US08178424B2
Provided are a method of fabricating a light-emitting apparatus with improved light extraction efficiency and a light-emitting apparatus fabricated using the method. The method includes: preparing a monocrystalline substrate; forming an intermediate structure on the substrate, the intermediate structure comprising a light-emitting structure which comprises a first conductive pattern of a first conductivity type, a light-emitting pattern, and a second conductive pattern of a second conductivity type stacked sequentially, a first electrode which is electrically connected to the first conductive pattern, and a second electrode which is electrically connected to the second conductive pattern; forming a polycrystalline region, which extends in a horizontal direction, by irradiating a laser beam to the substrate in the horizontal direction such that the laser beam is focused on a beam-focusing point within the substrate; and cutting the substrate in the horizontal direction along the polycrystalline region.
US08178421B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of preventing a cut portion from becoming chipped when dicing. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes preparing a semiconductor wafer having an upper surface (first surface) including a plurality of device regions and partition regions for dividing the plurality of device regions, and a lower surface (second surface) opposite from the upper surface (first surface), forming upper layer wires on the device regions of the upper surface (first surface), etching the semiconductor wafer from a side of the lower surface (second surface) to form a through hole through which the upper layer wire is exposed, and to form a groove in a region of the lower surface (second surface) corresponding to the partition region of the upper surface (first surface), and dicing the semiconductor wafer to form individual device regions.
US08178416B2
A method of fabricating an electrically conductive mechanical interconnection element (12) comprises: a first stage of electrochemically depositing a structure comprising a plurality of metal wires (2a) of sub-micrometric diameter projecting from the likewise metallic surface of a substrate (2); and a second stage of controlled partial dissolution of said wires to reduce their diameter. A method of making a mechanical and/or electrical interconnection, the method comprising the steps consisting in: fabricating two interconnection elements by a method as described above; and placing said interconnection elements face to face and pressing one against the other so as to cause the nanometric wires projecting from the surfaces of said elements to interpenetrate and tangle together. A three-dimensional electronic device comprising a stack of microelectronic chips mechanically and electrically connected to one another by such interconnection elements.
US08178415B2
A method for manufacturing RF powder wherein the RF powder is composed of a large amount of particles and used as collective RF powder (a powdery entity); and a large amount of RF powder particles can be obtained from a wafer in a stable manner and at a high yield is provided.The method for manufacturing RF powder is a method for manufacturing RF powder composed of a large amount of particles 11a each having a substrate 12 and a magnetic coupling circuit device 15. This method includes a step S11 of forming many antenna circuit devices 39 on a wafer 40; a gas dicing step S13 for drawing dicing grooves on a wafer to locate positions of separation of magnetic coupling circuit devices; a protection film formation step S14 for coating surrounding areas of the magnetic coupling circuit devices with a protection film; a reinforcement step S15 for attaching the wafer to a supporting plate using an adhesive sheet; a grinding step S16 for grinding the backside of the wafer until the dicing grooves are reached; and a separation step S17 for separating the circuit devices by removing the supporting plate.
US08178406B2
A method of making a semiconductor device on a semiconductor layer includes forming a select gate, a recess, a charge storage layer, and a control gate. The select gate is formed have a first sidewall over the semiconductor layer. The recess is formed in the semiconductor layer adjacent to the first sidewall of the select gate. The thin layer of charge storage material is formed in which a first portion of the thin layer of charge storage material is formed in the first recess and a second portion of the thin layer of charge storage material is formed along the first sidewall of the first select gate. The control gate is formed over the first portion of the thin layer of charge storage material. The result is a semiconductor device useful a memory cell.
US08178405B2
A memory cell device has a bottom electrode and a top electrode, a plug of memory material in contact with the bottom electrode, and a cup-shaped conductive member having a rim that contacts the top electrode and an opening in the bottom that contacts the memory material. Accordingly, the conductive path in the memory cells passes from the top electrode through the conductive cup-shaped member, and through the plug of phase change material to the bottom electrode. Also, methods for making the memory cell device include steps of forming a bottom electrode island including an insulative element and a stop element over a bottom electrode, forming a separation layer surrounding the island, removing the stop element to form a hole over the insulative element in the separation layer, forming a conductive film in the hole and an insulative liner over conductive film, etching to form a cup-shaped conductive film having a rim and to form an opening through the insulative liner and the bottom of the cup-shaped conductive film to the surface of the bottom electrode, forming a plug of phase change memory material in the opening, and forming a top electrode in contact with the rim of the cup-shaped conductive film.
US08178400B2
A semiconductor fabrication method includes depositing a dummy gate layer onto a substrate, patterning the dummy gate layer, depositing a hardmask layer over the dummy gate layer, patterning the hardmask layer, etching a recess into the substrate, adjacent the dummy gate layer, depositing a semiconductor material into the recess, removing the hardmask layer, depositing replacement spacers onto the dummy gate layer, performing an oxide deposition over the dummy gate layer and replacement spacers, removing the dummy gate and replacement spacers, thereby forming a gate recess in the oxide and depositing a gate stack into the recess.
US08178396B2
Methods of forming semiconductor devices that include one or more arrays of memory devices in a three-dimensional arrangement, such as those that include forming a conductive contact in a dielectric material overlying a memory array, wherein a wafer bonding and cleaving process may be utilized to provide a foundation material for forming another memory array having an active region in electrical contact with the conductive contact. Additionally, the conductive contact may be formed in a donor wafer, which in turn may be bonded to a dielectric material overlying a memory array using another wafer bonding process. Novel semiconductor devices and structures including the same may be formed using such methods, for example.
US08178392B2
An electronic system is provided including forming a substrate having a radiating patterned pad, mounting an electrical device having an external interconnect over the radiating patterned pad with the external interconnect offset from the radiating patterned pad, and aligning the external interconnect with the radiating patterned pad.
US08178383B2
A display device and method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a touch-sensing element, and a liquid crystal. The first substrate has a first surface and a second surface thereon. The second substrate has a pixel array and is disposed on the second surface of the first substrate. The touch-sensing element locates on the first surface of the first substrate. Furthermore, the touch-sensing element includes a conductive layer, a patterned electrode, and a passivation layer. The patterned electrode is correspondingly located on the periphery of the first substrate, and electrically connected to the conductive layer. The passivation layer covers the conductive layer and the patterned electrode. In addition, the liquid crystal is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08178374B2
A thin film patterning method comprising: depositing a first thin film and applying a photoresist layer on the first thin film; exposing and developing the photoresist layer to define first, second and third regions, wherein the photoresist layer in the first region is thicker than that in the second region, and no photoresist layer is left in the third region; over-etching to remove the first thin film in the third region and form an over-etched region in the peripheral region of the first region; removing a part of the photoresist layer to expose the first thin film in the second region; depositing a second thin film so that the first thin film contacts the second thin film in the second region; and lifting off the photoresist layer to remove the second thin film in the first region and exposing the substrate in the over-etched region of the first region.
US08178365B2
A semiconductor wafer having IGBT elements and transistors formed on a surface thereof is prepared. Electron beams are emitted all over the surface of the semiconductor wafer. Recombination centers are formed in the IGBT elements and the transistors. ON voltages of the transistors are measured by a measurement device, and lifetimes defined in the IGBT elements and the transistors are recovered by a prescribed annealing treatment. When the lifetimes are recovered, a control device controls an annealing treatment amount in the annealing treatment based on the measured ON voltages of the transistors such that ON voltages of the IGBT elements are each equal to a desired ON voltage. Variations in the ON voltages of a plurality of IGBT elements obtained from the semiconductor wafer are reduced.
US08178352B2
A lab on a valve analytical system includes a rotary sample preparation assembly having a stator and a rotor. The rotor includes a plurality of integral syringe pumps which can be aligned with passages formed within the stator. The stator passages can be connected with fluid inlet connector which connect the sample preparation assembly with fluid sources, and fluid outlet connectors which connect the sample preparation assembly with one or more wet chemical analytical devices. Some embodiments can include a mixer and optical sensor connected with the fluid outlets. One or more drive motors can be used to control simultaneous actuation of one or more of the syringe pumps, thereby providing for simultaneous delivery of metered volumes of fluid.
US08178348B2
The present invention relates to novel oligonucleotide chimera used as therapeutic agents to selectively prevent gene transcription and expression in a sequence-specific manner. In particular, this invention is directed to the selective inhibition of protein biosynthesis via antisense strategy using oligonucleotides constructed from arabinonucleotide or modified arabinonucleotide residues, flanking a series of deoxyribose nucleotide residues of variable length. Particularly this invention relates to the use of antisense oligonucleotides constructed from arabinonucleotide or modified arabinonucleotide residues, flanking a series of deoxyribose nucleotide residues of variable length, to hybridize to complementary RNA such as cellular messenger RNA, viral RNA, etc. More particularly this invention relates to the use of antisense oligonucleotides constructed from arabinonucleotide or modified arabinonucleotide residues, flanking a series of deoxyribose nucleotide residues of variable length, to hybridize to and induce cleavage of (via RNaseH activation) the complementary RNA.
US08178343B2
A diagnosis apparatus is provided. A gene chip having a target gene cluster is used with the apparatus. The target gene cluster comprises a plurality of target genes related to a cancer. Thus, a fast, accurate, sensitive and cheap WEnCA-Chipball platform is provided for mass analysis and automatic operation while human error and time for diagnosis are both reduced.
US08178334B2
The present invention relates to genetically modified proteins with uricolytic activity. More specifically, the invention relates to proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases and methods for producing them, including PEGylated proteins comprising truncated urate oxidases.
US08178329B2
At least one isolated microorganism and a fermentation method to convert hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide gas, and/or carbon monoxide gas to a lower alkyl alcohol and/or carboxylic acid and to produce at least 2% by volume of the lower alkyl alcohol or carboxylic acid in an aqueous-based medium.
US08178326B2
The invention relates to the utilization of fatty materials with substantial free fatty acid content in the production of biodiesel by the use of microbial enzymes that are effective in a solvent-free process for the production of esters of fatty acids and C1-C3 alkyl alcohols.
US08178319B2
The present invention relates to monovalent fucose-binding peptides. The peptides may be recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized. Preferably the peptides are derived from a lectin, in particular Aleuria aurantia lectin. Furthermore the invention relates to methods for producing the peptides, assays using the peptides for diagnosis of disorders, as well as methods using the peptides for separation and detection of fucose-containing compounds.
US08178318B2
Methods for controlling the level of dissolved carbon dioxide and limiting osmolality in a mammalian cell culture process to enhance cell growth, viability and density, and increase biologic product concentration and yield are provided. Such control of the level of dissolved carbon dioxide and pH as well as the resulting ability to limit osmolality in a mammalian cell culture process is achieved by adopting alternative pH control strategies and CO2 stripping techniques during a mammalian cell culture process. Such pH control techniques and carbon dioxide stripping occur without foam and with little or no damage to the mammalian cells.
US08178315B2
A standardized, lyophilized edible food containing a biologically safe stable marker for use in the measurement of gastric emptying by the quantification of marker excreted in the breath of the patient.
US08178314B2
The invention relates to pyrimidines suitable as substrates for O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases (AGT) of formula (I) wherein R1 is hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogen, cyano, trifluoromethyl or azido; R2 is a linker; and L is a label or a plurality of same or different labels. The invention further relates to methods of transferring a label from pyrimidines of formula (I) to O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferases (AGT) and AGT fusion proteins.
US08178312B2
The invention is a method of measuring blood glucose excursions in general, and postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic patients in particular, by the 1,5-anhydroglucitol assay (1,5-AG) or A1C/1,5-AG assay combination. 1,5-AG levels and percent changes of 1,5-AG levels in short period are indicative of differing postmeal glucose levels in moderately-controlled diabetic patients with similar A1C levels. Thereby 1,5-AG assay is useful to identify diabetic patients who may be at risk for cardiovascular complications which would not be identifiable by A1C levels alone. Furthermore, ratios of A1C divided by 1,5-AG in each patient are superior indicators to 1,5-AG levels.
US08178301B2
Mutant SepRS, and method for site-specific introduction of phosphoserine into protein using the same
A mutant SepRS which is suitable for a site-specific introduction of phosphoserine into a protein is prepared by analyzing the structure and functions of a phosphoseryl-tRNA synthetase (SepRS) derived from an archaebacterium. A mutant SepRS composed of an amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:2, in which any one or more of glutamic acids at position-418 and position-420 and threonine at position-423 are substituted with other amino acid, and having enhanced binding affinity with a suppressor tRNA as compared with a wild type phosphoseryl-tRNA synthetase (SepRS) composed of an amino acid sequence depicted in SEQ ID NO:2 is provided.
US08178298B2
Methods for isolating patched genes, including the mouse and human patched genes, as well as invertebrate patched genes and sequences, are provided. Decreased expression of patched is associated with the occurrence of human cancers, particularly basal cell carcinomas of the skin. The patched and hedgehog genes are useful in creating transgenic animal models for these human cancers. The patched nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways. In addition, modulation of the gene activity in vivo is used for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, such as treatment of cancer, identification of cell type based on expression, and the like. The DNA is further used as a diagnostic for a genetic predisposition to cancer, and to identify specific cancers having mutations in this gene.
US08178297B2
The present invention relates to diagnosing Canine Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC).
US08178290B2
The present invention provides a solid support for performing steps of isolation of cell or extraction and purification of nucleic acid, safely, easily, efficiently, and with high yield in the genetic test for investigating the presence of pathogenic bacterial infection. A solid support for binding with cell as an embodiment of the above-described solid support, comprises a polypeptide having capability of binding with my colic acid-containing glycolipid which is immobilized on the surface of a carrier. In addition, a solid support for binding with nucleic acid as another embodiment of the above-described solid support, comprises a polypeptide having capability of binding with nucleic acid which is immobilized on the surface of a carrier.
US08178279B2
A negative-tone radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an alkali-soluble resin, a radically polymerizable compound, a radiation-sensitive radical initiator, and an organic solvent. The alkali-soluble resin includes a phenolic hydroxyl group. The radically polymerizable compound includes an ethylenically unsaturated double bond. The organic solvent includes an ethylene glycol organic solvent having a saturation vapor pressure of 3 mmHg or less at 20° C. and 1 atmosphere.
US08178276B2
A method of manufacturing a toner including granulating mother toner particles in an aqueous medium to obtain a slurry containing the mother toner particles and adjusting a size distribution of the mother toner particles by screening coarse mother toner particles from the slurry with a screen to obtain the toner containing mother toner particulates.
US08178270B2
A toner for development of electrostatic images, comprising colored resin particles containing a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein the external additive contains fine particles of an inorganic layered clay compound, and the inorganic layered clay compound is an intercalation compound with a quaternary ammonium ion intercalated between layers of the inorganic layered clay compound or has an interlayer distance of 1.5 to 4 nm.
US08178266B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor is provided that contains a conductive substrate, an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer, wherein the under coat layer contains a binder resin and multiple inorganic pigments each having different average primary particle diameters in a total amount of from 75 to 86% by weight, the charge generation layer contains a binder resin and a titanyl phthalocyanine pigment having a specific X-ray diffraction spectrum in an amount of from 70 to 85% by weight, the charge transport layer comprises a specific distyryl compound, and the following formulae (2-1) to (2-3) are satisfied: 0.2≦(D(F2)/D(G))≦0.5 (2-1) 0.2≦D(F1) (2-2) D(F2)≦D(F1) (2-3) wherein D(F1) (μm) and D(F2) (μm) represent average primary particle diameters of the largest and smallest inorganic pigments, respectively, and D(G) (μm) represents an average primary particle diameter of the titanyl phthalocyanine pigment.
US08178265B2
A photoreceptor comprising a spectral marker and an electrophotographic printer using the same wherein the presence of the spectral marker is detected by the spectral marker detector, which enables photoreceptor authentication and thickness determinations, thereby permitting adjustment and optimization of component operating parameters within the electrophotographic printer.
US08178263B2
A method of increasing a depth of focus of a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes forming diffracted beams of radiation using a patterning device pattern; and transforming a phase-wavefront of a portion of the diffracted beams into a first phase-wavefront having a first focal plane for the lithographic apparatus, and a second phase-wavefront having a second, different focal plane, wherein the transforming comprises: subjecting a phase of a first portion of a first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding first portion of a second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the first phase-wavefront, and subjecting a phase of a second portion of the first diffracted beam and a phase of a corresponding second portion of the second diffracted beam to a phase change which results in an at least partial formation of the second phase-wavefront.
US08178262B2
A method of fabricating a color filter layer is provided. An active device array substrate having an opaque metal pattern formed thereon is provided. A planarization layer covering the opaque metal pattern is formed. A back-side exposure process is performed on the active device array substrate using the opaque metal layer as a mask to form a black matrix thereon, wherein the black matrix defines a plurality of pixel regions. A plurality of color filter patterns is formed in the pixel regions.
US08178255B2
Fuel cell of this invention generates electricity by supplying fuel fluid to one of a pair of electrodes forming an MEA 1, supplying oxidation fluid to the other electrode, at least one of the fuel and oxidation fluids being gas, comprising a gas supply device transferring the gas along a flow path 10 defined on a surface of the MEA 1 and a drive circuit driving the gas supply device comprising a vibrating plate 4 and a reflection wall on both sides of the flow path 10, and the drive circuit performs a normal operation control generating gas flow from inlet to outlet of the flow path 10 due to sound pressure gradient generated in the flow path 10 by vibrating the vibrating plate 4 and a foreign material elimination operation control eliminating foreign material in the flow path 10 by changing a vibration mode of the vibrating plate 4.
US08178242B2
A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode having a current collector and a first active material and a negative electrode comprising a current collector, a second active material, and a third active material. The second active material comprises a lithium titanate material and the third active material comprises V6O13. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.
US08178235B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a case for receiving the electrode assembly, the case having an open end, and a cap plate having an inclined outer edge surface, an outer end of the included outer edge surface being attached to a surface of the open end of the case.
US08178234B2
Cell-to-cell connection plates (1) each integrally having a welding part (2) shaped to fall within a circular end of a battery case (7) and a connecting part (2) extending from this welding part (2) are provided. The cell-to-cell connection plates (1) are attached to one electrode terminal and the other electrode terminal of the battery case (7) by welding the welding parts (2), respectively. The connecting parts (3) of the respective cell-to-cell connection plates (1) attached to each adjoining pair of cylindrical batteries (Ba) are overlapped with each other and coupled into electric connection. Consequently, regardless of whether a plurality of cylindrical batteries (Ba) are axially arranged in series or radially juxtaposed, each adjoining two can be connected to each other by using the identical cell-to-cell connection plates (1) for cost reduction. It is also possible to provide a sufficient heat dissipation effect and achieve sufficient robustness and weight saving even when connecting large-sized cylindrical batteries.
US08178230B2
A battery pack comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells and a housing. The cells have similar shape and size. The shape is a rectangular prism with opposing major faces. The cells are aligned in a stack along an axis of the pack so that one of the major faces of each cell contacts the major face of the adjacent cell. The housing comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion comprises a top plate and four side plates joined to the top plate so as to form a cavity with an opening. The cross-sectional area of the opening is at least slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the stack, and the cross-sectional area of the cavity in a plane closer to the top plate is sized so that the stack fits snugly therein. The battery stack is disposed in the housing. The bottom portion closes the opening.
US08178225B2
In one aspect, a battery comprises a battery main body, a protective jacket that surrounds the battery main body, and a cooling medium disposed between the protective jacket and the battery main body. In another aspect, a battery comprises a battery main body, a protective jacket that surrounds and connects to the battery main body, and a cooling medium disposed between the protective jacket and the battery main body. The cooling medium has a specific heat capacity of about 1-5 kJ kg−1K−1. In yet another aspect, a method for preparing a battery comprises providing a protective jacket, placing a battery main body in the protective jacket, and disposing a cooling medium between the protective jacket and the battery main body.
US08178222B2
A decorative part and a process for producing the decorative part. A first nitride layer containing at least one metal selected among hafnium, titanium, and zirconium is formed on the surface of a decorative part comprising a soft base made of a material selected among stainless steel, titanium and titanium alloys, brass, etc., and a second nitride layer containing at least one metal which is selected among hafnium, titanium, and zirconium and is different from that in the first nitride layer is formed on the first nitride layer to thereby form a primer layer. A multilayered hardened layer including a gold alloy layer is further formed as a finish layer on the primer layer.
US08178216B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a quinoxaline derivative represented by a general formula (1). Ar1 represents one of a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group; Ar2 represents one of a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted terphenyl group; α1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; and R11 to R15 are the same or different from one another, and each of them represents any one of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms.
US08178213B2
In a method for applying a multilayer wear-resistant coating on metallic, optionally already coated, surfaces, the coating is composed of at least two anti-wear layers (5) and an intermediate layer (10) each arranged between two anti-wear layers (5). The intermediate layer (10) is comprised of a material composition containing the material of the anti-wear layer (5) and a further material, wherein the application of the intermediate layer (10) is effected with a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) decreasing over a first transition region (a) and a content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) increasing over a second transition region (b), the content of the material of the anti-wear layer (5) in the intermediate layer (10) being selected to be at least 5% by weight in every point.
US08178205B2
A multilayer polyurethane or polyurea erosion resistant coating with a matte topcoat over a primer layer and filled basecoat layer used to protect the leading edge against high speed liquid or solid particle erosion for helicopter rotor blades, propellers and other articles using polyurethane or polyurea compositions.
US08178202B2
A nanoparticle comprising a shell surrounding a core material with a lower conductivity than the shell material, wherein the core center is offset in relation to the shell center. A method comprising providing a nanoparticle comprising a nonconductive core and a conductive shell, and asymmetrically depositing additional conductive material on the conductive shell. A method comprising providing a concentric nanoshell having a core and a shell, immobilizing the concentric nanoshell onto a support, and asymmetrically depositing a conductive material onto the shell to produce a nanoegg.
US08178192B2
The present invention provides a ceramic green sheet with a thin flat plate shape obtained by molding and solidifying a ceramic slurry, which contains a ceramic powder, dispersion medium, and gelling agent, into a thin flat plate. The ceramic green sheet partially includes a body that is obtained by molding and solidifying a conductor paste, which becomes a conductor later, and the body is exposed on a part of each of the both surfaces of the sheet. Plural ceramic green sheets described above are produced. The plural ceramic green sheets are successively stacked and press-bonded in the thickness direction in such a manner that the bodies included in the respective sheets are connected to each other for all combinations of the adjacent two sheets. As a result, a ceramic green sheet laminate is formed, which includes one body that is obtained by connecting the bodies included in the respective sheets.
US08178178B2
The top of an opening of a glass container is hot end coated, and then is coated with a coating agent of an aqueous solution containing casein and polyphenol and one or more members selected from copper sulfates, calcium hydroxides, and ferric chlorides. Thereafter, a sealing material, to which a thermoplastic resin is applied, is adhered to the top of the opening of the glass container, whereby the water resistance of the sealing of the glass container becomes excellent irrespective of weathering of glass.
US08178177B2
An article for fire protecting a duct includes a first layer of a first material including a noncombustible fibrous material and a second layer of a second material including an intumescent material. The first layer is adjacent the second layer. The article is non-self-supporting and has an initial thickness of less than about three inches when in a first application condition, and an expanded thickness when in a second heated condition. The expanded thickness is greater than the initial thickness. At the expanded thickness, the article meets Section 5.5 of AC101 Acceptance Criteria for Grease Duct Enclosure Assemblies, as specified in April 2001 by the International Council of Building Officials (ICBO-ES).
US08178173B1
A TBA-liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal medium with positive dielectric anisotropy, wherein the liquid crystal medium includes, in 100% by weight of the liquid crystal compounds identified by the compounds recited in formulas I through IX below: wherein, R1, R3, R3*, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 independently denote C2-5 linear alkyl, preferably propyl or pentyl, R2 denote C4-6 linear alkyl, preferably butyl or pentyl; and R4 denotes C1-3 linear alkyl, preferably methyl.
US08178166B2
A die of a coating apparatus for applying a coating solution includes down- and upstream blocks in a feeding direction of a web, which respectively have a first lip and a second lip. A lip land of the first lip is shorter than a lip land of the second lip in the feeding direction so as to satisfy a predetermined condition. In assembling the coating apparatus, bottoms of down- and upstream blocks are fixed to a fixer with bolts. Between the fixer and the downstream block, a plate member is provided such that the first lip land protrudes from the second lip land.
US08178164B2
The present invention provides a method for forming an organic molecular film structure that can maintain desired functions characteristic to the organic material and that can be realized as a thin film, and the organic molecular film structure. An organic molecular film structure forming method for forming an organic molecular film on a base material comprises the steps of: i) forming a monomolecular film (12) that contains first organic molecules (12a) by chemically bonding a surface of the base material (10) and the first organic molecules (12a); and ii) causing second organic molecules (15) to be present inside the monomolecular film (12) by bringing the second organic molecules (15) into contact with the monomolecular film (12). Accordingly, it is possible to form an organic molecular film that can maintain desired functions characteristic to the organic material and that can be realized as a thin film.
US08178161B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a coated product comprising: (a) coating a substrate with a coating material to form a coated substrate; and (b) stabilizing the coated substrate to form the coated product; wherein the operating parameter of substrate-substrate contact and coated substrate-coated substrate contact differs between step a) and step b), such that in step b) the contact is minimized. An apparatus is also provided.
US08178156B2
A surface treatment process for a circuit board is provided. The circuit board includes a substrate, a first circuit layer disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, and a second circuit layer disposed on a lower surface of the substrate. The first circuit layer is electrically connected to the second circuit layer. In the surface treatment process for the circuit board, a first oxidation protection layer and a second oxidation protection layer are respectively formed on a portion of the first circuit layer and a portion of the second circuit layer by immersion. Afterwards, the first circuit layer exposed by the first oxidation protection layer is subjected to black oxidation to form a black oxide layer. The thickness of the first oxidation protection layer is thinner than or equal to the thickness of the black oxide layer.
US08178152B2
A holding device and method is provided for efficiently applying a coating on the exterior surface of a tubular hollow body, while preventing coating application on the interior surface and coating defects. The holding device of the present invention comprises at least two structures contacting the inner surface of the tubular hollow body and extending to a portion where the structures are connected and rotary motion is induced to rotate the tubular hollow body. The structures are arranged and shaped so that an inner hollow section is formed in which excess coating material can accumulate.
US08178148B2
Provided is a coffee composition having an excellent hypotensive effect. The coffee composition has the following components (A) and (B): 0.01 to 1 wt. % of chlorogenic acids (A), less than 0.1 wt. %, based on the weight of the chlorogenic acids, of (B) hydroxyhydroquinone.
US08178146B2
The present invention includes a process for producing substantially stable produce, typically vegetables and fruit that can be stored in a refrigerated environment for at least about five weeks without preservatives and at least about three months with preservatives. The process involves holding the produce in an aqueous immersion solution that includes a cellular stabilizing agent for a time sufficient to convert the produce into a heat durable piece and thermally processing the heat durable produce in the immersion solution. The use of additional ingredients as components of the immersion solution such as sweeteners, acids, salt, and preservatives are optional.
US08178145B1
Methods and systems for applying CIPC and/or other sprout-inhibiting substances to post-harvest potatoes and/or other vegetables are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of applying sprout inhibitor includes directing a first portion of an aerosol of the sprout inhibitor toward a top portion of a pile of potatoes, and then directing a second portion of the aerosol toward a bottom portion of the pile. In one aspect of this embodiment, directing the aerosol toward a top portion of the pile can include operating a facility fan at a flow rate of 6 SCFM or more in a first direction, and directing the aerosol toward a bottom portion of the pile can include operating the fan at a flow rate of 6 SCFM or more in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. In another aspect of this embodiment, the sprout inhibitor aerosol can include a mixture of CIPC and solvent (e.g., clove oil) that remains liquid at temperatures less than 105° F.
US08178144B2
A centrifuge has an inner and an outer screw. The outer screw transfers material towards a cone-shaped section that leads to an outlet of the centrifuge. A mixture of meat components, liquid carbon dioxide, gas, and optionally water, is spun in the centrifuge. The dense components, such as lean meat, will accumulate away from the axis of rotation and be transferred by the outer screw towards the cone-shaped section. The less dense components, such as fat and adipose tissue, accumulate toward the center of rotation, and are transferred toward an outlet of the centrifuge via the inner screw. Gas accumulates in the proximity of the cone-shaped section and impedes liquid carbon dioxide from exiting with the dense components. The centrifuge is pressurized, which maintains carbon dioxide as a liquid.
US08178142B2
A method for conducting a treatment program in a preparation chamber of a food preparation appliance comprises: (a) determining at least one first value of the preparation chamber atmosphere and/or of the atmosphere surrounding the food preparation appliance before selection and/or beginning of the treatment program, (b) storing the first value, (c) determining at least one second value of the preparation chamber atmosphere and/or of the atmosphere surrounding the food preparation appliance after loading the cooking product into the preparation chamber or after introduction of a lime removal and/or cleaning agent into the preparation chamber and/or after beginning of the treatment program, (d) determining at least one third value from the first and second value, (e) comparing the third value with the stored values, and (f) conducting the treatment program as a function of the result of the comparison of the third value with stored values.
US08178129B2
The invention provides a formulation of water insoluble or poorly water soluble drugs encapsulated in lipidated glycosaminoglycan particles for targeted drug delivery.
US08178127B2
The subject invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising N-ethyl-N-phenyl-1,2,-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide or the salt thereof; a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and not more than 0.5% w/w relative to N-ethyl-N-phenyl-1,2,-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-chloro-1-methyl-2-oxoquinoline-3-carboxamide of 2-Chloro-6-(1-ethyl-N-methyl-2-oxoindoline-3-carboxamido)benzoic acid, 1H,3H-spiro[5-chloro-1-methylquinoline-2,4-dione-3,3′-[1]ethylindolin-[2]-one], or 5-Chloro-N-ethyl-3-hydroxy-1-methyl-2,4-dioxo-N-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-quinoline-3-carboxamide.
US08178125B2
Oral formulations of G-2MePE including microemulsions, coarse emulsions, liquid crystals, tablets and encapsulated forms of G-2MePE have improved bioavailability than conventional aqueous formulations. In particular, microparticles, nanoparticles and microemulsions can exhibit great neuroprotective effects after oral administration. In a microemulsion formulation, G-2MePE can nearly completely inhibit cerebral infarction in an animal model of stroke even after the stroke had been initiated. Thus, improved oral formulations can be desirably used to treat a variety of neurodegenerative conditions with improved convenience and improved efficacy.
US08178117B2
The present invention relates to a formulation comprising (a) at least one pesticide; and (b) at least one non-ionic surfactant of formula (I): R1—O-(AO)x—(H); wherein R1 represents straight-chain or branched alkyl having 4 to 20 carbon atoms; AO is ethyleneoxy, propyleneoxy or a mixture of ethyleneoxy and propyleneoxy; and x correspond to values from 2 to 30; and (c) at least one ionic tristyrylphenyl alkoylate; and (d) at least one oil; and (e) water, wherein the pesticide is present in the aqueous phase in form of a suspension and the oil is essentially free of pesticide.
US08178115B2
A multi-component medicament composition for the treatment of scars comprising a combination of a steroid and silicone.
