US08124571B2
An underground formation is consolidated by (a) incorporating into a treatment fluid (i) at least one chemical substance which is capable of undergoing a chemical change that alters the physico-chemical environment of the treatment fluid and which is a bicarbonate or a compound that generates a phosphate, phosphoric acid, sulphate, sulphuric acid, hydrogen sulphide, S2−, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, base or acid; and, optionally, (ii) at least one additional chemical substance selected from salts and complexes of metals having a valency of 2 or higher; introducing the treatment fluid into the formation; and allowing the chemical substance (i), alone or in combination with the optional chemical substance (ii), to undergo a chemical change that alters the physico-chemical environment of the treatment fluid such that a consolidating mineral is deposited in the underground formation.
US08124570B2
There is a viscoelastic fluid. The fluid has one or more cationic surfactants selected from the group consisting of certain quaternary salts, certain amines, and combinations thereof; one or more anionic polymers/anionic surfactants; one or more of certain zwitterionic/amphoteric surfactants; and water. There is also a method of fracturing a subterranean formation. The viscoelastic fluid is pumped through a wellbore and into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation. There is also a method for gravel packing a subterranean formation.
US08124569B2
Control of the properties of cement slurries of normal densities with optimized polymers combination
The invention discloses a cement slurry composition for cementing a well comprising: an hydraulic cement, water and a combination made of a cellulosic polymer and an acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate co- or ter-polymer, wherein the density of said cement slurry is above 1700 kg/m3.
US08124560B2
The present invention relates to a tectosilicate having an X-ray diffraction pattern in which at least the following reflections occur: Intensity (%)Diffraction angle 2θ/° [Cu K(alpha 1)] 100 9.8-10.2 24-3411.0-11.4 9-1915.5-15.9 12-2219.4-19.6 19-2919.6-19.8 100% relating to the intensity of the maximum peak in the X-ray diffraction pattern.
US08124559B2
A process of forming a hydrogen storage material, including the steps of: providing a borohydride material of the formula: M(BH4)x where M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2; providing an alanate material of the formula: M1(AlH4)x where M1 is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal and 1≦x≦2; providing a halide material of the formula: M2Halx where M2 is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or transition metal and Hal is a halide and 1≦x≦4; combining the borohydride, alanate and halide materials such that 5 to 50 molar percent from the borohydride material is present forming a reaction product material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the alanate material.
US08124558B2
A hydrogen storage material and process is provided in which alkali borohydride materials are created which contain effective amounts of catalyst(s) which include transition metal oxides, halides, and chlorides of titanium, zirconium, tin, and combinations of the various catalysts. When the catalysts are added to an alkali borodydride such as a lithium borohydride, the initial hydrogen release point of the resulting mixture is substantially lowered. Additionally, the hydrogen storage material may be rehydrided with weight percent values of hydrogen at least about 9 percent.
US08124557B2
Provided are a supported metallocene catalyst which has excellent supporting efficiency due to an interaction between a cocatalyst supported on a carrier and a metallocene compound substituted with a functional group that can function as a Lewis base, such as acetal, ketal, tert-alkoxy alkyl, benzyloxy alkyl, substituted benzyloxy alkyl, monothioacetal, or monothioketal, and a method of polymerizing an olefin using the supported metallocene catalyst. In the supported metallocene catalyst, the metallocene catalyst is strongly bound to the carrier due to a Lewis acid-base interaction between the metallocene compound and the cocatalyst, and thus the metallocene catalyst is not separated from the carrier during the polymerization of polyolefin in a slurry or gas phase method. Thus, fouling is prevented and the prepared polymer has a good particle shape and a high apparent density. Thus, the supported metallocene catalyst can be suitably used in a conventional slurry or gas phase polymerization process.
US08124545B2
The invention includes methods in which one or more components of a carboxylic acid having an aqueous acidic dissociation constant of at least 1×10−6 are utilized during the etch of oxide (such as silicon dioxide or doped silicon dioxide). Two or more carboxylic acids can be utilized. Exemplary carboxylic acids include trichloroacetic acid, maleic acid, and citric acid.
US08124543B2
A method for manufacturing an LD is disclosed. The LD has a striped structure including an optical active region. The striped structure is buried with resin, typically benzo-cyclo-butene (BCB). The method to form an opening in the BCB layer has tri-steps etching of the RIE. First step etches the BCB layer partially by a mixed gas of CF4 and O2, where CF4 has a first partial pressure, second step etches the photo-resist patterned on the top of the BCB layer by a mixed gas of CF4 and O2, where CF4 in this step has the second partial pressure less than the first partial pressure, and third step etches the BCB left in the first step by mixed gas of CF4 and O2, where CF4 in this step has the third partial pressure greater than the second partial pressure.
US08124531B2
Methods and apparatuses for filling high aspect ratio features with tungsten-containing materials in a substantially void-free manner are provided. In certain embodiments, the method involves depositing an initial layer of a tungsten-containing material followed by selectively removing a portion of the initial layer to form a remaining layer, which is differentially passivated along the depth of the high-aspect ration feature. In certain embodiments, the remaining layer is more passivated near the feature opening than inside the feature. The method may proceed with depositing an additional layer of the same or other material over the remaining layer. The deposition rate during this later deposition operation is slower near the feature opening than inside the features due to the differential passivation of the remaining layer. This deposition variation, in turn, may aid in preventing premature closing of the feature and facilitate filling of the feature in a substantially void free manner.
US08124527B2
The present invention generally relates to the formation of a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) cantilever switch in a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) back end of the line (BEOL) process. The cantilever switch is formed in electrical communication with a lower electrode in the structure. The lower electrode may be either blanket deposited and patterned or simply deposited in vias or trenches of the underlying structure. The excess material used for the lower electrode is then planarized by chemical mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP). The cantilever switch is then formed over the planarized lower electrode.
US08124524B2
Methods of forming a metal interconnection structure are provided. The methods include forming an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate including a first metal interconnection. The insulating layer is patterned to form an opening that exposes the first metal interconnection. A first diffusion barrier layer is formed on the exposed first metal interconnection. After forming the first diffusion barrier layer, a second diffusion barrier layer is formed on the first diffusion barrier layer in the opening, the second diffusion barrier layer contacting a sidewall of the opening. A second metal interconnection is formed on the second diffusion barrier layer.
US08124523B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of (a) forming a plasma of a gas having carbon and fluorine, and forming an internal insulation film provided with a fluorine-doped carbon film formed on a substrate using the plasma; (b) forming a metal film on the internal insulation film; (c) etching the metal film according to a pattern to form a hard mask; (d) forming a concave part in the fluorine-doped carbon film by etching the fluorine-doped carbon film using the hard mask; (e) forming a film formation of a wiring material on the substrate for filling the concave part with the wiring material; (f) removing an excess part of the wiring material and the hard mask on the fluorine-doped carbon film for exposing a surface of the fluorine-doped carbon film; and (g) removing an oxide formed on the surface of the fluorine-doped film.
US08124514B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes: a plurality of stacked units juxtaposed on a major surface of a substrate, each stacked unit aligning in a first direction parallel to the major surface of the substrate; and a gate electrode aligning parallel to the major surface in a second direction non-parallel to the first direction. Each of the plurality of stacked units includes a plurality of stacked semiconductor layers via an insulating layer. The plurality of stacked units are juxtaposed so that the spacings between adjacent stacked units are alternately a first spacing and a second spacing larger than the first spacing. The second spacing is provided at a periodic interval four times a size of a half pitch F of the bit line. The gate electrode includes a protruding portion that enters into a gap of the second spacing between the stacked units. A first insulating film, a charge storage layer, and a second insulating film are provided between a side face of the semiconductor layer and the protruding portion.
US08124510B2
A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device is disclosed in which a trench and a hole are controlled to have a predetermined configuration even if the silicon carbide semiconductor device is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of not lower than 1,500° C. A heat treatment step(s) of a method of the invention includes a step of heat treatment in an argon atmosphere at a temperature in a range of 1,600° C. to 1,800° C. under a pressure of at most 10 Torr for a time duration in a range of 0.1 min to 10 min to evaporate silicon atoms from a surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate or the silicon carbide epitaxial layer and to obtain a silicon carbide surface with a carbon atom concentration of at least 95%. The method can further comprise a step of ion implantation of nitrogen ions or phosphorus ions in a dose amount of 8×1014 cm−2 into a surface of the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate or into the silicon carbide epitaxial layer, followed by the step of heat treatment at a temperature of 1,500° C. or higher. The method can comprise a step of heat treatment in an atmosphere of argon gas at a temperature in a range of 1,600° C. to 1,800° C. containing monosilane in an amount of at least 0.2%.
US08124503B2
A new and useful nanotube growth substrate conditioning processes is herein disclosed that allows the growth of vertical arrays of carbon nanotubes where the average diameter of the nanotubes can be selected and/or controlled as compared to the prior art.
US08124501B2
A semiconductor wafer is produced by irradiating a laser beam to either face of a semiconductor wafer so as to fit a focusing position into a given depth position of the semiconductor wafer to generate a multiphoton absorption process only in a specific portion of the semiconductor wafer at the given depth position to thereby form a gettering sink.
US08124496B2
A cable connector assembly (100) comprises a mating member (3) assembled with a plurality of contacts (33, 34), a printed circuit board (2), a cable (7) having a plurality of wires (71) and a strain relief portion (72), and a light pipe located (4) between the printed circuit board and the strain relief portion. The printed circuit board is attached with a LED (24), and the LED is electrically connected with the contacts. The printed circuit board defines a front surface, a rear surface and a cutout (23) extending through the front surface and the rear surface along a mating direction, and the LED is disposed behind the rear surface of the printed circuit board, the wires are extending through the cutout of the printed circuit board and soldered to the contacts in front of the printed circuit board.
US08124492B2
Provided is a semiconductor device manufacturing method for a capacitor having a dielectric film which can be formed into a thin film, can be formed at a low temperature, and has a readily controllable property. The manufacturing method includes: forming an oxide film or an oxynitride film on a conductor for serving as one electrode of a capacitor; forming, on the oxide film or the oxynitride film, a manganese oxide film for serving as a dielectric film of the capacitor; and forming, on the manganese oxide film, a conductive film for serving as the other electrode of the capacitor.
US08124484B2
To manufacture a MOS memory device having a dielectric film laminate in which adjacent dielectric films have band-gaps of different magnitudes, a plasma processing device which transmits microwaves to a chamber by means of a planar antenna having a plurality of holes is used to perform plasma CVD under pressure conditions that differ from at least pressure conditions used when forming the adjacent dielectric films, and the dielectric films are sequentially formed by altering the band-gaps of the adjacent dielectric films that constitute the dielectric film laminate.
US08124482B2
An integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor with a trenched gate abutting an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region. The body well and source diffused region overlap the bottom surface of the gate trench. An integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor with a first trenched gate abutting an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region, and a second trenched gate located over a heavily doped buried layer. The buried layer is the same conductivity type as the drift region. A process of forming an integrated circuit containing an MOS transistor, which includes an isolation dielectric layer over a drift region of a drain of the transistor, and a gate formed in a gate trench which abuts the isolation dielectric layer. The gate trench is formed by removing substrate material adjacent to the isolation dielectric layer.
US08124481B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region having a plurality of recessed channel areas extending across the active region and a plurality of junction areas also extending across the active region. Gates are formed in and over the recessed channel areas of the active region. A device isolation structure is formed in the semiconductor substrate to delimit the active region, and the device isolation structure has recessed portions, each of which is formed near a junction area of the active region. Landing plugs are formed over each junction area in the active region and extend to fill the recessed portion of the device isolation structure outside the active region. The semiconductor device suppresses interference caused by an adjoining gate leading to a decrease in leakage current from a cell transistor.
US08124475B2
An integrated circuit arrangement contains an insulating region, which is part of a planar insulating layer, and a capacitor which contains: near and far electrode regions near and remote from the insulating region and a dielectric region. The capacitor and an active component are on the same side of the insulating layer, and the near electrode region and an active region of the component are planar and parallel to the insulating layer. The near electrode region is monocrystalline and contains multiple webs.
US08124468B2
An electronic device including an integrated circuit can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, and a vertical conductive structure extending through the semiconductor layer and electrically connected to the buried conductive region. The integrated circuit can further include a doped structure having an opposite conductivity type as compared to the buried conductive region, lying closer to an opposing surface than to a primary surface of the semiconductor layer, and being electrically connected to the buried conductive region. The integrated circuit can also include a well region that includes a portion of the semiconductor layer, wherein the portion overlies the doped structure and has a lower dopant concentration as compared to the doped structure. In other embodiment, the doped structure can be spaced apart from the buried conductive region.
US08124465B2
There is provided a semiconductor device including: convex semiconductor layers formed on a semiconductor substrate via an insulating film; gate electrodes formed on a pair of facing sides of the semiconductor layers via a gate insulating film; a channel region formed of silicon between the gate electrodes in the semiconductor layers; a source extension region and a drain extension region formed of silicon germanium or silicon carbon on both sides of the channel region in the semiconductor layers; and a source region formed of silicon so as to adjoin to the opposite side of the channel region in the source extension region, and a drain region formed of silicon so as to adjoin to the opposite side of the channel region in the drain extension region in the semiconductor layers.
US08124462B2
A semiconductor including a selectively plated lead frame is disclosed. The lead frame contains a die pad and a plurality of lead fingers, where each lead finger is formed with a bonding pad on the center portion of the lead finger by selective plating. The surface area of the lead finger material is increased so the adhesion to molding material is improved. The edges of the lead finger tips are half etched to further increase the surface area of lead finger material. A method of manufacturing the lead frame is also provided.
US08124457B2
A wiring circuit layer 2 having a connecting conductor part 21 that can be connected to an electrode 31 of a semiconductor element 3 is formed on a metal support substrate 1 in a way such that the wiring circuit layer can be separated from the substrate 1, and that the connecting conductor part 21 is exposed on the upper face of the wiring circuit layer. The wiring circuit layer 2 is laminated on the element 3 while in a wafer state, and the connecting conductor part 21 and the electrode 31 are connected. Subsequently, the support substrate 1 is peeled from the wiring circuit layer 2, and the wafer is diced, whereby individual semiconductor devices are obtained.
US08124456B2
Semiconductor device assemblies include elements such as electronic components and substrates secured together by a fastener that includes an elongated portion extending continuously through an aperture in two or more such elements. Computer systems include such semiconductor device assemblies. Fasteners for securing together such elements include an elongated portion, a first end piece, and a second end piece. Methods of securing together a plurality of semiconductor devices include inserting an elongated portion of a fastener through an aperture in a first semiconductor device and an aperture in at least one additional semiconductor device. Circuit boards include a plurality of apertures disposed in an array corresponding to an array of apertures in a semiconductor device assembly. Each aperture is sized and configured to receive a fastener for maintaining an assembled relationship between the semiconductor device assembly and the circuit board.
US08124455B2
A wafer strength reinforcement system is provided including providing a wafer, providing a tape for supporting the wafer, and positioning a wafer edge support material for location between the tape and the wafer.
US08124450B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to stack multiple devices using an interconnecting element. A board has a periphery and top and bottom surfaces. The top surface has top contact pads to attach to a first device. The bottom surface is milled down to form a cavity confined by vertical walls around the periphery. The cavity fits a second device. Bottom contact pads are formed on bottom side of the vertical walls. The bottom contact pads are raised with respect to the bottom side of the vertical walls. Traces internal to the board connect the bottom contact pads to the top contact pads.
US08124448B2
Various die crack deflection structures and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes fabricating a semiconductor chip including an outer edge, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. A deflection structure is fabricated in the semiconductor chip. The deflection structure includes a sloped profile to deflect a crack propagating in the semiconductor chip toward the first side or the second side of the semiconductor chip.
US08124447B2
The manufacturing method of advanced quad flat non-leaded packages includes performing a pre-cutting process prior to the backside etching process for defining the contact terminals. The pre-cutting process ensures the isolation of individual contact terminals and improves the package reliability.
US08124438B2
A CMOS image sensor and a method of fabricating the same. The CMOS image sensor may minimize disappearance of electrons generated by light without transmission of electrons to a transfer gate. A method of manufacturing a CMOS image sensor may include forming a trench over an isolation region of a semiconductor substrate to define an active region including a photodiode region and a transistor region. The method may include forming first conductivity-type ion implanted regions over a trench side wall of a photodiode region and over a region adjacent to the transistor region. The method may include forming second conductivity-type ion implanted regions between a first conductivity-type ion implanted region and a trench, and between a lower part of a transistor region and a first conductivity-type ion implanted region. The method may include forming an isolation layer, forming a gate electrode and a spacer, and/or forming a photodiode.
US08124436B2
A MEMS switch with a platinum-series contact is capped through a process that also passivates the contact by controlling, over time, the amount of oxygen in the environment, pressures and temperatures. Some embodiments passivate a contact in an oxygenated atmosphere at a first temperature and pressure, before hermetically sealing the cap at a higher temperature and pressure. Some embodiments hermetically seal the cap at a temperature below which passivating dioxides will form, thus trapping oxygen within the volume defined by the cap, and later passivate the contact with the trapped oxygen at a higher temperature.
US08124435B2
The invention relates to microelectromechanical components, like microelectromechanical gauges used in measuring e.g. acceleration, angular acceleration, angular velocity, or other physical quantities. The microelectromechanical component, according to the invention, comprises a microelectromechanical chip part, sealed by means of a cover part, and an electronic circuit part, suitably bonded to each other. The aim of the invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing a microelectromechanical component, and to provide a microelectromechanical component, which is applicable for use particularly in small microelectromechanical sensor solutions.
US08124431B2
A method of producing a nitride semiconductor laser device includes: forming a wafer including a nitride semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer of a nitride semiconductor, a nitride semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, and an electrode pad for the second conductivity type stacked in this order on a main surface of a conductive substrate and also including stripe-like waveguide structures parallel to the active layer; cutting the wafer to obtain a first type and a second type of laser device chips; and distinguishing between the first type and the second type of chips by automatic image recognition. The first type and the second type of chips are different from each other in position of the stripe-like waveguide structure with respect to a width direction of each chip and also in area ratio of the electrode pad to the main surface of the substrate.
US08124419B2
This invention relates generally to gas sensors comprising organized assemblies of carbon and non-carbon compounds. The invention also relates to devices containing such gas sensors and analysis units. In preferred embodiments, the organized assemblies of the instant invention take the form of nanorods or their aggregate forms. More preferably, a nanorod is made up of a carbon nanotube filled, coated, or both filled and coated by a non-carbon material.
US08124418B2
Disclosed is a method for measuring a phosphoric acid and/or a phosphate in a sample simply and rapidly with high sensitivity. Specifically disclosed is a method for electrochemically measuring a phosphoric acid and/or a phosphate ester, which is characterized by measuring PO43− produced through a chemical reaction of a phosphate, more specifically by measuring the redox response current between PO43− and HPO42−.
US08124415B2
The discovery that apolipoprotein B exhibits spectral features in the mid IR spectrum that make it identifiable within blood serum leads to the invented use of a statistical correlation between a concentration of apolipoprotein-B (apoB) in a sample of blood serum and infrared spectral features of the blood serum sample to produce a test for apoB. A method for providing such a test, and tests produced by the method are taught.
US08124407B2
Circular nucleic acid vectors that provide for persistently high levels of protein expression are provided. The circular vectors of the subject invention are characterized by being devoid of expression-silencing bacterial sequences, where in many embodiments the subject vectors include a unidirectional site-specific recombination product hybrid sequence in addition to an expression cassette. Also provided are methods of using the subject vectors for introduction of a nucleic acid, e.g., an expression cassette, into a target cell, as well as preparations for use in practicing such methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including both research and therapeutic applications. Also provided is a highly efficient and readily scalable method for producing the vectors employed in the subject methods, as well as reagents and kits/systems for practicing the same.
US08124405B2
The invention provides a single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a target cell; a Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the target cell, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the target cell; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the Targeting Moiety; and a translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the target cell.
US08124402B2
A method and apparatus for the manipulation of colloidal particles and biomolecules at the interface between an insulating electrode such as silicon oxide and an electrolyte solution. Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces relies on the combination of three functional elements: the AC electric field-induced assembly of planar aggregates; the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The present invention provides a set of fundamental operations enabling interactive control over the creation and placement of planar arrays of several types of particles and biomolecules and the manipulation of array shape and size. The present invention enables sample preparation and handling for diagnostic assays and biochemical analysis in an array format, and the functional integration of these operations. In addition, the present invention provides a procedure for the creation of material surfaces with desired properties and for the fabrication of surface-mounted optical components.
US08124401B2
The invention relates to a method and a system for producing biofertilizers, from sludge that are stabilized, dried, and rich in fertilizing matters originating from high load effluent treatment method. Such solution may be integrated into an already existing treatment facility for industrial, municipal, or agronomical organic effluents (100), and is based on recovering the thermal energy created during the treatment steps of such system in bioreactors (120), air suppression units (122), biodrying units (500), drying units (600), and other units. Such recovery of energy creates a synergy that allows the increase of efficacy and yield of bioreactors (120) due to a greater stability from the temperature regulation, thus ensuring an important energy saving for the final drying step in producing biofertilizers.
US08124399B2
The present invention provides cells that have been genetically manipulated to have an altered capacity to produce expressed proteins. In particular, the present invention relates to Gram-positive microorganisms, such as Bacillus species having enhanced expression of a protein of interest, wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been inactivated, and preferably wherein one or more chromosomal genes have been deleted from the Bacillus chromosome. In some further embodiments, one or more indigenous chromosomal regions have been deleted from a corresponding wild-type Bacillus host chromosome.
US08124391B2
The invention relates to a thermostable polymerase based on thermococcus pacificus; DNA molecules which code for one such polymerase; expression vectors; host cells; methods for producing one such polymerase and the use thereof for polymerising nucleic acid, especially in the polymerase chain reaction.
US08124386B2
The disclosure includes a method, process and apparatus for the conversion of biomass to carboxylic acids and/or primary alcohols. The system may include a pretreatment/fermentation subsystem operable to produce a fermentation broth containing carboxylic acid salts from biomass, such as lignocellulosic biomass. The system may also include a dewatering subsystem operable to remove excess water from the fermentation broth to produce a concentrated product. The system may also includes an acid springing subsystem operable to produce a mixed carboxylic acid product. The system may also include a hydrogenation subsystem operable to produce an alcohol mixture, such as a mixture containing primary alcohols. Methods of operating this system or other systems to obtain a carboxylic acid or alcohol mixture are also provided.
US08124376B2
The present invention relates to methods of producing a heterologous biological substance, comprising: (a) cultivating a mutant of a parent Bacillus cell under conditions conducive for the production of the heterologous biological substance, wherein (i) the mutant cell comprises a first nucleic acid sequence directing synthesis of the heterologous biological substance and a second nucleic acid sequence comprising a modification of at least one of the genes cypX and yvmC, which are involved in the production of a red pigment, and (ii) the mutant cell is deficient in the production of the red pigment compared to the parent Bacillus cell when cultivated under the same conditions; and (b) recovering the heterologous biological substance from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to mutants of Bacillus cells and methods for producing the mutants.
US08124374B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of mass-producing recombinant protein by the liquid culture method with koji molds as host. According to the present invention, it is provided a method of producing recombinant protein by using the recombinant koji molds which are obtained by transforming koji molds as host comprising: culturing the recombinant koji molds in a liquid medium which contains as culture raw material at least one selected from the group consisting of the cereal of which surface is entirely or partly covered with at least husks, the bean and/or the tuber of which surface is covered with hulls and the amaranthus and/or the quinoa without pre-treatment such as grinding or crushing; and collecting the recombinant protein from the culture product.
US08124371B2
The present invention relates to compositions for destabilizing lysosomes to increase the degradation of oncogenic or aberrant proteins for the prevention or treatment of disease. Methods for identifying agents which destabilize lysosomes are also provided as are agents identified in accordance with the screening method.
US08124369B2
Rationally-designed LAGLIDADG meganucleases and methods of making such meganucleases are provided. In addition, methods are provided for using the meganucleases to generate recombinant cells and organisms having a desired DNA sequence inserted into a limited number of loci within the genome, as well as methods of gene therapy, for treatment of pathogenic infections, and for in vitro applications in diagnostics and research.
US08124366B2
The invention relates to an in vitro method for detecting the formation of endothelins during serious illnesses, especially cardiovascular diseases, inflammations, sepsis and cancer, in whole blood, plasma or serum of a human patient for medical diagnosis. Using this method, relatively long-lasting peptide fragments, especially a C-terminal peptide fragment, of the processed primary prepro- or proendothelins that contain neither the actual biologically active endothelin nor its direct precursor, big endothelin, can be detected.
US08124362B2
Assay methods are disclosed involving specific binding reactions which are simplified compared to known methods. A compound capable of producing chemiluminescence is immobilized on a solid support as is a member of a specific binding pair for capturing an analyte from a sample. An activator compound that activates the chemiluminescent compound and is conjugated to a specific binding pair member is added in excess along with the sample to the solid support. Addition of a trigger solution causes a chemiluminescent reaction at the sites where the activator conjugate has been specifically bound. The assay methods are termed non-separation assays because they do not require removal or separation of excess detection label (activator conjugate) prior to the detection step. The methods are applicable to various types of assays including immunoassays, receptor-ligand assays and nucleic acid hybridization assays.
US08124342B2
A method for replicating and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence is described. A method of the invention involves the formation of a recombination intermediate without the prior denaturing of a nucleic acid duplex through the use of a recombination factor. The recombination intermediate is treated with a high fidelity polymerase to permit the replication and amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence. In preferred embodiments, the polymerase comprises a polymerase holoenzyme. In further preferred embodiments, the recombination factor is bacteriophage T4 UvsX protein or homologs from other species, and the polymerase holoenzyme comprises a polymerase enzyme, a clamp protein and a clamp loader protein, derived from viral, bacteriophage, prokaryotic, archaebacterial, or eukaryotic systems.
US08124333B2
A method to link a light emitting reporter to biomolecules with nucleotide oligomers is described. The light reporter particles are silylated and functionalized to produce a coated light reporter particle, prior to covalently linking the biomolecules to the light reporter particle. The light reporter particle generated by the methods of the invention can be excited by a light excitation source such as UV or IR light, and when the biomolecule is DNA, the attached DNA molecule(s) are detectable by amplification techniques such as PCR.
US08124332B2
The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of infection, a disease, or a condition using CD26 (DPIV) inhibitors. The present invention also relates to an antibody that binds to the IP-10 protein and a method of monitoring the necessity for administering a CD26 inhibitor to a patient, comprising evaluating a level of sIP-10, a activity of CD26, and/or a level of CXCR3 cells in a sample.
US08124324B2
A resin composition includes a binder component having at least one of a monomer and an oligomer of one or more of a fluorine system and a silicone system having a polymerizable functional group in a molecule. The resin composition also includes fine metal oxide particles, and a polymerization initiator. The fine metal oxide particles include particles selected from the group of zinc oxide, indium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO), zinc-doped indium oxide (IZO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO).
US08124316B2
Photosensitive film can be protected in stacking photosensitive sheets and a sheet can be separated one at a time in a state where photosensitive sheets are stacked, ensuring its taking out. An apparatus for manufacturing PS plates, which is adapted to provide photosensitive film on one side of both surfaces of the web, is provided with a coating device for applying coating liquid to form resin film on the other side of the web, a drying device for drying and solidifying the coating liquid applied, and a concave and convex portions forming device for forming concave and convex portions on the surface of the resin film.
US08124314B2
A radiation-sensitive composition includes (A) a first polymer which becomes alkali-soluble by the action of an acid and does not contain a fluorine atom, (B) a second polymer having a repeating unit (b1) shown by the following formula (1) and a fluorine-containing repeating unit (b2), and (C) a radiation-sensitive acid generator, the content of the second polymer (B) in the composition being 0.1 to 20 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the first polymer (A). wherein R1 represents a monovalent organic group, and R8 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. The composition can form a resist film capable of suppressing defects inherent to liquid immersion lithography such as watermark defects and bubble defects.
US08124306B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic toner enabling an image with high image density and excellent image reproducibility to be obtained, which is excellent in fluidity, charging stability, and charging uniformity, even for long-term use, and also enabling an image whose fogging, ghost, and scattering are suppressed to be obtained. The magnetic toner has at least a binder resin and a magnetic material, where, the magnetic material is an magnetic iron oxide whose dielectric breakdown voltage of the magnetic material is 160 to 1600 V/cm, and the dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) of the magnetic toner at 100 kHz and 40° C. is 2.0×10−3 to 1.0×10−2.
US08124294B2
Provided is a polymer electrolyte membrane including an inorganic nanoparticle bonded with a proton-conducting group, a solid acid and a proton-conducting polymer. The inorganic nanoparticle bonded with the proton-conducting group may be obtained by reacting a compound including a proton-conducting group with a metal precursor. The polymer electrolyte membrane has significantly enhanced proton conductivity and reduced methanol crossover.
US08124285B2
Disclosed is an electrode having a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film partially or totally formed on a surface thereof, the SEI film being formed by electrical reduction of a cyclic diester compound and a sulfinyl group-containing compound. Further, a secondary battery comprising the electrode is disclosed.
US08124282B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte having maleimide additives and rechargeable cells employing the same are provided. The nonaqueous electrolyte having maleimide additives comprises an alkali metal electrolyte, a nonaqueous solvent, and maleimide additives. Specifically, the maleimide additives comprise maleimide monomer, bismaleimide monomer, bismaleimide oligomer, or mixtures thereof. The maleimide additives comprise functional groups, such as a maleimide double bond, phenyl group carboxyl, or imide, enhancing the charge-discharge efficiency, safety, thermal stability, chemical stability, flame-resistance, and lifespan of the secondary cells of the invention.
US08124278B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising a positive electrode 5, a negative electrode 6, a separator 7 and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein a material mixture layer containing an active material and a binder is formed on a surface of a current collector 51 of at least one of the positive electrode 5 and the negative electrode 6. The material mixture layer includes a first layer 52 and a second layer 53 which are different in volume ratio of the binder to the active material. The volume ratio (A) of the binder in the first layer 52 in contact with the surface of the current collector 51 is lower than the volume ratio (B) of the binder in the second layer 53.
US08124276B2
A bipolar battery includes: a bipolar electrode composed, by forming a positive electrode active material layer 12 an one surface of a current collector and forming a negative electrode active material layer 13 on the other surface; and a separator 14 composed to be stacked alternately with the bipolar electrode, wherein, in a single cell layer 15 composed by including the positive electrode active material layer 12, the separator 14 and the negative electrode active material layer 13, which are adjacent to one another, a thickness of the separator 14 is 0.68 times or more to less than 1.0 times a thickness of the positive electrode active material layer 12, and is 0.68 times or more to less than 1.0 times a thickness of the negative electrode active material layer 13.
