US08318204B2
Disclosed is a pH-sensitive block copolymer obtained by copolymerization of: (a) a polyethylene glycol compound (A); and (b) at least one poly(amino acid) compound selected from the group consisting of a poly(β-amino ester) and poly(amido amine) or a copolymer thereof (B). A method for preparing the same block copolymer, and a polymer micelle type drug composition comprising the pH-sensitive block copolymer and a physiologically active substance that can be encapsulated with the block copolymer are also disclosed. The pH-sensitive block copolymer is obtained by polymerization of a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol compound with a pH-sensitive biodegradable poly(amino acid) compound. Therefore, the pH-sensitive block copolymer can form a micelle structure due to its amphiphilicity and ionization characteristics depending on pH variations, and thus can be used as drug carrier for target-directed drug delivery depending on pH variations in the body.
US08318196B2
The invention relates to aqueous formulations comprising alkoxylated castor oils with 15-25 ethyleneoxy units and a vitamin, preferably a fat-soluble vitamin, as well as to the use of such formulations in the process to administer the vitamin to an animal, or to make personal care formulations comprising the vitamin.
US08318194B2
A porous silicon implant impregnated with a beneficial substance, such as a micromineral required for healthy physiology, is implanted subcutaneously and is entirely corroded away over the following months/year to release the micromineral in a controlled manner. In a second embodiment the implant may have a large number of holes which contain beneficial substance and which are closed by bio-errordable doors of different thickness so as to stagger the release of the beneficial substance over time as the doors are breached.
US08318179B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least one purified PorA protein antigen and at least one purified FetA protein antigen. In particular, said PorA/FetA antigens are antigenically variable antigens comprising the variable regions of PorA/FetA. Specific combinations of PorA/FetA epitopes are presented for example in Table 3. The invention also relates to methods of immunization comprising administering said compositions, and to methods for producing compositions. Preferably the compositions are purified protein compositions. Preferably the compositions are vaccine compositions.
US08318175B2
Disclosed herein are methods for treating amyloid disease in humans by clearing amyloid peptides from one or more bodily fluids such as, e.g. blood, of a patient. In particular, the methods are based on the administration of compounds capable of binding to amyloid-beta (Aβ) or on dialysis of blood or plasma exchange in order to remove Aβ peptides from the blood circulation, and/or brain or other affected organs.
US08318174B2
MHC Class I-restricted peptides derived from the tumor associated antigen, survivin, which peptides are capable of binding to Class I HLA molecules at a high affinity, capable of eliciting INF-γ-producing cells in a PBL population of a cancer patient and capable of in situ detection of cytotoxic T cells in a tumor tissue, therapeutic and diagnostic composition comprising the peptide and uses thereof.
US08318173B2
The invention provides chimeric proteins and nucleic acids encoding these which can be used to generate vaccines against selected antigens. In one aspect, a chimeric protein comprises an antigen sequence and a domain for trafficking the protein to an endosomal compartment, irrespective of whether the antigen is derived from a membrane or non-membrane protein. In one preferred aspect, the trafficking domain comprises a lumenal domain of a LAMP polypeptide. Alternatively, or additionally, the chimeric protein comprises a trafficking domain of an endocytic receptor (e.g., such as DEC-205 or gp200-MR6). The vaccines (DNA, RNA or protein) can be used to modulate or enhance an immune response against any kind of antigen. In one preferred aspect, the invention provides a method for treating a patient with cancer by providing a chimeric protein comprising a cancer-specific antigen or a nucleic acid encoding the protein to the patient.
US08318169B2
A biocompatible, sustained release intraocular drug delivery system comprising a protein or polynucleotide therapeutic agent, a polymeric carrier for the therapeutic agent and a long chain fatty alcohol release modifier. The biocompatible, sustained release intraocular drug delivery system can be used to treat an ocular condition.
US08318168B2
Hybridoma lines that secrete human monoclonal antibodies with high binding specificity and biological activity, particularly neutralizing activity against granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and methods of generating the hybridoma lines are provided. Target antigens and epitopes are also provided. The antibodies may be used in therapeutic methods, for example in the treatment of cancer, infectious disease, or autoimmune disease.
US08318166B2
The present invention relates to ligands of HVEM for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, in particular Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
US08318164B2
The present invention provides formulations for maintaining the stability of Aβ binding polypeptides, for example, Aβ antibodies. Exemplary formulations include a tonicity agent such as mannitol and a buffering agent or amino acid such as histidine. Other exemplary formulations include an antioxidant in a sufficient amount as to inhibit by-product formation, for example, the formation of high molecular weight polypeptide aggregates, low molecular weight polypeptide degradation fragments, and mixtures thereof. The formulations of the invention optionally comprise a tonicity agent, such as mannitol, and a buffering agent or amino acid such as histidine. The formulations are suitable for several different routes of administration.
US08318160B2
The present invention relates to the treatment of IL13 dependent neoplastic disorders comprising the administration of novel anti-IL13 antibodies. The invention also includes diagnosing such tumors or cancer using the antibodies of the present invention to detect overexpression of IL13 in the patient.
US08318158B2
A therapeutic agent for the treatment of the symptoms of addiction and the method for preparing the therapeutic agent is disclosed. The therapeutic agent is a stable pharmaceutical preparation containing, but not limited to, digestive/pancreatic enzymes. The therapeutic agent may be manufactured by a variety of encapsulation technologies. Delivery of the therapeutic agent may be made orally, through injection, by adherence of a medicated patch or other method. Further, a method of using of a biomarker, the presence of chymotrypsin in the gastrointestinal tract to determine the presence of symptoms of addiction, and the likelihood of relapsing into addiction is disclosed.
US08318157B2
A maltogenic α-amylase from Trichoderma reesei (TrAA) and variants thereof in the presence of a glucoamylase are useful in the production of high-glucose syrups from liquefied starch, where the high-glucose syrups produced thereby contain at least about 97% glucose. In this process, TrAA advantageously suppresses the reversion of glucose to malto-oligosaccharides. Expression hosts and encoding nucleic acids useful for producing TrAA and its variants also are provided.