US08178110B2
The present invention relates to novel strains of avian reovirus that were isolated from severe cases of Runting Stunting Syndrome in young broiler chickens in southeast United States. The invention is directed to avian reoviruses that impair digestion in poultry, diagnostic assays using nucleotide- or amino acid-specific components of such viruses, and to vaccines that protect chickens from disease caused by such viruses. Nucleotide sequences for the S1 gene, encoding the sigma C minor outer capsid protein, were amplified, and the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences were compared with sequences from other recently isolated reovirus field isolates and vaccine strains. Antigenic and molecular characterization of the newly isolated reoviruses revealed a lack of homogeneity with current U.S. isolates, with less than 60% percent amino acid similarity across the sigma C protein. Sequence comparisons with previously reported malabsorption isolates from Europe and Asia revealed a higher amino acid similarity, approaching 80%.
US08178106B2
Disclosed is a topical skin care composition comprising: (a) a combination of the following extracts: Malpighia punicifolia (acerola) extract; Argania spinosa (argan) extract; Myrciaria dubia (camu camu) extract; Punica granatum (pomegrannate) extract; Pinus sylvestris extract; Terminalia ferdinandiana (kakadu plum) extract; Linum usitatissimum (linseed) extract; Ribes nigrum (black current) extract; Secale cereale (rye) extract; algae extract; and yeast extract; and (b) a dermatologically acceptable vehicle.
US08178105B2
The invention provides a composition containing a fruit body of Agaricus blazei murill or an extract of the fruit body, and an amino acid constituting the ornithine cycle or a salt thereof, wherein the pharmacological activities of the fruit body of Agaricus blazei murill or the extract of the fruit body and the amino acid constituting the omithine cycle or the salt thereof are increased synergistically. Such a composition can contain a fruit body of Agaricus blazei murill or an extract of the fruit body, and an amino acid constituting the ornithine cycle or a salt thereof in 10-100 parts by weight per 1 part by weight of the fruit body or the extract.
US08178100B2
The present invention is directed to providing the IP-10 protein (interferon-γ-inducible protein 10) as a novel therapeutic target relating to the etiology of bone diseases with bone destruction associated with RNAKL expression and osteoclast formation. More specifically, the present invention relates to (i) a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating a disease or disorder associated with the expression of RANKL (receptor activator of NF-κB ligand), (ii) a method for inhibiting the expression of RANKL and (iii) a method for screening an antibody drug candidate to inhibit the expression of RANKL.
US08178098B2
Disclosed is a method to reduce airway hyperresponsivesness in an animal by the direct delivery to the lungs of aerosolized antibodies against T cell receptors. The method is particularly useful for treating airway hyperresponsiveness associated with allergic inflammation, is effective at extremely low doses of antibody, and does not have a substantial effect on the peripheral immune system.
US08178097B2
The present invention provides binding proteins and antigen-binding fragments thereof, including human antibodies, that specifically bind to the human interleukin-21 receptor (IL-21R), and methods of using them. The binding proteins can act as, e.g., antagonists of IL-21R activity, thereby modulating immune responses in general, and those mediated by IL-21R in particular. The disclosed compositions and methods may be used, e.g., in diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing IL-21R-associated disorders, e.g., inflammatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, allergies, transplant rejection, and other immune system disorders.
US08178093B2
The invention concerns a method for obtaining and selecting monoclonal antibodies by an ADDC-type test, said antibodies capable of activating type III Fcγ receptors and having a particular glycan structure. The inventive anti-D antibodies can be used for preventing Rhesus isoimmunisation in Rh negative persons, in particular for haemolytic disease in a new-born baby or for uses such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
US08178088B2
A composition, and method of use, for controlling, reducing or preventing the growth of protozoal bacteria in the rumen of a ruminant comprising cell bodies of a facultative anaerobe selected from the group consisting of Corynebacterium cell bodies and Brevibacterium cell bodies or a mixture of Corynebacterium cell bodies and Brevibacterium cell bodies, glutamic acid fermentation solubles, corn fermentation solubles, glutamic acid fermentation solubles and corn fermentation solubles.
US08178082B2
The present invention is directed to interleukin-22 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
US08178081B2
A method for reducing odor is provided. The method comprises forming a coordination complex between a transition metal and a polydentate compound, and contacting the coordinated complex with an odorous compound. The transition metal provides one or more active sites for capturing the odorous compound. In some embodiments, the polydentate compound may be a polyalkylimine, such as polyethyleneimine, polypropyleneimine, or a dendrimer thereof.
US08178080B2
Hair care compositions are disclosed which comprise a silicone polyurethane polymer, an ester, and a fluorosilicone. The compositions are useful for improving color retention of artificially colored hair.
US08178073B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing titania nanoparticles, and specifically to a method of manufacturing titania nanoparticles wherein the particle size is uniform, it is possible to manufacture monodisperse particles without aggregation among particles, a uniform coating can be applied, that is suitable to large-scale production, and that can obtain high-resolution images by maintaining the toner electric charge and electric charge distribution; and the developer included in said titania nanoparticles.
US08178071B2
Metal oxide nanoparticles, production method thereof, light-emitting element assembly, and an optical material are provided. A method of producing metal oxide nanoparticles includes the steps of (A) mixing a first metal alkoxide containing a first metal, a second metal alkoxide containing a second metal different from the first metal, and a surfactant under an inert atmosphere to prepare a reaction solution; and (B) mixing a reaction initiator prepared by mixing a catalyst with a solvent and the reaction solution, and then heating the mixture of the reaction initiator and the reaction solution under an inert atmosphere to produce metal oxide nanoparticles which have a rutile-type crystal structure based on an atom of the first metal, an atom of the second metal, and an oxygen atom, and the surfaces of which are coated with the surfactant.
US08178059B2
A system for supplying chlorine to and recovering chlorine from a polysilicon plant may include a brine treatment system, at least one membrane cell, a chlorine drying system, a chlorine compression system, a hydrogen drying system, a hydrogen compression system, a hydrogen chloride synthesis/desorption system, a hydrogen chloride liquefaction system, a liquefied hydrogen chloride storage system, a hydrogen chloride vaporizer, and a waste conversion and filtration system. These systems may be operatively joined to generate hydrogen chloride gas for delivery to the polysilicon plant. A method for supplying chlorine to the polysilicon plant may include generating hydrogen gas and chlorine gas from recovered and raw salt, converting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas and at least a portion of the chlorine gas to hydrogen chloride, passing the hydrogen chloride through a cryogenic column, vaporizing the hydrogen chloride, and providing the vaporized hydrogen chloride to the polysilicon plant.
US08178058B2
In the present invention cells are placed in a multiwell plate and grown. When the assay is to be performed, one uses gravity to wash away any unbound ligands rather than vacuum or centrifugation. The cells are then examined to detect the bound ligand. To perform the washing step(s) the plate is placed into a carrier plate having open wells in register with the wells of the filter plate or one may use a wicking device or an underdrain attached to the bottom of the filter plate. Sufficient wash liquid is added to allow for filtration by the effect of gravity to occur. Cells are retained within the wells at a rate of 4 times that of other rapid methods.
US08178055B2
Disclosed herein is a modular test tube rack. The rack contains multiple sub-racks that can be coupled together to form the test tube rack. The sub-rack can be designed to fit into a variety of scientific instrumentation including a fixed rotor centrifuge. The assembled test tube rack can be of a format and size that allows use of standard array pipetters. Thus, a system is provided allowing use of standard array pipetters and high g centrifugation.
US08178053B2
Herein disclosed is an apparatus, which comprises (1) a first cylindrical, porous, catalytic rotor symmetrically positioned about an axis of rotation and surrounding a first interior space; wherein the first porous catalytic rotor comprises a first catalyst; (2) an outer casing, wherein the outer casing and the rotor are separated by an annular space; (3) a motor configured for rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation; (4) a feed inlet line; and (5) a first outlet line, wherein the first outlet line is fluidly connected with the annular space. Herein disclosed is also a method comprising: (1) passing a feed gas comprising at least one gaseous reactant through a porous, catalytic rotor, wherein the porous, catalytic rotor is permeable to the at least one gaseous reactant and is made from or contains a catalyst effective for catalyzing a first reaction; and (2) extracting a first desired product.
US08178052B2
A repositionable mounting material comprises a mounting material having a major surface and comprising inorganic fibers. A layer of repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive inwardly disposed along at least a portion of the first major surface. The layer of repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises: adhesive microspheres having a first particle size distribution with at least one mode, each of which has a D50 of at least 30 micrometers; and binder particles having a second particle size distribution with at least one mode, wherein each mode has a D50 that is less than 10 micrometers, and wherein at least one of the at least one modes has a D50 below one micrometer. The repositionable mounting material is useful in manufacture of pollution control devices. Methods of making the foregoing are also disclosed.
US08178043B2
Embodiments directed to a device for analyzing samples administered from a sample vessel are disclosed. One embodiment may comprise a central unit having a supply of reaction vessels and a sampling unit by which at least part of a sample is transferred from one of the sample vessels into the reaction vessel; at least one analytical unit having a plurality of reagent vessels; a transport unit which transports at least part of the reaction vessels from the central unit to the analytical unit such that the analytical unit supplies the reagent from the reagent vessels into the reaction vessel for triggering a reaction between the sample and the reagent; and at least one measuring unit provided in the analytical unit which measures the physical property of the sample held in the reaction vessel.
US08178038B2
Improved induction coil apparatus and methods are presented for induction hardening undercut fillets of crankshafts or other workpiece recesses in which an active turn is energized for heating a journal area in the workpiece recess and one or more passive turns are translated toward undercut fillets once the coil assembly is moved toward the recess with coupling portions of the passive and active turns coupling energy from the active turn to the passive turn(s) for heating the undercut fillets.
US08178034B2
Into a molding path moving in a direction of conveyance is extruded an internal tube from a first extruder and an external tube from a second extruder, the external tube being concentric with the internal tube. During the production of a normal compound pipe, the smooth internal tube is welded together with the external tube which is provided with transverse grooves. At the transition from the normal compound pipe to the expanded pipe socket, the extruder speed of the first extruder is increased from a speed n1,1 to a speed n1,2. During the production of the pipe socket, the speed of the first extruder is reduced to a speed in1,3, wherein n1, 2>n1,3>n1,1 applies.
US08178030B2
An improved process for forming a PTFE mat is described. The process includes providing a dispersion with PTFE, a fiberizing polymer and a solvent wherein said dispersion has a viscosity of at least 50,000 cP. An apparatus is provided which comprises a charge source and a target a distance from the charge source. A voltage source is provided which creates a first charge at the charge source and an opposing charge at the target. The dispersion is electrostatically charged by contact with the charge source. The electrostatically charged dispersion is collected on the target to form a mat precursor which is heated to remove the solvent and the fiberizing polymer thereby forming the PTFE mat.
US08178021B2
The invention resides in enabling biodegradable filament of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and the like to manufacture biodegradable micro-filament by simple and convenient means without needing special, high-accuracy and high-level apparatus; it is characterized in that highly molecular oriented micro-filament those of 12 μm or less and generally from 2 μm to 3 μm can be obtained by heating biodegradable filament by infrared beam and the heated original filament is drawn to 100 times or more by tension of 10 MPa or less.
US08178017B2
A method for producing a granular composition including the steps of: stirring and granulating a mixture containing not less than 3 parts by weight and not more than 80 parts by weight of a phenol compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, X is an n-valent alcohol residue having 1 to 18 carbon atoms optionally containing a heteroatom, a cyclic group, or a heteroatom and a cyclic group, and n is an integer of 1 to 4, and not less than 3 parts by weight and less than 20 parts by weight of a binder to obtain a granular agglomerate; and cracking the granular agglomerate at a temperature of not lower than 25° C. and lower than the temperature which is 10° C. lower than the melting point of the binder, through a cracking machine equipped with a separation mechanism capable of recovering a granule having a particle size not more than 5 mm, and a cracking mechanism, to obtain a granule.
US08178010B2
An optical device having a sub-wavelength grating formed in a specified region is disclosed that is able to prevent wave front degradation accompanying a phase difference of a polarized light beam passing through the optical device. The optical device includes a circular-belt-like region where the sub-wavelength diffraction grating is formed, and a center portion where the sub-wavelength diffraction grating is not formed. A vertically polarized light beam used for operations on a blue-light optical recording medium A has a phase difference in the sub-wavelength diffraction grating to be an integral multiple of 2π and hence is transmitted through the sub-wavelength diffraction grating. A horizontally polarized light beam used for operations on a blue-light optical recording medium is diffracted by the sub-wavelength diffraction grating. The light path length L1 of the light beam passing through the circular-belt-like region is the same as that of the light beam passing through the center portion without the sub-wavelength grating.
US08177996B2
A residential de-icing apparatus, system and method. The apparatus, system and method include a first saline solution having a salinity in a range of 150-360 ppt, a residential container having a volume in a range of 2-5 gallons, a second saline solution resident in the residential container and having a salinity in a range of 30 ppt-250 ppt, wherein the second saline solution results from a mixing of the first saline solution with a volume of water, and a hand-held output nozzle physically associated with the residential container for dispersing the second saline solution at a rate in a range of 6-12 gallons per ¼ mile.
US08177993B2
An first example method and apparatus for etching and cleaning a substrate comprises device with a first manifold and a second manifold. The first manifold has a plurality of nozzles for dispensing chemicals onto the substrate. The second manifold is attached to a vacuum source and/or a dry air/gas source. A second example embodiment is a wafer cleaning device and method that uses a manifold with capillary jet nozzles and a liquid capillary jet stream to clean substrates.
US08177989B2
A copper conducting wire structure is for use in the thin-film-transistor liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The copper conducting wire structure includes at least a buffer layer and a copper layer. A fabricating method of the copper conducting wire structure includes the following steps. At first, a glass substrate is provided. Next, the buffer layer is formed on the glass substrate. The buffer layer is comprised of a copper nitride. At last, the copper layer is formed on the buffer layer.
US08177988B2
A method for manufacturing a substrate for a liquid discharge head having a silicon substrate provided with a supply port of a liquid comprises steps of preparing a substrate which is provided with a passive film on one side face thereof, has a first recess and a second recess provided therein so as to penetrate from the one side face into the inner part through the passive film, wherein the recesses satisfy a relation of a ×tan 54.7 degrees≦d, where a is defined as a distance between the first recess and the second recess, and d is defined as a depth of the second recess, and forming the supply port by anisotropically etching the crystal from the one side face.
US08177987B2
A method for producing an electron-emitting device includes forming a first conductive film on a side surface of an insulation layer including the side surface and a top surface connected to the side surface; forming a second conductive film from the top surface to the side surface and on the first conductive film; and etching the second electrically conductive film.
US08177984B2
Methods especially useful for separating water-hydrocarbon emulsions having low interfacial tensions
Separation media, separation modules and methods are provided for separating water from a water and hydrocarbon emulsion and include a fibrous nonwoven coalescence layer for receiving the water and hydrocarbon emulsion and coalescing the water present therein as a discontinuous phase to achieve coalesced water droplets having a size of 1 mm or greater, and a fibrous nonwoven drop retention layer downstream of the coalescence layer having a high BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g or greater sufficient to retain the size of the coalesced water droplets to allow separation thereof from the hydrocarbon.
US08177980B2
The present invention provides methods of separating at butanediol compound from a mixture containing polyhydric alcohols and butanediol compounds. The mixture of polyhydric alcohols typically contains propylene glycol and ethylene glycol in addition to the butanediol contaminants. Butanediol contaminants are removed by contacting the mixture with a chromatographic matrix. Either the butanediol compounds or the non-butanediol compounds adsorb to the chromatographic matrix. If desired, the adsorbed compounds may be eluted from the matrix, purified and used in products.
US08177976B2
A liquid filter assembly is provided. The preferred assembly includes a serviceable filter cartridge having a primary filter section and a secondary or bypass filter section. The preferred assembly includes a bypass valve arrangement and a suction filter arrangement. A valve, to allow flow from an interior of the assembly to a reservoir if needed, is provided. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are shown.
US08177970B2
A water filtration apparatus has at least one tank in fluid communication with a conduit through at least one aperture in a wall. Each tank uses filter blocks to support the filter medium and to direct the filtered water to the conduit via the aperture. An end plate for the filter block is provided, the end plate being adapted to seal against a free end of the filter block. The end plate also provides apertures for fluid flow into and out of the filter block, and a device for receiving a sealant to provide a seal between the end plate and the wall. The end plate improves the installation of the apparatus, and the sealant improves the reliability of the seal round the apertures, which in turn improves the efficiency of a backwash operation used to clean the filter medium.
US08177958B2
An electro-chemical sensor is described having one or more redox species sensitive to a certain analyte and one or more redox species that are insensitive to that analyte, for the purpose of making measurements in a downhole environment in aquifers or oilfield reservoirs.
US08177955B2
A magnetic layer that may serve as a top pole layer and bottom pole layer in a magnetic write head is disclosed. The magnetic layer has a composition represented by FeWCoXNiYVZ in which w, x, y, and z are the atomic % of Fe, Co, Ni, and V, respectively, and where w is between about 60 and 85, x is between about 10 and 30, y is between 0 and about 20, z is between about 0.1 and 3, and wherein w+x+y+z=100. An electroplating process having a plating current density of 3 to 30 mA/cm2 is used to deposit the magnetic layer and involves an electrolyte solution with a small amount of VOSO4 which is the V source. The resulting magnetic layer has a magnetic saturation flux density BS greater than 1.9 Telsa and a resistivity ρ higher than 70 μohms-cm.
US08177951B2
To obtain a stable pressure to inject polymer into a capillary array in order to shorten the injection time and raise the processing capacity of the apparatus.Disclosed herein is an electrophoresis apparatus comprising one or more capillaries to be filled with an electrophoretic medium and a pump mechanism which can be connected to the capillaries for filling the capillaries with an electrophoretic medium. The pump mechanism comprises a plunger; a slider which is bonded to the plunger and moves together with the plunger; a spring which gives force to the slider; a cover which limits the range of displacement of the slider; and a linear motion system which is bonded to the cover and moves linearly, wherein the cover and the slider move as one body when the electrophoretic medium is taken to the plunger, and the plunger is pushed by the action of the spring when the electrophoretic medium is injected from the plunger into the capillaries.
US08177945B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an electroplating system and an associated electroplating method that allow for depositing of metal alloys with a uniform plate thickness and with the means to alter dynamically the alloy composition. Specifically, by using multiple anodes, each with different types of soluble metals, the system and method avoid the need for periodic plating bath replacement and also allow the ratio of metals within the deposited alloy to be selectively varied by applying different voltages to the different metals. The system and method further avoids the uneven current density and potential distribution and, thus, the non-uniform plating thicknesses exhibited by prior art methods by selectively varying the shape and placement of the anodes within the plating bath. Additionally, the system and method allows for fine tuning of the plating thickness by using electrically insulating selectively placed prescribed baffles.
US08177944B2
A plating apparatus can form a bump having a flat top or can form a metal film having a good in-plane uniformity even when the plating of a plating object (substrate) is carried out under high-current density conditions. The plating apparatus includes a plating tank for holding a plating solution; an anode to be immersed in the plating solution in the plating tank; a holder for holding a plating object and disposing the plating object at a position opposite the anode; a paddle, disposed between the anode and the plating object held by the holder, which reciprocates parallel to the plating object to stir the plating solution; and a control section for controlling a paddle drive section which drives the paddle. The control section controls the paddle drive section so that the paddle moves at a velocity whose average absolute value is 70 cm/sec to 100 cm/sec.
US08177939B2
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of forming a cellulose article having a specific volume of less than 3 cc/gm. The method includes the step of incorporating cellulose fibers with a compound, wherein the compound includes an aqueous dispersion. The aqueous dispersion may have at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based thermoplastic polymer, a propylene-based thermoplastic polymer, and mixtures thereof; at least one polymeric stabilizing agent; and water. In certain embodiments, a combined amount of the at least one polymer and the at least one stabilizing agent comprises about 25 to about 74 volume percent of the aqueous dispersion.
US08177938B2
A method of making regenerated cellulose microfibers includes forming segmented fibers with multiple longitudinally-extending segments of slightly different composition such that there is defined splittable interfaces between juxtaposed segments of the fibers which are then split into microfibers at yields of greater than 50%. Fibers so produced may be incorporated into absorbent sheet with other papermaking fibers to provide strength, softness, bulk and absorbency to tissue, towel, and personal care products.
US08177935B2
A manufacturing method of a laminated plate (19) includes: a first step of supporting, by a support member (9), a thermoplastic resin-made laminated material (1) in which a pair of plate-like members (3, 4) are laminated to each other while interposing a longitudinal wall portion (2b) so that a peripheral edge portion (1a) of the laminated material (1) can be exposed, and heating and softening the peripheral edge portion (1a) by blowing a hot air to the peripheral edge portion (1a); and a second step of pressing the plate-like member (4) as one of the pair of plate-like members (3, 4) against other plate-like member (3) by thrusting a cutting blade (17a) of a cutting die (17) against the heated and softened peripheral edge portion (1a), thereby bringing the pair of plate-like members (3, 4) into contact with each other and welding the plate-like members (3, 4) to each other, and then cutting the laminated plate (19) out of the laminated material (1).
US08177931B2
The present invention relates to a method for making holes in a layer (1) of heat-fusible material. According to the invention a layer of absorbent material (2) is placed in contact with a layer (1) of heat-fusible material, following which the layer of heat-fusible material is heated locally so that holes are formed in the material.
US08177925B2
In a high-tensile steel plate according to the invention, the carbon equivalent Pcm represented in Expression (1) is from 0.180% to 0.220%, the surface hardness is a Vicker's hardness of 285 or less, the ratio of a Martensite Austenite constituent in the surface layer is not more than 10%, the ratio of a mixed structure of ferrite and bainite inside beyond the surface layer is not less than 90%, the ratio of the bainite in the mixed structure is not less than 10%, the thickness of the lath of bainite is not more than 1 μm, the length of the lath is not more than 20 μm, and the segregation ratio as the ratio of the Mn concentration in the center segregation part relative to the Mn concentration at a part in a depth equal to ¼ of the thickness of the plate from the surface is not more than 1.3. Pcm=C+Si/30+(Mn+Cu+Cr)/20+Ni/60+Mo/15+V/10+5B . . . (1) where the element symbols in Expression (1) represent the % by mass of the respective elements. In this way, the high-tensile steel plate according to the invention has a yield strength of at least 551 MPa and a tensile strength of at least 620 MPa as well as high toughness, high propagating shear fracture and high weldability.
US08177920B2
The present invention provides a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet produced by a method for promoting secondary recrystallization without an inhibitor, the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet including 2.0% or more and 4.5% or less of Si and 0.01% or more and 0.5% or less of Mn on a mass % basis, wherein the number of oxide particles having a diameter of 1 to 3 μm among that (oxide particles) of containing Ca and/or Mg is 400 or less per unit area (1 cm2) in a transverse cross-section perpendicular to a rolling direction. Therefore, the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet has excellent stable magnetic properties throughout the length of a coil.
US08177918B2
A cleaning system for an electric shaver having a body and a shaving head generally includes a cradle configured to receive the shaving head of the shaver, and a reservoir positioned beneath the cradle and configured to retain cleaning fluid therein. The cleaning system also includes a drive assembly operable to move the reservoir between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the reservoir is positioned relative to the cradle such that at least a portion of the shaving head is submerged in cleaning fluid within the reservoir. In the lowered position, the reservoir is positioned relative to the cradle such that no portion of the shaving head is submerged in cleaning fluid.
US08177916B2
A malodour-counteracting device adapted to be used in an automatic dishwasher having at least one washing cycle and a final drying cycle, the device having the form of two connected containers, adapted to rest on a horizontal surface within the dishwasher to provide an upper container (2) and a lower container (1), the lower container having the form of an open dish and the upper container, within which is a gradually-releasable evaporable malodour counteractant (6), fitting within the lower container and providing at least one port (3) permitting the passage of malodour counteractant out of the upper container, the lower container being adapted, during the washing cycle, to contain sufficient water to submerge the port, and during the drying cycle to allow the port to be open. The device is easy and cheap to manufacture, and is effective for a prolonged period.
US08177915B2
A filtration system for a dishwasher, and an associated apparatus and method, are provided, comprising a macerator chamber adapted to house a macerator device. The macerator chamber is configured to receive washing fluid for the macerator device to comminute contaminants within the washing fluid. A drain chamber is in fluid communication with the macerator chamber and is configured to receive the washing fluid and comminuted contaminants therefrom via a fluid port therebetween. The drain chamber has a vented member associated therewith, which defines at least one first vent providing fluid communication between the drain chamber and the washing fluid circulation system. The vented member is spaced apart from the fluid port, and is configured to strain the comminuted contaminants from the washing fluid so as to retain the comminuted contaminants within the drain chamber while allowing the washing fluid to pass therethrough to the washing fluid circulation system.
US08177913B1
A cleaning apparatus comprises a container configured to hold an article to be cleaned, a cleaning solvent dispenser configured to supply a cleaning solvent to the container, an energy generator configured to provide thermal energy to an interior of the container; and a control device in communication with the energy generator and configured to select thermal energy sufficient to sublimate the particles. The cleaning solvent comprises a solvent and nanofabricated particles dispersed therein. The control device controls the energy generator to provide thermal energy to the cleaning solvent in container in which the article is submerged in order to cause sublimation of the particles.
US08177909B2
Provided herein are compositions and methods including hydraulic cement, supplementary cementitious material, and/or self-cementing material. Methods for making the compositions and using the compositions are provided.
US08177900B2
Gypsum-based molding materials are customized by hydrating the molding material to workable (malleable) consistency with a moistening solution containing 0.001 to 60% polytetrafluoroethylene. The addition of latex results in a more flowable material.
US08177898B2
A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes a coloring agent and water. The coloring agent includes a dye represented by the following general formula (1). In the ink, an amount of glycerin is set so as to satisfy the following condition (A). 3.5X−5≦Y1≦3.5X (A) X: an amount of a dye represented by general formula (1) relative to a total amount of the ink (wt %) Y1: an amount of glycerin relative to a total amount of the ink (wt %)
US08177894B2
A canister includes a canister case having an adsorbent chamber, an adsorbent housed in the adsorbent chamber of the canister case, a filter disposed between the adsorbent chamber and a port mounted on an end wall of the adsorbent chamber, and a tentative filter engaging projection provided in the adsorbent chamber. The filter is loosely fitted within the adsorbent chamber and then welded on the end wall of the adsorbent chamber. The tentative filter engaging projection tentatively holds the filter loosely fitted within the adsorbent chamber in a welding step of the filter.
US08177890B2
A Pd alloy membrane and method of making are described.
US08177889B2
A gas removal device 1 includes a decompression chamber 2 with an inlet 11 and an outlet 12 through which a liquid to be degassed flows therein and thereout, and a degassing element 5 that is accommodated in the decompression chamber 2 while having one end connected to the inlet 11 and another end connected to the outlet 12, and that allows the liquid to be degassed entering into the inlet 11 to pass through the degassing element 5. The degassing element 5 includes a tube bundle 15 composed of a plurality of flexible gas-permeable tubes 151, and a tying member 16 tying the plurality of gas-permeable tubes 151 to form the tube bundle 15. The tube bundle 15 is bent in a shape of coil with multiple turns in such a manner that a portion tied by the tying member 16 is included in a bent portion BP.
US08177885B2
A gas separation process for treating exhaust gases from the combustion of gaseous fuels, and gaseous fuel combustion processes including such gas separation. The invention involves routing a first portion of the exhaust stream to a carbon dioxide capture step, while simultaneously flowing a second portion of the exhaust gas stream across the feed side of a membrane, flowing a sweep gas stream, usually air, across the permeate side, then passing the permeate/sweep gas back to the combustor.
US08177881B2
Solvent extraction from an aqueous phase containing first and second rare earth elements is carried out by contacting an organic phase containing a diglycolamic acid as an extractant and a hydrocarbon or a low-polar alcohol as a solvent, with the aqueous phase below pH 3 for extracting the first rare earth element into the organic phase, back-extracting from the organic phase with an aqueous acid solution for recovering the first rare earth element, and recovering the second rare earth element which has not been extracted into the organic phase and has remained in the aqueous phase.
US08177873B2
A separating apparatus for separating out particles, especially liquid droplets from a gas flow which comprises the particles, comprising a flow channel which conducts the gas flow and has at least one deflection region for deflecting the gas flow, and a collecting vessel for accommodating the particles, the flow channel also having a branch leading to the accommodation vessel for separating the particles out of the gas flow, is in accordance with the invention, characterized in that, in addition to the branch, a line opens into the accommodation vessel and connects the accommodation vessel to the flow channel in a fluid-conducting manner.
US08177870B2
A process for the utilization of the methane produced by enteric fermentation, specifically to a process that utilizes methane produced by ruminant animals through enteric fermentation as a source of carbon and/or energy for the directed production of methane-based goods or processes is provided.
US08177867B2
Colloidal coal-in-water slurries having nano-particles of coal creating a pseudo-fluid. The colloidal coal-in-water slurry generally includes from about fifty to about seventy two weight percent of coal, with about 20 to about 80 percent of the coal having a particle size of about one micron or less with a mode particle size of about 250 nanometers. The coal-in-water slurry can also include a surfactant system containing one surfactant or mixtures of two or more surfactants, or mixtures of one or more surfactants and an inorganic or organic salt. The coal-in-water slurry can be used in low NOx burner applications as the main fuel and/or the reburn fuel, in gasification processes as the input fuel either alone, or in combination with organic materials, in gas turbine applications, and in diesel engine applications.
US08177866B2
The invention concerns a fuel to operate Diesel engines, in particular in cars, wherein the fuel contains an antioxidant. To achieve that the discoloration of the water white Diesel fuel during longer storage and/or incident light radiation is prevented at least for longer periods, the fuel contains a para-substituted, sterically hindered phenol (I) as antioxidant, the substituent of which in the para position is different from a tertiary butyl group.
US08177861B2
An azo pigment of formula (1), a tautomer of the azo pigment, or a salt or hydrate thereof, are provided: G0 and G1 each is a non-metal atomic group which can form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring, The rings may be monocyclic or condensed and are optionally substituted. X is a hetero atom. n is an integer of 1 to 4. When n=2, 3, or 4, the compound is a dimer, trimer, or tetramer, respectively. A is a substituent. The azo pigment has excellent coloring characteristics such as high tinctorial strength and hue. It also has excellent durability including high resistance to light and ozone. A pigment dispersion containing the azo pigment and a coloring composition are also provided.
US08177859B2
The present invention is directed to methods for flameproofing cellulose fibres and articles containing these fibres. The method involves treatment of materials with cyanuric chloride.
US08177855B2
Embodiments of low cost prosthetic feet include a footplate with a connection mechanism embedded within a first foam element having a first stiffness. A second foam element is bonded to the footplate and has a recess in a proximal surface and a stiffness greater than the first foam element. The second foam element may have a portion extending past the terminal end of the footplate. A cosmesis encloses the components of the prosthetic foot. A third foam element that extends through the cosmesis into the second foam element may be provided. The third foam element may have a higher stiffness than the first and second foam elements.