US08124275B2
To smoothly deliver a thermal energy required in an active site of a catalyst carried on a carrier. A method of manufacturing a catalyst carrier of the present invention includes the steps of: forming a mixed thin film in which at least metal and ceramics are mixed on a metal base, by spraying aerosol, with metal powders and ceramic powders mixed therein, on the metal base; and making the mixed thin film porous, by dissolving the metal of the mixed thin film into acid or alkaline solution to remove this metal.
US08124267B2
A lithium secondary battery is provided. Electrolytes of the lithium secondary battery are divided between an anode and a cathode into a plurality of regions not to contact with each other, thereby limiting movement paths of lithium ions. In this way, the lithium secondary battery inhibits growth of dendrite and improves energy density. Also, the lithium secondary battery that has a partition wall structure reduces leakage even when liquid electrolytes are used and actively copes with pressure applied to the battery.
US08124266B2
An electric storage device is provided with a battery cell, a collector foil having a first metal plate and a second metal plate laminated together, and a voltmeter for measuring potential difference between the first metal plate and the second metal plate. The first metal plate and the second metal plate are formed of mutually different metals. The collector foil is arranged to be in contact with the battery cell.
US08124264B2
Disclosed is an ion-conductive material which comprises an ionic liquid and can realize a higher level of safety. Also disclosed is an electrochemical device using the ion-conductive material. Further disclosed is a method for manufacturing an electrochemical device. An ion-conductive material comprising an ionic liquid satisfying the following conditions: the ionic liquid comprises two or more types of anion, such that at least one type thereof is an anion having a structure in which one or more electron-withdrawing groups are bonded to a central atom having one more non-covalent electron pairs; and the ionic liquid has a maximum exothermic heat-flow peak height no greater than 2 W/g as measured by DSC (measurement temperature range: ordinary temperature to 500° C., rate of temperature rise: 2° C./minute). Preferably, the ion-conductive material comprises an ionic liquid having a gross calorific value of no greater than 1000 J/g as measured by the DSC.
US08124258B2
There is provided a glass substrate for a magnetic disk in which a maximum height of bumps forming a roughness pattern at a period of smaller than 2 μm is 6 nm or lower in an annular area having a width of 30 μm on a main surface on which a magnetic recording area is formed, a number of bumps having a height of 3 nm or higher in a unit area having a circular arc length of 30 μm within the annular area is one or less, and a difference in arithmetic average roughness between unit areas within the annular area is 0.2 nm or smaller.
US08124252B2
An abradable coating may include a rare earth silicate. The abradable coating may be deposited over a substrate, an environmental barrier coating, or a thermal barrier coating. The abradable coating may be deposited on a gas turbine blade track or a gas turbine blade shroud to form a seal between the gas turbine blade track or gas turbine blade shroud and a gas turbine blade. The abradable coating may also include a plurality of layers, such as alternating first and second layers including, respectively, a rare earth silicate and stabilized zirconia or stabilized hafnia.
US08124235B2
A method of forming a matte topcoat for rotor blades, propellers and other articles used to protect a leading edge substrate against high speed liquid or solid particle erosion including premixing a concentrate of flatting agent dispersed in a solvent, reducing the moisture content using molecular sieves, blending the concentrate of flatting agent into a polyurethane or polyurea composition and forming a protective coating comprising a matte layer on the leading edge substrate.
US08124225B2
An aqueous floor care composition comprising water, polymer particles wherein the polymer particles include units derived from a conjugated diene monomer, units derived from an acidic monomer, and units derived from a hard, non-acidic monomer, an external crosslinking agent, and optionally one or more of a leveling agent, surfactant, polyurethane, alkali-soluble resin, coalescing agent, plasticizer, and wax.
US08124224B2
An antireflection laminate includes a support; a layer having hardcoat property; an overcoat layer; and a low refractive index layer, wherein at least one layer of the layer having hardcoat property and the overcoat layer comprises a metal oxide particle, and the antireflection laminate has a surface haze value of 0 to 12%, an internal haze value of 0 to 60%, and a Sm value of 40 to 200 μm.
US08124217B2
An optically variable device is disclosed having a substrate with an array of pyramidal structures formed upon it or within it. The structures are coated with an optically variable color-shifting coating. Each of the structures form a pyramidal-like having at least three slanted faces and wherein one or more colors seen when viewing the pyramids vary as substrate is rotated at least 30 degrees about an axis orthogonal to the substrate. In order to see a color shift the device is rotated around the surface normal of the substrate, while keeping the angle of incidence to the light source the same, and keeping the viewing angle the same. Various forms of pyramids may be used, however pyramids with planar faces are most suitable.
US08124216B2
A skin (11) for use with a handheld electronic device is disclosed. The skin (11) includes a decorative layer, an anti-slip layer adhered over the decorative layer, and an adhesive layer disposed between the decorative layer and the anti-slip layer. The anti-slip layer has a surface finish (19) having a high coefficient of friction. The skin (11) is attached to the handheld electronic device by a layer of adhesive (16) on the back of the decorative layer. The skin (11) is selectively shaped to conform to the contours, shape, and components of the handheld electronic device. The skin (11) provides anti-slip and shock absorption functionalities to the handheld electronic device, but does not prevent or impede the handheld electronic device from mating with or connecting to corresponding accessory components.
US08124201B2
A frame is injection molded onto a group of panels to form a container. The panels extend at least partially around, and at least partially define, a cavity of the container.
US08124195B2
A pattern formation method includes discharging a functional liquid substance having a functional material to an object, and irradiating the functional liquid substance with light emitted from a light source thereby to form a pattern of a functional film on the object. In this method, when the thickness of the functional liquid substance on an optical axis of the light is L and the absorption coefficient of the functional liquid substance for the light is α, the thickness and the absorption coefficient are set so as to satisfy an equation (1): 0.1≦α·L≦0.7 (1).
US08124187B2
Methods of forming porous coatings on substrates. Methods of forming porous coatings include preparing a binder, applying the binder to a substrate to form a binder layer, applying a coating material to the binder layer to form a coating material layer, and sintering the coated substrate. In some examples, preparing a binder includes mixing together metal particles including titanium hydride or cobalt disilicide, a polymer including polybutene or poly-isobutylene, a brazing agent, and methyl cellulose. In some examples, the coating material includes titanium or cobalt. Applying the binder may include spray coating the binder onto the substrate.
US08124185B2
A method for manufacturing an organic functional layer includes the steps of: forming a coated film of an organic functional material by applying a coating liquid to a substrate by a printing method, the coating liquid including an organic functional material dissolved or dispersed in a first organic solvent; and bringing the coated film into contact with vapor or liquid of a second organic solvent, the second organic solvent having the following properties: chemically non-active; the second organic solvent can be mixed with the first solvent; the second organic solvent can not substantially dissolve the organic functional material; and a vapor pressure of the second organic solvent is higher than that of the first organic solvent at a room temperature.
US08124184B2
Aluminophosphate compounds, compositions and/or materials as can be used for substrate coatings.
US08124183B2
The drying time for aqueous asphalt emulsions used in the roofing and other waterproofing industries is shortened by separately applying an emulsion breaking agent to the substrate to be waterproofed, to the aqueous asphalt emulsion after it is applied, or both.
US08124171B2
A method of manufacturing a tape-formed oxide superconductor, in which a tape-formed wire material (6 in FIG. 1) is extended between a pair of reels (5a and 5b). Besides, a reactive gas is supplied form the gas supply ports of a reactive gas supply pipe (3a) vertically to the upper side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, a gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4a and 4b) for discharging the gas after the reaction. Likewise, the reactive gas is supplied vertically to the lower side film surface of the tape-formed wire material (6), so as to react the film body of this tape-formed wire material into a superconducting layer, while at the same time, the gas after the reaction is discharged from the gas discharge ports of discharge pipes (4c and 4d) for discharging the gas after the reaction. Even when the tape-formed wire material (6) is large in area, the tape-formed oxide superconductor has superconducting characteristics being uniform in it widthwise direction, and it can be manufactured at high speed.
US08124168B2
Disclosed is a substrate processing method wherein the infrared absorptance or infrared transmittance of a substrate to be processed is measured in advance, and the substrate is processed according to the measured value while independently controlling temperatures at least in a first region located in the central part of the substrate and in a second region around the first region using temperature control means which are respectively provided for the first region and the second region and can be controlled independently from each other.
US08124165B2
The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for coating a medical device.
US08124164B2
A frozen aerated product having an overrun of between about 10% and about 250% and a pH, when melted, in the range about 3.5 to about 5.2, comprises water, 0 to about 20 w/w % fat, about 0.25 to about 20 w/w % milk solids not fat, about 0.05 to about 1.5 w/w % soluble dietary fibre and about 0.1 to about 5 w/w % of insoluble dietary fibre, about 0.1 to about 35 w/w % sweetener but no additional stabilisers or emulsifiers as herein defined. The soluble and insoluble dietary fibre may be derived from fruits or vegetables for example from one or more fruit purees, one or more vegetable purees or mixtures thereof.
US08124162B2
The invention relates to a pea protein whose protein content is equal to or greater than 60% by dry weight, preferably ranging from 60 to 95% by weight, a molecular weight distribution profile is of 1.0-1.8%, preferably of 1.5-3.0% of proteins of greater than 100 000 Da, preferably 20-55% of proteins greater than 15 000 and 100 000 Da, 15-30% of proteins of greater than 5 00 and 15 00 Da and 25-50%, preferably 25-45% of proteins greater than 5 000 Da and whose soluble protein content determined by a method for measuring the protein solubility in water ranging from 20 to 85%, preferably 25 to 65%.
US08124151B2
A method for producing edibles comprising an outer shell from a mass which is fed into a mold. A tempered male die is dipped into the mold, a process during which an excess amount of the mass overflows an edge of the mold. The excess mass is separated form the shell at the edge of the mold by the male die.
US08124150B2
A dispensing apparatus for hot beverages is provided with means (4,5) to filter hot pressurized water through ground edible ingredients such as coffee, tea or herbal remedies in a chamber, means (17,18,20) of monitoring real-time data concerning brewing parameters; a controlling unit (16) comprising means of storing data, means of comparing the real-time data to a set of stored data and/or threshold parameters, stored in the controller's memory associated with the brewing system, to determine whether a correction to the parameters should be made, and means (8,9,24) of altering at least one of the relevant brewing parameters, when required to bring said real time parameter in line with said recorded parameter to obtain consistent high quality of the dispensed beverage.
US08124145B2
A chewing gum comprising a solid shaped chewing gum composition sanded with a sugar alcohol having a negative heat of solution and a method of mixing same. The method involves coating solid pieces of chewing gum composition with a wetting syrup and sanding the wetted pieces with sugar alcohol crystals. The chewing gum is characterized by intense initial cooling and flavor release.
US08124142B2
The present invention includes a cranberry seed oil, a cranberry flour and a method for making cranberry seed oil and flour. The cranberry seed oil comprises beta sitosterol and phosphatidylcholine.
US08124133B2
The present invention relates to a use of total coumarins of cnidium fruit in preparation of a medicament for treating psoriasis. The invention can significantly inhibit mitosis of vaginal epithelial cells of rats; promote the formation of epidermal granular stratum in rat tail's scale; inhibit passive cutaneous anaphylaxis of rats; significantly reduce ear-swelling of mouse induced by croton oil and foot-swelling of rats induced by egg-white; and lessen the itching reaction caused by increasing itch-causing threshold of guinea pigs caused by histamine phosphate. The total coumarins of the invention can improve the clinical symptom of psoriasis, have higher curative effect and are safe to use. It can be administrated both externally and orally.
US08124131B2
A safe and widely-applicable food intake regulator can be provided by using at least one of a fish brain and parts thereof, which have the activity to regulate suppress food intake.
US08124129B2
There is provided a hemihydrate of (3β,5β,7α,12α)-7,12-dihydroxy-3-{2-[{4-[17β-hydroxy-3-oxo-17α-prop-1-ynylestra-4,9-dien-11β-yl]phenyl}(methyl)amino]ethoxy}cholan-24-oic acid in a crystalline form which is characterised by an X-ray diffraction pattern having major peaks at 2θ=6.58±0.2, 8.54+0.2, 12.28±0.2, and 19.68±0.2. This crystalline material is useful in the treatment of conditions associated with an excess of hepatic glucocorticoid response.
US08124126B2
Methods and compositions are provided which comprise effective amounts of analgesic to treat a subject, including reducing or eliminating an adverse effect associated with the analgesic.
US08124120B2
Disclosed are hyaluronic acid (HA) compositions including crosslinked, water-insoluble, hydrated HA gel particles. Also disclosed are methods of making the HA compositions, and methods of using the HA composition to augment tissue in a subject.
US08124119B2
A polymer coating for medical devices based on a polyolefin derivative. A variety of polymers are described to make coatings for medical devices, particularly, for drug delivery stents. The polymers include homo-, co-, and terpolymers having at least one olefin-derived unit and at least one unit derived from vinyl alcohol, allyl alcohol and derivatives thereof.
US08124115B2
An alcoholic foam composition, which can be dispensed as a foam via a pump-foam system contains a) at least 52 to ≦99 wt % of an alcohol or mixture of alcohols, b) a surfactant or a surfactant mixture, c) at least one polyalkylene glycol, d) optionally, at least one foam stabilizer, e) optionally, at least one member selected from the group consisting of cosmetic auxiliaries, adjuvants, active ingredients, and mixtures thereof, and f) optionally water. The surface tension of component b) lies in the range of ±15 dyn/cm of the surface tension of component a) or corresponds to the surface tension of component a), and the sum of components a) to f) is 100 wt % relative to the total quantity of the foam composition.
US08124110B2
The invention relates to three isolated DNA molecules that encode for proteins, BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3, in the Leptospira sp bacterium which have repetitive Bacterial-Ig-like (Big) domains and their use in diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine applications. According to the present invention, the isolated molecules encoding for BigL1, BigL2 and BigL3 proteins are used for the diagnosis and prevention of infection with Leptospira species that are capable of producing disease in humans and other mammals, including those of veterinary importance.
US08124104B2
Immunogenic compositions that elicit immune responses against Norovirus and Sapovirus antigens are described. In particular, the invention relates to polynucleotides encoding one or more capsid proteins or other immunogenic viral polypeptides from one or more strains of Norovirus and/or Sapovirus, coexpression of such immunogenic viral polypeptides with adjuvants, and methods of using the polynucleotides in applications including immunization and production of immunogenic viral polypeptides and viral-like particles (VLPs). Methods for producing Norovirus- or Sapovirus-derived multiple epitope fusion antigens or polyproteins and immunogenic compositions comprising one or more immunogenic polypeptides, polynucleotides, VLPs, and/or adjuvants are also described. The immunogenic compositions of the invention may also contain antigens other than Norovirus or Sapovirus antigens, including antigens that can be used in immunization against pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases, such as antigens derived from rotavirus.
US08124099B2
The present invention provides for the use of soluble forms of CD83 and nucleic acids encoding them for the treatment of diseases caused by the dysfunction or undesired function of a cellular immune response involving T cells. The invention moreover provides soluble CD83 molecules specifically suited for said purpose, antibodies against said specific soluble CD83 proteins and assay methods and kits comprising said antibodies.
US08124090B2
The invention relates to factor D inhibitors, which bind to factor D and block the functional activity of factor D in complement activation. The inhibitors include antibody molecules, as well as homologues, analogues and modified or derived forms thereof, including immunoglobulin fragments like Fab, F(ab′)2 and Fv, small molecules, including peptides, oligonucleotides, peptidomimetics and organic compounds. A monoclonal antibody which bound to factor D and blocked its ability to activate complement was generated and designated 166-32. The hybridoma producing this antibody was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, under Accession Number HB-12476.
US08124088B2
The present invention relates to blocking, inhibiting, reducing, antagonizing or neutralizing the activity of IL-22, IL-20, or both IL-20 and IL-22 polypeptide molecules. IL-20 and IL-22 are cytokines that are involved in inflammatory processes and human disease. IL-22RA (zcytor11) is a common receptor for IL-20 and IL-22. The present invention includes anti-IL-22RA antibodies and binding partners, as well as methods for antagonizing IL-22 or both IL-20 and IL-22 using such antibodies and binding partners.
US08124077B2
The present invention relates to ZCYTO18 polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules. The ZCYTO18 is a novel cytokine. The polypeptides may be used within methods for stimulating the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
US08124076B2
Anti-AβP scFvs and single domain antibodies were generated, and when these antibodies were displayed on filamentous phage or as soluble protein molecules, stabilized by the maltose binding protein, they could prevent the fibrilization of Abp 1-40 and disaggregate Abp 1-40 fibrils generated in vitro. The anti-Aβp scFv antibodies also stained amyloid neuritic plaques on slices from transgenic mice. The anti-AβP scFv and single domain antibodies can be used for inhibiting or treating Alzheimer's disease.
US08124072B2
The present invention is directed to compositions and methods of delivery of CoQ-10 solubilized in monoterpenes. Use of monoterpenes as dissolving agents, greatly effects the ability to incorporate greater amounts of bioactive CoQ-10 in formulations, such as soft gel capsules.
US08124071B2
The invention provides novel methods of reducing transplant rejection and cardiac allograft vasculopathy in humans by employing the implantation of autologous progenitor cells into the transplanted donor heart. The autologous progenitor cells can be vascular progenitor cells (VPCs) and/or myocyte progenitor cells (MPCs) isolated from the recipient's explanted heart. Alternatively, bone marrow progenitor cells (BMPCs) isolated from the recipient may also be used.
US08124068B2
Immunogenic compositions comprising recombinant attenuated intracellular pathogens that have been transformed to express recombinant immunogenic antigens of the same or other intracellular pathogens are provided. Exemplary immunogenic compositions include, but are not limited to attenuated recombinant Mycobacteria expressing the major extracellular non-fusion proteins of Mycobacteria and/or other intracellular pathogens. Other embodiments are provided wherein the recombinant attenuated intracellular pathogen is auxotrophic.
US08124067B2
A method for making dendritic cells reactive to an antigen comprises obtaining a sample of dendritic cells and contacting the cells with the antigen and at least one Toll-like receptor stimulant. Dendritic cells activated by this method provide a means for treating tumors and for creating animal models of autoimmune diseases.
US08124060B2
The invention relates to compositions containing (a) at least one bimodal film former; and (b) at least one cross-linked starch as well as to methods of using such compositions and kits containing such compositions.
US08124054B2
Disclosed are chelating agent-conjugated α-MSH peptide derivatives, preparation methods thereof, and compositions for use in a diagnosis or treatment of a melanoma tumor containing the same as an active ingredient. The novel α-MSH peptide derivatives conjugated with chelating agent according to the present invention are highly selective to the melanocortin-1 receptor which is α-MSH receptor expressing in melanoma tumor and their labeling rate of a radioactive isotope is high. Also, they remain in kidney shortly and have high taking rate of the melanoma tumor. Therefore, with the aforesaid reasons, they may be effectively used for early diagnosis or treatment of melanoma tumor.
US08124047B2
A method for manufacturing (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric material having an improved relative dielectric constant and an electric-field-induced strain is provided. The method is a process in which a formed body of powder particles constituted of a composition of (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 is fired to produce the (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric material, and a constant temperature is kept in a range of 850 to 1000° C. for a constant time before heating to a firing temperature.
US08124045B2
The present invention provides a method of selectively extracting metallic armchair carbon nanotubes alone from the mixture of carbon nanotubes of mixed chiralities, wherein vacant lattice defects are removed from armchair carbon nanotubes alone using the fact that the vacant lattice defects of zigzag carbon nanotubes are hard to diffuse in the axial direction of nanotubes compared with those of armchair carbon nanotubes. Since vacant lattice defects remaining on zigzag carbon nanotubes are active, the tube structures are easily destroyed and decomposed by oxidation etc. Thus it is possible to extract armchair carbon nanotubes alone from the mixture of carbon nanotubes of mixed chiralities.
US08124043B2
The present teachings are directed toward a matrix containing nanosized metal components and carbon nanotubes, with the carbon nanotubes being produced in situ by the nanosized metal components upon the contacting of the nanosized metal components with a carbon source under conditions sufficient to produce the carbon nanotubes. Also disclosed are methods of producing the matrix containing the nanosized metal components and carbon nanotubes.
US08124038B2
The invention relates to a crystallized solid, denoted by the name IM-16, which has an X-ray diffraction pattern as provided hereinafter. Said solid has a chemical composition expressed in accordance with the empirical formula mXO2:nGeO2:pZ2O3:qR:sF:wH2O, where R represents one or more organic species, X represents one or more tetravalent elements different from germanium, Z represents at least one trivalent element and F is fluorine.
US08124033B2
The invention provides an apparatus for regulating the temperature of a chemical and/or biological sample and a method of using the same. The apparatus includes at least one temperature control module. The temperature control module includes a heater, a conductor of caloric, and a temperature sensor. The heater of the temperature control module is adapted to thermally communicate with a removable substrate, on which said chemical and/or biological sample is placed, via the conductor of caloric. The temperature sensor of the temperature control module is adapted to detect and control the temperature of the substrate via the conductor of caloric. The apparatus is designed such that the substrate is situated above said temperature control module to entirely cover said temperature control module.
US08124032B2
The invention relates to a microfluidic device comprising one or more fluid channels, one or more fluid ports, and a V-shaped particle retention structure. The fluid channel is generally opposite the particle retention structure, fluid ports are located between the fluid channel and the particle retention structure, and the particle retention structure has sloped side walls. Fluid, including reagents, can be delivered to the microfluidic device through the one or more fluid channels or the fluid ports. The invention also relates to methods of using the microfluidic device to monitor, observe, measure, or record a biological parameter of a particle, to separate a single particle from a group of particles, to culture a cell, to treat a particle, and to move a particle back and forth in the device.
US08124023B2
A holding sealing material includes a needle mat, a sheet-processed mat, and a sheet-processed mat. The needle mat includes entangled first inorganic fibers and a binder. The sheet-processed mat includes a binder and second inorganic fibers processed into a sheet. The needle mat and the sheet-processed mat are laminated together. Staple fibers having an average fiber length shorter than an average fiber length of the second inorganic fibers are localized in an interface area extending inside the needle mat from an interface between the needle mat and the sheet-processed mat. A binder content of the interface area is higher than a binder content of the needle mat in terms of weight ratio.
US08124015B2
Microfluidic systems are disclosed, including microfluidic devices and methods, useful for simultaneously analyzing multiple analytes in each of a plurality of distinct nanoliter-volume samples.
US08124013B1
A plasma generating system and a method of generating a plasma on a surface is provided. A surface-wave medium is laminated to a surface for propagating electromagnetic surface waves. The surface-wave medium includes a dielectric and a metallic pattern on the dielectric for increasing an inductive reactance of the surface-wave medium. The plasma generating surface further includes a microwave power source. A coupler couples the microwave power source to the surface-wave medium. A plurality of field enhancement points are located on the surface-wave medium. The plurality of field enhancement points include microwave resonant structures that couple to the electromagnetic surface waves.
US08124011B2
A method for sterilizing a plastic bottle in an aseptic filling system according to which at least an inner surface or an outer surface of a bottle is sterilized by injecting a heated sterilizing fluid at 65° C.-90° C. while maintaining internal pressure of the bottle at 1 kPa-20 kPa.
US08124008B2
A low carbon free cutting steel can be obtained by allowing the steel to contain 0.02 to 0.15 mass % of C, 0.05 to 1.8 mass % of Mn, 0.20 to 0.49 mass % of S, more than 0.01 mass % and not more than 0.03 mass % of O, 0.3 to 2.3% of Cr, and the balance consisting of Fe and inevitable impurities, the Cr/S ratio falling within a range of between 2 and 6.
US08123999B2
Disclosed is a method for smoothing the surface of an object built from a polymeric or wax material using a layered manufacturing rapid prototyping technique. After the object is built it is exposed to a vaporized solvent such as in a vaporizer for an exposure time sufficient to reflow the object surface. A solvent is chosen based on its ability to transiently soften the material which forms the object, and thereafter evaporate off the object. The object is removed from the solvent and allowed to dry, producing a smooth finished part.
US08123995B2
A molded product includes an already-formed member and an injection molded portion. The already-formed member, which has a joining surface, is placed in an injection molding mold, and the joining surface and the injection molding mold define a molding cavity. The injection molding mold further defines a spill cavity that is in communication with the molding cavity. Liquid molding material is injected into the molding cavity. At least some of initial molding material which has initially reached the joining surface flows into the spill cavity due to injection pressure of subsequent molding material injected after injection of the initial molding material, and is replaced with the subsequent molding material, which has a temperature higher than that of the initial molding material and a viscosity lower than that of the initial molding material. When the liquid molding material hardens to form an injection molded portion joined to the joining surface of the first already-formed member, the first already-formed member and the injection molded portion are a joined molded product.
US08123994B2
Methods and devices incorporating a guidewire entry port subassembly for use in rapid exchange catheters. The use of a subassembly allows for stronger quality control and simpler fabrication of a rapid exchange device. In several embodiments, methods of making a molded guidewire entry port using a mold, often in conjunction with one or more mandrels, are disclosed. Several device embodiments include a separate molded guidewire port as well as molded guidewire ports which are attached, during a molding step, to segments of a catheter.
US08123987B2
Disclosed is a chromene compound represented by the following formula (1), wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are, respectively, hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups, aryl groups, or the like groups under a condition that at least two of R1 to R4 are not hydrogen atoms, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are, respectively, alkyl groups, aryl groups or the like groups, m and n are, respectively, integers of 0 to 4, and x and y are, respectively, integers of 0 to 5.
US08123984B2
A positive temperature coefficient polymer composition includes a polymer system and a conductive particulate filler. The polymer system includes a non-ionic copolymer of a substituted or non-substituted olefin monomer and an anhydride monomer. The olefin monomer and the anhydride monomer form a linear polymer chain.
US08123976B2
As a washing liquid and an etching solution for semiconductor substrates and glass substrates, alkaline aqueous solutions are used; however, since metal impurities are adsorbed on the substrate surface during processing, a next process for removing the adsorbed metal impurities is required. In addition, when a washing liquid is used, it cannot wash off metal impurities; therefore an acid washing process is required. The present invention provides an aqueous solution composition, which is an alkaline aqueous solution but is able to prevent adsorption of metal impurities, which also has cleaning capability.By means of an alkaline aqueous solution composition used for washing or etching a substrate, the composition comprising a chelating agent represented by the general formula (1): and an alkaline component, the adsorption of metal impurities on the substrate is prevented, and metal impurities adsorbed on the substrate are washed off.
US08123974B2
Novel refrigeration compositions are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a refrigeration composition comprises a mixture of an ester of a hydroxycarboxylic acid. The hydroxycarboxylic acid has a chain length ranging from 8 to 22 carbon atoms. The composition also comprises a carrier fluid or base oil, selected from the group consisting of an alkylbenzene, an alkylated naphthenic, a polyalkylene glycol, a polyvinylether, a polyalphaolefin, mineral oil, a polyol ester, and combinations thereof, providing improved fluidity and heat transfer, and enhanced oil return.
US08123973B2
A method of manufacturing magnetic material is described hereinafter. Firstly, Fe(NO3)3.9H2O and other metal nitrate compounds are dissolved in an alcohol solvent to form a mixed solution. Secondly, the mixed solution is heated to 60˜100 degrees Centigrade. Next, citric acid is added into the mixed solution for being reacted with each other under the temperature of 60˜100 degrees Centigrade so that can make the alcohol solvent volatilized and further obtain brown solid powder. Lastly, the solid powder is further heated for a period of time so as to obtain the magnetic material having a fluffy powdery form.
US08123968B2
Pitch multiplication is performed using a two step process to deposit spacer material on mandrels. The precursors of the first step react minimally with the mandrels, forming a barrier layer against chemical reactions for the deposition process of the second step, which uses precursors more reactive with the mandrels. Where the mandrels are formed of amorphous carbon and the spacer material is silicon oxide, the silicon oxide is first deposited by a plasma enhanced deposition process and then by a thermal chemical vapor deposition process. Oxygen gas and plasma-enhanced tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) are used as reactants in the plasma enhanced process, while ozone and TEOS are used as reactants in the thermal chemical vapor deposition process. The oxygen gas is less reactive with the amorphous carbon than ozone, thereby minimizing deformation of the mandrels caused by oxidation of the amorphous carbon.
US08123967B2
A method for producing an article having a decorative coating includes depositing at least a first coating layer onto at least a portion of a substrate using a physical or chemical vapor deposition method in a vacuum chamber at sub-atmospheric pressure, the first coating layer comprising a first material having a first color. The method also includes patterning the first coating layer using a non-uniform patterning process to form a patterned coating layer having penetrations through which a portion of an underlying surface is visible, the underlying surface comprising a second material and having a second color that is visually contrasting to the first color. The patterned first coating layer comprises a decorative pattern comprising features distinguishable by an unaided human eye.
US08123955B2
A feed system is used in a sedimentation vessel. The feed system includes an inlet for receiving a quantity of feed slurry and an outlet for delivering the feed slurry to a separation zone within the sedimentation vessel. The feed slurry includes a mixture of solids and liquids that are to be separated in a separation zone within the sedimentation vessel. An airlift pump is used to cycle at least a portion of either the separated solids or the separated liquids from the separation zone and return it to the feed system. This returned portion mixes with the feed slurry and may operate to dilute the feed slurry to a concentration for optimal separation. Additionally, feed conditioning chemicals may be mixed into the feed slurry prior to or after the mixing of the feed slurry with the returned portion of the separated products.
US08123953B2
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of removing acidic and/or aromatic contaminants, such as benzene, xylene, toluene, phenols and polyphenols, from produced water of an oil or gas well. The method comprises the step of contacting the produced water with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) to remove the contaminants from said water.
US08123939B2
A collection process for precipitated powder substance is mainly for storing toxic or highly radioactive powder or dust in air and involves collection operation in water or other liquid to collect powder insoluble to the liquid and heavier than the liquid. To be suitable for underwater operation, a powder precipitation bag is provided with an innovative powder collection can at its bottom. New powder collection can has a mesh filter in its bottom and two-stage structure. After completion of powder collection, the collection can is pulled up from the water and dried to reduce powder volume and form powder lumps. Then, the top half is removed, so the collection can is fully filled with powder lumps. The newly designed powder can increases storage efficiency and reduces waste of space by accommodating more powder lumps than traditional powder can. With the same total amount of powder, the new powder can enables fewer number of storage cans. The cover for the new can improves safety for further transportation and storage.
US08123938B2
The invention relates to a filter device for filtering a liquid, in particular, a hydraulic oil, comprising a filter housing having a least one inlet for liquid to be filtered and at least one outlet for filtered liquid, a filter element positioned in the flow path of the liquid between the inlet and the outlet, and a sealing device having a sealing element and a first sealing surface, the sealing element in a sealing position being positioned in a sealing manner on the first sealing surface. In order to further develop the filter device in such a way that the sealing element also lies reliably on the first sealing surface under alternating pressure loads, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that the filter device comprise a locking device, and the sealing element be adapted to be locked in its sealing position at least in the axial direction relative to the first sealing surface by means of the locking device. A filter element for the filter device is also proposed.