US08318155B2
A nucleic acid cleaving agent having a cleaving activity specific to a desired cleavage site in a nucleic acid such as large DNA, which comprises (1) a nucleic acid cleaving moiety, and (2) at least two zinc finger proteins bound to the nucleic acid cleaving moiety, wherein at least one of the zinc finger proteins can specifically bind to a nucleotide sequence located upstream from the target cleavage site, and at least one of the remaining zinc finger proteins can specifically bind to a nucleotide sequence located downstream from the target cleavage site.
US08318150B2
The present invention generally relates to the field of obesity. In particular the present invention relates to the use of probiotics to support weight management and to treat or prevent obesity. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-4096 for the preparation of a composition to support weight management, promote weight loss and/or to treat obesity.
US08318149B2
Described is a replication-competent virus capable of replication and having lytic capacity in target cells. The virus comprises in the genome thereof, at least one DNA sequence coding for a silencing factor functional in reducing expression of a target gene in the target cells, operably linked to one or more expression control sequences, functional in the target cells. The use thereof in the preparation of a medicament and the use thereof in a method for lysing target cells expressing a virus inhibitory factor are also described.
US08318147B2
IL-28A, IL-28B, IL-29, and certain mutants thereof have been shown to have antiviral activity on a spectrum of viral species. Of particular interest is the antiviral activity demonstrated on viruses that infect liver, such as hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. In addition, IL-28A, IL-28B, IL-29, and mutants thereof do not exhibit some of the antiproliferative activity on hematopoietic cells that is observed with interferon treatment. Without the immunosuppressive effects accompanying interferon treatment, IL-28A, IL-28B, and IL-29 will be useful in treating immunocompromised patients for viral infections.
US08318140B2
The present invention relates to methods of promoting hair growth in a patient. The method comprises administering to a patient in need thereof a sugar compound that is converted to a glycosaminoglycan in the patient, a primary antioxidant component, at least one amino acid component, and one or more transition metals.
US08318136B2
Methods and systems are described that release one or both of a neurotrophin and an inhibitor of the degradation of the neurotrophin within or in the vicinity of a highly innervated tissue. In some embodiments, the method includes regulating the release of the neurotrophin and the inhibitor of degradation over time. In some embodiments, the method includes monitoring the concentration of the neurotrophin over time. The system may include a device or multiple devices for the release of the neurotrophin and the inhibitor as well as a controller. In some embodiments the system may include a sensor device and/or an imaging device capable of detecting the concentration of the neurotrophin over time. The release of the neurotrophin and inhibitor of degradation may be part of a controlled release system and regulated over time.
US08318134B2
A method is claimed based on CEST procedure for the in vivo or in vitro determination of physical or chemical parameters which includes the use of a responsive paramagnetic CEST contrast agent.
US08318128B2
Vanadium oxide nanoparticles prepared by an inverse micelle hydrolysis of vanadium alkoxide in the presence of a basic catalyst.
US08318117B2
Absorption medium for acid gases comprising an oligoamine (A) of the general formula (I) and a primary or secondary alkanolamine (B) of the general formula (II) in which the weight ratio of oligoamine (A) to the primary or secondary alkanolamine (B) is 0.2 to 4, and also the process for removing acid gases from a gas stream by contacting the gas stream at a pressure of 0.05 to 10 MPa abs with an aqueous solution brought to and maintained at a temperature of 20 to 80° C. of said absorption medium.
US08318111B2
A packaging system (20), has a container (22) which delimits a container volume which can hold at least one unit-measure or unit-quantity of a selected commodity or article (24). The container includes at least one access portion (26) that can provide a selective closed arrangement and a selective open arrangement. An electronic data mechanism (28) can be operatively connected to the container (22), and can be operatively configured to electronically transpond or otherwise transmit data to a reader mechanism (30). A deactivation mechanism (32) can be operatively connected to the container (22) and to the electronic data mechanism (28), and can be operatively configured to selectively disable the electronic data mechanism.
US08318109B2
The present invention relates to microfluidic devices and methods for manipulating and analyzing fluid samples. The disclosed microfluidic devices utilize a plurality of microfluidic channels, inlets, valves, filter, pumps, liquid barriers and other elements arranged in various configurations to manipulate the flow of a fluid sample in order to prepare such sample for analysis.
US08318106B2
The invention relates to an analysis system for analyzing a sample on a test element. The system has an analysis unit for generating a signal as a function of an analyte contained in a sample, and a detection unit for detecting the signal. The analysis system further includes a test element holder into which the test element can be reversibly introduced and in which it can be positioned relative to the analysis unit and the detection unit. The test element contains at least one guide element, which is suitable for laterally guiding the test element, so that the test element in the test element holder is held and guided only on an outer region of the test element, and an inner region of the test element introduced into the test element holder remains free. The test element contains a sample application site in the inner region.
US08318105B2
Systems and methods of biomarker analysis. In at least one embodiment of a system for determining the therapeutic potential of a therapeutic compound the present disclosure, the system comprises a detection platform, a computer database capable of receiving a plurality of binding characteristics, a processor operably coupled to the computer database and the detection platform. In at least one embodiment, the processor has and executes a software program operational to determine a binding characteristic of the detection agent and a stabilized diagnostic agent in each of the plurality of detection sites, compare the binding characteristic among each of the plurality of detection sites, wherein the comparison of binding characteristics is capable of determining the stabilizing agent with the greatest effect on the binding characteristic between the detection agent and the diagnostic agent, generate a binding record using the compared binding characteristics, and deliver the binding record to a recipient.
US08318102B2
The present invention is directed to a cooling system for removing heat from a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) slurry reactor. The cooling system including at least one downcomer having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a diameter; the at least one downcomer disposed within the F-T reactor to deliver a coolant downward through the F-T reactor at a predetermined velocity, the at least one downcomer extending a length within the F-T reactor wherein the coolant is introduced into the upper portion of the at least one downcomer in a substantially liquid phase; the diameter of the at least one downcomer and the pressure of the introduced coolant cooperate to increase the coolant velocity thereby generating backpressure in the at least one downcomer to maintain the coolant in the substantially liquid phase along the length of the at least one downcomer. The cooling system further including a plenum connected to the lower portion of the at least one downcomer; the plenum in fluid communication with the at least one downcomer wherein the coolant remains in the substantially liquid phase. Additionally, the cooling system includes at least one riser having a length and extending upward from the plenum; the at least one riser in fluid communication with the plenum wherein a portion of the coolant vaporizes to provide a boiling heat transfer surface on the at least one riser.