US08177844B2
An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral fusion cage includes a dilatation set, a guiding set and an insert set. The dilatation set includes first and second dilatation barrels non-rotationally and telescopically connected to each other. The guiding set includes first and second guiding tubes provided around the first and second dilatation barrels. The second guiding tube includes a guiding hole defined therein and a smooth arched face formed thereon in the guiding hole. The insert set includes a leading rod inserted in the second guiding tube and a push rod pivotally connected to at the leading rod. The intervertebral fusion cage is located in the second guiding tube. The fusion cage is movable out of the second guiding tube along the smooth face and the guiding hole to shorten surgery time and position the fusion cage precisely.
US08177839B2
Bioprosthesis having an implantable braided or woven construct with a plurality of collagen-derived fibers interlocked or interlaced together. The braided or woven constructs can be flexible and resorbable. The braided or woven constructs can have the dynamic flexibility, tensile strength and stiffness suitable for tendon or ligament repairs. The braided or woven construct may be used for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.
US08177832B2
An endoprosthesis expansion system having, in combination, a delivery component such as a length of catheter tubing having at its distal end an intermediate sheath component, and an inner tube within the full length of the delivery catheter and intermediate sheath component. The inner tube has a protrusion affixed to its distal end, and an expandable endoprosthesis is fitted in a compacted state about the intermediate sheath, immediately proximal to the protrusion. If the endoprosthesis is a self-expanding endoprosthesis (as is preferred), an exterior constraining sheath is required around the outer surface of the endoprosthesis. Following insertion of the endoprosthesis and delivery system into a body conduit (such as a blood vessel) and transport of the endoprosthesis to the desired site within the body conduit, the endoprosthesis is deployed by axially moving the protrusion against the system, thereby applying a radially directed outward force and causing simultaneous dilatation of the intermediate sheath and disruption of the exterior constraining sheath. Disruption of the exterior constraining sheath, in the case of a self-expanding prosthesis, releases the stored energy in the formerly constrained prosthesis, allowing it to expand and accomplish full deployment against the luminal surface of the body conduit at the desired site.
US08177829B2
A balloon catheter may comprise a primary inflation balloon and a secondary inflation balloon located to one side of the primary inflation balloon. The secondary balloon comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion located closer to the primary balloon. The second portion has a greater size than the first portion, and a portion of the second portion extends outwardly beyond the first portion and overhangs the first portion. In some embodiments, a cross-sectional shape of the secondary balloon in an inflated state comprises a mushroom shape.
US08177826B2
Methods and devices for extracting thermal energy from the core body of a mammal are provided. In practicing the subject methods, a portion of the mammal, e.g. a limb or portion thereof, is placed in a sealed enclosure to produce an enclosed portion of the mammal. A surface of the enclosed portion of the mammal is then contacted with a low temperature medium under negative pressure conditions for a period of time sufficient to provide for the desired core body thermal energy extraction. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of applications, e.g. providing relief from temperature sensitive disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, and the treatment of hyperthermia, among other treatments. The subject methods and devices are particularly suited for use in enhancing the physical ability of a mammal.
US08177825B2
In a dynamic contrast temperature system including a thermocycling block and an organism zone multi-modules temperature applicator a method of spatiotemporal temperature-physiological optimizing includes modules structure arranging and modulating a module temperature action with a law, a range and a frequency providing a cooling phase and a heating phase of a “drop-shaped” form law so, that each two side by side disposed the modules form a temperature pair with a modulated binary temperature action gradient, and a modulation comparative phase provides a phase shift to a comparative phase of an independent periodic additional action process; and gradient-wave therapeutically optimized changing the modulation parameters in dependence on the changes of the organism physiological characteristics.
US08177824B2
A heat exchange fluid supply system for supplying a heat exchange fluid to an intravascular heat exchange catheter includes a disposable cassette having a bulkhead and an external heat exchanger, and which is configured to operate in combination with a reusable master control unit. The bulkhead includes a reservoir section and a pump section. The reservoir section is provided with a means to monitor the amount of heat exchange fluid that is in the system. The bulkhead provides the mechanism for priming the system with heat exchange fluid from an external source and for circulating fluid to the catheter in a closed circuit. The pump section is configured to allow for pumping of heat exchange fluid at a constant pressure.
US08177823B2
An occipital clamping hook assembly includes a hook for engaging a first side of an occipital bone and a compressor movable relative to the hook for applying a compressive force to the occipital bone from a second side of the occipital bone. The occipital clamping assembly further includes a rod-receiving portion coupled to the hook for coupling a rod to the occipital bone engaged by the hook.
US08177822B2
A bone fixation plate for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the lateral malleolus. The bone fixation plate includes an elongated body, and two hook members extending from a first end of the elongated body. Each hook member curves back upon a bottom surface of the elongated body, back towards a second end of the elongated body, and terminating in a pointed prong region. The elongated body includes a first region, a second region, and an angled region disposed between the first and second region. The prong region has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the angled region of the elongated body of the bone plate. A double barreled drill guide and associated interchangeable cooperating inner drill guides and gauges are provided to facilitate the drilling of pilot holes in a terminal bone fragment for axial insertion of the pointed prong regions of the hook members.
US08177819B2
System, including methods, apparatus, and kits, for expanded bone fixation with bone plates. A bone plate and an extension plate may be provided. The bone plate may be secured to a proximal portion of a humerus and overlapping the greater tuberosity of the humerus using fasteners received in openings defined by the bone plate. The extension plate may be attached to the bone plate and the humerus using (a) a fastener disposed in an aperture defined by the first end region and in threaded engagement with the bone plate and (b) a fastener received in an aperture defined by the second end region and extending into the humerus. The attached extension plate may extend from a position over the greater tuberosity to a position over the lesser tuberosity of the humerus such that the intermediate region is disposed over a biceps tendon.
US08177808B2
The vein holder has an upright wall forming a central opening. The central opening is large enough to allow easy access by a needle. A bottom flange extends outwardly from the wall and rests against the patient's skin. It is the bottom surface of the flange 14 which holds the skin tight to prevent movement of the vein relative to the skin. In addition, pressure applied by the vein holder closes the vein at an end away from the syringe opening.
US08177807B2
An emboli filtration apparatus is provided including a guide wire having a filter element captured thereon, so that the guide wire is free to rotate and translate while the filter element remains stationary. The apparatus allows for movement and rotation of the guide wire as devices are advanced over it to treat occlusive disease, substantially without dislodging the filter element. In a preferred embodiment, the guide wire includes a proximal stop configured to reposition the filter element during a medical procedure without having to remove or insert additional interventional devices.
US08177805B2
An intra-bronchial device may be placed and anchored in an air passageway of a patient to collapse a lung portion associated with the air passageway. The device includes an obstructing member that prevents air from being inhaled into the lung portion, and an anchor that anchors the obstruction device within the air passageway. The anchor may piercingly engage the air passageway wall. The anchor may be releasable from the air passageway for removal of the obstructing member. The anchor may be releasable by collapsing a portion of the obstructing member, or by drawing the obstructing member toward the larynx. The obstructing member may be a one-way valve.
US08177804B2
A surgical instrument with a clamping device for holding and/or clamping tissue, a severing device for severing tissue and a handling device for actuating the clamping device and/or the severing device is provided. The clamping device is provided with at least one clamping member having a clamping surface and a clamping member opening. The severing device is provided with a severing member movable at least partially into the clamping member opening. In order to reliably prevent short circuits between the at least one clamping member and the severing member, a severing member guide device is provided for guiding the severing member in the clamping member opening and for maintaining a spacing from inner side surfaces of the clamping member opening.
US08177795B2
A device for repairing a tear in a portion of tissue comprises a proximal actuator portion, a transfer needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion and a catch needle extending distally from the proximal actuator portion. A suture needle is disposed in the transfer needle, and is extendable from the transfer needle toward the catch needle and retractable from the catch needle toward the transfer needle. An extendable catch plunger is disposed in the catch needle for capturing suture therein when it is transferred from the transfer needle. A retractable insertion sheath is provided for covering the transfer needle and the catch needle when the device is inserted into a procedural site. A depth limiting apparatus limits the depth of insertion of the needle into the procedural site.
US08177793B2
A surgical staple remover apparatus is disclosed. The surgical staple remover apparatus comprises a first elongated element having a handle on one end and a downward facing protrusion on the other end and a second elongated element having a handle on one end and an upwards sloped planar element on the other end, wherein the first and second elongated elements are pivotally connected. The apparatus further includes a cutout located at a midpoint of a tip of the upwards sloped planar element and a housing running a length of the second elongated element, beginning at the upwards sloped planar element and including an opening facing the planar element, such that surgical staples removed with the apparatus are drawn into the housing. The apparatus further includes a spring loaded element within the housing, wherein the spring loaded element grabs removed surgical staples and draws them into the housing.
US08177789B2
Methods and devices for distraction osteogenesis are disclosed employing an energy storage device and a controlled release of energy to provide a separating force. For example, bone expansion devices can include a first anchor element attachable to a first segment of bone, a second anchor element attachable to a second segment of bone, and an actuator for applying a separating force between the first and second anchor elements. The actuator can include a potential energy storage device and a controller for releasing energy from the energy storage device to provide the separating force.
US08177781B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for treating female urinary incontinence by applying a form of energy to tissue in the vicinity of the urethra and/or bladder outlet to change tissue compliance without substantially narrowing the urethral and/or bladder outlet lumen. The apparatus comprises an elongated shaft having a means for treating urethral tissue and an expandable member deployable distal of the means for treating. The expandable member is configured to be anchored against the bladder outlet to dispose the means for treating at a desired treatment site in the urethra using only tactile feedback. The means for treating may include a needleless RF electrode, an ultrasound transducer, or a cryogenic probe configured to be advanced through a hollow needle, each of which are designed to reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with urinary incontinence.
US08177768B2
A vial adapter having a needle-free valve, a sharpened cannula used to perforate a vial's rubber stopper, and a circular array of claws of different lengths to engage vial closures of different diameters. The array of claws includes a first set of claws each having a first length extending inwardly from the periphery of the housing of the adapter and a second set of claws alternating with the first set of claws and each having a longer length. The second set of claws are mounted so that they deflect and plastically deform out of the way in the case where the adapter is engaged with a vial that exceeds a predetermined size. The housing includes a shroud that is at least as long as the sharpened cannula to protect medical personnel who use the adapter from inadvertent punctures. The needle-free valve includes a resiliently deformable piston element with a naturally open bore. The interior of the piston provides a fluid flow path through the adapter. In one embodiment, the first set of claws of the adapter may be used with a vial closure of at approximately 20 mm in diameter and the second set of claws may be used with a vial closure of approximately 13 to 17 mm in diameter.
US08177764B2
Methods and devices for treatment of damaged tissue are disclosed, including treatment of wounds by employing non-electrically powered, reduced pressure therapy devices. Maintenance and control of the sub atmospheric pressure exerted may be provided by such devices while minimizing discomfort to the user. The devices may be configured to be worn inconspicuously underneath clothing.
US08177758B2
This document discloses, among other things, an air-powered auto-injector device for subcutaneous delivery of a rescue drug. The device is configured for self-administered treatment of anaphylactic shock. Air is compressed by relative movement of a piston and a cylinder and released to subcutaneously drive an hypodermic needle.
US08177755B2
An access apparatus for use during a surgical procedure to provide access to the interior of the body includes an access member defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end for being disposed at an exterior side of the body and a distal end for extending into the interior of the body. The access member has a bore therethrough dimensioned to permit passage of an object. A seal is disposed within the longitudinal bore substantially at the rotational center of the access member. The seal has inner seal portions adapted to establish a substantial seal about a surgical instrument introduced within the longitudinal bore of the access member. An access housing may be mounted to the proximal end of the access member. A zero closure valve may be mounted to the access housing. The zero-closure valve may be adapted to close in the absence of the instrument. The seal may be generally disc shaped. The seal may define an aperture for reception of the surgical instrument. The seal may comprise a fabric material, an elastomeric material or a gel material.
US08177738B2
Apparatus and methods for delivering a clotted biological component (such as blood, autologous conditioned plasma (ACP), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow aspirate (BMA), demineralized bone matrix, anticoagulants and/or clotting agents, or combination of these materials) into a tissue void (for example, a bone void such as a bone tunnel, socket, opening or cavity), and then cutting the clotted biological component with a cutting or shearing mechanism at the tissue surface. The apparatus is provided with a tube and a cutting or shearing mechanism (provided on or within the distal end of the tube) that is actuated to cut or break off the clot at the desired insertion length. The tube may then be placed over the next tissue void so that the obturator drives the next clot into the next tissue void until all tissue voids are filled. Upon insertion at the defect site, the biological component advances the healing of the damaged tissue and tissue growth.
US08177731B2
An elastic hysteretic palpatory training apparatus includes a plunger, a solenoid disposed around a longitudinal axis of the plunger, and a controller for controlling electrical power supplied to the solenoid as a function of a palpatory force applied to an end of the plunger and a position of the plunger in the solenoid in response to the applied palpatory force whereupon the plunger emulates at least one of the following: an elastic material responding to the application of the palpatory force thereto or a series of elastic materials being engaged one-at-a-time in response to the application of the palpatory force thereto.
US08177709B2
A rotary self-propelled endoscope system includes an insertion section body, an insertion section, a drive unit, a torque detection unit, and a control unit. In a distal end portion of the insertion section body, a rigid distal end portion including an image pickup apparatus is disposed. The insertion section is rotatably fit to the outside of the insertion section body, and includes a rotary tubular member having a helical portion formed by a helical concave-convex portion. The drive unit applies the rotary tubular member with axial and rotational drive force. The torque detection unit detects torque information of the rotary tubular member. On the basis of the torque information detected by the torque detection unit, the control unit compares a present value with a preset limit value for controlling the torque of the rotary tubular member, and controls the drive unit on the basis of the comparison result.
US08177705B2
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental implant are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon the implant to form a hearing assembly. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure.
US08177700B2
A valve (20) is provided for sealing an evacuation port (16) in a port area (18) of a wall structure (12) of a container. The valve (20) comprises a casing (22) having a shell portion (30) which is deformable from an open condition, whereat the shell portion (30) forms a chamber (32) over the port area (18), and a closed condition, whereat the shell portion (30) contacts the port area (18). When the shell portion (30) is in its open condition, gas exits from the chamber (32) through gas-releasing holes (24) in the casing (22). When the shell portion (30) is deformed to its closed condition, a port-sealing adhesive (26) adheres to the port area (18) to thereby seal the evacuation port (16).
US08177699B1
A tray forming apparatus forms a blank into a tray having a double glued side wall construction for providing a desirable strength to the tray. A platen drives the blank through a forming rails which fold the blank into a partially formed tray having bottom, end and side walls, and inside corner supports formed about the platen. The platen is retracted prior to folding arms further extended portions of the partially formed tray. A compression plate and the folding arms are biased against adhesive portions of the tray for forming a fully formed tray having a double glued side wall construction.
US08177698B2
An apparatus for forming a tray from a blank of sheet material is provided. The apparatus includes a platen configured to move along a path between a first position and a second position to drive the blank downstream from the first position and a first folding arm configured to fold an outside corner support member of the blank to form the blank into a partially formed tray including at least a portion of the outside corner support member being substantially parallel to the bottom panel. The apparatus further includes a fixed plate and a movable plate spaced from and movable with respect to the fixed plate. The fixed plate and the movable plate define a passage therebetween. The fixed plate guides the outside corner support member through the passage to a position adjacent a side panel and/or an end panel.
US08177688B2
An improved rehabilitation and exercise machine is provided which allows a person with physical limitations, disabilities or chronic conditions to use the machine in order to rehabilitate their muscles, improve joint flexibility, and enhance cardiovascular fitness.
US08177687B2
A power transmission device that can reliably prevent engine stall from occurring. The power transmission device includes a transmission clutch 3 interposed between an engine E and a transmission T/M, and control 22 for controlling connection and disconnection of the transmission clutch 3. The power transmission device also includes first engine stall risk determination 22 for determining based on an engine operation state whether there is an engine stall risk when the transmission clutch 3 is connected. The control 22 disconnects the transmission clutch 3 and controls the engine E to a predetermined rotation speed for a predetermined time when the determination by the first engine stall risk determination 22 is affirmed.
US08177680B2
A drive unit control system having a continuously variable speed change (CV) unit and a geared speed change (geared) unit to execute a manual speed change to apply responsive engine brake and sufficient braking force. A speed change mode is selected from first and second modes, where a total speed change ratio governed by the speed change ratio of the CV unit and the gear stage of the geared unit is set based on a vehicle running condition, and the total speed change ratio is set based on a signal for applying power source braking, respectively. The system reduces a number of gear stages of the geared unit settable under the second mode. Total speed change ratio is set according to the gear stage of the geared unit, and to the speed change ratio of the CV unit, in case the second mode is selected.
US08177674B2
A multiple speed transmission includes an input and output; a first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear; a first epicyclic gearing assembly including the first gear set, the second gear set, a first clutch, a second clutch, a first brake, and first, second, third and fourth rotating members, said first clutch being operable to couple said first rotating member to the input, said second clutch being operable to couple said second rotating member to the input, and said first brake being operable to hold said fourth rotating member against rotation; and a second epicyclic gearing assembly including the third gear set, the fourth gear set, a third clutch, a second brake, a third brake, and fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotating members, the third rotating member being secured to the eighth rotating member, said third clutch being operable to couple said seventh rotating member to the input, said second brake being operable to hold said seventh rotating member against rotation, said third brake being operable to hold said fifth rotating member against rotation, and said sixth rotating member being secured for rotation to the output.
US08177670B2
A bicycle sprocket is provided with a sprocket body and a chain engagement structure. The chain engagement structure includes sprocket teeth defining chain rollers receiving troughs. At least two consecutive ones of the troughs include a driven-side surface and a non-driven-side surface. The driven-side surfaces each have a first chain roller contact points corresponding to a first radius of a first minimum contact circle when one of the chain rollers is positioned to fittingly contact the driven-side surface. The non-driven-side surfaces each have a second chain roller contact points disposed at a second position corresponding to a second radius of a second minimum contact circle when one of the chain rollers is positioned to fittingly contact the non-driven-side surface. The first radius is larger than the second radius. The driven-side surfaces have effective concavities that are equal to or less than the curvatures of the chain rollers.
US08177663B2
In accordance with the present invention, a golf putter and method of adjustment of the golf putter are provided. The golf putter includes two threaded connections, one between a weighting element and a putter head, and one between a screw fastener and a replaceable striking surface attachment. The weighting element may be attached to the putter head by manual manipulation. The striking surface attachment may be attached to the putter head by a magnetic connection or any other attachment means suitable for easy replacement during a practice or experimentation mode, and is further configured to be attached to a screw fastener using a tool such that the golf putter is in compliance with rules. The screw fastener passes through the weighting element so that it locks the weighting element simultaneously when affixing the striking surface attachment, thus rendering the weighting element non-removable without the use of a tool.
US08177662B2
A metal golf club head that allows a user to customize the location of the center of gravity. The metal golf club head comprises a hollow body with a weighting port. The weighting port allows a user to place weighting material inside the hollow body, customizing the location of the center of gravity, the swing weight, the total weight, and the balance of the golf club.
US08177660B2
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US08177648B2
A circuit for carrying hydraulic lubricant in a transmission includes a shaft including a duct, a second shaft separated by a space from the shaft, and including a second duct, and a cup plug including a leg that extends across the space, the leg and the second shaft forming a passage directed between an end of the leg and the space, and a cap having an orifice connecting the ducts.
US08177646B2
A system for playing a secondary game in a network of play devices having at least one display, and a processor for controlling a display to display at least one primary device feature. Each device receives serial inputs to operate discrete operational functions. The system includes a system server and a communication network to provide communications between each play device and the server. The server includes a data structure storing (i) account data for each player, (ii) data corresponding to a predetermined secondary game trigger, said trigger data corresponding to at least one of said serial inputs or primary device feature and (iii) data representing at least a schedule of winning secondary game outcomes and awards there for. At least one of said server and/or play devices is configured to (i) sense data related to said trigger to determine a correspondence with said trigger condition, (ii) control a display to display to the player a secondary game having first odds of obtaining at least one award, (iii) control said display to display said secondary game having greater second odds upon sensing data corresponding to a second trigger condition (iv) select and display at a display an outcome for said secondary game and (v) if the selected outcome corresponds to a winning secondary outcome, issue the corresponding award to the player.
US08177641B2
A video game controller is equipped with an electronic input that can read a game identification code from an electronic key. When the user presents the key to the game controller, it relays the game ID to the game console. This electronic key may be read via RFID from a detachable faceplate for the controller. The game console utilizes the game ID to quickly find and launch the game from game storage. The game console itself may also be equipped with such an electronic input. The game storage can be built into the console, or on a server accessed through a home network or through the internet. Such use of an electronic key and detachable faceplate is extended to rapid and easy personalization, customization, and function enhancement of entertainment and other consumer electronics devices as well.
US08177640B2
Disclosed is a novel game system, comprising a computer device; a game platform to communicate with the computer; and at least one game control module to detect environment data and to transfer the environment data to the game platform. In the present invention, the game platform stores at least one game software to be executed in the computer and the game platform provides the environment data to the computer whereby the computer executes the game software in association with the environment data. The environment data represent the position, orientation, acceleration of the game control module, and their variations.
US08177638B2
Gaming machines projecting video images onto a curved display are disclosed herein. A Display Manager receives one or more video signals from a Master Gaming Controller and one or more video signals from the system device and displays one or multiple video signals on the curved display. The Display Manager sends the multiple video signals to a digital light emitting projector which projects the multiple video signals simultaneously on the curved display. The curved display may be split between multiple signals, or one or more signals may overlay one or more background signals. The overlaid signals may completely obscure the background signals, or they may provide a level of transparency by allowing the background signal to be partially or completely visible. The Display Manager receives commands from a device, directing it how to split, overlay, superimpose, and otherwise share the display among the video input signals.
US08177632B2
A computing apparatus operating as a gaming machine permits wagering on games. A browser generates a request for information contained on a remote server. An intermediate client-side processing, ICSP, engine coupled with the browser receives the request and generates a corresponding request that is transmitted to the remote server. The browser, following the transmission of the first message, being released to process other actions without having yet received a reply to the first message.
US08177619B2
A method of playing a wagering card game for a single player or a number of players using standard playing cards having a standard rank and involving standard poker hand rankings or modified rankings for Three Card Poker® games. The players play a draw poker game against a dealer's stud poker hand. Each player's hand contains fewer cards than the dealer's hand, but the game is resolved with final hands of equal amount of cards. After an Ante wager, a plurality of cards is dealt to each player, and a plurality of cards is dealt to the dealer. Following predetermined house rules, each player then may decide to execute one or more of the following options: Surrender, Fold, make a Play bet, make a Double Down bet, or make a Draw bet. The player may or may not discard a card to make the Draw bet. After all of the players' hands have been fully executed, the dealer then adds one or more additional face-up cards to his hand. Outcomes of a comparison of hands are determined by traditional poker rules and standard poker rankings. Wagers are then resolved according to a predetermined paytable.
US08177618B1
The present invention provides a system and method for playing wagering card games. The method provides for distribution of a pot based on a calculated value of the cards (equity) held by game's players so that the pot is distributed more equitably then is the case with a winner-take-all rule. In one embodiment of the method, the use of equity in card hands is optional so that some of the hands remaining at the end of a game receive payouts based on equity while all other hands receive no payout except the best hand.
US08177616B2
A gaming system having a multiple hand Three-card Poker game is provided. The Three-card Poker game includes seven cards dealt to the player and the dealer. First the gaming system sets the seven dealer cards to form a high three-card dealer hand, a low three-card dealer hand, and a tie breaker card, according to a set of predetermined rules. Similarly, the player sets the seven player cards to form a high three-card player hand, a low three-card player hand, and a tie breaker card. For the player and dealer hands, the high three-card hand must have a rank greater than or equal to the rank of the low three-card hand, and the rank of the low three-card hand must be greater than or equal to the tie breaker card. If the high and low three-card player hands both beat the corresponding dealer hands, the player wins an award. If only one of the three-card player hands beats the corresponding dealer hand, the outcome of the game is determined by the tie breaker card.
US08177610B2
A crop residue harvesting system for a harvesting machine is provided. The crop residue harvesting system includes a blower and a transition member having a first position and a second position. In a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the crop residue to the blower for harvesting of the crop residue. In a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the crop residue. A lever or actuator may be operatively connected to the transition member for selecting between the first position and the second position or selecting an intermediate position to control the proportions of the crop residue harvested and the crop residue spread.
US08177603B2
Polishing pads for use in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) or polishing elements/surfaces of such pads are made from a combination of immiscible polymers, for example polyurethane and polyolefin. The polymers are selected on the basis of interfacial interaction, melt index and ratios of melt indices between the polymer phases—a matrix phase and a dispersed phase. By selecting the polymer system such that the two polymers are immiscible in one another and preferentially form separate domains, the dispersed phase can be removed when conditioning or polishing processes expose it. The melt index of individual polymers and the ratio of melt indices determines dispersability of a smaller phase into the matrix, hence the phase size.
US08177600B2
A single rotor model helicopter is provided, comprising a spindle, a rotor clamp disposed on the spindle, a pair of rotor blades disposed on the rotor clamp, and a pair of hybrid control rocker arms. The helicopter further includes an operating system and a balancing system. The pair of hybrid control rocker arms are disposed on both sides of the rotor clamp respectively and rotatably connected to a pitch control rocker arm through each axial hole located on a center of each hybrid control rocker arm, so as to control attack angles of the rotor blades. Each hybrid control rocker arm has two control points. A first pair of control points diagonally opposite each other in the pair of hybrid control rocker arms are controlled by a cyclic torque transmitted from the operating system, and a second pair of control points diagonally opposite each other are controlled by the balancing system. Furthermore, the second pair of control points controlled by the balancing system and the first pair of control points controlled by a swash plate can move relative to each other as mutual fulcrums. The single rotor model helicopter of the present application can separately adjust operating sensitivity and stability, thereby finding an optimum combination of dynamic stability and maneuverability of the model helicopter.
US08177597B2
A method for constructing a lamp for radiating a warning signal within a desired polar angular range around a mean polar direction includes the steps of fixing a base body at a mounting location, arranging each of an annular support element having an annular reflector, an inner and an outer annular optical system concentrically around a lamp axis to form an optical arrangement and arranging a plurality of lighting elements on the annular support element in an annular distribution around the lamp axis. The annular reflector, inner annular optical system and outer annular optical system and portions thereof are shaped to reflect and/or direct light radiated by the plurality of lighting elements in such a manner that light emerges from the outer annular optical system in a direction within the desired polar angular range around the mean polar direction.
US08177589B2
A plurality of recesses are formed on a surface of a wire barrel where an electric wire is provided. In a state before the electric wire is crimped onto the wire, barrel, at least one of sides comprising rims of an opening of each recess of a quadrangular shape is a crossing side crossing at an angle of from 85 degrees to 95 degrees to an extending direction. In a state before the electric wire is crimped onto the wire barrel 16, the crossing sides of a plurality of recesses positioned adjacent to each other in the extending direction are so arranged as to overlap with each other in the extending direction.
US08177584B2
A waterproof connector has a housing (21) with cavities (22) for accommodating terminal fittings (40). A wire insertion tube (24) is integral to the housing (21) and receives wires (41) connected with the terminal fittings (40). Rubber plugs (42) are mounted on the wires (41) for liquid-tight sealing between the outer circumferential surfaces of the wires (41) and the inner circumferential surface of the wire insertion tube (24). A back retainer (50) retains the rubber plugs (42) in the wire insertion tube (24). Engaging projections (54) project out from the back retainer (50) and engaging recesses (30) are formed in the wire insertion tube (24) to engage the engaging projections (54). Rounded edges (32) are formed at the inner circumferential surface of the wire insertion tube (24) along opening edges (31A) of the engaging recess (30) extending in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the wire insertion tube (24).
US08177583B2
A compression connector for smooth walled, corrugated, and spiral corrugated coaxial cable includes an insulator disposed within the body, wherein the insulator contains a central opening therein which is dimensioned smaller than a collet portion which seizes a center conductor of the coaxial cable. The connector also includes a clamp disposed inside the body as well as a compression sleeve assembly. An intermediate connector element includes a transitional surface which interacts with the clamp. When an axial force is applied to the compression sleeve, the clamp is forced by the transitional surface into the body, causing the clamp to squeeze onto an outer conductor layer of the coaxial cable. At approximately the same time, the collet portion is forced through the central opening of the insulator, causing the collet portion to squeeze onto the center conductor.
US08177580B2
A meter disconnect adapter is provided that allows a utility meter to be connected to a meter socket while electrical service is disconnected to a facility. The meter disconnect adapter includes housing having an interior area. A plurality of terminals are coupled to the housing. Each terminal includes a stab portion and a jaw portion. The stab portion is sized to provide less than rated current flow to the utility meter. The jaw portion is sized to facilitate the coupling of the meter to the adapter. Use of this adapter enables the terminals to transfer only enough current to power the electrical meter whereby the utility may monitor and verify that no electrical power is being consumed.
US08177579B2
A power receptacle includes an insulative housing and a number of power contacts received in the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a base extending along a first direction and a mating portion protruding from the base. The mating portion has a first mating surface, a pair of side surfaces extending perpendicularly to the first mating surface, and a first slot recessed into the mating portion from the first mating surface. The first slot extends through the pair of side surfaces of the mating portion along the first direction. The insulative housing includes a first mounting surface opposite to the first mating surface and defines a first through hole extending therethrough which is exposed to the outside from the first mating surface.
US08177574B2
The invention relates to an electrical connector capable of preventing solder wicking. The electrical connector has an insulating body that includes a plurality of containing grooves and conductives terminals installed in the containing grooves, a solder stop portion extended from a sidewall of the containing groove, the terminal having a main body portion between the solder stop portion and the sidewall, a contact portion extended upwardly from both ends of the main body portion and bent to both sides of the bump stopper and the solder stop portion separately, and a soldering portion extended downwardly from the main body portion and including a diffusion preventing area for separating the main body portion and the soldering portion, and the diffusion preventing area being higher than the lowest point of the solder stop portion.
US08177573B2
A waterproof plug, which is mounted around an electric wire connected with a terminal to be received in a terminal receiving section of a connector housing, and waterproofs between an inner wall of the terminal receiving section and the electric wire, includes a waterproof member made of elastic material having a cylindrical main body, a plurality of inner lips projecting inwardly from an inner surface of the main body, and a plurality of outer lips projecting outwardly from an outer surface of the main body; and a resin member made of synthetic resin, having a cylindrical portion and a plurality of internal portions projecting from an end of the cylindrical portion along an axis of the cylindrical portion, and the plurality of internal portions is arranged with a distance between each other around the cylindrical portion and arranged in the main body of the waterproof member.
US08177568B2
The invention relates to a plug module (24, 124) for being received in an attachment component (10), which must be contacted at least electrically, particularly a fuel injector for installation in the cylinder head region of an internal combustion engine. Said engine is supplied with fuel via a fuel injection system, which has a low-pressure region. The plug module is a combined plug module (24, 124), which has a first plug part (26) for electrical contacting and a replaceable return component (38, 138) for a fluid to be removed from the attachment component (10).