US08123933B2
A process and apparatus is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a catalyst comprising iron oxide and alumina to form a heavy hydrocarbon slurry and hydrocracked to produce lighter hydrocarbons. The iron oxide and alumina catalyst does not require as much iron content relative to non-gaseous material in the reactor to obtain useable products.
US08123931B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking for the production of light olefin, a preparation method of the catalyst and a preparation method of olefin by using the same. More precisely, the present invention relates to a composite catalyst prepared by mixing the oxide catalyst powder represented by CrZrjAkOx (0.5≦j≦120, 0≦k≦50, A is a transition metal, x is the number satisfying the condition according to valences of Cr, Zr and A, and values of j and k) and carrier powder and sintering thereof, a composite catalyst wherein the oxide catalyst is impregnated on a carrier, and a method of preparing light olefin such as ethylene and propylene by hydrocarbon steam cracking in the presence of the composite catalyst. The composite catalyst of the present invention has excellent thermal/mechanical stability in the cracking process, and has less inactivation rate by coke and significantly increases light olefin yield.
US08123923B2
A miniaturized gas sensor including film type electrodes, and a solid ionomer electrolyte, for the detection of toxic gases, i.e., carbon monoxide, and other oxidizable or reducible gases and vapors is described. The all-solid planar sensor cell has two or more film type electrodes arranged on a non-conductive planar surface of a supportive material. The electrodes are discrete and in intimate contact with the same solid polymer ionomer membrane. The sensor cell contains no liquid electrolyte and is operated in a potentiostatic or potentiodynamic mode. The unique feature of the sensor cell is that high sensitivity to a select gas or vapor is achieved by a novel three-phase contact area design for a sensing electrode which is easily accessible to the gas sample via small diffusion openings or holes that penetrate through the solid polymer ionomer membrane layer above the sensing electrode. A significant signal to background noise enhancement is achieved for these film type sensor cells by processes that increase the three-phase contact area.
US08123922B2
Nanopore based ion-selective electrodes and methods of their manufacture as well as methods for their use are disclosed and described. The nanopore based ion-selective electrode can include a pore being present in a solid material and having a nanosize opening in the solid material, a metal conductor disposed inside the pore opposite the opening in the solid material, a reference electrode material contacting said metal conductor and disposed inside the pore, a conductive composition in contact with the reference electrode and disposed in the pore, and an ion-selective membrane. The ion-selective membrane can be configured to isolate the metal conductor, reference electrode material, and conductive composition together within the pore.
US08123921B2
A method and device have an electrode rod (1; 21) for a pH meter. The electrode rod (1; 21) has a measuring end (2; 22) for immersion into a liquid test sample (31), wherein the measuring end (2; 22) has a pH measuring element, and wherein electrical feed lines (5) in the electrode rod (1; 21) extend towards the pH measuring element. A plurality of capillaries (8, 9, 10; 23) for feeding liquids and gas into the test sample (31) extend in the electrode rod (1; 21) and have outlet openings (11, 12, 13; 24) in the area of the measuring end (2; 22). The method and device facilitate and accelerate preparation of liquid test samples and adjustment of a pH value for small amounts of test samples or narrow sample containers in NMR spectroscopy applications.
US08123920B2
The presence of a select analyte in the sample is evaluated in an electrochemical system using a conduction cell-type apparatus. A potential or current is generated between the two electrodes of the cell sufficient to bring about oxidation or reduction of the analyte or of a mediator in an analyte-detection redox system, thereby forming a chemical potential gradient of the analyte or mediator between the two electrodes After the gradient is established, the applied potential or current is discontinued and an analyte-independent signal is obtained from the relaxation of the chemical potential gradient. The analyte-independent signal is used to correct the analyte-dependent signal obtained during application of the potential or current. This correction allows an improved measurement of analyte concentration because it corrects for device-specific and test specific factors such as transport (mobility) of analyte and/or mediator, effective electrode area, and electrode spacing (and as a result, sample volume), without need for separate calibration values. The analysis can be performed using disposable test strips in a hand held meter, for example for glucose testing.
US08123916B2
Apparatus for generating gas by electrolysis of a liquid comprises an electrolysis cell and a housing for the liquid. The housing comprises a first chamber for storing the liquid for supply to the electrolysis cell, the first chamber having an inlet for replenishing the liquid, and an outlet through which liquid is supplied from the first chamber to the electrolysis cell, and a second chamber for containing liquid which is a product of the electrolysis reaction and which is enriched with a first gaseous product of the electrolysis reaction, the second chamber having a gas outlet for controlled release of the first gaseous product. A first channel in the housing connects the first and second chambers. The channel provides a trap for liquid which can provide a barrier to passage of gas between the first and second chambers, irrespective of the level to which liquid in the first chamber falls during normal operation.
US08123910B2
A papermaker's fabric for use as a forming fabric. The fabric may include bondable or meltable monofilament yarns which may be formed from materials that retain substantial strength and tenacity after thermal treatment. Further, the remaining yarns in the forming fabric may be formed from materials that have a higher melting temperature than the monofilament material that will be thermally bonded or melted.
US08123898B2
Methods of bonding optical structures, bonded optical structures, silylated bonded optical structures, and the like, are disclosed.
US08123892B2
A urology catheter is provided that includes an elongated body extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The body defines at least one lumen. A tip has a proximal end that is disposed in abutting relation with the distal end of the body such that the body is fixed with the tip. The tip defines a lateral opening that is defined by a wall including an external radius disposed in transition with an outer surface of the tip and an internal radius disposed in transition with an inner surface of the tip. The external radius has a non-perpendicular profile with the outer surface of the tip. An expandable member has a proximal portion disposed about the body and a distal portion disposed about the tip. A method of manufacturing the urology catheter is provided.
US08123878B1
A gas generating system includes a gas generant material for generating gases upon combustion thereof, and an amount of liquid coolant for cooling the generated gases.
US08123874B2
A soft magnetic material, a dust core, a method for manufacturing the soft magnetic material, and a method for manufacturing the dust core that can improve DC bias characteristics are provided.A soft magnetic material includes a plurality of metal magnetic particles 10 whose coefficient of variation Cv (σ/μ), which is a ratio of a standard deviation (σ) of a particle size of the metal magnetic particles 10 to an average particle size (μ) thereof, is 0.40 or less and whose circularity Sf is 0.80 or more and 1 or less. The metal magnetic particles 10 preferably have an average particle size of 1 μm or more and 70 μm or less. The soft magnetic material preferably further includes an insulating coated film that surrounds a surface of each of the metal magnetic particles 10.
US08123872B2
A process by which a nickel-based superalloy substrate prone to deleterious reactions with an aluminum-rich coating can be stabilized by carburization. The process generally entails processing the surface of the substrate to be substantially free of oxides, heating the substrate in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to a carburization temperature, and then contacting the surface of the substrate with a carburization gas mixture comprising a diluted low activity hydrocarbon gas while maintaining the substrate at the carburization temperature. While at the carburization temperature and contacted by the carburization gas, carbon atoms in the carburization gas dissociate therefrom, transfer onto the surface of the substrate, diffuse into the substrate, and react with refractory metals within the substrate to form refractory metal carbides within a carburized region beneath the surface of the substrate. The substrate is then cooled in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to terminate carbide formation.
US08123869B2
A dishwasher comprising a washing container, devices for washing dishes by means of rinsing liquor, and a sorption drying device which is connected in an air-conducting manner to the washing container via an outlet of the washing container and an inlet of the washing container. The sorption drying device is provided with a sorption column encompassing reversibly dehydratable material. The outlet and the inlet of the washing container are connected to the sorption drying device without mounting an air duct therebetween.
US08123849B2
A coating composition comprising sodium alginate and plasticizer, optionally detackifying agents, opacifers and colorants. The coating composition of the present invention may be applied to a pharmaceutical and veterinary tablet, caplets, pellets, granules, neutraceuticals, food, confectionery, seeds, animal feed, fertilizers and pesticide tablets and provides an elegant, glossy, prompt release coating which does not retard the release of active ingredients from the coated substrate.
US08123840B2
The invention relates to an electrostatic particle filter for removing particles from air. The electrostatic particle filter includes a filter medium (3) with first and second opposite sides, a first electrode (1) and a second electrode (2), the first electrode (1) and second electrode (2) being conformally provided on the first and second sides of the filter medium (3), respectively. The first electrode (1), the second electrode (2), and the filter medium (3) are arranged to allow an electrical conduction current through the filter medium (3). The first electrode (1) is a moderately-conductive electrode having a sheet resistance in a range with a lower boundary value of about 106 Ohm per square and an upper boundary value of about 1012 Ohm per square, at a relative humidity of 30%. The invention also relates to an electrostatic filtration system including the electrostatic particle filter, and a particle charging section (6).
US08123838B2
A method and apparatus for separating particles preferentially accelerates particles to a rotating collector, which then reliably conveys collected particles to a discharge with minimal re-entrainment of the particles in the fluid stream. The collector minimizes energy transfer to the fluid and maximizes separation under conditions of high particle loading, fine particle content, or both. The separator may be operated in any vertical, horizontal or oblique orientation, or within devices whose orientation varies over time.
US08123836B2
A method and apparatus for processing air is described herein. An example apparatus includes a housing, a high-velocity air flow guide, a filter assembly, and a fan. The high-velocity air flow guide includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to form a passage within the housing, and the second portion is configured to divert and accelerate air flow of the ambient air from the passage to a chamber of the housing. The filter assembly includes one or more filtering elements configured to receive the ambient air from the chamber. The fan is configured to draw the ambient air from the chamber through the filter assembly and to generate processed air from the ambient air.
US08123820B2
A process of manufacturing a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery includes adding a metal source to a doping element-containing coating liquid to surface-treat the metal source, wherein the metal source is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, nickel, and combination thereof; drying the surface-treated metal source material to prepare a positive active material precursor; mixing the positive active material precursor with a lithium source; and subjecting the mixture to heat-treatment. Alternatively, the above drying step during preparation of the positive active material precursor is substituted by preheat-treatment or drying followed by preheat-treatment.
US08123817B2
According to one aspect, the present invention provides a substantially two-dimensional surgical mesh comprising a base material, a first area having a first characteristic and a second area having a second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The surgical mesh may further comprise a third area having a third characteristic that may be the same as or different from the first and second characteristics, and so on.
US08123816B2
An acetabular cup assembly for a prosthetic hip joint is disclosed. This assembly includes an outer shell having at least one shell extension, an adaptor having at least one adaptor extension, and an insert. The inclusion of an extension on the outer shell and an extension on the adaptor allows for easier manipulation and implantation of the assembly.
US08123810B2
An expandable intervertebral implant is described for insertion between vertebrae of a human spine. The intervertebral implant includes an upper body that engages a first vertebra of the human spine, a lower body that engages a second vertebra of the human spine, an insert, and an expansion member. The expansion member may include a first angled portion and a second angled portion. The expansion member may be advanced such that a first angled portion of the expansion member engages an angled portion of the insert to increase a separation distance between the upper body and the lower body of the intervertebral implant. An advancing element may engage a second angled portion of the expansion member such that a direction of advancement of the advancing element is different than the direction of advancement of the expansion member.
US08123806B1
A soft tissue tensioning system comprises a manual suture tensioning device having a bar and a finger guard which is orthogonal to the bar. A lateral suture cleat is disposed on each lateral end of the bar, and a primary suture cleat extends about a top and a bottom of each of the opposed lateral ends of the bar.
US08123804B2
An intraocular lens insertion tool of a novel structure, capable of easily and reliably placing an intraocular lens in a human eye. A placement part formed communicated with the base end of an insertion tube part is formed in a tool body. A placement surface for placing an intraocular lens thereon is formed on the placement part. Through-holes are formed in the portion where the placement surface is formed, and a carrying member is assembled from the outside to the portion where the placement surface is formed. Support parts formed projected from the carrying member are projected from the support surface through the through-holes. The intraocular lens is supported by projecting distal end faces of the support parts.
US08123803B2
The present invention includes an ophthalmic device and system of mounting for correcting hyperopia and presbyopia. The present invention includes a limbus ring mountable in an encircling relation to a central optic zone of a cornea on a limbus annulus surrounding the cornea. In the limbus ring defines a substantially annular toroid defining a first average diameter that is selectable and has a hydrophilic coating disposed thereon. The inner radius of the limbus ring is selectable such that, upon mounting on the limbus annulus, the limbus ring causes the limbus annulus to contract thereby causing the curvature of the cornea and the eye length to increase. The mounting system of the present invention is adapted to receive a limbus ring and further adapted to selectively place the limbus ring on a limbus annulus.
US08123799B1
A medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed having a modified surface. A method of making the modification is also disclosed. The modification includes depositing a substance within the surface of the device and forming a film layer on the surface of the device. The substance can include carbon and the film layer can be a polymeric layer, such as a plasma polymerized organic film layer.
US08123792B2
A perioperative warming device includes a clinical garment having an inside surface supporting a convective apparatus with stacked sections. One section of the convective apparatus is adapted to provide comfort warming by convection. Another section of the convective apparatus is adapted to provide therapeutic warming by convection.
US08123781B2
A medical closure screen device for a separation of first and second tissue portions is provided, which includes a mesh screen comprising tubular vertical risers, vertical strands with barbed filaments, and horizontal spacers connecting the risers and strands in a grid-like configuration. An optional perimeter member partly surrounds the screen and can comprise a perimeter tube fluidically coupled with the vertical risers to form a tubing assembly. Various input/output devices can optionally be connected to the perimeter tube ends for irrigating and/or draining the separation according to methodologies of the present invention. Separation closure, irrigation and drainage methodologies are disclosed utilizing various combinations of closure screens, tubing, sutures, fluid transfer elements and gradient force sources. The use of mechanical forces associated with barbed strands for repositionably securing separated tissues together is disclosed. The use of same for eliminating or reducing the formation of subcutaneous voids or pockets, which can potentially form hematoma and seroma effects, is also disclosed.
US08123776B2
An embolic protection system 1 comprises a guidewire 99 for advancing through a vasculature, the guidewire 99 having a distal end and a proximal end; an embolic protection filter 1 having a filter body 41 with a distal end and a proximal end, the filter body 41 providing for a collapsed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The embolic protection filter body 41 has a guidewire path for slidably receiving the guidewire 99 to permit movement of the filter 1 relative to the guidewire 99 when the filter 1 is in the collapsed configuration and the expanded deployed configuration. A delivery catheter 2 is advanceable over the guidewire 99 for delivery of the embolic protection filter 1; the delivery catheter 2 having a proximal end and a distal end. The filter 1 is deployed from the distal end of the delivery catheter 2 into the expanded deployed configuration. A retrieval catheter 3 is also advancable over the guidewire 99 for retrieval of the filter 1, the retrieval catheter 3 having a distal end and a proximal end; and engagement elements for engaging the embolic protection filter 1 with the guidewire 99 for retrieval of the filter 1 into the retrieval catheter 3 in the collapsed configuration.
US08123773B1
A balloon tamponade catheter for controlling uterine postpartum hemorrhage has an elongated body with a balloon at a marginal distal end of the elongated body for insertion into the uterus. The balloon preferably has a pear-shaped appearance. The balloon may have a first hemisphere that is located on the catheter distal to second, smaller hemisphere. The first hemisphere has a plane of maximum diameter that is larger than the second hemisphere's plane of maximum diameter. Between the two planes of maximum diameter, the balloon comprises a transition section. In some cases, the transition section bows inward towards the elongated body when the balloon is uninflated and/or inflated. Additionally, the elongated body preferably does not extend distally past the distal end of the first hemisphere.
US08123770B2
An integrally formed angioplasty cutting device for balloon angioplasty of a stenotic lesion in a body vessel. The device comprises a distal collar and a proximal collar. The device further comprises at least one strut integrally formed with the distal collar and the proximal collar. At least one of the collars has a slot formed therethrough defining a C-shaped configuration. The strut is configured to be disposed at the stenotic lesion to engage the stenotic lesion for dilatation of the body vessel during angioplasty.
US08123760B2
Devices and methods for preventing or reducing the severity of hemorrhoids include a raised portion and a base, where the raised portion extends in a first direction away from the base and is shaped to engage and apply pressure to a region of a patient subject to hemorrhoids. The devices may further include a plug for insertion into the anal canal to engage and apply pressure to another region of the patient subject to hemorrhoids. The methods include securing the device in an engagement position to apply the pressure to prevent or reduce the severity of hemorrhoids. Such devices and methods are especially applicable during the childbirth process.
US08123756B2
This relates to an improved delivery system for accurately loading and controlling the delivery of flowable material to a patient. Particularly, the system may be used in the injection of hard tissue implant materials such as PMMA under pressures up to about 4000 psi. The system includes an applicator with a first column having an implant material introduction section adapted to provide for effective loading of the implant material and a second column housing a piston. The introduction section has a larger size than that of a vessel section or bore in which the requisite pressure seal between the piston and bore wall is formed. The first column may include an introduction section flared open to an included larger funnel-like opening or a separate funnel may be used that interfaces with the introduction section to facilitate the introduction of implant material. Handles on the first and second columns to be turned relative to each other to advance the columns toward each other may be provided for manual actuation of the applicator to drive implant material through a cannula and deliver implant material to a desired site.
US08123753B2
A cutting guide assembly is provided for resecting a head of a bone. The cutting guide assembly includes an elongate support rod and at least one cutting plate couplable to the support rod, the at least one cutting surface defining a cutting surface arranged such that when coupled to the support rod, the bone can be cut to form a resection surface by aligning a cutting tool with the cutting surface. The support rod is configured to be partially disposed in and rotatable within a cavity extending into the head of the bone, defines a longitudinal axis and including a reference formation.
US08123752B2
A method for strengthening a spinous process comprises positioning a framework over an outer surface of the spinous process, the framework comprising a mesh connected to a frame. Bone filler is distributed over the mesh so that the bone filler contacts the mesh and contacts the spinous process. The bone filler is allowed to cure. A jig is positioned at the spinous process so that a slot through the jig is exposed to a side of the spinous process. A cannula is oriented so that the cannula is receivable in the slot, and insertable into the spinous process through the slot. Bone filler is injected into the spinous process by way of the cannula, with the injection terminating when a desired amount of bone filler has been injected into the spinous process. The cannula is then removed and the bone filler allowed to cure within the vertebra. The above steps can also be accomplished simultaneously or in any order. Further, bone filler injected into the spinous process can also contact the mesh as the bone filler passes at least partially through the spinous process.
US08123740B2
A robotic apparatus has eight actuators (M0-M7) and a linkage (LINK 0-LINK 5) that actuates an end effector. Three serial macro freedoms have large ranges of motion and inertias. Four serial micro freedoms have small ranges of motion and inertias. Translation of the end effector in any direction is actuated by at least one micro joint and at least one macro joint. The apparatus can be part of a master and slave combination, providing force feedback without any explicit force sensors. The slave is controlled with an Inverse Jacobian controller, and the mater with a Jacobian Transpose controller. A slave having more degrees of freedom (DOFs) than the master can be controlled. A removable effector unit actuates its DOFs with cables. Beating heart surgery can be accomplished by commanding the slave to move with a beating heart and cancelling out any such motion in the motions perceived by the master.
US08123733B2
An absorbent article has an inside surface that faces a wearer's body when the absorbent article is worn, and an outside surface opposite the inside surface. The absorbent article includes a liquid pervious topsheet and a backsheet, at least a portion of the backsheet being liquid impervious. A front waist portion includes a first side front panel and a second side front panel. A back waist portion includes a first side back panel and a second side back panel. A crotch portion longitudinally extends between the front waist portion and the back waist portion. An absorbent assembly is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. A first fastening component is disposed at the first side front panel and a second fastening component is disposed at the second side front panel for respective attachment to the first side back panel and the second side back panel to fasten the absorbent article around the waist of the wearer. The first and second fastening components each have at least one active fastening portion and at least one non-active fastening portion.
US08123731B2
An improved method for measuring and automatically disposing of infectious waste generated during and after surgical and clinical procedures is provided. The infectious waste removal device includes a suction source, a method for pressure verification, separation chamber for isolating fluids, containment reservoir, measurement chamber for determining fluid received, an information source for such fluid volumes, a quantitative method for calculating fluid dynamics, a post use cleaning method, and other attributes for use by the surgical team or healthcare staff in order to minimize health care worker handling of said infectious waste and to limit their possible exposure.
US08123725B2
An ambulatory pump comprising a reservoir (1) for holding the fluid to be pumped and having an outlet (7) through which fluid is expelled in use; a closure (8) device movable relative to the reservoir; and an actuator (14) for moving the closure device relative to the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is arranged in a spiral pattern.
US08123720B2
The intelligent medical device (iMD) system coordinates the dynamics of hardware and software components in a self-organizing autonomous system. The iMD system uses advanced modeling and metaheuristics to solve complex optimization problems involving the customization of medical therapies. The system uses evolvable hardware and reprogrammable features to coordinate the diagnostic and therapeutic functions of the iMDs.
US08123708B2
The present invention relates to a massage device. In one embodiment, the massage device includes a massage assembly and a transmission assembly for driving the massage assembly to provide massage effects. The massage assembly includes a driving shaft engaged with the transmission assembly and a pair of massage members. Each massage member has an eccentric wheel engaged with the driving shaft, a massage bracket engaged with the eccentric wheel, a guiding block in communication with the massage bracket, and a massage foot attached to the massage bracket.
US08123707B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for therapeutically treating connective tissue or increasing vascularization in tissue using ultrasound. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus which use ultrasound to stimulate growth or healing, or to treating pathologies, of connective tissue, or to increase vascularization in ischaemic or grafted tissue using ultrasound.
US08123699B2
An aspiration apparatus 10 is described that includes a guide 12 and a set of needles 14. Guide 12 preferably has an approximately conical shape with a decreasing diameter in the distal direction. A plurality of lumens 32 extend between a distal end portion 18 and a proximal end portion 20 of guide 12. Lumens 32 have distal openings 34 in distal end portion 18 and proximal openings in proximal end portion 20. Lumens 32 are acute and oblique to the longitudinal axis and diverge from each other and the central longitudinal axis as they extend distally from distal openings 34. Needles 14 have a tubular wall 60 and are slidingly positionable in lumens 32. Needles 14 include a longitudinal section 80 of tubular wall 60 that has a plurality of apertures 72 that decrease in size in the proximal direction. Apertures 72 define an approximately conically shaped area of harvest. Aspiration apparatus 10 can connect to an external source of reduced pressure through guide 12 or directly to each needle 14. Guide 12 can selectively include a fixed guide needle 24 that extends approximately along the longitudinal axis from distal end portion 18.
US08123695B2
Methods and systems for detecting venous pulsation are provided. In one embodiment, a metric of the pulse shape of one or more plethysmographic signals is derived and the presence of venous pulsation is detected based on the metric of pulse shape. Examples, of metrics of pulse shape include a skew metric and a ratio of a minima-to-maxima time over a pulse period interval. In an exemplary embodiment, the presence of venous pulsation is detected based on a metric of the pulse shape of one or more plethysmographic signals and on a phase comparison of the plethysmographic signals.
US08123690B2
An ultrasound observation apparatus of the present invention is an ultrasound observation apparatus capable of creating a blood flow image of a subject by receiving a reflection signal of a sound output signal transmitted to the subject as an electric signal, and performing various kinds of signal processing for the electric signal, and includes a transmission frequency switching section switching a frequency band of the sound output signal which is transmitted to the subject to a frequency band corresponding to an instruction signal which is outputted from an operation instructing section, and a blood flow color creating section changing a color at a time of visualizing the blood flow image by linking with switching of the frequency band by the transmission frequency switching section.
US08123689B1
A device for finding and marking the point of contact between the center of an ultrasound probe with skin of a patient and method of use thereof is disclosed. The device includes a block member having a handle. The block member includes a protrusion capable of making an indentation on skin of a subject. A ring member defining an aperture is configured to guide the block member into contact with skin of a subject such that the protrusion forms an indentation on a patient's skin. The indentation serves to mark the location which may then be used to identify an injection site (e.g., epidural) or other medical treatment procedure location. The injection or treatment location is found using a transducer or ultrasound for which the ring member is adapted to receive in advance of the block member.
US08123684B2
Techniques for controlling one or more modular circuits (“satellites”) that are intended for placement in a subject's body. The one or more satellites are controlled by sending signals over a bus that includes first and second conduction paths. Also coupled to the bus in system embodiments is a device such as a pacemaker that provides power and includes control circuitry. Each satellite includes satellite circuitry and one or more effectors that interact with the tissue. The satellite circuitry is coupled to the bus, and thus interfaces the controller to the one or more effectors, which may function as actuators, sensors, or both. The effectors may be electrodes that are used to introduce analog electrical signals (e.g., one or more pacing pulses) into the tissue in the local areas where the electrodes are positioned (e.g., heart muscles) or to sense analog signals (e.g., a propagating depolarization signal) within the tissue.
US08123683B2
An apparatus for aggregating individuals based on variables associated with a type of headache is described. The apparatus may include at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one program module. The program module may be stored in the memory and may be configured or configurable to be executed by the processor. The program module may include instructions for receiving a list of variables, where the variables in the list of variables may be triggers that at least in part induce a headache associated with the type of headache in at least one individual if at least the one individual is exposed to one or more of the variables. The program module may include instructions for selecting a first forum from multiple forums. Note that the selection is based on at least a subset of the variables in the list of variables, the first forum is associated with the type of headache and at least the subset of the variables, and the first forum facilitates exchange of first information associated with the type of headache. Furthermore, the program module may include instructions for providing second information associated with the first forum to at least the one individual.
US08123680B2
An endoscope includes an image acquisition device, an objective optical system having a predetermined optical axis, first and second light guiding members that emit first and second illumination light, first and second optical systems that refract the first and second illumination light to intersect with the optical axis of the objective optical system, and a tube-like inserted portion having a distal end. The first and second optical systems are disposed at substantially mirror symmetrical positions at the distal end having a shoulder portion that becomes narrower toward the tip. When viewed from the optical axis direction of the objective optical system, the inclination directions at substantially the center of the outer surfaces of the first and second optical systems and straight lines that pass through the center of the objective optical system and the centers of the first and second optical systems form angles of 30° or less.
US08123679B2
The invention includes an insertion portion, one end of which is inserted inside a lumen of a subject; an image-acquisition unit for acquiring an image of an interior wall in the lumen as a substantially circular or substantially ring-shaped interior wall image; a transformation processing unit for transforming, in the interior wall image, at least substantially ring-shaped images concerning the interior wall, whose distance from the one end is uniform, to substantially straight-line-shaped or substantially band-shaped images; a distance-measuring unit for measuring a distance moved by the insertion portion relative to the subject; and an image synthesizing unit for joining the transformed images on the basis of the distance moved measured by the distance-measuring unit.
US08123678B2
The present invention provides, in part, a dexterous endoscope apparatus, referred to herein as a MicroFlex Scope (MFS). The MFS is an novel, small diameter, e.g., less about 1 mm to about 4 mm, about 1 mm to about 3 mm, etc., dexterous endoscope that allows for access, direct visualization, tissue sampling, treatment, etc. of body lumens. In one embodiment, the distal end of the MFS of the invention is an ultra-flexible tip that comprises a plurality of thin, curved shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator elements attached to at least one structural skeleton, e.g., a coil spring skeleton or hinge structure. The SMA actuator elements in each structural skeleton segment are indirectly heated by a heater element and produce force in response to their temperature relative to specific thresholds. In certain embodiments, the heater element may include an integrated heater/sensor element adapted to heat the actuator element and to sense the temperature and bend state of the actuator element. In configurations comprising a plurality of actuator elements, multiplexing/demultiplexing of heating currents and sensor voltages may be accomplished via a parallel bus and demulitplexing circuit. In this regard, a demultiplexing circuit using standard microelectronic fabrication techniques may be designed to achieve individual sensing and control over each actuator element.
US08123675B2
A robotic device for use in surgery includes a first surgical instrument having a proximal end, a distal end, and a shaft extending therebetween, the distal end of the first instrument and adjacent shaft being insertable distally into a first incision; a first manipulator movably supporting the first instrument; a plurality of motorized drives coupled to the manipulator; an input device having an input movable in two degrees of freedom; and a computer coupling the input device to the motorized drives so that the motorized drives effect a motion of the first surgical instrument in response to movement of the input, a center of the motion located along the shaft at the incision when the first instrument is used during surgery.
US08123670B2
The device relates to clinical cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. The method for forming a blood flow in research stands and in surgically reconstructed segments of the blood circulation system comprises diagnosing the individual condition of a patient's blood circulation system; measuring the blood flow velocity field in the heart chambers and great vessels; comparing the parameters measured against the physiological norm; determining parameters forming a swirled blood flow; and modeling an individual swirled blood current in the blood circulation system being diagnosed, the streamlined surfaces and guide elements of flow channels of the blood circulation system reconstructed being given shapes conforming to the flow lines of the restored normally swirled blood flow in accordance with formulas: Q ( t ) = z + Z 0 ( t ) r 2 φ = φ 0 + k ( t ) z k ( t ) = Γ 0 ( t ) 4 π Q ( t ) C 0 ( t ) V z = 2 C 0 ( t ) z V r = - C 0 ( t ) r V φ = Γ 0 ( t ) 2 π r { 1 - exp [ - C 0 ( t ) r 2 2 v ] } .
US08123669B2
A blood pump is temporarily operated at a low rotational speed lying below a design rotational speed. This involves a risk of thrombogenesis since flow detachments may occur at blades of an impeller of the rotary blood pump. For eliminating deposits at said impeller, the rotational speed of said pump is temporarily increased to the design rotational speed. Alternatively, said pump alternately operates at said design rotational speed and a low rotational speed, and this pulsed operation is synchronized with the heart rate.
US08123650B2
A front wheel drive transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US08123649B2
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets, six torque-transmitting devices, and three fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US08123647B2
A transaxle transfers torque to first and second axle shafts. The transaxle includes a main shaft, a planetary gearset, a first clutch transferring torque between the main shaft and a first member of the planetary gearset and a second clutch transferring torque between the main shaft and a second member of the planetary gearset. An input shaft is fixed for rotation with the first member of the planetary gearset. A countershaft is selectively driven by first, second, third and fourth speed gearsets associated with the input shaft. A final drive unit provides multiplied torque to a differential assembly adapted to drive the first and second axle shafts. Actuation of the first and second clutches selectively provides first through eighth discrete forward drive ratios such that each of the first, second, third and fourth speed gearsets transfers torque during provision of two of the first through eighth forward drive ratios.