US08318093B2
Magnetic nanoparticles and methods for their use in detecting biological molecules are disclosed. The magnetic nanoparticles can be attached to nucleic acid molecules, which are then captured by a complementary sequence attached to a detector, such as a spin valve detector or a magnetic tunnel junction detector. The detection of the bound magnetic nanoparticle can be achieved with high specificity and sensitivity.
US08318080B2
A device and a method for cooling a hot strip capable of uniformly cooling the hot-rolled steel strip from the leading end to the trailing end thereof during cooling of the steel strip using cooling water are provided. A cooling device 10 includes a plurality of tubular nozzles 15 inclined so as to eject rod-like flows of cooling water to a steel strip 12 at an ejecting angle θ in a traveling direction of the steel strip 12 and a pinch roller 11 disposed downstream of the tubular nozzles, the steel strip 12 to be nipped between the pinch roller 11 and a table roller 8.
US08318076B2
There are provided method and apparatus for the forming of three-dimensional objects in a layered fashion, wherein improvements are made to the support structure to improve the quality of the resulting three-dimensional objects. The support structure may include encapsulation along the interface boundary of the support-object interface to prevent or reduce the likelihood of separation of the build material, that forms the three-dimensional object, from the support material, that forms the support structure, or vice versa. The support structure may also or alternatively include both a porous support structure and a solid support structure to prevent or reduce the likelihood of separation of the support structure from the build platform and to improve the quality of the down-facing surfaces of the three-dimensional object. Methods are also provided for selectively depositing the support material and build material and for encapsulating the interface boundary with support material.
US08318072B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for producing a stretched cellulose acylate film with an in-plane retardation, Re, of 100 nm or more and a relationship between the thickness direction retardation, Rth, and Re which satisfies Rth<(Re/2), by longitudinally stretching an unstretched cellulose acylate film in a longitudinal direction by pulling by means of a difference in circumferential velocity between a pair of rollers, wherein the method is characterized in that the cellulose acylate film is subjected to free-end uniaxial stretching to a longitudinal stretch ratio of 1 to 2 while the film is being heated in a heating oven installed between the pair of rollers at a stretching temperature in the range of Tc−10° C. to Tc+70° C., Tc being the crystallization temperature of the film, and with the temperature difference in the film width direction maintained within 10° C.
US08318071B2
Method for imparting elasticity to a laminate comprising at least one elastic film having a width and at least one ply of non-woven material secured to the film, particularly through interposition of a bonding material, particularly glue, which comprises the following steps in which: the laminate is unrolled in the form of a web in order to pass it between two sets of toothing, of which the teeth engage in each other in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the laminate in order to thus stretch the laminate in the direction of its width, characterized in that: a tension is imparted to the web in the longitudinal direction or machine direction during its unrolling between the toothing, particularly by providing a tensioner roll, particularly downstream of the sets of toothing.
US08318067B2
A resin transfer molding process for an article incorporating a protective insert of polymer material such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK). A piece of PEEK material is cut and thermoformed to the required shape and then placed in position in a mold. A bead of elastomer material is formed around the edge of the insert to seal it against an internal wall of the mold in order to prevent resin tracking between the mold and insert faces during subsequent injection into the mold.
US08318054B2
The present invention provides a dark green colored glass composition having a soda-lime-silica glass composition, wherein the coloring compounds comprises in weight percentage: from 0.71 to 1.50% of total iron expressed as Fe2O3; from 22 to 30% of ferrous-ferric ratio and from 0.15 to 0.50% of expressed as FeO; from 0.10 to 0.20% of SO3 without affecting the refining properties and ability of the SO3 to eliminate bubbles; about 0 to 1.0 wt. % TiO2; about 0.0004 to 0.03 wt. % Cr2O3; and also 0.0004 to 0.015 wt. % CuO.
US08318052B2
The present invention relates to a pigment composition composed of compounds of the formula (I), (II) and (III) with a novel crystal modification, to their preparation and to the use of this novel product as a pigment. For many applications of organic pigments, for example the coloring of metallic lacquers or the use thereof in color filters, a very high transparency is required. To produce color filters, for example, particularly fine pigments are used, in order to substantially rule out the particle scattering which leads to a lowering of the contrast ratio. The commercially available products, however, do not always meet all requirements of the art. More particularly, there was a need for improvement with regard to the transparency and the associated fineness of the pigment crystals, and also the color purity (chroma).
US08318048B2
The invention relates to a process of preparing substituted pentacenes, to novel pentacenes prepared by this process, to the use of the novel pentacenes as semiconductors or charge transport materials in optical, electrooptical or electronic devices including field effect transistors (FETs), electroluminescent, photovoltaic and sensor devices, and to FETs and other semiconducting components or materials comprising the novel pentacenes.
US08318047B2
Provided are a method for providing an RF powder that is easily handled because it is used as a powder (powdery state), not used as individual elements, and is high in applicability and extensibility, extremely low in manufacturing cost in respect of the unit price of each particle, and extremely high in practicability; and an RF powder-containing liquid. In the method for providing an RF powder, an RF powder composed of a large number of RF powder particles 11a is provided to a user in a state of being stored in a container 1. The RF powder is stored in the container 1 together with a medium that prevents the large number of RF powder particles 11a from adhering to one another. The medium is a liquid having a specific color determined so as to correspond to the characteristic frequency of the RF powder.
US08318046B2
Methods are provided to producing stable, aqueous dispersions of polyaniline and colloid-forming polymeric acids. Films from the disclosed compositions are useful as buffer layers, in organic electronic devices including electroluminescent devices, such as organic light emitting diodes (OLED) displays. Films cast from the compositions are also useful in combination with nanometal wires or carbon nanotubes in applications such as drain, source, or gate electrodes in thin film field effect transistors.
