a side part via a front rocker and a rear rocker. An adjustment device is provided for the height adjustment of the seat support. A rocker is connected to a transverse part. A support part is provided which is connected to the transverse part and comprises a hinge area for an adjustment part of the adjustment device and a contact area on the adjacent cross member.
US08113586B2
An apparatus for adjusting the seat back angle, and more particularly an adjuster inclinedly disposed at a lower position of the bottom of the seat back and the rear side of the seat portion, comprising a rotating sleeve, an L-shaped connection body, a large spring, a shift shaft, and a locking device. When the locking device is locked, the seat back is positioned at a desirable inclination angle. When the locking device is unlocked, the shift shaft is axially movable such that the seat back is resiliently supported. Moreover, the compression state of the large spring is adjustable by a to-and-fro rotation of the rotating sleeve. In this way, the operators may adjust the resilience of the seat back 200 according to their own needs for obtaining a greatest sitting comfort.
US08113582B2
A cushion for a chair includes a cushion body (20) having a mediate position provided with a convex waist support portion (21), an upper end provided with an inclined backrest support portion (22) and a lower end provided with a concave resting portion (24). Thus, the backrest support portion and the waist support portion of the cushion body are designed to fit the user's back and waist ergonomically so that the cushion body can support the user's back and waist smoothly and exactly. In addition, the upper buffering space (202) and the lower buffering space (201) of the cushion body provide a buffering effect to allow deformation of the cushion body so as to regulate the user's seating posture and to provide a comfortable sensation to the user.
US08113570B1
A molded hollow aerodynamic cap which is attached to the tongue part of the trailers frame. The cap extends from the hitch and is attached to the front of the trailer. The aerodynamic design of the cap gives the towing driver better handling control and fuel saving mileage. Inside the cap is used for storage and other purposes.
US08113565B2
The device for increasing volume of a container (24) has extension elements (37, 38, 39, 40) pivotally mounted on an upper edge (31) of an upper opening (32) so as to form a cover at least partially closing the upper opening (32) when the extension elements (37, 38, 39, 40) are in flat closed positions and an enlarging extension (27) for the container when the extension elements are in raised filling positions, neighboring extension elements being pivotally connected with each other, and at least one driving pivoting device (53), which pivots or swings each extension element (37, 38, 39, 40) from its flat closed position into its raised filling position (47, 48, 49, 50) out beyond a vertical position thereof in a direction toward an exterior of the container, or from its raised filling position into its flat closed position.
US08113562B2
An apparatus for tilt-able rack system especially suited for a vehicle, such as a pick-up truck. The tilting rack system includes a stationary upright support frame, and a hinged upright support, with the hinged upright mounted to the vehicle rearward of the stationary upright. A slide-able and tilt-able pair of rails mount to the support frame at the hinged and stationary uprights. As the hinged uprights lever rearward and downward, by action of a hinge at the base of each upright, the rails can slide and tilt upon a sliding hinge at the top of each stationary upright. The rearward, hinged uprights may be actuated by hydraulics, manual cranks, cables, or any other such mechanisms. The entire rail and associated frame can tilt down to the rear of the vehicle, allowing the easy placement of long items on the frame, such as ladders, pipes, boats, boards, and panels.
US08113561B2
Mounting structure of a door grip in a door for the vehicle includes a inner panel composing a door body. The mounting structure of a door grip further includes a door trim arranged so as to oppose to the inner side of the inner panel. The door grip is fixed to the inner panel via the door trim and having a pair of connecting parts to be connected to the door trim. Further included are fixing members for fixing the door trim to the inner panel. The fixing members are arranged in both sides of the connecting parts regarding an axis line passing through both the first connecting part and the second connecting part. The fixing members are respectively provided in both sides of the first connecting part while the fixing members are respectively provided in both sides of the second connecting part.
US08113558B2
A device for moving, carrying and storing large objects includes a bag comprising a sheet of plastic film material. The bag is sized to receive the object and has an opening for placing the object into the bag. The bag has an extension on at least one side the bag with at least one handle formed as an opening in the extension. The extension includes more than two layers of the plastic film material, which can be in the form of a gusset. The bag includes a seal for bonding the more than two layers of the film material together along at least a portion of the length of the side having the extension thereon.
US08113554B2
A system for absorbing impact energy includes a container formed with a plurality of faces, wherein the container is attached to a vehicle. An energy-absorbing material is substantially contained within the container. At least one elongated member having a proximate end and a distal end is included, wherein the proximate end is proximate to a first face of the container. A long axis of the at least one elongated member may intersect the first face. A bumper may be connected to the distal end of the at least one elongated member.
US08113550B2
An adapter integrates a tail piece and connection for coupling to plumbing fittings utilizing a union nut or flange and provides a press-fit connection to the tail piece for installation in the system. The method of manufacturing the adapter comprises the steps of forming a flange on a section of conduit; placing a threaded union nut or mounting flange over the flange fitting; roll-forming an internal, concave annular recess into the section of conduit extending from the nut and inserting an O-ring into the recess for completing the adapter. The adapter can then be sealably attached to a plumbing fitting, such as a valve or the like, utilizing a conventional flat gasket between the flange of the adapter and the plumbing fitting. The installation is completed by inserting a conduit into the adapter to clear the O-ring and crimping the bead formed by the recess to complete the sealed connection.
US08113541B2
A vehicle supplemental restraint system (SRS) can include an SRS control unit located rearward of the instrument panel in the vehicle. The SRS control unit can be located at or connected to a cross member of the vehicle frame that is located rearward of the instrument panel in the vehicle such that signals from a side sensor attached to a side portion of the vehicle frame are quickly transmitted to the SRS control unit with high signal strength. A space in the control panel or in the instrument panel of the vehicle can then be used to house a multi-axis or single axis satellite sensor to increase signal strength and sensor accuracy and speed for the front crash sensor or sensors in the vehicle. The SRS control unit can be equipped with an impact sensor. The position of the SRS control unit in combination with use of an impact sensor in the SRS control unit 10 can eliminate the need for certain saving sensors while providing for quick and efficient activation of an SRS. In addition, a method for configuring the SRS can include determining a position of the SRS based on certain side crash testing impact locations for the vehicle.
US08113530B2
A bicycle comprises a frame. A portion of the frame includes a substrate and a layer of nano-crystalline material extending over at least a portion of the substrate. A conductive interface is disposed between the substrate and layer of nano-crystalline material for improved adhesion of the layer of nano-crystalline material to the substrate and improved impact performance of the frame portion.
US08113516B2
A casino style game apparatus preferably having a table layout for playing a roulette or roulette-like game without a roulette wheel. The preferred embodiment uses a ball blower to select a numbered ball from a set of thirty-eight numbered balls. A monitor displays the selected ball as viewed from a video camera mounted above the ball blower. The number displayed constitutes the random number decision generation replacing the use of a roulette wheel. An additional embodiment uses a random number generator to select a number from one to thirty-eight for random number decision generation. Another embodiment uses a shuffled thirty-eight card deck from which a numbered card is selected constituting the random number decision generation. An additional embodiment uses a remote control activated by a player to initiate the random number generator for selection of a number from one to thirty-eight to constitute the random number decision generation.
US08113514B2
A moving unit includes first and second transportation paths that can selectively link to main transportation path of a recording sheet, a first roller arranged between the first and the second transportation paths, second and third rollers capable of making contact with the first roller across the first and the second transportation paths, respectively. When the moving unit moves to a position at which the first transportation path or the second transportation path is linked to the main transportation path, a mechanism varies a pressing force of the second roller or the third roller with respect to the first roller.
US08113510B2
A sheet processing apparatus that processes sheets transported in a transport direction and stacked on a tray, including: a sheet moving device configured to be brought into contact with an upper surface of a sheet stacked on the tray and to be moved in a width direction intersecting with the transport direction to move the sheet in the width direction; an alignment member against which a side edge of the sheet moved in the width direction by the sheet moving device is brought into abutment, to align the sheet; and a guide member configured to hold down the sheet between the sheet moving device and the alignment member with the sheet moving device in contact with the upper surface of the sheet, wherein the guide member is moved integrally with the sheet moving device in the width direction.
US08113506B2
A sheet supply apparatus is provided with a print medium storage device for storing a print medium. The print medium storage device includes a guide member for guiding the print medium thus stored; an engaging portion for engaging the guide member at a specific position; an engaged portion for engaging the engaging portion; an operation portion disposed to be movable for separating the engaging portion from the engaged portion; and an abutting portion for abutting against the operation portion to move the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a first position, and for separating from the operation portion when the print medium storage device is situated at a second position.
US08113502B2
A sheet feeding device includes: an arm member that is provided with a drive shaft at a base end thereof, the arm member being configured to swingably rotate around the drive shaft; a feed roller that is disposed at a leading end of the arm member, the feed roller feeding a sheet by being rotated while pressed on the uppermost sheet; and a transmission mechanism that is provided with one or more transmission rollers that transmit power provided from the drive shaft to the feed roller. Each of the transmission rollers is provided with a spindle that protrudes from both side faces thereof along an rotational axis. The arm member is provided with one or more pairs of bearing members for the respective transmission rollers, each of the pairs of the bearing members being faced with each other and being monolithically formed on the arm member.
US08113501B2
A sheet supply device includes a sheet storing section on which sheets are stacked and are stored; a sheet feed unit controlled by a controller that feeds the sheets stored in the sheet storing section to a next process; and an air blower controlled by the controller that blows air to the sheets stored in the sheet storing section, the air blower has an air nozzle and a mechanism that can adjust a height of the air nozzle in an up-down direction, and the mechanism increases or decreases the air flow rate of the air being blown to the sheets, wherein a force provided by the air blower to push up the sheets is exerted on the sheets, such that a less force is exerted when the sheets are being fed compared to when the sheets are not being fed.
US08113495B2
A vibration damper comprises a vibration dampening structure and a load bearing plate disposed on the vibration dampening structure. The vibration dampening structure includes a slip resistant layer and at least one foam layer disposed between the slip resistant layer and the load bearing plate. A resilient mounting layer is disposed on the load bearing plate. The vibration damper may act directly between an underlying support surface and equipment or may act between the underlying support surface and a sheet of flooring.
US08113493B2
A resilient device includes a fixing member defining two sliding holes, two slide members slidably mounted to opposite sides of the fixing member, and a number of elastic members. Each slide member includes a protrusion engagable in a corresponding sliding hole. The fixing member includes at least one receiving portion for receiving the elastic members, and the elastic members are disposed between the slide members and separated by the slide members. Therefore, each elastic member is positioned to resist against the slide members for biasing the slide members.
US08113483B2
A lavatory system having at least one wash station and at least one electrically operated fixture is disclosed. The lavatory system includes a control system for operating the at least one electrically operated fixture. The control system comprises a power supply system, a detection system, and a fixture actuation system. According to one embodiment, the detection system comprises a processor, a sensor configured to detect a user within a sensing region, and a sampling circuit configured to store a signal from the sensor that is used by the processor to activate the fixture. According to another embodiment, the power supply system includes a power source providing an output voltage for operating components of the control system, a detector monitoring the output voltage, and a switch for electrically disconnecting the power source from the components of the control system if the output voltage drops below a predetermined level. According to one embodiment, the power source is at least one photovoltaic cell coupled to the lavatory system.
US08113482B2
A microvalve device for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid to a load in a fluid circuit, and having multiple internal fluid conduits for providing pressure feedback.
US08113480B2
A support for a wind turbine having rear frame extending from a bedplate, where the support includes at least one tension member extending between the rear frame and the bedplate.
US08113475B2
An accessory mounting system and mounting method thereof provides an effective solution for sectioning a portion of a room and for organizing tools, objects and cables involved in the activity that gives rise to the need for sectioning or organizing the room. In particular, the present invention provides an accessory mounting system and method whereby accessories can be mounted to poles that are designed for use in temporary partitioning systems, or to other poles such as painter's poles. Such accessories can include, for example, a caution tape dispenser that mounts to a side surface of a pole following installation of the pole, and various pole clips that locate the caution tape at other poles in a clean, visually attractive, and effective manner. Other accessories include tool mounts, cable mounts, shelves, trays, drawers, hooks, camera or laser mounts, and the like, all attachable to a side surface of a pole following installation of the pole.
US08113462B2
The invention relates to an aircraft, and a method for operating an aircraft, the aircraft having a longitudinally unstable configuration and swept wings, the swept wings being based on aerofoils having a leading edge and configured for preventing attachment line transition in conditions of laminar flow over the swept wing for at least a predetermined first range of lift coefficients at a second range of Reynolds numbers. The invention also relates to an aerofoil, and to a method for providing an aerofoil, the airfoil being configured for a thick-sectioned subsonic/transonic swept wing, having a curved leading edge, a trailing edge, a thickness dimension and a chord dimension, wherein the leading edge comprises a leading edge curvature associated with a leading edge radius that is configured for preventing attachment line transition in conditions of laminar flow over the swept wing.
US08113451B2
A shredder includes a housing having a throat for receiving at least one article to be shredded, and a shredder mechanism received in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. The shredder also includes a detector that is configured to detect a thickness of the at least one article being received by the throat, and a controller that is configured to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements to shred the at least one article and to set a flutter threshold higher than the predetermined maximum thickness threshold, if the detected thickness is less than a predetermined maximum thickness threshold. The controller is also configured to thereafter continuously detect the thickness of the at least one article being inserted into a throat of the shredder; and to perform a predetermined operation responsive to the thickness detector detecting that the thickness of the at least one article is greater than the flutter threshold.
US08113447B1
A corn milling process comprising fracturing corn kernels into relatively large particles, and passing the fractured particles between a pair of counter-rotating rollers, each of which presents fine corrugations of the type that normally characterizes the end of a differential corn milling process. The ratio of the roll speeds between the differential rollers is between approximately 1.1-1.4:1. The rollers are spaced apart a distance to grind the endosperm portion of the corn kernel particles while avoiding substantial penetration of the roller corrugations into the germ portion of the particles thereby separating the germ and endosperm portions without reducing the size of the germ.
US08113445B2
A spray coating device, in one embodiment, is provided with a liquid passage, an air passage, one or more valves configured to open and close flow of liquid through the liquid passage and air through the air passage, a trigger coupled to the one or more valves, and a spray head configured to generate a non-conical liquid spray. The spray head includes a liquid exit in fluid communication with the liquid passage, wherein the liquid exit has a longitudinal axis of liquid flow, an air exit in fluid communication with the air passage, wherein the air exit is coaxial with the liquid exit, a first plurality of air shaping orifices in fluid communication with the air passage, wherein the first plurality of air shaping orifices have first axes that generally converge toward a first point along the longitudinal axis at first acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis, and a second plurality of air shaping orifices in fluid communication with the air passage, wherein the second plurality of air shaping orifices have second axes that generally converge toward a second point along the longitudinal axis at second acute angles relative to the longitudinal axis, the first and second acute angles are different from one another, and the first and second points are in series one after another along the longitudinal axis.
US08113437B2
An RFID device may ensure a stable sensing margin by employing a ReRAM. In an embodiment the RFID includes: a radio signal transceiver configured to transmit/receive a radio signal to/from an external reader; a digital unit configured to detect a command signal from an output of the radio signal transceiver and output a control signal corresponding to the command signal; and a memory unit configured to perform a read or write operation in response to the control signal, the memory unit including a resistive switch device (RSD) having memristor characteristics.
US08113436B2
In one embodiment, a structure includes a semiconductor chip including a communication element for performing a wireless communication function where the communication element has a communication core occupying a region of the semiconductor chip, a plurality of chip pads with two of the chip pads electrically connected to the communication core; a chip carrier for carrying the semiconductor chip where the chip carrier includes a plurality of carrier pads with two of the carrier pads connected to the two chip pads; and an antenna connected to the carrier pads and electrically connected to the chip pads and to the communication core.
US08113431B2
A scale assembly mounting apparatus for an optical scanner which suspends a scale assembly above a mirror housing of the scanner. The apparatus includes a top surface which surrounds an aperture of a mirror housing of the scanner on at least three sides, and a bottom surface including a load cell assembly mounting structure for suspending a load cell assembly between the bottom surface and the mirror housing.
US08113415B2
A tooling fixture is disclosed that includes a weldment having spaced apart lateral members interconnected by opposing side members. Spaced apart trunnions support the side members for rotation about an axis, in one example. A locating pin is arranged between each side member and trunnions to enable quick and accurate location of the tooling fixture relative to the trunnions. The pins are at a right angle relative to the axis, in one example. Tooling plates are removable secured to each of the lateral members. Adjustable brackets are secured to the tooling plates and support tooling that cooperates with a workpiece supported on the tooling fixture. In one example, jack blocks, shims, squaring plates and stops are used to permit precise adjustment and repeatable relocation of the tooling in three directions.
US08113405B2
A surgical stapling instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, a head portion and an indicator. A firing trigger is movable between first and second positions. The head portion includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The indicator is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle assembly and is movable between a first position and a second position in response to movement of the anvil assembly towards its approximated position. The indicator is movable between the second position and a third position in response to firing of the instrument.
US08113403B2
In a gas internal combustion type nailing machine, a tubular-shaped sleeve is fixed between a movable housing and a fan. Between the movable housing and sleeve, an annular space portion is formed. In such portions of the sleeve as existing respectively upwardly and downwardly of the fan, there are formed communication holes and in communication with the annular space portion. Mixed gas blown out by the fan flows through the lower communication hole and returns from the annular space portion to the combustion chamber through the upper communication hole.