US08123644B2
A traction-drive type driving-force transmission mechanism has a sun roller. Planetary roller units are orbitally movable along an outer surface of the sun roller. A pressing member presses the planetary roller units toward the outer surface of the sun roller and allows a driving force to be transmitted by a traction force between the sun roller and the planetary roller units. Each planetary roller unit includes a first planetary roller rotatably supported by a first shaft and adapted to move orbitally along the outer surface of the sun roller, and a second planetary roller rotatably supported by a second shaft while allowing an outer surface thereof to contact an outer surface of the first planetary roller and the pressing surface, and adapted to press the outer peripheral surface of the first planetary roller against the outer peripheral surface of the sun roller during orbital movement of the planetary roller unit.
US08123639B2
A soft seamless acrylonitrile bladder having excellent air permeability combined with good bounce characteristics for inflatable balls obtained by latex dipping process. The said process involves dipping hot molds in a coagulant bath of calcium nitrate and water and later dipping the dried, coagulant coated formers in a compounded latex bath of carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene latex, the dip being single or multiple depending upon the desired wall thickness. The said latex dipping process allows low manufacturing cost, high productivity and low rejection rate bladders having uniform weight varying from 500 mg/inch2 to 1.5 g/inch2, modulus varying from 17 to 20 Kg/Cm2, tensile strength of 150-180 Kg/Cm2 and elongation at break 650-750%.
US08123636B1
A device and method by which hunting arrows are provided with a plurality of phosphorescent vanes to aid in their location and retrieval, particularly during times of limited visibility is herein disclosed. The plurality of vanes of the arrow are coated with a phosphorescent paint which will self-luminescence at night and give off radiation in the form of visible light. Additionally, the phosphorescent nature of the paint makes finding the arrow easier during the day.
US08123629B2
Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The Shore C hardness of the outer core layer's outer surface is greater than that of the inner cover layer's outer surface, and the Shore C hardness of the outer core layer's outer surface is at least 20 Shore C units greater than that of the center.
US08123627B2
A grip and method of making such a grip configured for the handle of a golf club having a single panel that is wrapped about an underlisting sleeve. The panel includes a vertical score line and the sleeve includes a corresponding score line. When wrapped about the sleeve, the vertical score lines are generally aligned.
US08123618B2
A system for distributing entertaining multimedia episodes and crediting payouts to authorized remote-player's wagers, off-site or on-site regulated premises, comprising a system for randomly selecting episodes, with randomly generated episodes outcomes appended thereto. The selected episodes could be from a database or from ongoing live games. The database could be pre-processed audio-video, from authorized content producers depicting a hired cast of entertainers, playing a selected variety of games of chance and skill. The system includes authorized server based episode and outcome distribution to secure remote-player stations, including an intra-episode biometric (e.g., face) authentication system, and an accounting systems, for rewarding authorized remote-players with products, services, cash and playing credit payouts.
US08123616B2
In a method of facilitating the playing of a game via a gaming apparatus, a wager may be received via a value input device. Biometric data associated with a game play selection of a game may be received, and whether to permit the game play selection may be determined based on the received biometric data. A video image relating to the game may be displayed on a display unit, and a value payout associated with an outcome of the game may be determined.
US08123615B2
Herein disclosed is a gaming machine executing a game and paying out a predetermined amount of credits according to a game result; generating voice data based on a player's voice; identifying a voice pattern corresponding to the voice data by retrieving the dialogue voice database and identifying a type of voice corresponding to the voice data, so as to store the voice data along with the voice pattern into the memory; calculating a value indicative of a game result, and updating the play history data stored in the memory using the result of the calculation; comparing the play history data thus updated with a predetermined threshold value data; generating voice data according to the voice pattern based on the play history data if the play history data thus updated exceeds the predetermined threshold value data; and outputting voices from the speaker.
US08123611B2
The present invention provides a gaming machine which: displays a moving symbol on a main display in a case where a plurality of specific symbols are displayed; displays a plurality of score symbols associated with scores on a second display from one side edge to another side edge of the second display; displays the moving symbol in a direction that intersects with a moving direction of the score symbols displayed on the second display in response to an input from an input device; and, in a case where the moving symbol is determined to overlap any one of the plurality of score symbols, provides an award corresponding to a score of the score symbol being overlapped.
US08123590B2
Described is a double-layer fabric garment. The garment is formed of a tubular fabric element that comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes an initial edge portion. The second portion has specific areas of fabric with increased compression strength and an end portion. The initial edge of the first portion is connected with the end portion of the second portion, thereby creating a space between the first portion and the second portion and forming a seamless double-layer fabric garment. Thus, the first portion operates as an outer fabric layer and the second portion operates as an inner fabric layer, whereby the specific areas of fabric with increased compression strength of the second portion provide an increased shaping effect to a user while wearing the double-layer fabric garment. Therefore, the inner fabric layer provides a shaping effect while concealed by the overlaid outer layer.
US08123581B2
An avalanche rescue device includes as functional parts at least one inflatable buoyant body attachable close to the body of the user, a filling unit for the buoyant body, and a compressed gas unit having a compressed gas tank and a release unit. The device is provided with a carrier system for the user to carry the functional parts on his or her back. The carrier system includes at least one flexible fabric element and is provided with a first connecting mechanism which interacts with a second connecting mechanism of a separate container such that the carrier system can be detachably connected to the container to form a jointly-manipulable backpack and which is thereby sandwiched between the user's back and the container in the conjoined state. This avalanche rescue device is universally applicable compared to the previously-known avalanche rescue devices.
US08123580B1
A waterboard includes a head segment having a concave rear edge, a tail segment having a convex front edge, an interface system adapted to removably connect the head and tail segments together. The interface system includes a head interface connecter having a convex first surface attached to the concave rear edge of the head segment and having a first blade element extending from a second surface thereof, and includes a tail interface connecter having a concave first surface mating attached to the convex front edge of the tail segment and having a second surface mating with and removably attached to the second surface of the first interface connecter, wherein the tail interface connecter includes a slot to receive the blade element.
US08123579B2
For protecting surface floating wave energy converters (WEC's) against surface turbulence, the WEC's are removed from the water surface. For reducing the force required, the WEC's include a hollow member having an apertured outer wall. In the case where the WEC is to be lifted out of the water, the hollow member is normally submerged and full of water, and, during its lifting, water drains through the wall apertures thereby reducing the weight of the member and reducing the force required to lift it. In the case where the WEC is to be submerged, the hollow member is normally empty of water but fills with water through the wall apertures as the member is pulled beneath the surface. The weight of the water reduces the force required to submerge the member.
US08123569B2
An audio jack connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts (2) and a cover (3). the insulative housing has a bottom surface (12), a cavity (14) having a front end exposed to exterior for insertion of an electrical plug, and a plurality of receiving slots (15) recessed upwardly from the bottom surface and communicating with the cavity. The contacts are inserted into the receiving slots from the bottom surface of the insulative housing. the contacts have contacting portions (28, 29) protruding into the cavity for contacting with the electrical plug and soldering tail portions (27) extending outwardly beyond the bottom surface. The cover (3) envelopes the contacts into the receiving slots (15) with the tail portions (27) extending outwardly therefrom to make the audio jack connector communicate with the exterior via only the front end of the cavity.
US08123568B2
A biomedical electrode connector for coupling with a biomedical electrode of the type including an electrode base and a male terminal projecting from the electrode base is provided.
US08123567B2
A connector assembly of a medical electrical device includes a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts includes an electrical coupling receptacle. The electrical coupling receptacle of the at least one contact includes a first portion, which is adapted to receive a connector element of a medical electrical lead, and a second portion, in which a part of a feedthrough member extends, and to which the part of the feedthrough member is fixedly coupled.
US08123558B2
An electrical connector includes a first insulating body having a base board and a first tongue board extending rearward from a bottom of the base board, first terminals each having a first contact portion disposed on the base board, a second insulating body having a base portion and a second tongue board extending forward from a bottom of the base portion, and second terminals each having a second contact portion stretching out of a front of the base portion and disposed above the second tongue board. Two opposite sides of the first tongue board protrude upward to form two clipping walls defining a receiving space therebetween. The second insulating body is received in the receiving space of the first insulating body with the base portion being clipped between the clipping walls and a front end of the second tongue board abutting against a rear end of the base board.
US08123555B2
A coaxial electrical connector includes a metallic shell having a tubular section with an axial direction and a soldering leg, a central contacts having a contacting section extending in the axial direction within the tubular section and a dielectric seat molded so as to hold together said metallic shell and the central contact as a unit. The metallic shell defines a filled groove around an inner face thereof and perpendicular to the axial direction. The filled groove is to receive a projection of the dielectric seat during a cool process of a molded process to form the coaxial electrical connector.
US08123538B2
The present invention provides an electronic card connector, and intends to arrange one single testing terminal which forms a testing circuit together with an inherent conductive terminal of the electronic card connector, thereby obtaining a testing function which must be done by using two insertion pins in the prior art. Due to omitting one testing terminal, the volume of the electronic card connector is further reduced, and product assembly becomes more simply and opera table, thereby improving product efficiency, and greatly lowing manufacturing cost.
US08123537B2
An unauthorized connection prevention device use with an outlet, which is electrically connectable to a connection plug arranged on a basal end of a charging cable that supplies commercial power to a power receiving connector. The unauthorized connection prevention device includes a verification circuit that performs verification to determine whether an authorized operator is electrically connecting the connection plug to the outlet. A lock mechanism switches, in accordance with a result of the verification performed by the verification circuit, between an unlocked state, which permits connection of the connection plug to an outlet port of the outlet, and a locked state, which prohibits connection of the connection plug to the outlet port.
US08123536B1
A compact electrical connector has first contacts (32) with a first characteristic impedance (50 ohms) and second contacts (34) with a second characteristic impedance (100 ohms), with each set of contacts having a separate electrical ground (G1, G2). The first contacts lie in passages of a first insulative holder (24), with the first contacts arranged in three rows (62, 64, 66) wherein the middle row is offset from the top and bottom rows to maintain a constant contact spacing. The second contacts (34) lie in two vertically elongated insulative holders (26, 28) that each lies at one end of the first holder, with each holder having a grounded second contact (56) and with each holder projecting into a recess (84) at the end of the frame that receives the first holder.
US08123535B1
Provided is a charging connector for an electric vehicle including a connector housing having at least two terminal pin mounting openings, at least two terminal pins inserted into the terminal pin mounting openings such that front ends of the terminal pins are exposed through a front end of the connector housing, a sealing member arranged at the rear of the terminal pins in the connector housing, a support member arranged in front of the sealing member to prevent the sealing member from moving toward the front ends of the terminal pins, the support member having an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter of the sealing member, and a rear holder connected to a rear end of the connector housing in a close contact with a rear end of the sealing member, and having cable insertion openings corresponding to the terminal pins, through which a power cable is inserted.
US08123522B2
A dental fluid delivery system for use with a dental drill is disclosed. The dental fluid delivery system includes a coolant water supply, a drive air line, a water line, and a coolant mist air controller. The coolant water supply unit includes a controller and a water container. The controller has a drive air inlet, a water inlet communicatively connected to the water container, a drive air outlet, and a water outlet. The drive air line is connected to the drive air outlet of the water supply unit. The water line is connected to the water outlet of the water supply unit. The coolant mist air controller is connectable in use to a dental drill. The mist air controller has a drive air inlet, a drive air outlet, a water inlet, a water outlet, and a mist air outlet.
US08123521B1
A device for the registration of a mandibular position that is protruded relative to the normal position, with an impression plate that is flat on both sides and whose shape corresponds to the bite of the upper and the lower jaw, whose inner and outer contour is U-shaped, that comprises, in the area of the limbs of the U, finger-like registration surfaces that extend from the inner contour to the outer contour and are arranged at a distance from each other, and that is capable of limited elastic deformation in this area. Centered in relation to the limbs of the U, bite cones for accepting the upper incisors are arranged on the upper surface of the impression plate. A shaft that is of one piece with the impression plate, is centered on the impression plate, extends in an extension of the bite cones, serves for the manipulation as well as a holder of an element that can be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the shaft, can be moved in a longitudinal slot, and has bite cones on its underside for accepting the lower incisors. Due to its thinness and deformability, the device permits the production of removable registrates with only a small increase of the occlusal height. Due to the chosen thickness of the device it is ensured that no additional bite position change will occur in appliances to be manufactured later.
US08123507B2
A cotton candy machine includes a housing and a stick grabbing device mounted in the housing. A stick rotating device is mounted in the housing and aside corresponds to the stick grabbing device. A feeding device is mounted in the housing and a sugar floss maker is horizontally mounted in the housing under the stick rotating device. The stick grabbing device provides stick one by one and conveys the stick to the stick rotating device. The stick rotating temporarily holds the stick, rotates the stick and makes the stick longitudinally insert into the sugar floss maker for coiling the sugar floss from the sugar floss maker after the feeding device providing sugar material into the sugar floss maker.
US08123506B2
The invention relates to increasing the fluid capacity and the fluid discharge pressure of a rotary sliding vane fluid compressor without significantly increasing the fluid discharge temperature. According to the invention supplemental air under pressure is added to a compressor's rotating pocket to increase the fluid capacity and fluid pressure in the pocket.
US08123500B2
In a diaphragm pump with two diaphragms disposed in a pump housing and actuated by an adjusting piston which can be acted on alternately and which is arranged in between the diaphragms, the diaphragms are fixed with curvatures facing one another, or a curvature facing away from one another, and two reaction spaces are formed between the diaphragms and a cylinder, the reaction spaces accommodating the adjusting piston and being filled with a hydraulic medium and connected together in a constrained arrangement by means of hydraulic linkage lines. Both diaphragms remain in position and do not fold over during a transition from a suction stroke to a pressure stroke, because the diaphragms are continuously in contact with the hydraulic lines and are thereby fixed in place, so that the diaphragms are not subjected to alternating loadings.
US08123478B2
A method for monitoring a condition of a rotor blade of a wind turbine is provided. The method includes transmitting, from a sensor to a controller, at least one monitoring signal indicative of a vibration of the rotor blade. The condition of the rotor blade is calculated by the controller based on the monitoring signal.
US08123476B2
A method of operating installations (10), in particular wind energy installations (10), having a component (22) which endangers flying animals, in which the component assumes a first state which endangers animals to a greater extent and a second state which endangers animals to a lesser extent. The physical environment around the installation (10), in particular the environment around the component (22), is monitored at least in regions by a suitable detection device. The detection device produces a signal when an animal of a specific type, in particular a bat, a bird or the like, enters the monitored region, and in which case the component of the installation is moved from the state which endangers animals to a greater extent to the state which endangers animals to a lesser extent depending on the signal.
US08123472B2
A unison ring assembly for an axial compressor casing is provided. The unison ring assembly includes a unison ring and at least three unison ring supports being radial inwardly and equally spaced arranged along a circumference of the unison ring, wherein each unison ring support has a unison ring bracket attached to the unison ring. Further, the unison ring assembly includes a slide bearing to be sliding along a slide face of an outer surface of the compressor casing and a resilient member being arranged between and coupled to the slide bearing and the unison ring bracket such that the unison ring is rotatable around the compressor casing by sliding the slide bearing along the slide face and to be centered free of clearance about the compressor casing. The resilient member is adapted to accommodate radial displacement of the compressor casing.
US08123462B2
A standard for supporting a bearing for a rotating shaft of a machine including a plurality of casings having different gas pressures greater than atmospheric pressure includes a sealed chamber for fluidly coupling to an end packing of a first casing and a second casing of the machine, the sealed chamber having a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The pressure in the sealed chamber reduces the leakage from the casing making more pressurized gas available for producing work in the machine.
US08123459B2
A fuel pump has substantially coaxial outer and inner pump chambers. An impeller has partition walls correspondingly to the inner pump chamber to define inner vane grooves. A rear surface is located at a rear side in a rotative direction of each inner vane groove. At least a radially inner side of the rear surface inclines rearward in the rotative direction from the radially inner side to a radially outer side. A first line connects a radially inner end of the rear surface with a radially outer end of the rear surface. A second line radially extends from the radially inner end of the rear surface. The first line and the second line therebetween define a backward tilt angle α2, which satisfies a relationship of 30°≦α2≦80°.
US08123458B2
A stacked pump arrangement for mixed-media flow includes a first, self-priming, centrifugal pump with a volute having an inlet and an outlet and a second straight centrifugal pump mounted to an upper portion of the first centrifugal pump, the second straight centrifugal pump also having a volute with an inlet and an outlet. A transition chamber is connected, at one end, to the first centrifugal pump volute outlet and is connected, at another end, to the second straight centrifugal pump volute inlet.
US08123456B2
A container changing system able to prevent deterioration in the working rate of substrate processing apparatuses and deterioration in the amount of production of semiconductor devices. A second mounting portion is arranged between a carrier of a container conveying unit and a first mounting portion of a substrate processing apparatus with respect to a lifting direction of a container. The second mounting portion is configured to freely advance and withdraw to/from a lifting path of the container. A container lifting unit is arranged between the carrier and the second mounting portion with respect to the lifting direction. In the container lifting unit, a base portion is configured to freely advance and withdraw to/from the lifting path, a second holder is provided below the base portion and can hold the container, and a second lifter is arranged between the base portion and the second holder and configured to lift up/down the second holder between the base portion and the first mounting portion when the second holder is located opposed to the first mounting portion.
US08123448B2
The present invention includes an automated binding machine configured for binding a stack of perforated sheets with a binding element. The automated binding machine includes a support member supporting the stack of perforated sheets, a binding element feeder, a plurality of binding elements supported by the binding element feeder, a receiving member configured to receive a first binding element from the plurality of binding elements and to insert at least a portion of the first binding element through the stack of perforated sheets, and a binding mechanism configured to engage the inserted portion and couple the inserted portion to a non-inserted portion of the first binding element.
US08123446B2
The invention relates to a method for producing hollow body elements (200), for example, nut elements which are applied to components which are normally made of steel (280), in particular, for producing hollow body elements having an essentially quadratic or rectangular external profile (202). Said method consists of cutting individual elements of a profile in the form of a profile rod (1) or a winding after holes (204) have previously been stamped in the profile, a threaded cylinder (206) is subsequently, optionally, formed using a follow-on composite tool (10) which consists of several working stations. The invention is characterized in that a penetrating process and a punching process are carried out in the working station. The invention also relates to hollow body elements (200), components, follow-on composite tools (10) and rolling mills (600, 602).
US08123445B2
An end face of a sheet member is cut while rotating a cutting member having a rotation axis extending along a vertical direction of the end face of the sheet member and a cutting blade projecting to a side of the end face of the sheet member around the rotation axis. The cutting member is moved relatively to the sheet member along a longitudinal direction of the end face to be cut. The part separated from a virtual line parallel to the sheet face and passing the rotation center in a cutting region formed by the rotating cutting blade is made to contact the end face of the sheet member.
US08123444B2
The apparatus for supplying a cooling fluid to the outer surface of a tool consists of a guide element which surrounds the tool shank and gives rise to a laminar coolant flow.
US08123427B2
A mounting for an optical apparatus includes a joint ball (1), a mounting device (2) for the optical apparatus and means for fixing the mounting device to the joint ball (1). The mounting device has two rings (6, 7) which are arranged displaceable to one another and are also movable on the joint ball (1) and surround the joint ball. A fixing means (3) is disposed between the rings (6, 7) and connects them, the whole such that the rings can be moved simultaneously and jointly.
US08123420B2
A method for producing an objective lens mount for an objective lens of a camera suitable for use in motor vehicles includes the following method steps: The objective lens mount and a front housing half-shell of the camera are produced as one component in a single working process. The objective lens mount and the front housing shell are made of metal materials or plastic material having glass fiber components. The objective lens mount built in one piece with the front housing shell is adapted to the length of the objective lens by chip-forming machining.
US08123419B2
A device for monitoring a privacy sensitive area, includes an image receiving device, such as a camera, disposed inside a housing chassis. The image receiving device includes a camera lens. Additionally, a movable obstruction member configured to selectively obstruct a camera lens is disposed on the device and is configured to change a position to selectively obstruct or expose the camera lens. The position of the movable obstruction member is dependent upon a threat level received by the device.
US08123415B2
Device for the coaxial connection of fiber-optic cables, comprising a single-piece coupling housing (10) and a single-piece sleeve mount (20), the sleeve mount (20) being designed with at least one latching nose (21) and the coupling housing (10) being designed with at least one latching mount which complements the at least one latching nose (21), wherein the latching mount is designed with at least one latching hook (14) and at least one stop (15).
US08123414B2
A tapered roller bearing 1 comprises an inner ring 2, an outer ring 3, a plurality of tapered rollers 4 rollably disposed between the inner and outer rings 2 and 3, and a cage 5 for holding the tapered rollers 4 in predetermined circumferentially spaced relation, wherein the roller coefficient exceeds 0.94, and with the cage 4 positioned at the axial center, there is a clearance between the cage and the raceway surface of the outer ring, and the roller abutting width of the pocket pole surface is secured across 10% or more of the pocket length axially from the central position of the pocket.
US08123403B2
To provide a temperature sensor probe that can conduct stable measurements, and the manufacturing method of the same. The temperature sensor probe related to the present invention provides: a fluorescent material that is a mixture of a fluorescent substance and a transparent material; a thermosensitive part having a concave part in which the fluorescent material is arranged; a waveguide route rod that propagates excitation light, which is irradiated on the fluorescent material, and fluorescent light, which is produced by the fluorescent substance; and a protective tube that covers the side surfaces of the waveguide route rod. Then, the fluorescent material is affixed to the tip of the waveguide route rod using the transparent material, and the waveguide route rod bites into the fluorescent material.
US08123392B2
A linear light guiding module is provided, which includes a linear light guiding body, a plurality of light emitting bodies, a plurality of heat sinks, and a plurality of fans. With the linear light guiding body, the light emitting bodies, and the heat sinks linearly arranged, or with the fans further integrated, the linear light guiding module of the present invention has a small size and an effective heat-dissipation effect. Since only one linear light guiding module needs to be disposed on one side of a light guide plate, the linear light guiding module can be used in large-sized liquid crystal display panels. Moreover, the number of the linear light guiding modules used is decreased while the requirements for high brightness and brightness uniformity can still be met, so the cost can be reduced.
US08123387B2
In an LED lamp device including a surface mount device type of LED lamp, an LED lighting circuit protecting part, a resistive element, a circuit part, and a case part, the circuit part has a metal plate which is embedded in the case part in a state where the metal plate is partially exposed, the LED lamp is mounted on the exposed portion on a front side of the metal plate, and the resistive element is mounted on the exposed portion on a rear side of the metal plate.
US08123383B2
An apparatus and method for high intensity lighting includes, in one aspect, a reflector frame having a main portion generally following a surface of revolution of the type that produces a converging beam and a second portion following a surface of revolution of the type that produces a different shape beam. Placement of the second portion in the reflector frame allows shifting of parts of the light beam in desired directions.
US08123373B2
People conveyor (2) having an endless people transportation band (4) and an endless handrail (6), a glass balustrade (8) arranged laterally to the transportation band (4) and supporting the handrail (6), and a profile (10, 12) having an U-shaped channel (38) for engaging the glass balustrade (8) and comprising an illumination cavity (44), wherein a plurality of LEDs is arranged in the illumination cavity (44).
US08123370B2
A multiple viewing-point floating imaging device is comprised of a plurality of dihedral corner reflectors 1 arranged along an optical device plane S and rotated around an axis of rotation perpendicular to said plane, to point in a plurality of directions along said plane, whereby light rays from an object O near to said plane are reflected once each by the two mirrors of said dihedral corner reflectors while passing through said plane, forming a real image P in a plane-symmetric position, visible from multiple viewing points V1 and V2 by multiple observers simultaneously.
US08123369B2
In a shaft structure of a retractable outer mirror, a shaft includes: a first member; and a second member. The first member includes: a base section having an attachment boss; a shaft section vertically arranged on the base section; and a catch part by which a catch member is caught. The second member includes: clutch parts that performs an engagement or a release of the engagement in response to rotation of a frame; and an insert portion inserted into a shaft section. The second member is fitted in with the shaft section from above a top end side of the shaft section.
US08123368B2
An optical beam scanning device includes a polygon mirror 80 in which tilt angles with respect to a rotation axis of the polygon mirror 80 of respective plural reflecting surfaces are set to angles corresponding to photoconductive members associated with the respective reflecting surfaces, a post-deflection optical system A1 that guides light beams reflected and deflected by the respective plural reflecting surfaces in the polygon mirror 80 to the photoconductive surfaces of the photoconductive members corresponding to the respective reflecting surfaces, and a pre-deflection optical system 7a that shapes the light from the light source to be a light beam of a predetermined sectional shape and guides the light beam to the polygon mirror 80, the pre-deflection optical system 7a guiding the light from the light source to the polygon mirror 80 through an optical path that passes, in the main scanning direction, on an optical axis of the post-deflection optical system A1 and passes, in the sub-scanning direction, a position further apart from the optical axis of the post-deflection optical system A1 than all light beams after reflection and deflection guided by the post-deflection optical system A1.
US08123365B2
A one-way display system includes a transparent screen and a transparent color filter. An image is emitted by the screen or projected onto the screen. The image is formed from a combination of colored lights. Instead of spanning all the wavelengths of each color, each light only spans a narrow band of the color. The color filter removes the narrow band so the image is only visible from one side of the screen. As the color filter removes only the narrow band, one can still look out and see objects on the other side of the screen minus the colors of the narrow band.
US08123363B2
A projector device that generates a projection image, photographs this projection image and performs various adjustments to the projection image.
US08123362B2
There is provided a lamp burst sound reduction structure which may have an enlarged part in an intermediate position of a duct through which cooling air for cooling a light emitting unit of a lamp flows, the enlarged part may have a cross section area larger than a cross section area of the duct, the lamp being a light source of a projector.
US08123359B2
The illumination apparatus includes a color separator configured to separate a white light beam, emitted from a white light source, into a plurality of color component light beams, a plurality of imagers each configured to modulate a corresponding one of the plurality of color component light beams separated by the color separator and a polarization modulator provided on a light incident side of one imager included in the plurality of imagers. The polarization modulator modulates a polarization direction of a modulation-object light beam which is part of a color component light beam guided to the one imager.
US08123354B2
Badal Optometer and rotating cylinders are inserted in the AO-OCT to correct large spectacle aberrations such as myopia, hyperopic and astigmatism for ease of clinical use and reduction. Spherical mirrors in the sets of the telescope are rotated orthogonally to reduce aberrations and beam displacement caused by the scanners. This produces greatly reduced AO registration errors and improved AO performance to enable high order aberration correction in a patient eyes.
US08123348B2
A recording apparatus includes a recording unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a recording medium conveying unit, which confronts the recording unit, and which includes a recording medium supporting surface including a hole, a suction unit that draws air through the hole to draw the recording medium in order to stick the recording medium to the recording medium supporting surface, and a re-conveying unit that re-conveys the recording medium to an upstream of the recording medium conveying unit in a conveying direction, wherein the suction unit discharges air toward the recording medium that is being conveyed by the re-conveying unit.
US08123342B2
Multiple grooves are formed along an inclination face of a prism-like part. A pitch of the grooves is smaller than the wavelength of light, specifically infrared light, used as a light source for detecting an ink amount. When sufficient amount of contained ink is consumed to expose the prism-like part, ink on the inclination face is held in the grooves due to their capillary force. At this time, if an amount of the ink exceeds the capacities of the grooves, no capillary force acts on the excessive ink. Accordingly, the excessive ink becomes an ink pool and slides down to an ink surface. Since the face provided with the grooves at the pitch smaller than the wavelength of the detection light source serves as a plane face optically, detection with high reliability is made possible.
US08123341B2
A liquid container attachable to a liquid consuming apparatus includes a supplying portion, a containing portion and a first rigid member. The supplying portion has a supplying opening and supplies a liquid to the liquid consuming apparatus in a state that the liquid container is attached to the liquid consuming apparatus. The containing portion is connected to the supplying portion, the containing portion containing the liquid, the containing portion being made of a flexible sheet material. The containing portion has a first side portion, a bottom portion positioned at a bottom of the containing portion in a state that the liquid container is attached to the liquid consuming apparatus and a first bottom-side sealed portion formed by joining edge portions of the first side portion and the bottom portion. The first rigid member is arranged along the first side portion and over an upper end of the first bottom-side sealed portion. The first rigid member is made of a material of higher rigidity than the flexible sheet material, whereby the first rigid member restricts displacement of the first bottom-side sealed portion in a lateral direction.
US08123340B2
Disclosed is an inkjet printer. The inkjet printer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a supply channel coupled to a plurality of inkjet heads; a first main reservoir and a second main reservoir being coupled to either side of the supply channel; and a first press and a second press applying pressure to the inside of the first main reservoir and the second main reservoir, respectively.
US08123337B2
A droplet deposition apparatus having an array of fluid chambers defined by a pair of opposing chamber walls, and in fluid communication with a nozzle for droplet ejection therefrom; a cover member is joined to the edges of the chamber walls and thus seals one side of the chambers. The cover member has a ratio of cover thickness to chamber wall separation less than or equal to 1:1.
US08123333B2
An image forming apparatus includes a head unit which has, on a bottom wall of the head unit, a jetting head having a plurality of nozzles for jetting the liquid droplets, and which jets the liquid droplets from the nozzles onto the recording medium while moving in a scanning direction; a gas inlet port which is open through a side wall, the side wall being orthogonal to the scanning direction of the head unit, and via which a gas is taken into the head unit when the head unit moves in the scanning direction; and a pair of gas discharge ports which is open through the bottom wall of the head unit, at positions on both sides in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, to interpose the nozzles therebetween, and via which the gas, taken from the gas inlet port, is discharged toward the recording medium.
US08123332B2
Provided is a printhead assembly that includes a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. Also included is a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide, as well as a printhead maintenance station configured to facilitate the transferral of ink from the printhead to the wicking element.
US08123331B2
An ink-jet printer performs formation of an image by jetting an ink from nozzles of an ink-jet head. When a power supply is switched ON after a time measuring section is not capable of measuring time due to the power supply has been switched OFF, then the ink-jet printer outputs to a display section a signal which causes a display control section, provided on a controller, to display a message asking a user whether or not a cleaning operation by a recovery operation control section is to be performed. Accordingly, any unnecessary operation for recovering the jetting function is reduced, solving problems such as waiting time required for performing the operation for recovering the jetting function and that the ink is consumed unnecessarily.
US08123330B2
In an ink jet head using a thermal energy for ejecting ink, this invention aims to reliably and uniformly remove kogations deposited on a heat application portion in contact with the ink. To realize this objective, the upper protective layer is arranged in an area including the heat application portion so that it can be electrically connected to serve as an electrode which causes an electrochemical reaction with the ink. The upper protective layer is formed of a material containing a metal which is dissolved by the electrochemical reaction and which does not form, on heating, an oxide film which hinders the dissolution. With this arrangement, a reliable electrochemical reaction can be produced to dissolve a surface layer of the upper protective layer, thereby removing kogations on the heat application portion reliably and uniformly.