US08318045B2
Disclosed is a radiation shielding member having improved radiation absorption performance, including 80.0˜99.0 wt % of a polymer matrix or metal matrix and 1.0˜20.0 wt % of a radiation shielding material in the form of nano-particles having a size of 10˜900 nm as a result of pulverization, wherein the radiation shielding material is homogeneously dispersed in the matrix through powder mixing or melt mixing after treatment with a surfactant which is the same material as the matrix or which has high affinity for the matrix. A preparation method thereof is also provided. This radiation shielding member including the nano-particles as the shielding material further increases the collision probability of the shielding material with radiation, compared to conventional shielding members including micro-particles, thus reducing the mean free path of radiation in the shielding member, thereby exhibiting superior radiation shielding effects. At the same density, the shielding member has reduced thickness and volume and is thus lightweight. The porosity of the shielding member is minimized, thereby preventing the deterioration of shielding effects and properties of the shielding member and realizing applicability in spent fuel managing transport/storage environments and the like.
US08318042B2
Chemical polishing solutions and methods are disclosed for the chemical polishing of GaAs wafers. An exemplary chemical polishing solution consistent with the innovations herein may comprise dichloroisocyanurate, sulfonate, acid pyrophosphate, bicarbonate and carbonate. An exemplary chemical polishing method may comprise polishing a wafer in a chemical polishing apparatus in the presence of such a chemical polishing solution. Chemical polishing solutions and methods herein make it possible, for example, to improve wafer quality, decrease costs, and/or reduce environmental pollution.
US08318036B2
The invention relates to a sizing composition for a thermal and/or acoustic insulation product, based on mineral wool, comprising an epoxy resin of the glycidyl ether type, an amine hardener and an accelerator chosen from imidazoles, imidazolines and mixtures thereof.Application to the manufacture of thermal and/or acoustic insulation products having improved mechanical properties after aging, especially in a wet environment.
US08318035B2
Methods of surface finishing a component useful for a plasma processing apparatus are provided. The component includes at least one plasma-exposed quartz glass surface. The method includes mechanically polishing, chemically etching and cleaning the plasma-exposed surface to achieve a desired surface morphology. Quartz glass sealing surfaces of the component also can be finished by the methods. Plasma-exposed surface and sealing surfaces of the same component can be finished to different surface morphologies from each other.
US08318034B2
In a surface processing method for processing a surface of a member made of silicon carbide (SiC) and having a fragmental layer on a surface thereof, the surface of the member having the fragmental layer is modified into a dense layer to reduce the number of particles generated from the surface of the member when the member is applied to a plasma processing apparatus. Here, the SiC of the surface of the member is recrystallized by heating the fragmental layer.
US08318033B2
The present invention relates to a conductive tape. The conductive tape includes a adhesive layer and a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The adhesive layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The carbon nanotubes are substantially embedded in parallel in the adhesive layer and perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. Each of the carbon nanotubes has two opposite ends extending out of the two opposite surfaces of the adhesive layer respectively. Further, a method for making the above-described conductive tape is also included.
US08318031B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a write pole with a tapered leading edge and a tapered trailing edge. The method includes forming a non-magnetic bump player over a surface, forming a mask over the non-magnetic bump layer and performing a first ion milling to form a tapered back edge on the non-magnetic bump layer. A magnetic write pole material is then deposited over the surface and over the non-magnetic bump layer. Then a non-magnetic step structure is formed over the magnetic write pole material and an ion milling is performed to form a taper on the upper surface of the write pole. The write pole lateral dimensions can then be defined, and a non-magnetic bump formed over the tapered portion of the upper surface of the write pole. Another ion milling can then be performed to extend the taper of the surface of the write pole.
US08318030B2
A method of fabricating a magnetic device is described. A mask removing layer is formed on a layered sensing stack and a hard mask layer is formed on the mask removing layer. A first reactive ion etch is performed with a non-oxygen-based chemistry to define the hard mask layer using an imaged layer formed on the hard mask layer as a mask. A second reactive ion etch is performed with an oxygen-based chemistry to define the mask removing stop layer using the defined hard mask layer as a mask. A third reactive ion etch is performed to define the layered sensing stack using the hard mask layer as a mask. The third reactive ion etch includes an etching chemistry that performs at a lower etching rate on the hard mask layer than on the layered sensing stack.
US08318011B2
A portable water disinfecting and purification apparatus comprising a first chamber into which water to be purified may be drawn by suction or negative pressure, a second chamber into which the water from the first chamber can be forced by a pumping action or positive pressure, whereby the water is initially passed across a pre-filter secured over the inlet to the first chamber and having a very small pore size and an inner cavity in which a disinfecting agent is place to filters most contaminants before the water is drawn into said filtering device, and once in the first holding chamber the water is isolated and may be further treated with a disinfectant agent, and then is passed though at least additional filtering substance including an activated carbon or nano-filter.
US08318005B2
The present invention relates to making tetra-sulfo iron-phthalocyanine by reacting sulfonated reactant(s) in the presence a boron-containing promoter. The present invention also relates to making tetra-sulfo iron phthalocyanine more tolerant to oxygen by combining the tetra-sulfo iron-phthalocyanine with a stabilizing amount of a complexing agent (e.g., a stabilizing amine) and/or contacting the tetra-sulfo iron-phthalocyanine with steam.
US08318001B2
We provide a base oil comprising hydrocarbons with consecutive numbers of carbon atoms. The base oil has a boiling range from 700 to 925° F. (371 to 496° C.), a VI from 105 to 119, and either a Noack volatility less than 18 wt % or a CCS VIS at −25° C. less than 1500 mPa·s. The base oil may have a ratio of Noack Volatility to CCS VIS at −25° C. multiplied by 100 from 0.80 to 1.55.
US08318000B2
A method of producing a crude product from a hydrocarbon feed is provided. A hydrocarbon feed is contacted with a catalyst containing a Col. 6-10 metal or compound thereof to produce the crude product, where the catalyst has a pore size distribution with a median pore diameter ranging from 105 Å to 150 Å, with 60% of the total number of pores in the pore size distribution having a pore diameter within 60 Å of the median pore diameter, with at least 50% of its pore volume in pores having a pore diameter of at most 600 Å, and between 5% and 25% of its pore volume in pores having a pore diameter between 1000 Å and 5000 Å.