US08113400B1
A dual food storage sheet goods dispenser (100) having a housing comprising a lower cartridge containing section (101) and an upper cartridge containing section (118). The lower cartridge containing section (101) includes a dispensing slot (112) located horizontally across a bottom (110) of the housing. A cutting edge (108) and respective carrier (106) are assembled to the exterior of the bottom (110) between the slot (112) and a front edge. Access to the lower section (101) is provided via an access door (124). An upper cartridge containing section (128) includes a dispensing clearance (126) located horizontally between an upper edge of a front wall (122) and an access door (124). A cutting edge (128) is assembled to a top of the front wall (122).
US08113392B2
A lower neck sizer for a garment hanger and a combination of a turnable wire hook hanger and the lower neck sizer are disclosed. The sizer has a body dimensioned to surround a lower neck portion of the hanger, where a hook of the hanger joins a body of the hanger. The sizer also has an inwardly extending tab secured to the sizer body for engaging the hanger at the lower neck portion to resist removal.
US08113390B2
An on-demand fluid dispenser to dispense fluid in response to gas generation by a gas cell. The on-demand fluid dispenser includes an expandable gas chamber, a fluid chamber, and an on-demand gas cell. The expandable gas chamber includes a moveable plunger forming a wall of the expandable gas chamber. The moveable plunger also forms a wall of the fluid chamber. The on-demand gas cell is configured to generate the gas on demand. The on-demand gas cell is also configured to direct the gas to the expandable gas chamber to expand the expandable gas chamber. Expansion of the expandable gas chamber moves the moveable plunger to reduce a volume of the fluid chamber and to dispense an amount of fluid from the fluid chamber.
US08113383B2
Disclosed is a biased paper dispensing device for dispensing paper. The dispensing device has a housing with an elongated body for containing paper. The housing has a lift system which may include a tray for holding the paper, a pulley system having pulleys, and elastic tubing. The tray holds the paper horizontally in the housing, and is moved vertically within the housing to dispense the paper. The lift system is used to lift or lower the paper and to bias the paper within the housing toward the lid or opening. A paper guide device for guiding paper into alignment with the opening may be provided. The opening may include at least one lateral opening portion permitting paper exposed in the opening to be withdrawn laterally therefrom. Flanges for holding the paper within the opening, and for allowing easy insertion of paper into the housing, are also provided.
US08113378B2
A drinking vessel having a drinking opening bordered by a vessel rim, on which a receptacle element is held so as to be pivotable about a pivot shaft, the receptacle element being displaceable from a first position, in which it is situated in the region of the drinking opening, partially covering the same, into a second position, in which is situated away from the drinking opening, characterized in that the receptacle element is rigidly connected to a pivot element that is supported so as to be pivotable about the pivot shaft.
US08113373B2
A vessel includes a containing body, an upper cover, a thing holding member, and a bottom cover; the containing body has an upper opening; the upper cover is threadedly joined on the containing body to cover the opening; the upper cover has a drink outlet, and a moving cap is pivoted on the upper cover to seal the drink outlet; the upper cover further has several bores so that drinks can flow out of the containing body through the drink outlet easily; the thing holding member is securely joined on the containing body, and has several hollow holding portions on an inner circumferential side to contain drink materials such as tea bags and sugar bags; the bottom cover is joined on a lower end of the thing holding member to close the hollow holding portions.
US08113360B2
The present invention relates generally to a shelf divider system for retail store product storage and display. More particularly, the present invention enables organization and presentation of a wide variety and types of products. A plurality of shelf dividers attach substantially perpendicularly to a pair of base strips. This perpendicular attachment is accomplished by inserting snap-fit pegs on the bottom of the shelf dividers into an array of mating holes formed in the base strips. Each adjacent pair of dividers forms a product organizing channel to keep the products in neat rows on the store shelf. Product paddles slide through the product organizing channel. An elongated pull ring attached to the product paddle causes products to move through the product organizing channel across the product shelf toward the front edge of the product shelf.
US08113355B1
Classifying kits useful in separating gold, other precious metals, gems, collectable rocks, fossils, and archaeological artifacts from earth material. Classifying sieves and other parts of the classifying kits herein are configured to be used within a bucket and can readily be removable therefrom. Depending on the parts used and the goals of a user, the kits herein can be used with dry sifting methods or with water.
US08113354B2
A problem of the invention is to provide a method which targets on polyethylene terephthalate-made bottle scraps composed mainly of polyethylene and/or polypropylene, polystyrene and a polyester and which is able to treat continuously a large amount of the polyester component with a high purity and sort and recover it in a high recovery. The problem of the invention can be solved by a separation method of waste plastics, which is characterized by forming previously a crushed plastic into a water slurry, feeding the water slurry in a fixed rate range such that a swirling flow is generated within a cylindrical tank and that water rises in a fixed rate range and recovering a polyester with a high specific gravity as a precipitated component within the cylindrical tank and a plastic with a low specific gravity as an overflow component from the top of the cylindrical tank, respectively.
US08113351B2
The present invention relates to an assembly formed by a box and a pallet for storage and transport of varied loads. The assembly optimizes the use of the available space, thereby keeping the assembly stable and safe throughout the transport process. The box enables the placement of loads while the pallet supports both the box and the loads. In this assembly, the box includes a lower portion that is arranged on the pallet, preferably in a removable manner. The box includes at least one fitting opening and the pallet includes at least one fitting portion configured to cooperatively associate with the fitting opening of the box.
US08113350B2
The assembly includes a system for holding a product and a protection device for protecting the system. The protection device includes a cap mounted on the system so as to at least partly cover it and at least one releasing structure for releasing the system. The releasing structure includes a retaining means for retaining the system relative to the cap and an actuating structure for actuating the retaining means in order to disconnect the system and the protection device. The retaining structure is provided on an inner face of the releasing structure, the actuating structure being provided on an outer face of the releasing structure, on the opposite side from the inner face. The releasing structure may be a rocker system and the protection device may cover at least 90% of the packaging system.
US08113348B2
A hybrid mounting card is disclosed that includes one or more receptacles form fit for respective portions of a medical device in order to receive and secure the respective portions of the medical device therein and a mounting card adapted to receive and secure the one or more receptacles. The one or more receptacles are configured on the mounting card to secure the medical device to the mounting card in a defined configuration. The use of the receptacles increases the types of medical devices that can be secured to mounting cards. The use of mounting cards enables medical devices to be stored in sterile barrier packaging systems that do not require custom thermoforming of an entire medical tray, such as medical pouches and standard blank medical trays.
US08113338B2
A continuous, flexible transfer belt is disclosed. The transfer belt may be used in a transfer system for a progressive press, and is particularly suited for the transfer of easy open can ends. The transfer belt includes at least one lane that extends along an axis of the belt. The at least one lane has a plurality of openings therein that are configured to receive an easy open end. The transfer belt includes a flexible material and has a wear resistant layer that includes a wear resistant material. The wear resistant layer is disposed proximate an upper surface of the belt and extends outwardly from the opening, wherein the wear resistant layer underlies an outer rim of the easy-open end.
US08113337B2
An apparatus and a method separate flat objects, including flat mail items. The apparatus has a first and a second separator. Each separator extends a plurality of overlapping objects in a direction parallel to the object planes. The second separator has a transport element and a retaining element. The second separator can be operated optionally in a separating mode, in which it is capable of separating objects, and a transport mode. An overlap detection device checks whether an item which is transported by the second separator contains a single object or a plurality of overlapping objects. The overlap detection device measures the respective length of the transported item at at least two instants. If the length changes, the item contains a plurality of overlapping objects. If a plurality of objects has been detected, the second separator is switched over into the separating mode and it separates the objects.
US08113330B2
A friction disk for a wet-running clutch for a motor vehicle includes a lining carrier ring, provided with connecting areas for connecting the friction disk to a drive side or to a takeoff side of a clutch, and a plurality of friction lining elements, carried on at least one side of the lining carrier ring, Fluid flow channels are provided between the friction lining elements which are directly adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, wherein at least some of the fluid flow channels have different channel widths.
US08113327B2
The invention relates to a multiple clutch assembly comprising: first (5, 9) and second (7, 11) friction elements; first (15) and second (17) plates for applying pressure to said respective friction elements; first (21) and second (25) diaphragms for actuating said respective plates, each diaphragm being mobile between a disengaged position (21a, 25a or 25b) and an engaged position (21b or 21c, 25c), said first diaphragm (21) approaching the second diaphragm (25) when it passes from the disengaged position thereof to the engaged position thereof; and first (23) and second (27) means for actuating said respective diaphragms. Said second actuating means (27) comprise means for renewing the course of the second diaphragm (25), in such a way that the second diaphragm (25) follows a pre-determined course between the disengaged position (25a or 25b) and the engaged position (25c) thereof, independently of the degree of wear of the second friction element (7, 11).
US08113326B2
A clutch unit has a lever side outer ring or a brake side outer ring with increased strength and in which an elastic deformation amount is reduced to improve breaking torque. The clutch unit has a lever side clutch section provided on an input side, for controlling transmission and interrupting rotational torque to an output side through lever operation, and also has a brake side clutch section provided on the output side, for transmitting input torque from the lever side clutch section to the output side and interrupting reverse input torque from the output side. A lever side outer ring of the brake side clutch section includes two members, a thick plate-like member formed by punching and a cover formed by press working. The plate-like member and the cover are integrally fixed together by swaging by means of a lever-side side plate. A lever side outer ring of the lever side clutch section is formed of a thick plate-like member formed by punching.
US08113324B2
A damping valve for a vibration damper includes a guide sleeve which slides on the piston rod of a vibration damper. An annular damping valve body which is provided with at least one through-opening is fixed axially by positive engagement on the guide sleeve, and the through-opening is covered at least partly by at least one valve disk which is biased by at least one closing spring which is supported at its end at a spring plate connected to the guide sleeve. The damping valve body and a spring plate which is constructed separate from the guide sleeve form a compression chain between two axially spaced stops of the guide sleeve.
US08113319B2
An elevator may include an elevator car, one or more hoisting ropes, a traction sheave, an overspeed governor, at least one safety gear, a locking mechanism, and guide rails. The car may be suspended by the one or more hoisting ropes. The traction sheave may move the car using the one or more hoisting ropes. The at least one safety gear and locking mechanism may be fitted in conjunction with the car. The overspeed governor may be configured to activate and release, via a linkage, the at least one safety gear during operation of the elevator. The locking mechanism may be configured to activate and release, by operatively acting on the linkage, the at least one safety gear during installation, maintenance, or installation and maintenance of the elevator. When activated, the at least one safety gear may engage one of the guide rails to lock the car in place.
US08113317B2
A system and method are provided to selectively control lubricant supply flow to one or more rotating machines in an aircraft when the rotating machines are windmilling. A controller determines if the rotating machines are windmilling. When the rotating machines are windmilling, the controller at least selectively energizes an electric motor driven lubrication pump, to thereby supply lubricant to the windmilling turbomachine.
US08113313B2
A piping assembly for directing fluid and mitigating acoustic and vortex coupled resonance is provided that includes a main pipe delivering fluid in a first direction; a standpipe coupled to the main pipe at an intersection; and a scoop positioned at the intersection directing the fluid towards the standpipe. A scooping insert and a method for disrupting vortex shedding in a piping assembly are also provided.
US08113309B2
A method for operating a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The drivetrain includes at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, a clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a transmission arranged between the hybrid drive and a drive output. When the vehicle is at rest, the clutch arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor is filled at least with filling pressure and then, when the vehicle is started, if the starting torque desired by the driver is above a limit value, the internal combustion engine is immediately turned over and started up by the electric motor, whereas, when starting, if the starting torque desired by the driver is below the limit value, then on starting, the internal combustion engine is not turned over by the electric motor.
US08113307B2
An electric powered vehicle includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit. The first drive unit and the second drive unit are coupled to one of the drive wheels. At its maximum power within the system, the second drive unit drives the vehicle at a higher speed than the first drive unit. A clutch automatically disengages the first drive unit from the drive wheel while the second drive unit is operating. The clutch may include a uni-directional device. An electronic control unit automatically adjusts the voltage supplied to the second drive unit to maintain the efficiency of the second electric drive unit within a predetermined efficiency range.
US08113306B2
The present disclosure relates to a work unit with power turning. The work unit includes a frame having a first end, a second end and left and right sides that extend between the first and second ends. A work element is carried by the frame. A left propulsion element is positioned at the left side of the frame and a right propulsion element is positioned at the right side of the frame. A drive arrangement is carried by the frame for driving the left and right propulsion elements. The work unit also includes left and right spaced-apart leverage arms that project outwards from the second end of the frame. At least one of the left and right leverage arms is operatively connected to the drive arrangement such that pressure applied by an operator to the left or right leverage arms in a left or right direction causes the drive arrangement to turn the work unit.
US08113302B2
A drilling tool that has a flexible shaft so as to be able to make short radius curves while still being able to transmit torque and axial loads. The drilling tool includes a drill shaft for transmitting axial load, comprising a series of coaxial ring members connected together such that adjacent ring members are flexible in an axial plane relative to each other; each ring member being connected to an adjacent ring member by connecting member arranged to transmit torque therebetween; and axial supports extend between adjacent ring members so as to transmit axial loads therebetween.
US08113299B2
A jib assembly for use with a drill rig includes a jib boom having a first end and a second end. The jib boom is to rotate about the first end and the second end is configured to be coupled to a mast assembly mount. The jib assembly also includes an articulation assembly having at least one variable length link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the variable length link is offset from the jib boom and the second end is configured to be pivotingly coupled to the mast assembly mount.
US08113297B2
A power tool includes a body, a tool bit, a driving mechanism and a handgrip extending from an end of the handgrip proximal to the body to a grip distal end in a direction that crosses the axial direction of the tool bit. The power tool includes a holding optimization region that is arranged on the handgrip and shaped to match the shape of the user's fingers while the user is holding the handgrip. The holding optimization region at least includes a rearward end surface of a grip distal end region configured such that a normal extending from the rearward end surface crosses the axial direction of the tool bit forward of the handgrip, whereby it is possible to optimize the force of the user's fingers and palm applied to the handgrip.
US08113295B2
A conservation tillage implement having three or more rows of individual coulter wheel assemblies laterally spaced apart and removably mounted on a cultivator frame, a coulter wheel assembly in a given row being staggered with respect to the coulter wheel assemblies in a longitudinally adjacent row. The coulter wheel assemblies may be laterally adjustable and may be mounted to the cultivator frame using a mounting means that permits rotation about a vertical axis. The coulter wheel assemblies may comprise a coil spring having a horizontal spring axis to permit upward deflection in response to impact with an obstacle. Leveling attachments may optionally be mounted to the cultivator frame, along with additional field working tools. The implement is used in the management of crop residue as part of a minimum tillage strategy. The implement is particularly resistant to plugging and can be operated at high speeds without undue damage upon impact with obstacles. Advantageously, the implement can be operated in standing water, as found in the growing of rice.
US08113288B2
The system and method are utilized to control the flow of crude oil, natural gas, and field produced salt water to optimize production from an oil or gas well. The invention is suitable for use with a well that utilizes gas-lift as artificial lift. The equipment is designed to regulate the flow of injection gas into the production tubing to optimize production of the well.
US08113282B2
A wireline apparatus for depositing slurry in a well. The apparatus includes a container for holding slurry to be deposited in the well. The container is operatively associated with and disassociated from a packer. The apparatus also includes a displacement valve actuated by a predetermined pressure and a cross-over tool operatively associated with the displacement valve. Actuation of the displacement valve causes the slurry to enter and pass through the cross-over tool and into the well. A method of gravel packing a well with the wireline deployed apparatus is also disclosed.
US08113274B2
A technique is provided for pumping fluids from a wellbore. An electric submersible pumping system is deployed in a wellbore on a tubing. Free gas can potentially accumulate around the electric submersible pumping system, but a gas vent is positioned to remove free gas.
US08113272B2
A heating system for a subsurface formation is described. The heating system includes three substantially u-shaped heaters with first end portions of the heaters being electrically coupled to a single, three-phase wye transformer and second end portions of the heaters being electrically coupled to each other and/or to ground. The three heaters may enter the formation through a first common wellbore and exit the formation through a second common wellbore so that the magnetic fields of the three heaters at least partially cancel out in the common wellbores.
US08113264B2
A tensioned roller shade system for installation in an opening, such as a window or a skylight, comprises a frame, a roller tube rotatably mounted between side channels of the frame adjacent a first end of the frame, a conical, grooved spool mounted adjacent the roller tube, and a shade fabric is windingly received around the roller tube. A tensioning cord is operatively coupled between the spool and a fabric end of the shade fabric. The spool has a single groove, which wraps around the spool and windingly receives about the tensioning cord. A pulley is operatively coupled to the frame adjacent a second frame end and windingly receives the tensioning cord. The tensioning cord is adapted to bias the second fabric end toward the second frame end, such that the second fabric end of the shade fabric is adapted to move between the first and second frame ends as the roller tube is rotated.
US08113259B2
A side shade for an awning includes a mounting member having a top end, a bottom end, a hook at the top end and a vertical groove extending from the top end to the bottom end. The mounting member is removably connectable by the hook to the awning near an attachment support of the awning. At least a portion of a stiffening member and a first vertical side of the fabric panel are slidingly disposed within the vertical groove of the mounting member. When assembled and attached to the awning the fabric panel of the side shade is vertically adjustably positionable above or below a lateral side of a predominantly horizontal panel of the awning so that there is no vertical gap between the panel of the awning and the fabric panel of the side shade through which direct light can penetrate.