US08123326B2
A method for calibrating a multi-printhead printing system, the method includes the steps of employing an encoder to track movement of a media through the printing system; providing a first printhead that prints a first image plane that includes a first test mark at a first defined location on the media as the media moves relative to the first printhead; providing a second printhead that prints a second image plane that includes a second test mark at a second defined location on the media as the media moves relative to the second printhead; employing a first image capture device that captures an image that includes both the first and second test marks; determining an error factor based on the placement of the second mark relative to the first mark in the captured image; and creating a frequency-shifted pulse train of the encoder in which the frequency shift is based on the error factor; wherein the first printhead prints the first image plane in response to output of the encoder and the second printhead prints the second image plane in response to the frequency-shifted pulse train of the encoder.
US08123325B2
A non-ejecting nozzle detecting method comprises: setting a specified processing liquid deposited pattern; ejecting the processing liquid from processing liquid nozzles onto a recording medium to form the processing liquid deposited pattern; ejecting colored ink from ink nozzles corresponding to the processing liquid nozzles selected as non-ejection detection targets onto the processing liquid deposited pattern, and recording linear colored ink images on the recording medium to thereby form a processing liquid non-ejection detection pattern; detecting, based on changes in densities and line widths of the linear colored ink images, a non-ejecting processing liquid nozzle from the processing liquid nozzles selected as the non-ejection detection targets.
US08123322B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods related to a manually operated image translation device. The device may include a carriage, which houses image translation components, that is manually manipulated along a transverse member. An advancement arrangement may advance a medium when the image translation components clear an image translation zone of an adjacent medium. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08123316B2
An image forming apparatus including: a print-job controller configured to receive a print job and control a printing operation based on the received print job; an ink-ejection driver configured to output a driving signal on the basis of the print job; an ink ejector configured to eject ink onto a paper sheet on the basis of the driving signal outputted by the ink-ejection driver; and an ink-temperature measuring unit configured to measure an ink temperature. When the ink temperature measured by the ink-temperature measuring unit is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, the ink-ejection driver outputs a driving signal of a first voltage. When the ink temperature measured by the ink-temperature measuring unit is lower than the first reference temperature and is equal to or higher than a second reference temperature that is lower than the first reference temperature, the print-job controller performs the printing operation as long as predetermined conditions are satisfied for suppressing lowering of print quality possibly caused by ink ejection based on a driving signal of a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage and the ink-ejection driver outputs the driving signal of the second voltage while the printing operation is being performed.
US08123314B2
A refrigerator includes a door having a pair of lateral spaced supports on an inside of the door, and a height-adjustable door storage compartment removably securable via a snap-in structure to the inside of the door at locations between the pair of supports at a plurality of different heights, and a support having a vertically extending guide compatibly configured with a corresponding portion of the door storage compartment. The vertically extending guide and the corresponding portion of the door storage compartment engaging one another for orienting the door storage compartment relative to the door in an installed position of the door storage compartment on the door.
US08123310B2
Disclosed is a method for controlling a brake system (1) of a motor vehicle having an electric-regenerative brake, in particular a generator (4), and a number of hydraulic friction brakes (2) driven by at least one brake pressure generating means by way of a braking medium (B). The brake system is controlled so that the total deceleration of the brake system is composed of deceleration components of the friction brakes (2) and the electric-regenerative brake, thus achieving maximum brake comfort. The braking medium (B) is discharged into a pressure accumulator (12) when braking with an electric-regenerative brake.
US08123309B2
A brake control valve includes a housing, a quick braking chamber and a piston subject to brake pipe pressure on one side of the piston. A bore in the housing connects the quick braking chamber at a first end and the one side of the piston at a second end. A first valve is in the housing at the first end of the bore. A first operator is in the bore for opening the first valve for a range of positions of the piston. The bore has a first portion of a first diameter and a second portion of a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The first bore portion connects the one side of the piston to the second bore portion. A first operator in the bore is connected to the piston. A seal on the first operator is dimensioned to form a seal with the first bore portion and not with the second bore portion. The seal is located on the operator to lie in the first bore portion for a first segment of the range of piston positions and to lie in the second bore portion for a second segment of the range of piston positions.
US08123293B2
A seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a pedestal for mounting to the vehicle. A seat bottom is coupled to the pedestal and is rotatable about a first axis between a seating position and a stowed position. A seat back is coupled to the pedestal and is rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis from an upright position to a forward position in response to a predetermined force from behind the seat back. A deformable extension is fixed to and extends between the seat back and the pedestal. The deformable extension is configured to deform to absorb energy when the seat back rotates from the upright position to the forward position.
US08123292B2
A headrest moving mechanism includes linking members that links a support portion and a headrest base portion to each other; and elongated holes formed in the headrest base portion. The elongated holes slidably receive a connection shaft provided to the support portion, thereby determining a postural position of the support portion. The elongated holes are shaped so as to move the support portion forwardly and upwardly with respect to the headrest base portion from an initial position in a time before the vehicle back-side collision happens to a collision preparatory position as the linking members are rotated.
US08123291B1
A chair with misting apparatus including a liquid dispenser assembly which provides a plurality of 360-degree adjustable nozzles disposed within the seat and backrest portions of the chair, each nozzle having a flow control switch connected to a tank mounted underneath the chair, the tank supplying liquid to the nozzles via conduit disposed within a channel in both the seat and backrest portions of the chair. Alternative embodiments of the apparatus include either an electric pump or a manual pump, and a non-foldable or foldable chair.
US08123290B1
A cooling system which having a body section which includes a flexible material; at least two mist dispensing fans connected to the body section; and control circuitry having at least a first switch controlling fan speed and a second switch controlling mist dispensing.
US08123287B2
A roof for a motor vehicle incorporating a roof channel has a cage with a slider guided therein in the vicinity of a retaining means for a roof rack. The slider can be displaced in the cage from a position closing the roof rack opening into a position exposing the roof rack opening. In addition, the cage holds a cover strip for the roof channel. The slider and the cage are made from a synthetic material and can be produced and installed in a particularly economical manner.
US08123282B1
The present invention is a decking system that provides a height adjustable, sectional second floor in a semi-trailer for hauling freight. The system utilizes vertical tracks mounted on the inside of each side of the trailer. Each track on one side of the trailer is transversely aligned with a corresponding track on the opposite side of the trailer. E-bars are secured to and between opposed corresponding tracks for adjustable, vertical movement. Deck sections are mounted on the E-bars to support cargo. The deck sections may be positioned all at the same height or at different heights or may be inclined to form a ramp for loading or unloading cargo.
US08123279B2
A vehicle includes a roll cage and a net structure. The roll cage at least partially defines a protected area and additionally at least partially defines an access opening configured to facilitate passage of an operator through the access opening and into the protected area. A net structure is attached to the roll cage and is configured to selectively block at least a portion of the access opening. Net structures and methods are also provided.
US08123278B1
A vehicle includes a pair of opposing-hinged doors having a first door and a second door. The first and second doors each include a tumblehome portion that extends inboard of a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis respectively. The first door and second doors are disposed adjacent each other when in a closed position, and define a gap between the tumblehome portions of the first and second doors. An appliqué is moveably attached to one of the doors, and is moveable between a sealing position and a withdrawn position. When in the sealing position, the appliqué extends across the gap. When in the withdrawn position, the appliqué is spaced from one of the doors, thereby allowing the doors to simultaneously rotate open in opposite directions without the tumblehome portions of the doors contacting or otherwise interfering with each other.
US08123269B2
A lifting device generally includes a handle portion having first and second ends and a support portion having first and second ends. The first end of the support portion is pivotably coupled to the first end of the handle portion and the second end of the support portion is releasably engageable with the second end of the handle portion, such that the lifting device may be positioned in at least a closed position and an open position.
US08123263B2
A tube comprising an outer tube section with a stepped outer surface and an inner tube section, with the inner tube section being located within the outer tube section. The tube also comprises a spanning section connecting an end of the outer tube section to an end of the inner tube section. The outer tube section is longer than the inner tube section, whereby, upon undergoing a longitudinal impact, the outer tube section crushes predictably and sooner than the inner tube section upon the energy management tube receiving forces from the longitudinal impact, to thereby create a first energy absorption level during crushing of the outer tube section alone and a second energy absorption level during crushing of the outer tube section and the inner tube section.
US08123262B2
A damping assembly is disposed within a housing of a latch assembly to slow rotation of a forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between an over-travel position and a latched position within the housing. The damping assembly includes a first passage and a second passage that are each configured to allow a fluid to flow therein. A restriction passage fluidly connects the first passage and the second passage and increases the pressure of the fluid within the passages. A check valve is configured to allow unidirectional flow of the fluid through the passages. An engagement mechanism is operatively connected to the passages and is configured to engage the forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between the over-travel position and the latched position. The fluid within the passages reacts against the engagement mechanism to slow rotation of the forkbolt as the forkbolt rotates between the over-travel position and the latched position.
US08123260B2
A latch apparatus for releasably securing a cover member over an access opening in a bulk storage structure. The latch apparatus is pivotally mounted to a cover member and includes a pair of latch members and a latch bar connected to and extending between the latch members. The latch members have a receptacle that receives a catch member and an extension that extends away from the latch member opposite the receptacle. The extension engages the cover member when the latch member is moved from a locked position to an unlocked position to prevent injury to a user.
US08123258B2
A female rapid coupling element is adapted to receive a male element by insertion along a longitudinal axis (X-X′) and includes at least one locking member which is movable along an oblique axis and has an end engageable in a groove of a male element. A head of the locking member is provided with at least one lug defining a first surface oriented towards the end and adapted to receive in sliding contact a corresponding surface of a first component. A sliding plane (P1) between these surfaces is inclined at an angle of between approximately 75° and 105° with respect to the oblique axis of translation of the member. The head has two lugs arranged on either side of a rod or stem that extends between the end and the head.
US08123246B2
A vehicle seat has a seat element that forms a seat surface and has a seat back (10) or backrest. The seat back (10) has a frame (14) and an airbag (19). The airbag (19) has a gas-receiving element (20) and an inflating device (21) for the gas-receiving element (20). The gas-receiving element (20) is defined at one side by a portion (15) of the frame (14) and at the other side by a delimiting element (22) that is fastened to the frame (14) and that can be displaced as the airbag (19) inflates.
US08123236B1
A universal transport device that comprises two wheels and interconnected straps for securing and mobilizing a standard, non-wheeled cooler. The two wheels are connected via a stabilizing bar, and are secured under a cooler using a series of connecting straps. The stabilizing bar provides separation of the wheels and support for the cooler load during transport. The straps are adjustable connections around the exterior of the cooler, and comprise a main strap and two or more additional adjoining straps which work to encompass the exterior of the cooler and keep it firmly in place on the stabilizing bar. A handle is secured to the straps to allow a user to tilt and pull the cooler without bending over.
US08123232B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing apparatus having high sealing performance, entailing a low cost, and satisfactory in assembly characteristics. The sealing apparatus is a differential pressure-responsive sealing apparatus which is inserted between seal grooves formed in the side surfaces of outlet flange portions of adjacent combustor transition pipes to seal clearance between the side surfaces, comprising: a minimum required number of seal pieces connected in the longitudinal direction for imparting flexibility, the seal piece comprising a heat resistant, wear resistant material, and having a pair of sealing ridges each having an arcuate surface contacting the wall surface of each seal groove.
US08123231B2
A seal for sealing between two surfaces lying generally perpendicular to each other, the seal comprising a first profile which has a base adapted to be fixed sealingly to a first surface and an upstand which projects from the base and which defines respective inner and outer opposed surfaces, and a second profile which overlies the upstand of the first profile and which, when viewed in section, comprises inner and outer depending limbs which engage slidably respective ones of the opposed inner and outer surfaces of the upstand of the first profile, wherein at least one of the inner and outer depending limbs of the second profile bears resiliently against the respective surface(s) of the upstand of the first profile in sliding engagement therewith.
US08123230B2
A cylinder head gasket includes a first gasket base plate at a cylinder head side, a second gasket base plate at a cylinder block side, a shim that adjusts the gasket thickness, and a pressure increasing plate that increases the surface pressure at the side of periphery portions of the cylinders. In the first and second gasket base plates full beads are swollen at the side of periphery portions of cylinders, and half beads are swollen at a site outward of the full beads. The full beads of the first and second gasket base plates are formed so that top portions of the full beads face each other at positions that are opposite to each other in the up-down direction. The shim and the pressure increasing plate are sandwiched between the top portions.
US08123227B2
A sliding member is characterized in that a sliding surface of the sliding member is coated with an amorphous hard carbon film, and a surface of the amorphous hard carbon film has a ten-point mean roughness of equal to or less than 0.7 micrometers and an initial wear height in a range of 0.07 to 0.14 micrometers.
US08123225B2
A game apparatus for play by at least two players, having game pieces that are manually rotated in at least four slideably mounted, apertured slats, each having at least four apertures with a rotating game piece, and a base assembly for slideably mounting the slats, such that the slats can be moved, and the game pieces rotated in the apertures, at the option of each of the players who take turns in playing the game. The game pieces are generally grouped in two different colors. The number of slats are generally the same as the number of apertures, and are preferably four or eight in number. The method of play by two players of apparatus involves each of the players taking turns that are selected from two possible moves: rotating a game piece in one of the apertures on one of the slats or linearly displacing one of the slats one stop. The game commences with all pieces on the board rotated to a neutral color, and with no home area for determining opening and winning of the game. A winner is determined when a player has a predetermined number of game pieces in a predetermined arrangement, generally four or eight in a row, or in a diamond or other configuration and where the configuration is not a home area. Also included is a virtual game board in which the game is controlled by a computer or group of computers as well as on the Internet.
US08123222B2
A compliant conveyance system including a diverter having at least one sidewall structure defining an internal chamber in fluid communication with a pressure source. The sidewall structure includes a compliant interface surface for conveying sheet material along the feed path and a plurality of orifices effecting fluid communication between the compliant interface surface and the internal chamber. A means is provided for developing a pressure differential across the sheet material through the orifices to urge an interface surface of the sheet material against the compliant interface surface of the diverter such that the compliant interface surface conforms to the sheet material interface surface. The system employs a means for driving the diverter about a rotational axis from a first to a second rotational position and a controller for controlling the pressure differential such that, in the first rotation position, the sheet material is secured against the compliant interface surface and, in the second rotational position, the sheet material is released therefrom.
US08123211B2
A pressing projection of a paper feeding cassette presses a push-back mechanism to thereby release urging of a cam gear in a direction opposite to a direction of the paper feeding cassette. The cam gear moves in the direction of the paper feeding cassette. A cam of the cam gear rotates a rotation lever. The rotation lever rotates a pickup roller lifting and lowering shaft. The pickup roller lifting and lowering shaft lowers a pickup roller.
US08123210B1
A paper feeding apparatus for a printer includes a motor; a first roller assembly includes a first roller having a first end, a second end and an axis; a first gear disposed at the first end of the first roller, wherein the first gear is configured to be driven by the motor; and a second gear disposed at the second end of the first roller, wherein the second gear having a first bevel gear; a drive shaft including a first end, a second end and an axis, wherein the first end of the drive shaft having a second bevel gear that is configured to engage with the first bevel gear of the second gear of the first roller assembly, and wherein the second end of the drive shaft having a third bevel gear; and a second roller assembly having a second roller and a fourth bevel gear that is configured to engage with the third bevel gear at the second end of the drive shaft.
US08123208B2
Binding apparatus and a related process are particularly suited for binding digitally-printed sheets into booklets. The apparatus is adapted to fold individual sheets and then to apply adhesive to the fold line before gathering the sheets in a collator ready for binding. The collator includes either a rotatable or retractable finger that is moveable to temporarily inhibit registration of a first sheet of a new stack on a stacking area, as a previous stack is transported away.
US08123201B2
A flexible aeration panel is described, which does not include a rigid support plate. The flexible aeration panel can include a first perforated, flexible sheet sealed to a second non-perforated flexible sheet at their peripheral edges, thereby defining one or more cavities that are in fluid communication with at least one gas inlet. The flexible aeration panel can be configured to produce preferably evenly spaced bubbles of gas when positioned in a liquid body. Applications include, but are not limited to, aeration of wastewater, lakes, streams, water basins and the like.
US08123200B2
The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling the circulation of water films on the exchange walls of an exchange surface of a cooling tower. It comprises combining a tank and a dispenser lip to ensure that the film has a specific thickness and that it adheres to the exchange wall right from the moment it starts to flow and repeatedly so, on each exchange wall. The exchange walls between air and water are horizontally sloping at a small angle, thereby ensuring that the water flows by force of gravity and, at the same time, limiting the speed increase on the plate to avoid the droplets from being pulled away by the airflow. The water films are recovered in recovery troughs perpendicular to the flow of the water films on the plates. These troughs are tilted horizontally, and enable the recovery of the water films without being crossed by the air flows. The air is blown in by nozzles which are interposed between the water flow plates in such a way that the airflow is in a counter-current flow or, if necessary, in a cross-current flow, relative to the water films thus enabling the evaporation of the water that cools the water flow on the exchange plates without forming liquid aerosols.
US08123194B2
A disclosed on-off valve includes a valve body having two openings that may place a process chamber and an evacuation apparatus in pressure communication with each other; a closure element located inside the valve body and adapted to close one of the two openings; a seal member provided in the closure element and adapted to seal the one of the two openings when the closure element closes the one of the two openings; a linear motion driver that linearly moves the closure element; a retreat portion located away from the two openings; and a pivotal motion driver adapted to pivot the closure element between a first position corresponding to the one of the two openings and a second position corresponding to the retreat portion; wherein the closure element is moved to the retreat portion by the linear motion driver and the pivotal motion driver in order to stay at the retreat portion when the closure element is away from the one of the two openings.
US08123185B2
A storage system including a shelf-bracket and a panel having a plurality of spaced perforations. The shelf-bracket includes a substantially circumferential flange and a receptacle portion for receiving an end edges of a shelf. An upper panel-catch and a lower panel-catch project outwardly from a side of the circumferential flange in aligned spaced relation to one another. Each of the upper panel-catch and the lower panel-catch have a lock-tab projecting toward an outer surface of the circumferential flange. A pull-release latch is provided that includes a cantilevered beam having a tab projecting outwardly from a free end so as to engage a portion of a perforated panel adjacent to the lower panel-catch, with a trigger disposed within a void defined by a recessed wall.
US08123175B2
There is provided a method and apparatus for controlling a toy helicopter in flight. The toy helicopter is powered by a first rotor and a second rotor. A target speed ratio is determined for the speed of the first rotor and the speed of the second rotor. The speed of the rotors is adjusted incrementally until the target ratio is achieved.
US08123174B2
An integrated instrumentation system includes a body comprising a thermal protection system (TPS) material (e.g., an ablatable material), one or more sensors embedded within the body, and a processor (e.g., an FPGA or the like) communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to acquire sensor signals from the plurality of sensors and produce digital sensor data associated therewith. The sensors may include, for example, recession sensors, pressure transducers, thermocouples, and accelerometers.
US08123172B2
A deployable wing structure for air-braking a satellite and which, once deployed, includes at least one wing structure element that forms a three-dimensional structure and includes at least two panels lying in secant planes and forming a dihedron.
US08123171B2
A load assisted release system for releasably connecting cargo to a primary delivery vehicle, including a releasable connector and a bridle. The bridle includes a bridle attachment point, a slack loop, a first stage release link connecting a slack loop upper end to a slack loop lower end, and a responsive point in the bridle responsive to a releasing of the first stage release link to cause the releasable connector to release the bridle from the primary delivery vehicle once the first stage release link is released and the responsive point has moved away from the slack loop upper end the second predetermined distance. The releasable connector is configured to connect the bridle to the primary delivery vehicle, and a release force required to move the responsive point in the bridle the second predetermined distance is generated by the cargo as it moves away from the primary delivery vehicle.
US08123170B2
The recovery and rescue system includes a sail (5) with rigging (10) fitted around a spreader conduit (4), with an intake and outlet nozzle, wherein a starting system (6) is provided, including mechanical (12-13) and electromechanical (17-18) opening mechanisms, in the first case operated by a manual lever (16) and in the second case operated by a button (19). Air driven through the intake of the spreading conduit (4) activates the starting system (6) in order to spread the sail (5) and by parachute means retain or brake the aircraft wherein the said system assembly is fitted. Said system can be housed inside the aircraft in a container provided for the purpose.
US08123167B2
Aircraft empennage structures have impact resistance satisfying transport aircraft certification requirements (for example, FAR part 25 and/or other international certification requirements). The structures may be specifically embodied in leading edge structures that are preferably in the form of one-piece components formed from fiber-reinforced composite materials (e.g., reinforcement fibers such as glass fibers, aramid fibers and/or carbon fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix such as an epoxy resin). The leading edge structures will most preferably include an arcuate skin and longitudinally extending internal reinforcement which is generally Y-shaped and includes a planar rib element and a pair of planar divergent reinforcement arms. The rib element may be positioned so as to be coplanar with a longitudinal bisecting plane of the leading edge structure. A forward end of the rib element may thus be integrally attached aft of an apical end of the skin, whereas an aft end of the rib may be integrally attached to each of the reinforcement arms. According to certain embodiments, rigidity and thus impact resistance may be facilitated by providing the apical end of the skin with a greater cross-sectional thickness as compared to the attachment ends of the skin.
US08123165B2
The invention relates to a partition wall for partitioning at least two regions in a cabin of a vehicle. The invention includes a partition comprising a body that may be moved into a first open position and into a second closed position and comprising a curtain rail, wherein the body is designed in the first position to cover an aisle that is adjacent to the partition, at least in some regions, by means of a curtain that has been affixed to the curtain rail.
US08123157B2
A cardboard tube, with respect to a narrow marginal end area of the same provided with a hollow interior roll, is applied against a rotatory die which has a concave surface suitable for forming an entrant perimetric step by means of constriction of the narrow marginal area. The diameter of the riser thereof is equal to the interior diameter of the cardboard tube. At the same time, against the interior hollow roll is applied a force of enough intensity to flatten the cavity of the interior hollow roll and apply the wall thereof against the interior face of the wall of the cantilevered end of the cardboard tube formed by the action of its rotatory die.
US08123156B2
A traversing device for stabilizing the yarn path of a thin and uniform flat fiber bundle without causing any trouble, e.g. entanglement of single fibers, and ensuring a good winding appearance of the winding package of fiber bundle, and a yarn path guide for stabilizing the yarn path without causing any trouble, e.g. entanglement of single fibers.
US08123155B2
A fence wire stretching device is provided having a square shape made up of five leg portions, three of which form three of the sides of the square. The fourth side of the square has a proximal leg portion and a distal leg portion that are pivotally attached together. The distal leg portion swings outward at an angle from the proximal leg portion so that the wire clamp mechanism is in an open position, and may then be pivoted back to be coaxial with the proximal leg so that the wire clamp mechanism is in a closed position. A vehicle attachment means is located at a first corner of the square, and a wire clamp mechanism is located at second corner of the square opposite the vehicle attachment means. A wire spool holding rod extends centrally across the square between a third corner and a fourth corner of the device, and is openably attached to the square so that a spool of fence wire may be slipped over the wire spool holding rod.
US08123151B2
A sprinkling gun structure including a main body having two ends respectively formed with a water inlet and an adaptation hole. An assembling tunnel is transversely formed through the main body between the water inlet and the adaptation hole to communicate therewith. The sprinkling gun further includes an adjustment member, a controlling member having a water-checking section and a water intake, and a water-guiding member having a watertight sleeve fitted on bottom end of the water-guiding member. The controlling member is fitted in the assembling tunnel and rotationally drivable by the adjustment member. When driven, the water-checking section of the controlling member is rotated to cooperate with the watertight sleeve so as to shut off/turn on and micro-adjust the water flow.
US08123150B2
A nozzle is provided and includes a circuit by which fuel is delivered to a nozzle part and a valve, interposed between the circuit and the nozzle part and upon which the fuel impinges, an opening and closing of the valve being passively responsive to a fuel pressure in the circuit such that the valve thereby modulates a size of an area through which a corresponding quantity of the fuel flows from the circuit to the nozzle part.
US08123149B2
A molded plastic mixing station housing for mixing water and chemical for car wash applications comprises a generally right hexahedron having a deep top recess which visually divides the housing into parallel spaced apart towers. A cylindrical mixing reservoir is recessed into the front of the housing such that a Hyrominder can be mounted in the top recess to overlie the open top of the mixing reservoir. A stand-off welt wraps around the entire housing just below the vertical center line to provide a stand-off feature for both wall mounting as well as the mounting of a control panel on one of the side surfaces of the housing. Mounting bracket slots are provided in the four upper corners of the housing for both wall mounting and control panel mounting. A deep recess runs down the back side to provide space for an overflow tube. The housing is preferably rotocast from high density polyethylene and may be color coded to match with the supply for a particular chemical.
US08123139B2
A machine readable code is defined by a portion of graphical indicium located on a substrate; wherein the code is delimited by a temporary boundary that is generated by a reading machine relative to a fixed trigger point only when the code is being read.
US08123138B2
Value documents including a security element having magnetic material for securing the value documents. Along the security element, for example along a longitudinal direction of the security element, there are disposed one or more magnetic areas and one or more gap areas. The extension of the magnetic areas or the gap areas along the security element is preferably chosen so that the magnetic signals of adjacent magnetization steps interfere constructively with each other when transported past the magnetic sensor.
US08123130B2
A remote ordering device having a two-way wireless communications input device with a display for sending and receiving data and a data receiving station to send and receive data, process orders and keep track of accounts, inventory and retain other data as required. The receiving station can be in communication with other receiving stations to forward orders or data. The receiving station can provide instructions to a person or machine to fill orders at any desired location. The remote ordering device can scan in checks or present an electronic version of a check to the data receiving station for payment through an automated clearing house. The two-way communications can be by cell phone through a telephone network alone or also through the internet to the data receiving station. The communications can also be through Wi-Fi and the internet and use a PDA or a computer for data input and reading.
US08123129B2
An information provision intermediation apparatus is disclosed. An information provision intermediation definition table has stored therein, in correspondence with each other, an address of the information providing site of an information providing unit and an information provision condition required for the traceability data at the time of providing the information of the information providing site. A CPU acquires a traceability data group corresponding to the individual commodity ID acquired from a terminal. Based on the acquired traceability data group and the information provision condition, the CPU acquires the address of the information providing site of the information-available information providing unit, and using the acquired address, acquires the information from the information providing site and transmits it to the terminal.
US08123128B1
A card transaction device is provided for selecting virtual cards for transactions based on a context. The portable device includes a plurality of virtual cards, and a storage device for storing the plurality of virtual cards. The cards may relate to credit or debit cards, loyalty cards, reward cards, security or access cards, or identification cards, for example. The portable device includes a user interface for a user to maintain rules for selection of one or more virtual cards based on the context of the transaction. The portable device also includes a processor to process the rules and select at least one of the virtual cards based on the context of the transaction.
US08123124B2
To prevent fraud, a magnetic card's ID, which may be a stripe ID or security chip, is converted to an encrypted card ID, which is stored on the card and in a database. Information about the card's history is captured, encrypted, and stored on the card and in a database. To validate the card, the magnetic card ID on the card is again converted to the card ID. This card ID is then compared with the card ID for that card in the database. The card history data stored on the card may also be compared, for validity and to determine points of fraud, with the card history data stored in the database. The data in the card's magnetic card ID can also be compared with the decrypted data in the card ID stored on that card to help determine the card's validity, for example, when the database is inaccessible. Card data about the account holder, stored on the card's magnetic stripe, may also be used to create the card ID for verification.
US08123123B1
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers. The machine includes a card reader that operates to read card data from user cards. The card data corresponds to financial accounts. The automated banking machine includes a cash dispenser and the machine carries out transaction functions for consumers including dispensing cash. The automated banking machine is operative to use an encrypting pin pad to produce screen data usable to generate a visual output on a display screen.
US08123114B2
An improved paper ballot voting system allows voters to verify that their ballots are correctly counted and provide substantiating evidence if they are not. Codes are revealed to voters by the act of marking the ballot during voting and voters can check that these codes are posted. If these codes are not posted as marked, voters can make the codes they obtained public. These codes made public by voters can be compared against codes that were cryptographically committed to in advance of the election. If the codes from voters do in fact match codes committed to, evidence of incorrectness of the vote tallying is provided.
US08123113B1
This invention provides a roadside mailbox that is installed in a housing that can be wholly or partially buried in the ground. The open top of the housing is closed by a door that is attached to one of the end walls by a hinge, which allows it to be pivotally moved from a closed position where it closes the top of the housing to an open position where it is substantially vertical. The mailbox is so mounted as to be pivotally movable between a secure storage position where it is entirely within the housing and an operational position where it is in position for use. Pivotal movement of the door and the mailbox is accomplished by a mechanism driven by electric power from a battery positioned in the vault, and it is operated by an actuator that can be wireless or hard-wired. A solar panel installed on the door keeps the battery charged. The mailbox also can be laterally movable so that it extends outwardly beyond the door to facilitate depositing and retrieving mail.
US08123111B2
A method for producing a solder circuit board includes imparting tackiness to a surface of a conductive circuit electrode provided on a printed wiring board to form a tackiness-imparted area. depositing solder powder on the tackiness-imparted area and heating the printed wiring board so as to melt the solder to thereby form a solder circuit. The solder powder is placed in a vessel. The printed wiring board having the electrode whose surface has been imparted with tackiness is placed in the vessel. The vessel is tilted to thereby deposit the solder powder on the tackiness-imparted area.
US08123109B2
Disclosed is a heat exchanger comprising a boiling passage and cooling passage defined by opposite sides of metal walls. Layers of brazing material between the metal walls and a spacer member bond components of the heat exchanger together. An enhanced boiling layer (EBL) comprising metal particles bonded to each other and to a boiling side of the metal wall provides nucleate boiling pores to improve heat transfer. The EBL has a melting temperature that is higher than the melting temperature of the brazing material. Also disclosed is a process for assembling the heat exchanger.
US08123103B2
An adaptor includes a body having a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to be releaseably secured to an anvil shaft of an anvil assembly. The second end is configured to be securely received within a flexible tube to releaseably secure the anvil assembly to the flexible tube. The adaptor and flexible tube assembly facilitates placement of the anvil assembly within the stomach during the performance a minimally invasive gastric bypass procedure.
US08123092B2
A retractable carry strap (12) for carrying cases (10) such as luggage, suitcases, or briefcases, wherein the retractor device is in the form of compact spring biasing compartments (12) are provided to apply resilient retraction forces (10) to the carry strap to return it to a position in close proximity to the carrying case and to store strap retracting energy when the shoulder strap is extended away from the carrying case.