US08317994B2
A method for concentrating an aqueous caustic alkali produced by a membrane cell process by using a single or multiple effect evaporator system in which the vapor flows in a counter direction to the aqueous caustic alkali flow and the heat recovered from the catholyte circulation line is used as part of the concentration process. In one embodiment, a catholyte heat recovery heat exchanger and evaporation chamber are located after the last effect of a multiple effect evaporator system. In another embodiment, the catholyte heat recovery heat exchanger and evaporation chamber are located prior to the single or multiple effect evaporator system. In yet another embodiment, the catholyte heat recovery process is used in conjunction with additional heat exchanger processes to further concentrate the final product as desired.
US08317991B2
Device and Process for isolating, purifying, concentrating and/or enriching at least one organic compound by electrokinetic migration through liquid membranes by use of an electronic potential and chambers with a preset pH value is described in the present application. The liquid membranes contain an organic solvent capable of transporting an ionized form of said at least one organic compound.
US08317983B1
Single walled carbon nanotubes are produced in a novel apparatus by the laser-induced ablation of moving carbon target. The laser used is of high average power and ultra-fast pulsing. According to various preferred embodiments, the laser produces and output above about 50 watts/cm2 at a repetition rate above about 15 MHz and exhibits a pulse duration below about 10 picoseconds. The carbon, carbon/catalyst target and the laser beam are moved relative to one another and a focused flow of “side pumped”, preheated inert gas is introduced near the point of ablation to minimize or eliminate interference by the ablated plume by removal of the plume and introduction of new target area for incidence with the laser beam. When the target is moved relative to the laser beam, rotational or translational movement may be imparted thereto, but rotation of the target is preferred.
US08317980B2
A reactor having a shaft protruding through one end, a fuel output tube protruding through a second end, shovels housed inside, and a discharge tube, is provided. A first end of the discharge tube is inside of the reactor and the second end protrudes out of the fuel output tube. A helix thruster can be inside the discharge tube and have a driver shaft with a first gear inside of the reactor. The reactor can also include a residue collector and a fork. The fork can be disposed on a driven shaft including a second gear, which engages the first gear of the helix thruster. A system for feeding materials into the reactor is also disclosed as well as methods of converting waste plastic or rubber into fuel using the reactor.
US08317977B2
This specification is generally related to reinforced, parchmented paper, composite, reinforced parchmented paper and methods of manufacture thereof. The reinforced, parchmented paper may be used to form a sausage casing.
US08317973B2
The present invention relates to cost-effective and environmentally friendly polyester surfactants containing a condensation esterification product of a polyhydric alcohol, a multimeric acid, and at least one polyalkylene glycol for use in flotation deinking under traditional alkaline, reduced alkali, and true neutral deinking conditions. The polyester deinking surfactants of the present invention will effectively exhibit greater selectivity than traditional flotation deinking surfactants. In particular, the polyester deinking surfactants can give better foam control, improved yield, and no loss in ERIC reduction.
US08317963B2
An anchor is fastened into a drilled hole in substrate layer such as concrete by providing on an end portion of the anchor a surrounding layer of an adhesive of a character that it softens when heated and sets when it cools with a portion of the anchor exposed outside the hole. The exposed portion is heated by an inductive heating device in a heating cycle where the heating cycle is actuated by the operator switch but accurately controlled and limited to a single operation in the presence of the anchor by a control in the device in dependence on sensed environmental conditions and a measured size of the anchor.
US08317954B2
A label affixing system with which a signal can be supplied to a label affixing machine from an image capturing unit which detects a conveyed object to be labeled. The label affixing system includes a plurality of conveyance lines, a CCD for capturing an image of the conveyed object, and a label affixing machine that includes a plurality of printing formats and affixes a printed label to the conveyed object. The system measures a distance to the conveyed object subjected to image capture by the CCD; selects one printing format from the plurality of printing formats on the basis of the measured distance to the conveyed object; prints the label on the basis of the selected printing format; and affixes the printed label to the conveyed object.
US08317952B2
The present invention is an electrically controlled propellant comprising a binder, an oxidizer, and a cross-linking agent. The boric acid (the cross-linking agent) has been found to function as a cross-linking agent for the high molecular binder used to make the propellant, thereby improving the composition's ability to withstand combustion without melting. The present invention also may include 5-aminotetrazole (5-ATZ) as a stability-enhancing additive. The binder of the present invention may include polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and/or the co-polymer of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylamine nitrate (PVA/PVAN).
US08317951B2
The micro gas generator employs a liquid propellant, e.g. 50% to 60% by weight hydroxyl ammonium nitrate as an oxidizer, 16% to 22% triethyl ammonium nitrate as fuel, 21% to 28% water as a diluent to provide stability and 1% to 3% additives. The liquid propellant is housed in a can mounted in sealed relation on a retainer in which an initiator is also mounted.
US08317944B1
One or more embodiments relates to a high-temperature, titanium alloyed, 9 Cr-1 Mo steel exhibiting improved creep strength and oxidation resistance at service temperatures up to 650° C. The 9 Cr-1 Mo steel has a tempered martensite microstructure and is comprised of both large (0.5-3 μm) primary titanium carbides and small (5-50 nm) secondary titanium carbides in a ratio of. from about 1:1.5 to about 1.5:1. The 9 Cr-1 Mo steel may be fabricated using exemplary austenizing, rapid cooling, and tempering steps without subsequent hot working requirements. The 9 Cr-1 Mo steel exhibits improvements in total mass gain, yield strength, and time-to-rupture over ASTM P91 and ASTM P92 at the temperature and time conditions examined.
US08317941B2
An R-T-B based sintered magnet according to the present invention has a composition including: 27.3 mass % to 29.5 mass % of R; 0.92 mass % to 1 mass % of B; 0.05 mass % to 0.3 mass % of Cu; 0.02 mass % to 0.5 mass % of M; and T as the balance, and has an oxygen content of 0.02 mass % to 0.2 mass %. The main phase of the sintered magnet is an R2T14B type compound. The crystal grain size of the main phase is represented by an equivalent circle diameter of 8 μm or less. And crystal grains with equivalent circle diameters of 4 μm or less account for at least 80% of the overall area of the main phase.