US08177567B2
Apparatus for signal and current transmission between end points capable of moving relative to one another having a flat ribbon line arranged in between. The ribbon has at least two conductors, embedded in an insulating sheath. The ribbon is subdivided into winding areas, connected by a U-shaped reversal point and is accommodated in a cassette, having a rotor and stator. The rotor and stator enclose between them an annular winding area for the ribbon. A strip of insulating material is arranged in the winding area of the cassette and has at least two sections which are offset with respect to one another in the circumferential direction of the cassette and have reversal points and associated winding areas. The strip is placed around turning points, fitted to the stator. The strip supports the ribbon such that turns of the ribbon do not fall on one another.
US08177564B1
A receptacle connector of the present invention is used as an electrical connector configured to connect two circuit boards. The receptacle connector includes: a housing in which a receiving space is formed, a connection target being inserted in the receiving space; a plurality of contacts being arranged parallel to one another, having a plurality of signal line contacts and a plurality of ground contacts, and being placed with every two adjacent signal line contacts for transmitting signals interposed between two ground contacts; a supporting member made of an electrically-insulating synthetic resin material, and configured to integrally support and fix thereto the plurality of contacts; and a common contact made of a conductive resin material and configured to electrically connect the plurality of ground contacts together among the plurality of contacts. The plurality of contacts integrated together by the supporting member are received in the receiving space.
US08177562B2
A socket arrangement having a housing, in particular a built-in housing, bearing at least one socket, preferably a plurality of sockets, the socket having an electrically conductive flange inserted into a housing opening, and a contact carrier which is inserted into the flange and which has one or more electrically conductive contacts for connecting to countercontacts of a plug corresponding to the socket. In order to effectively divert high-voltage discharges from the flange, a conductive element situated in the housing and having an introduction portion which is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a portion of the flange inside the housing, has a diversion portion which is connected to a diverter.
US08177561B2
A socket contact terminal for electrical connection between a connection portion formed of a metal conductor on a printed circuit board and a connection terminal of an IC package. The contact terminal comprises a metal terminal composed of a main columnar portion and arm portions on both sides and having an angular U shape and an elastomeric member attached to the metal terminal. A metal surface is exposed from the outer surface of each arm portion. The elastomeric member is firmly held between the arm portions of the metal terminal and exhibits a repulsive force when the arm portions are pressed in the direction that the arm portions approach each other.
US08177556B2
A healing abutment includes a main body portion and a coupling portion. The main body portion has an inclined section that is inclined such that at least a part of a gum contact portion that contacts a gum when coupled to a fixture that is implanted into an alveolar bone has an outer diameter that decreases from a lower end toward an upper end. The coupling portion is coupled to the main body portion to detachably couple the main body portion to the fixture.
US08177533B2
A lap (201) of an orbiting scroll (21) and a lap (202) of a stationary scroll (22) are meshed with each other to form an inner wall side expansion chamber (203a) on the side of a lap inner wall (201a) of the orbiting scroll (21) and an outer wall side expansion chamber (203b) on the side of a lap outer wall (201a) of the orbiting scroll (21). The volumetric capacity of the inner wall side expansion chamber (203a) and that of the outer wall side expansion chamber (203b) are equal to each other when suction is completed, and different from each other when discharge starts, and their expansion ratios are different from each other.
US08177528B2
A rotary positive displacement pump for liquid medium having a main pumping mechanism driven by a magnetic coupling is disclosed. The positive displacement pump includes an integrated, positive displacement, circulating pump configured to provide a controlled medium flow through the magnetic coupling from a discharge side (0206) of the main pump back to a suction side (0205) of the main pump.
US08177524B1
Apparatus for securing and selectively releasing a piston pump from a drive assembly including two collar segments, with one segment fixed to the drive assembly and the other segment movable only linearly transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the piston pump, with an over-center mechanism to lock the movable segment via a pair of links. The piston is engageable and disengageable with a drive mechanism in the drive assembly via a pair of interengaging surfaces, with one C-shaped member receiving the other member which is T-shaped.
US08177520B2
A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a fluid-pumping application. The pumping apparatus includes a pump having an inlet to receive a fluid and an outlet to exhaust the fluid, and the motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump. The method includes the acts of controlling the motor to operate the pump and monitoring the operation of the pump. The monitoring act includes monitoring a power of the motor, and determining whether the monitored power indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump. The method further includes the act of controlling the motor to cease operation of the pump when the determination indicates an undesired flow of fluid through the pump and zero or more other conditions exist.
US08177519B2
A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller includes a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value. The microcontroller is configured to control the motor based on the second value.
US08177516B2
A shaped rotor wheel, a turbo machine including the rotor wheel, and a method for producing the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a rotor wheel is provided which includes at least one disk member and at least one spacer member, and is a capable of carrying and axially spacing one or more stages of blades. Also disclosed is a method for producing such a rotor wheel using metal powders as a starting material, and processing the metal powder using powder metallurgy techniques.
US08177502B2
An airfoil assembly is described comprising an airfoil, a band coupled to the airfoil for providing at least a portion of support for the airfoil in the airfoil assembly and a slot capable reducing stress in the airfoil wherein the slot is located in the band near a portion of the airfoil. A compression system is described comprising a stator assembly comprising a plurality of arcuate vane sectors arranged circumferentially around a longitudinal axis, each vane sector comprising an airfoil, an arcuate inner band and an arcuate outer band coupled to the airfoil, and a slot capable of reducing stress in the airfoil, the slot being located in the vane sector near a portion of the airfoil.
US08177500B2
In a first aspect the invention relates to an intake device (3) for creating a uniform flow of liquid entering a pump (4), which flow of liquid is free from rotation and swirls about the inlet of said pump. The inlet device (3) comprises an inlet section (11) having an orifice (14) and a decreasing cross section area seen in the direction from said orifice (14) for gradually accelerating a flow of pumped liquid, a redirection section (12) for redirecting the flow of pumped liquid from a mainly horizontal direction to a mainly vertical direction, and an outlet section (13) arranged to be connected to an inlet (6) of a pump (4). The device is characterized in that at least a part of a circumferential wall edge of said inlet section (11) extending around said orifice (14) comprises a bevel (17). In a second aspect the invention also relates to a pump station comprising such an intake device.
US08177495B2
A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine including a seal member and an interstage seal ring including an axially forward member coupled to a first radially inward surface of a first disk and an axially aft member coupled to a second radially inward surface of a second disk, wherein the seal ring is configured to move in an axial direction while the upstream and downstream arms are coupled to the first and second disk respectively.
US08177485B2
A cross flow fan structure comprising: a) a housing integrally formed by plastic material in an injection molding process; b) a cross flow fan integrally formed by plastic material in an injection molding process, the right side of the cross flow fan having a mounting hole in axial direction and a damping/positioning body; c) a motor with an end portion attached to a mounting base whereupon the motor is attached to the housing by use of the mounting base in such a way that the driving shaft of the motor is extended into the mounting hole of the damping/positioning body in a tightly clamping state for driving the cross flow fan in rotational operation. In this way, a cross flow fan module made by material is created. Moreover, a convenient assemble and a vibration resisting effect are achieved for a smooth operation with low noise by use of a skillful combination of the material and by a special structure.
US08177474B2
A method of detecting rubs during operation of a turbomachine comprising at least one rotating object having a tip and a shelf is provided. The method includes generating signals representative of a sensed parameter and processing the signals to generate height versus time data for the tip. The height of the tip corresponds to the distance between the tip and the shelf. The method further includes monitoring the height versus time data, in order to determine whether a change in the height data exceeds a threshold value, and detecting a rub of the rotating object(s) on a second object, when the change in the height data exceeds the threshold value. A rub detection system for a turbomachine and a turbine engine system with rub detection are also provided.
US08177473B2
The invention concerns an apparatus for transferring sheet-like objects from a stack, said apparatus including separate lifting elements gripping by suction to the upper surface of the sheet-like object to be transferred, positioned in a row extending over the stack of the sheet-like objects, and transfer elements for transferring the lifted sheet-like object. The suction effect of the lifting elements is controlled by means of a control device including a light source making a substantially line-shaped illumination pattern. The illumination of the light source is focused at an inclined angle to the surface of the sheet stack, substantially parallel to the lifting element row. A camera means for observing the illumination pattern forwards information about the uniformity of the uppermost layer of the stack.
US08177467B2
A fastening device having a fastening element includes a plug-in region and a contact area at a distance therefrom, and a shaft between the plug-in region and the contact area. The plug-in region is axially pressable through a through opening in a wall area in a plugged position of the fastening element, until the contact surface, or an intermediate part situated in between, presses against the wall area from one side and the shaft is radially centered in the through opening. The fastening element is connected to another component. The fastening element is located in its installed position after the fastening element is in its plugged position through the through opening and is then rotated around an axis of its shaft into an installed position delimited by a stop, in which at least one radial projection of the plug-in region engages behind an edge area of the through opening to fix the fastening element in the installed position and thus prevent axial displacement of the shaft out of the through opening.
US08177465B2
An accident sensor having a fastening arrangement is provided, the fastening arrangement allowing an affixation of the accident sensor on a wall in a vehicle. The accident sensor has at least one bore hole, which has a stud in an elastic sleeve as a fastening arrangement. The stud with the sleeve is configured so that the accident sensor having the stud with the sleeve is affixed in the wall by a clamp.
US08177463B2
A system for locking and unlocking containers to transport modes and other containers comprises an actuating unit in an upper corner fitting of a container, a mechanical connecting mechanism connected to the actuating unit, and guides to route the connecting mechanism from the actuating unit to a rotatable locking leg housed in a lower corner fitting of the container. The twist lock of a lifting spreader engages the upper corner fitting of a container, urging the actuating unit. The connecting mechanism is in turn urged thereby causing the locking leg to rotate. The locking system, and apparatus to unlock a container twistlock, comprises in addition to an actuating unit, a locking mechanism in a lower corner fitting of the container, and a vertical coupler connecting the actuating unit with the locking mechanism. A torsional force applied to rotate the actuating unit is converted to a tension force by the actuating unit to move the vertical coupler, thus resulting in the rotating and unlocking of the locking mechanism.
US08177458B2
A connection apparatus for connecting an earthen formation to a concrete facing of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure. The connection apparatus may include a soil reinforcing element configured to be coupled to a facing anchor having a pair of longitudinally extending portions connected by a transverse member, wherein the soil reinforcing element may be inserted into an opening created by the pair of longitudinally extending portions, seated near or adjacent to the transverse member, and be secured therein by means of a clasp. The connection apparatus allows the soil reinforcing element to swivel in at least one horizontal plane, thus being capable of avoiding obstructions in the MSE mass.
US08177447B2
Disclosed herein is a slide type writing tool having a dryness prevention unit. The writing tool includes a hollow shaft (10) having a nib hole, with shutter shaft seats protruding from the inner wall of the shaft. A cartridge (20) is secured to the shaft. A knock part is inserted into an insert hole formed in the shaft, and a pair of pressing parts is provided on a nib extension shaft of the cartridge. A rear O-ring (30) surrounds an end of the cartridge. A spherical shutter (40) is held in the rear O-ring (30), and has a spherical shutter part to isolate a nib from the exterior. A front O-ring (50) contacts the shutter part and the nib hole. A spring contacts at a first end thereof a lower end of a step of the cartridge, and at a second end thereof a step of the rear O-ring.
US08177440B2
A mobile electronic device is provided which includes a housing and a button arranged in an outer surface of the housing. Adjacent to the button, a surrounding member is provided. The surrounding member is movable with respect to the housing.
US08177438B2
A double row thrust roller bearing includes a pair of inner and outer cages arranged radially in two rows in separate coaxial relation, each cage including an annular inner peripheral wall, an annular outer peripheral wall, a plurality of pillar portions interconnecting the annular inner and outer peripheral walls at intervals in a circumferential direction thereof, and a plurality of pockets each formed between the adjacent pillar portions. Rollers are rotatably held and retained respectively in the pockets. The annular inner peripheral wall of the inner cage is guided by an annular flange formed at an inner peripheral edge of one race, and the annular inner peripheral wall of the outer cage is guided at an inner periphery thereof by the annular outer peripheral wall of the inner cage.
US08177437B2
A rolling bearing (11) comprises a plurality of rollers, and retainer segments (15a) retaining the rollers and split along a split line extending in an axial direction. The retainer segment (15a) has a plurality of pillar parts (22a), (22b), (22c) and (22d) extending in the axial direction so as to form first pockets (23a) and (23c) and a second pocket (23b) for housing the rollers, and a connection part extending in a circumferential direction so as to connect the plurality of pillar parts (22a) to (22d). Here, outer diameter side stopper parts (24a), (24b), (24c) and (24d) are provided on the outer diameter side of the pillar parts (22a) to (22d) positioned on the circumferential both sides of the first pockets (23a) and (23c) to limit the movement of the roller housed in the first pockets (23a) and (23c) toward the outer diameter side, and inner diameter side roller stopper parts (25a) and (25b) are provided on the inner diameter side of the pillar parts (22b) and (22c) positioned on the circumferential both sides of the second pocket (23b) to limit the movement of the roller housed in the second pocket (23b) toward the inner diameter side.
US08177435B2
A drawn cup needle roller bearing 30 having a seal ring comprises: a shell 31 having a raceway surface 31a on an inner circumferential face and also having inward flange portions 31b, 31c in both end portions; a cage 32 having a plurality of pockets 32a in a circumferential direction and worked by cutting; a plurality of needles 33 retained in the pockets 32a so that the needles freely rotate along the raceway surface 31a; and a seal ring 34, the shape of which is cylindrical, arranged inside the shell 31 between an end face 32b of the cage 32 and the inward flange portion 31b. The seal ring 34 composes a floating seal and is formed by press working. Due to the foregoing, an excellent dimensional accuracy can be provided and a quantity of lubricant passing through the bearing can be controlled.
US08177426B2
A CMOS temperature detection circuit includes a start-up circuit for generating a start-up voltage (VN), and a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current generator coupled to the start-up circuit for generating a PTAT current. The start-up voltage turns on the PTAT current generator, and the PTAT current generator uses the sub-threshold characteristics of CMOS to generate the PTAT current. A PTAT voltage generator coupled to the PTAT current generator receives the PTAT current and generates a PTAT voltage and an inverse PTAT voltage (VBE). A comparator circuit coupled to the voltage generator compares the inverse PTAT voltage to first and second alarm limits, which are defined using the generated PTAT voltage, and generates an alarm signal based on the comparison results.
US08177422B2
A system and method for automatic analysis of temperature transition data over an area of a sample surface. The system relies on the use of a microfabricated probe, which can be rapidly heated and cooled and has a sharp tip to provide high spatial resolution. The system also has fast x-y-z positioners, data collection, and algorithms that allow automatic analysis of and visualization of temperature transition data.
US08177411B2
A mixing system is provided comprising a first mixing tub, a first actuator to control flow of a carrier fluid, a sensor to determine a rate of flow of the fluid, and a second actuator to control flow of a dry material to form a mixture in the first mixing tub. The system further comprises a second mixing tub, a controller, and a weight sensor to determine the weight of the first mixing tub. The controller modulates the second actuator based on the rate of flow of the carrier fluid, based on the weight of the first mixing tub, and based on one of a sensed height of the mixture in the second mixing tub and a weight of the second mixing tub to provide the mixture at least one of at a commanded density and at a commanded flow rate. The mixture may be provided to a well bore to perform a servicing operation.
US08177407B2
A light unit which includes a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) light sources arranged in parallel, a light-guiding member arranged on said LED light sources, a light reflecting part for reflecting light from said LED light sources forward, a light diffusion part for outgoing light from the surface of said light-guiding member to outside, and an optical path changing part arranged above said light-diffusion part, wherein a side of said light-guiding member that faces said light diffusion part is flat.
US08177400B2
There is provided an outer mirror with turn lamp that facilitates assembling of a housing cover to a mirror housing and increases strength of the housing cover. A turn lamp assembly is mounted to a mirror housing. A housing cover is placed over and mounted to a partial area of the mirror housing. Thus, a lens of the turn lamp assembly is exposed through an opening formed in an outer position of the housing cover. The mirror housing and the housing cover are connected to each other with a ridge and a groove in end surfaces and abutting against and fitting each other. On a wall on an inner side of the mirror that constitutes a part of the component of the groove in the housing cover, at an assembling start position in an outer position outside the opening, an assembling leading rib is formed that protrudes in a direction abutting against the end surface of the mirror housing.
US08177398B2
An apparatus for fixing an LED light engine includes a lamp fixture base with a fixing seat, a light emitting module with a basal seat having a light source, a heat dissipating module with a plurality of heat dissipating fins having an embedding groove concavely formed at laterals of the heat dissipating fins and the heat dissipating module being installed around the light emitting module and provided for dissipating heat, a fixing device with first and second fixing elements coupled to the heat dissipating module, and the first and second fixing elements being embedded into the embedding grooves and having at least one fixing plate installed at edges of the first and second fixing elements and fixed to the fixing seat, so as to fixing the heat dissipating module with the lamp fixture base quickly and easily, while overcoming the repair and maintenance problems and providing an excellent practical application of an LED lighting device.
US08177393B2
A light unit includes a bulb having a light source with lead wires and a separator, a switch member that includes a support member and a pair of spring terminals, and a socket having two or more conductive terminals and adapted to receive the bulb and the switch member. The switch member is adapted to cause the pair of spring terminals to contact one another to form an electrical short circuit across the pair of conductive terminals and the light source when the bulb is completely or partially removed from the socket. The lead wires form an electrical connection across the conductive terminals and the separator breaks contact between the pair of spring terminals when the bulb is seated in the socket.
US08177383B2
A shoe which emits a high intensity narrow spectrum light out the bottom of the sole and sanitizes the floor directly underneath from staph bacteria.
US08177378B2
A light emitting apparatus is provided which includes a plurality of light sources for emitting a light, and a light guide plate having a substantially plate shape orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the light source, which includes a light incident face into which a light exited from the light source is incident and a light exit face from which the light incident from the light incident face is exited. Irregularities each made of a first slope forming an angle θa with the plane of the light incident face and a second slope forming an angle θb with the plane of the light incident face are continuously formed on the light incident face.
US08177371B2
A method for positioning a light modulation element of a projector. The projector including a first light modulation element unit having first through third light modulation elements and a second light modulation element unit having fourth through sixth light modulation elements. The projector further including a combining system for combining a first image light supplied from the first light modulation element unit and a second image light supplied from the second light modulation element unit and supplying the combined light, and positioning the first light modulation element unit and the second light modulation element unit such that color of combined light of color lights obtained from the first light modulation element, the second light modulation element, and the sixth light modulation element becomes a predetermined color.
US08177368B2
An image projection apparatus includes a projector, a frame, and a partially transparent screen. The frame retains the screen under tension, such that the screen is inclined at an angle with respect to a plane of emission of light from the projector. The screen has a front surface arranged such that light emitted from the projector is reflected therefrom. The projector projects an image such that light forming the image impinges upon the screen such that a virtual image is created from light reflected from the screen, the virtual image appearing to be located behind the screen.
US08177367B2
A 2D/3D switchable display system having a selector for selecting a two-dimensional (2D) or a three-dimensional (3D) image processing path; a first processor for processing image data through the two-dimensional image processing path; a second processor, independent of the first processor, for processing image data through the three dimensional image processing path; a first set of at least three emitters having corresponding first wavelengths; a second set of at least three emitters having corresponding second wavelengths; and a controller that during a 2D operation activates both first and second sets of emitters to present a single image, while during a 3D operation activates the first set of emitters to present a first image having one half of stereo image information and activates the second set of emitters to present a second image having a second half of stereo image information.
US08177364B2
Disclosed are an illumination device for an observation device comprising one, two or more observation beam paths with one respective beam of observation rays, especially for an ophthalamogic surgical microscope, and a corresponding observation device. Said illumination device is provided with at least one light source for generating at least one beam of observation rays in order to illuminate an object that is to be observed. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least two partial bundles of illumination rays are provided, each of which extends coaxial to a corresponding beam of observation rays, while the partial beams of illumination rays are embodied so as to form two or several illumination spots on the fundus of an object that is to be observed, e.g. an eye, said illumination spots having variable sizes, thus allowing the illumination beam to cooperate in a precisely defined manner with the observation beam paths, which makes it possible to meet especially the practical requirements regarding homogeneity of the red reflex.
US08177362B2
A device is an OCT device that splits a low-coherence light into a signal light and a reference light, detects an interference light obtained by superimposing the signal light propagated through an eye and the reference light propagated through a reference mirror, and forms an image of an fundus oculi. The device has a scan unit that scans the eye with the signal light. When a cross-section position is designated in an fundus oculi image, the device repetitively scans with the signal light along each cross-section position to repeatedly forms tomographic images at each cross-section position, thereby displaying a tomographic motion image at each cross-section position on a display. An operator can observe the tomographic motion image to designate the range and timing for measurement of a tomographic still image.
US08177358B2
An article of polarized eyewear has a lens, with a first substrate lens material transparent to visible light and a pattern of elongated structures formed from at least a second material having a complex index of refraction, wherein the second material is deposited directly onto a curved surface of the first substrate lens material. A pitch between adjacent elongated structures is less than 300 nm and a width of each elongated structure is less than 90% of the pitch. A photochromic material is deposited onto the polarized eyewear.
US08177349B2
The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device which forms an image on a recording medium; a transparent UV ink droplet ejection device which ejects and deposits droplets of transparent UV ink onto the recording medium; a UV light irradiation device which irradiates UV light onto the transparent UV ink having been deposited on the recording medium; a gloss condition setting device which sets a gloss condition of the image; and a UV light irradiation control device which controls an irradiation timing of the UV light irradiated from the UV light irradiation device in accordance with the gloss condition.
US08177346B2
Anti-bronzing agents are added to ink-jet inks to prevent bronzing of the inks when printed on various types of photographic media. The additive can include one or more anti-bronzing agents comprising certain planar aliphatic or planar aromatic ring structures. The planar ring-containing anti-bronzing agent can be present in an effective concentration to reduce bronzing of the ink-jet ink printed on the ink-receiving layer.
US08177343B2
A liquid tank includes a vent-to-atmosphere mechanism configured to open and close a vent-to-atmosphere passageway for venting an internal reservoir space connected to a liquid spray head to atmosphere, the vent-to-atmosphere mechanism including a cylindrical member, a valve seat disposed inside the cylindrical member, a valve plug disposed inside cylindrical member and movable to come in contact with or separate from the valve seat, a movable member disposed inside the cylindrical member on an atmosphere side of the valve plug in a slidable manner to cause a movement of the valve plug, the movable member having an outer surface in movable contact with an inner surface of the cylindrical member and having a communication passageway formed therethrough for communication with atmosphere, and a filter member disposed at the communication passageway to capture foreign material.
US08177341B2
A method of injecting a liquid into a liquid container detachably mounted on a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container including a liquid containing portion, a liquid supply portion connectable to a liquid ejecting portion of the liquid consuming apparatus, a liquid guide passage for guiding the liquid stored in the liquid containing portion to the liquid supply portion, an air communicating passage communicating the liquid containing chamber with air, a liquid detection unit provided in the liquid guide passage and for outputting different signals between in a case where the liquid guide passage is filled with the liquid and in a case where the liquid guide passage includes air entered thereinto, and a bubble trapping passage provided in the liquid guide passage between a detection position of the liquid detection unit and the liquid containing portion to trap bubbles in the liquid, the method includes: forming an injection port communicating with the liquid containing portion in the air communicating passage; injecting a predetermined amount of the liquid through the injection port; and sealing the injection port after injecting the liquid.
US08177337B2
A flow path unit of one aspect of the invention includes: a plurality of plates, each of the plurality of plates having a hole, the plurality of plates being laminated in a lamination direction with a predetermined positional relationship such that a flow path is formed by mutual communication of the holes provided at the plurality of plates. Each of the plurality of plates having a side surface, and a slit portion formed at the side surface, and the slit portions of the plurality of plates are connected to one another in the lamination direction of the plurality of plates. Each of widths of the slit portions of the plurality of plates is equal to or below an allowable error of a positional deviation of the plurality of plates so as to allow a formation of the flow path by the plurality of holes.
US08177331B2
The liquid jetting apparatus includes a container installation portion, a first wire line, a control circuit and a first switch. The container installation portion receives installation of a first liquid container having a first electrical device. The first wire line, in a state with the first liquid container installed in the container installation portion, electrically connects to the first electrical device. The control circuit transmits or receives a varying signal of varying potential to or from the first electrical device via the first wire line. The first switch supplies a prescribed potential to the first wire line when the control circuit is not transmitting or receiving the varying signal.
US08177330B2
The invention provides an ink jet recording head, in which, for improving heat-dissipating property and electrode terminal connectivity and reducing production cost, second electrode terminals provided on a supporting surface of plural laminated sheets for supporting a liquid discharge substrate and to be connected with first electrode terminals of the liquid discharge substrate are provided outside an ink supply aperture formed in an outermost sheet constituting the supporting surface, and are supported by the outermost sheet and at least a sheet laminated thereunder.
US08177326B2
An image recording apparatus includes a carriage which carries a recording head and moves reciprocally in a main scanning direction; and a first support member and a second support member arranged on an upstream side and a downstream side, respectively, in a sub-scanning direction, the first support member and the second support member having a first slide surface and a second slide surface, respectively, for supporting the carriage slidably, the second support member having a third slide surface orthogonal to the second slide surface and positioned between the first slide surface and the second slide surface, and the carriage having one pair of first slidable projection sections slidable in contact with the third slide surface and one pair of second slidable projection sections facing the first slidable projection sections with the third slide surface between them, and a resilient member for resiliently energizing the second slidable projection sections.
US08177323B2
According to some embodiments, a method for printing an image on a substrate includes applying a clear liftoff material to a surface of the substrate to form a sacrificial pattern, the clear liftoff material being substantially optically clear, and applying a first marking material to the surface of the substrate to form a first static pattern, a portion of the first static pattern arranged directly above a portion of the sacrificial pattern. The method further includes removing the portion of the first static pattern from the surface of the substrate, and removing the sacrificial pattern from the surface of the substrate.
US08177307B2
In some embodiments, a braking system for a positioner in a medical imaging apparatus comprises a brake coil coupled to a power supply, a first control circuit coupled to a top side of the brake coil, a second control circuit coupled to a bottom side of the brake coil, and a current sensor coupled to at least one of the first control circuit and the second control circuit.
US08177306B2
A braking system for a vehicle having two pairs of wheels, has two master cylinders operating as pumps, wherein each master cylinder is operated by its own brake pedal and controls the braking on one rear wheel, as well as on the front wheels through a valve for the disconnection of the front vehicle braking. Each master cylinder is of the tandem type including two sections, the first section controlling the braking of the front wheels through the valve, whereas the second section controls the braking of that rear wheel, being a part of the pair of rear wheels, which is associated with the master cylinder. The first sections of both master cylinders are supplied by a first oil reservoir and the second sections of both master cylinders are supplied by a second oil reservoir at least partially independent from the first oil reservoir.
US08177303B2
A seatbelt adjusting device includes: a guiding track provided with a plurality of first engaging members; a belt-connecting slider mounted on the guiding track and slidable on the guiding track; an actuator mounted movably on the belt-connecting slider, provided with a second engaging member, and operable to move relative to the belt-connecting slider between an engaging position, in which the second engaging member engages releasably an aligned one of the first engaging members, and a disengaging position, in which the second engaging member is disengaged from the first engaging members; and an urging member urging against the actuator for restoring the actuator from the disengaging position to the engaging position.
US08177302B2
In one aspect, a seat includes a perimeter frame and a weight bearing surface. The perimeter frame includes a front frame member, two contoured lateral frame members, and a contoured rear frame member. Each lateral frame member has a front portion, a second portion proximate the user's thighs, a concave curve portion proximate the user's pelvis, and a rear portion, the bottom of the concave curve portion being lower than the second portion and lower than the rear portion. The rear frame member has a central dip portion. The weight bearing surface on which the user sits includes a plurality of straps attached to the perimeter frame. Other aspects relate a method for making a seat and a method for fitting a seat to a user.
US08177295B2
A dual panel sunroof is provided. The sunroof includes a front glass guide that supports a front glass panel and a rear glass guide that supports a rear glass panel. The rear glass panel is disposed rearward of the front glass panel when the dual panel sunroof is in a fully closed position. A front link is rotatably mounted to a front portion of the front glass guide such that the front link drives a front end of the front glass in an upward direction away from a vehicle body when the front link is driven in a rearward direction.
US08177288B2
A motor vehicle with at least one air guide device, which can be extended by means of a drive device, and which can be adjusted to at least one intermediate position between a maximally extended and a completely retracted position. The motor vehicle comprises an adjustable sliding/tilting roof, wherein a control unit is provided, which is designed so that it acts on an air guide element of the air guide device as a function of the position of the sliding/tilting roof.
US08177287B2
A drag reducing apparatus is hingedly mounted to the rear of a truck or trailer vehicle so that the apparatus can be pivoted clear of the rear doors of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a hinge assembly that allows the apparatus to open substantially flat against the side of the vehicle so as not to impede the full movement of the doors. The apparatus includes an arrangement of connected panels that are initially folded flat against the back of the vehicle but automatically open to a drag reducing configuration at a sufficient vehicle speed. The connected panels are further configured so that the force of gravity automatically returns the panels to their initial folded configuration when the vehicle speed falls below a threshold. The apparatus incorporates a modular construction that allows replacement of individual panel sections. The mounting frame is constructed to augment the drag reduction characteristics of the apparatus.
US08177286B2
A side skirt system for reducing drag on a trailer includes a side skirt wall configured to be coupled to one side of the trailer to extend below a side wall of the trailer along a length of the trailer. A mounting bracket assembly of the system is coupled to the side skirt wall and is configured to be coupled to a floor assembly of the trailer. The mounting bracket assembly is configured to tilt laterally outwardly and laterally inwardly with respect to a generally vertical axis parallel to the side wall of the trailer.
US08177281B2
A stowable vehicle seat having improved operability and safety at the time of seat stowage are provided. A seat having a seat cushion back includes a foot lock mechanism for inhibiting the rotating of the cushion, a reclining lock mechanism for inhibiting the rotating of the seat back, a strap pullable toward any pull direction, and a lock releasing mechanism for keeping/releasing the rotate inhibiting states of the foot lock mechanism and the reclining lock mechanism by the pulling operation of the strap. When the pull direction of the strap is a horizontal direction, the lock releasing mechanism releases the rotate inhibiting states of both the foot lock mechanism and the reclining lock mechanism, and when the pull direction of the strap is an upward direction, the lock releasing mechanism keeps the rotate inhibiting states of both the foot lock mechanism and the reclining lock mechanism.
US08177273B2
A device for bailing liquid and associated debris from shallow puddles on flexible sheet surfaces comprises a open-ended container, having an oblong transverse cross-section, and a transverse handle, which is attachable to an extension pole.
US08177266B2
A door latch assembly for engagement in a mounted position to a side edge of a door. The device features an angled or biased latch member which employs a hooked end to engage the door stop molding of a doorjamb to secure the door in a slightly open position. The latch member is engaged to a side edge of the door using frictional engagement or mechanical engagement. The latch member is releasable from either side of the door without placing a user's fingers in between the door and jamb.