US08123091B2
The installation structure of a roof rail in which the roof rail is attached to a vehicle inner panel provided underneath a roof panel, through a hole part provided in a roof panel, the installation structure includes: a protruding part which is provided protruding downward from a lower surface of the roof rail, is inserted into the hole part with a gap in-between, and is attached to an upper surface of the vehicle inner panel; and a watertight part which encloses the protruding part, and is flattened between the lower surface of the roof rail and the upper surface of the roof panel, wherein a part of the watertight part extends through the hole part and protrudes beyond the lower surface of the roof panel.
US08123089B2
An apparatus for dispensing fusible material onto a surface, wherein the fusible material is in molten form, is provided. The apparatus comprises a dispensing assembly comprising a seal structure. The seal structure controls dispensing of the fusible material. One or more gas injectors are coupled to the dispensing assembly. Each of the one or more gas injectors is adapted to inject at least one gas to the dispensing assembly for controlling a gas environment surrounding at least a portion of the seal structure. An oxidation rate of the fusible material is controlled as a function of at least one characteristic of the at least one gas.
US08123085B2
A sealant gun includes a main body connected to a C-shaped frame, and a pushing rod extends through the main body and a first end of the C-shaped frame. A connection member located between the first end and the second end of the C-shaped frame is connected with a spherical member which is fixed to the distal end of the pushing rod. A pushing plate has a mounting member and a spherical member is rotatably received in the mounting member so that the pushing plate is rotatable relative to the pushing rod and automatically pushes the sealant tube.
US08123083B2
A bottle for the creation, storage, administration and dispensing of elemental iodine is disclosed. An amount of crystal iodine is safely housed at the bottom of the bottle. Water is poured into the bottle and contacts with the crystal iodine to form elemental iodine. With the crystal iodine safely secured at the bottom of the housing, the formed elemental iodine maintains contact with the crystal iodine to maintain its stability and extends is shelf life. Several dispensing device are also disclosed for dispensing or administering the elemental iodine, as needed, in order to treat internal and external areas of a human's or animal's body.
US08123081B2
A foam dispensing assembly comprises a dispensing head and a manifold assembly. The manifold assembly includes a purge portion for supplying a gas and a cleansing fluid to the dispensing head, a first supply portion for supplying a first fluid to the dispensing head and a second supply portion for supplying a second fluid to the dispensing head. Each of the purge portion, the first supply portion and the second supply portion include a plurality of check valves and flow control valves for controlling the flow of the first fluid, the second fluid, the gas and the cleansing fluid through the manifold assembly. Each of the first supply portion and the second supply portion include an integral flow control device for regulating a fluid flow rate to the dispensing head, and a thermometer for sensing the temperature of the first fluid and the second fluid respectively.
US08123062B2
The present patent application relates to a plastic molded box with parallelepiped structure and rectangular base provided with collapsible walls, designed to stack a corresponding box with lower dimensions, it being provided with two oscillating shelves (5) on the internal side of the transversal walls (2) basically at the height of the opening.
US08123061B1
A refuse container assembled from a kit comprising thermoformed recycled plastic front, left and right, andrear panels, with predrilled holes, a waffled bottom, reinforcement angles, corner angles, castors, assembly hardware, caulking, sealing tape, lifting tubes for a frontloading option, and an attachment rod and a swivel eye assembly for a rear loading option.
US08123053B2
A slewing actuator system for rotating a boom structure comprises a cylindrical support member having lower and upper ends; a drive mounting member; gearing means comprising a gear assembly and at least one gear drive fixable to the drive mounting member and operatively connected to the gear assembly; and a boom support means to releasably secure the boom structure and operatively connectable to the gearing means. In an operating position, the boom support means is mounted proximate the upper end of the cylindrical support member and is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis; the gear assembly is substantially horizontal; and the gearing means imparts rotational movement to the boom support means. The system can include a pedestal surrounding at least part of the cylindrical support member, which can be a tube or kingpin. The compact modular system can be secured to various surfaces including ship decks and land surfaces.
US08123052B2
Some embodiments of a product display apparatus may include a plurality of product shelves and a product display sign coupled to a support arm in an elevated position above the product shelves so as to define a viewing gap at a selected height. The viewing gap can provide consumers with see-through visibility toward an adjacent aisle. The product display sign may be releasably secured in an elevated support arm that also receives one or more display containers in a position forward of the display sign and above the product shelves.
US08123042B2
Methods and compositions for separating materials are provided. The present invention provides a method of separating a first material from a second material such as mixing the first material and the second material in a slurry with a beneficiation composition. The beneficiation composition can comprise methyl isobutyl carbinol mixture derived from a methyl isobutyl ketone and/or methyl isobutyl carbinol manufacturing process. Additionally air bubbles can be provided in the slurry to form bubble-particle aggregates with the first material and the bubble-particle aggregates can be allowed to be separated from the second material.
US08123038B1
A packaging system for holding an object is provided. An outer container comprising a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides is provided. An inner container comprising a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides is provided. A top floater is attached to the top of the outer container. The top of the inner container is attached to the top floater. A bottom floater is attached to the bottom of the outer container. The bottom of the inner container is attached to the bottom floater. An internal support is attached to the inner container.
US08123031B2
An improved merchandise display system comprises a display tag, one or more product flaps each for attachment to an item of merchandise, and a detachable fastener. The fastener comprises a screw and a nut, the screw having a post for threaded engagement with the nut. The head of the screw, and the nut, are wider than the aperture and the post is received in the aperture in the display tag. The product flap is detachably held between the nut and the front surface of the display tag with the post of the screw received in an opening in the flap such that the product may be removed from and reattached to the display tag by disassembling and reassembling the display tag, fastener and product flap. A second product flap may be detachably held between the screw head and the back surface of the display tag.
US08123020B2
An easily dismantled escalator outer decking, the escalator including a handrail system bracket and a balustrade panel, the escalator outer decking including cover plate (1), wherein the escalator outer decking also includes a first bracket (3) mounted on the handrail system bracket (5), a retention member (2) secured to the cover plate (1) and an insertion strip (8), wherein the retention member (2) is connected to the first bracket (3) in a manner of embedding or snapping, and the insertion strip (8) is wedged between the cover plate (1) and the balustrade panel (9); such that when the outer decking is disassembled, the cover plate (1) and the retention member (2) can be taken down together by putting away the insertion strip (8) first and then lifting the cover plate (1) and the retention member (2) or pushing them towards the balustrade panel (9). The escalator outer decking the present invention has good configuration and can be dismantled easily during maintenance.
US08123018B2
A power transmitting device includes a front housing member, an inner shaft, and a main clutch that selectively permits and shuts off transmission of torque between the front housing member and the inner shaft. The power transmitting device is rotatably supported by a bearing arranged outside the front housing member. An intermediate member having a thermal expansion coefficient lower than the thermal expansion coefficient of the front housing member is arranged between the front housing member and the bearing.
US08123015B2
In a robot hand overload safety apparatus, a first magnetically attracting bearing face 3 is provided at a robot hand mounting portion, and a second magnetically attracting bearing face 9 is provided on the robot hand 4, so that the second magnetically attracting bearing face 9 is magnetically attracted by the first magnetically attracting bearing face 3 and the robot hand 4 is mounted and supported, and in which a shaft 10 projecting from the first or second magnetically attracting bearing face 3, 9 is fitted into a hole or groove 11 opening on the other bearing face, so that the robot hand 4 rotates in the lateral direction, moves in the vertical direction or inclines in the fore-and-aft direction against the magnetically attracting force via the fitting between the shaft and the hole or groove 11 due to an overload exerted to the robot hand 4.
US08123014B2
A two way actuator in a torque transmitting assembly includes a piston member having a first side with a first contact surface and a second side opposite with a second contact surface. A backing member is sealed to the piston member. A first biasing member is disposed between the backing member and the piston member and a second biasing member is disposed between the piston member and a second member. The first torque transmitting device is engaged when a hydraulic fluid contacts the second side of the piston member and moves the piston member to contact the first torque transmitting device. The second torque transmitting device is engaged when the hydraulic fluid contacts the first side of the piston member and moves the piston member to contact the second torque transmitting device.
US08123003B2
An arrangement and a method are provided for determining the position of an elevator car in the elevator hoistway. The arrangement includes a measuring apparatus fitted in connection with the elevator car. The measuring apparatus is arranged to form an electromagnetic radio-frequency measuring signal, for determining the position of the elevator car. The arrangement also includes a position identifier fitted in a selected location in relation to the elevator hoistway. The position identifier is arranged to connect inductively to the electromagnetic radio-frequency measuring signal, and also after it has connected to send a determined pulse pattern using the electromagnetic radio-frequency measuring signal.
US08123000B2
Apparatus used on extension ladder for supporting a paint can includes a platform. A first rod support member secured to such platform in a rotateable manner. A first leg secured to platform in a pivotable manner adjacent a second outer edge. A second leg secured to platform in a pivotable manner adjacent a third outer edge. A first adjustable leg engageable with such first leg for adjusting a length between a second end of first adjustable leg member and first end of such first leg. A second adjustable leg engageable with a second end of second leg for adjusting a length between a second end of second adjustable leg and the first end of second leg member. A second rod like support is secured to platform in a rotateable manner closely adjacent a fourth outer edge and a first and second ladder insert engageable with an end of a respective one of the first and second elongated rod support member.
US08122999B2
An escape and rescue device used in a multistory building during a terrorist threat or a fire to: a) evacuate a person or persons attached to an expandable disc support with an attachment that is lowered from an upper level of a building through a vertical tube, by using a lesser pressure at the top of the tube and a higher pressure at the bottom of the tube, using a door at the top or a door at the bottom to maintain pressure or by artificial air pressure, thereby permitting the fast evacuation of many people in a short time, b) it can be used by firemen in training in its use and benefits, c) also at amusement parks, where there would be a ride that would teach the users about its reliability and safety, and d) to transport firemen in a fast way from the ground to the upper floors without interfering with the evacuation in process at the congested stairways of the building.
US08122994B2
A steering system arranged in a vehicle having a steering wheel, a steering system control unit and a steering assistance unit with an electric motor. The steering system is designed to assist, by the motor of the steering assistance unit, a predefined steering movement of a driver at the steering wheel for steering steerable wheels of the vehicle and to steer the steerable wheels in accordance with the predefined steering movement. In this context, the steering wheel is mechanically coupled to the steering assistance unit. The steering system is also designed to block a predefined steering movement at the steering wheel, and therefore to block steering of the steerable wheels by the steering assistance unit, in a predefined state of rest of the vehicle.
US08122988B2
A vehicular cooling device supporting apparatus has a radiator support lower 14 formed with a plurality of support-side connecting portions 32 and 34 for altering connecting positions to radiator support sides 16 and 18. This enables a layout position of a radiator main body 20 to be altered depending on size of an engine to use component parts in common. Placing the radiator main body 20 in a rearward position when the engine is small in size can suppresses damage to the radiator main body 20 upon collision of a vehicle at a low vehicle speed. In this case, it is suffice for the connecting positions of the radiator support lower 14 to the radiator support sides 16 and 18 to be altered in a vehicle fore and aft direction. Thus, the cooling device supporting apparatus can be constructed simply at the low cost with a minimum number of component parts.
US08122986B2
A powertrain for a vehicle having an air intake includes an engine and an electric machine. The engine includes a manifold configured to receive intake air entering through the vehicle air intake, and a throttle disposed between the air intake and the manifold. The powertrain also includes a compressor disposed between the air intake and the manifold, and operable to compress the intake air before it enters the engine. A pressure sensor disposed downstream of the compressor and upstream of the throttle provides air pressure signals to a control system that determines a driver demand and operates the electric machine to boost torque output of the powertrain when the driver demand requires operation of the compressor and the driver demand is not met by the engine. The torque boost of the electric machine is based at least in part on signals output from the pressure sensor.
US08122970B2
A duplex hinge having two pivot points. In one embodiment, the hinge is used between sections of multi-sectional farm implements to allow flex during field operations as well as folding for road transport. One pivot point is active both when folding and during field operations. The other pivot point is active during field operations but rigid while folding for road transport.
US08122969B1
A low pressure, extended coverage, fire protection sprinkler, e.g., of the upright type, suitable for use in protection of at least extra hazard and high piled storage occupancies, in accordance with the 1999 Edition of NFPA 13, has a body with an internal passageway extending between an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, and a deflector mounted to the body by at least one support arm and disposed in alignment with the axis and generally spaced from the outlet end of the internal passageway. The sprinkler has a predetermined K-factor, e.g., of greater than about 16.0. The sprinkler is configured and arranged to deflect flow of water generally radially outwardly and downwardly of the sprinkler in a predetermined spray pattern. Preferably, the predetermined spray pattern has a generally polygonal shape, e.g., a rectangular shape, when viewed at a predetermined distance below the deflector.
US08122965B2
Methods for developing an offshore field comprising deploying a lead drilling and production vessel to a offshore field to drill and complete at least one well. Production from the at least one well is initiated and evaluated. A secondary production vessel is selected based upon the evaluated production and is deployed to the offshore field to replace the lead drilling and production vessel and support production of the at least one well.
US08122964B2
A method to interchangeably connect a plurality of Lower Marine Riser Packages with a lower BOP stack includes engaging a Lower Marine Riser Package connector of the Lower Marine Riser Package, with a Lower Stack mandrel connector of a Lower Stack, thereby aligning the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack axially about a vertical axis, engaging at least one ring alignment pin of the Lower Marine Riser Package with at least one alignment plate of the Lower Stack, thereby rotationally aligning the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack within a specified angle about the vertical axis, and engaging feed-thru connections between the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack.
US08122963B2
A method of monitoring a solenoid (1) of a directional control valve (DCV) associated with a subsea control module (6) in a subsea hydrocarbon production system is disclosed. A voltage is applied across a coil of the solenoid, for moving the armature (4) thereof, and a current through the coil is sensed to produce an indication of if and when the armature is moved.
US08122959B2
The invention relates to the use of one or more water-soluble reactive liquid component capable of subsequent polymerization or cross-linking to form a solid to improve the zonal isolation and alleviate the impacts of cracks and fissures in the cement sheath around a completed subterranean well. It includes the steps of injecting a wellbore fluid carrying the reactive component or additive into the wellbore, injecting a cementitious composition as slurry into the wellbore and letting said reactive liquid component pass through at least one of the interfaces between cement and formation, cement and filter cake, and filter cake and formation before forming a solid of said reactive liquid component that traverses said at least one of the interfaces.
US08122958B2
A method and device for a running tool for drilling or cleaning and setting a lining and a completion string in an underground borehole. The running tool comprising a drilling tool, an expandable casing, an expansion tool, a packer arranged to seal against the wall of the casing, and at least one conduit extending up to the surface. The drilling tool is releasably connected to the lower portion of the expanding casing, and the expansion tool and the packer are releasably connected to the upper portion of the expanding casing. The running tool is arranged to communicate with the surface through at least one pipe conduit.
US08122956B2
A sample tank for receiving and storing sampled connate fluid from a subterranean geological formation. The sample tank includes a piston coaxially disposed within the tank. The piston can be disposed close to the end of the tank where the sampled fluid is introduced into the tank and urged along the length of the tank as sampled fluid is added to the tank. The piston includes an agitator for mixing the fluid and keeping particulates suspended within the fluid. The agitator includes a magnetic member, and is rotated by applying a varying electromagnetic field to the member.
US08122932B2
The present application pertains to a system for adjusting the height of a covering, such as window or a wall covering formed of two or more covering segments that are axially aligned. The system includes a link that selectively transmits rotation between two adjacent coverage thereby allowing the two coverings to be controlled, e.g., raised or lowered, simultaneously. The link includes a clutch that allows one of the segments to be rotated with respect to the other so that the bottom end of one of the coverings can be adjusted and aligned horizontally independently of the other. Optionally, the clutch includes an internal member that provides a mechanical advantage while the one covering is adjusted.
US08122930B2
A labeling apparatus is for applying labels to articles advanced along an article conveyor. The labeling apparatus may include a frame to be positioned adjacent the article conveyor, and a labeler carried by the frame. The labeler may include a housing, a rotary bellows wheel carried by the housing, and bellows carried by the rotary bellows wheel. The rotary bellows wheel and adjacent portions of the housing may define a porting arrangement for selectively connecting the rotary bellows wheel to a fluid flow to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the bellows so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position and so that a peak negative internal fluid pressure is applied at the label pick-up position and a peak positive internal fluid pressure is applied at the label-applying position.
US08122927B2
An inner-tube assembly that includes an inner-tube and a valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to facilitate the inflation of the inner-tube, and the valve assembly includes a valve core and a valve housing. The valve housing has a lower portion coupled to the inner-tube and an opposite upper portion. At least part of an exterior surface of the lower portion is threaded and at least part of an exterior surface of the upper portion is unthreaded. In another aspect, the inner-tube assembly includes the inner-tube and a valve assembly. An attachment member couples the valve assembly to the inner-tube. The attachment member has a length and a width defining an aspect ratio of width/length, and the aspect ratio is less than about 0.50.
US08122922B2
A closure (12) for a container (14) adapted to store fluid (16) to be dispensed, said closure comprising a body (17) having an outer surface (23) communicating with the exterior of said container and an inner surface (27) embedded within said body wherein said outer surface includes a cavity (26) adapted to sealably receive a dispensing device (32).
US08122916B2
A wire reel containing portion 3 of a reinforcing bar binding machine 1 is provided with a rotation detecting lever 8 and a photosensor 7. When a wire reel is rotated in starting to bind a wire, rotation thereof is detected by the rotation detecting lever switched ON/OFF by a projected portion formed at a side face of the wire reel, the photosensor detects a reflection mark of the wire reel to determine a kind of the wire from a number of the marks, and a twist torque or the like is controlled. Wire information is detected not in an initializing operation (in setting wire) of rotating the wire reel at low speed but in a binding operation of rotating at high speed and therefore, an amount of swinging the rotation detecting lever is large and wire information can firmly be detected.
US08122914B2
Cryogenic transfer hose for hydrocarbons comprising an inner hose, an outer hose arranged around the inner hose in a concentric manner and a spacer member bridging an annular gap between the inner and outer hoses, a fibrous insulation material forming a three dimensional matrix of fibers being comprised in the annular gap, characterized in that the outer hose comprises an elastomeric and/or a plastic material, the fibrous material being contiguous overall best a part of the length of the hoses with the inner and outer hose and forming a spacer member.
US08122913B2
A hose or cable protector has a pair of articulating guides, each with rollers for creating an arcuate hose path around the sharp corner of a tunnel mouth which would otherwise cause abrasion to the hose. A stop imposes a guide to guide angle of eighty (80) degrees but the usual angle is greater and up to one hundred and twenty (120) degrees. Arches span the guides and retain the protector on the hose or cable. In a variant, the arches are spring loaded and adjustable to retain or release the hose. A control line positions the protector at the selected site.
US08122910B2
A flexible gas delivery apparatus having a gas panel with a first extension block having a first section and second section, the first section positioned between a mixing valve and the substrate having an exit port in fluid communication with a pump/purge manifold, and a second extension block having a first section and a second section, the first section positioned between a purge valve and the substrate having a discharge port in fluid communication with a mixing manifold, wherein the second portion of the first and second extension blocks extend outwardly from the gas panel.
US08122904B2
The present invention provides a fluid tank inlet assembly having an inlet pipe extending from a mounting structure located at the proximal end of the pipe. A float valve assembly is disposed beyond the distal end of the inlet pipe and includes a float member. An obstruction is located within a housing between the inlet pipe and the float member. The obstruction blocks the line of sight or direct path between the inlet pipe and the float member, but a flow path remains and is defined between the obstruction and the housing wall to allow fluid to flow around the obstruction to the float valve assembly.
US08122901B2
A system and method for controlling fluid flow within a microchannel includes a fluid circuit comprising a fluid outlet well and one or more fluid inlet wells, all in communication with a microchannel. A negative pressure differential is applied to the outlet well and fluid flow from an inlet well into the microchannel is controlled by opening or closing the inlet well to atmospheric pressure. To stop fluid flow from the inlet well, a negative pressure differential may be applied to the inlet well to equalize pressure between the inlet and outlet wells. By sequentially opening and closing different inlet wells to atmosphere, controlled amounts of different reagents can be serially introduced into the microchannel.
US08122896B2
The invention relates to a hair-straightening device (10) comprising: an air inlet portion (12) for receiving an air stream having a first direction (14), a brush or comb (16) having a plurality of tines (18) and intended to be moved in a moving direction (20), and means (22, 24) for redirecting the air stream into a second direction (26), wherein the angle (α) enclosed by the moving direction (20) and the second direction (26) is smaller than 50 degrees, preferably smaller than 30 degrees, and most preferably smaller than 20 degrees.
US08122885B2
The invention is a ventilator whose servo-controller adjusts the degree of support by adjusting the profile of the pressure waveform as well as the pressure modulation amplitude. As the servo-controller increases the degree of support by increasing the pressure modulation amplitude, it also generates a progressively more square, and therefore efficient, pressure waveform; when the servo-controller decreases the degree of support by decreasing the pressure modulation amplitude, it also generates a progressively more smooth and therefore comfortable pressure waveform.
US08122882B2
A breathing circuit includes inspiratory and expiratory limbs, each having a respective electrically energizable heating circuit. The heating circuits are independently and selectively electrically energized through separate power circuits such as to control the temperature in each limb in a desired fashion so as to reduce rainout in the breathing circuit and particularly in the expiratory limb.
US08122881B2
A nebulizer and a method of breathing using the nebulizer is described. The nebulizer and breathing techniques are capable of delivering medicament into the sinus cavity of a user.
US08122872B2
A fuel pump module for an ethanol fuel vehicle, which is mounted on a fuel tank for storing ethanol fuel and is provided with a pump and a supply portion for pressure-feeding the ethanol fuel stored in the fuel tank to an engine, may include a heater unit that is disposed therebetween and is fluid-communicated to the pump and the supply portion through a connection hose so as to heat by electrical resistance the ethanol fuel supplied to the heater unit through the pump.
US08122871B2
A fuel supply device has a main line, a fuel pump, a first return line, a second return line, a valve mechanism, a first pressure regulator, and a second pressure regulator. The fuel pump pressurizes the fuel in the fuel tank and supplies the fuel to a fuel distribution pipe via the main line. The first return line returns the fuel from the fuel distribution pipe to the fuel tank. The second return line is branched from the main line and returns the fuel from the main line to the fuel tank. The valve mechanism selectively connects and disconnects the second return line with respect to the main line. The first pressure regulator is arranged in the first return line. The second pressure regulator is provided in the second return line and adjusts fuel pressure to a lower level than the first pressure regulator does.
US08122870B2
A blowby gas returning apparatus is mounted in an engine provided with a turbocharger in an intake passage and provided with a blowby gas returning passage for flowing blowby gas generated in the engine to return to the engine. This apparatus comprises an intake bypass passage connecting an upstream side and a downstream side of the intake passage with respect to the turbocharger, and a jet pump for generating negative pressure in the intake bypass passage. An exit of the first blowby gas returning passage is connected to the intake bypass passage through the jet pump. The apparatus further includes a second blowby gas returning passage connecting the intake passage downstream of the throttle valve to a head cover. In the head cover, a PCV valve is placed at an entrance of the second blowby gas returning passage.
US08122866B2
The present invention provides novel acoustic bumpers that can dampen vibrations and control noise transmission from an engine front cover, or other component. In one embodiment, the front cover carries a water pump and internal water distribution passages and covers an overhead camshaft drive mechanism and an oil pump mounted on the engine block. Noise control of unsupported cover central portions is provided by acoustic bumpers carried on inside cover bosses and engaging surfaces in accessible locations on the engine block front face or on associated components. The acoustic bumpers may be doughnut shaped annular rings having identical coaxial locating recesses on opposite sides for error-free installation. A central web between the recesses includes an axially located retainer hole. Each bumper may be mounted on a pillar on the inside cover face that includes a fastener receiving blind hole centrally located on a raised circular boss.
US08122855B2
The invention relates to a boiler comprising a combustion chamber which is surrounded at least in part by a combustion gas flue that is embodied as a primary heat exchanger. The combustion gas flue is enclosed at least in part by a water-conducting housing while a water-conducting secondary heat exchanger that is hydraulically connected to the housing is mounted downstream of the combustion gas flue. According to the invention, the combustion chamber is surrounded at least in part by the secondary heat exchanger.
US08122846B2
Devices and methods for manufacturing displays, solar panels and other devices using larger size workpieces are provided. The workpiece is rolled into a cylinder, thereby reducing the physical size by a factor of 3 in one dimension. The stages on which the workpieces are rolled have a cylindrical shape, which allows a more robust and/or compact movement of the glass, reduced machine weight. The workpieces are relatively thin, more flexible, and are rolled onto a cylinder with a diameter of about 1 meter.
US08122845B2
An envelope (5) flap (6) moistener has a moisture transfer member (4; 104) for transferring liquid adhering thereto to a flap (6) of an envelope (5). An encapsulation (11, 22; 110, 111, 122) containing the moisture transfer member (4; 104) is equipped with a cap (22; 122) suspended movably between a closed position and an open position. The encapsulation (11, 22; 110, 111, 122) encapsulates at least a portion of the moisture transfer member (4; 104) including a contact surface (12; 112) for contacting envelope (5) flap (6)s to be moistened when the cap (22; 122) is in the closed position and leaves the contact surface (12; 112) of the moisture transfer member (4; 104) exposed for allowing the contact surface (12; 112) to contact an envelope (5) flap (6) when the cap (22; 122) is in the open position.
US08122841B2
A ship that is to be coupled electrically to a terminal a method, and a method and a device for connecting an electrical power line (1) between a ship (3) and a terminal (5). The device includes an unwinder (7) for unwinding a traction cable (13) from the ship (3) towards a connection end (15) of the electrical power line (1); a lashing device (9) for lashing the traction cable (13) to the connection end (15); and a traction device (11) for pulling the electrical power line towards the ship (3) so as to connect the connection end (15) with an electrical interface (17a) of the ship (3).
US08122839B2
The method for manufacturing a natural fiber stripe-quilted fabric having protruded wrinkle patterns on its surface is disclosed, in which a quilting machine is installed by fixing a sewing machine support member in a diagonal direction at 70˜85° with respect to a running direction of a quilted fabric on an upper plate 50a, and a motor-driven sewing machine is installed in a support structure at a constant interval, and a sewing machine needle 52a is downwardly disposed at an interval of 3˜4 cm, and a sewing guide plate 52b is installed along with a certain space between a lower side of the support member 51 and an upper plate of a quilting machine for allowing a quilting fabric A to pass through, and a guide hole 52c is formed so that a sewing machine needle can pass from an upper side to a lower side, and a under thread supply apparatus 52d is installed in a lower side.
US08122831B2
A fuze setting circuit in an artillery or tank shell having a case with a press-fitted head assembly is provided with an electromechanical fuze-wiring link that is completed electrically by mechanical assembly of a tracer-carrying projectile on the shell casing, and by the rotational attachment of a programmable fuze onto the projectile.
US08122823B2
A space-saving in-flight trash compactor, comprising a trash chute, a compactor mechanism, and a storage chamber that includes an interface for the trash chute. Trash deposited in the trash chute is channeled into the storage chamber. Either or both of the compactor mechanism and the storage chamber are rotatably attached to one or two axles. During maintenance or trash removal, the compactor mechanism or storage chamber may swivel around an axle to permit ease of access.
US08122822B1
A bale stacker for forming a number of bales into a bale bundle having a predetermined number of bales. The bale stacker includes a compression chamber in which the bales are formable into the bale bundle, and a loading chamber in which the bales are positionable in respective columns proximal to an upstream opening of the compression chamber. The bale stacker also includes a transfer assembly with a platen for moving the columns from the loading chamber into the compression chamber. Front doors are located at the upstream opening and movable between a closed position, in which the upstream opening is at least partially obstructed by the front doors, and an open position, in which each column of bales is movable respectively through the upstream opening. Controlling means coordinate movement of the front doors with movement of the platen.
US08122821B2
A food-processing device for chopping, mixing, or liquefying foods. The device comprises a container, a removable base, and a blender base. The container comprises a locking member located at the periphery of the container. The container has an opening. The removable base comprises a blade member and is removably affixable to the opening of the container. The blender base comprises a motor and a recessed well. The recessed well comprises a pressure-activated switch and a locking groove located adjacent to the switch. The removable base is adapted to removably fit within the recessed well such that when the locking member contacts and depresses the switch, the downward movement of the switch activates the motor, wherein the container can be depressed and rotated to allow the locking member to engage the locking groove, thereby permitting continuous operation of the motor without requiring a user to exert constant pressure on the container.
US08122817B2
A cooking apparatus for programmable rotating rotisserie skewers includes an electromotor-driven and manually-driven gearboxes comprising linearly-positioned and sequentially-engaged drive gears, a frame with openings in which skewers is rotating, wherein each skewer is equipped with a gear that rests on a top of an individual drive gear and engaged to it by food and skewer weight; so skewers can be individually removed and turned for food position adjustment. The electromotor is connected to the electromotor-driven gearbox via safety clutch disengaging said motor when manual rotation is performed or in the case of mechanical failure. To perform programmable food processing of different kind of food including symmetric food, such as souvlaki, shashlik, shish kabobs, etc. and asymmetric or flat food, such as a chicken, burger or steak, a timing mechanism periodically slowing or stopping skewers rotation for a preset pause is utilized.
US08122812B2
A piston and cylinder unit (1) includes a cylinder housing (2), a piston (7), a piston rod (18) and a securing element (20). The piston (7) includes an opening (13), at least one piston seal (11) and an inner thread (15) being located in the opening (13). The piston rod (18) has an axis (9) and includes a protrusion (21), an outer thread (23) and a second thread (27). The outer thread (23) is located on the protrusion (21). The second thread (27) is located at the piston rod (18). The piston (7) and the piston rod (18) are connected by the inner thread (15) and the outer thread (23). The securing element (20) is designed and arranged to substantially extend in the direction of the axis (9). The securing element (20) includes a thread (24), the securing element (20) and the piston rod (18) being connected by the thread (24) of the securing element (20) and the second thread (27) of the piston rod (18). The securing element (20) is designed and arranged to be active in an axial direction in a way to prevent rotational movement of the piston (7) in a loosening direction. The threads (15, 23) of the piston (7) and of the piston rod (18) are designed and arranged to be operated in a direction opposite to the threads (24, 27) of the securing element (20) and the piston rod (21).