US08317932B2
A substrate is placed on a plurality of support pins within an opening of a carrier, such that a gap exists between the radial perimeter of the substrate and the carrier. The substrate and carrier are passed in a linear direction through a meniscus generated between respective faces of upper and lower proximity heads. Each of the upper and lower proximity heads includes a plurality of meniscus nozzles configured to supply liquid to the meniscus. A plurality of vacuum ports are formed on the respective face of each of the upper and lower proximity heads and are arranged to completely surround the plurality of meniscus nozzles. Liquid of the meniscus is evacuated from the gap between the radial perimeter of the substrate and the carrier so as to reduce a size and a frequency of at least one of entrance or exit marks on the substrate.
US08317926B2
The specification discloses a method and apparatus enabling the formation of a diffusion surface layer on a surface of a metal substrate, typically a ferrous based metal substrate, wherein in a first stage in a first fluidized bed furnace, a diffusion zone is formed extending inwardly from the surface of the metal substrate in which nitrogen has been diffused to form a nitride or carbo nitride inner zone and an outer white layer that is substantially free of porosity, treating the substrate formed in the first stage to prevent formation of or remove any surface oxide on the surface of the substrate, and in a second stage separate from the first stage, holding the thus treated substrate in a fluidized bed furnace operated under an inert atmosphere and fluidized by a flow of inert gas or gases, the substrate in the fluidized bed furnace being treated in the presence of a halide gas and a particulate metal or metal alloy.
US08317906B2
A membrane contactor system for use in separating carbon dioxide from a gaseous stream in a continuous flow process comprising a housing defining a gas flow path and comprising a first outlet for the carbon dioxide and a second outlet for the purified gas; an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene microporous membrane positioned in the housing to allow the gaseous stream to flow across a side of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene microporous membrane, the membrane having a plurality of interconnecting pores configured to allow the carbon dioxide to diffuse therethrough; an oleophobic enhancement coating disposed on the surfaces to form a coated membrane; and an amine based sorbent liquid disposed on a side of the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene microporous membrane opposite the gas, wherein the amine based sorbent liquid is configured to absorb the carbon dioxide from the gaseous stream.
US08317902B2
A process for removing polar components from a process stream in a refinery process without cooling the process stream. The process stream is fed to a first adsorber unit to remove contaminants containing sulfur at substantially the same elevated temperature by exposing the process stream to a metal oxide and/or a mixed metal oxide to remove the sulfur containing contaminants and produce a metal sulfide and a desulfurized process stream. The metal sulfide may be regenerated by exposing it to a stream of oxygen and the desulfurized process stream exposed to the regenerated metal/mixed metal oxide to remove moisture from the stream. The stream is then processed within a second adsorber unit to remove nitrogen containing contaminants at substantially the same elevated temperature by exposing the stream to a molecular sieve and/or zeolite.
US08317901B2
The present disclosure generally relates to cyclonic separation or filtering of nanoparticles suspended in a gas. A plume of liquid droplets may be generated using an ultrasound or other generator. The gas may be mixed with the plume of liquid droplets, which may have received an electrostatic charge prior to mixing, to promote preferential adhesion of the nanoparticles to the liquid droplets. The gas with suspended nanoparticles and suspended liquid particles may flow through a cyclonic separator that spins rapidly, causing the cleaned gas to flow out of the filter while the liquid with adhered nanoparticles may be discharged, collected, and/or re-used in the plume generator. By causing nanoparticles to adhere to larger liquid particles, the filter may allow the filtering and collection of much smaller particles than current systems may filter under atmospheric pressure.
US08317900B2
The invention relates to a method for producing membrane, in particular gas separation membrane, wherein the membrane comprises a selective separating layer. The following steps are carried out: a) a polymer solution is produced from at least one polymer and at least one polyglycol ether, b) the polymer solution is cast into a film, c) in a further step, the selective separating layer is produced from the film, preferably by drying. The invention, among other things, further relates to a membrane, in particular gas separation membrane, comprising a selective separating layer.
US08317894B2
Disclosed are a method of producing metal nanoparticles continuously, and metal nanoparticles produced thereby. The method comprises: (a) preparing a metal precursor solution by dissolving a metal precursor in alcohol; (b) continuously putting the metal precursor solution into a reactor having supercritical conditions, thereby producing metal nanoparticles; (c) cooling the solution obtained in step (b); and (d) separating and collecting the metal nanoparticles from the solution obtained in step (c).
US08317893B2
Methods, systems, and compositions for manufacturing downhole tools and downhole tool parts for drilling subterranean material are disclosed. A model having an external peripheral shape of a downhole tool or tool part is fabricated. Mold material is applied to the external periphery of the model. The mold material is permitted to harden to form a mold about the model. The model is eliminated and a composite matrix material is cast within the mold to form a finished downhole tool or tool part.
US08317890B2
Air filter assemblies and components therefor are described. The air filter assembly typically includes an air filter cartridge. Air filter cartridges including a media pack comprising at least a first stack of single facer strips are described. In examples described, at least a portion of the first stack of single facer strips is arcuate. Air filter assemblies are characterized that are configured, for example, to advantageously use such air filter cartridges. Example air filter assemblies are described that include pulse jet air cleaning systems.
US08317883B1
Bio-oil from a feedstock selected from mustard family seeds, mustard family seed presscake, mustard family seed defatted presscake, and mixtures thereof. The bio-oil is produced by a method involving (1) pyrolyzing the feedstock to produce bio-oil, bio-char and non-condensable gases, (2) removing the bio-char from the bio-oil, (3) condensing the bio-oil, and (4) precipitating the bio-oil.
US08317877B2
A stable shock absorbing prosthetic foot that transfers energy between heel strike and toe-off. A toe plate is separated from one or more other plates by a bumper assembly located at each of the toe end and heel end of the foot. Certain embodiments of the shock absorbing foot of the present invention are designed for use with a prosthetic ankle. A torsion adapter may also be used to attach a prosthetic foot of the present invention to the remainder of a prosthesis.
US08317876B2
The invention relates to an artificial foot with a connecting part for a lower leg part, a forefoot part which is pivotably connected to the connecting part by means of an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element in such a way that an angular position of the connecting part controls an angular position of the forefoot part, one of the coupling elements extending into a heel area of the foot.