US08113246B2
A vacuum fresh-keeping cover includes an upper cover, a top of which is connected with an air suction-ventilation device, a lower rim of which is connected with a soft gasket that can be suppressed on any horizontal surface, and an interior of which is formed with a container space. When a barometric value of the container space gets larger, the air suction-ventilation device is activated to expel out air in the container space continuously, to keep the container space at a near vacuum condition for preserving objects or food. When pulling up a touching element of the air suction-ventilation device, the air in the container space is drained out by the air suction-ventilation device to quickly remove the upper cover, to facilitate consumers for use, and to conveniently separate the air suction-ventilation device from the upper cover, for easily washing the upper cover with water.
US08113238B2
A liquid delivery system includes at least one liquid storage tank; a manifold; an integral manifold vent system communicating directly with the manifold and including a manifold vent valve and a manifold vent pipe; a first liquid sensor; and a delivery outlet flow restrictor. The manifold is provided with an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the manifold being connected to the at least one liquid storage tank; the delivery outlet flow restrictor is located downstream from the manifold; the first sensor is adapted to detect the formation of an air pocket in the manifold; and the integral manifold vent system includes at least one section having an internal diameter small enough to ensure smooth filling of the manifold with the liquid being dispensed when the manifold vent valve is opened to release trapped gas.
US08113233B2
A hydraulic circuit of an option device for an excavator is disclosed, which can constantly supply hydraulic fluid to an option device, such as a breaker and so on, selectively mounted on the excavator, irrespective of the size of a load occurring when the option device operates, and control respective flow rates required for various kinds of option devices. The hydraulic circuit includes a variable hydraulic pump, an option device, a first spool shifted to control hydraulic fluid fed to the option device, a poppet and a piston, an option spool shifted to control hydraulic fluid fed to the option device via the first spool, a second spool shifted to control hydraulic fluid fed to a back pressure chamber of the poppet, and a control means installed in the poppet and controlling hydraulic fluid passing through an orifice of the poppet when the piston and the poppet are pressed by the hydraulic fluid fed from the hydraulic pump, through the shifting of the second spool.
US08113230B2
An axial locking of a valve shaft to be non-turnably attached to a closing element of a valve, an end of the shaft to be attached to the closing element being machined on two opposite sides in order to fit into a pivot recess formed in the outer perimeter of the closing element. A collar part is provided to be fitted to the end of the shaft and to be turned into a locking position, one of the end surfaces of the main part of said collar part having at least one axial projection that fits into the pivot recess of the closing element of the valve when the collar part is in the locking position and the end of the shaft is positioned into the pivot recess of the closing element.
US08113222B2
An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for receiving utensils to be washed, a first rack located within the wash chamber, a second rack located within the wash chamber above the first rack, a rotatable spray arm associated with the second rack, a liquid recirculation system for selectively supplying liquid to the rotatable spray arm, and a drive system for driving the rotatable spray arm.
US08113217B2
The invention relates to a filter-tip cigarette with a tobacco rod (1) wrapped in a cigarette paper and a filter (6) wrapped along its length in tipping paper (4) or other wrapper being other than plugwrap, and a strip of material (5) fully covering the tipping paper of the filter and the cigarette paper of the wrapped tobacco rod in the region of the abutment between tobacco rod and filter bonds together the filter and tobacco rod. In addition, the invention relates to a process for the manufacture of such a filter, which may also be employed for the manufacture of ‘double unit cigarettes’.
US08113216B2
A tobacco smoking mixture and/or a cigarette wrapper with high-temperature ammonia-release agents therein are provided, wherein the high-temperature ammonia-release agents are present in an amount effective to reduce the cytotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter formed during smoking of the cigarette. The high-temperature ammonia-release agents are capable of reducing the cytotoxicity of gas phase or particulate matter by evolving ammonia at temperatures greater than about 200° C., wherein the ammonia can interact with the particulate matter. Additionally, the high-temperature ammonia-release agents can be formed by heating an aqueous mixture of an iron precursor compound, an ammonia source compound and an acid.
US08113213B2
An article of manufacture is disclosed, a lighted portable safety ashtray, comprising: at least one hollow outer body of a suitable height, width and depth, and; at least one hollow inner body of a suitable height, width and depth, smaller than and inserted into the hollow outer body, and; at least one removable receptacle top disposed on the inner hollow body and outer hollow body further comprising an opening in the receptacle top, and; at least one light source, and; at least one power supply, and; at least one electrical circuit in communication with the light source and the power supply, and; at least one electrical switch to open or close the electrical circuit in communication with the light source and the power supply. Optional timer and electroluminescence light source is also disclosed.
US08113206B2
Oral appliances adapted to for spacing the occlusal surfaces of the teeth of a user are disclosed. The oral appliances have a major connector interconnecting a first bite pad and a second bite pad. The first bite pad can include a first spacer and the second bite pad can include a second spacer that are configured to maintain the spacing of the occlusal surfaces of opposing teeth of a user during clenching or upon an impact to the jaw. Methods for the manufacture of composite oral appliances are also disclosed. The methods include forming a composite oral appliance over a model of a user's mouth.
US08113200B2
A respirator mask has a removably mounted support frame that adjustably and removably mounts a corrective lens frame. The corrective lens frame further has a molded bridge with a biasing member embedded therein. A pivotal tab on the support frame is received in one of a plurality of detents on the lens frame for releasably securing the lens frame in the desired position on the support frame. Laterally disposed mounting lugs on the support frame are received in integrally molded pockets in the respirator mask.
US08113194B2
A breath-controlled inhalation therapy device includes an obturation mechanism, obturating a nozzle opening through which a pressurized gas, preferably pressurized air, is issued when the device is in operation. An actuation mechanism actuates the obturation mechanism only in the exhalation phases of the respiration cycle of a patient. The fluid to be atomized is therefore substantially atomized only in the inhalation phases.
US08113191B2
Flame tamers for bridging on a barbeque burner box above heat sources of a barbeque grill to distribute heat energy evenly over the barbeque cooking surface have protruding openings extending toward one more of the peripheral walls of the barbeque burner box so that foods on the cooking surface can be cooked evenly and efficiently, thus saving much energy consumption.
US08113183B2
The present invention reduces the overheating of sealed oil gear cases and excessive charge air temperatures at high engine speeds in automotive supercharger use by providing liquid cooling of one or more of the housings of a supercharger. Cooling the front cover of the supercharger will reduce the gear case temperatures under boost. Cooling the bearing housing will also reduce gear case temperatures in the adjacent gear case. Cooling the rotor housing, in combination with cooling of the rotors by a separate system, will maintain more uniform clearances under continuous boost, as with racing and autobahn applications. Cooling may be by traditional liquid coolant or with oil, and with separate or combined systems. The invention discloses liquid coolant systems for controlling sealed gear case lubricant temperatures as well as supercharger charge air temperatures if desired. Combined coolant handling and flow systems and their advantages are also disclosed. An exemplary engine-supercharger combination is described and illustrated.
US08113175B2
A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine comprises: a first fuel injector which is arranged within a housing unit; an accumulator volume for supplying fuel to the first fuel injector; a first fuel pump arrangement comprising a pumping plunger which is driven, in use, to cause pressurisation of fuel within a first pump chamber; a first metering valve which is operable to control fuel flow into the first pump chamber; a first fuel passage providing communication between the first pump chamber and the accumulator volume; and a first non-return valve located in the first fuel passage between the first pump chamber and the accumulator volume; wherein the first fuel injector communicates with the first fuel passage at a position between the first non-return valve and the accumulator volume; and wherein communication between the first fuel injector and the accumulator volume is uninterrupted.
US08113170B2
A method is disclosed for controlling engine output in a vehicle having a hydraulic power steering system. The method may include, during an idle condition where an engine speed is set to an idle speed, adjusting engine output based on a learned absolute steering wheel angle to compensate for changes in engine load caused by operation of the hydraulic power steering system. The learned absolute steering wheel angle may be based on a steering wheel angle relative to a steering wheel position at vehicle startup and operating conditions from previous vehicle operation before the vehicle startup.
US08113167B2
An oil pan of plastic material is provided with an oil suction pipe and an oil screen that is formed as one piece together with the oil suction pipe, wherein the oil suction pipe is comprised of two plastic shells and the oil screen that covers an inlet opening of the oil suction pipe is formed as one piece together with one plastic shell and extends down to the pan bottom.
US08113161B2
A multi-cam electric valve mechanism for engine is disclosed, which comprises: a motor fixed on a cylinder; a motor shaft wherein one side of it connected to the motor and rotated accordingly and the other side of it symmetrically provided with a plurality of rotors whose shafts are perpendicular to the motor shaft; a ring-shaped cam with a plurality of wave-shaped grooves on the circumference thereof corresponding to the rotors and for setting same; a rotation-stopping lever connected to the cylinder and cam respectively to let the cam linearly move along with it; and a valve lever wherein one side of it connected to the cam and the other side of it connected to a valve.
US08113159B2
A camshaft adjuster for a concentric camshaft assembly of an internal combustion engine is provided. The adjuster includes a stator that is connected to the timing gear, and a rotor located within the stator having a plurality of vanes that extend into spaces created between inwardly directed projections of the stator to define chambers on each side of the vanes. Front and rear sidewalls are connected to the stator and form the front and rear walls of the chambers. An outer cover connects to the stator to the inner camshaft via a drive adapter, and the rotor is connected to the outer camshaft. Radial loads acting on the timing gear are transmitted from the stator to the rotor and into the outer camshaft. The drive adapter includes an open cylindrical body having first and second ends. The first end includes a slot or recesses in which a timing feature of the cover engages. The second end has a keyed portion configured to matingly engage a corresponding portion of the inner camshaft.
US08113157B2
A variable valve control apparatus includes: a variable valve actuating mechanism arranged to vary a closing timing of an intake valve; and a controller configured to advance the closing timing of the intake valve before a bottom dead center of a piston of an intake stroke until a load of an engine increases from a minimum load to a predetermined load, and to retard the closing timing of the intake valve from a timing before the bottom dead center of the piston, to a timing after the bottom dead center of the piston when the load becomes the predetermined load.
US08113155B2
A two-cycle engine includes a starting fuel supply passage for supplying a starting fuel to a crankcase from a starting fuel reservoir, and a flow passage opening and closing unit provided in a midway portion of the starting fuel supply passage. The starting fuel supply passage is opened to be constantly in communication with the crankcase. Accordingly, simultaneously with the generation of a negative pressure within the crankcase when a piston starts to ascend from a bottom dead center, the starting fuel starts to be supplied to the crankcase. Since the starting fuel is supplied to the crankcase for a relatively long time as compared to a conventional engine, a sufficient amount of the fuel is supplied for starting and startability of the two-cycle engine is improved.
US08113148B2
A pet house, for providing convenient and comfortable accommodation for a pet, includes a housing and a plurality of amenities. The housing includes a surrounding wall having a lodging room for the pet accommodating therein, and a side entrance communicating with the lodging room, and a roof frame, which is supported on the surrounding wall to define the lodging room within the surrounding wall and the roof frame. The amenities, including at least one of a solar power system, a power storage, a ventilating device, a dimmer light, an audio device, a remote intercommunication system, and an outdoors shading arrangement, is provided at the pet house for providing the comfort and convenience of the pet house so as to enhance the quality of living.
US08113144B2
A photoresist-coating apparatus includes a substrate on which a particle-detecting area and an invalid particle-detecting area are defined, a nozzle discharging photoresist to the substrate and moving along a direction, and a particle-detecting sensor controlling on and off of the nozzle in the particle-detecting area according to presence of particles, wherein in the invalid particle-detecting area, the nozzle operates independently from detection of the particle-detecting sensor.
US08113143B2
A coating apparatus and method are disclosed that applies a coating to a product in a uniform and controlled manner. The coating apparatus comprises a feeding stage, an optional pre-treatment stage, at least one coating stage and a finishing stage. The coating stage(s) comprise a coating material feeder and a coating device. The coating device includes an aperture conforming to the perimeter of a substrate to be coated in a first and second dimension. As the substrate passes through the aperture, coating material is applied in a uniform and consistent layer ranging from 0.001 inches to 0.250 inches. The coating material also back fills minor surface imperfections and blemishes on the substrate to achieve a consistent finish across the whole area where coating material is applied. The coating device includes first and second shell portions. The first shell portion has a concave surface surrounding the aperture portion. The concave surface allows for coating material to collect prior to deposition upon the surface of the substrate. The second shell has a substantially flat face and a mirror aperture that aligns with the aperture of the first shell. A groove is formed along the perimeter of the aperture to collect coating material for coating the object as it passes through the apertures of both shells.
US08113138B2
An apparatus for the automated decoration of a food product, the apparatus includes: a transporter configured to move the food product to a decoration area of the apparatus; a detector configured to detect the food product in the decoration area; a deposition mechanism disposed above the decoration area, the deposition mechanism comprising a sliding plate disposed between a first fixed plate and a second fixed plate; wherein, in a first position of the sliding plate, cavities extending though the sliding plate are aligned with cavities extending through the first fixed plate, and in a second position, the cavities extending through the sliding plate are aligned with cavities extending through the second fixed plate.
US08113135B2
A device for selectively opening and closing a fuselage coupled to a towed submarine object. The device comprises first and second shells articulatable with respect each other by a hinge assembly. A releasable locking system locks the shells on each other. Hinge members of the hinge assembly are slidable with respect to each other along the articulation axis of the shells in order to actuate the locking or unlocking of these shells.
US08113130B2
A folding mechanism for a folding table is described. The folding table includes a table top, a supporting portion and a leg portion with two legs and a fixing rod mounted between the two legs. The two legs form a rotatable connection with the table top. The supporting portion includes a supporting rod and a locking member. The locking member has a U-shaped sheet and a locking element disposed in the supporting rod. The U-shaped sheet includes a central vertical sheet and two side vertical sheets. The central vertical sheet and the two side vertical sheets are fixed to the fixing rod. The central vertical sheet has a sliding opening for accommodating the supporting rod so that the supporting rod rotates relative to the sliding opening during sliding. One end of the supporting rod is rotatably connected to a lower surface of the table top. The other end passes through the sliding opening. When the folding mechanism is in a locked position, the locking element in the supporting rod engages the two side vertical sheets of the U-shaped sheet fixed to the fixing rod.
US08113126B2
A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to deflection that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The truck may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both. The friction dampers may operate to yield upward and downward friction forces that are not overly unequal. The friction dampers may be mounted in a four-cornered arrangement at each end of the truck bolster. The spring groups may include sub-groups of springs of different heights.
US08113122B2
A trestle support apparatus for use with a model track assembly is provided. The model track assembly includes track sections and trestles of a first configuration and separate track sections and trestles of a second configuration. The trestle support apparatus includes an elongated base including an elongated channel dimensioned to releasably receive and support a trestle of a first configuration. First and second stanchions are releasably mounted to the base.
US08113110B2
A square baler includes a crop feed duct defining a pre-compression chamber which is curved upwardly and rearwardly from an open forward end and an inlet located across the bottom of a baling chamber. A pair of vertical partitions extend between top and bottom walls of the pre-compression chamber and divide it into three equal sized channels. Respectively located in fore-and-aft alignment with front edges of the pair of partitions is a pair of stationary knives forming part of a crop cutter arrangement including a pre-cutter rotor carrying two pairs of blades, with one of each pair cooperating with one of the stationary knives to cut incoming crop into three segments which are respectively moved into the three channels by a packer arrangement. Once the crop in the pre-compression chamber attains a preselected density, a stuffer arrangement is actuated to lift separate charges of crop from the three channels and force them into the baling chamber where they are compressed into three separate, side-by-side flakes by the baler plunger. When sufficient charges have been compressed to form three bales having a desired thickness in one embodiment, or a desired length in another embodiment, two lengths of twine are tied about each of the three bales.
US08113098B1
Saw mill for machine vision detection of undesirable features in the wood in shingles being cut from billets and automated optimized saw operation are disclosed. The saw mill includes a transport system that carries the billet through a butt-trimming saw, past a machine vision station, into an transition station for changing direction of travel of the billet and aligning the billet for travel into the subsequent gang rip saw station. The machine vision station determines any defects in the billet, grades the billet according to order-specific parameters, determines the optimal saw cut to maximize the value of the shingle, and sends control data to the gang rip saw controller, to position the saw blades for the optimal saw cut(s) for the shingle. A sorting system receives instructions from the visual imaging system and automatically shunts the product coming from the gang rip saw station into the appropriate container.
US08113096B2
A method for assembling a tool for cutting structural materials includes the steps of providing a pair of handles, each handle having a connector plate. A drive pin is pivotally coupled to the connector plates, the drive pin being movable as the handles are pivoted. A detachable cutting head includes a body with a cavity having a pair of opposing cavity openings, and further includes a channel to receive structural material workpieces. A cutting plate is slidably disposed in the cavity. The cutting head is selectably coupled to the handles and the cutting plate moves slidably in the body as the handles are pivoted, cutting a structural material workpiece inserted into the channel of the body, a cut portion of the inserted structural material workpiece being ejectable through the first cavity opening.