US08122808B2
A bullet feeding device having an expandable collet insertable into a die body. The die body is capable of receiving bullets from a source and directing the bullets to the expandable collet. The expandable collet restricts the passage of the bullet through the die body until the mouth of a cartridge case is inserted into the die body opposite the bullet. The mouth of the cartridge case causes the expandable collet to expand and allow the single bullet to pass through the expandable collet and be placed in the mouth of the cartridge case. As the completed cartridge is drawn from the die body, the expandable collet contracts above the tip of the bullet and prevents the passage of additional bullets until a new cartridge case is inserted. The expandable collet is capable of accepting bullets of different lengths and shapes. In addition, the expandable collet is easily interchangeable with expandable collets of other sizes to be compatible with bullets of different diameters.
US08122792B2
The self-adjusting locking pliers include a fixed assembly having a fixed jaw supported at one end. A moveable jaw is pivotably supported on the fixed assembly at a slidable pivot connection. The slidable pivot connection includes a pawl provided with teeth. A rack of teeth includes first and second sets of teeth offset from one another by ½ of the pitch that may each be engaged by the teeth formed on pawl. A lever is attached to the fixed assembly and a linkage transmits a force applied to the lever to the jaws and locks the jaws in the clamping position. The linkage allows the angle between the links to be preset to thereby control the clamping force applied to the work piece. The movable jaw is selectively attached to the linkage in one of two positions such that the jaw span may be adjusted without affecting the geometry of the linkage.
US08122789B2
A device (1) for the adjustment of a gland nut (2), provided with a plurality of gripping means (8) through which said gland nut (2) can be caused to rotate, comprising an engaging member (3) and actuator means (25, 26) to cause the engaging member (3) to effect a working movement from a first position to a second position. The engaging member (3) is capable of effecting one-way engagement with the gripping means (8) to rotate the gland nut (2) through a predetermined angle (α) in the working movement from the first position to the second position.
US08122787B2
A transmission includes a transmission case, a rotatable component disposed within the transmission case, and a sump disposed below the rotatable component for storing a hydraulic fluid. A gear train baffle is disposed between the rotatable component and the transmission case. The baffle includes an outer surface, an inner surface defining a cavity that substantially encircles the rotatable component, and a plurality of tabs disposed radially outward from the outer surface. The plurality of tabs are in contact with the transmission case to prevent the baffle from rotating. A plurality of openings are located at a bottom portion of the baffle. The plurality of openings extend through the baffle between the inner surface and the outer surface. The hydraulic fluid from the rotatable component collects on the inner surface of the baffle and is directed out of the cavity through the plurality of openings into the sump.
US08122783B2
A joystick having a movable member that includes a shaft portion and a spherical portion wherein the shaft portion has a diameter less than the spherical portion. An actuating member is secured to the shaft portion of the movable member to provide actuation of the movable member. A magnet is disposed within the spherical portion of the movable member and positioned adjacent a three axis sensor such that the magnet moves in a hemispherical pattern along the three axis sensor to operate a device.
US08122779B2
A hand-held electronic pipettor is designed particularly to be programmed and operated with one hand for the convenience of the user. It uses a capacitance touchpad control for programming, and a separate run button for the operating mode. Internal components are located so that the center of gravity of the pipettor is located within the palm of the user. Flash memory stores an empirically derived table that correlates aspiration volume to motor steps and a separate empirically derived table the correlates dispensing volumes to motor steps.
US08122773B2
The present invention pertains to systems and methods for measuring power output, as in an athletic activity such as cycling. One embodiment relates to a force sensing device configured to be mounted on the bottom surface of a shoe as part of a mechanical linkage through which force is exerted. For cycling, the force sensor is mounted on the bottom surface of a cycling shoe and fitted with a cleat that interlockingly engages a bicycle pedal. To measure both positive and negative pressures on the pedal, the force sensor is pre-stressed with a compressive load to an intermediate point in its dynamic range. Strains that further compress or decompress the force sensor can thus be measured. The computing module mathematically converts the measured pressures, positive and negative, to a measurement of total power exerted by the rider. In addition, the computing module may utilize cyclical regularities in the signal to compute the rider's cadence (pedal revolutions per unit of time). Data from the force sensor is transmitted wirelessly to a remote display where it can be viewed by the rider.
US08122772B2
Systems and method for monitoring gait dynamics are disclosed. The performance of an orthotic or prosthetic device or other device associated with a limb may be measured based on the resistance of a bending sensor. Data from the sensors is gathered or processed, particularly for purposes of alignment, safety, failure, usage, selection, and artificial proprioception. Information relating to the device may be outputted visually or auditorily to an individual.
US08122764B2
A sensor for detecting a state of liquid contained in a container comprising an outer tubular electrode made of an electrically conductive material, an inner electrode made of an electrically conductive material and disposed concentrically within the outer tubular electrode, a base end support member supporting base end portions of the outer tubular electrode and the inner electrode in a way as to provide insulation therebetween, and a leading end support member elastically supporting a leading end portion of the inner electrode on an inside of a leading end portion of the outer tubular electrode.
US08122757B2
A propellant ignition testing apparatus having a compressively sealable chamber. A fixed end plate assembly is fixedly mounted on a support structure. A test chamber assembly having a combustion chamber for accommodating propellant is provided, and an initiator ignites propellant accommodated in the combustion chamber. A moveable end plate is disposed adjacent to the test chamber assembly on a side thereof remote from the fixed end plate assembly. A device is mounted on the support structure for generating a compressive force, with the moveable end plate being operatively connected to a moveable component of the device for moving the moveable end plate toward the test chamber assembly for sandwiching the combustion chamber of the test chamber assembly in a compressively sealed manner between the fixed end plate assembly and the moveable end plate.
US08122755B2
A method is provided for evaluating relative wear life polymeric specimens intended for use at high temperature under high wear conditions.
US08122753B2
A portable metered flow apparatus for accurately providing calibration gas from a calibration gas source to a gas monitoring instrument in order to permit calibration/bump testing of the instrument comprising a regulator and a gas delivery device that includes a solenoid valve, an electronic timing circuit, a device for providing power to the solenoid valve and the electronic timing circuit, a power switch for activating the electronic timing circuit, a device for activating the release of calibration gas; and optionally one or more LED lights. A method for calibration/bump testing of a gas monitoring device utilizing the portable metered flow apparatus is also provided.
US08122751B2
A tool for gripping, clamping or holding an object, wherein the tool has a handle portion, a linkage portion and a working portion, and wherein the working portion includes two workpiece contacting surfaces, at least one of the surfaces shaped to generally conform to at least a portion of the outer surface of a workpiece to be clamped, gripped or held. In some embodiments, at least one of the workpiece contacting surfaces is adapted to provide a treatment to a workpiece being clamped, gripped or held.
US08122742B2
A washing machine having a steam generator, which generates steam so that the steam is used in a washing or drying operation, and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The steam generator includes a case having a space for storing water; a heater provided in the space of the case for generating heat; and a water level sensor for sensing the minimum and maximum level of the water stored in the space of the case. A controller controls the water supply valve and the heater according to a result sensed by the water level sensor. The water supply valve is opened and closed, thereby controlling the supply of water to the steam generator.
US08122739B1
An earring is provided in the form of a spring ring with two mounting members and a bead with lock-screw. The first mounting member is stationary. The second mounting member remains in a normally closed position actuated by a spring. When the earring is in place, the mounting members pinch the auricle to keep the earring in place. Mounting gap is adjusted by the bead and can be locked or unlocked by turning the bead ninety degrees. This earring can be made in different diameters so that it can be worn in any part of the auricle without the ear being pierced.
US08122736B2
A condenser for a motor vehicle air-conditioning circuit includes a multitude of stacked main-section plates assembled to delimit first flow channels for a refrigerating fluid which alternate with second flow channels for a cooling fluid. The condenser includes at least two passes over the refrigerating fluid. The condenser also includes at least one condenser inlet and one condenser outlet for refrigerating fluid. The condenser also includes an inlet pass over the refrigerating fluid communicating with the condenser inlet and an outlet pass communicating with the condenser outlet. The cross section of the passes diminishes from the inlet pass towards the outlet pass.
US08122728B2
A heat pump system including a heat pump having at least two Peltier elements arranged in series and connected to an energy supply, the heat pump system comprising an electrical dropping resistor arranged in series with the Peltier elements, wherein the Peltier elements and the dropping resistor are jointly supplied with energy by the energy supply. The heat pump system is preferably used in a household appliance, in particular a tumble drier.
US08122727B2
A combustion system for an engine, such as a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustion system has a ceramic component, such as ceramic combustor liner, and at least one metal support component, such as a metal ring or a plurality of metal cones, for providing radial and axial support to the ceramic component. The at least one metal support component includes a structure, such as axial slots or radial slots, for minimizing stress and for increasing compliance of the metal support component with respect to the ceramic component.
US08122725B2
Methods and systems for delivering fuel in a gas turbine engine are provided. The system includes a plurality of can annular combustors that includes at least a first set of combustors of the plurality of can annular combustors and at least a second set of combustors of the plurality of can annular combustors wherein each set of combustors is supplied by a separately controllable respective fuel delivery system. The method includes supplying fuel at a first fuel schedule to the first set of combustors and supplying fuel at a second fuel schedule to the second set of combustors during a first mode of operation wherein the second fuel schedule is different than the first fuel schedule, and supplying fuel at the second fuel schedule to the first and second sets of combustors during a second mode of operation.
US08122723B2
A fluid flow control device (26, 28) comprising a guide member (30) to guide a fluid passing through a duct (22, 24, 76), the guide member (30) being movable between first and second positions; and an urging arrangement (32) capable of providing an urging force (F1) to urge the guide member (30) towards the first position, characterised in that the urging arrangement (32) is a resilient torsion bar that is formed so as to allow the guide member (30) to be moved towards the second position by a pressure force (F2) exceeding and opposite to the urging force (F1), the pressure force (F2) being provided by a pressure difference across the guide member (30).
US08122719B2
Apparatus for combustion of a fuel-oxidizer mixture in a combustion chamber of a turbogroup, in particular of a power plant wherein total oxidizer flow is divided into a main oxidizer flow and a secondary oxidizer flow. The main oxidizer flow is lean mixed with a main fuel flow in a premix burner, and the mixture is fully oxidized in the combustion chamber. The secondary oxidizer flow is divided into a pilot oxidizer flow and a heat-exchanging oxidizer flow. The pilot oxidizer flow is rich mixed with a pilot fuel flow, and the mixture is partially oxidized in a catalyst, with hydrogen being formed. Downstream of the catalyst, the partially oxidized pilot fuel-oxidizer mixture and the heat-exchanging oxidizer flow are together introduced into at least one zone which is suitable for stabilizing the combustion of the main fuel-oxidizer mixture.
US08122710B2
Dosing components (22, 24, 32) in an engine exhaust after-treatment system (18) that includes an SCR catalyst (20) are thermally managed by flowing engine coolant through a coolant passage in a urea injector (22) that injects aqueous urea into the after-treatment system, controlling a three-way valve (60) to selectively direct coolant flow leaving the urea injector to a first branch that is in heat exchange relationship with a tank (24) that holds a supply of aqueous urea and a supply pump module (32) that pumps aqueous urea from the tank to the urea injector, and a second branch that is not in heat exchange relationship with either the tank or the supply pump, and returning coolant from the branches to the engine cooling system.
US08122709B2
The invention relates to a device for supplying a reducing agent into an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The device includes a delivery pump for delivering the reducing agent from a storage tank into an exhaust tube of the exhaust system. A metering device is provided between the delivery pump and the exhaust tube, which metering device supplies reducing agent, which is delivered continuously by the delivery pump, in an intermittent fashion into the exhaust tube.
US08122704B2
A motor system is described that sequesters ambient carbon dioxide to a removable carbonate salt by reacting ambient carbon dioxide with an alkali metal hydroxide. The carbon dioxide is aspirated by a turbo-generator that receives exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The turbo-generator produces electricity to form the hydroxide in situ from the electrolysis of water in a salt solution.
US08122703B2
A bi-propellant injector includes first and second injector elements and a spark exciter assembly. The first injector element has a conductive layer electrically connected to the spark exciter assembly and a nonconductive layer disposed on an exterior portion of the conductive layer. The second injector element comprises a conductive material and has an opening therethrough in fluid communication with a combustion chamber. An end of the first injector element is positioned at or near the opening in the second injector element. The spark exciter assembly can generate an electrical arc between the conductive layer of the first injector element and the second injector element.
US08122694B2
A suspension system is provided for use with a crop harvesting header including a frame carrying a structure movable about an endless path to deliver a crop to the header. The frame has opposed ends and is pivotably connected to the header, each end of the frame being independently movable between a first angle between the frame and the header and a second angle between the frame and the header. A first suspension member and a second suspension member are each connected between the frame and the header to provide a substantially constant force to the frame between the first and second angles.
US08122693B1
A forming tool usable with a packaging machine utilizes adhesive bonds rather than weld joints or fasteners to interconnect structural components of the forming tool. Using adhesive rather than weld joints and mechanical fasteners provides smooth interfaces thereby reducing the collection of bacteria, germs and cleaning residue on the surfaces of the forming tool, which is particularly advantageous for forming tools used with packing machines used in sanitary environments, such as for food or pharmaceutical packaging.
US08122689B2
An apparatus for producing, bagging and dispensing ice has an ice supply station, an ice collection station, a film supply, a bag forming station, and an ice transport device to transport ice from the collection station to the bag forming station. A controller controls supply of two superimposed film layers to the bag forming station, bag forming, and ice supply to the bags. A bag is partially formed from the superimposed film layers by a sealing device at the bag forming station, and ice is transported from the ice collector into the partially formed bag. The remaining open portions of the bag are sealed when sufficient ice has been supplied to the bag, which is then separated from the film supply for discharge into a storage and freezer compartment. The preceding steps are repeated until the storage and freezer compartment is filled to a predetermined level with bags of ice.
US08122687B2
Horizontal form fill seal apparatus for making flexible packages with slider fastener closures is provided. Various types of fastener tracks are applied in-line with a plastic web and are bonded thereto. All package components are brought together at the point of fill. Flexible packages are provided with shrouded and unshrouded slide fastener closures.
US08122684B2
A flexible bag transport system for transporting flexible filling and sealing station which includes a pair of holding clamp assemblies opposed to each other for holding the top end of a bag. The first clamp assembly is supported by a first elongated carrier and a second clamp assembly is supported by a second elongated carrier that is parallel to the first carrier. Clamping assemblies remain apart from each other and the bags are transported and are displaced toward each other to permit the bag to be opened during filling of the bag. One of the elongated carriers supporting the clamping assemblies has an adjustable mechanism so that the clamp assemblies can be adjusted with respect to each other without requiring adjustment of the remaining components of the transport system.
US08122682B2
A ballast system for roof membranes includes connected modules filled with loose-fill ballast and adapted to hold a predetermined volume of water for at least a predetermined period of time on the roof to control runoff.
US08122680B2
An end connector for use in forming a conduit in a poured concrete member is provided. The end connector is adapted to be secured to a wall of a concrete member pouring form, the end connector having a surface feature to achieve a substantially fluid tight seal upon receiving an end of a tube that extends between opposite walls of the pouring form to form a conduit in the poured structural member. The end connector has a geometry capable of nesting with at least one other end connector to minimize a container size required to transport the end connectors.
US08122671B2
An improved building structure and method for making steel frame buildings includes a beam-to-column or beams-to-column joint or connection which is most preferably shop fabricated (as opposed to on-site fabrication) and which offers a considerable savings in both steel requirements (i.e., material savings) and labor to make the joint connection. Also, because material utilization is improved in the connection, the new structure is more resistant to damage by seismic events (i.e., earthquake), by severe weather, and to damage from blast effects (i.e., terrorist attack or accident), than was the prior technology. The improved building structure also mitigates against progressive collapse of the building.
US08122656B1
A fire suppression surface system comprises a flat sheet and a plurality of support members. The sheet has fluid channels therethrough. The support members lie on a support surface in a spaced-apart arrangement, and the sheet rests on the support members substantially parallel to and offset vertically above the support surface and defines with the support surface a containment space for receiving fluid spilled on the upper surface of the sheet that flows through the fluid channels. Area of channel upper openings is larger than about twice area of lower openings so as to restrict flow of air into or restrict escape of combustion products from the containment space, thereby suppressing combustion of a flammable fluid spilled on the sheet. A method for suppressing combustion of flammable fluid spilled on the support surface comprises covering the support surface with the sheet supported by the support members.
US08122652B2
A method of reinstating a pole standing upright in ground comprising, abutting an inner surface of a sleeve of a bridging beam against an outer surface of the pole so as to have a lower portion of the bridging beam penetrating the ground and an upper portion of the bridging beam projecting above the ground, arranging a plurality of locating members around the outer surface of the pole, and securing the bridging beam to the pole by strapping surrounding the pole held in place with respect to the pole by the locating members.
US08122646B1
A method of assembling an inflatable shell of a structure comprises folding a plurality of shell sections about a set of fold lines and integrating the plurality of shell sections together with one another to form the shell. In another embodiment, an inflatable shell comprises a plurality of shell sections, each shell section having two pairs of fold lines for folding into stowage comprising a first gore section having a plurality of first gore panels layered and collectively folded about at a first set of fold lines. Each layer of the first gore panels and second gore panels are configured such that, once the first gore panel and second gore panel are attached to one another at the respective side edges of each panel, the lines of attachment forming a second set of fold lines for the shell section. A system and method for fabricating gore panels is also disclosed.
US08122640B2
A vase in one embodiment includes an outer shell comprising open top and bottom ends and at least one opening on the surface; a base comprising a projecting member on the top with the bottom end of the outer shell being securely put thereon, an annular flange on the top of the projecting member, and an annular bearing releasably fastened in the flange; and an inner container disposed in the outer shell and comprising an upper member projecting out of the top end of the outer shell, a central shaft projecting downward from the underside to be rotatably disposed in the bearing, and at least one pattern on the outer surface. The inner container is adapted to rotate about the outer shell by rotating the upper member.
US08122636B2
A method for incubating fruiting bodies of Antrodia cinnamomea is disclosed. The method comprises steps of: (a) obtaining a hymenium slice from a fruiting body of Antrodia cinnamomea; (b) transferring the hymenium slice to a selective culture medium for incubation to obtain an isolated strain; (c) transferring the isolated strain to a bagasse culture medium for incubation; (d) subjecting proliferation by liquid culture or solid culture to obtain large-scale liquid spawn or solid spawn; (e) inoculating a wood segment with the liquid spawn or the solid spawn and subjecting incubation; and (f) re-inoculating the wood segment with mixed single-spore colonies of Antrodia cinnamomea and subjecting incubation until fruiting bodies are produced.
US08122620B2
A screening, crushing or mixing bucket is formed into a bucket of an excavating machine or bucket loader. The bucket comprises a bottom plate, side walls, and at the back of the bucket working drums rotatable about their shafts, which screen, crush or mix the material in the bucket as they rotate and at the same time deliver screened, crushed or mixed material out of the bucket, between or through the working drums. In the bucket are casings for the power transmission and bearings of the working drums. The casings are limited by frame plates to which the bearing housings of the drums are attachable. On the frame plate and/or on the inner side of the inner wall is fixed a mudguard, which extends between the shafts of the working drums, next to the lead-throughs of the shafts, and the mudguard comprises cut-outs for receiving the shafts of the working drums.
US08122605B2
A utility knife has a counter-reciprocating blade and blade guard. Preferred utility knifes have an internal mechanism comprising several components that are advantageously coupled via one or more pivot points. Though an appropriate arrangement of pivot points, both stationary pivot points and translating pivot points, the blade and guard counter-reciprocate such that forced retraction of the guard results in forced extension of the blade. While the internal mechanism is in a locked position, the guard locked. Actuation of a trigger can unlock the internal mechanism, which releases the blade guard. Preferably a single actuation of the trigger provides for a single use of the knife.
US08122600B2
A method for restoring blade dovetails to their original shape comprising the steps of removing damaged material from a blade dovetail at a damage site, physically depositing a metal at the damage site in an amount sufficient to replace the removed damaged material, and machining the blade dovetail to the original shape.
US08122599B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) and appertaining method of manufacturing are provided. The method includes: coating a metal layer on the entire surface of a substrate having an outer surface on which an interconnection pattern is formed; partially removing the metal layer from the surface of the substrate to form a window for a chip to be mounted therein and partially exposing the interconnection pattern to form a bonding finger; forming a first insulating layer on the metal layer by primarily anodizing the metal layer; electroplating a surface of the bonding finger by supplying power to the metal layer; and forming a second insulating layer disposed below the first insulating layer by entirely and secondarily anodizing the metal layer. A gold electroplating process can be performed without a lead wire, and an oxide layer formed by an anodizing process can protect circuits formed on the substrate and electrically insulate them.
US08122598B2
A component mounting method of a multilayer printed wiring board includes a plurality of solder bumps to mount electronic components formed on both of or either of the front and back thereof, wherein when the solder bumps are formed of any of first, second, third and fourth solders, the first, second, third and fourth solders have different melting points and the melting points of the first, second, third and fourth solders are arranged as the melting point of the first solder, the melting point of the second solder, the melting point of the third solder and the melting point of the fourth solder in order of high melting point and the first, second, third and fourth solders are sequentially used to solder electronic components and the like in order of high melting point. Further, in that case, it is preferable that the solder bump having large volume should be soldered earlier than other solder bumps. This multilayer printed wiring board is easy to mount components, excellent in work efficiency or easy in reworkable process and a mounting method of such multilayer printed wiring board is also provided.
US08122597B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating an LED signboard, through which an LED signboard is fabricated by printing a circuit pattern with a conductive ink. The method includes generating a design, forming a circuit pattern by printing a conductive ink on an insulation matrix based on the design via a printer, and mounting an LED on the circuit pattern.
US08122594B2
A method of manufacturing a deflectable electrophysiological catheter includes constructing a shaft having a distal end and at least one lumen. The method further includes inserting a component into the lumen, and processing at least a portion of the distal end to reduce the cross-sectional profile of the lumen to capture/confine the component. A catheter manufactured using this method includes a shaft having at least one lumen. The lumen comprises a longitudinally-extending trough defined by a longitudinally-extending recess, within which a component is disposed, and a longitudinally extending open edge. The lumen further comprises a longitudinally-extending channel defined by a longitudinally-extending cavity and by the open edge of the trough. A planarity wire is disposed within the cavity and is configured to close the open edge of the trough to within a pre-defined tolerance that is less than the size of the component to retain the component in the recess.
US08122593B2
A weaving machine for an rotary electric machine coil assembly is disclosed including a rotating and driving section having timing belts causing rotary pulleys to rotate about their axes under the same attitudes while causing the rotary pulleys to rotate about an axis of a stationary pulley, movable members placed on the rotary pulleys to be movable in X- and Y-directions, coil feed magazines inclined such that coil wire segments have one ends slidably supported on the movable members and axes of the coil wire segments cross on a rotating axis of the rotary table, an orbit specifying member for specifying an orbit, in which the coil feed magazines are caused to rotate, in a rectangular shape, a rotating and driving member for permitting the coil feed magazines to perform synchronized rotating movements, and a coil transfer device operative to grip the coil wire segment for transfer.
US08122592B2
The invention relates to a method for production of a low current switch module, comprising the following steps: precutting a fine conductor path of several conducting circuits connected by connector tracks in the same sheet, positioning the contact relay and other optional electronic components on the precut conductor path, electrically and mechanically connecting said contact relay and the optional electronic components on the conductor track, encapsulating the unit comprising the conductor path, contact relay, the optional components, the pins and electrical connectors thereof and cutting certain connector tracks such as to separate said circuits.
US08122591B2
In order to provide a manufacturing method for a heating resistor element component, with which an insulating film (undercoat) can be easily handled, damage caused in the insulating film can be reduced, and a high yield can be ensured, the manufacturing method comprises the steps of: processing, on a surface of a supporting substrate (2), a plurality of concave portions (8) each forming a hollow portion (7) at intervals; processing, on the surface of the supporting substrate (2), a concave part (10) for each region straddling the plurality of concave portions (8) in an arrangement direction of the concave portions (8); placing an insulating film (3) made of sheet glass in each concave part (10); and bonding the insulating film (3) to the supporting substrate (2).
US08122583B2
Removing of a casting core from a metal casting leaves at least one opening in a surface of the metal. The opening is filled with a sacrificial material. The metal and sacrificial material are machined at the opening. After the machining, a remainder of the sacrificial material is removed.
US08122577B2
A ball joint 10 includes a first member 12 having a ball section 14 and a second member 15 having a socket 16. Ball section 14 is accommodated and supported inside socket 16. A pair of dies 20, 30 sandwich a wall 18 surrounding an opening 17 of the socket 16, and are configured to approach each other gradually, utilizing small repetitive vibrations that include an approaching and separating action, thereby intermittently pressing the wall in an inward radial direction. During each interval of the intermittent pressing action, a supporting and rotating device 40 rotates socket 16 (second member 15) in small increments about a central axis C2 of socket 16. Consequently, dies 20 and 30 successively press against a multitude of points on the circumference of the outer surface of wall 18 of the socket, thereby bending wall 18 inward so as to reduce the diameter thereof.
US08122575B2
This invention is about a structure for supporting clothes to be decolorized and for aiding in the process of decoloration, to a method of forming the same, and to a method of using the same to decolorize clothes. It includes manufacturing a semi-finished product for supporting clothes and manufacturing the supporting structure as well as a the method of decolorizing clothes using the supporting structure to have various decolorizing textures and styles.
US08122572B2
A fastening device and a method of using same is provided. The fastening device includes a male member having a projection on a first side and a securing means on a second opposing side. A female member configured to receive the projection detachably secures the female member onto the male member. The female member and the male member comprises a ratchet system to removeably secure the female member onto the male member. The securing means on the second opposing side of the male member is configured to mate with a corresponding securing member mounted on an object. By securing a material such as a shade screen or a tarp on the male member by mating the male member with the female member, the shade screen or tarp may be detachably fastened onto an object.
US08122571B2
Closure clips and a process for the production of closure clips of strip-form or wire-form material for the closure of tubular or bag-like packagings. In the process, a substantially wave-form profile with successive first and second apex points is stamped along the strip-form or wire-form material, the first apex point forming a clip bottom, flanks respectively adjoining the first apex point on each side thereof form clip limbs that are bent over in a U-shape and the second apex point forms limb ends that are bent over outwardly with respect to the U-shape at which two adjacent closure clips are separably connected. The strip-form or wire-form closure clip material is pierced inwardly with respect to the U-shape so that a raised material portion is formed at the limb inside.
US08122569B2
An auxiliary handle for a hand-held power tool (7) includes an attachment section (21) for securing the auxiliary handle (11) on a section (8) of the power tool (7) a gripping member (31) for holding the auxiliary handle (11), a lag hinge (46) provided between the attachment section (21) and the gripping member (34), and including a locking member (52) pivotable about an axis (53) extending parallel to the axis (12) of the lag hinge (46) between its locking position in which it blocks the lag hinge (46), and a release position thereof in which the lag hinge (46) is released.
US08122568B2
A swing hinge module bidirectionally swinging a movable body and a portable terminal having the same are disclosed. The swing hinge module includes a rotation cam, a rotation shaft, a fixed plate, and a guide pin. The rotation cam is fixed to the movable body to be rotated with the movable body, and has stopping recesses on an outer circumference of the rotation cam to set a rotation angle of the movable body. The rotation shaft is coupled with a central area of the rotation cam, and the fixed plate is coupled to the fixed body and has a guide hole to receive the rotation shaft. The guide pin is coupled to the fixed plate and contacts the outer circumference of the rotation cam to support the rotation cam.
US08122563B2
The invention relates generally to the conditioning of bowling lanes, and, more particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically applying a predetermined pattern of dressing fluid along the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of a bowling lane.
US08122559B2
A wiper motor has an output shaft, which is reciprocally pivoted forward and backward upon energization of the wiper motor and outputs a drive force for driving first and second wiper arms. A crank arm is integrally pivotably fixed to the output shaft. First and second connecting rods are pivotably connected to first and second connecting points, respectively, of the crank arm. A first lever arrangement is connected between the first connecting rod and the first wiper arm to reciprocally pivot the first wiper arm upon reciprocal movement of the first connecting rod. A second lever arrangement is connected between the second connecting rod and the second wiper arm to reciprocally pivot the second wiper arm upon reciprocal movement of the second connecting rod.
US08122555B2
An apparatus for cleaning floor is disclosed, which is capable of maximizing a user's convenience by an automatic operation, minimizing jolt or vibration generated for its operation, and realizing enhanced endurance and safety, wherein the apparatus includes first and second movable members rectilinearly reciprocating along the same straight line in opposite directions with each other.
US08122548B2
A method of installing a water vacuum break in a housing including the steps of providing a plurality of slots in a wall of the housing; moving a water vacuum break in a first direction; and moving the water vacuum break in a second direction. The step of moving the water vacuum break in a first direction includes moving it substantially perpendicularly with the outer wall so that a plurality of retaining protrusions extend through the plurality of slots.
US08122545B2
A cushioning device for a body support such as a mattress, seat, sofa, or the like where support is obtained from a fluid. The cushioning device is self-inflating, self-adjusting, and provides a low interface pressure under the entire contact surface of a patient. Shear force scraping damage is prevented by a sleeve apparatus. A support system apparatus provides separately adjustable pressure support zones. For physical therapy, an alternating pressure system provides alternating lifting and lowering pressure zones under a patient.
US08122541B1
A bed sheet attachment system with a pair of expansion panel assemblies that attaches a top cover to a bottom sheet by a plurality of panel strips connected by a plurality of fastener strips. The fastener strips are prevented from opening during sleep by a plurality of snap tabs. The plurality of panel strips provides increased cubic capacity between the top cover and bottom sheet for the sleeper to slip into and move within the bed. The plurality of snap tabs allows the panel strips to be separated at discrete lengths to accommodate the sleeper's needs and desires for the arrangement of the top cover during sleep. The bed sheet attachment system simplifies the daily making of the bed by maintaining the proper position of the top cover during sleep so that the user merely smoothes out the wrinkles on the top cover upon arising.
US08122534B2
A stand assist device includes a base with legs that extend in a forward direction. The stand assist device also includes a mast assembly mounted on the base, the mast assembly including a mast. A boom is pivotally attached to the mast and an actuator is attached to the boom. The actuator is adapted to be driven in order to cause the boom to rotate relative to the mast. A knee pad is also attached relative to the mast assembly. The mast may be moved between a seated position wherein the mast extends upwardly from the base, and a folded position wherein the mast extends substantially in the forward direction. The base, mast assembly, and knee pad are configured so that the knee pad does not interfere with the base when the mast is moved into the folded position.
US08122528B2
A shower device is attached to a wall and is not connected in a fixed manner to the interior shower or to an additional hand shower. A hose that extends from a plumbing fixture to a hand shower is used for supplying the shower device or hand shower. The hand shower has an outlet for water discharged from the hose. The outlet can be joined to an inlet into the shower device such that the water reaches the shower device via the hand shower. The shower device can be configured as a wall-mounted rod. Preferably, the connection that redirects the water is established by a mechanical coupling device.