US08177264B2
An article storing structure for a small boat capable of easily carrying out the opening operation of a lid without spending time and effort and capable of easily taking luggage in and out. The article storing structure includes an article storing box for storing luggage in the hull and a lid covering an opening of the article storing box from above. The article storing structure includes left and right hinges provided at the left and right sides of the lid, respectively, for supporting the lid so as to be freely opened and closed and left and right lock members provided at the left and right sides of the lid, respectively, and capable of releasing the left and right hinges in the engaged condition, respectively. By releasing one of the left and right hinges in the engaged condition by the lock member, the lid can be opened and closed laterally.
US08177253B2
A device for use with an anti-theft locking assembly which comprises an enclosure, a noise emitter mounted within the enclosure, a battery, and a control circuit, an actuator extending externally of the enclosure and being designed to be plugged into a first actuator receptor on a towing vehicle or a second actuator receptor on the locking assembly, the noise emitter being activated when the actuator is unplugged from one of the receptors. The device will strongly remind the user that the anti-theft locking device is to be connected.
US08177241B1
A vehicle for use on the snow or other surfaces includes a frame and a fork assembly pivotally connected to the frame. The fork assembly is pivotally connected to a front board, and the frame is connected to a rear board. An inverted and reversed skateboard truck is used to connect the fork assembly to the front board. A biasing member urges the front board into a nose up angle. The frame is connected to the rear board by a U-shaped stay mount, and a shock absorber is connected between the frame and the stay mount. The combined front and rear boards have the shape of a snowboard.
US08177234B2
A gaming device including a game operable upon one or more wagers. The game is operable for a first play and a second play. Each one of the plays involves a spin of a rotor. The rotor has a plurality of symbols and a plurality of ball landings adjacent to the symbols. A first quantity of the ball landings is available for the first play, and a lower, second quantity of the ball landings is available for the second play. The gaming device also includes an indicator that is operable to indicate information relating to the availability of the second quantity of ball landings.
US08177232B2
An alternate ticket exit is provided in the event of a blockage of the primary ticket exit of a printer. Printed tickets are fed from a stacking nip into a ticket bin via a first ticket exit. A second ticket exit is provided which leads away from the ticket bin. Tickets are diverted into the second ticket exit in the event the ticket bin has reached capacity or the first ticket exit is blocked. By diverting tickets out of the second exit when the ticket bin has reached capacity or when the first ticket exit is blocked, the tickets are allowed to exit the printer and paper jams are prevented.
US08177229B2
A sheet transport roller system and methods for reducing sheet skew using a sheet transport roller system are disclosed. A sheet transport roller system for use in a document processing device may include a plurality of idler rollers, a plurality of drive rollers and a load distribution mechanism. Each drive roller may correspond to a corresponding idler roller. The load distribution mechanism may be configured to support the plurality of idler rollers and to equalize normal forces applied by each idler roller towards the corresponding drive roller. The load distribution mechanism may include a center loading spring in contact with the document processing device.
US08177227B2
A sheet ejection device capable of applying shift processing to the sheets on an ejection tray, using the alignment member contacting the sheets at a plurality of points in the direction in which the sheets are ejected.
US08177224B2
To ensure a proper stacking order of paper tickets that exit a transaction-based printer, a stacking nip is provided which accepts a first ticket. The first ticket is fed into the stacking nip, and then advanced by the stacking nip for a fixed distance until a trailing edge of the first ticket is positioned before the stacking nip. A second ticket is then fed towards the stacking nip. The first ticket is held in the stacking nip with the trailing edge positioned before the stacking nip until a leading edge of the second ticket overlaps the trailing edge of the first ticket. The trailing edge of the first ticket and the leading edge of the second ticket are then simultaneously advanced through the stacking nip. The first ticket is ejected from the stacking nip into a ticket bin once the trailing edge is advanced through the stacking nip.
US08177221B2
A sheet separation device includes a separation member having a plurality of first separation portions that separate fed sheets one by one, and a turning member having an inclined surface, holes formed therethrough, and a plurality of second separation portions. The inclined surface is positioned to contact the fed sheets and turn a transport direction of the sheets. The plurality of holes are arranged along a first direction that is a transport direction of the sheets. The plurality of second separation portions contact the fed sheets and separate them one by one. Each of the second separation portions is positioned between a corresponding two holes, and each of the first separation portions is positioned to protrude from a corresponding one of the holes.
US08177220B2
A feeding device includes a pickup roller that picks up a loaded feeding medium and sends the feeding medium to a downstream side of a feeding direction and a regulator that is provided at a location different from the pickup roller in a widthwise direction of the feeding medium and regulates the posture of the feeding medium by moving relative to the pickup roller so as to contact with or separate from the feeding medium and being urged in a direction of approaching the feeding medium.
US08177206B2
A clamp is configured for compressing a section of a battery module. The clamp includes a body, an arm, a first jaw, and a second jaw. The first jaw is operatively connected to the body. The arm is operatively connected to the body. The second jaw is operatively connected to the arm. Each jaw is con figured to engage opposing ends of the battery module. The arm is slidably attached to the body to allow linear movement of the arm relative to the body along an axis. The second jaw moves with the arm a clamping distance between an extended position, for releasing the section of the battery module, and a compressed position, for holding the section of the battery module in compression between the jaws.
US08177200B2
A process and apparatus are provided for cooling gaseous effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis furnace, the cooling conduit apparatus including: (i) an inner wall for contacting the effluent, the inner wall defining a bore extending a length of the cooling conduit, the inner wall including a perimeter opening along the bore; (ii) an outer wall external to the inner wall and substantially coaxial to the inner wall; (iii) a substantially annular cavity external to the inner wall and including at least a portion of the outer wall, the annular cavity fluidly and remotely connected to the perimeter opening, the annular cavity externally surrounding a perimeter of the inner wall, the annular cavity including at least a portion of the outer wall; and (iv) a peripheral channel extending around a perimeter of the inner wall, the peripheral channel providing a channel flow path that fluidly connects the annular cavity with the remotely connected perimeter opening along the perimeter of the inner wall.
US08177193B2
A building and grain bin lifting system utilizing a combination of lifting assemblies for lifting building and grain bin components. The lifting assembly includes a mobile supporting structure, a jack disposed within the mobile supporting structure configured to linearly travel, a mounting bracket attached to the jack, connectably interfacing with a building component, an exclusive power source for providing operating power to the jack, an onboard controller enabling selective raise/lower activation of the jack, and a remote control unit in communication with the controller allowing an operator to operate one or more controls associated with the lifting assembly.
US08177186B2
A holding structure associated with a lifting device for supporting a removed turbine engine cover plate assembly. The holding structure includes an upper support member and a lower support member. The upper support member is formed with a plurality of service areas, where each service area is configured for servicing a cover plate assembly. Each service area includes a plurality of slots extending inwardly from a peripheral edge of the upper support member to receive and support components of the cover plate assembly during a disassembly and service operation.
US08177174B2
A monitor lift mechanism that can be utilized in connection with a desk having a stationary work surface. The monitor lift mechanism is movable between a retracted position in which a monitor is positioned beneath the work surface, and an extended position in which the monitor is positioned above the work surface for viewing. The monitor lift mechanism includes a lift bar that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position through the use of a block and tackle pulley and lift cylinder arrangement. A latch mechanism holds the lift bar in the retracted position and can be released upon depression of a monitor door coupled to the lift bar.
US08177172B2
A cable raceway of this kind consists of lengths of wire-type cable raceway comprising both essentially rectilinear lengthwise or weft wires (2) and polygonal-shaped transverse or warp wires (4), with an opening formed in a corner and an even number of sides. Each length comprises at least four lengthwise weft wires (2) supported by at least four separate sides (6, 8, 10, 12) of the transverse or warp wires. For each lengthwise weft wire (2) there is a lengthwise weft wire (2) on the opposite side. The two corresponding lengthwise or weft wires (2) are located opposite each other, that is to say they are both in the same plane and the plane is approximately parallel to one of the lengthwise faces of the cable raceway.
US08177169B2
Joining structure for aircraft fairing (7), said fairing (7) being arranged between the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer or fuselage section (6) of the aircraft, the structure comprising fittings (2) in the shape of angle, the fittings in turn comprising a vertical surface and a horizontal surface, the fittings (2) being joined via their vertical surface to the fairing (7) with removable fixing parts (12), the structure also comprising a deformable resilient element (13) between the fairing (7) and the vertical surface of the fitting (2), such that the resilient element (13) is able to compensate for the necessary deformation play and the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the fittings (2), the fairing (7), the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical stabilizer or fuselage section (6) with different torques for tightening of the above parts.
US08177164B2
A supply device in a passenger cabin, such as an aircraft passenger cabin, includes a first panel or “function panel” having one or more comfort elements, operating elements, visual display elements, and communication elements; and a second panel or an “infill panel”, which includes flexible supply channels. The panels are guided and lined up in a rail system of a PSC channel that is arranged in the direction of flight above a passenger seat row. The function panels are individually positionable in the PSC channel relative to the passenger seat row, wherein the infill panel synchronously follows a linear actuating movement of the function panel, and in this process automatically compensates for the distance dimension S1 between function panels that are positioned so as to be spaced apart from each other.
US08177163B2
The disclosure provides for an aircraft video control station. In an embodiment, the aircraft video control station comprises a wall mounted control panel, a desktop, a seat that is stowed when not in use, and a cabinet that contains the wall mounted control panel, the desktop, and the seat. The cabinet may have a depth in the range of about 10 inches to about 37 inches, and preferably has a depth of 15 inches. The seat may be in the form of a swing out seat.
US08177154B1
A multi-package yarn creel adapter mounts on a creel adjacent a textile machine. The yarn creel adapter includes a base designed for being carried by the creel. A plurality of radial spacers are attached to the base. A plurality of elongated package supports extend outwardly from respective radial spacers, and are adapted for carrying respective yarn packages to supply at least one end of yarn to the textile machine.
US08177144B2
A container holder in a fluid delivery system is provided. In one example, an airless fluid delivery system is disclosed and includes a housing and a handle coupled to the housing. A first end of the handle is attached to the housing and a second end of the handle includes an attachment feature configured to receive and suspend a fluid container from the handle. In one example, a frame of the fluid delivery system includes a recess configured to receive the container. Further, in one example the handle extends transversely from the fluid delivery system and includes a empty container balance point and a full container balance point along a length of the handle.
US08177132B1
Methods and devices provide for a cash handling device to dispense funds for a transfer into a container. RFID indicia may be generated as a receipt and imprinted directly on the container. Alternatively, RFID indicia may be printed and affixed to the container in the form of a tag, ticket, label, sticker, etc. Transportation carriers may use an RFID reader to read the receipt one or more times at one or more locations in order to collect data for data tracking purposes. Notifications may be provided to a bank regarding the transfer. A bank may alter staffing needs based on any such notification. The bank may use an RFID reader to read data from the receipt and compare to verified data in order to identify any discrepancies for the transfer.
US08177131B2
An information processing terminal defines a data transfer state for permitting a contactless data communication through an IC card and a data not transfer state for not permitting the contactless data communication so that the IC card manages the communication state of the information processing terminal. The IC card can transfer data to the terminal side depending on whether it is in any of the data transfer state and the data not transfer state without depending on the notification from the information processing terminal, synchronization can be easily established, a transfer speed can be increased, and a large amount of data can be transmitted.
US08177127B2
A transaction is preprocessed wirelessly in response to a wireless transaction preprocessing user device being in a queue for a point-of-transaction. The transaction that was preprocessed is then completed in response to the wireless transaction preprocessing user device reaching the point-of-transaction. Financial transactions and/or purchase of goods and/or services may thereby be preprocessed wirelessly and then completed at a point-of-transaction. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08177114B2
In the formation of sheet material from molten glass, molten glass is formed in a melting furnace and transported through a precious metal delivery system to the forming apparatus. Disclosed herein is a method to mitigate carbon contamination of individual components of the precious metal delivery system prior to and/or during their use. The method involves coating portions of the precious metal with an oxygen generating material prior to assembly of the component, and may comprise one or more heat treating steps of the component in an oxygen-containing atmosphere.
US08177113B2
An assembly for positioning a structural assembly for friction stir welding, and a system and method for friction stir welding the structural assembly are provided. The assembly includes a frame defining an aperture therein, and at least one structural member positioned within the aperture. The assembly also includes at least one spacer positioned within the aperture such that the spacer and structural member substantially fill the aperture to secure the structural member within the frame, as well as a substrate secured to the frame and positioned adjacent to the structural member in an overlapping configuration to define an interface between the substrate and structural member. In this configuration, the substrate and structural member are capable of being friction stir welded together.
US08177112B1
A kit of fixation devices for cochlear implant speech processors comprising a spring loaded alligator clip including front and rear pivotally connected legs, a top portion of the front leg forming a support latch with an upper portion of one of several vertically extending cradles shaped to receive and support speech processors of different size while (i) allowing for replacement of the battery pack of the processor, (ii) protecting the control panel thereof against accidental actuation and (iii) supporting the processor cable, the front and rear legs of the alligator clip including hooks for engaging and capturing a safety pin that may have been already attached to the clothing of a user of the processor.
US08177108B1
A holster for a weapon, the holster having a hood assembly pivotably connected to the body of the holster, wherein the hood assembly is pivotable between a closed position for securing the weapon within the holster and an open position for insertion or removal of the weapon; a locking mechanism securing the hood assembly in the closed position when a weapon is held in the body cavity; a release mechanism associated with the locking means for releasing the hood assembly to the open position for removal of the weapon; and a mechanism for automatically pivoting the hood assembly to the closed position and thereby automatically engaging the locking means upon insertion of the weapon into the body cavity, wherein the mechanism for automatically pivoting the hood assembly includes at least one pivot arm that extends from the hood assembly to a pivot plate.
US08177106B2
An adjustable garment hanger including an overhead suspension element and a pair of hanger arms extending outwardly from a central housing. Arm inclination is adjustable relative to fabric being supported so as to minimize wrinkling deformation. Arms may collapse immediately downwardly on pivots to a generally vertical mode releasing the garment via its neckline opening. A central, flexible spring element includes ledges latching arms in a first, garment supporting position. When the spring element is driven upwardly or downwardly by twisting the suspension element in a mutually threaded boss, the ledges slightly adjust the arms upward or downward. Quick release tabs may be provided at an upper end of the spring element such that, when manually pressed, the ledges instantly withdraw allowing the arms to collapse and release the garment. With garment weight removed, springs attached to the arms act to bias their return to garment supporting position each collapse.
US08177104B2
A cap drying and shaping apparatus includes a substantially planar base, an inflatable bladder disposed proximal one end of the planar base, and a ribbed cage member. The ribbed cage member includes a domed portion having a predetermined radius to the apex and a predetermined diameter parallel to the planar base, and a planar portion at least as long and wide as a bill on a typical ball cap. Attachment means are disposed on top of the planar base for removably clamping the ribbed cage member to the planar base.
US08177101B1
A mechanically operated, one-turn actuation, duration spray pump mechanism for dispensing product from a container, wherein a cylinder is fixed to a cylinder retainer closure adapted to be attached to a container. In use, the cylinder extends into the container, and a splined shaft extends coaxially into the cylinder from a rotatable actuating collar connected to the cylinder retainer closure. At least one piston is mounted for axial movement on the shaft in sealed sliding relationship with the shaft and the cylinder. Interengaged structure between the piston and cylinder causes the piston to move axially within the cylinder to draw product into the cylinder and to store energy in an energy storage device when the actuating collar and shaft are rotated. The stored energy moves the piston to exert pressure on the product in the cylinder and dispense it when a discharge valve is opened.
US08177096B2
A system for dispensing fluids wherein a support structure holds bulk fluid contained within a bag that is transferred from the bag to an enclosed chamber in a dispensing base, from which chamber the fluid is dispensed, via a puncturing device utilizing multiple spikes. After dispensing air pressure in the enclosed chamber is equalized with the air pressure acting on the bulk fluid by at least one of the spikes.
US08177087B2
A concrete washout bag system is disclosed that is easy to transport and to assemble at a construction site and includes a frame and a foldable washout bag which is assembled onto the frame by means of unitarily formed sleeves, and is manufactured from a strong, water-proof material that allows it to be hoisted for carrying away heavy loads without tearing and includes a drawstring closure for retaining of washout materials during the hoisting, removal process.
US08177084B2
A pressure-responsive container assembly and elastically-deformable penetrable cap is provided. Embodiments of the penetrable cap of the present invention include, but are not limited to: an annular sealing portion for engaging an inner surface of a container, a substantially rigid portion extending radially inward from the annular sealing portion; a flexible transition portion extending radially inward from the substantially rigid portion; and a penetrable portion extending radially inward from the transition portion for closing the opening defined by the container. Thus, embodiments of the present invention may thus allow the penetrable portion to elastically deform about the transition portion to a generally convex shape so as to exert a radially outward force that may be transmitted by the substantially rigid portion to the annular sealing portion so as to reinforce a fluid-tight seal between the annular sealing portion and the inner surface of the container.
US08177083B2
A threadless cap for closing a liquid bottle, the liquid bottle having a neck with an upper edge defining a discharge opening. The threadless cap comprises a lid for overlying the upper edge, the lid including a surface for facing the upper edge and a projection extending from the surface toward the upper edge. The threadless cap also comprises a skirt depending from the lid. The threadless cap further comprises a seal member on the surface for establishing a sealing engagement with the upper edge. The seal member includes an arcuate bead of resilient material located on the surface in a position to register with at least a portion of the upper edge. The projection engages and extends along the arcuate bead of resilient material. A blank for such a threadless cap and a method for manufacturing such a threadless cap are also provided.
US08177079B2
Storage systems and methods of use of the same are disclosed. The storage systems are configured to be connected to wall structures and to be modular in construction, so as to be able to use a plurality of horizontally disposed hang rails and/or a plurality of vertical standards, and/or modular storage components that are received on a hang rail or a vertical standard, or that may be connected directly to a wall structure.
US08177076B2
A merchandising system includes an elongated mounting member selectively securable to an associated shelf. A cooperating member is received on the mounting member, wherein the cooperating member extends rearwardly over the associated shelf. The cooperating member includes an elongated body. An engaging element is mounted to the elongated body and is movable in relation thereto. The engaging element selectively contacts the mounting member in order to selectively secure the cooperating member to the mounting member.
US08177071B2
An injector for a flotation cell, comprising a feed channel for feeding a fiber suspension flow to the flotation cell, a flow distribution element for distributing the fiber suspension flow fed to the injector into partial flows, a mixing apparatus for mixing air with the fiber suspension flow, and at least one air input point for sucking air to be mixed with the fiber suspension flow into the injector. The feed channel, the flow distribution element and the mixing apparatus are in the injector arranged with respect to one another such that a flow direction of the fiber suspension flow in the feed channel is substantially opposite to a flow direction of the fiber suspension flow through the flow distribution element and the mixing apparatus.
US08177063B1
A combination needle holder and suture needle and suture thread device has a variety of features that make it an optimal device for safe storage and disposal of hypodermic needles and disposal of sutures. The needle holder of the present invention includes at least one hypodermic needle retainer for engaging and keeping a hypodermic needle in a variety of settings. A flange with adhesive assist helps position the holder in a wide variety of instances of different structures being available to the practitioner.
US08177059B2
The present invention concerns a closure for a container (1). The closure contains an additive to be added to the content of the container (1) at the first opening of the container (1). The closure comprises a cap (2), an insert (4) and a lid (11) covering a compartment (15) receiving the additive. The compartment (15) is defined by a doomed or conical center part (5) of the insert (4), an inner wall (14) of the cap (2) and the lid (11). The additive is added to the content of the container (1) in that the inner wall (14) of the cap (2) leaves a sealing contact with the center part (5) of the insert (4) when the cap (2) is unscrewed, giving access to openings (10) of the insert (4).
US08177053B2
An air cushion conveyor stacker reclaimer device and a method thereof, wherein burial of enclosed air cushion outfeed conveyors eliminates the need for costly, reinforced underground tunnels and walkways, wherein overhead suspension of air cushion infeed conveyors eliminates the need for construction of raised walkways and costly ground support structures, wherein lightweight air cushion conveyor stacker devices eliminate the need for massive counterweights, and wherein the fully exploited method for stacking and reclaiming bulk materials via enclosed tubular components, stacking boom curtains, and/or domed enclosures essentially eliminates adverse environmental impact.
US08177051B2
A system for monitoring the condition of a conveyor belt having magnetically permeable cords, has a magnetic field generator, a magnetic field sensing unit, and a processor for performing a discrete wavelet transform. The wavelet may be a Morlet waveform. The sensing unit can include an array of spaced magnetic field sensors, and the transform can be performed on signals supplied by the sensors.
US08177047B2
An apparatus for transporting a first workpiece assembly, the apparatus includes a pallet, a universal fixture and an adaptable fixture. The pallet has a rectangular base and support members fixed to opposite edges of the base. The universal fixture has a frame, a first and second support arms and three workpiece mounts. The support arms are fixed to opposite sides of the frame and are rotatably supported in the support members of the pallet. The adaptable fixture has a frame, three fixture mounts and three workpiece mounts. The fixture mounts are disposed on the bottom surface of the frame and aligned with the workpiece mounts of the universal fixture. The workpiece mounts of the adaptable fixture are disposed on the top surface of the frame and aligned with a first, second and third locator of a workpiece assembly.
US08177035B2
An elevator system in which a controller monitors whether or not a speed of an ascending/descending body reaches a preset overspeed. At a time of maintenance work, a stopper is interposed between a buffer and the ascending/descending body to limit a lowered position of the ascending/descending body. A stopper detector detects installation of the stopper onto at least one of the buffer and the ascending/descending body. When the stopper is detected by the stopper detector, the controller lowers a set value of the overspeed.
US08177032B2
A car is suspended by suspension means and raised and lowered by a hoisting machine. Electric power supplied to a motor of the hoisting machine is controlled by an electric power converter. The electric power converter is controlled by a control apparatus. The control apparatus estimates a maximum value of a regenerative voltage at time of a regenerative operation of the hoisting machine when the car is running. When the estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage reaches a predetermined voltage limit value, the control apparatus controls the electric power converter so as to stop an increase in estimated maximum value of the regenerative voltage.
US08177030B2
A flexible member used as a rope in a mesh has an outer sheathing which is easy to touch and an inner core which is shrinkable so that when used in a mesh which is suspended on a frame, it pulls the frame tautly by the shrinkage of the inner cords. Also, a connection between a support member and a border can be effected using one way mechanical fasteners. Shrink nets can be further used on a frame without sheathing with a twisted cord.
US08177026B2
A Tree Stand Safety Belt device prevents a person (wearer/user) from falling out of a tree stand used for viewing or hunting wildlife. When properly positioned and securely attached, the device of this invention maintains substantially continuous contact of the wearer's back to a tree trunk. This contact not only provides a physical barrier to moving; that sense of contact also protects its wearer/user from experiencing height disorientation and possibly losing their balance. The device is designed for its wearer to use in either a sitting or standing position.
US08177025B2
A back pad system for use in connection with a safety harness which includes at least two spaced back straps and a connector adapted to be connected to a line or lanyard includes a back pad having passages through which the two back straps can be passed to be crossed over the connector, an attachment to which the connector can be moveably attached, and at least one member that captures the connector in an upright position upon application of force such as manual force (either directly or indirectly) to the connector to move the connector to the upright position. A back pad for use in connection with a safety harness includes at least two spaced back straps and a connector adapted to be connected to a line or lanyard. The back pad includes a base comprising passages through which the two back straps can be passed to be crossed over the connector and at least one load indicator. The load indicator includes an area of reduced strength in the base so that the area visibly distends or breaks upon the back pad being subjected for a substantial load. The substantial load can, for example, be predetermined to be at least approximately 450 pounds of force. The area of reduced strength can, for example, be an area of reduced thickness. The back pad can, for example, include a plurality of areas of reduced thickness.
US08177014B2
An axle assembly for a motorcycle having a plurality of drive wheels. The axle assembly is configured to permit a user to replace an endless power-transmitting element without substantially disassembling the axle housing assembly. A method for forming the axle assembly and a method for replacing an endless power-transmitting element are also provided.
US08177013B2
A rear-wheels transmission and suspension system, adapted for modifying a two wheeled motorcycle into a motorcycle containing two rear wheels, includes a suspension device, a rear axle and a transmission device. The suspension device includes a supporting frame longitudinally extending along the central axis of a construction frame and pivotally connected with a seat portion of the construction frame of the motorcycle for supporting the rear axle at the rear end the supporting frame while defining a transmission cavity after a rear end of the supporting frame and at a central position behind an output of said engine along the central axis of the construction frame. Therefore the transmission device is able to be supported by the rear axle in the transmission cavity to transmit a rotation output from the engine to drive the rear axle to rotate for driving the rear wheels to rotate.
US08177009B2
A hydraulic machine includes first and second opposing motors. Displacement of the first and second motors is controlled such that while the sum of the displacements of the first and second motors is below a threshold, the displacement of the first motor is substantially equal to the sum, and the displacement of the second motor is substantially equal to zero. While the sum of the displacements is above the threshold, the displacement of the first motor may be substantially equal to the displacement of the second motor, either as a displacement percentage or as a displacement volume. The first motor may be equal in capacity, or smaller than the second motor.
US08177006B2
A vehicle propulsion system and a method of its operation are described. As one example, the vehicle propulsion system includes a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. The method may include starting the engine responsive to different criteria, including criteria related to potential degradation effects that may occur due to excessive durations of engine off vehicle operation.
US08177002B2
A wind-powered pneumatic engine including one or more impeller chambers and one or more impellers disposed in the impeller chambers is provided. One or more air inlets for receiving external wind resistance airflow are disposed on the impeller chambers, and the external wind resistance airflow entering the air inlets drives the impellers to operate to generate power output. The wind-powered pneumatic engine further includes an air-jet system for jetting HPCA into the impeller chambers, and the internal high-pressure compressed air jetted by the air-jet system in conjunction with the external wind resistance airflow entering the air inlets drives the impellers to operate to generate power output. In the present invention, the external resistance airflow around a motor vehicle moving at a speed is converted into power for use, which greatly reduces energy consumption and improves the moving speed of a motor vehicle. A motor vehicle equipped with wind-powered pneumatic engine is also provided.
US08176999B2
This invention relates to a steerable drill bit arrangement, in particular for the use in drilling boreholes for oil and gas extraction. According to the invention there is provided a steerable drill bit arrangement comprising a drill bit, a steering component and a stabilizer, the steering component being adapted to provide a steering force which in use can drive the drill bit along a non-linear path, the stabilizer being located between the drill bit and the steering component and in use providing a fulcrum for the steering force provided by the steering component, the position of the fulcrum provided by the stabilizer being adjustable relative to the drill bit and the steering component. In use, the position of the fulcrum can be adjusted to vary the maximum curvature of the borehole and to suit the rock type(s) being drilled.
US08176995B1
A method and means of minimizing the effect of elastic valve recoil in impact applications, such as percussive drilling, where sliding spool valves used inside the percussive device are subject to poor positioning control due to elastic recoil effects experienced when the valve impacts a stroke limiting surface. The improved valve design reduces the reflected velocity of the valve by using either an energy damping material, or a valve assembly with internal damping built-in, to dissipate the compression stress wave produced during impact.
US08176984B2
Carbon dioxide is sequestered in a formation using dual or multiple completion and injection methods that reduce or eliminates upward leak rates of the sequestered carbon dioxide. The dual or multiple completion and injection method involves the injection of a benign fluid such as brine (water) into a permeable layer of the formation located above the sequestration layer and which is separated form the sequestration layer by a nearly impermeable layer. The water is injected at the same time the carbon dioxide is injected.
US08176979B2
A method and apparatus for surveying a well in real-time and responding to operational conditions in response to the surveillance. According to one or more aspects of the present disclosure a method for surveillance of a well includes providing a producing a fluid from the formation into the wellbore, injecting a fraction of the fluid from the wellbore into an injection zone of the formation via operation of a pumping system. Well data is sensed in the wellbore proximate to the injection zone and a formation injection performance parameter is determined using the sensed well data. The formation injection performance parameter comprises one selected from the group of stable injection, negative skin, positive skin and water channeling.
US08176972B2
An arrangement for improving the cooling efficiency of semiconductor chips. One embodiment is to construct a vapor chamber with one compliant surface for improving the efficiency of transferring heat from a semiconductor chip to the vapor chamber, and another embodiment is to construct a vapor chamber with the chip substrate such that the chips are embedded inside the vapor chamber. One surface of the vapor chamber has a flexible structure to enable the surface of the vapor chamber to be compliant with the surface of a chip or a heat sink device.
US08176970B2
There is provided a twin-belt casting machine which prevents an uneven cooling condition between the top surface and the bottom surface of a slab between a pair of endless belts disposed vertically. The twin-belt casting machine 1 comprises a pair of rotating belt units 3 including respective endless belts 2 and arranged up and down so as to face each other, a cavity 4 formed between the pair of rotating belt units 3, and cooling means 10 which is arranged inside the rotating belt unit 3. The twin-belt casting machine 1 continuously casts a slab S as a metal liquid is supplied in the cavity 4. The twin-belt casting machine 1 further comprises distance adjusting means which is arranged inside at least one of the pair of rotating belt units arranged up and down so as to face each other, and which moves apart or closer the endless belt relative to the slab S in accordance with a part where the slab and the endless belt become distant from each other.
US08176965B1
Hurricane protection screening and system including a length of flexible screening material having a substantially uniform continuous cross-section and being sized in length to substantially exceed a height of a building opening and sized in width to exceed or equal a width of the building opening. A plurality of separate spaced, parallel thickened areas are connected to and extend along the entire length of the screening material and are spaced apart over the width thereof, one of the thickened areas extending along each longitudinal side margin of the screening material. The system includes x-shaped buckles each configured for attachment to an upper or lower end of one of the thickened areas of each screen panel, the buckles themselves connectable to a frame of the building opening.
US08176959B2
A multifunction tape applicator for applying a section or sections of pressure sensitive adhesive tape to a carton selectively in different carton sealing configurations, namely C-clip; single L-clip, front and back L-clips and sectional skip-gap taping. The multifunction tape applicator comprises a basic tape applicator unit to apply a common C-clip tape from a tape roll with built-in design apparatus for tape applying, tape cutting, tape tension control to facilitate other functions and a mechanical or powered actuation attachment unit which is to be installed onto the modified basic tape applicator unit to actuate other functions based on the requirement of the application.
US08176958B2
A wheel assembly includes a magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) assembly disposed between a rim and a tire assembly. The MRE assembly may be configured to adjust a tire pressure within a chamber between the rim and the tire assembly when a magnetic field is applied to the MRE assembly.
US08176952B2
A system for conveying open containers filled with liquid, especially wide-necked containers, whereby the containers can be conveyed in the open state safely and without contamination, including an anti-slosh device which prevents the liquid from sloshing out as the containers are being transported.