US08317875B2
An articulating connection or joint for a limb support device having a first support member and a second support member pivotably couples together the first support member and the second support member. The articulating connection can include one or more first articulating connection member, or load-bearing pin, and one or more second articulating connection member, or bushing, disposed about the first and second support members. The load-bearing pin is coupled to one of the support members and the bushing is coupled to another of the support members. The bushing is configured to rotatingly receive the load-bearing pin and interacts with an actuation member configured to apply a force on the load-bearing pin to eccentrically align the load-bearing pin relative to the bushing so that the load-bearing pin continuously follows and contacts a bearing surface of the bushing during use of the limb support device, thereby inhibiting noise generation from the interaction of the bushing and load-bearing pin.
US08317855B2
A stent may include a side branch cell comprising a plurality of petals. Each petal may comprise struts and turns, and may have a longitudinal axis oriented at an angle to the stent longitudinal axis. Each petal may include a plurality of straight struts which are substantially parallel to the stent longitudinal axis. Each petal may include at least one appendage which may be oriented substantially parallel to the stent longitudinal axis, and which may remain substantially parallel to the stent longitudinal axis as the stent is deployed. The dimension of the side branch cell about the circumference of the stent may increase more than the dimension of the side branch cell in a stent lengthwise directions as the stent is expanded.
US08317853B2
Prosthetic valves, methods of making medical devices, and methods of treatment are provided. The prosthetic valves of the invention have a valve portion moveable between first and second positions, and a spacing member that has a thickness and protects a portion of the valve portion from contact with a wall of a vessel in which the prosthetic valve is implanted, and/or another structural component of the prosthetic valve, such as a support frame.
US08317851B2
An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portions. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The triangular cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also to provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The triangular cells provide increased coverage of a vessel wall. The stent can have different portions adapted to optimize radial support or to optimize longitudinal flexibility. The stent can be adapted to prevent flaring of portions of the stent during insertion.
US08317850B2
A delivery device includes a delivery tube having an elongate release member. An everted stent may be releasably captured by the elongate release member between the release member and the delivery tube. The captured and everted stent can be distally advanced to a target site, followed by manipulating the release member to free the captured stent. Some devices utilize distal advancement of the release member while other devices use proximal retraction of the release member to free the captured stent. Once released, the stent is free to self-expand or be expanded against the surrounding blockage and/or vessel walls. In some methods, a guide catheter or microcatheter is also included and disposed about the everted and captured stent to advance the stent, delivery tube, and release member to a location near the site to be stented.
US08317844B2
A device for fixing a reference element with respect to a field of surgery includes a first fixing portion operable to provide a mechanical resistance against pulling and/or pushing forces, a second fixing portion provided with a surface structure operable to secure the device against an angular force, and a coupling structure. The coupling structure is operative to mechanically couple the second fixing portion to the first fixing portion, wherein said second fixing portion can be pivoted with respect to the first fixing portion.
US08317843B2
A multi-axis connection for transferring load from the vertebrae of a patient to a plate extending from one vertebra to another vertebra when affixed to the respective vertebrae by screws extending through holes in the plate at the level of the respective vertebrae, each screw being oriented at any of a plurality of angles relative to the plate. The threaded shank of each screw is screwed into the vertebral body and the head is positioned in the central portion of the hole, the hole being defined by an aperture, an opening through which the screw extends, and the central portion between aperture and opening. The diameter of the head is larger than the aperture of the hole in the plate and is provided with a screw thread that engages the smaller diameter aperture of the hole to pull the head into the central portion of the hole when the screw is rotated, the head of the screw being retained within the hole by the smaller diameter aperture and the opening of the hole.
US08317832B2
An implant assembly for stabilizing a spinal motion segment includes a spacer which is at least partially flexible and positionable in an interspinous spacer between adjacent spinous processes. The spacer member includes upper and lower surfaces structured to receive a respective adjacent one of the upper and lower spinous processes of the spinal motion segment and a body having distinctive first and second sections with differing flexibility to modify the manner of movement at the spinal motion segment.
US08317831B2
An interspinous process spacer diagnostic balloon catheter and method. The balloon catheter has a main expandable member, a distal expandable member and a proximal expandable member that all can be expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration and then collapsed again to a collapsed configuration. The device can be used to determine whether a particular patient is a candidate for implantation of an interspinous process spacer to treat the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis and the size of such a spacer if indicated.
US08317830B2
Devices, methods and systems for stabilizing at least a portion of the spinal column are provided. Devices include seats and coupling members for engaging an elongate member. Systems include an elongate member sized to span a distance between at least two vertebral bodies and being at least partially formed of a flexible material. One or more seats can include rollers to allow relative movement of the rod and the seat.
US08317827B2
Methods and devices are provided for delivering a preloaded loop of suture extending from a knotting element to tissue to be ligated within a body. The knotting element can be threaded with a loop of suture and loaded onto a deployment device using a loading device. A protective sheath can be placed around the knotting element and the loop of suture to facilitate safe insertion of the loop of suture through a working channel of a minimally invasive device.
US08317826B2
An absorbable multifilament draw-textured yarn having a bulky structure, and a manufacturing method and medical use thereof The absorbable multifilament draw-textured yarn is obtained by draw-texturing a multifilament made of an absorbable polymer and has bulkiness and a superior soft touch, which are the characteristics of draw-textured yarns. As a result of partially imparting a bulkiness of 150-1000% to the multifilament draw-textured yarn, it is possible to culture cells in the bulky structure, and the multifilament draw-textured yarn is suitable for cell delivery or drug delivery.
US08317824B2
The present disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for closing and/or sealing an opening in a vessel wall and/or an adjacent tissue tract. In one illustrative embodiment, a device is provided for delivering and deploying an anchor, plug, filament, and/or locking element adjacent to the opening in the vessel wall and/or tissue tract.
US08317823B2
An absorbable and expandable closure member used to occlude or exclude a body lumen or cavity, such as a blood vessel, fallopian tube, duct, aneurysmal sac, etc., comprising a closure member comprising one of more sheets of a biomaterial that are rolled, stacked, or folded to form a multilayer construct of a generally cylindrical configuration for deployment through a delivery system, either as a singularly or part of a multiplicity of closure members. The biomaterial is derived from a source material, such as small intestinal submucosa or another remodelable material (e.g., an extracellular matrix) having properties for stimulating ingrowth of adjacent tissue into the biomaterial deployed within the bodily lumen. The closure member is deployed to the bodily lumen from a delivery sheath, cartridge, and/or over a inner guiding member, such as a wire guide or catheter.