US08122525B2
A putting green whose perimeter is level with the top of a concrete-sided pool having a decorative ribbon along the top of the pool side and an apron surrounding the pool having at least partially flat surface, the putting green overlying a deck including a) a waterproof surface comprising decking surface members having lengths and ends, the lengths being sized to the dimensions of the pool and the surface being at the same level as the pool apron; b) supports including i. cross members which are perpendicular to the lengths of the decking surface members; ii. underlying joists that form a sturdy base for the cross members; and iii. joist hangers being secured to the sides of the pool below the decorative ribbon along the top of the pool side and being sunk into the concrete side of the pool; and c) a putting green comprising at least the layers of gravel, sand and artificial grass.
US08122524B2
A support platform for wall mounted toilets is described. The platform attaches easily under the toilet and contains bolts and feet for adjustment. The platform provides support to wall mounted toilets so that persons of weight greater than the rated load of the wall mounted toilet can use the toilet in comfort and safety. It is removable for use in different bathrooms, easily transported and can be sterilized where bacterial or viral contamination is a concern.
US08122523B2
A toilet hinge includes a hinge body adapted for pivotally coupling with the toilet seat, a hinge base, which is adapted for attaching on the toilet bowl of the toilet, detachably coupled with the hinge body for detachably coupling the toilet seat on the toilet bowl; and a locking arrangement which includes a retention lock operatively moving between a locking status that locks up the hinge body with the hinge base and a releasing status that unlock the hinge body the said hinge base, and a self-lock retaining the retention lock at the releasing status. The user is able to easily remove the toilet seat by unlocking the retention lock such that the retention lock is remained at the releasing status by the self-lock. Therefore, the toilet seat is adapted to be removed from the toilet bowl by detaching the hinge body from the hinge base.
US08127365B1
Content, such as confidential information of an organization, may be protected by automatically categorizing the content. The automatic categorization may be performed by calculating a sensititiy score of the content, the sensitivity score being indicative of whether or not the content is confidential. The sensitivity score may be compared to a threshold. Metadata of the content may be provided to collaborating computers outside the computer network where the content was created. The collaborating computers may compare the metadata to received content to determine if the received content discloses confidential information described by the metadata.
US08127363B2
Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for booting a processing system are described. In an embodiment, whether to launch an open operating system or a closed operating system to boot a processing system may be determined. A key may be retrieved from a processor register of the processing system and used to decrypt an encrypted version of the closed operating system based at least in part on a determination of booting the processing system with the closed operating system. In another embodiment, the processor register stored with the key may be flushed based at least in part on a determination of booting the processing system with the open operating system.
US08127359B2
A system for real-time vulnerability assessment of a host/device, said system comprising an agent running on the host/device. The agent includes a a first data structure for storing the status of interfaces and ports on the interfaces of the host/device. An n executable agent module is coupled to the first data structure to track the status of interfaces and ports on the interfaces of the host/device and to store the information, as entries in said first data structure. The executable agent module compares the entries to determine a change in the status of interfaces and/or of ports on the interfaces of the host/device. A remote destination server is provided that includes a second data structure for storing the status of interfaces and the ports on the interfaces of the host/device. An executable server module is coupled to the second data structure to receive the information communicated by the agent executable module of the agent on the host/device. The executable server module stores the received information as entries in the second data structure wherein the entries indicate the state of each of the ports on each of the active interfaces of the host/device as received. The executable server module compares the entries in said data structures to determine the change in the status of interfaces and ports on the interfaces of the host/device. The executable server module runs vulnerability assessment tests on the host/device in the event of a change in the status of interface/ports.
US08127355B2
The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for protecting network resources from denial of service attacks. In one exemplary embodiment, a responder stores an access filter value used to determine whether an incoming message frame has been transmitted from an authorized user. In this regard, a user communication device includes logic for determining the access filter value stored at the responder and includes the access filter value in a message frame transmitted from the computer to the responder. The responder compares the received access filter value to the stored access filter value. If such values match or otherwise correspond, the responder authenticates the message frame. However, if such values do not match or otherwise correspond, the responder discards the message frame. Thus, the responder processes authenticated message frames and discards unauthenticated message frames thereby preventing denial of service attacks from malicious users.
US08127341B2
A printer driver configured to acquire print control information for controlling a function provided by a peripheral apparatus includes: a first access control information requesting unit configured to acquire print control information corresponding to an authority according to signatory information included in a signature provided to a document; and a sending unit configured to send a print job that allows the peripheral apparatus to perform processing controlled according to the acquired print control information.
US08127334B2
A system for redistributing a multiple input audio/video and data signals having a redistributing device equipped to receive signals in a multiple formats and redistribute a selected signal to a user's premises over conductors, preferably existing twisted-pair telephone wire. The redistributing device is in interactive communication with a communications interface located in the user's premises which receives user-input control signals and contains switching circuitry which routes the selected signal to the user's premises where it is received by the receiving unit such as a television receiver. A single redistributing device services an entire multi-user network from a common distribution point, and services multiple users independently. The system of the invention does not interfere with normal use of the telephone network, so users can interactively access services provided by the system and use the telephone at the same time. In one preferred embodiment the system of the invention dynamically allocates frequencies and modulation techniques to various output signals, to maximize spectral efficiency and minimize interference and cross-talk.
US08127329B1
Systems and methods for a video scan are provided. The scan may be dynamically interactive and a function of characteristics of the programs in the scan (e.g., commercial breaks or the end of a program approaching) The scan may simultaneously display multiple scan windows for a plurality of programs, for example in a scan wizard. The scan wizard allows the user to simultaneously view a scan window and an information panel, select criteria for the scan from a criteria panel, and control the scan using a scan control panel. The scan may allow the user to record a program displayed in the scan without interrupting the scan (e.g., by using an additional tuner). The scan may display, within the scan interface, trick-play functions for appropriate scanned programs (e.g., recorded, cached and on-demand programs). The user may select and perform trick-play functions for a scanned program without exiting the scan mode.
US08127328B2
A method and system includes a scheduling system generating a pre-break window and a post-break window and an automation system in communication with the scheduling system receiving a content signal and generating a deviation signal when an expected trigger for an insert material is not within the pre-break window or post-break window. The scheduling system reschedules the insert material in response to the deviation signal.
US08127324B2
Audiovisual reproduction system comprising a central unit managing a sound control circuit, and a telecommunications modem connected to a distribution network controlled by a host server, through a multitask operating system created around a tools and services library, characterized in that the operating system comprises a function that adjusts the sound control circuit to couple volumes in the various areas in which the loudspeakers in the audiovisual reproduction system are used, this function being accessible through a management mode of the multitask operating system, the coupling maintaining the ratios between the various volumes in each area when the volume in one area is modified.
US08127319B2
A disk reproducing apparatus includes a disk detecting lever that has a switch abutting section and a light intercepting section and rotates according to the loading operation and the ejecting operation of a disk caused by abutment of the outer edge of the disk against a detecting pin; a single switch that is switched by the switch abutting section and thereby detects the loading start position, and also the inserting position of the disk; and a single photosensor that detects the inserting position of the disk with keeping the light intercepting condition thereof by either the light intercepting section or the disk and also detects the ejection end position when the light intercepting condition brought about by the disk has been released and then the light intercepting condition brought about by the light intercepting section is released.
US08127317B2
The invention provides a disc changer including a plurality of trays which can be moved respectively in a horizontal direction, a tray driving gear unit capable of shuttling the trays between a standby position and a disc exchange position, a gear driving mechanism for driving the tray driving gear unit, a tray triggering unit capable of locking/unlocking the trays in the standby position, pushing all trays to engage with the tray driving gear unit after unlocking the trays, and driving the trays toward the disc exchange position, wherein the tray driving gear unit can be used for checking the discs by driving all trays to protrude outward from the mechanical chassis to the disc exchange position, and can drive the trays individually from the disc exchange position to the standby position from top to bottom, thereby each disc can be checked until its tray is closed.
US08127315B2
A method, apparatus or software is disclosed for monitoring the performance that an application program receives from a runtime platform.
US08127310B1
A method and a system for dynamically switching, without initialization, display drivers of a mobile telephone or personal digital assistant having a processing unit operative with a mobile device operating system, wherein a display driver interface manager is embedded with the operating system that is operative to receive captured video application program interface messages, which redirects values of the video API messages to an alternative video driver, enabling a remote video display device to display a reconstructed image based on the video API messages. The ability to dynamically switch from a primary display to a secondary display is desirable to prevent disruptions in display content, including current display view.
US08127309B1
An interface system includes a first driver module that communicates through a bus with a first peripheral card when the bus is in a first mode. A second driver module communicates through the bus with a second peripheral card when the bus is in a second mode. A bus control module receives a communication notification signal from the second peripheral card when the first peripheral card is communicating with the first driver module. The communication notification signal does not interfere with the communication of the first peripheral card and the first driver module. The bus control module switches the bus between first and second modes in response to the communication notification signal.
US08127303B2
Implementing fair scalable reader writer mutual exclusion for access to a critical section by a plurality of processing threads in a processing system is accomplished by creating a first queue node for a first thread on the first thread's stack, the queue node representing a request by the first thread to access the critical section; adding the first queue node to a queue pointed to by a single word reader writer mutex for the critical section, the queue representing a list of threads desiring access to the critical section, each queue node in the queue being on a stack of a thread of the plurality of processing threads; waiting until the first queue node has no preceding write requests as indicated by predecessor queue nodes on the queue; entering the critical section by the first thread; exiting the critical section by the first thread; and removing the first queue node from the queue.
US08127300B2
Mechanisms for providing hardware based dynamic load balancing of message passing interface (MPI) tasks are provided. Mechanisms for adjusting the balance of processing workloads of the processors executing tasks of an MPI job are provided so as to minimize wait periods for waiting for all of the processors to call a synchronization operation. Each processor has an associated hardware implemented MPI load balancing controller. The MPI load balancing controller maintains a history that provides a profile of the tasks with regard to their calls to synchronization operations. From this information, it can be determined which processors should have their processing loads lightened and which processors are able to handle additional processing loads without significantly negatively affecting the overall operation of the parallel execution system. As a result, operations may be performed to shift workloads from the slowest processor to one or more of the faster processors.
US08127299B2
A method and system for reorganizing a distributed computing landscape for dynamic load balancing is presented. A method includes the steps of collecting information about resource usage by a plurality of hosts in a distributed computing system, and generating a target distribution of the resource usage for the distributed computing system. The method further includes the step of generating an estimate of an improvement of the resource usage according to a reorganization plan.
US08127297B2
Described herein are processes and devices that use smart objects in a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. One of the devices described is a virtual resource conserver. The virtual resource conserver reads data that indicates that a resource conservation setting is to be selected for a virtual object in a virtual universe. The virtual resource conserver selects the resource conservation setting for the displayed virtual object. The resource conservation setting comprises data that describes a displayable characteristic about the virtual object, which can be reduced in display quality. The virtual resource conserver reduces the display quality of the virtual object in accordance with the selected resource conservation setting, thus conserving computing resources.
US08127296B2
A system and method for performing a VM migration which manages a cluster of machines in a pool for live migration to the same feature set or behavior. In certain embodiments, machines within the pool can be configured to emulate a certain feature set to enable a VM migration amongst the similar pools. The emulation can be by either masking reporting of a feature set or enabling/disabling a feature set. The handling of emulation registers within the hardware occurs at a firmware level rather than an operating system or hypervisor level.
US08127289B2
Enabling a third party application to participate in migration of a virtualized application instance
An operating system manages virtualized instances of hardware resources and migration enabled applications partitioned into one of multiple partitions with a separate operating system kernel running in each of the partitions. A migration event controller of the operating system manages the checkpoint and restart process during migration of a virtualized instance of at least one migration enabled application from a departure partition to an arrival partition. The migration event controller supports migration enabled applications to separately specify at least one application specific checkpoint script and restart script to be triggered by checkpoint and restart events by the migration event controller so the at least one migration enabled application can participate in performing the checkpoint and restart process for additional state information during migration of the virtualized instance from the departure partition to the arrival partition.
US08127282B2
A system and associated method for directing to recompile a class with a static variable of the class in a Java platform are disclosed. The class is defined with at least two implementations that are selectively compiled and executed a value of the static variable. The value of the static variable of the class is modified to a new value depending on characteristics of a runtime environment in which the method is executed. The class is recompiled and the new value is set for the static variable of the class. A debugger performs a hot code replacement of the class with the recompiled class.
US08127281B2
A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for efficient multiple-pattern based matching and transformation of intermediate language expression trees in a compiler. Such an approach includes three constructs of pattern matchers namely a registry, a mapped registry and a registry instance for constructing multiple patterns and for enabling a matching and transformation process. These constructs narrow the number of relevant patterns applied against input expressions without repeatedly implementing an algorithm and also significantly reduce memory footprint and compilation time.
US08127277B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for returning a return code to an error hook in an application using a framework. An identifier and a pass-through are received from the error hook. The error hook is software code in the application. The pass-through is a set of parameters. If the identifier has an active status, a set of framework conditions is retrieved using the identifier. If the set of framework conditions is met, an inject callback is retrieved using the error identifier. The inject callback is called with the error identifier and the pass-through. An inject callback return code is received. If the inject callback return code is an execute return code, the execute return code is returned to the error hook.
US08127269B2
The invention provides a solution for transforming a flow graph model to a structured flow language model. In particular, the nodes in the flow graph model are traversed, and each node is mapped to an activity in the structured flow language model. When a node comprises a branch point, the corresponding branch region is identified and mapped. This process is repeated until all nodes in the flow graph model have been mapped to corresponding activities in the structured flow language model. In this manner, the desired nesting and containment relationships can be identified and generated in the structured flow language model.
US08127263B2
Improving routability of an integrated circuit (IC) design without impacting the area is described. A local region of congestion of an IC design is determined according to a design parameter. A cell with a specified level of complexity is identified within the local region of congestion. An alternative cell is algorithmically created with a same logic function as the cell by adding an access point to the alternative cell. The cell is then replaced with the alternative cell within the local region of congestion.
US08127262B1
Approaches for generating a specification of a pipelined packet processor. A textual specification includes input and output packet formats, each specifying a format for each field in the packet and a plurality of actions for processing one or more fields of an input packet. Pipeline stages are determined from the actions in the textual specification, and each action is assigned to one of the pipeline stages. A shared variable is determined that is accessed by actions in at least two stages. An action in an initial stage writes the shared variable, an action in a last stage reads the shared variable. A hardware description is generated including the pipeline stages and assigned actions, a respective first-in-first-out queue between each adjacent pair of pipeline stages, a respective register for transferring the shared variable between each adjacent pair of the pipeline stages, and control logic for writing to and reading from each respective register.
US08127255B2
A method of characterizing an organic substrate including a plurality of circuit layers is provided includes the steps of: receiving an image of the organic substrate, the image including a geometric description of the circuit layers of the substrate; segmenting the substrate into multiple processing regions based, at least in part, on geometric coordinates of circuit structures defined in the image of the substrate; generating a circuit layer image corresponding to a selected one of the processing regions of the substrate; identifying one or more geometric features in the circuit layer image; estimating at least one thermomechanical property of the circuit layer image as a function of the identified geometric features; repeating the steps of receiving an image, generating a circuit layer image, identifying one or more geometric features in the circuit layer image, and estimating at least one thermomechanical property of the circuit layer image until all circuit layers in the substrate have been processed; and generating a 3-D representation of the selected one of the processing regions of the substrate including the plurality of circuit layer images as a function of the at least one thermomechanical property of each of the plurality of circuit layer images.
US08127252B2
A method, apparatus, and medium are provided for providing a custom view of a set of user-interface elements (UI elements) to a requesting component. The method includes representing the UI elements as a raw tree structure composed of a set of nodes, which correspond to the UI elements; identifying a subset of the nodes that satisfy the condition(s); and communicating to the requesting component a representation of all or some of the identified nodes. The apparatus includes a request-transmission component for submitting to an interface component instructions and a transmission-reception component for receiving from the interface component the information associated with one or more UI elements that satisfy the one or more conditions.
US08127249B2
A method for configuring a pop-up that displays various types of information on a computer screen, includes providing a graphic user interface that displays a list of types of information capable of being displayed by the pop-up and providing a user configuration system that allows a user to configure the pop-up by selecting from the list of the types of information to be displayed by the pop-up.
US08127248B2
A computer-human interface provides a mechanism to manage the available space of a computer display in a manner that facilitates navigation among multiple windows that are overlaid upon one another. The interface includes a user-selectable mode in which the windows are rearranged, and resized if necessary, so that all open windows can be simultaneously viewed within the area of the display, thereby enabling any one of the windows to be easily selected for access. In effect, the presentation of the windows is “flattened” so that all windows appear at the same virtual depth, rather than overlapping one another. With this approach, there is no need to minimize windows in order to access one that is overlaid by another, thereby enabling the user to keep the content of all windows visible and accessible. Subsets of windows can be repositioned in the same manner, or all windows can be removed from the display area.
US08127240B2
A computer-implemented method of selecting event handlers can include initiating a drag and drop operation for a source object and, responsive to detecting contact between the source object and a window of a graphical user interface (GUI), displaying a plurality of icons, wherein each icon represents an event handler for a drop target within the window. The method can include detecting contact between the source object and at least one of the plurality of icons while dragging the object, designating each event handler associated with a contacted icon to process the source object, and responsive to dropping the source object onto the drop target, invoking each designated event handler to process the source object for the drop target. Each designated event handler can output a process result.
US08127236B2
Methods, devices and systems are provided for enabling virtual universe users to find and engage subject matter experts within a virtual universe by defining a virtual universe subject matter expert conduit within the virtual universe. A virtual universe user avatar engages the conduit and a user indicates a subject matter expert search term. A data storage is searched for a tag relevant to the search term, and an expert-avatar is identified and located through the relevant tag. The user is enabled to directly communicate with the identified expert-avatar through a conduit communication medium entirely within the virtual universe, without requiring the user to engage a resource outside of the virtual universe or without requiring the user to engage an interface outside of the virtual universe.
US08127235B2
A system and method for automatically increasing a capacity of a virtual space in a virtual world. It is determined if an allowable number of avatars are currently in the virtual space, and a capacity of the virtual space is increased when the allowable number of avatars are currently in the virtual space. The capacity of the virtual space may be increased by spawning a replicate new virtual space. The capacity of the virtual space may also be increased by expanding a size of the virtual space. The virtual space may include any type of virtual space such as for example, a store, a business, an arena, a building, a land area, a room, etc. The allowable number of avatars may be a maximum avatar capacity for the virtual space, or may be an ideal avatar capacity for the virtual space.
US08127228B2
A method for storing electronic documents can include associating a digital seal with at least one electronic document. An image within a user interface can be displayed, wherein the image is a user selectable representation for the digital seal. At least one metadata attribute can be stored as a characteristic related to the digital seal. A storage characteristic of at least one electronic document can be modified based on one or more of the metadata attributes.
US08127213B2
A circuit and method for generating an Error Correcting Code (ECC) based on an adjacent symbol codeword that is formed in two clock phases. In an embodiment, a set of m bits of a first symbol and a set of m bits of a second symbol from a first set of data for transmission over a channel during a first clock phase are generated. A set of n bits of the first symbol and a set of n bits of the second symbol from a second set of data over a channel are also generated during a second clock phase. Other embodiments are also claimed and/or disclosed.
US08127209B1
A QC-LDPC decoding system employing a trapping set look-up table is provided. The QC-LDPC decoding system includes an iterative decoder that utilizes a message-passing algorithm to decode a received codeword. If the iterative decoder fails to produce a valid codeword, additional processing is performed to decode the received codeword. The additional processing includes the steps of computing the syndrome pattern of the received codeword, searching the look-up table for a trapping set class that is responsible for the iterative decoder's failure, retrieving from the look-up table a syndrome pattern and an error pattern of a member of the responsible trapping set class, and calculating the error pattern of the received codeword based on its syndrome pattern and the information retrieved from the look-up table. The received codeword is then corrected based on its error pattern.
US08127207B2
The present invention discloses a packet processing method, comprising: A. the transmitter acquiring the redundancy information based on the payload of at least one transmitted packet and transmitting the redundancy information to the receiver; B. the receiver restoring the payload of the abnormal packet according to the redundancy information relating to the abnormal packet. The present invention also discloses the packet transmitting apparatuses and packet receiving apparatuses. By performing error correction and restoration for abnormal packets, the present invention improves packet transmission reliability and thus the quality of transmitted media streams.
US08127201B2
A nonvolatile memory includes a memory cell array having multiple memory cells, a read-out circuit outputting data stored in the memory cell array asynchronously in response to an input address signal, a selection circuit outputting a selection signal for selecting a location of the memory cell to fail, an error making circuit receiving a test mode signal, making the data outputted from the read-out circuit fail so that the failed data have an error, and outputting the failed data in response to the selection signal when the test mode signal is activated, and outputting the data outputted from the read-out circuit when the test mode signal is not activated, a data latch circuit latching either the failed data or the data outputted from the read-out circuit and outputting the latched data, and an error correcting circuit detecting the error in the latched data, correcting the error, and outputting the corrected signal.
US08127200B2
A device for storing data includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller and/or circuitry that randomize original data to be stored in the memory while preserving the size of the original data, that store the original data in the memory, and that, in response to a request for the original data, retrieve, derandomize and export the original data without authenticating the requesting entity. A system for storing data includes a first nonvolatile memory and a processor that similarly stores data in the first nonvolatile memory by executing driver code stored in a second nonvolatile memory. ECC encoding is applied either before or after randomizing; correspondingly, ECC decoding is applied either after or before derandomizing.
US08127199B2
An SDRAM convolutional interleaver with two paths. Symbols are assigned to a given one of the two paths, then are sorted to minimize (to one) a number of breaks in a sequential Interleaver write address. After sorting, the symbols are stored staggered in SRAM and burst written to SDRAM. Before writing to SDRAM, data is accumulated for four symbols at a time, and the data is written four symbols wide to optimize SDRAM access time. 8 bit symbols are written 32 bits at a time to SDRAM.
US08127192B2
During a test pattern build, a test pattern generator pseudo-randomly selects an address for a selected lwarx instruction and builds the lwarx instruction using the pseudo-random address into a test pattern. Subsequently, the test pattern generator builds a store instruction after the lwarx instruction using the pseudo-random address. The store instruction is adapted to store the pseudo-random address in a predetermined memory location. The test pattern generator also builds an interrupt service routine that services an interrupt associated with the interrupt request; checks the predetermined memory location; determines that the pseudo-random address is located in the predetermined memory location; and executes a subsequent lwarx instruction using the pseudo-random address.
US08127190B2
A method for preparing tapped data for analysis. The data on a bus is sampled and latched at a certain rate to produce raw data. The raw data is then decoded by a pod that is configured for the protocol of the bus in a system under test. The decoded data can then be presented to a protocol analyzer for analysis. The decoded data and the corresponding raw data may also be aligned and then presented to an analyzer for protocol analysis.
US08127185B2
Memory devices and methods are described that include a stack of memory dies and a logic die. Method and devices described include those that provide for repartitioning the stack of memory dies and storing the new partitions in a memory map. Repartitioning in selected configurations allows portions of memory to be removed from use without affecting the rest of the memory device. Additional devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08127184B2
A resizable cache memory and a system including a Built-In Self Test (BIST) circuit configured to test a cache memory are disclosed. The system further includes a non-volatile storage device including an E-fuse array to store one or more indicators. Each indicator identifies a corresponding memory address of a failed location of the cache memory that has been detected by the BIST circuit.
US08127182B2
Disclosed is a method of improving storage reliability comprising receiving an indicator of an impending failure of a first storage device in a RAID group. In response to the indicator, writing data to the first storage device is ceased. A first block of data directed to be written on the first storage device is written to a memory device. Data stored on the first storage device is copied to a second storage device. The first block of data is copied from the memory device to the second storage device. The RAID group is operated with the second storage device functioning in place of the first storage device. Data is read from said second storage device.
US08127176B2
A method for improving the security of actions performed by Remote Procedure Calls RPC invoked during a TR-069 Remote Management Protocol session between an Auto-Configuration Server ACS and a Customer Premises Equipment CPE of a DSL telecommunication system. The TR-069 session comprises several RPC's executing actions on parameters of an object model and the method comprises the steps of starting a TR-069 session wherein RPC's are invoked; opening a transactional TR-069 session or transaction whereby parameters of the object model handled by RPC's are protected through a SavePoint mechanism; closing the transaction by the ACS; and either: committing the transaction via a StoreSavePoint RPC invoked by the ACS, or rolling-back actions of RPC's via a RestoreSavePoint RPC also invoked by the ACS. If the transaction is not committed during a first TR-069 session, the CPE sends an Inform with an event code OpenSavePoint to the ACS during a next TR-069 session and the ACS may reply by including an additional field in the InformResponse to close the transaction. The SavePoint mechanism saves parameter values of the object model prior to any RPC by storing these parameter values at the CPE-side. The SavePoint mechanism may also save a history of the RPC's invoked during the transaction.
US08127172B2
The development of transmission technologies have resulted in a several tens Gbps optical transmission system. In the present invention, a low-speed FPGA receives a plurality of several Gbps signals according to a very high-speed parallel converting unit and the SFI-5, divides each of the plurality of several Gbps signals into a plurality of several hundreds (Mbps) parallel signals, and processes the plurality of several hundreds (Mbps) parallel signals in order to constitute an SFI-5 receiving end.
US08127168B2
A data processing device including an inter-VM notification management unit 1242, a resuming judgment unit 1244 and a scheduled interruption time acquisition unit 1245, such that, when it is necessary to notify a virtual machine in a power-saving state, the resuming judgment unit 1244 judges whether to cause the virtual machine to return from the power saving state, based on a time until an interruption acquired by the scheduled interruption time acquisition unit 1245. This structure prevents unnecessary transitions between states, and realizes the power saving for the apparatus.
US08127164B2
A system and method for energy savings on a PHY/MAC interface for energy efficient Ethernet. Power savings for a PHY due to low-link utilization can also be realized in the higher layer elements that interface with the PHY. In one embodiment, subrating is implemented on a MAC/PHY interface to match a subrating of the PHY with a remote link partner. This subrating is less than the full capacity rate and can be zero.
US08127163B2
A data network that includes a plurality of nodes for storing data and a plurality of control units adapted to control at least one of the nodes in which individual nodes are powered-up when the assigned control unit receives a request from a client to access the data stored in the node.
US08127162B2
A receiving unit receives data from an external network device through a network. A determining unit determines whether a data processing is needed for the data received by the receiving unit. When the determining unit determines that the data processing is needed for the data, a data processing unit performs the data processing on the data. A power control unit switches, according to the data, a power mode of the information processing apparatus between a normal mode in which power is supplied to all components of the information processing apparatus and a power-saving mode in which power supplying is limited to selected components.
US08127157B2
A method and apparatus for adaptively adjusting the operating voltage of an integrated circuit in response to tester-to-system variations, worst-case testing techniques, process variations, temperature variations, or reliability wearout mechanisms. The minimum operating voltage of an integrated circuit is determined either during external testing of the integrated circuit or during built-in-self-testing. The minimum operating voltage is transmitted to a variable voltage regulator where it is used to set the output of the regulator. The output of the regulator supplies the integrated circuit with its operating voltage. This technique enables tailoring of the operating voltage of integrated circuits on a part-by-part basis which results in power consumption optimization by adapting operating voltage in response to tester-to-system variations, worst-case testing techniques, process variations, temperature variations or reliability wearout mechanisms. Alternatively, the invention enables adaptive adjustment of the operating frequency of an integrated circuit. The invention enables system designers to adaptively optimize either system performance or power consumption on a part-by-part basis in response to tester-to-system variations, worst-case testing techniques, process variations, temperature variations or reliability wearout mechanisms.
US08127153B2
In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more registers and a control unit coupled to the one or more registers. The control unit is configured to monitor a power state in one or more memory modules during execution of an application, and to store data generated during the monitoring in the one or more registers. In an embodiment, a system comprises a memory controller and a plurality of memory module interface units (MMIUs) coupled to the memory controller. Each of the plurality of MMIUs: is coupled to a respective plurality of memory modules; comprises one or more registers; is configured to monitor a power state in the respective plurality of memory modules during execution of an application; and is configured to store data generated during the monitoring in the one or more registers.
US08127146B2
A transparent trust validation of an unknown platform can be performed by communicationally coupling it to a trusted device, such as a portable peripheral device carried by a user, or one or more remote computing devices. Information from the unknown platform can be obtained by boot code copied to it from the trusted device and such information can be validated by the trusted device. The trusted device can then provide an encrypted version of decryption key to the boot code which can request the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) of the unknown platform to decrypt and return the decryption key. If the information originally obtained from the unknown platform and validated by the trusted device was authentic, the TPM will be able to provide the decryption key to the boot code, enabling it to decrypt an encrypted volume comprising applications, operating systems or other components.
US08127145B2
A secure file service includes a cryptographic processor (302, 602) and a secure file system (301, 601). The cryptographic processor is comprised of a trusted microprocessor and a trusted operating system executing on the trusted cryptographic processor. The cryptographic processor includes hardware and software for accessing at least one classified data file from the secure file system, decrypting the classified data file, and serving the classified data file in decrypted form to a secure user processor (402, 502, 702) that has requested the file. The secure file system can be either a single-level secure file system (301) or a multi-level secure file system (601).
US08127140B2
An efficient and safe group signature scheme is provided. According to the present invention, an open unit is provided to not an issuer but an opener, and a data required for operating the open unit does not include a key pair of the issuer, so that it is possible to accurately operate the open unit even if the issuer generates the public key in an illegal manner. In addition, it is possible to prove that a key pair of a member cannot be counterfeited. It is possible to implement from a discrete logarithm assumption a feature that a cipher text, that is, a portion of a signature text can be decrypted only by the opener in a method which is the same as a method representing that an ElGamal crypto scheme is safe. In addition, it is possible to implement from a random oracle assumption a feature that a knowledge signature has an extractability in a method which is the same as a method proving that a Schnorr signature is safe.
US08127138B1
The invention as disclosed is of a method to authenticate identify and trace sonar transmissions and echoes by embedding transparent, secure and robust digital watermarks in signal space, where the additional information incurs no cost in bandwidth. The complex short time Fourier transform is selected as the domain for embedding the digital watermark, secured by a secret key, in the time frequency representation of the signal. The watermark is designed through an iterative optimization step. This step insures that the watermarked sonar is also realizable. Selection of the time frequency region for watermarking is driven by avoidance of interference with the sonar itself, or in case of network operation, other watermarks. In addition, the selected time-frequency region remains robust to sound channel and other transmission effects. Sonar echoes are authenticated in the time-frequency plane by a correlation receiver tuned to the watermarked region using the secret key.