US08113085B2
A modular core adjuster for a cable assembly includes an adjuster body and a slider body arrangeable with the adjuster body to accommodate the cable in more than one configuration. The modular core adjuster includes a multi-piece adjuster body having a first body portion and a second separate body portion configured to be combined to define the adjuster body. A slider body is supported by the adjuster body for movement relative to the adjuster body wherein the slider body is arrangeable with the adjuster body to accommodate the cable in more than one configuration. A lock cavity is formed through an outer peripheral surface of the first and second body portions and a lock member is disposed in the lock cavity and is movable from a shipping position to a locked position.
US08113082B2
An external gear shift for the gear selection in a manual transmission is provided that includes, but is not limited to a gearshift/selector lever, which is guided in a link plate and which is movable along a selector track and a plurality of shifting tracks, and a measuring sensor to detect an instantaneous position (s, w) of the gearshift/selector lever. Guide fingers of the link plate disposed between shifting and selector tracks each have flanks oriented obliquely to the shifting and selector tracks.
US08113081B2
A universal shifter system that is adaptable to any of a variety of locations in a vehicle has a shift assembly with a frame supporting a shaft for rotation about a primary axis. An end of the shaft is exposed axially through the frame for circumferentially indexed attachment of either a shift arm or a cam device of the system dependent upon the selected system location in the vehicle. A side mount feature has a secondary axis that traverses the primary axis. The cam device rotates about both axes when selected. A shifter mechanism is supported by the frame and is constructed and arranged to rotate the shaft between park and drive positions. Preferably, a flexible park lock cable interfaces between the shifter mechanism and a start device of the vehicle to prevent the shaft from rotating from the park and into the drive position if the start device is not in a predetermined position.
US08113074B2
A gear for an adjusting device with includes a gear spindle (5) and a spindle nut (30) exhibiting an internal thread (32). The spindle nut (30) rests on the spindle (5) and the inner thread (32) of the spindle nut (30) engages with the spindle thread (27). A bearing sleeve (15), which exhibits a bearing section (19) for supporting the spindle nut (30), is provided on either side of the spindle nut (30). At least one bearing sleeve (15) has a guide section (25) for guiding the spindle nut (30) relative to thread spindle (5).
US08113073B2
A lead screw nut support arrangement includes a wall having a width and a through hole that passes through the wall. A support bushing passes through the through hole in the axial direction, leaving an amount of play, and having a length greater than the thickness of the wall. The support bushing is supported in the through hole movably in the axial direction. A lead screw nut is also included whose end face adjoins a first end face of the support bushing on the inner side of the wall. The support arrangement also includes a mount that braces a second end face of the support bushing against the lead screw nut such that the lead screw nut is elastically loaded in the direction away from the wall.
US08113062B2
A tilt sensor is provided that is generally adapted to detect tilted and non-tilted states of an object associated therewith, which in some cases is a ventilation circuit component. The tilt sensor may correspond to a pneumatically operated tilt sensor that can be used in conjunction with a ventilator to help prevent compromised measurements from certain elements which can be used in a ventilator patient circuit.
US08113061B2
Methods of and apparatus for testing a material are described. The testing involves providing a material across a region of a support member which is arranged to define an opening and moving a force applying device relative to the material to apply a force to the material. The force applying device moves towards, passes into and/or passes through the opening prior to, during or after applying the force to the material.
US08113059B2
A circuit module, in particular a tire sensor module, which at least includes: a substrate, on or in which at least one component is mounted, a piezoelement, which has at least one clamping region and at least one oscillatory region, the piezoelement being clamped in its clamping region on the substrate or on an arrangement secured to the substrate, and its oscillatory region being accommodated in a manner that permits oscillation, contacts provided on the piezoelement for tapping off a piezoelectric voltage, and a current-supply circuit, which receives the piezoelectric voltage generated by the piezoelement, being used as a voltage source for supplying power to the circuit module. The piezoelement is preferably clamped between at least two substrate elements, at least one cavity being formed within which the at least one oscillatory region of the piezoelement is accommodated in a manner that permits deflection, and is limited in its oscillation displacement.
US08113056B2
A mid infrared range laser source for ultrasound inspection having a high energy laser coupled with one or more harmonic generation devices. The high energy laser may be a CO2 laser and tuned to emit laser light at a single wavelength. The harmonic generation devices convert the laser beam into the mid infrared range for optimal ultrasound inspection.
US08113053B2
Substantially hemispherical concave first and second surfaces of substantially equal radius and surface area face each other about a proof mass supported for movement between the surfaces. The surfaces and proof mass have electrically conductive portions allowing assessment of differential capacitance for measurement of acceleration. Electrically conductive portions are connected to a conditioning circuit in an embodiment.
US08113047B2
The invention relates to an ultrasound measuring device for a container. A coupling device supporting an ultrasound transducer serves for coupling and asymmetric alignment of the ultrasound transducer with respect to the container. This causes a sound field of the interfering signal in an ultrasound measurement to propagate within the container in an asymmetric fashion with respect to planes of symmetry of the container, whereby the interfering signal that is received at the site of injection is attenuated relative to a useful signal.
US08113045B1
This invention provides a shock mitigation means that attenuates the high frequency energy transmitted to the floating element of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) device in a cannon launched guided projectile or cannon launched munition improving the ability of the IMU to survive the extreme forces of such cannon launched environment. The invention utilizes a crushable foam mitigator located in the IMU device's housing to interfere and apply a compressive force to the floating element of the IMU device, plus a rubber pad attenuator element placed above the foam mitigator to further tailor the transmission of shock energy to the floating element in the IMU device.
US08113041B2
A method for measuring true vertical depth in a borehole, the method including: measuring gravitational acceleration in the borehole; and determining the true vertical depth from the measurement.
US08113039B2
In a method for testing the operation of a pressure sensing unit of an injection system of an internal combustion engine, the injection system has no high-pressure valve. An error is detected when a pressure gradient value falls below a pressure gradient limit while at the same time the most recently detected pressure is higher than a pressure limit.
US08113033B2
A simplified method for calibrating a variable-displacement hydraulic PTO system on an agricultural windrower when powering a header wherein the variable-displacement pump is operated at maximum flow capacity while the engine is operated at a pre-determined speed and a flow balance valve is adjusted to achieved a pre-determined cutterbar speed. Operation of the cutterbar at the pre-determined speed allows sufficient hydraulic fluid flow through the remaining parallel fluid circuit to power the remaining equipment, typically a reel, on the header. Controls for managing pump displacement and engine speed as well as indication of cutterbar speed are typically available on the windrower tractor thereby eliminating the need for additional diagnostic equipment and making the method suitable for use in the field.
US08113032B2
Referring to a punch device in accordance with the invention, the punch stamp (10) is driven by a hydraulic actuating drive (6), in which case, in connection with an advance device (4) driven by a servo motor and travel-measuring systems on the ram axis and on the partial-apparatus axis (advance axis), the ram movement is freely programmable relative to the advance movement of the partial apparatus.
US08113026B2
An apparatus is provided for reducing the section and sizing of rolling mill products for wire rod. The apparatus includes a first finishing monoblock made up of a plurality of rolling stands that are arranged in a sequence suitable for forming a rolling line. The apparatus also includes a second monoblock that is suitable for giving the product a round section with narrow tolerances. The second monoblock includes a sequence of stands with grooves configured to give a round-oval-round-round section to the product.
US08113018B2
Forehearths that create a substantially homogeneous temperature to molten glass forming materials across the end position are provided. A gas cavity, a weir, a refractory block, or a heating element in the forehearth may be utilized to reduce a temperature gradient of molten glass forming materials across the end position. Reducing the temperature difference of the molten glass forming material across the end position permits for improved chemical and physical properties of the glass fibers and the end products formed from the glass fibers. In addition, a reduction in the temperature gradient across the end position produces a more homogenous glass fiber and glass product. Further, a reduction in the shear break rate occurs when the molten glass forming material has a temperature that is substantially the same across the end position, which results in a reduction in the breakage of glass fibers and an increase in manufacturing efficiency.
US08113015B2
Methods for controlling the bow (shape) of a vertical glass ribbon (13) produced by a downdraw process are provided. The methods involve passing the ribbon (13) through a gas-filled vertical enclosure (23), e.g., a draw tower, whose bottom (31) is open to the atmosphere. The ribbon (13) acts as a septum that divides the enclosure's internal volume (29) into a first sub-volume (25) and a second sub-volume (27). Using the stack effect, a positive pressure difference is produced between the first sub-volume (25) and the second sub-volume (27) along at least a portion of the length of the enclosure (the DDZ). The edges of the ribbon (13) are constrained so that they do not move into the second sub-volume (27) over at least the DDZ. As a result, the ribbon bows with its concavity facing the first sub-volume (25) and its convexity facing the second sub-volume (27).
US08113014B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a glass substrate efficiently via prevention of foreign matter adhesion to a glass substrate as to chemical strengthening. Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a glass substrate for a recording medium possessing the step of conducting a chemical strengthening process by which a glass substrate held by a holding jig and the holding jig are immersed in a chemical strengthening solution, and 1st alkali metal ion on a surface of the glass substrate is substituted by 2nd alkali metal ion having a larger ion diameter than that of 1st alkali metal ion contained in the chemical strengthening solution, wherein the holding jig possesses a member of material made of a metal comprising an alkali metal element, or a metal film comprising an alkali metal element to cover a surface of the holding jig from the very beginning of the chemical strengthening process.
US08113005B2
The present technology generally relates to jet engines, in particular for an aircraft, having at least one turbine shaft on which at least one compressor and a turbine are arranged, and a housing extends over the lateral surfaces of the jet engine, wherein furthermore at least one electrical generator unit for generating electricity is arranged on at least one turbine shaft, wherein the electrical generator unit has a locating plate and a generator, wherein the generator unit is detachably mounted on the engine-side locating plate. Therefore, a jet engine having a generator unit is provided which permits simple installation, removal and servicing of the generator unit in or out of the jet engine.
US08112995B2
A turbocharger with variable turbine geometry comprising of a turbine housing having an exhaust gas inlet and an outlet, a volute connected to the inlet, and a nozzle wall adjacent the volute, carrying a turbine wheel and is attached to a shaft with a plurality of improved aerodynamic profiled stator blades that are disposed within the turbine housing between the exhaust gas inlet and turbine wheel.
US08112989B1
A resistively heated diesel particulate filter (DPF). The resistively heated DPF includes a DPF having an inlet surface and at least one resistive coating on the inlet surface. The at least one resistive coating is configured to substantially maintain its resistance in an operating range of the DPF. The at least one resistive coating has a first terminal and a second terminal for applying electrical power to resistively heat up the at least one resistive coating in order to increase the temperature of the DPF to a regeneration temperature. The at least one resistive coating includes metal and semiconductor constituents.
US08112985B2
Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
US08112966B2
We form a weather-resistive barrier on a building by applying a compressible latex foam on the joints between adjacent sheets of construction sheathing, with the sheets having been coated with an aqueous coating composition.
US08112965B2
The assembly and method of the present invention is used for forming a monolithic tiered concrete slab or stairway. The assembly includes a plurality of foam blocks positioned adjacent one another and in a plurality of rows on a support base. The upper surfaces of the blocks are sloped and form a continuous included plane from the front row to the back row. Interface elements are attached to the upper surfaces so as to cover the joints between adjacent blocks. Riser ties are mounted on the interface elements, with riser face forms attached to the ties. After the blocks are positioned and the interface elements with riser ties and face forms assembled, concrete is poured under the blocks so as to cover the upper surface, the interface elements, and the ties, thereby forming a monolithic tiered series of risers and treads.
US08112955B2
A building comprises first and second floors and respective first and second ceilings; a foundation; and a stud wall extending between the second floor and the second ceiling. A cross member is operably attached within the stud wall. A tie rod anchor is anchored in the foundation. A series of interconnected tie rods has one end secured to the tie rod anchor and an end portion extending through the cross member, the interconnected tie rods extending within the stud wall through the second floor. A nut is secured to the end portion of the interconnected tie rods. A loaded spring is disposed between the nut and the cross member to maintain the interconnected tie rods under tension when a slack develops on the interconnected tie rods.
US08112953B2
Pieces that are components of a frame for a window having a threat side and a safe side include a base and a pressure plate that together form part of one of a sill section, a head section, and a jamb section of the window. The base and pressure plate are elongated in a longitudinal direction. The base has (1) an L-shaped cross-section at a near portion of the base to receive an end of a glazing unit from the threat side of the window, and (2) a first pocket formed in a far portion of the base and running in said longitudinal direction. The rear portion is closer to the threat side than the far portion. The pressure plate is to be assembled with the base so as to secure the glazing unit in the corner. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08112950B2
The panel includes a water resistant barrier layer secured atop its outward facing surface. The water resistant barrier layer includes a skid resistant surface. The panels are made of lignocellulosic material. The water resistant and skid resistant surface may include indicia for aligning strips of tape or for aligning fasteners. A method for manufacturing the water resistant building panels is also disclosed and includes the steps of feeding paper onto a forming belt, depositing lignocellulosic material and the binding agent onto the forming belt so as to form a lignocellulosic mat, applying heat and pressure so as to impart the skid resistant surface on the paper, and cutting panels to predetermined sizes.
US08112946B2
The present invention relates to an articulating mast having sections that may be moved between an open, in-use position and a more compact reduced width configuration for storage and transportation.
US08112938B2
A controlled gate system is comprised of a barrier arm which is pivotally connected to a first fixed support. A motion detector is secured to a second fixed support spaced a predetermined distance from the first fixed support and in alignment therewith to create a restricted passageway with the barrier arm normally resting in an obstructing position within the passageway. The barrier arm is arrested at the obstructing position by a solenoid actuated latch which is disengaged by the motion detector. The arc of displacement of the barrier arm is also restricted to permit passage through the passageway in a single direction. Under certain conditions a controller will permit the barrier arm to be disengaged to permit passage in the passageway in opposed directions. The motion detector of the preferred embodiment is constituted by a further barrier arm.
US08112934B2
A bear trap comprising a trap door, a housing that is large enough to enclose a bear and bait, a bait arm, a first computer, a first temperature sensor located inside the housing, and a camera. When a bear enters the trap and pulls on the bait on the bait arm, the trap door descends. The first computer allows a user to lift the trap door remotely from anywhere in the world via a second computer or device with Internet access. The first computer and first temperature sensor allow a user to monitor temperature inside the housing from anywhere in the world via a second computer or device with Internet access. The first computer and camera allow a user to view a bear inside the housing from anywhere in the world via a second computer or device with Internet access. The first computer preferably connects to the Internet via satellite.
US08112926B2
A reversible stop hook (26) for a magazine (16) of a gun (10) is adapted to be housed in the gun transversally to the magazine to be locked and comprises a coupling portion (28) being provided with a button-shaped end (30) and a stop end (32) for the magazine. The coupling element comprises at least a first component (42) and a second component (40) partially inserted one inside the other along a longitudinal direction of the stop hook. The first component (42) comprises a coupling portion (50) which is either deformable or yielding, in order to mutually fasten the first and second components along the longitudinal direction. A third component (60) is inserted into the coupling portion (50) of the first component (42) in order to prevent the first and second components from mutually unfastening.
US08112924B2
An expandable support assembly for hanging a sign on a host structure subject to dimensional changes over time includes a pair of elongate arms pivotally attached together at a crossing point, a connector pivotally attaching the elongate arms together and permitting the arms to rotate relative to each other, four anchors, and a panel attached to the connector for supporting the sign. Each anchor engages a respective longitudinal portion of one of the arms such that the connector is positioned between two anchors with respect to each arm. The anchors are movable along the arms for securing the expandable support assembly to the host structure. The arms are adapted to permit movement of the anchors along the arms and the connector is adapted to permit relative rotation of the arms in response to dimensional changes over time of the host structure.
US08112922B2
A reflective sheet material for use on exterior signs and exposed surfaces includes a sheet member having a series of adjacent, parallel primary grooves extending across at least one surface. Each group is defined by first and second elongate facets forming an angle of at least 90 degrees in a plane perpendicular to the surface and to the length of the facets. A thin opaque, reflective layer extends over the surface in the region of the grooves and conforms to the series of grooves so as to form a series of associated angular grooves. A transparent material extends over and substantially fills these angular grooves, thereby forming a substantially smooth outer surface which is located at or close to the top edges of the grooves. The sheet material can be flexible or rigid.
US08112920B2
In one aspect, a rolling information display apparatus for use with a roller grill includes an elongated envelope. A cap is removably positioned over at least one opening of the envelope. An information bearing medium is removably positioned inside the envelope. In one embodiment, a sealing member is disposed to create a substantially watertight seal over at least one opening of the envelope. In another aspect, a rolling information display apparatus for use with a roller grill is a cylindrical rolling member having one or more rolling surfaces rolling in contact with heated rolling surfaces of the grill. The cylindrical rolling member also has one or more recessed surfaces bearing information about food items offered for sale on the grill. The recessed surfaces are provided in regions of the rolling member that are of diameter less than regions of the rolling member in which the rolling surfaces are provided.
US08112918B1
In the present invention, a plurality of panel members are supportingly retained in a first holding plate, with each of the panel members being arcuately pivotable relative to the holding plate. In addition, a second, movable plate is cooperatively associated with the panel members for being longitudinally movable along the length of the panel members while securely retaining and being cooperatively associated with each panel member. In this way, the second, movable plate is quickly advanced from a first position in direct association or engagement with the first holding plate into a second position wherein the second, movable plate is extended away from the first holding plate substantially the full length of each panel member. When in this second position, each panel member is fixed in a locked and fully erect position.