US08176946B2
An automatic wire cutting and twisting apparatus includes a chassis board on which a start-terminal mounting rack, an end-terminal mounting rack, and a mounting track are mounted. The start-terminal mounting rack opposes a start terminal of the mounting track. The end-terminal mounting rack is position-adjustably coupled to an end terminal of the mounting track. A wire cutting mechanism is mounted on the start-terminal mounting rack and forms ingress and egress for wires. A wire twisting mechanism includes start-terminal and end-terminal rotation sections respectively mounted on the start-terminal and end-terminal mounting racks. A wire dragging mechanism includes a start-terminal dragging section mounted on the chassis board and a slidable dragging section movable above the mounting track. A wire pick-up mechanism is position-adjustably mounted on the mounting track. A cutting and twisting control mechanism is electrically connected to the wire cutting mechanism, the wire twisting mechanism, and the wire dragging mechanism.
US08176943B2
A flexible hose for conveying fluids and suitable for high temperature environments, the hose comprising a core tube, a thermal insulating layer surrounding the core tube, a metal layer surrounding the thermal insulating layer, and a vented jacket surrounding the cover layer. The thermal insulating layer may be a fibrous material such as a silica fiber. The metal layer may also be a chemical resistant layer and be thermally stable up to at least about 550° F. The vented jacket may be a wire braid having interstices therein and formed from a corrosion resistant material.
US08176931B1
A modular, environmentally friendly mobile fuel distribution station includes a fuel tank, a support structure having a plurality of legs for supporting an operation platform in an elevated position a predetermined distance above ground, an alternative power generation device, the alternative power generation device being one of a solar power generator and a wind power generator for providing primary power to the mobile fuel distribution station and a central platform operatively connected to at least two of the legs, the at least two of the legs bearing the weight of the central platform, wherein the fuel tank and the alternative power generation device are disposed on the operation platform.
US08176927B2
This invention discloses a walking stick including a main body, a pivot connector and a socket. The main body is of the shape of stick and connects to the socket through the pivot connector. A sphere is inside the pivot connector. A sliding-proof elastic element locates between the bottom of the main body and the sphere. The sliding-proof elastic element and the sphere are mounted inside the pivot connector. A bottom of the sphere reaches the socket through the pivot connector. The sphere rotates inside the pivot connector as the socket moves, while being urged against the sliding-proof elastic element. The sliding-proof elastic element has characteristics of sliding proof, elasticity and wear resistance. Thereby the walking stick of the invention offers all-round support for the user in use. Especially the sliding proof effect of the sliding-proof elastic element restrains the instant movement of the sphere, and its elasticity offers an effect of shock resistance.
US08176921B2
A therapeutic cushion (1) having a plurality of fluid-filled chambers (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), with each chamber having an internal volume that is independently adjustable. In a pillow embodiment, air-filled chambers are dynamically regulated in response to a monitored behavior or characteristic of a resting user. Air cushion (1) includes a lower chamber (2) upon which the other chambers are arranged. First or basic chamber (3) extends laterally along, and is directed inwardly from, a rear edge of underlying chamber (2). Adjoining first chamber (3) are first and second supporting chambers (4, 5), these being separated from one another to leave a region (10) that is disposed between their ends (7, 8) and bisected by center line (9). Region (10) is intended to accommodate the resting user's head. A second lateral chamber (6) extends laterally along and is directed inwardly from a forward edge of underlying chamber (2) to adjoin supporting chambers (4, 5), providing a neck support. To configure the cushion (1) to provide a therapeutic treatment for snoring, at least one sensor is included to detect and monitor snoring intensity and thereby provide feedback to the dynamic pressure regulation process.
US08176909B2
A grinding tool for natural stone floors, artificial stone floors and industrial floors allows a greatest possible adaptation to the unevennesses of worn natural and artificial stone floors to be restored by using diamond tools that are flexibly attached. The diamond tools are fixed on a mat so that each individual diamond tool can adapt individually to the grooves and unevennesses of an animated natural stone and stone floor. The grinding pattern of a surface machined with said grinding tool corresponds to a newly produced natural stone or artificial stone floor.
US08176908B2
An improved paintball gun uses a low-pressure pneumatic sear to hold the firing valve closed against the high pressure gas occupying the other side of the valve. In this manner, only one operation is required between depressing the trigger and the firing of the paintball gun because a double-acting cylinder is not required as an interface between the trigger depression and actuation of the valve. The paintball gun is also substantially faster than existing electro-pneumatic paintball guns because it uses a blow forward bolt, in which higher-pressure gas is held directly behind the bolt and has only one direction to travel during the firing of the paintball gun.
US08176881B2
A control for a water heater is provided that comprises a pressure switch for sensing a predetermined level of airflow sufficient for maintaining proper burner operation, and a temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank. The control further comprises a processor for controlling the operation of the burner to maintain the water temperature above a predetermined value. When the processor receives a signal from the pressure switch or temperature switch indicating a malfunction, the processor shuts down the burner and subsequently attempts to restart the burner. The processor will lock-out further burner operation after a predetermined number of consecutive shut downs occurs, and will communicate any malfunction information to a remote display device.
US08176874B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a watering system configured to provide water to livestock. The system includes a water basin defining a trough configured to retain water, a reservoir mounted to the water basin, wherein the reservoir is configured to receive and retain water above the water basin. A water path is defined from the reservoir to the trough, wherein water within the reservoir is configured to pass into the water basin through gravity. A first heating element configured to heat water within the reservoir. A second heating element is configured to heat water within the trough, wherein the second heating element is separate and distinct from the first heating element.
US08176871B2
Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus, including: a processing space to provide a space in which a substrate is to be processed; a heating member to heat the processing space; a gas supply member to supply at least first and second processing gases to the processing space; an exhaust member to exhaust an atmosphere in the processing space; and a control member to control at least the gas supply member and the exhaust member such that supply and exhaust of the first and second processing gases are alternately repeated a plurality of times so that the first and second processing gases are not mixed with each other in the processing space when forming a desired film on the substrate, and both the first and second processing gases are supplied to the processing space when coating a surface of an inner wall of the processing space with a desired film.
US08176867B2
A watercraft immobilizing apparatus and system deployable from a marine vessel to passively defend against an attacking watercraft includes a towed array of entanglement lines. The entanglement lines can be stored on and supplied from one or more storage cartridges mountable on and deployed via outriggers and submersible rollers to foul and immobilize propellers and engine cooling intakes of attacking watercraft.
US08176864B2
A garment having a finished edge that is an unopposed edge. The unopposed finished edge has a first bead of a polymer material in spaced relation to the unopposed edge. The first bead of a polymer material provides an unopposed, finished edge that is stretchable for adjusting to movement of said piece of fabric. The fabric also has a plurality of second beads of a cured polymer material provided on said fabric adjacent said first bead of a cured polymer.
US08176863B2
A method is provided for sewing a seat cover to provide a front panel and a side panel with an L-shaped separable seam and inner and outer chutes for air bag deployment. The method comprises sewing the front panel and the inner chute together with permanent vertical extending and horizontal extending seams that will not break during air bag deployment, and sewing the side panel and the outer chute together with permanent vertical extending seams and horizontal extending seams that will not break during air bag deployment. And thereafter sewing the front panel and the side panel together with separable vertical extending seams and horizontal extending seams that will break upon the air bag deployment to allow inflation of the air bag while the inner chute remains attached to the front panel and the outer chute remains attached to the side panel to guide the inflating air bag.
US08176860B2
A sewing machine including a needle bar; a sewing needle attached to the lower end of the needle bar; a needle bar drive mechanism vertically driving the needle bar; a presser foot capable of applying releasable pressure on a workpiece cloth and that releases the pressure to allow manual movement and sewing of the workpiece cloth; a regulatory needle including a tip and being capable of assuming a pierced state where the tip is pierced through the workpiece cloth and a non-pierced state, wherein the regulatory needle is moved along with the workpiece cloth while retaining the pierced state of the tip; a regulatory needle drive unit vertically driving the regulatory needle between the pierced state and the non-pierced state in coordination with vertical movement of the sewing needle; and a regulatory needle regulator limiting horizontal movement of the regulatory needle so as not to exceed a predetermined stitch pitch.
US08176858B2
A composite desk, including: two desk sideboards and a desk top, the two desk sideboards support the desk top, the desk sideboards and the desk top are made of the plastic composite board completely or partially; the plastic composite board includes a top board; a bottom board; a honeycomb board and a liner part, the honeycomb board is stuffed between the top board and the bottom board, the liner part is disposed between the top board and the bottom board, the liner part entirely or partly wraps the honeycomb board along the sides of the honeycomb board; the connection between the desk sideboard and the desk top is hanging connection.
US08176856B2
A loading ledge to be used in transport and storing and a system for creation of load units. The loading ledge has an upper leg and a lower leg forming a substantially L-shaped cross section. The lower leg is furnished with one or more projections to make it possible to use handling equipment. One or more locking units are integrated in the loading ledge to grip straps or the like. The load unit is created in that two or more loading ledges are used together with straps to fixate the goods on the loading ledges.
US08176853B2
An amusement park ride adapted for fully rotating a passenger compartment in response to vehicle motion along a guide track. The ride includes a vehicle chassis that engages the guide track and travels along the ride path during operation of the ride. The ride further includes a cam-based positioning assembly that is supported by the vehicle chassis to move with it along the guide track. The positioning assembly operates in response to being moved along the guide track to rotate the passenger compartment. The positioning assembly rotates the passenger compartment in counterclockwise and clockwise directions to provide 360-degree rotation. The positioning assembly includes a cam shaft with three cam follower pairs offset along the shaft and extending outward from the shaft at angular offsets, and three cam rails are used to selectively position the followers to rotate the cam shaft and set the position of the passenger compartment.
US08176851B2
A gas generator including a cup filled with gas generant molded articles that generate gas by combustion, and an ignitor on which an ignition agent is disposed. Each gas generant molded article is formed of smokeless powders containing nitrocellulose as its major ingredient. Each gas generant molded article includes an explosive containing a fuel agent containing a guanidine derivative and/or a tetrazole derivative and an oxidizing agent containing a metal nitrate and/or perchlorate. Thus, it is possible to provide a gas generator by which the amount of CO gas generated in operation can be reduced and the combustion speed can easily be controlled, and to provide a pretensioner system provided with the gas generator.
US08176843B2
An outdoor cooking grill includes a removeable grease drip pan. The grease drip pan has a number of removable fluid pans designed to collect grease and/or other fluid.
US08176842B2
The baking pan which may have various forms has a substantially metal base and a substantially metal side wall connected by a flexible loop. The base comprises first and second metal segments that are connected by a flexible strap-like band. One edge of the band is connected to an edge of the first metal segment and a second edge of the band is connected to an edge of the second metal segment. Both ends of the strap-like band are connected to the first edge of the loop. The band can flex along its length to allow the metal segments to move with respect to each other to aid in the detachment of baked food from the base.
US08176835B1
A handle assembly and combined interface system for use with a semi-automatic firearm to facilitate controlled bump firing methods. The handle assembly includes a finger rest for the user's trigger finger. The interface system is attached to a receiver of the firearm, and is slideably disposed in the handle assembly for reciprocation. In use, the user pushes a firing unit portion forward with an opposite hand so that its trigger collides with the user's finger, thus stimulating a round of ammunition. Recoil forces the firing unit rearwardly so that the trigger separates from the finger. The user then applies another forward activation force that urges the firing unit forwardly again to repeat the cycle for as long as the user chooses. A lock can be selectively engaged to restrict longitudinal movement of the firearm relative to the handle, thereby returning the firearm to normal semi-automatic functionality.
US08176834B1
A method is provided for determining fratricide probability of projectile collision from a projectile launcher on a platform and an interception hazard that can be ejected or launched from a deployment position. The platform can represent a combat vessel, with the projectile launcher being a gun, the interception hazard being a missile, and the deployment position being a vertical launch cell. The projectile launcher operates within an angular area called the firing zone of the platform. The method includes determining the firing zone, calculating an angular firing area, quantifying a frontal area of the interception hazard, translating the resulting frontal area across a flight trajectory, sweeping the projectile launcher to produce a slew angle, combining the slew and trajectory, and dividing the combined interception area by the firing area. The firing and interception areas are calculated using spherical projection.
US08176831B2
An armor plate transforms projectile energy into solid-state lattice waves and facilitates absorption of these waves at different wavelengths. For high frequency lattice waves, dopants are used for absorbing the lattice waves and converting them to thermal energy. Heavy dopants and layered materials can also be use for reflecting lattice waves to facilitate attenuation through absorption. A spreading layer can also be used for dispersing non-absorbed lattice waves.
US08176824B2
A miter saw comprises a base and a bevel support pivotable with respect to the base. A cutting blade is supported by the bevel support and moveable between a plurality of cutting positions. The miter saw further comprises a bevel stop member moveably connected to the base between a plurality of stop positions. The plurality of stop positions include a first stop position where the bevel stop member is configured to stop the bevel support at a bevel angle of less than forty-five degrees. The plurality of stop positions also include a second stop position where the bevel stop member is configured to stop the bevel support at a bevel angle of about forty-five degrees. Furthermore, the plurality of stop positions include a third stop position where the bevel stop member is configured to allow the bevel support to pivot to a bevel angle of greater than forty-five degrees.
US08176811B2
A rear cover for a drive axle housing is provided that minimizes stresses in the weld joining the output shaft bearing tube to the rear cover. In one embodiment, the rear cover includes a stiffening rib extending transversely across part or all of the cover. In another embodiment, the rear cover includes a raised portions proximate the output shaft bearing tube that is substantially spherical in shape.
US08176799B2
The sensor holder has an annular portion that holds the sensors. A holding ring that is securely fitted in an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder portion constituting a cover made of metal in terms of a large tight fit is embedded in an intermediate portion of this annular portion in the axial direction. A portion of a folded portion of the holding ring in the axial direction is set in a just center position between axial positions of sensing portions of both sensors. According to this configuration, the above problem is solved by preventing such a situation that the thermal expansion or the thermal contraction yields a phase difference between the output signals of both sensors.
US08176795B2
An in-situ specimen fixture particularly adapted for prestressing rod-type SNTT-type specimens comprising a tube and end cap wherein the specimen is secured at one end to the tube, and at the opposite end to the end cap. The end cap is rotatable relative to the tube, and may be fixedly secured for creating a torsional force prestressing the specimen enclosed within the tube.
US08176790B2
A pressure sensor assembly comprises a sensor housing having a flexible wall that is configured to deform in response to a pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the sensor housing; -a first fiber optical cable section that is bonded to the flexible wall of the sensor housing such that the length of the first fiber optical cable section changes in response to deformation of the wall in response to the said pressure difference; a second fiber optical cable section which is bonded to a thermal reference body, which body is connected to the sensor housing by a strain decoupled connection mechanism, such as a tack weld or flexible glue, and is configured to deform substantially solely in response to thermal deformation, such that the length of the second fiber optical cable section solely changes in response to thermal deformation of the thermal reference body.
US08176788B2
An ultrasonic inspection apparatus may include a chamber partly filled with water from a first portion of the chamber to a water-line disposed apart from a second portion of the chamber, and at least one transducer disposed apart from the water-line. The at least one transducer may emit ultrasonic signals through a portion of a part being inspected towards the water-line. The water-line may reflect the ultrasonic signals emitted from the at least one transducer off the water-line, back through a portion of a part being inspected, and back to the at least one transducer. In such manner, one or more portions of a complex-shaped part may be inspected.
US08176782B2
A capacitive sensor includes a fixed electrode and a movable electrode that is movably supported by an anchor portion through a beam portion. The fixed electrode and the movable electrode are opposed to each other with a gap interposed therebetween, thereby constituting a detecting unit. A capacitance suitable for a size of the gap is detected to detect a predetermined physical value. At least one of an end of the beam portion connected to the anchor portion and an end of the beam portion connected to the movable electrode is provided with a stress moderating unit that moderates a stress.
US08176781B2
Provided are a piezoelectric thin film including a lead-free ferroelectric material and exhibiting high piezoelectric performance comparable to that of PZT, and a method of manufacturing the piezoelectric thin film. The piezoelectric thin film of the present invention has a multilayer structure in which a metal electrode film having a plane orientation of (100), a (Bi,Na)TiO3 film, and a (Bi,Na,Ba) TiO3 film having a plane orientation of (001) are laminated in this order. The piezoelectric thin film of the present invention can be applied to a wide range of fields and uses. For example, with the piezoelectric thin film of the present invention, an angular velocity sensor of the present invention having high sensitivity and a piezoelectric generating element of the present invention having excellent power generation characteristics can be constructed.
US08176776B2
The accuracy of a measurement value obtained by a tire pressure detection device is lowered by a centrifugal force and an inertial force during travel. A pressure sensor (30) displaces a diaphragm (20) in its vertical direction (32) according to the pressure. The pressure sensor (30) is arranged in a tire (2) with the vertical direction (32) directed to a direction parallel to a rotation axis (34) instead of the tire circumferential direction or radial direction. The pressure sensor (30) is mounted onto a substrate with the vertical direction (32) of its diaphragm (20) directed in parallel to the substrate surface and the substrate is bonded to a tread portion of the tire (2) and a wheel rim portion while adjusting the vertical direction (32) of the diaphragm (20) with the direction of the rotation axis (34).
US08176767B2
Exhaust-gas sensors that have a sensor element, which is surrounded by two protective tubes on a side facing the exhaust gas and which is additionally protected by a porous fiber package, are already known. The fiber package is disposed between the two protective tubes and is meant to protect the sensor element from thermal shock by water droplets hitting the sensor element. When the exhaust gas sensor is used as primary catalytic converter or raw emission sensor, the sensor element can get damaged by sulfur compounds contained in the exhaust gas. In the exhaust-gas sensor according to the invention, damage to the sensor element by exhaust-gas components contained in the exhaust gas is reliably prevented. According to the invention, the adsorption means is implemented in such a way that sulfur, phosphorus or silicon compounds are trapped irreversibly.
US08176740B2
A method of refurbishing a seal land on a transition piece of a turbomachine includes applying a wear strip to a wall surface of the seal land, and covering the wear strip with a slot protector.
US08176728B2
An air-fuel ratio control device is provided for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an engine. The device includes an exhaust passage having a main catalytic converter and a bypass passage having a bypass catalytic converter, the bypass passage diverging from the exhaust passage at an upstream junction and rejoining the exhaust passage at a downstream junction. A valve mechanism disposed in the exhaust passage between the upstream junction and the downstream junction moves between a closed state and an open state. During a predetermined period of time after the valve mechanism opens to permit flow in the exhaust passage, the air-fuel ratio of the engine is controlled based on a signal from a first air-fuel ratio sensor in the bypass passage using a low response correction value that is less than a normal response correction value that would be used when the valve mechanism is closed.
US08176724B2
This invention provides a method of converting heat energy to a more usable form using an externally-heated Brayton cycle. Atmospheric air is used with water injection in a thermodynamic cycle that includes compression (1), evaporative cooling (34), recuperative heating (8), evaporative cooling (36), external heating (9) and expansion through a turbine (2). Power capacity and overall efficiency are maximized by decreasing the temperature of working fluid entering recuperator (8) and heater (9) while increasing the mass flow through turbine (2). Overall efficiency during turndown is maximized using a portion of low-pressure working fluid from the turbine in a three-chamber combustor wherein volume flow into the first chamber containing solid fuel determines the system energy, volume flow into the second chamber combines with partially combusted gases from the first chamber to achieve the optimum combustion temperature and volume flow into the third chamber blends with combustion gases from the second chamber to limit the hot gas to the maximum temperature allowed by the system equipment.
US08176713B2
A tubular bagging machine includes an innovative indentation-forming device and a modified cross-sealing device. The innovative indentation-forming device includes two punches that form two indentations in the foil web. The machine then forms the foil web into a foil tube with the indentations aligned directly opposite each other and bowed outward. The cross-sealing device includes two opposing sealing jaws each having a blank formed in it. The jaws are closed together to form transverse seal zones in the foil tube. The blanks are aligned with each other and receive the aligned indentations so that they are not sealed together, resulting in the formation of an air bubble in one of the seal zones. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing the bags, bags produced by the disclosed machines and methods, and retrofit kits for upgrading existing tubular bagging machines.
US08176706B2
A building framework includes plural column assemblies interconnected by plural full-length beam assemblies, with the union of the column assemblies and beam assemblies forming beam-to-column joint assemblies according to this invention. The column assemblies include pairs of side plates spanning the column members of the column assemblies and projecting toward another column assembly of the plurality of such column assemblies. The full-length beam assemblies include beam members for being received between column assemblies to be interconnected and defining an end gap with respect to each column member. Additionally, the full-length beam assemblies include at each opposite end portion thereof a pair of cover plates, including an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate, which cover plates are sized and configured to be united with the side plates of a column assembly, as by welding applied at a construction site. The full-length beam assemblies may also include provisions for drawing together the side plates of a column assembly preparatory to welding, which side plates are sufficiently spaced apart to provide a “rattle” space allowing entry of an end portion of a full-length beam assembly between the side plates as a step in the erection process for the framework.
US08176700B2
A molding system conceals gridwork in suspended ceilings. A main or cross piece molding comprises two opposed clip assemblies for attaching to inverted T-bars. The clip assemblies comprise a vertical portion. Upper and lower fingers protrude horizontally from the vertical portion and towards the opposed clip assembly. Upward projecting arms extend from upper edges of the vertical portions and have upward edges. Horizontal arms extend from the upward edges and extend away from the clip assemblies. A decorative portion spans between distal ends of the horizontal arms. A perimeter molding for attaching to L-bars comprises a first horizontal arm configured to abut a lower portion of a horizontal surface and a second horizontal arm that is parallel to the first horizontal arm. First and second legs connect to the second horizontal arm. The second leg abuts an upper, distal portion of the horizontal surface near a hem.
US08176698B2
The invention is directed to a panel, in particular floor panel, having a core made of a woodbased material and having a decoration applied to a visible side, the visible side being provided, on at least one side edge (I, II), with a chamfer running at an angle thereto, and the chamfer likewise being provided with a decoration, characterized in that a relief is stamped into the surface of the chamfer.
US08176696B2
The present invention relates to an improved wall system where a wall form mold has a structural insulated core assembled to form a structural insulated panel (SIP) to form a concrete beam and concrete column to be poured anywhere within the wall as well as between building modules when placed together and erected vertically. The interlocking wall molds interlock within the wall as well as between panels and modules. The wall panels allow concrete columns and beams to be formed in any size and shape. The structural insulated core consists of interlocking foam spacers and support channels which can be glued or screwed together to form an independent wall or as part of a precast wall with columns and beams integrated within the wall panels. Insulated flanges within the wall forming mold separates the wall forming structure from the wall surfaces.
US08176694B2
A floor support structure is disclosed. According to an example of the disclosure, the support structure may include a surface, protrusions extending from the surface to form cavities between the protrusions, and openings adjacent to the protrusions to form pathways to the cavities. The support structure provides the openings and cavities to lay a cable in any desired configuration, in addition to the structure's established function to prevent a main floor from fracture or failure when an underlying subfloor shifts or settles. As such, the need for separate heating and support structures is eliminated.
US08176682B2
Double paneled door assembly providing RF shielding and soundproofing through the use of two door panels, i.e., back door panel and front door panel, as well as respective back door frame and front door frame. The door panels and door frames are joined together by door pins and door pin bushing as well as frame pins and frame pin bushings, and the double door panels are mounted on the double frames by heavy duty hinges. The use of two door panels and frame panels with a volume of sealed air or other inert gas between the panels aids the RF shielding and soundproofing properties of the door. The bushings act as damping mechanisms to reduce transmission of vibration from the front side of the door assembly to the back side of the door assembly that will ultimately reduce waves permeating into an enclosed room or area.
US08176680B2
The frame and the sash of the sliding door assembly are each made of plastic. The frame extrusion profile utilizes an opposing open-leg or C-channel construction that creates an interior accessory slot that is utilized throughout the overall construction to create a carrier that can accept a wide variety of snap-in accessory extrusions or components. Similarly, the sash extrusion profile allows for the use of snap-in accessories.
US08176679B2
A gear mechanism part for a cable-controlled window lifter is provided that includes a gear wheel and a cable drum that can be driven by the gear wheel. The gear wheel and cable drum are disposed on a common axis. The gear wheel and the cable drum are coupled by a positive fit to an outside gearing disposed on an outside circumference projection. In the cable drum, a fitting chamber for cable end fastening is provided. The fitting chamber is disposed inside the outer circumference projection on a cross-sectional plane projected perpendicular to the axis. In this way, a more compact design of the cable drum and transmission of higher driving torque are achieved.
US08176677B1
An automated guide rail apparatus includes a fixed wall that includes a pair of vertical supports attached to and extending upwardly from a floor surface and a horizontal support attached to the vertical supports. The fixed wall is positioned adjacent to a hazardous area. A movable wall is attached to the fixed wall and is movable laterally toward or extended away from the fixed wall to increase or decrease a combined length of the fixed and movable walls. The movable wall prevents access to the hazardous area when the movable wall is extended away from the fixed wall. A drive assembly is mounted on the fixed wall and moves the movable wall outwardly from the fixed wall when the drive assembly is actuated. An actuating assembly is in communication with the drive assembly to actuate the drive assembly when a hazardous condition is determined by the actuating assembly.
US08176668B2
A recoil reducer device for use with a firearm is provided, that is movable between a rest position and a recoil position. The recoil reducer device includes a firearm stock, including a first stock member having a first stock member cavity, and a second stock member having a second stock member cavity. A recoil reducer is receivable in the first and second stock cavities. The recoil reducer includes a shock absorber including a housing and an axially movable plunger. A slider is provided that includes a first slider member fixedly coupled to the shock absorber, and a second slider member movable with respect to the shock absorber and first stock member. A base member is fixedly coupled to the second slider member and a magnet that is magnetically coupled to the base member.
US08176665B2
There is disclosed an improved portable stand especially adapted for mounting targets for a shooting range, which consists of a base unit formed by a first leg and a second leg rotationally mounted to the first leg. The first leg is provided with a pair of spaced apart mounting apertures, each of the mounting apertures provided with lock means incorporated therein. At least two vertical arms are adapted to be mounted into each of the mounting apertures and lockingly engaged therein, and the vertical arms are adapted to hold and display a target therebetween.
US08176661B2
A plow device is disclosed. The plow device comprises a blade and a plurality of struts attached to the blade. Each strut comprises an arm comprising a first end and a second end. Each arm is attached to the blade at its first end. Each strut further comprising a tire wedge disposed at the second end of the arm.
US08176660B2
Customizable studs for articles of footwear having variable ground interaction characteristics are disclosed. A customizable stud may generally include a fastening member formed of a fastening member cap and fastening member shaft, a plurality of rings, and a washer. The fastening member cap and the plurality of rings define the ground interaction characteristics of the stud. To vary the ground interaction characteristics, the contour, height, and material makeup of the stud may be altered by varying the shape, number, thickness, length, and material of the rings. The stud components may be sold as a kit with at least one fastening member and a plurality of rings with varying characteristics. The kit may also include at least one washer.
US08176647B2
A hand sizing tool includes a base platform and a secondary platform affixed to and raised above the base platform. The platforms include a palm heel indicia on the base platform and an index finger tip indicia on the secondary platform. Each of an index finger guide, an index finger measurement slider, and a palm width measurement slider extends out of the secondary platform, these elements being adapted for measuring the hand size.
US08176646B2
A coordinate measurement device comprises an articulated arm having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of jointed arm segments therebetween. Each arm segment defines at least one axis of rotation. A laser scanner assembly is coupled to the second end of the arm and is rotatable about a last axis of rotation of the articulated arm. The laser scanner assembly comprises a laser and an image sensor. The laser is positioned on an opposite side of the last axis of rotation from the image sensor.
US08176631B2
A method for making positioning structures of a bicycle hub comprises the steps of: A. bicycle hub clamping step; B. bicycle hub press forming step; and C. bicycle hub loading step. By such arrangements, the positioning structures of the bicycle hub can be obtained by the quick press forming without affecting the structure strength.
US08176628B1
In accordance with one embodiment, a method of forming a protruding post substrate package includes applying a dielectric layer to a carrier. Via apertures are formed in the dielectric layer. Carrier cavities are formed in the carrier using the dielectric layer as a mask. The carrier cavities are lined with a first metal, the first metal being selectively etchable compared to the carrier. After encapsulation of an electronic component with an encapsulant, the carrier is removed such that protruding posts including the first metal protrude outward from a first surface of the dielectric layer.
US08176605B2
A buckle, operating between a locked position and a released position, comprising a male buckle member having a plurality of locking members, and a female buckle member. The female buckle member includes a housing, a plurality of engaging portions formed on the housing for engaging with the locking members, a latch member slidably disposed in the housing for preventing the locking members from disengaging with the engaging portions in the locked position, and a bias device connecting the latch member to the housing for biasing said latch member against the locking member in the locked position.
US08176604B2
A pouch has an airtight elongate closure mechanism adapted to provide a vacuum retention with an interior of the pouch over an extended period of time when sealed. The closure mechanism includes a first pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, a second pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, and sealing members that form an air tight seal disposed between the first and second pairs of interlocking members. The closure elements may be connected with opposing sidewalls of the pouch in a manner designed to provide differential opening and closing forces. The pouch may also include a check valve and air evacuation channels to aid in evacuating air from the interior.
US08176596B2
Several alternate improvements of a vacuum cleaner are provided. In one aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes interchangeable components. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner comprises a chamber having a top, and a first cleaning stage and suction motor are provided on the top. In another aspect, the vacuum cleaner utilizes a reconfigurable divider plate.
US08176594B2
The present invention relates to a wiper blade mounted to a wiper apparatus for a vehicle to wipe a windshield. An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper blade which can be more easily assembled and manufactured by forming a connector integrally with a wiper frame. According to the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a wiper blade coupled to a wiper arm of a vehicle to wipe a windshield, comprising a wiper strip in contact with the windshield; a wiper frame curved along its lengthwise direction and having elasticity to bring the wiper strip into contact with the windshield; and a connector formed integrally with the wiper frame and coupled with the wiper arm.
US08176592B1
An apparatus for removing paint from a barrel of a paintball gun.
US08176581B2
A compact foundation unit kit and a method of making a foundation unit from the kit. The kit comprises at least three elongated, generally flat truss rails, four generally flat end caps and a plurality of generally flat cross slats, with the truss rails, end caps and cross slats oriented together with their longitudinal dimensions aligned in a generally parallel orientation and with their flat sides in contact. A binding maintains the truss rails, end caps and cross slats in that orientation. The method includes providing the kit, opening the kit and orienting the truss rails in a parallel, spaced position, then affixing one of the end caps to each end of the truss rails, inverting the partially formed foundation, and affixing the last two end caps to opposite ends of the truss rails, then finally affixing the cross slats to the truss rails in a spaced, parallel orientation. The foundation can then be finished in a conventional fashion.
US08181265B2
A method and computer-readable medium for deterring software piracy in a volume license environment. An activation bypass message is generated and sent. Information contained in the activation bypass message is compared to a list of machine identifiers. A binding service message contains a count of the machine identifiers in the list. Once the count reaches a predetermined threshold, software activation bypass may occur.
US08181259B2
Secure access to a database of upgrade data is provided by storing an encryption key value in an adapter device used to interconnect a first device to be upgraded and a second device that is associated with the database of upgrade data. The second device allows access to the database of upgrade data via the adapter only once the adapter is positively authenticated by the second device through use of the encryption key value stored in the adapter device.
US08181248B2
System and method of detecting anomaly malicious code by using process behavior prediction technique
Provided are a pattern analyzing/detecting method and a system using the same that are capable of detecting and effectively preventing an unknown malicious code attack. To detect such an attack, the method monitors the system to combine all behaviors exhibited within the system due to corresponding malicious codes, reprocess and learn the behaviors, analyze existing malicious behavior feature values (prediction patterns), and compare them with a behavior pattern exhibited by an execution code.
US08181246B2
A method for detecting and blocking Javascript hijacking attacks, comprising checking if an incoming request belongs to a valid session established between a client and a trusted server. When said incoming request does belong to a valid session, it is checked if a Referer header of said incoming request includes a valid domain name. The incoming request is marked as suspicious, when said incoming request does not include a valid domain name. It is checked if a respective response of said suspicious incoming request includes a script code. A preventive action responsive to a user input is taken when said respective response includes a script code.
US08181245B2
A system that employs out-of-process (‘out-of-proc’) architectures with respect to malware scanning related to network services applications is provided. The ‘out-of-proc’ malware (e.g., virus) scanning is employed in connection with a web conferencing server. This architecture enables more versatile options related to scanning, for example, selective bypass in a crisis situation.
US08181244B2
A system and method for identifying an origin of suspected pestware activity on a computer is described. One embodiment includes establishing a time of interest relating to a suspicion of pestware on the computer, identifying, based upon the time of interest, indicia of pestware and accessing at least a portion of a recorded history of sources that the computer received files from so as to identify, based at least in part upon the identified indicia of pestware, a reference to an identity of a source that is suspected of originating pestware.
US08181240B2
A method of protecting a data network from denial of service (DOS) attacks is described. The method may use various network tools to selectively block or disable portions of a data trunk experiencing a DOS attack, thereby preventing the DOS attack from reaching at least some resources on the network. In one embodiment, a network switch identifies a virtual LAN (VLAN) carrying suspect data on a data trunk. The network switch then adjusts a spanning tree for the network so that one or more ports on the compromised VLAN are blocked or disabled, while non-compromised VLANs are allowed to continue carrying data. Other approaches are also presented for avoiding the loss of valid data when a network blocks one or more VLANs or other portions of a network in response to a DOS attack or other intrusion.
US08181239B2
An architecture provides capabilities to transport and process Internet Protocol (IP) packets from Layer 2 through transport protocol layer and may also provide packet inspection through Layer 7. A set of engines may perform pass-through packet classification, policy processing and/or security processing enabling packet streaming through the architecture at nearly the full line rate. A scheduler schedules packets to packet processors for processing. An internal memory or local session database cache stores a session information database. The session information that is not in the internal memory is stored and retrieved to/from an additional memory. An application running on an initiator or target can a region of memory, which is made available to its peer for access without substantial host intervention through RDMA data transfer. A security system is also disclosed that enables a new way of implementing security capabilities inside enterprise networks in a distributed manner.
US08181229B2
A communications system includes a plurality of patch panels having a plurality of connector ports connected to individual communication channels, a switch that provides access to multiple networks via one or more switch ports, a system manager that controls interconnections between the patch panels and the switch, and a plurality of patch cords configured to selectively interconnect patch panel connector ports. The system manager is configured to receive a request to connect an individual communication channel to a specific network, to identify which patch panel connector ports are required to be patched together via one or more patch cords in order to establish a circuit to the requested network, and to enable a switch port to activate the circuit. The system manager is configured to monitor connectivity of a circuit and to park a switch port associated with the circuit in response to detecting a change in circuit connectivity.
US08181228B2
In a wireless network communication device, multiple items of network identification information, which are for identifying wireless network systems, are read out of a memory and displayed on a display unit. Network identification information of a wireless network system, which is capable of being constructed anew, is selected from the multiple items of network identification information displayed and a wireless network system corresponding to the network identification information selected is constructed.
US08181225B2
The invention provides federated functionality within a data processing system by means of a set of specialized runtimes, which are instances of an application for providing federation services to requesters. Each of the plurality of specialized runtimes provides requested federation services for selected ones of the requestors according to configuration data of respective federation relationships of the requestors with the identity provider. The configuration data is dynamically retrieved during initialization of the runtimes which allows the respective_runtime to be specialized for a given federation relationship. Requests are routed to the appropriate specialized runtime using the first requestor identity and the given federation relationship. The data, which describes each federation relationship between the identity provider and each of the plurality of requestors, is configured prior to initialization of the runtimes.
US08181223B2
The present invention provides an electronic apparatus such as a printer with a signal control port for authenticating a job and a job data port for receiving job data of the job authenticated via the signal control port. Namely, the job data port accepts job data of only an authenticated job.
US08181220B2
Method and apparatus are described wherein, in one example embodiment, there is provided one or more policy templates that may define a set of policy permissions or other attributes that may be desirable to specify in a policy. One or more policy templates may be specified in a user interface of a policy creation and maintenance program that may run oh the policy server and/or run on a workstation computer. Each policy template specified by a user may include permissions for how a user may access and use a document. The maintenance program may, in one embodiment, associate both templates to a policy used for a specific unit of digital content, or, for example, an electronic document. The permissions for the policy are determined by aggregating the permissions associated with each respective templates chosen by the user. According to another example embodiment, a user selects a policy template and defines one or more additional permissions to form an augmented policy.
US08181214B2
A recording center station includes functions for receiving a broadcast wave and saving or recording received data. In response to a request from each receiving station, the recording center station substitutionally records a specified broadcast program and provides a recorded content. There may be the case where the receiving station cannot record a reserved program independently due to insufficient free space remaining in a recording medium or a recording apparatus failure. In this case, the receiving station can automatically issue a recording substitution request to the recording center station for substitution of the program recording.
US08181213B2
The present invention is to disclose an IP-based hometown TV program delivery system comprising at least one TV program provider for providing a plurality of channels of TV programs; and at least one agency at a server-end for providing a plurality of digital video contents converted from said corresponding TV programs; characterized in that said agency at a server-end distributes said plurality of digital video contents to authorized users at a client-end via a broadcasting network, wherein each authorized users has subscription to said TV programs so as to get permission for watching and receives from said agency said digital video contents converted from said corresponding TV programs via said broadcasting network.
US08181212B2
A method of providing a frame-based object redirection overlay for a video stream provided by a third-party content provider and hosted by a host provider that may or may not be the same as the third-party content provider. One or more objects depicted within a frame of a video stream are selected. A user is presented with a tag corresponding to the selected object. Upon detection of the user's selection of the tag, the user is presented with options corresponding to the selected tag. The options are determined by the location of the user, the user's preferences, and enforcement of localization rules. Upon detection of the user's selection of an option, an action is taken that corresponds to the user's selection of the option.
US08181209B2
Methods and apparatus for supporting on-demand content services, using conventional non-IP based VOD servers are described. The methods and apparatus of the present invention, through the use of a protocol converter and/or a content redirector, can be used to enable a conventional VOD server to supply content to a customer premise equipment (CPE) device which supports IP based content delivery and/or RSTP control of content delivery. The protocol converter of the invention can be implemented as an RTSP-ISA PROXY. The RTSP Proxy converts messages between RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) to the appropriate ISA protocol signal or another protocol format. The proxy module handles the conversion between these formats and converts a received signal, e.g. message, into the format required by the device which responds by implementing the operation requested by the signal.
US08181205B2
A system that maps media content information to an interactive program guide displayed on a screen includes, among other things, a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to display at least one personal video recording display channel in the interactive program guide. The processor is further preferably configured with the logic to display media content instance listings in the personal video recording display channel for corresponding media content instance recordings.
US08181204B2
A system enables dynamic linking between a variety of video formats including television broadcasts, web pages, and video displays which are stored on magnetic or optical media. Each frame of the video information is identified together with a plurality of locations within that frame. The locations selected by the user for example using a pointing device is then used to access associated information either within the system itself or on an external system. Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, any item on a given frame may be linked initially or thereafter to other information within or without the particular system containing that information.
US08181188B2
A method and architecture for increasing version resiliency between a host application that is unmanaged code and managed code is provided. A version resiliency technique specifies that the host application and the managed code communicate via an adapter that implements a protocol to access an object exposed by the host application. The version resiliency technique specifies that when a new version of the host application that impacts an interface exposed by the object of the host application is released, a new version of the adapter that executes within the application domain of the custom code is released. A version of managed code that adheres to the protocol will correctly interact with new versions of the host application that include a new version of the object because a new implementation of the adapter is also provided.
US08181181B2
A calendar system schedules tasks and meetings or other appointments for a user. The system retrieves a work capacity, which is information regarding the working hours for the user. The system further retrieves a plurality of enhanced tasks for the user. The system then optimizes a schedule for the user based on the work capacity and the enhanced tasks.
US08181178B2
Online batch processing. A job request is received from a user for processing. The job request includes a job configuration and a plurality of operations to process the data. The job configuration is extracted from the job request and stored in a configuration cache. A metadata configuration code is extracted from the job configuration and stored in a code cache. A runtime configuration code is extracted from the job configuration and stored in an instance cache. This allows information to be obtained from the configuration cache, the code cache and the instance cache for processing subsequent job requests with the similar job configuration and the plurality of operations. The data is fetched from at least one of the job request and an external storage device. The plurality of operations is executed on the data to generate a result. The result is provided to the user through at least one of an output stream and the external storage device.
US08181171B2
A dependent element group which is invertibly contractible is found by using program analysis information including a plurality of dependent elements representing dependent relationships of statement and control, the statement and the control being included in a program. Next, a program dependence graph in which dependent elements are made to be contracted is generated by contracting the found dependent element group. The number of vertices and the number of edges of the program dependence graph are reduced by the contraction of the dependent elements, so that a program dependence graph with a rough granularity can be generated. As a result, a calculation amount (calculation time) necessary for optimization processing such as parallel processing of the program can be reduced. That is, by generating the contracted program dependence graph having invertibility, it is possible to realize the analysis and optimization of large-scale software in a realistic time.
US08181167B2
The present invention provides a method and system for producing intermediate representation of source code listings with possibly mixed syntaxes to assist software development applications in presenting and analyzing the source code listings through reading the intermediate representation. A source code processor calls Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to preserve source code information, which includes intermediate representation data sets and is preferably stored in a file-based repository. The source code processor is of a compiler, a preprocessor, a parser, or a comment document processor. The data sets capture lexical, syntax and semantic information of source code construct elements, and comprise of location, processor identification, construct category, and attribute data. A software development environment through a source code search engine is able to present source code construct elements, outlines, and symbol references from software packages over a plurality of distributed servers in a network such as the Internet.
US08181166B2
A system for determining when an EJB compiler needs to be executed, comprising: a server, including an EJB or plurality of EJBs and an EJB compiler operating thereon that determines a first snapshot of the EJB at a particular moment in time or for a particular server version, and a second snapshot of said EJB at a later moment in time or a subsequent server version, and compares the first and second snapshots to determine whether the EJB should be recompiled.
US08181164B1
Embodiments of the present invention create a binding specifications file that is compatible with a user interface application from a grammar rich XML file. The grammar rich XML file uses a complex DTD for transformation. The complex DTD may be prone to error if created by the user, therefore, the complex DTD file is automatically created from a schema definition provided by the user or user's agent. The user or user's agent defines a schema for the desired grammar level. Through a series of XSL transformations, the complex DTD file is created. Also, a stylesheet used for transforming the grammar rich XML file is automatically created. The grammar rich XML file provided by the user conforms to the automatically created complex DTD file. Thus, the grammar used in defining bindings of a user interface application is extensible without any requirement to enrich and recompile the application anytime an extension of the language is desired.
US08181157B2
A software documentation system is provided. This includes a documentation object to store documentation data of an application. One or more custom language components are stored with the documentation objects to provide language display options for the application. The custom language components can be applied as a tag to indicate that tagged data items are to remain in a designated form such as a string name that is to remain in the designated language of the documentation designer. The custom language components can also be specified as differing forms of a similar language.
US08181156B1
Managing dynamic content of a website, including creating static content assigned to dynamic content of the website, with unmodifiable scripts; creating an active content for processing dynamic content, with hidden elements and elements with only visual marks representation; transmitting the static content to a user; selecting references to the active content within the static content; requesting description of the active content from a server; transmitting the active content to the user; displaying the active content; editing dynamic content and visual representations of data requested by user; representing a first document form generated from an HTML representation of server data and unmodifiable scripts, and which includes the elements; generating a request for data needed for a current visualization of the form; generating a second related data representation of another form; delivering second related data representation for display in browser; storing content of the website on server and making it publicly available.
US08181153B2
A Dynamically Reconfigurable Applications Mutable Architecture (DRAMA) greatly reduces time, cost, and other resource expenditures associated with customizing a legacy application so that application features can be activated, deactivated, and even altered without requiring the user to reprogram or reinstall the application. A software developer may use DRAMA to deliver DRAs that enable users to switch between configurations during run-time by specifying the application features the user needs. DRAMA provides a lightweight and efficient approach to rapidly build DRAs from legacy applications, verify the validity of a user requested combination of features, and reconfigures DRAs during run-time.
US08181152B2
A method for designing object-oriented software for implementing portlets, and an associated computer system and computer program product. The portlets are available to a user of the software who clicks on a link of a first page to identify an action object of an Action class and a state object of a State class. The software includes the State class, the Action class, and program code. The State class includes a method for displaying a view of a page. The Action class includes an actionPerformed method for performing an action and a setState method for setting the state object into the session. The program code is adapted to execute: the actionPerformed method of the action object to perform the action; the setState method of the action object to set the state object; and the method of the state object to display a view of a second page.
US08181150B2
A workflow manager that offers structure and control over the graphical modeling environment so that the graphical modeling environment is reconfigured in a manner appropriate for a particular workflow is disclosed. The workflow manager of the present invention provides hierarchical task management that is synchronized to the graphical modeling environment. The workflow manager also allows a model designer to navigate a series of steps required to achieve the goal of a particular workflow. An API allows the steps to be customized as required by the end user.
US08181149B1
Approaches for assembling an electronic circuit design. A processor performs operations including instantiating and coupling a plurality of instances of functional blocks in the design, including at least one meta block instance. The plurality of instances of functional blocks are displayed as respective graphical objects and identifiers of two or more implementations for the meta block instance from a meta block library are displayed. In response to designer selection of one implementation from the meta block library, a specification of the selected one implementation for the meta block instance is stored in association with the design. In response to designer selection of a graphical object corresponding to the at least one meta block instance, a designer-editable version of the one implementation is displayed. An updated specification of the one implementation associated with design is stored in response to designer modification of the designer-editable version of the one implementation.
US08181146B1
A method for performing equivalency checking between circuit designs is provided. The method includes partitioning the circuit designs into logic cones. The method includes comparing corresponding logic cones for equivalency. The comparing includes identifying constant registers feeding nonequivalent logic cones, and propagating a constant value associated with the constant register. The method includes repeating the comparing with the propagated constant values inserted in one of the corresponding logic cones. The method also includes detecting duplicate registers feeding nonequivalent logic cones in embodiments where no constant registers feeding nonequivalent logic cones are found.
US08181141B2
A dummy rule generating apparatus includes a critical pattern estimating unit that determines a wiring pattern whose total perimeter length of wirings is smaller than an appropriate range based on constraints on the wirings for a circuit layout as a critical pattern. The dummy rule generating apparatus also includes a rule generating unit that generates dummy fill rules of a shape and a layout of dummy metals that increase number of dummy metals inserted in the critical pattern and decrease the number of dummy metals inserted in a wiring pattern whose total perimeter length of wirings is within an appropriate range.
US08181139B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a computer-implemented method of configuring a programmable logic device (PLD) includes placing logical functions within logical resources of the PLD to implement a desired netlist; swapping the logical function of at least one logical resource with the logical function of at least one other logical resource within the PLD; and evaluating whether to accept or reject the swap using a simulated annealing process that calculates at least three cost function values based upon routing priority groups, timing priority groups, and a timing critical group.
US08181136B2
In order to confirm a propagation range of a signal whose signal value is fixed by a control signal to restrain switchings is within a predetermined range, it is judged by results of the logic simulation whether or not a switching restraining mode is enabled. If it is enabled, a switching probability restraint information list including the detected time and an ID of the net whose signal value is fixed is set to the net whose signal value is fixed, and then is propagated to the next net according to the results of the logic simulation. If the circuit changes are appropriated conducted, the results of the logic simulation do not satisfy the propagation condition of the switching probability restraint information list. Accordingly, the switching probability restraint information list is not propagated over the predetermined range, and no problem is detected.
US08181130B1
A method for jitter reduction in a path of an integrated circuit design is presented. The path is first analyzed to identify a combinatorial logic element bounded between a source element and a destination element. The arrival time of the input signal to the combinatorial logic element is shifted by inserting a logic element at the input of the combinatorial logic element. The insertion of the logic element is performed such that the arrival time of a signal to the input of the inserted logic element occurs before half of a clock cycle and the propagation time of the input signal from the inserted logic element to the destination element is less than half the clock cycle. The modified netlist of the path of the integrated circuit incorporating the inserted logic element is stored in memory of a computing system.
US08181129B2
Aspects of the present invention are directed to converting non-oscillatory combinational loops into acyclic circuits. Combinational loops may be modeled as state-holding elements where non-oscillatory loops are broken using edge-sensitive latches. In addition to providing a way to model combinational loops originally consisting only of gates (i.e., without originally including any state-holding elements), loops that have paths through user latches may also be converted. The presented methodology may be used with both small and large loops.
US08181116B1
The present invention provides a method and/or system for extracting or scraping links, which may be in the form of uniform resource locators (URLs), from an information source such as a Web page displayed on a Web browser, based on a rule set or a template, or based on a selection of links, and adding the extracted or scraped links to another interface in order to facilitate navigating the extracted links. The extracted or scraped links are selectable by a user of the interface to cause the Web browser to display information corresponding to the selected links listed in the interface. Controls associated with the interface may allow the user to move forward and backward through the links listed in the interface.
US08181115B2
Provided are systems and methods of video collaboration. End-users may participate in collaboration sessions in which inter-personal barriers are rapidly dissolved through the completing of collaborative tasks. The end-users may be grouped into teams to perform these collaborative tasks, and may be scored and/or ranked based not only on performance of the task but on the interactions between team members. In some examples a coach or moderator is provided to assist with task completion and/or to facilitate social interaction between participants. According to various examples, system architectures are described for facilitating video collaboration. In one example, the architecture includes a multi-gateway architecture that segregates functions associated with presentation of an integrated video display from functions associated with transmission of display streams to devices associated with end-users.
US08181111B1
The system and method for providing social context to digital activity combines mobile device contact information with user-provided website information to aid users when browsing the Internet. Users of mobile devices define identifications of themselves for websites, so that when another user in their contact list is browsing the Internet, an indicator is able to indicate that he is a known contact. The determination of whether the person is a known contact based on the identification definitions is able to be implemented either by direct interfacing between the host website and a server which stores the identification definitions, a browser plugin which communicates with the server or an API provided by the server or a mobile device.
US08181110B2
A system by which a computer user can view or listen to selected media objects, such as videos or podcasts or Internet radio, located in the Document Object Model (“DOM”) of a web page. The system is able to isolate the media objects selected by a user or the media objects stipulated in a database containing a description of the location of the objects. The system has the ability to display the specified media objects in a toolbar or console. The system is able to play multiple media objects concurrently and to independently control the sound produced by multiple media objects and also has the capability of performing a pre-recorded set of instructions to cause an object in the DOM to execute, such as playing a video or opening a file.
US08181109B2
An apparatus and method for providing Unicode support in legacy operating systems are provided. With the apparatus and method, a focus hook module, keyboard hook module, and keystroke conversion module are registered with the legacy operating system. The focus hook module determines the currently active application and whether the currently active application is Unicode capable. The keyboard hook module receives keyboard events from an input interface and sends those keyboard events to the keystroke conversion module. The keystroke conversion module converts the keyboard events into Unicode characters which are sent back to the keyboard hook module. The keyboard hook module then stores the Unicode characters in a temporary storage memory, e.g., the clipboard. The keyboard hook module then sends a command to the application to paste the contents of the temporary storage memory to the currently active application.
US08181107B2
A system includes a mobile device and an optimization server. The mobile device is capable of transmitting request data that includes a requested webpage and identification data. The optimization server is configured to receive response data that corresponds to the request data from a content server, to adapt the response data based on the identification data, and to transmit the adapted response data to the mobile device.
US08181099B2
Disclosed is a transmission device in a communication system in which a systematic code obtained by systematic encoding of information bits into which dummy bits are inserted and by deleting the dummy bits from the results of the systematic encoding is transmitted and, on the receiving side, the dummy bits which had been deleted on the transmitting side are inserted into the received systematic code, and then decoding is performed. In this transmission device, a dummy bit insertion portion decides the size of the dummy bits to be inserted into the information bits based on a specified code rate or based on the physical channel transmission rate, and uniformly inserts dummy bits of this size into the information bits; a systematic code generation portion performs systematic encoding of the information bits into which the dummy bits are inserted, and deletes the dummy bits from the results of the systematic encoding to generate a systematic code, which is transmitted.
US08181098B2
Methods and corresponding systems in a Viterbi decoder include computing a maximum likelihood (ML) path in a Viterbi trellis in response to executing a first Viterbi algorithm. Thereafter, one or more merge points are selected on the ML path in a second Viterbi algorithm, wherein the merge points each have a path metric difference, which is a difference between an ML path metric at the merge point and a non-surviving path metric at the merge point. Merge points are selected based upon relative path metric differences associated with nodes on the ML path. Next, alternate paths in the Viterbi trellis are computed based on the ML path with alternate paths substituted at corresponding merge points. A passing decoded bit sequence is output in response to passing an error check, wherein the passing decoded bit sequence is associated with one of the one or more alternate paths.
US08181089B1
A method for auto-correction of errors in an array of solid-state storage devices having a plurality of storage channels dedicated to storing parity data to provide fault tolerance for a loss of at least two of the plurality of storage channels. A read operation from the storage channels transfers data to a plurality of channel memories. The data in the channel memories is checked to confirm the data is valid. Responsive to detection of invalid data, the data may be tested to identify the storage channel in error, including sequentially excluding data read form a different one of the plurality of channel memories from a parity check and determining the validity of data from remaining channel memories. If valid data is obtained, the storage channel from which the data was excluded is identified as the storage channel in error.
US08181088B2
An apparatus and method for recording and/or reproducing data on a disc are provided using padding information, and a corresponding information storage medium. The recording method includes recording a recording unit block in which invalid data is padded in part of the block and recording padding information indicating that the invalid data is included. According to the method, a disc drive becomes able to distinguish valid data from invalid data in an error correction block such that reliability of reproduction increases and stability of the system is improved.
US08181086B2
Various embodiments include apparatus, methods, and systems that operate to extend the processes of reading, modifying, and writing data stored in or being provided to a memory array without interrupting a continual stream of data to be written into the memory array. Embodiments may include an apparatus comprising a memory array, and an error code module coupled to the memory array with a data buffer having a plurality of data burst registers operable to receive a plurality of data bursts to be written to the memory array on a corresponding plurality of consecutive clock cycles. The error code module is operable to perform a read/modify/write process on each of the plurality of data bursts within a time period no longer than a period of two consecutive cycles of the plurality of consecutive clock cycles.
US08181083B2
An embodiment of a decoder for decoding a Low-Density Parity-Check encoded input data includes a serial processing unit operating in clock cycles to perform serial update of the layers in the code. Operations of the serial processing unit to produce output data for a current layer are pipelined with acquisition of input data for a next layer, whereby the current layer and the next layer may attempt to use soft output information common to both layers. The serial processing unit is configured for delaying acquisition of input data for the next layer over a number of idle clock cycles. Latency due to the idle clock cycles is minimized by selectively modifying the sequence of layers through the decoding process and the sequence of messages processed by a certain layer.
US08181080B2
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting of data frames from user equipment to a base station in a wireless telecommunication network. The method comprises an error control step adapted to retransmit the data frame from the user equipment to the base station, if the received data frame contains errors or if no acknowledge message is received by the user equipment within a predetermined amount of time. The method further comprises a transmission power control step adapted to control a transmission power of the data frames in such a way that the number of retransmissions corresponds to a predetermined number of target retransmission. The number of target retransmission is adapted depending on the traffic load and/or the number of users connected to the base station.
US08181078B2
Methods and systems for simplified error recovery in a SAS device. A SAS device (e.g., a SAS/SSP target device such as a storage device) enhanced in accordance with features and aspects hereof NAKs a received frame that has an error and then NAKS all subsequently received frames, regardless of whether received with or without error, until the connection is closed. The second SAS device (e.g., a SAS/SSP initiator) then performs required error recovery by re-establishing a connection and re-transmitting all previously NAKed frames. The enhanced SAS thereby simplifies logic for error recovery.
US08181073B2
A SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) macro test flop circuit includes a flip-flop circuit, a scan control circuit, and an output buffer circuit. The flip-flop circuit includes a master latch circuit and a slave latch circuit. The master latch circuit includes a master feed-back circuit including a master storage node and a master feed-forward circuit. The slave latch circuit includes a slave feed-back circuit including a slave storage node and a slave feed-forward circuit driven from the master latch. The scan control circuit includes a scan slave feed-forward circuit, a scan latch circuit, and a scan driver circuit driven by the scan feed-back circuit. The scan latch circuit includes a scan feed-back circuit comprising a scan storage node and a scan feed-forward circuit driven from the slave latch. The output buffer circuit includes a master driver driven from master latch circuit and a slave driver driven from slave latch circuit.
US08181062B2
An apparatus comprising a logically contiguous group of at least two drives, a loop and a compression/decompression circuit. Each of the drives comprises (i) a first region configured to store compressed data of a previous drive and (ii) a second region configured to store uncompressed data of the drive. The loop may be connected to the next drive in the logically contiguous group. The compression/decompression circuit may be configured to compress and decompress the data stored on each of the drives.
US08181056B2
Systems and methods for performing output delay adjustment are provided for application in serial-connected devices operating as slave devices. A master device provides a clock to the first slave device, and each slave device passes the clock to the next slave device in turn, and the last slave device returns the clock to the master device. The master device compares the outgoing clock to the returned clock and determines if an output delay adjustment is needed. If so, the master device generates and outputs commands for the slave devices to perform output delay adjustment. The slave devices apply the output delay to the clock signal, but may also apply the delay to other output signals. Each of the slave devices has a circuit for performing output delay adjustment. In some implementations, each slave device is a memory device, and the master device is a memory controller.
US08181051B2
An electronic apparatus and a method of conserving energy comprises providing an energy-conservation module to control use of one or more energy-saving mechanism by a hardware element. The energy-conservation module comprises a performance estimation module that estimates a performance level requirement of the hardware element and a slack time. A cost-benefit qualifier module is provided that uses one or more generic algorithm and at least one separate record that characterizes power use and performance by the hardware element in relation to a Performance Power state of the selected energy-saving mechanism in order to determine an existence of an energy saving. The cost-benefit qualifier module sets the hardware element to use the Performance Power state of the selected energy-saving mechanism if the energy-saving exists.
US08181048B2
A memory circuit power management system and method are provided. An interface circuit is in communication with a plurality of memory circuits and a system. In use, the interface circuit is operable to perform a power management operation in association with only a portion of the memory circuits.
US08181045B2
A circuit and method utilizing a power control data bus for implementing power control. Various aspects of the present invention provide an electrical circuit that comprises a power supply circuit that outputs electrical power. The electrical circuit may also comprise an integrated circuit that receives electrical power from the power supply circuit. The electrical circuit may also comprise a power control data bus, which communicatively couples a power control data bus interface of the power supply circuit and a power control data bus interface of the integrated circuit. The power control data bus may, for example, carry power control data between the integrated circuit and the power supply circuit. Various aspects of the present invention also provide a method that comprises communicating power control data over a power control data bus and utilizing the power control data to control characteristics of electrical power provided to an integrated circuit or module.
US08181040B2
A program execution device capable of protecting a program against unauthorized analysis and alteration is provided. The program execution device includes an execution unit, a first protection unit, and a second protection unit. The execution unit executes a first program and a second program, and is connected with an external device that is capable of controlling the execution. The first protection unit disconnects the execution unit from the external device while the execution unit is executing the first program. The second protection unit protects the first program while the execution unit is executing the second program.
US08181038B2
Systems and methods for secure program execution are described. At least one embodiment includes a system for securely executing software comprising a host configured to accept a disc containing encrypted content to be accessed and store an encrypted program used to access the content on the disc. The system further comprises a secure coprocessor communicatively coupled to the host and configured to receive the encrypted program, decrypt and execute the encrypted program, and communicate an output generated by the program back to the host.
US08181025B2
A method for managing an agent includes verifying an integrity of the agent in response to a registration request. Memory protection is provided for the agent during integrity verification. An indication is generated when registration of the agent has been completed. According to one aspect of the present invention, providing memory protection includes having a virtual machine monitor limit access to the agent. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08181024B2
In the configuration performing a data processing by a hardware processing circuit (accelerator), to provide a technology capable of improving a poorness of processing efficiency by multiple accesses to the data, the following solving means are provided. A network data processing accelerator of the present network data processing apparatus comprises processing units corresponding to each processing of an encryption/decryption, a message authentication, and a checksum, and in the data processing including a combination of each processing, accesses for the same data of the memory and the like through a bus I/F unit and the like is collected together into one time, and a pipeline processing is performed using the least common multiple of the data processing unit of each processing.
US08181023B2
An information processing device is provided with a tamper-proof IC chip that includes a storage area and that can process data from the storage area, and with a storage module that includes a storage area external to the IC chip. First key data stored in the IC chip storage area and second key data stored in the storage module storage area are used for two-way authentication between the IC chip and the storage module and for encrypting and decrypting data in the storage module storage area. The IC chip storage area includes a cache area to temporarily store data. The IC chip, following a request by an external device, uses the key data for two-way authentication with the storage module, securely reads data to satisfy the request from the storage module storage area into the IC chip cache area, and processes the data read into the cache area.
US08181014B2
A method and apparatus for protecting the routing of data packets in a packet data network. When a first end-host sends an address query to a DNS server system regarding a second end-host, the DNS server system responds by providing a destination parameter containing an encrypted destination address associated with the second end-host. Thereby, the first end-host is able to get across data packets to the second end-host by attaching the destination parameter to each transmitted data packet. A router in the packet data network admits a received packet if a destination parameter is attached to the packet including a valid destination address encrypted by a key dependent on a distributed master encryption key. Otherwise, the router discards the packet if no such valid destination address can be derived from the packet by applying decryption to the destination parameter.
US08181006B2
Method of configuring a terminal (10a) by means of a device external to said terminal (50a) able to communicate with said terminal and comprising data storage means, the initialization of said terminal triggering at least: a step for executing a boot program of an operating system of said terminal, said boot program being stored in a first memory area of said storage means, a step for verifying, by the boot program, a first digital signature of a first file stored in a second memory area of said storage means, said first file comprising a kernel of an operating system of said terminal, a step for starting up said kernel, said startup step being intended to be triggered only if said digital signature is valid.
US08181004B2
Embodiments include a device and a method. In an embodiment, a device provides a resource manager operable to select a resource management policy likely to provide a substantially optimum execution of an instruction group by comparing an execution of the instruction group pursuant to a first resource management policy applied to a hardware resource and an execution of the instruction group pursuant to a second resource management policy applied to the hardware resource.