US08112910B2
A shoe system includes a shoe having a sole with forward and rearward portions, the forward portion having opposed sides and including a plurality of spike elements and the rearward portion being void of spike elements. The shoe system includes a cover configured to span between the opposed sides of the forward portion lowerly adjacent the spike elements; the cover having opposed sides and including a lower layer, an intermediate layer, and an upper layer. The lower, intermediate, and upper layers are removably coupled to the shoe. The lower layer is constructed of flooring-friendly material, the intermediate layer is constructed of a yielding material, and the upper member is constructed of a porous material. The spike elements interact with the upper layer and at least a portion of the intermediate layer when the cover is lowerly adjacent the spike elements.
US08112906B2
An article of footwear includes a group of interchangeable heels. Each heel in the group may be removably associated with the article of footwear. A finger-operable locking mechanism prevents a heel that has been secured to the article of footwear from unintentionally moving toward a toe region. Similarly, a tab positioned at the rear of the article of footwear inhibits a heel that has been secured to the article of footwear from unintentionally moving away from the toe region.
US08112904B2
A drum-type washer/dryer having an evaporator for performing dehumidification by cooling air drawn from the inner space of a drum and also having condenser for heating the air dehumidified by the evaporator, wherein the air heated by the condenser is made to sequentially pass through a duct and a blowhole and blown as dry air to clothes in the drum. A backflow preventing portion is provided in the duct, and when bubbles flow back into the duct from the inner space of the drum through the blowhole, the backflow preventing portion functions as resistance for preventing the back flow of the bubbles.
US08112900B2
An application for a hearing aid drying/disinfecting system includes a closable container with an internally mounted ultraviolet lamp for disinfecting the hearing aid. A heating element creates an internal temperature that is higher than ambient temperature and a fan circulates air through vents from the outside of the container over the hearing aid and back out, thereby drying the hearing aid contained within the drying/disinfecting system. The vents are positioned to reduce ultraviolet emissions out of the container.
US08112894B2
A folding knife with a retractable clip is disclosed. The folding knife comprises at least two rigid plates housing at least one knife blade and the retractable clip. The retractable clip is slidably mounted between the two rigid plates and traverses a path between a retracted position and an extended position defined by a guide slot in a base portion of the clip. A guide pin intermediate the slot and between the plates limits the translational movement of the retractable clip such that its extension is optimal for affixing it onto clothing by means of an elongated member attached to the base portion, and its retraction within the housing space renders a smooth facing to the knife.
US08112893B2
A cutting tool includes a frame, a shaft, a cutter and a cam. The shaft is rotatable about an axis. The cutter is coupled to the shaft such that rotation of the shaft about its axis causes rotation of the cutter about the shaft's axis. The cam is positioned around the shaft such that the cam contacts the frame upon rotation of the shaft. The cam has a cam surface which is distanced away from the axis of the shaft a varying amount such that contact of the cam with the frame upon rotation of the shaft causes the shaft, and thus the cutter, to reciprocate in a generally transverse direction relative to the axis of the shaft.
US08112886B2
A production method for a contact mat for electrical contacting of an actuator uses a contact mat roll including (a) a plurality of terminal posts spaced apart from each other and extending in a first direction and (b) a plurality of electrically-conductive wires extending parallel to each other in a second, perpendicular direction, such that each wire extends across the terminal posts. The method includes unwinding the contact mat roll; connecting the wires to a metallization strip of an actuator; separating the wires at a location between adjacent terminal posts in the mat, such that a contact mat, including a single terminal post and the wires extending from the metallization strip to the terminal post, is connected to the actuator; and winding a free end of the contact mat including the terminal post at least partially around the actuator and securing the terminal post in position.
US08112883B2
A method for manufacturing an electronic circuit board which contains an electronic circuit on a main surface of a glass substrate according to the invention sequentially performs a step of electrically inspecting the main surface of the glass substrate on which the electronic circuit is formed, a step of specifying positions and defect types of defects on the main surface of the glass substrate, a step of calculating reference point coordinates on the main surface of the glass substrate and correcting the coordinates, a step of extracting respective defects from an image around the defects and specifying a defect to be corrected in the extracted defects by referring to a defect existing range registered in advance for each defect type, and a step of cutting the specified defect. By this method, a foreign material adhering to the glass substrate is not erroneously judged as short-circuit defect causing short-circuit on the electronic circuit, and only defect actually requiring correction can be removed.
US08112881B2
A process for manufacturing a multilayer wiring board including the steps of forming an insulating layer on a base provided with a bump for interlayer connection, bonding a copper foil onto the insulating layer by a thermocompression bonding by sandwiching the copper foil between stainless steel plates, and patterning the copper foil, in which a metal foil is interposed at least between each of the stainless plates and the copper foil at the time of the thermocompression bonding. At this time, a mold release layer is formed on a surface of the metal foil to be imposed. Thus, such a multilayer wiring board can be manufactured that prevents sticking of a product after molding (cementing of the copper foil) and excels in dimensional stability without occurrence of wrinkling and ruggedness.
US08112874B2
A tool, system, and method for removing islands from a stent is disclosed. The tool includes a tube with at least one exit hole in communication with the interior of the tube, and the tube being connected to a pressurized fluid source. A stent island is located over the exit hole and is removed by the force of the exiting fluid from the exit hole.
US08112854B2
A tool holding device is disposed between a headstock unit and a tailstock unit of a five-axis lathe, and includes a saddle driven to move longitudinally, a cross-slide riding on the saddle and driven to move transversely, a turntable platform disposed on a base mount that is disposed on the cross-slide and driven to revolve about an upright axis, and a tool post mounted on a base rest that is disposed on the turntable platform and driven to move uprightly. An indexable turret is disposed on the tool post for holding tool bits such that the five-axis lathe can perform movements about five axes to machine a workpiece so as to obtain a complicated geometric shape, thereby reducing setup time and errors and increasing production.
US08112851B1
A casket with retractable handles which are flush with the sidewalls. The casket comprises a first and second sidewall, a first and second end wall, an exterior bottom, an interior floor, a top connected to one of said sidewall and at least one reinforcement member offset form one of said sidewall. A first and second opening are linearly aligned and pass through a sidewall and the reinforcement member respectively. An elongated handle with a first end and a second end, extends through and is slidingly received in said first and second opening, said handle having a stored position wherein said first end is flush with said sidewall and an extended position where said handle extends from said sidewall. In the preferred embodiment the elongated handles are located between a plane of the exterior bottom and a plane of the interior floor.
US08112846B2
Cleats configured to retain objects secured with a packaging tie in association with packaging material.
US08112845B2
An apparatus for cleaning foreign matter from separated tufts of fiber uses a transfer cylinder intermediate a revolving open reel type structure mounted within a porous housing to separate a conveying air stream from tufts of fiber conveyed thereby and a toothed cleaning cylinder to separate air flow through said revolving reel from said cleaning cylinder such that air is not drawn through said cleaning cylinder into said porous housing.
US08112840B2
A disc rotating and positioning structure of a mop including a mop head, a mop rod, a pivotal base, a positioning device, a locking device and a bolt. When the mop is dewatered, the mop rod is in an erect position, such that a semicircular cam of the bolt faces upward to drive the locking device to press the disc upward and into a locked and linking status, and when the mop is used for mopping, the mop rod is in an inclined position to drive the semicircular cam of the bolt to shift to a side, such that the locking device is in a non-pressing status with respect to the disc, and a force is applied to rotate the mop head when the mop is used for mopping a floor. Therefore, the present invention can provide a convenient operation and a user-friendly application.
US08112830B2
A neck guard for a salon/barber industry sink, wherein the sink has an indentation in a lip of the sink to accommodate a person's neck. The neck guard includes a lower layer, a cushioning layer and a cover layer. The lower layer is flexible and incorporates fasteners such as suction cups configured to removably attach the lower layer to the sink. The cushioning layer is bonded to the lower layer and has a surface that is suitable for having the cover layer attached to it by means such as a low-tack, pressure-sensitive adhesive. The neck guard is sufficiently flexible to wrap around and conform to the indentation in the lip of the sink and to enable attachment of the fasteners to the sink, thereby securing the neck guard within the indentation in the lip of the sink.
US08112824B2
A dosing device for dosing chemicals (9) into outlet water for flushing a toilet having a toilet bowl. The dosing device comprises a place of dosing, at which outlet water and the chemicals are mixed during a flushing of the toilet. The place of dosing is arranged between an inlet to an overflow pipe (5) and an inlet to the toilet bowl.
US08112823B2
A combination garbage disposal safety poker, scraper and deodorizer/sanitizer device is provided. The device comprises a cup-shaped strainer, a handle mounted to the strainer, a hollow cylindrical stem extending downward from the strainer, and a replaceable rubber scraper connected to lower end of the hollow stem and used for scraping waste from dishes and sinks. The inside of the stem serves as a compartment for holding a deodorizer/sanitizer tablet. Holes in the strainer and in the stem expose the deodorizer/sanitizer tablet to water, thereby gradually dissolving the tablet and continually deodorizing the garbage disposal unit and drain.
US08117667B2
A number of systems and methods, alone, or in combination, achieve various levels of protection against unauthorized modification and distribution of digital content. This encompasses at least unauthorized study, modification, monitoring, reconstruction, and any other means for subversion from the originally intended purpose and license model of the digital content. The invention combines a number of techniques that in whole, or in part, serve to protect such content from unauthorized modification, reconstructive engineering, or monitoring by third parties. This is accomplished by means of methods which protect against subversion by specific tools operating on specific platforms as well as general tools operating on general platforms. Specific time domain attacks are identified, code modification can be identified and reversed, and virtual and emulated systems are identified. In addition, identification of in-circuit emulator tools (both software and hardware), debuggers, and security threats to running programs can be achieved.
US08117665B2
In order to prevent invalid distribution of data, a data managing method includes the steps of inputting a document, extracting, from the input document, a document No. for identifying the document, receiving the input of a user ID for identifying a user, determining whether or not a process for the input document is permitted for the user identified by the acquired user ID by referring to permission data, and forbidding the execution of output processes for the input data in the case where it has been determined in the determining step that the process is not permitted. The permission data is data which associates, for each document No., user IDs with the process names for identifying processes permitted for the document.
US08117660B2
A cross-module detection system and method for detecting and monitoring control flow transfers between software modules in a computer system. The system and method detect and monitor control flows entering and exiting the software modules. For a particular module, a checking model is extracted from the binary file of that module. In addition, a relaxed shadow stack is generated. If the module is an original module, meaning that the control flow originated from that module, then the checking model is used to check the validity of the control flow transfer. Otherwise, the relaxed shadow stack is used. An interception module is used to intercept and terminate invalid control flow transfers. If an invalid control flow transfer is detected, then the transfer is terminated. Otherwise, the control flow transfer is allowed to continue.
US08117651B2
A method, system, and connector interface for authenticating an accessory. The method includes performing a first authentication operation on the accessory by the media player, where an authentication certificate is validated; and performing a second authentication operation on the accessory by the media player, where an authentication signature is validated. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the media player and accessory may utilize a plurality of commands in a variety of environments such as within a connector interface system environment to control access to the media player.
US08117646B2
A method is provided for providing a user with the ability to access and collect records associated with the user in a secure and private manner. The method includes assigning a phone number to the user for private fax and voice communications from service providers, associating access information with the user for the user to use to access a web site, receiving a private fax communication comprising a record associated with the user for which the user has requested and given permission to the service provider to send to the phone number, converting the private fax communications into an image file format, storing the record encoded in the image file format, and providing the user with access to the web site using the access information and providing on the web site an interface to the records of the user for the user to access the record.
US08117645B2
A new approach to network security includes manipulating an access point such that an initial communication from an external device is passed to a restricted subset of a computing network including a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is configured to enforce a security policy against the external device before granting access to a less-restricted subset of the computing network. If requirements of the security policy are satisfied, then the gatekeeper reconfigures the access point such that further communication from the external device may be received by elements of the less-restricted subset. Enforcement of the security policy optionally includes performing a security audit of the external device.
US08117641B2
A technique of performing concurrency control of policies is provided, which makes it possible to efficiently utilize resources of an overall information system. According to the present invention, a policy execution device creates a list of components of a application system which are influenced by execution of an action of a policy instance, for respective policy instances. If trigger conditions of another policy instance are newly met during execution of a policy instance, the policy execution device compares a list of components of the policy instance presently being executed with a list of components of the policy instance whose trigger conditions are newly met. If there are no common components in the lists, the policy execution device executes the policy instance whose trigger conditions are newly met, and if there are common components in the lists, the policy execution device suspends the policy instance whose trigger conditions are newly met.
US08117640B1
A system and method for analyzing application security policies is provided. One or more application security policies are retrieved. An optimized policy is then generated utilizing the one or more application security policies. One or more queries related to the one or more application security policies are received. The one or more queries are decomposed. The one or more decomposed queries are then processed utilizing the optimized policy.
US08117631B2
A pickup for accessing moving storage media carrying substantially parallel information tracks has a carrier, an actuator with a lens and suspension wires extending from the rear of the carrier and joining the carrier and the actuator. The actuator is movable in the focus direction and in a tracking direction and has a substantially rectangular flat board carrying the lens and a counter weight. The flat board is arranged orthogonal to a focus direction and carries tracking and focus coils. The pickup has a magnet configuration connected to the carrier with at least two tracking magnets, which are arranged in the tracking direction at opposite sides of the flat board and extend orthogonal to the focus direction above and/or under the flat board, and with at least two focus magnets, which are arranged in front of and behind the flat board and extend orthogonal to the direction of the tracks. According to the invention, the lens is arranged asymmetrically in reference to an axis through a center of the flat board parallel to the direction of the tracks while the lens and the counter weight are symmetrically arranged in reference to the center of the flat board.
US08117630B2
An optical disk player includes a chassis, an optical pick-up head including a support member defining a guiding slot, and a guiding member molded integrally with the chassis, wherein the guiding member is received in the guiding slot and the optical pick-up head is slidably supported on the guiding member.
US08117614B2
An efficient facility for determining resource usage, such as a processor time used by tasks. The determination is performed on behalf of user applications that do not require a call to operating system services. The facility includes an instruction that determines elapsed time and reports it to the user as a single unit of operation.
US08117611B2
Under the present invention, it is determined whether sufficient resources exist for deploying a platform dependent application on its specific “native” platform in a grid environment. If not, a platform dependent portion of the application is identified, and the application is split into the platform dependent portion and a platform independent portion. Thereafter, the platform dependent portion is deployed on its corresponding native platform, while the platform independent portion is deployed on another platform in the grid environment based on available resources. Interconnections between the two portions can then be automatically generated. This can include, for example, creating remote method invocation facade interfaces, creating remote method invocation-enabled facade classes, and building a remote method invocation server for the first platform.
US08117610B2
A system and associated method for availing literate programming in a software development environment. An integrated artifact manager processes a retrieval request and a storage request pursuant to a user group associated with respective interface. A developer user uses an integrated development environment interface. A commentator user uses a wiki interface. An integrated artifact has a source code fragment and a design code fragment that is associated with the source code fragment by tag describes the source code fragment. The source code fragment is stored in a source code management system. The design comment fragment is stored in a wiki repository. The developer user modifies both source code fragments and design comment fragments, and the commentator user modifies only design comment fragments.
US08117609B2
A system and method for generating an update data set to be sent to remote terminals. The update data set comprises operators describing differences between two data sets, so that a remote terminal is able to transform an old data set into a more recent data set. The system comprises a comparator for comparing data elements in the data sets, and a selector for selecting operators based on a change parameter stored in a memory.
US08117605B2
In a multi-threaded computer system that uses transactional memory, object fields accessed by only one thread are accessed by regular non-transactional read and write operations. When an object may be visible to more than one thread, access by non-transactional code is prevented and all accesses to the fields of that object are performed using transactional code. In one embodiment, the current visibility of an object is stored in the object itself. This stored visibility can be checked at runtime by code that accesses the object fields or code can be generated to check the visibility prior to access during compilation.
US08117602B2
A method, computer program product and system for monitoring execution behavior of a program product in a data processing system include development of a trace tool having trace strings written in a human language and provided with data fields for diagnostic information relevant to executable portions of the program product. Identifiers of the trace tool, trace strings, and data fields and components of the diagnostic information are encoded using a coded binary language. After monitoring execution of the program product, a trace report of the trace tool is translated for an intended recipient from the coded binary language into the human language, whereas an unauthorized access to the contents of the trace record is restricted. The encoding or decoding operations are performed using databases containing the respective identifiers and components of the diagnostic information in the coded binary language and the human language.
US08117596B2
A method for assembling an update for a software release is described, comprising defining classes of software components, each class comprising one or more instances of the class, each instance having a unique identifier, each instance representing a software component, which has one or more version; for each version of a software component, assigning time stamps and indicators identifying status of the version; introducing a flexible coupling between versions of components and instances of classes by providing a pointer between a version of a component and a unique identifier of an instance of a class; selecting versions of software components from which pointers originate; for each instance of the class, to which the pointer points at, selecting one version of the software component based on the assigned indicators; and assembling the selected versions of software components into the update of the software release. A corresponding system is also provided.
US08117578B2
There is provided a check target extraction unit that receives logic circuit information describing a logic circuit, and extracts at least one set of a start point register and an end point register from registers in the logic circuit, the start point register outputting an exception signal to be supplied to the end point register via the propagation control circuit, and a static hazard detection unit that determines whether, for the at least one set extracted by the check target extraction unit, there are a plurality of paths through which propagation of an exception signal from a start point register to an end point register is possible when the propagation control circuit, in response to a control signal, inhibits propagation of the exception signal.
US08117576B2
A computer-implemented method of performing an equivalence check on a mixed-signal circuit is performed on a server system, and includes responding to a verification request. In the method, the following operations are performed. A static analysis is performed on a first netlist, and a synthesizable section and non-synthesizable section of the first netlist are identified. A functional equivalence is determined between the non-synthesizable section of the first netlist and a corresponding non-synthesizable section of a second netlist, and a logical equivalence is determined between the synthesizable section of the first netlist and a corresponding synthesizable section of a second netlist. An equivalence result is provided based on the determined functional equivalence and the determined logical equivalence.
US08117574B2
A serialization construct is implemented within an environment of a number of parallel data flow graphs. A quiesce node is appended to every active data flow graph. The quiesce node prevents a token from passing to a next data flow graph within a chain before an execution of the active data flow graph has been finished. A serial data flow graph is implemented to provided for a serial execution while no other data flow graph is active. A serialize node is appended to a starting point of a serial data flow graph. A serialize end node is appended to an endpoint of the serial data flow graph. The serialize node is activated to start a serial operation. The serialize end node is activated after the serial operation has been terminated.
US08117570B2
An integrated circuit design system able to generate circuit data enabling a clear grasp of power switch cells and circuit cells whose power is cut off without obstructing the efficiency of the design, a method of same, and a program of same, wherein in the description of RTL data generated at an RTL data generation unit, a hierarchical block of an upper level with a lower level comprised of a hierarchical block corresponding to a circuit whose power should be cut off in response to a control signal and a predetermined virtual power switch cell to which this control signal is input is prepared. By obtaining a grasp of the relationship between the virtual power switch cells in the description of the RTL data and the hierarchical blocks of the same level as the virtual power switch cells, the relationship between the power switch cells and the circuits whose power should be cut off in a real circuit can be clearly grasped.
US08117565B2
A magnifying tool that enlarges a selected region of displayed image surrounding a cursor in a graphical user interface (GUI), and superimposes the enlarged region directly over the selected region (and a portion of the adjacent non-selected region). The location of the cursor relative to the enlarged region is co-located with the location of the cursor relative to the selected region such that the locations are identical.
US08117542B2
An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable functionality controls that identifies the context of the object to which the user interface is relevant, which contains rich functionality controls for applying contextually relevant functionality to a selected object, and which may be efficiently switched to a different context for applying a different set of functionalities to a different or neighboring editable object. A context menu of functionalities is displayed adjacent to a selected object where the menu of functionalities includes functionalities associated with editing the selected object. The context menu includes an identification of the object context and a control for selectively changing the context and associated functionalities of the menu to a different object context for displaying a different set of functionalities associated with the different context.
US08117538B2
In a contact center, a routing interface for enabling redirection of interactions from one scripted resource type to another includes a language transformation engine executable from a browser application resident on a digital medium installed on or accessible to a computing appliance, and an interactive panel accessible through the browser application the panel containing selectable modality options. The language transformation engine has network access to a language server, and a routing strategy server, and wherein VXML scripts downloaded to the browser are transformed into scripts expressed in another markup language for presentation and wherein the transformed scripts are used at an end resource that the interaction is redirected to.
US08117532B2
A method for presenting a page, having a set of links, on a data processing system is provided. The page is preprocessed to form a processed page, wherein the processed page is unpresented within the data processing system. A determination is made as to whether or not the links within the page fall within a proximity policy. Responsive to a determination that the page falls outside of the proximity policy, the page is reformatted to fall within the proximity policy. The mechanism of the present invention includes a preprocessing process and a policy structure for reformatting an electronic document page. The policy structure of the present invention allows the user to specify the appearance of the electronic document page. The policy structure as defined by the user is stored such that when the user returns to the page, the page may be displayed according to the policy structure defined by the user.
US08117531B1
A computer-implemented method of processing an interpreted language element for execution on a mobile communication device including receiving at a server system a request from a remote device for a first electronic document that includes an interpreted language element, executing the interpreted language element using an interpreter, creating a context for the interpreted language element, generating a second electronic document based on a result of the execution, and transmitting the second electronic document to the remote device for display. In one implementation, executing the interpreted language element may include performing an action specified by the interpreted language element. In another implementation, the executing may include embedding the interpreted language element in a markup link that contains an address corresponding to the server system.
US08117527B2
Sets of electronic pages (120) are typically obtained for processing with a defined order, such as a reader order, and can be referenced by a page index (131) corresponding to the defined order of the page set (130). However, a page index (131) may not correspond to the folio values represented in the page content, which describe a user's intended reference to the page (120). This invention provides a method for examining information associated with the set of pages to identify folio schemes (201) and corresponding folio values (203) which can be associated with pages (120) of the page set (130) to provide a more user-centric reference mechanism to the pages (120).
US08117522B2
A sphere decoder sets a Euclidean distance between a lattice vector obtained by using an MMSE or ZF estimate and a received signal as an initial radius, further reduces the initial radius, and searches lattices points included inside a hypersphere with the further reduced initial radius. In addition, one lattice vector having a minimum Euclidean distance is output. One dimension is selected to reduce an initial radius, and estimates in other dimensions are kept fixed, excluding the selected dimension. Then candidate lattice points are searched in the selected dimension, excluding a current estimate, such that a minimum Euclidean distance and a lattice point estimate corresponding to the minimum Euclidean distance are obtained. The initial radius is updated by the minimum Euclidean distance, and a final lattice vector is constructed by combining a lattice point estimate corresponding to the initial radius and the lattice point estimates in other dimensions.
US08117516B2
A method and an apparatus for transmitting a signal in a communication system are provided. An information vector is encoded according to a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoding scheme, thereby generating an LDPC codeword. Minimum surviving check nodes are reserved for recovery of punctured nodes in the LDPC codeword. A check node is selected having a smallest cost function from among unreserved check nodes. A variable node is selected being unpunctured and having a smallest cost function from among variable nodes connected to the selected check node. The selected variable node is punctured when the selected variable node is not connected to the reserved check node. A stopping set check is performed when the selected variable node is connected to the reserved check node. The variable node is punctured when the stopping set check has been successfully performed. The check node is selected until there remains no variable node to be punctured and puncturing the variable node.
US08117514B2
Methods and apparatus for encoding data in a communication network. In an aspect, a method is provided for coding data. The method includes generating one or more permutations of the data, determining weights associated with each permutation, calculating one or more code packets from each permutation based on the associated weights, and multiplexing the data and the one or more code packets into a code packet stream. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided for coding data. The apparatus includes permutation logic configured to generate one or more permutations of the data, and weight logic configured to determine weights associated with each permutation. The apparatus also includes processing logic configured to calculate one or more code packets from each permutation based on the associated weights, and a multiplexer configured to multiplex the data and the one or more code packets into a code packet stream.
US08117512B2
The present invention is directed to methods of monitoring logic circuits for failures. In particular, the methods are directed toward establishing parallel logic cores where failures are detected by comparing the parallel paths for equivalence at key locations by a redundancy checker. Any mismatch will result in a predetermined failsafe operational mode. In addition, important techniques are applied to periodically exercise individual parallel paths to ensure that logic cores are verified in a way that does not disturb any process being monitored or controlled. This feature is important in some industries, such as the nuclear power industry, where safety critical operations require a high state of reliability on logic circuit blocks which may be infrequently utilized.
US08117503B1
A network switch including a first port, a transfer circuit, and a redirect circuit. The first port is configured to exchange frames of data with a network, the first port configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode. The transfer circuit is configured to transfer the frames of data from the first port to a second port based on information stored in a forwarding table when the first port is operating in the first mode. The redirect circuit is configured to transfer the frames of data to a predetermined backup port associated with the first port when the first port is operating in the second mode.
US08117501B2
A virtual library apparatus includes an exclusive control section that exclusively secures a logical drive and a physical drive according to an instruction from a host at a time of an occurrence of an error in the physical drive and a diagnostic section that performs a diagnostic process on the exclusively secured physical drive through the exclusively secured logical drive. The exclusive control section releases the exclusively secured logical and physical drives after the diagnostic section completes the diagnostic process for the physical drive.
US08117498B1
A processor core includes one or more cache memories and a repair unit. The repair unit may repair locations in the cache memories identified as having errors during an initialization sequence. The repair unit may further cause information corresponding to the repair locations to be stored within one or more storages. In response to initiation of a power-down state of a given processor core, the given processor core may execute microcode instructions that cause the information from the one or more storages to be saved to a memory unit. During a recovery of the given processor core from the power-down state, the processor core may execute additional microcode instructions that cause the information to be retrieved from the memory unit, and saved to the one or more storages. The repair unit may restore repairs to the locations in the cache memories using the information.
US08117495B2
A transparent high-availability solution utilizing virtualization technology is presented. A cluster environment and management thereof is implemented through an automated installation and setup procedure resulting in a cluster acting as a single system. The cluster is setup in an isolated virtual machine on each of a number of physical nodes of the system. Customer applications are run within separate application virtual machines on one physical node at a time and are run independently and unaware of their configuration as part of a high-availability cluster. Upon detection of a failure, traffic is rerouted through a redundant node and the application virtual machines are migrated from the failing node to another node using live migration techniques.
US08117494B2
In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus are disclosed that includes aspects of monitoring a first processor of a computer by a monitoring module for a first processor instability; determining if the first processor is stable based on the monitored first processor instability; routing operational priority to a second processor of the computer through a multiplexer module if the first processor is determined not to be stable, wherein a first desktop management interface of the first processor and a second desktop management interface of the second processor are in communication with the multiplexer module and wherein the first processor and the second processor are in communication by a processor interconnect; and operating the computer using the second processor.
US08117483B2
A memory controller performs a read test for each of a plurality of memory devices to generate a read delay time of each memory device. There is a prime memory device and a subset of memory devices. For each memory device of the subset, the read delay time for the prime memory device is compared with the read delay time of each memory device of the subset of memory devices to generate a differential delay for each memory device of the subset. For each subset memory device, a write test start time of the prime memory device is combined with a differential delay of each memory device to generate a write test start time for the each memory device. A write test for each memory device uses the write test start time for each subset memory device to generate a write launch time for each subset memory device.
US08117476B2
An information processing apparatus pausing in one of pause states may include a suspension state and a hibernation state, includes a storage control unit for controlling storage of pause state information regarding one of the suspension state and the hibernation state in the case of transition thereto, a detecting unit for detecting a stop of supplying power, the power being supplied to maintain the suspension state as the pause state, and a startup method determination unit for determining a startup method to transition from the pause state to an operating state based on the pause state information and history information indicating a history of supplying power in the pause state accounting for the detection results about the stop of supplying power.
US08117475B2
A system has a central processing unit (CPU) operable to operate in a sleep or low power mode and in an active mode, a plurality of system components operable to operate in a sleep or low power mode and in an active mode, and a direct memory access (DMA) controller operating independently from the CPU and operable to operate in a sleep or low power mode and in an active mode, wherein the DMA controller is further operable to transfer data from and to a memory or peripheral device, wherein when the system is in a sleep or low power mode, only the DMA controller and any system component which is necessary to perform a DMA transaction are switched into active mode.
US08117469B2
Automatically determining operating parameters of a power management device is described.
US08117459B2
A digital identity system includes a principal including an identity selector programmed to receive a security policy from a relying party, review a plurality of digital identities associated with the principal, and request one or more claims related to an identity of the principal from an identity provider. The principal is further programmed to receive one or more security tokens including the claims from the identity provider, and to forward the security tokens to the relying party.
US08117449B2
A method for detecting a communication relay attack involves the steps of counting a number of clock cycles occurring in a clock signal between transmission of two predetermined elements of data with a data transmission device, counting a number of clock cycles occurring in the clock signal between receipt of the two predefined elements of data and comparing the number of clock cycles counted by the data transmission device with the number of clock cycles counted by the data receiving device.
US08117429B2
An improved system and method for efficiently implementing a remotely manageable secure boot on a Trusted Computing Group defined Trusted Platform Module. Various embodiments of the present invention enable a boot process which does not require a dependency on prior RIM certificates, while still requiring a dependency on the sequencing of the boot process.
US08117419B2
A storage apparatus provides, in a dynamic provisioning system, a virtual logical device (DP-LDEV) that is a virtual logical device configured of a real logical device (N-LDEV). In the storage apparatus, a storage area of a real logical device is managed by being divided into unit cache areas (SLCBs), which are predetermined management units. A storage area of a virtual logical device is managed by being divided into virtual unit areas (PSCBs), which are predetermined management units. Multiple virtual unit areas having the same data stored therein are made to correspond to the same unit cache area, and thereby data stored in a storage device is managed. The correspondence is established with at the timing of, for example, destaging data from a cache memory.
US08117418B1
The present invention provides a method and system for managing virtual addresses of a plurality of processes corresponding to an application. The method comprises designating a first set of ranges of virtual addresses to the plurality of processes, wherein the virtual addresses of the first set of ranges map to a memory region shared among the plurality of processes. Further, the method comprises designating a second set of ranges of virtual addresses to the plurality of processes, wherein the virtual addresses of the second set of ranges map to a memory region independently used by a process of the plurality of processes. Furthermore, the method comprises adding or removing virtual address ranges from one of the first set of ranges and the second set of ranges based on requirements of the application, wherein the addition or removal is performed in virtual addresses of the plurality of processes.
US08117416B2
The storage device of the present invention has: a first recording unit that records a time zone history of access to each storage area assigned to a virtual volume; a second recording unit that executes a predetermined calculation based on the time zone history of access to a plurality of storage areas belonging to a plurality of pool areas and records the calculation result for each of the plurality of pool areas; a comparison unit that acquires, from the first recording unit, the time zone history of access to an optional storage area among the plurality of storage areas and compares the acquired access time zone history with the calculation result recorded in the second recording unit; and a migration unit that selects, from among the plurality of pool areas, a pool area for which the calculation result is similar to the acquired access time zone history on the basis of the result of the comparison by the comparison unit, and migrates the data stored in the optional storage area to a storage area in the selected pool area.
US08117415B2
A storage device or system provides to a host processor an estimation of a completion time of a storage operation. The completion time may be based on the duration of automatic storage operations, which are not administered by the host processor. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The storage system includes: a storage device having a non-volatile memory; and a controller module. The controller or controller module estimates the completion time of a storage operation and provides to the processor the estimated completion time before the storage operation completes.
US08117413B2
A method for performing data set migration includes receiving a request to migrate data sets, finding the systems with the data sets open, establishing at least one I/O intercept, copying the data set, mirroring changes to the data set, updating control information in the systems with the data sets open, and terminating the at least one I/O intercept.
US08117406B2
The present invention proposes an effective and efficient method of storing data called page-differential logging for flash-based storage systems. The primary characteristics of the invention are: (1) it writes only the page-differential that is defined as the difference between an original page in flash memory and an up-to-date page in memory; (2) it computes and writes the page-differential only when an updated page needs to be reflected into flash memory. When an updated page needs to be reflected into flash memory, the present invention stores the page into a base page and a differential page in flash memory. When a page is recreated from flash memory, it reads the base page and the differential page, and then, creates the page by merging the base page with its page-differential in the differential page. This invention significantly improves I/O performance of flash-based storage systems compared with existing page-based and log-based methods.
US08117402B2
The shared memory includes a header section and a data section, wherein said header section includes at least two headers in which control information is stored. The method comprises the steps of: judging whether or not there is data corruption in one of said at least two headers; and copying the control information in any one of other headers to said one header if there is data corruption in said one header. A method for controlling access to a shared memory is also disclosed.
US08117400B2
A device and a method for fetching an information unit, the method includes: receiving a request to execute a write through cacheable operation of the information unit; emptying a fetch unit from data, wherein the fetch unit is connected to a cache module and to a high level memory unit; determining, when the fetch unit is empty, whether the cache module stores an older version of the information unit; and selectively writing the information unit to the cache module in response to the cache module in response to the determination.
US08117399B2
Each cacheline of a unified cache storing information is marked as incoherent if the information was acquired incoherently or marked as coherent if the information was acquired coherently. A subsequent incoherent read access to a cacheline can result in a cache hit and a return of the cached information regardless of whether the cacheline is marked as coherent or incoherent. However, a subsequent coherent read access to a cacheline marked as incoherent will be returned as a cache miss regardless of whether the cacheline includes information sought by the coherent read access. In response to a cache miss for a coherent read access, a global snoop is initiated so as to query all other target components within the same coherency domain. In contrast, a cache miss resulting from an incoherent read access is processed using a non-global snoop to a limited set of one or a few target components in the coherency domain.
US08117394B2
A method and apparatus are provided for maintaining cache coherency of object management data in a computer system. The computer system is configured with a bit mask to represent changes in object management data. All changes in an object are reflected by setting an associated bit in the bit mask. A cache update of object management data is limited to the bit(s) set in the bit mask.
US08117388B2
A data distribution technique is configured to provide capacity leveling in a striped file system. When a new node is added to a striped volume set, the striping table is evolved to accommodate the newly added node. Each node of a cluster is illustratively associated with a capacity value that takes into account, e.g., processor speed, number of processors, hardware configuration and/or software available for the node. During the evolution process of the striping table, the technique apportions stripes of the SVS among the nodes in a manner so that they are optimally assigned to the nodes in accordance with each node's capacity value. By utilizing the evolutionary striping table that incorporates capacity values, heterogeneous nodes may be utilized to their maximum capacity within a striped volume set, thereby reducing underutilized processing resources.