US08181002B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that merges checkpoints on a processor. The system starts by executing instructions speculatively during a speculative-execution episode. The system then generates a first checkpoint and a second checkpoint during the speculative-execution episode. Next, the system merges the first checkpoint with the second checkpoint during the speculative-execution episode, wherein merging the first and second checkpoints conserves processor resources.
US08180997B2
A method, system and computer program product for dynamically composing processor cores to form logical processors. Processor cores are composable in that the processor cores are dynamically allocated to form a logical processor to handle a change in the operating status. Once a change in the operating status is detected, a mechanism may be triggered to recompose one or more processor cores into a logical processor to handle the change in the operating status. An analysis may be performed as to how one or more processor cores should be recomposed to handle the change in the operating status. After the analysis, the one or more processor cores are recomposed into the logical processor to handle the change in the operating status. By dynamically allocating the processor cores to handle the change in the operating status, performance and power efficiency is improved.
US08180986B2
A transactional memory system is described for reporting memory access violations which occur when memory accesses made from instructions within a transaction conflict with memory accesses to the same memory location made from a non-transactional instruction. In an embodiment this is achieved by creating two mappings of a physical heap being used by a thread. The thread (which may be part of a multi-threaded process) comprises instructions for both transactional and non-transactional accesses to the physical heap which may execute concurrently as part of that thread. One of the mappings is used for non-transactional memory accesses to the physical heap. The other mapping is used for transactional memory accesses to the physical heap. Access permissions associated with the mappings are controlled to enable attempted memory access violations to be detected and reported.
US08180984B1
A system for consolidation of backups. Each backup includes data and a map with offsets or addresses that point to data of current and/or previous backups. Backup are selected for consolidation. The offsets in the maps of the selected backups are combined into a single set of offsets; consolidating the selected backups to a new backup that contains the latest data from the selected backups, determined based on the offsets in the single set. The offsets in the single set are updated to point to the data in the new backup. The updated offsets are stored in the new backup as part of a backup map of the new backup. The selected backups comprise one initial full backup and at least one backup. Offsets from the maps of first backup of the selected sequence of backups up to the last created backup are checked.
US08180983B1
A method and system for caching filenames of a directory that is striped across the volumes serviced by a plurality of storage server nodes. The method comprises storing a filename in a first volume and a second volume of the striped volume set in the same locations within the respective volumes. The same locations within the respective volumes refer to the same locations with respect to a reference point of a directory structure in the respective volumes.
US08180981B2
System and method for using flash memory in a memory hierarchy. A computer system includes a processor coupled to a memory hierarchy via a memory controller. The memory hierarchy includes a cache memory, a first memory region of random access memory coupled to the memory controller via a first buffer, and an auxiliary memory region of flash memory coupled to the memory controller via a flash controller. The first buffer and the flash controller are coupled to the memory controller via a single interface. The memory controller receives a request to access a particular page in the first memory region. The processor detects a page fault corresponding to the request and in response, invalidates cache lines in the cache memory that correspond to the particular page, flushes the invalid cache lines, and swaps a page from the auxiliary memory region to the first memory region.
US08180965B2
A cache system includes a cache having a plurality of cache units, a prediction table and a hashing module. The prediction table is utilized to store way information of at least one cache unit corresponding to at least one accessing address, and the hashing module generates a hashing value corresponding to a target accessing address and reads way information from the prediction table or writes the way information to the prediction table by using the hashing value as an index.
US08180963B2
The present disclosure relates to a system for hierarchical read-combining memory having a multicore processor operably coupled to a memory controller. The memory controller is configured for receiving a plurality of requests for data from one or more processing cores of the multicore processor, selectively holding a request for data from the plurality of requests for an undetermined or indefinite amount of time, and selectively combining a plurality of requests for the same data into a single read-combined data request. The present disclosure further relates to a method for hierarchical read-combining data requests of a multicore processor and a computer accessible medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a procedure for hierarchical read-combining data requests of a multicore processor.
US08180961B1
A machine implemented process and system is provided. The process determines if any right granted to an entity for performing an I/O operation associated with a data container stored at a first storage volume is to be revoked. The right itself may be cached at the first storage volume and resident at a second storage volume. A recall message is sent to the node that manages the second storage volume. Any pending I/O operation is completed, after the message is sent and before the right is revoked. Thereafter, the right is revoked and the cached copies of the right are invalidated.
US08180937B2
Methods and systems for a low noise amplifier with tolerance to large inputs are disclosed and may include generating at least one control signal that controls a plurality of directional modes of at least one contact pad on a mobile multimedia processor (MMP) in an integrated circuit. Selectable modes may include: bidirectional, input, and an output mode. Each of the modes includes a bypass mode and a processing mode that may be controlled by the generated control signal. Received data may be processed by circuitry in the MMP when the processing mode may be enabled. Received data may be passed through the MMP without being processed by the MMP when the bypass mode may be enabled. An additional signal may be generated to dynamically pull-down a potential of the at least one contact pad and/or to pull-up a potential of said at least one contact pad.
US08180931B2
An electronic flash-memory card has additional pipes for commands and status messages so that data pipes are not clogged with commands and status messages, allowing for a higher data throughput. The command and status pipes are activated when a UAS/BOT detector detects that a host is using a USB-Attached-SCSI (UAS) mode rather than a Bulk-Only-Transfer (BOT) mode. The host can send additional commands and data without waiting for completion of a prior command when operating in UAS mode but not while operating in BOT mode. A command queue (CQ) in the device re-orders commands for accessing flash memory and merges data in a RAM buffer. Smaller 1 KB USB packets in the data pipes are merged into larger 8 KB payloads in the RAM buffer, allowing for more efficient flash access.
US08180930B2
Information processing device, and device initialization method in the information processing device
The information processing device of the present invention includes: an initialization unit that is realized by the execution of firmware for carrying out a first initialization process for enabling access from the firmware to devices that are connected to the information processing device; a control unit that is realized by operation of an OS for carrying out a second initialization process for enabling access to the devices from the OS; and a main memory unit; wherein the initialization unit includes a device initialization unit for setting the device control information that is necessary for accessing devices in the first initialization process and an initialization information storage unit for storing in the main memory unit initialization information that includes the device control information that was set by the device initialization unit, and where in the control unit includes a device information application unit for acquiring the initialization information of devices from the main memory unit in the second initialization process.
US08180926B2
A spoofing module that mimics remote computer resources to optimize system responsiveness and avoid expiration of intentional and unintentional timeouts in extended computer systems. The invention is capable of appearing to the host system and selectively responding to the host system as if it were the actual hardware. The invention includes a throttling mechanism to prevent data over-run.
US08180908B2
A business-to-vehicle platform functions as an information technology (IT) integration platform to support secure communication between a vehicle's onboard IT system and any offboard third-party IT system. In one embodiment, the a vehicle's communication hub is decoupled from all voice and data traffic to/from third-party service providers, such that the vehicles will “look and feel” like standard business IT devices to the third-party service providers. In certain embodiments, this decoupling enables the use of standardized business IT services in vehicles, rather than the traditional approach of requiring vehicle-specific embedded services.
US08180904B1
Data transfer over a network is effected in a manner that facilitates the use of available communications channels and makes possible enhanced data routing control and monitoring. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, data is routed to a remote (e.g., mobile) user device over a packet-communicating network having a plurality of communication links. When the transfer of data to the remote use device is requested or otherwise initiated, a host server selects one of the plurality of communications links available for transferring the data to the remote user device. The host server then uses routing functions (e.g., software) at a registered data source to access and transfer data from the registered data source to the remote user device.
US08180902B1
Transparent network devices intercept messages from non-transparent network devices that establish a connection. Transparent network devices modify these messages to establish an inner connection with each other. The transparent network devices mimic at least some of the outer connection messages to establish their inner connection. The mimicked messages and any optional reset messages are intercepted by the transparent network devices to prevent them from reaching the outer connections. Transparent network devices modify network traffic, using error detection data, fragmentation data, or timestamps, so that inner connection network traffic inadvertently received by outer connection devices is rejected or ignored by the outer connection network devices. Transparent network devices may use different sequence windows for inner and outer connection network traffic. To prevent overlapping sequence windows, transparent network devices monitor the locations of the inner and outer connection sequence windows and may rapidly advance the inner connection sequence window as needed.
US08180898B2
In one aspect, a data network is provided. The data network includes a first user and a second user, a central device, data and a spontaneous communication connection. The first and second users are each ad hoc capable. The central device provides a distribution of data such that data is transmitted from the central device to the first user. The spontaneous communication connection is established between the first and second users and the data is transmitted directly from the first user to the second user via the spontaneous communication connection.
US08180897B2
An apparatus in one embodiment handles service requests over a network, wherein the network utilizes a protocol. In this aspect, the apparatus includes: a network subsystem for receiving and transmitting network service requests using the network protocol; and a service subsystem, coupled to the network subsystem, for satisfying the network service requests. At least one of the network subsystem and the service subsystem is hardware-implemented; the other of the network subsystem and the service subsystem may optionally be hardware-accelerated. A variety of related embodiments are also provided, including file servers and web servers.
US08180895B2
Improved techniques that facilitate the use of podcasts are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, organizing, searching, browsing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, tags are embedded into syndication feeds (e.g., RSS feeds) that may be made available for distribution by an online media store to facilitate the management of podcasts. Such tags can include a block tag that may be embedded into a syndication feed to indicate whether the feed is to be blocked from being included in the online media store. According to another aspect, management of podcasts may be facilitated by other mechanisms. In accordance with one embodiment, a user may challenge the ownership of a podcast to block or remove a podcast from the online media store. In accordance with another embodiment, images may be stored to allow efficient retrieval of the corresponding episode(s) of a podcast.
US08180894B2
A system and method for policy-based registration of client devices is provided. Policy-based registration may use registration keys to register devices on a network. For example, registration keys may include policy assignments, folder assignments, group assignments, or other assignments for registering, identifying, and managing the device on the network. Devices can register one or more times (e.g., using one or more registration keys), resulting in the device being added to any number of folders and groups. Further, the policies may be used to control a registration process or to enforce registration rules. As such, administrators can construct folders or groups of devices with a set of keys, providing a consistent mechanism to easily register and manage a device.
US08180883B1
A method and system for processing directives included in management events are disclosed. A method for handling management events includes detecting an event generated upon an occurrence relating to a device, such as a network device. The device related occurrence has a characteristic. A directive, appropriate to this characteristic, is included with the event format. The event is directed to a management entity, which interprets the directive and handles the event by processing it according to the directive. Such preprocessing directives included in the events allow recipients of the events to decide what to do with them, e.g., with the messages therein, and thus help prevent inadvertent loss of information conveyed in these events.
US08180881B2
A packet data analyzer on a mobile communication network for analyzing packet data traffic, monitoring services, generating billing information per data service, and monitoring the network based on a protocol analysis, comprises a packet data separator provided between one of a mobile communication exchange and a packet controller that provide a wireless data service to the subscriber, and the service server, for separating user packet data transmitted between one of the mobile communication exchange and the packet controller and the service server, and receiving the user packet data; a traffic analyzer for separating the user packet data received through the packet data separator according to transmission directions, and analyzing the user packet data; a statistics storage unit for storing and managing result data analyzed by the traffic analyzer; and a statistics reference unit for retrieving data stored in the statistics storage unit, and providing statistical information desired by the user.
US08180878B2
A method and network node for terminating an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-enabled communication service involving a user terminal, which has been allocated an IP address by an access network used by the terminal to access the communication service. Upon determining that the IP address is no longer allocated to the user by the access network, the node terminates the IMS communication service.
US08180867B2
A method of analyzing configuration parameters of IEDs across one or more networks in an electrical system and automatically determines whether any anomalies exist in the configuration parameters for a selected group of IEDs. A list of all IEDs in the electrical system along with configuration templates including firmware and program versions maintained in a master list are stored in central database on a server communicatively coupled to the IEDs through the networks. Configuration parameter values from the IEDs and from any newly added IEDs are scanned and compared against the configuration templates. Anomalies in the parameter values are identified and highlighted to the user, who may decide to accept the anomaly as expected or change the anomalous parameter value for one IED or a group of IEDs. The master list is updated with any user-approved changes to parameter values. Periodic polling of configuration parameters is also supported.
US08180864B2
The present invention provides a scripting tool through which a user can interact with and execute scripting instructions of a scripting language on a server to perform administrative tasks. It interprets scripting instructions either interactively, supplied one-at-a-time from a command prompt on a scripting interface, or in batches via a script file, and it can be used either online or offline. The scripting tool enables a user to interact with the server in a session-like manner by establishing a persistent connection with the server. Once the connection is established, each instruction that the user enters to configure the server may use the same connection that has already been established. Such “session-permanent-connection” approach eliminates the need for the user to establish and re-authenticate a connection for each instruction. The scripting tool is also capable of converting an existing configuration file into a reusable script that can be used to create duplicate configurations. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
US08180860B2
A method for providing wireless device management. The method comprises receiving a first request for wireless devices comprising specified software. The specified software is loaded on each of the wireless devices in response to the first request. The wireless devices comprising the specified software are delivered. The wireless devices are connected to a wireless network. Wireless configuration management is provided the wireless network for each of the delivered wireless devices for a specified amount of time.
US08180854B2
An aspect request associated with a web application is received by an aspect server, the web application being hosted by a web application server that is remote from the aspect server. Operations are performed according to the aspect request, the operations being associated with a crosscutting concern. A result is returned, the result supplementing functionality of the web application.
US08180836B2
An information processing apparatus for communicating a communication apparatus, includes: a transmitting unit configured to transmit a plurality of transmission mails to the communication apparatus; a receiving unit configured to receive a plurality of reception mails from the communication apparatus; an extracting unit configured to extract at least one of the plurality of transmission mails and the plurality of reception mails with respect to a specified other user from the plurality of the transmission mails and the plurality of the reception mails; a creating unit configured to create a list screen, in which at least one of the plurality of transmission mails and the plurality of reception mails are arranged, by using at least one of the plurality of transmission mails and the plurality of reception mails with respect to the specified other user extracted by the extracting unit; and a display unit configured to display the list screen created by the creating unit.
US08180832B2
Differential dynamic content delivery including providing a session document for a presentation, wherein the session document includes a session grammar and a session structured document; identifying a recording period within a presentation session; recording, during the recording period, a presentation control instruction; selecting from the session structured document a classified structural element in dependence upon the recorded presentation control instruction and in dependence upon user classifications of a user participant in the presentation; and presenting the selected structural element to the user.
US08180825B2
Network services are provided to client devices based on the network traffic to be communicated between the device and the network. A number of home agents are configured to provide network services to mobile nodes. The system is configured in such a way that a mobile nodes may be served by more than one of the home agents. Thereby, for example, a certain mobile node may be provided one type of network traffic via one home agent and a different type of network traffic via another home agent.
US08180813B1
A network storage server system includes a distributed object store, a presentation layer, a metadata subsystem, and a content management subsystem. The object store has no namespace and provides location-independent addressing of data objects. The presentation layer provides multiple interfaces for accessing data stored in the object store, including a NAS interface and a Web Service interface, and provides at least one namespace for accessing data via the NAS interface or the Web Service interface. The Web Service interface allows access to stored data via the namespace or without using the namespace (“raw object” access). The metadata subsystem stores user-specified and/or system-generated metadata relating to data objects and allows data objects to be identified and retrieved by searching on the metadata. The content management subsystem autonomously manages lifecycles of data objects according to user-specified policies, based on metadata associated with the data objects and tracked by the metadata subsystem.
US08180808B2
Disclosed herein is a computer implemented method and system for grouping spend items in a list of said spend items, and for detecting outliers. The spend items entered into the spend database are phonetically sorted and grouped into second level clusters by the spend data clustering engine. In the first level of clustering, first level clusters are created by matching the spend items using generated word tokens and sorted sound codes. The unique spend items, in the list generated after first level clustering, are further matched to create second level clusters. The first level clusters are updated based on the second level of clustering. In order to determine discrepancies in clustering and spend, statistically deviating outliers are detected in each second level cluster. This engine provides clustering at configurable levels of accuracy. The engine's specific combination of word token and sound code matching provides accurate results for spend items.
US08180805B2
Systems and methods consistent with the invention may include selecting a plurality of hosts to store data structures by defining a color incidence process used to model a host assignment process, determining, by the color incidence process, a color allocation, and assigning the data structures to one of the plurality of hosts based on the color allocation determined by the color incidence process.
US08180801B2
Data stream query mediation may utilize a query handler configured to receive a query from a stream application to be applied against a stream of data including multiple tuples representing events. A stream window manager may be configured to express the query in a specification which defines a window including a subset of the tuples, the specification defining content of the window as a range of the tuples having a range attribute over which the content is specified, defining when to update the window using a synchronization attribute specifying a movement of the window over time with respect to the content, and defining an evaluation of the content of the window using an evaluation attribute specifying when to perform the evaluation. A query translator may be configured to translate the query including mapping the range attribute, the synchronization attribute, and the evaluation attribute to a stream processing language of a data stream management system (DSMS), to thereby obtain a translated query. A DSMS mediator may be configured to provide the translated query to the DSMS for processing therewith.
US08180800B2
A system receives context data associated with a context and a user. The system then associates the context data to a user identifier and retrieves data associated with the context. The system then filters the data according to the context data to create result data. In another embodiment, the system also receives context data from a plurality of users, where the context data pertains to one or more attributes of a context. The system then using the context data ranks the one or more attributes of the context to create ranked data and generates a user interface based on the ranked data. In yet another embodiment, the system communicates context data associated with a context and a user to a server, and receives result data created by the server filtering data retrieved based on the context data. The system then generates a user interface based on the result data.
US08180792B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving a song claim, and comparing the song claim to records of a database of songs. To this end, results of the comparing may be indicated. In various embodiments, such songs may include musical works, compositions, etc. Of course, songs in the form of a recording are also contemplated.
US08180791B2
A query is rewritten to combine streaming evaluation and XML index evaluation. The query is rewritten to include a streaming operator (e.g. function) that, when executed, uses streaming evaluation. Further, the query is rewritten so that XML index evaluation of a path expression also produces location information that identifies the location of a node within an XML document. The streaming operator is able to exploit the location information to begin and end scanning rather than scanning the entire XML document.
US08180785B2
A method and system for searching numerical terms are provided. The method includes processing a numerical term to a stem, the stem being in the form of a number, and a distance measurement of the numerical term to the stem, wherein a numerical term is a string of characters identified as a number by a numeric parser, and indexing the numerical term in a search index by the stem for search retrieval. The method includes receiving a query and processing the query to divide it into terms, including a numerical term. The numerical terms of the query are also processed to a stem and a distance measurement and document results are retrieved for the stem from an index.
US08180773B2
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for detecting a duplicate document. A plurality of documents may be assigned to categories, each category corresponding to a collection of duplicates, or near duplicate documents. A new document may be received. The new document may be evaluated against each category to determine a similarity score between the new document and each category. The new document may be identified as a duplicate based on the similarity scores and thresholds for each category. An action may then be performed on the duplicate based on duplication rules. The thresholds and duplication rules may be customized by a user.
US08180767B2
A tagged content inference system and method is provided. The system facilitates browsing of content with a pseudo-hierarchical feel using algorithmically-deduced relationships between items based on user applied tags. Based, at least in part, upon tagged content, an inference component can infer relationships between items (e.g., creating a pseudo-hierarchy) in order to facilitate browsing of the items.The system can further include a relationship display component that can provide a visual representation of tagged items based on relationship(s) inferred by the inference component. The visual representation can further be based, at least in part, upon user input (e.g., threshold quantity of tags to be displayed, threshold strength of relationship, color setting(s), etc.).
US08180760B1
An automatic account organization tool is provided to organize a large adgroup into smaller adgroups with semantically meaningful names. For example, a set of input keywords is received, semantically related pairs of keywords are identified from the set of input keywords, and hierarchical clustering is applied to the pairs of keywords to identify a set of clusters of keywords, each cluster having semantically related keywords. A name can be determined for each of the clusters.
US08180758B1
A predicate logic corpus can be generated from any number of data sources or data stores. The creation of a predicate logic corpus for information such as metadata allows ascendancy, descendancy, relationship, hierarchical, contextual, and knowledge information to be stored for predicate logic facts generated from information in the data sources. The predicate logic corpus allows for queries to be executed against corpus logic facts in the corpus and in results sets of the corpus, allowing for iterative and complex natural language queries to be submitted and executed without a substantial drain on resources.
US08180750B2
A real time health management analytical system and method that enables a plurality of plug-in tools and extension tools to be interfaced with a central database, and for enabling information to be published to the database from each of the client tools, as well as data to be read from the database by each of the client tools. The system makes use of an engineering model views module that provides a syntactic and semantic interface between the client tools and the central database so that health management data communicated to the client tools is presented in accordance with a specific view required by each specific client tool. An integrated support information model (ISIM) module is interposed between the data base and the engineering model views module, and forms a specification (e.g., an ontology) for all health domain information available for use by the client tools.
US08180740B1
A method and system for generating data fingerprints is used to de-duplicate a data set having a high level of redundancy. A fingerprint generator generates a data fingerprint based on a data window. Each byte of the data set is added to the fingerprint generator and used to detect an anchor within the received data. If no anchor is detected, the system continues receiving bytes until a predefined window size is reached. When the window size is reached, the system records a data fingerprint based on the data window and resets the window size. If an anchor is detected, the system extends the window size such that the window ends a specified length after the location of the anchor. If the extended window is greater than a maximum size, the system ignores the anchor. The generated fingerprints are compared to a fingerprint database. The data set is then de-duplicated by replacing matching data segments with references to corresponding stored data segments.
US08180739B2
A data processing method is provided. The method comprises collecting a stream of data records from one or more devices in a network; loading one or more persistent indexes associated with the stream of data records into memory; identifying duplicate data records in the stream of data records using the in-memory indexes; and updating a repository such that the duplicate data records are not stored in the repository or managed differently than non-duplicate data records.
US08180737B2
An archive for digital content comprises archive storage, an archive service and a manifest. The archive storage is a unified storage structure for storing items, such a directory having a plurality of subdirectories. The manifest is stored within the archive storage when the archive storage is loaded onto a storage device, and may comprise an index of items stored in the unified structure of the archive and/or an organizational structure that supports defined categories that characterize items stored in the unified structure and/or at least one backup queue that temporarily queues a list of items that satisfy predetermined backup criteria by have not been backed up. The archive service serves as an intermediate between users, e.g., operators, software modules, programs, services, etc., and the archive storage to control requests for access to items stored in the unified storage structure.
US08180734B1
Various embodiments of a system and method for initiating backup tasks to backup data from a plurality of client computer systems are described. The backup tasks may be initiated in an order specified by a ranking of the client computer systems according to their respective network transmission speeds. For example, the backup tasks may be prioritized so that backup tasks for client computer systems with faster transmission speeds are initiated before backup tasks for client computer systems with slower transmission speeds.
US08180733B2
Selective durability in a directory database is presented. A directory database that provides durability processing includes a mechanism where selective attributes for directory resources can turn durability processing off. So, when a directory transaction is encountered having a durability processing turned off, the directory database processes that directory transaction without first flushing the directory transaction from memory to storage.
US08180728B2
A hierarchical database stores data for the database in a plurality of areas. A disclosed technique allows reorganization of one or more areas of the database without stopping the entire database. The areas to be reorganized are first stopped, then the areas are unloaded, reorganized, and reloaded, before restarting the reorganized areas. In-memory control blocks for the areas are updated to indicate to the database software that the areas have been reorganized, without stopping the entire database.
US08180725B1
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that selects links while updating a probabilistic generative model for textual documents. During operation, the system receives a current model, which contains terminal nodes representing words and cluster nodes representing clusters of conceptually related words, wherein nodes in the current model are coupled together by weighted links, wherein if a node fires, a link from the node to another node is activated and causes the other node to fire with a probability proportionate to the weight of the link. Next, the system applies a set of training documents containing words to the current model to produce a new model. While doing so, the system: determines expected counts for activations of links and prospective links; determines link-ratings for the links and the prospective links based on the expected counts, and selects links to be included in the new model based on the determined link-ratings. Finally, the system makes the new model the current model.
US08180722B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for analyzing user activity and for recording such user activity in an entity relationship model. A network is searched for materials associated with a user and content analysis techniques are performed on the associated materials to extract one or more characteristics from the associated materials based on predefined criteria. The extracted information is stored in an entity relationship model that relates the user to the extracted characteristics. The characteristics may include activity information, expertise information and location information. The entity relationship model can thereafter be searched to identify and optionally contact one or more users having desired characteristics.
US08180721B2
Electronic data interchange (EDI) documents are validated by creating an inventory of all rules, dynamically adjusting the inventory based upon entity specific rules derived from a plurality of companion guides, determining a profile containing pointers to select rules in the inventory for each companion guide and storing the profile for each companion guide in a storage. A runtime checker can then be used to check a received EDI document with a corresponding rule set, forward the EDI document if the EDI document matches its current rule set and return the EDI document if the EDI document does not match its current rule set. EDI rules may be enforced, for example, by determining entity-specific rules from corresponding companion guides, by expressing each rule in a neutral and machine readable format, by classifying the rules and/or by creating an inventory of rules and pointers to entity-specific rules.
US08180720B1
A method of content delivery in a content delivery network (CDN), where the CDN is deployed, operated and managed by a content delivery network service provider (CDNSP). The CDN comprises a set of content servers and a domain name system (DNS) associated with a CDN namespace. For a given content provider, a determination is first made whether the content provider has “cold content” delivery requirements by evaluating one or more factors that include: total content size, size of content objects expected to be served, uniqueness of content, total number of content objects, and a percentage of the total content size that is expected to account for a given percentage of traffic. Upon a determination that the content provider has cold content delivery requirements, a subset of the CDN content servers are configured to implement a set of one or handling rules for managing delivery of the cold content from the CDN content servers.
US08180715B2
A database includes a list of members of a first group, a list of members of a second group, and ratings for at least some of the members of the second group. The database is accessed. The ratings are attributed to the members of the first group. A machine learning training set is built for a particular member of the first group. The training set includes class labels corresponding to the particular member's ratings for the members of the second group, and features that include supplied and predicted ratings from at least a subset of processed members of the first group. A predictor for the particular member of the first group is trained based on the machine learning training set. The predictor corresponding to the particular member is used to generate predicted ratings for one or more members of the second group the particular member has not rated.
US08180700B1
Systems and methods of selling employee stock options (ESOs) and other compensation instruments. The method may comprise receiving a sale order for the employee stock options from a seller. The method may also comprise the step of determining a winning bidder based on bids submitted by at least two bidders that specify a price for the employee stock options. The method may further comprise suspending the auction until there are qualifying bids from at least two bidders. The method may also comprise transferring a derivative in place of the employee stock options to the winning bidder, wherein the derivative entities the holder thereof to buy a quantity of securities of an issuer at the price.
US08180697B2
A method of computing a real estate derivative index value includes: selecting asking rent data; selecting lease rent data; and combining the selected asking rent data and the selected lease rent data to form the index value. The method may further include further combining the combined data with a value representative of general market conditions; forming a composite index of data from plural markets; or computing the index at the end of a time period as: ΔFKI or as ΔRP+ΔCPI+ΔFKI. The method may further include trading based on the index by deriving a trade value from the index value, and executing a trade based on the derived trade value. The method may be carried as instructions on a machine-readable medium and may be carried out using a computer for part or all of the method.
US08180695B2
A method of administering an investment fund. The method includes the steps of creating shares for sale, providing a managed distribution schedule identifying a number of payments to be provided during each of consecutive periods, providing an investment strategy for investing in assets to provide funds sufficient to meet the managed distribution schedule, issuing a share to an investor in exchange for funds received from the investor, investing the received funds according to the investment strategy, calculating the value of each of the payments to be provided according to the managed distribution schedule in a period to the investor, and providing each of the payments to the investor during the period. Each payment is calculated according to a formula that specifies that the value of each payment is based on a trailing Net Asset Value (NAV) of the investor's share.
US08180686B2
Disclosed herein is a multi-step authentication-based electronic payment method using a mobile terminal. Order request information of a product is sequentially transmitted to an affiliated store server and a PG company server, and the product and a relevant affiliated store are verified. A mobile communication company server primarily authenticates the user, and the PG company server generates an OTP. The OTP is transmitted to allow the PG company server to secondarily authenticate the user using the OTP. The affiliated store server requests the PG company server to confirm information about a payment for the product and information about authentication of the user, and the PG company server confirms payment and authentication information. The affiliated store server requests the PG company server to process payment for the product, the PG company server requests the mobile communication company server to process payment, and the mobile communication company server processes requested payment.
US08180685B2
A method, system and computer readable medium for facilitating interactive electronic commerce transactions over an electronic commerce network between a plurality of sellers and a plurality of buyers via an independent service provider. A request is received from a seller over the electronic commerce network to generate an auction program process associated with the seller. The auction program process associated with the seller is generated by an electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) hyperlink associated with the auction program process is generated by the electronic commerce computer. The URL hyperlink is communicated to the seller for insertion into a web page hosted on a website other than the independent service provider's website, wherein the web page displays information about an item for sale. The auction program process generated by the electronic commerce computer of the independent service provider is activated when a buyer clicks on the inserted hyperlink on the hosting website.
US08180684B1
A system for selling wellhead production assets is provided. The system includes a bid request system that displays one or more bidders, such as approved oil refinery operators, and receives one or more bidder selections from the seller. A production posting system connected to the bid request system receives the bidder selections and provides lease data to the bidders selected by the seller, so as to allow the seller to obtain competing bids without alerting the bidders of the other competing bids.
US08180681B2
The presently preferred embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus that enables software publishers and other sellers of subscription services. e.g. subscriptions, such as maintenance or license programs, to track when the subscription period for each customer expires, to inform interested contacts at the customer proactively that a renewal for their subscription is coming due, and to provide a way for those contacts at the customer to purchase a renewal of their subscription program.
US08180676B2
Systems and methods to provide telephonic connections. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a listing on a marketplace, the listing including an assigned reference to be used to initiate a real time communication connection; and billing for a real time communication lead generated from presenting the listing in response to a real time communication initiated via the reference. In one embodiment, a method includes: conducting online auction of telephonic leads; determining a way to present listings based at least partially on received price bids on the telephonic leads (e.g., the order of placement, the selection for placement, etc); and providing the listings with information to initiate a telephonic connection in a way trackable to measure a number of telephonic calls generated from presenting the listings.
US08180668B2
An insurance claim processing system may include an insurance claim database, an event processor component, a task engine component and a collaborative intelligent task processor. The insurance claim database may be configured to store and provide access to data in a data record that is related to an insurance claim. The event processor component may be executable with a computer to iteratively monitor the data in the data record and identify events. The task engine component may be executable with a computer in response to one of the identified events to generate tasks indicative of information that needs to be acquired based on the contents of the data record. The collaborative intelligent task processor may be executable with a computer to analyze a task generated by the task engine component and select an action plan that is responsive to the task. The action plan may include a first procedure that enables the collaborative intelligent task processor to acquire information related to the insurance claim, and a second procedure that enables the collaborative intelligent task processor to process the information to yield a result responsive to the task.