US08117378B2
An input voltage range may be established between different voltage levels used for different programming functions of an integrated circuit device, thus implementing a protection zone (“safe zone”) of non-operation to facilitate prevention of an unintended irreversible programming operation, e.g., permanent write protection.
US08117368B2
In a personal computing system function calls, formatted in 16-bit format for a 16-bit interface to the firmware, are communicated through an operating system providing a System Management Interrupt (SMI) interface to the firmware. An SMI function call in SMI format is generated and sent to an SMI Interface Wrapper module between the operating system and the firmware. The SMI function call is received over the SMI interface at the SMI Interface Wrapper. In the SMI Interface Wrapper, function data from the SMI function call is extracted to provide function call data. A 16-bit function call with the function call data is generated by the SMI Interface Wrapper and passed to the firmware.
US08117361B2
A method, system, and medium for compressing systems management information in a historical data store. Dynamically determining the appropriate compression algorithm to apply based on the type of data being compressed and stored. As further input is received for any particular measurement, the appropriate compression algorithm will be automatically selected from the set of available compression algorithms or be defined by a user configuration parameter. The amount of historical data stored with the minimal amount of data loss is optimized by the system dynamically changing the compression algorithm used for the given input data over a particular time span. The system engineer is therefore presented with the pertinent information for monitoring, administrating and diagnosing system activities.
US08117356B1
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method that includes maintaining statistics, at a network interface, metering operation of the network interface. The statistics are transferred by direct memory access from the network interface to a memory accessed by at least one processor.
US08117349B2
An information processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a set value group; an executing unit configured to execute a function using the set value group; a history storing unit configured to store history information including the set value group having been used in an execution of the function; a displaying unit configured to display the history information and an operation image corresponding to an operating portion; a specifying unit configured to specify history information and operation image designated by the user; and an assigning unit configured to assign a set value group corresponding to the specified history information to the operating portion corresponding to the specified operation image specified. When a predetermined operation is carried out for the operating portion corresponding to the operation image, the setting unit sets the set value group assigned to the operating portion.
US08117346B2
Various aspects are disclosed herein for bounding the behavior of a non-privileged virtual machine that interacts with a device by creating a description of the device which indicates to a privileged authority (1) which operations on the device may have system-wide effects and (2) which operations have effects local to the device. The privileged authority may then permit or deny these actions. The privileged authority may also translate these actions into other actions with benign consequences.
US08117339B2
Systems and methods of the present invention allow for tracking of domain name related reputation by a domain name Registering Entity (e.g. Registry, Registrar, etc.). In a preferred embodiment, the Registering Entity maintains a database with reputation data that can be accessed by the requesters. The Registering Entity may update reputation data based on a variety of events related to the domain name. The reputation data may be tracked on the domain name itself, URLs, domain name purchaser or registrant, or email addresses associated with the domain name. The reputation data may include various categories, such as email practices, website content, privacy policies and practices, fraudulent activities, domain name related complaints, overall reputation, etc. The registrant may opt for a reputation service while registering domain name. The requester may decide whether to allow email messages or to visit URLs based on the domain name related reputation.
US08117338B2
Described are a network device and method for distributing routing information for a virtual private network (VPN) application through a packet-switched network (PSN) from a first provider edge (PE) router to a second provider edge (PE) router. An Ethernet switched path (e.g., a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) tunnel) is established between the first and second PE routers. The first PE router is at a source end of the Ethernet switched path and the second PE router is at a destination end of the Ethernet switched path. A BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) message is sent from the first PE router to the second PE router. The BGP message contains routing information for a VPN route in a VPN supported by the PSN. An association between the VPN route in the VPN and the Ethernet switched path is determined from the routing information in the BGP message.
US08117336B2
The subject matter described herein includes methods and systems for providing accidental stack join protection. According to one embodiment, a method includes connecting stacking ports of a first switch that is a member of a first stack and a second switch that is a member of a second stack and thereby joining the first and second stacks. The configurations of the first stack and of the second stack are detected and it is determined whether the detected configurations indicate a configuration mismatch between the first and second stacks. In response to determining that the detected configurations relate to a mismatch, the automatic joining of the first and second stacks is inhibited and the first and second stacks are allowed to continue switching traffic with their existing configurations.
US08117309B2
Improved techniques that enable users to download digital media assets are disclosed. According to one aspect, digital media assets that a user has acquired from a remote media repository can be authorized for download multiple times. This, for example, allows a user to subsequently re-downloaded digital media assets that the user previously acquired. In one embodiment, digital media assets that a user previously downloaded to a user client device from a remote media repository can be made available to the user for subsequent re-download. Advantageously, a remote media repository can, in effect, provide users with a remote backup for previously acquired digital media assets.
US08117307B2
A system for a data stream management system includes a filter transport aggregate for a high speed input data stream with a plurality of packets each packet comprising attributes. The system includes an evaluation system to evaluate the high speed input data stream and partitions the packets into groups the attributes and a table, wherein the table stores the attributes of each packets using a hash function. A phantom query is used to define partitioned groups of packets using attributes other than those used to group the packets for solving user queries without performing the user queries on the high speed input data stream.
US08117292B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide an Internet connection system capable of bi-directional communications between the home network and the Internet by relatively simple means, enabling manufacturers of client-end home network appliances to create added values for users.In order to attain the above objective, there is provided a method for connecting a client device and a server. The method is implemented on an Internet connection system, which has the client device, a relay device, and the server, the server being connected to the Internet and also to the client device through the relay device and the Internet. The method includes the steps of: (a) notifying the relay device of an IP address of the server; (b) enabling the relay device to establish a TCP/IP session by means of a tunneling connection between the relay device and the server by use of the IP address; and (c) enabling the relay device to route communications via the TCP/IP session from the server to the client device.
US08117289B1
Techniques are described for providing managed virtual computer networks that may have a configured logical network topology with one or more virtual networking devices, with corresponding networking functionality provided for communications between multiple computing nodes of the virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by the networking devices if they were physically present. In some situations, the emulating of networking device functionality includes receiving routing communications directed to the networking devices and using included routing information to update the configured network topology for the managed computer network. In addition, the techniques may further include supporting interactions with devices that are external to the virtual computer network, including remote physical networking devices that are part of a remote computer network configured to interoperate with the virtual computer network, and/or specialized network devices that are accessible via a substrate network on which the virtual computer network is overlaid.
US08117288B2
A general computer-implement method and apparatus to optimize problem layout on a massively parallel supercomputer is described. The method takes as input the communication matrix of an arbitrary problem in the form of an array whose entries C(i, j) are the amount to data communicated from domain i to domain j. Given C(i, j), first implement a heuristic map is implemented which attempts sequentially to map a domain and its communications neighbors either to the same supercomputer node or to near-neighbor nodes on the supercomputer torus while keeping the number of domains mapped to a supercomputer node constant (as much as possible). Next a Markov Chain of maps is generated from the initial map using Monte Carlo simulation with Free Energy (cost function) F=Σi,jC(i,j)H(i,j)− where H(i,j) is the smallest number of hops on the supercomputer torus between domain i and domain j. On the cases tested, found was that the method produces good mappings and has the potential to be used as a general layout optimization tool for parallel codes. At the moment, the serial code implemented to test the method is un-optimized so that computation time to find the optimum map can be several hours on a typical PC. For production implementation, good parallel code for our algorithm would be required which could itself be implemented on supercomputer.
US08117286B2
A message is provided to a tracking server system in response to a client system referencing a predetermined resource locator that corresponds to a resource external to the tracking server system. The tracking server system indirectly provides for the client system to have an informational element selectable by the client system, where the informational element is graphically identified on the client system with informational content obtainable from a content server system through use of a content resource locator. The informational element includes a tracking resource locator, referencing the tracking server system, and data identifying the informational element. The selection of the informational element causes the client system to use the tracking resource locator to provide the data to the tracking server system and to use the content resource locator to obtain the informational content from the content server system.
US08117285B1
A mobile communication device is provided. The mobile communication device comprises a processor, a memory, a display, a radio transceiver, and an application stored in the memory. The application, when executed by the processor, transmits via the radio transceiver a first hyper text transport protocol message identifying a markup language content file embedding a plurality of links to additional content, wherein the first hyper text transport protocol message establishes a hyper text transport protocol connection. The application receives via the radio transceiver a second hyper text transport protocol message from the hyper text transport protocol connection containing the markup language content file and a plurality of files identified by the links to additional content and presents the markup language content file and the plurality of files on the display.
US08117284B2
An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to receive solicited or unsolicited computing platform service information associated with services offered by a plurality of service points in a range area, store some portion of the received information, and periodically transmit, with or without confirmation, some portion of the stored information to one or more potential subscribers.
US08117283B2
A method for providing remote access to segments of a transmitted program is presented. The program is recorded, and then stored at a communication server. Information specifying a segment of the stored program is transferred from a communication device to the communication server. Also, a request for access to the specified segment of the stored program is transferred from another communication device to the communication server. In response to the request, the specified segment of the program is transferred from the communication server to the requesting communication device.
US08117269B2
A method for viewing an attachment of an email message on a portable electronic device in which the attachment has a renderable format is provided. The method includes: requesting to view the attachment in an attachment viewer of the portable electronic device, building a graph structure within an attachment server representing a map of the attachment, the graph structure including at least one renderable identifier corresponding to a page of the attachment, requesting rendering of the attachment, the rendering request being send from the attachment viewer to the attachment server and including the at least one renderable identifier, initializing a rendering library and storing rendering commands -corresponding to command types of the graph structure in the rendering library, drawing the rendering commands in an off-screen bitmap, saving the off-screen bitmap as a JPEG file, sending the JPEG file to the portable electronic device and displaying the JPEG file in the attachment viewer.
US08117268B2
Methods, systems, and software for converting the audio input of a user of a hand-held client device or mobile phone into a textual representation by means of a backend server accessed by the device through a communications network. The text is then inserted into or used by an application of the client device to send a text message, instant message, email, or to insert a request into a web-based application or service. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of initializing or launching the application on the device; recording and transmitting the recorded audio message from the client device to the backend server through a client-server communication protocol; converting the transmitted audio message into the textual representation in the backend server; and sending the converted text message back to the client device or forwarding it on to an alternate destination directly from the server.
US08117267B2
A system for provisioning an electronic mail (email) account of a user for allowing access to an electronic mailbox from a remote device to retrieve email includes a communications module that receives email address parameters entered by the user and transmits a domain name system (DNS) query to the Internet for returning mail exchange (MX) and address (A) records corresponding to the entered email address parameters of the user. A configuration module processes any returned MX and A records to determine whether the email address parameters entered by the user are valid before attempting to provision the email account of the user.
US08117266B2
A hand held device, much like a cell phone or PDA, contains both a data server and a data client along with the voice messaging of a cell phone. The data server communicates through a TCP/IP stack with a local computing system via IR, short distance wireless, a serial bus or Ethernet. The data client communicates with a remote server via a voice network or wireless to the Internet also via a TCP/IP stack and a wide are network. Spare network bandwidth may be used for transferring information. The information may include emails that are received and stored for later review for ultimately transferring to a local computer. Status may include knowing available memory and message sizes. Message that are too large may be noted for later retrieval. On-board memory includes RAM. ROM, and removable modules that may be physically removed and run at a local computing system.
US08117259B2
A method for delivering content includes receiving the content at an edge server from a content provider, generating an upload signature for the content as received from the content provider where the upload signature includes a hash of the content, receiving a request for the content from a client system, providing the content to the client system, generating a download signature and a screen capture image for the content as provided to the client system, comparing the upload signature and the download signature, and generating an alert when the upload signature and the download signature do not match.
US08117256B2
Methods and systems are described for exploring a corpus of content items stored in one or more information repositories within a distributed communications system.
US08117253B2
The invention concerns in particular a system comprising: a first terminal (1); a second terminal (21 or 22 or 23); at least a first messaging system (31 or 32 or 33) able to transmit, to the second terminal, at least the message body of a message (10) from the first terminal; at least one device (4) controlling at least one condition (11), at least once, the said control device allowing the first messaging system to transmit to the second terminal at least the message body of the said message if the condition control result is positive, the said control device preventing the first messaging system from transmitting to the second terminal at least the message body of the said message if the condition control is negative, at least during the time for which the condition control result remains negative; at least one data server (51 or 52 or 53 or 54) external to the control device; at least one link providing communication through the Internet between on the hand the external server, or at least one of the external servers, and on the other hand the control device, the condition control device being designed to: store a message sent by the first terminal; receive at least one item of information from at least one external server; at least partially perform the condition control relating to the said message stored by means of the information received from the external server.
US08117248B2
A digital filter instruction and filter implementing the filter instruction are disclosed. The filter instruction synthesizes a digital filter and includes an instruction field, a tap length field, a coefficient address field, a data header address field, a clear accumulator bit and an update bit. The filter instruction a concise instruction format to significantly decrease memory required, allow for instruction pipelining without branch penalty, and uses a circular buffer for the data so the data address pointer is only needed to be updated for the next input sample. The filter instruction may be used to implement FIR or IIR filters by using the options of pre-clear accumulator or pre/post storing accumulator results.
US08117236B2
The present invention relates to a method for coding positions of data elements in a data structure. According to the method, position codes are associated with the data elements in a pre-determined sequence, the position codes being selected in such a way that, if the lengths of the position codes are unlimited, many other position codes can be arbitrarily allocated between the positions of two data elements in order to code positions of other data elements. The present invention also relates to a method for coding positions of data elements in a data structure, whereby position codes are associated with the data elements in a pre-determined sequence, the position codes being selected in such a way that other position codes can be allocated between the positions of two adjacent data elements in order to code positions of other data elements, at least one other position code being longer than the longest position codes of the two adjacent data elements.
US08117234B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes a system for storage of electronic records. The system includes a storage unit to store records and a processing system to store and retrieve records from the storage unit. The processing system receives non-exception based records and stores the records in the storage unit. This is accomplished by storing unique information from each received non-exception based record within the storage unit separately from information common to a plurality of non-exception based records. The stored unique information is linked with the stored common information. The present invention embodiments further include a method and a program product apparatus for storing electronic records as described above.
US08117229B1
A method for detecting and locating occurrence in a data stream of any complex string belonging to a predefined complex dictionary is disclosed. A complex string may comprise an arbitrary number of interleaving coherent strings and ambiguous strings. The method comprises a first process for transforming the complex dictionary into a simple structure to enable continuously conducting computationally efficient search, and a second process for examining received data in real time using the simple structure. The method may be implemented as an article of manufacture comprising at least one processor-readable medium and instructions carried on the at least one medium. The instructions causes a processor to match examined data to an object complex string belonging to the complex dictionary, where the matching process is based on equality to constituent coherent strings, and congruence to ambiguous strings, of the object complex string.
US08117224B2
A system, method and program product for evaluating search algorithms. A method is provided that includes: defining a population of searches and database records from a search history database; applying a sampling method and direct sampling rates to each search/record pair in the population using a computing system, wherein search/record pairs having a higher variability relative to the population are assigned a relatively higher probability; randomly sampling a direct sample of search/record pairs with the computing system using the direct sampling rates to increase a likelihood of obtaining search/record pairs having the higher variability; running a search algorithm and measuring errors for the direct sample and/or for an associated indirect sample; and calculating an estimated error rate for the search algorithm using inverse probability weighting.
US08117211B2
The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for selecting a content by classifying content included in a group into one of a plurality of clusters included in layers arranged based on metadata of the contents, the layers being assigned priority levels including a high priority level and low priority level, retaining a database indicating a correspondence between the classified content, the clusters corresponding to the classified content, and the layers, managing history information corresponding to contents of the user, identifying a cluster on a basis of the history information, and selecting a content classified into a layer of the identified cluster based on a priority level of the layer, and presenting the selected content and description information, the description indicating a reason for selection of the selected content.
US08117207B2
A system for evaluating a review having unstructured text comprises a segment splitter for separating at least a portion of the unstructured text into one or more segments, each segment comprising one or more words; a segment parser coupled to the segment splitter for assigning one or more lexical categories to one or more of the one or more words of each segment; an information extractor coupled to the segment parser for identifying a feature word and an opinion word contained in the one or more segments; and a sentiment rating engine coupled to the information extractor for calculating an opinion score based upon an opinion grouping, the opinion grouping including at least the feature word and the opinion word identified by the information extractor.
US08117203B2
In accordance with an embodiment, data may be automatically extracted from semi-structured web sites. Unsupervised learning may be used to analyze web sites and discover their structure. One method utilizes a set of heterogeneous “experts,” each expert being capable of identifying certain types of generic structure. Each expert represents its discoveries as “hints.” Based on these hints, the system may cluster the pages and text segments and identify semi-structured data that can be extracted. To identify a good clustering, a probabilistic model of the hint-generation process may be used.
US08117200B1
Performing an operation on a web graph is disclosed. A plurality of computers is initialized. The web graph is divided into portions. The portions are distributed to the plurality of computers. The results of the computation are propagated from the plurality of the computers to each of the plurality of computers. Optionally, a coordinator is used.
US08117193B2
Methods and systems are provided for identifying one or more media items played within a geographic area selected by a user. In one embodiment, a media service tracks play histories for a number of users registered with the media service, where each play history identifies media items played by the corresponding user as well as the locations at which at least a subset of the media items were played by the corresponding user. The media service enables a requesting user to select or otherwise define one or more geographic areas of interest. Then, based on the play histories, the media service identifies one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest. The media service then provides data reflecting the one or more media items played within the one or more geographic areas of interest to a device of the requesting user.
US08117189B2
A method of query pattern matching uses a chain of linked stacks to compactly represent partial results to root-to-leaf query paths, which are then composed to obtain matches for the twig pattern.
US08117184B2
A Structured Query Language (SQL) adapter business service that converts data from a data set to a common representation format used for all data sets with which the SQL adapter business service interacts. Hence the SQL adapter business service can communicate with various internal and external systems independently of the native format in which those systems maintain and store data. The SQL adapter business service optimizes operations to update data in the data sets by combining operations when possible and by using result sets from executing previous SQL statements to construct subsequent SQL statements. SQL adapter business service takes advantage of parent/child relationships between tables to construct SQL statements in an order such that the SQL statements process only a minimum amount of data, thereby making retrieval of data as efficient as possible.
US08117183B2
The computer algorithm described which indexes and retrieves images. A query in the form of an image object or an image facilitates image retrieval in order to retrieve several images close to user's request. A thumbnail form of rank ordered images is provided for viewing. The user selects the images and down loads the images for inclusion in the job. The images are then ripped and printed.
US08117181B2
An identity management system provides for a computationally efficient approach to monitor group changes, or events, on a directory service. Group events are monitored by use of a domain crawler process launched by an event monitoring process of the identity management system that gathers group event data and reports the collected and consolidated changes to the identity management system.
US08117173B2
The present invention provides a method for chunking an object. The method is arranged to provide efficient chunking of objects such that objects can be efficiently updated between a remote machine and a local machine over a network. The chunking algorithm is applicable in networked application such as file synchronization using remote differential compression (RDC) techniques. The chunking algorithm provides enhanced efficiencies by locating chunk boundaries around local maxima.
US08117171B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for dynamically updating web content using W3C standards. One such method sends a request to a web server for a web page. A web browser receives and renders a static HTML web page. The web browser periodically sends a query to the web server and, in response, receives a latest date and time stamp indicating the latest update to the web page. The web browser compares the latest date and time stamp to a previously stored date and time stamp representing a previous update. If the latest date and time stamp matches the previously stored date and time stamp, then no update has occurred and no update is required. If, however, the date and time stamps do not match, then the web page has changed since the previous update and the web browser retrieves the latest update to the web page.
US08117162B2
A backup program, method and system is disclosed that monitors changes to a file in a storage, checks whether backup settings related to the file already exist and requests and applies backup settings related to the file in response to the file being changed if they do not. The backup settings are applied to control operation of a backup system to make one or more backup copies of the file. The backup settings may be electively saved to be applied automatically in the event of future changes to the file without requesting the settings. One or more lists may be used to identify (e.g. include or exclude) files for backup. Files may be identified by different categories including file name, file type, or file type group associated with a particular application. A typical backup system may save backup copies to a storage area network, e.g. controlled by a backup server.
US08117160B1
Embodiments of the invention relate to maintaining reference counts in a file system to track when a block is available to be freed. When a snapshot copy of a file is created, rather than copying all the blocks of the file for the snapshot copy, the snapshot inode is given pointers to the blocks of the file. Rather than updating the reference counts for all these blocks to indicate that they are now in use by more than one file, the update of reference counts for at least some of these blocks may be deferred until a later time.
US08117156B2
Systems and methods that supply a replication layer/agent that is generic to supporting a plurality of storage configuration as part of a distributed store. Such distributed store employs a Common Availability Substrate (CAS) for data transport and consistency, to render the distributed store scalable and available. Such an arrangement enables continuous operation of the store, while the replication subsystem creates new replicas (e.g., for load balancing, failover, and the like).
US08117146B2
Computing the values of configuration parameters for optimal performance of associated applications. In one embodiment, a rules data is maintained indicating a corresponding rule for each of the configuration parameters of an application sought to be optimized. Each rule specifies the manner of calculation of the corresponding configuration parameter based on a corresponding set of production metrics. On receiving an indication that the value of a specific configuration parameter is to be computed, the rules data is examined and a specific rule (indicating a set of production metrics) corresponding to the specific configuration parameter is identified. The corresponding values of each of the set of production metrics are then determined and the value for the specific configuration parameter is calculated using the identified rule and the estimated values of the set of production metrics.
US08117143B2
A non-binary affinity measure between any two data points for a supervised classifier may be determined. For example, affinity measures may be determined for tree, kernel-based, nearest neighbor-based and neural network supervised classifiers. By providing non-binary affinity measures using supervised classifiers, more information may be provided for clustering, analyzing and, particularly, for visualizing the results of data mining.
US08117141B1
The present invention relates to a hierarchical system for multi-objective shape control of variable stiffness structures. The system operates by initializing a hierarchical hybrid Gur-game controller that is affixed to a variable stiffness structure. The hierarchical hybrid Gur-game controller includes a hierarchy of Gur-games being utilized, at each level of the hierarchy, to control at least two angular rotations and at least one stiffness setting of the variable stiffness structure. The Gur-game controller is utilized to optimize variables, including angular rotations and stiffness settings of the variable stiffness structure to morph into a desired shape. Finally, the variable stiffness structure is morphed into the desired shape according to the optimized angular rotation and stiffness settings.
US08117138B2
Method, apparatus and system for location evaluation and site selection, capable of effectively configuring the site network and evaluating the facility location by scientifically modeling and incorporating human knowledge are provided. In one aspect, geographic and demographic data associated with a plurality of locations and human knowledge comprising partial rating knowledge and pair-wise preference knowledge are used in a regression algorithm to construct a location evaluation model. The regression algorithm is further refined using active learning that identifies a plurality of pairs of locations to improve precision of the regression algorithm.
US08117133B2
Disclosed herein is a system and method for providing a regional community-based membership service. The method includes registering a customer visiting a certain region as a membership service customer through classification of the customer according to a degree of private relation with the region or according to whether the customer is a foreigner; authenticating a membership of the customer by a service terminal linked to a membership service system server via on-line communication, processing provision of various services by the service terminal, the various service including reservation and commodity purchase ordered from the authenticated customer, and settling or storing details of the services provided to the membership service customer in a database of the service system server. The method enables establishment of a variety of regional community-based businesses and an increase in number of visitors to the region by providing specified regional services to members of the membership service.
US08117130B2
Methods and apparatus for batch loading and self-registration of digital media files is provided. The system provides numerous methods of interfacing with a content outlet. The methods further include comparing attributes of content to be downloaded with attributes of content in a media database. The methods also includes providing restrictions based on a result of the comparing. The methods further include monetizing the methods between both retailers and right-holders using the system. Additionally, the method may include providing retail analysis, resolving disputes, and distributing royalty payments to rights-holders of content.
US08117129B2
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for enabling access to mass transit systems using a financial transaction instrument including reading an identifier including financial payment information from the financial transaction instrument and determining whether the identifier is stored in a database. Access to a holder of the financial transaction instrument is provided based on the determining.
US08117127B1
A currency handling system, for example, a currency recycler, may be configured to receive and process currency transactions entered by different recycler users. The currency recycler may identify and/or authenticate the user attempting to perform a transaction, for example, cash withdrawals, deposits, exchanges, or administrative and other functions. Once the user has been identified, the currency recycler may identify one or more user roles associated with the user, and corresponding user thresholds and/or role thresholds which may define a set of functional limitations for the user on the recycler. The recycler may then process the user's transaction request in accordance with the applicable thresholds based on the user and user roles.
US08117126B1
A user selects a product to be liquidated from a product provider and then designates to the transacting entity that reward points are to be used towards the purchase of the liquidated product. The transacting entity acts to decrease the number of reward points in the user's reward account by the required number of points. The reward account holder conveys consideration to the transacting entity equivalent to the par value of the reward points consumer obtains the product in exchange for reward points having a retail value equivalent to what he would have otherwise paid for the product, while the reward account holder is required to convey only the par value of the points. The product provider is able to liquidate the product and obtain payment equivalent to what it would otherwise have obtained in a prior art liquidation process, auction or trading environment.
US08117122B1
Methods and systems for managing transaction card accounts in which cardholders are permitted to incur transaction charge balances on existing transaction card accounts and substituting the existing transaction card for each of at least a portion of the plurality of cardholders with a different transaction card product upon an occurrence of one of termination of a private label or co-branded agreement and a predetermined level of inactivity on the transaction card account which has significant additional features and benefits absent from the existing transaction card product.
US08117114B2
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies and limitations of the prior art by providing a direct tracking module for keywords. In one embodiment, the system comprises a direct tracking module, a bid management system, a web analytics tool and a search engine. The direct tracking module interfaces with the bid management system to provide user interfaces for reviewing data about specific keyword and ads/text pairs. The direct tracking module uses unique codes to provide specific information about which combination of keyword and text generated specific Web traffic, such as traffic that generated a sale. This is particularly advantageous because the keyword/text pairs that generate a large number of sales can be reused to generate future traffic. Similarly, keyword/text pairs that do not generate Web traffic can be eliminated from the words that are purchased by the advertiser. Thus, the present invention greatly reduces the uncertainty presently provided by keyword purchasing schemes offered by present-day search engines. The present invention also includes a novel method for the direct tracking of keywords to ads/text.
US08117108B2
Among other things, receiving public information about an actively managed fund, selecting a group of financial assets, determining a group of weights corresponding to the group of financial assets thereby determining a weighted group of financial assets, the weights being determined based only on the public information, and publishing the contents of the weighted group of financial assets, wherein an expected valuation of the weighted group of financial assets is within a threshold percentage of an expected valuation of the actively managed fund.
US08117100B1
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing purchase, billing, and payment transactions. A unique identifier of a consolidated purchase card account, issued by a service provider to a user, is accepted by a plurality of vendors as a proxy of the unique identifier of their own vendor-issued purchase card account. Purchase transactions resulting from acceptance of the consolidated purchase card account are processed to produce an individual billing statement for each vendor. The individual billing statements are aggregated into a consolidated billing statement by the service provider, which is then presented to the user on behalf of each vendor. The user reviews the consolidated billing statement and provides payment instructions to the service provider. The payment instructions are processed to pay funds from a funding account of the user to each respective vendor.
US08117095B2
Systems and methods provide for tracking, controlling, optimizing, and otherwise managing the delivery of perishable and time-sensitive goods such as newspapers, periodicals and promotional materials to consumers, both subscribers and non-subscribers, and to retail outlets. One exemplary arrangement includes a web server, a database server, and handheld computers. A database including at least route delivery information may be created and at least portions of the database may be communicated to respective handheld devices for display. Time-sensitive goods such as newspapers or periodicals may be delivered based at least in part on the information displayed on the handheld devices, which are also used to collect information during said delivery. The collected information is communicated to the database for billing, reporting and analysis. Features include intelligent advanced shuffle handling and tracking, web-based planning tools, sequencing of distribution outlets along a trip or route, delivery without employing paper lists, trip management/tracking, intermittent or continual connectivity and/or data reporting, time stamping/time-based tracking, and retail manager signature input as part of data collection. Support for ASP, service-oriented business models may be provided.
US08117085B1
Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items based on aggregated user activity data reflective of item consideration actions and item selection actions of users. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to assess whether particular items are good candidates for being purchased or recommended in combination. Statistical data resulting from one or both of these data mining methods may be presented to users (e.g., on electronic catalog pages) to assist users in making informed item selection decisions.
US08117076B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for connecting an e-shopping facility with an e-shopping or merchandise provider via a communications network through the use of an e-shopping appliance.
US08117070B2
A fixed amount sales system adopted in a gasoline stand or the like for preventing operation efficiency reduction which is the case due to independent payments of fuel supply charge and option item amount is disclosed. In the fixed amount sales system, in which the amount of gasoline corresponding to balance amount as a difference of the money amounts of items desired to be bought by a customer among option items (or TBA items) from a preliminarily selected fixed amount is sold by weighing, thus making the giving and taking of small amounts of money and changes between the customer and the shop unnecessary. The fixed amount of money and option items as selected by the customer, are displayed on a menu 22 in the POS terminal 20 for selection by a touch operation of electronic buttons or the like.
US08117055B2
A yield management method and system, particularly for maximizing a revenue that can be obtained from a given capacity that is offered by a cargo flight; the capacity is defined by two different variables consisting of the weight and the volume of the freights that may be transported by the flight. A set of historical profiles of the capacity (weight and volume) reserved by each category is stored for different previous instances of the flight. Corresponding potential profiles are estimated independently for the weight and the volume. The estimation is carried out taking into consideration the corresponding capacity currently reserved by the category for a future instance of the flight; moreover, this result is emphasized according to a corresponding unconstrained demand for the category. A series of historical scenarios of the demand at the departure of each previous instance of the flight are then obtained from the potential profiles. A stochastic model is applied to the historical scenarios according to the corresponding probabilities for calculating the optimised weight and volume authorizations for each category.
US08117045B2
A method for providing a consumer with the ability to access and collect health records associated with the consumer through use of a consumer account is provided. The method includes assigning a destination address individually associated with the consumer account for receiving communications from at least one healthcare provider, associating access information with the consumer account for the consumer to use to access a secure web site, the communications including a health record associated with the consumer for which the consumer has requested and given permission to the healthcare provider to send, storing a representation of the health record, and providing the consumer with secure access to the web site using the access information and providing on the web site an interface to the health records of the consumer for the consumer to use. The destination address can be a phone number or an email address. The web site also provides for storing, organizing, annotating documents, uploading documents (including vital documents) by the consumer, and providing additional layers of security to particular documents.
US08117034B2
A speech recognition device (1) processes speech data (SD) of a dictation and thus establishes recognized text information (ETI) and link information (LI) of the dictation. In a synchronous playback mode of the speech recognition device (1), during the acoustic playback of the dictation a correction device (10) synchronously marks the word of the recognized text information (ETI) which word relates to the speech data (SD) just played back marked by the link information (LI) is marked synchronously, the just marked word featuring the position of an audio cursor (AC). When a user of the speech recognition device (1) recognizes an incorrect word, he positions a text cursor (TC) at the incorrect word and corrects it. Cursor synchronization means (15) now make it possible to synchronize the text cursor (TC) with the audio cursor (AC) or the audio cursor (AC) with the text cursor (TC) so that the positioning of the respective cursor (AC, TC) is simplified considerably.
US08117030B2
A method for analyzing and adjusting the performance of a speech-enabled application includes selecting a number of user utterances that were previously received by the speech-enabled application. The speech-enabled application receives such user utterances and associates each user utterance with an action-object based on one or more salient terms in the user utterance that are associated with the action-object. The method further includes associating one of a number of action-objects with each of the selected user utterances. Furthermore, for each action-object, the percentage of the utterances associated with the action-object that include at least one of the salient terms associated with the action-object is determined. If the percentage does not exceed a selected threshold, the method also includes adjusting the one or more salient terms associated with the action-object.
US08117021B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for testing software programs running on a data processing system. Text is translated from the source language to the target language to form translated text in response to a user input, containing the text in a source language. The text is entered through a computer interface in the data processing system. The translated text is inserted into a user interface of the software program to be tested to form inserted, translated text. The software program is written using the target language. A determination is made as to whether the software program functions correctly using the inserted, translated text.
US08117015B2
An analytical model creation system can create a desired analytical model by adding a given shape change to an existing analytical model. The system includes an adjacent partial analytical model interlocking section for performing an interlocking change process. The interlocking change process is performed on the existing analytical model as a combined analytical model comprising a plurality of partial analytical models. The process assumes any one of the partial analytical models in the combined analytical model to be a change-targeted partial analytical model. The process allows a partial analytical model adjacent to the change-targeted partial analytical model to reflect a shape change given to the change-targeted partial analytical model. The process thereby makes a shape change to the adjacent partial analytical model in interlock with the shape change.
US08117014B2
Methods and apparatus for estimating stress characteristics of formations. The method comprises: (a) acquiring sonic anisotropy data, image data or both associated with at least one borehole (b) employing sonic anisotropy data to estimate fast shear direction (FSA) to extract FSA observed data; (c) computing FSA from forward modeling, forward modeling utilizes a first deviatoric stress tensor to extract FSA predicted data; (d) computing FSA misfit from difference between FSA observed data and FSA predicted data to obtain computed FSA misfit relating to first deviatoric stress tensor; (e) if computed FSA misfit is equal to or less than a defined value, then store computed FSA misfit, otherwise repeat steps (d)-(h) using another deviatoric stress tensor so a different deviatoric stress tensor is used for each repeat; (f) selecting smallest stored computed misfit from group consisting of stored computed FSA misfit, at least one other stored computed misfit or combination thereof.
US08117002B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring a damaged vehicle, in which inclination of the vehicle is measured with the measuring device and the measured inclination of the vehicle is used as a datum plane, distances of measuring points (9a, 9b) of the damaged vehicle (8) are measured with a measuring sensor of the measuring device and the measured data are compared to registered reference values of the measuring points, and inclination of the measuring device is measured with an inclination sensor of the measuring device. According to the invention, the measuring device simultaneously measures the distance between the measuring points and the inclination of the damaged vehicle and height difference of the measuring points is calculated from the values of distance between the measuring points and inclination.
US08116985B1
An automated blood or bodily fluid sampling machine for collecting, measuring and monitoring real time samples from test animals during dosing of the animals, automatically provides real-time adjustment of dosing during testing. Such automated blood or bodily fluid sampling is performed in tandem with implanted physiological monitoring devices to monitor biological and physiological parameters in restrained or freely-moving test animals. The real-time feedback provides for dosing adjustment within testing protocols.