US08317817B2
A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120) are inserted into the body (130). The tube structure (12) has a proximal end (20) and a distal end (62). The tube structure (12) includes an expandable portion (40) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage (16) at the distal end (62). The expandable portion (40) of the tube structure (12), when expanded, has a conical configuration.
US08317815B2
A surgical trocar and penetrating tip therefor are provided. The tip includes a generally transparent body having proximal and distal ends and an opaque distal tip portion, an integral penetrating edge arranged at a distal end of the body, and inwardly tapered opposed facets formed on the body, converging with one another at the integral penetrating edge.
US08317813B2
A device for acquiring a blood sample comprising a lancet, a puncture drive having a drive rod coupled on the lancet, and a compression spring, which propels it is disclosed. A flywheel mass, which is mounted as to make it movable, is coupled to the drive rod. The flywheel mass can absorb kinetic energy during a propulsion phase and cause retraction of the lancet after reaching a maximum piercing depth. The flywheel mass can be a flywheel connected via a connecting rod to the drive rod and is set into rotation during propulsion of the lancet. After overcoming a dead center defining the maximum piercing depth, rotational energy stored in the flywheel causes the retraction of the lancet. At a specific angle, the rotation of the flywheel is stopped and the residual piercing depth is defined.
US08317807B1
A medical tool includes an access tool and a dissecting obdurator that is placed within a lumen of the access tool. The dissecting obdurator comprises a body having a first edge, a second edge and a cross section, the cross section having a height dimension measured from the first edge to the second edge and a width dimension perpendicular to the height dimension, the height dimension is two or more times the width dimension. The tip of the dissecting obdurator is selectively flexible and coupled to a distal end of the body, the selectively flexible tip being more flexible bending in the axis of the width dimension than bending in the axis of the height dimension.
US08317806B2
Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for tensioning sutures. The methods and devices are particularly useful in surgical suturing applications in which it is desirable to maintain tension on a suture being delivered. In various embodiments, the device is incorporated into the handle of a suture device configured to deliver a suture to a surgical site. Other embodiments comprise a device that is separate from, but may be used in connection with, a suture device configured to deliver a suture to a surgical site. A suture locking device is also provided which enables the surgeon to ascertain when a desired amount of tension has been applied to a suture prior to affixing, knotting, or tying elements thereto.
US08317802B1
A system and method is provided for distracting opposite surfaces from the interior of a bone, such as a vertebral body. A working channel cannula provides a working channel through which an inserter and an injection cannula can simultaneously pass. The inserter transports a plurality of wafers into the interior of the bone to form a load-bearing stack bearing against the opposite surfaces. The injection cannula is used to inject a fluent material into and/or around the stack. In certain embodiments, the fluent material is a load-bearing or hardenable material, such as bone cement. In other embodiments, the fluent material can be a BMP, HAP, or other osteo-inductive, osteo-conductive, or pharmaceutical compositions. A syringe containing the fluent material is engaged to the injection cannula and is operable to inject the fluent material into the vertebral body under controlled pressure.
US08317801B2
The present invention describes a targeting system suitable for guiding a biocompatible device to a target area within the body (in vivo) and method of using the same. The system includes a targeting member that is attached to the biocompatible device and may optionally include a steering material. The system includes a passer element located at the distal end of a wand. The wand includes a trigger like member adjacent a hand grip. Actuation of the trigger like member will result in a pivotal movement of the passer element that positions the targeting member such that the connected biocompatible device is positionable relative to the target area.
US08317793B2
A cutting instrument and method of use for preparing an osteochondral plug for implantation into a bone defect site. The instrument includes a dual function cutting block, a base holder, a rod mechanism and a trimming mechanism. The cutting block has a bore sized to receive the plug, at least one trimming channel and a transverse paring slot. The cutting block functions to hold the plug within the bore to allow for length and cross-sectional sizing. The base holder is constructed to fix the cutting block in a first orientation that allows the rod mechanism to position the plug within the cutting block for accurate length sizing. The base holder is also constructed to fix the cutting block in a second orientation which aligns the cutting block with the trimming mechanism so that an angled blade may engage the trimming channel and cut at least two sides of the plug.
US08317785B2
The present invention is related to a medical device (1) adapted for the ablation of a target volume inside an anatomical organ, said medical device (1) comprising as elements a main body (2), stabilizing means (3) for stabilizing the device relatively to the organ and heating means in the form of a bipolar electrode (10) comprising parts activable by an external radiofrequency generator for heating said target volume, wherein said bipolar electrode comprises a first element having the form of a central anchoring member (5), and a second element having the form of at least two concentric rigid helices or coils (4′,4″,) of predetermined diameter (D) and length (L), said helices surrounding the central anchoring member (5). The present invention also concerns a surgical assembly comprising said medical device and controlling means as well as a process for the specific destruction a target volume inside an organ by means of said medical device or surgical assembly.
US08317776B2
Systems and methods are described for obtaining and acting upon information indicative of circulatory health and related phenomena in human beings or other subjects. Some involve implementing or deploying therapeutic administration systems, for example, for obtaining one or more indications of a lytic material in a vicinity of one or more body lumens and accelerating a decrease in a local concentration of the lytic material in the vicinity of the one or more body lumens by causing one or more elements to extract at least a portion of the lytic material in the vicinity of the one or more body lumens in response to the one or more indications of the lytic material in the vicinity of the one or more body lumens.
US08317769B2
A sanitary napkin comprises an absorbent interposed between a liquid-permeable surface sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet and enlarged to have a larger absorbent width on the back end than that of a crotch portion, and stereo gathers on the two sides of the surface. The stereo gathers have one or more folded-back portions formed at positions on the back end of the vicinity of a body liquid discharging portion, and the sanitary napkin is made to have a larger width between the stereo gathers on the back end thereof than that at the body liquid discharging portion.
US08317752B2
A medical pump system includes an input device for entering a command or a value of a pump programming parameter and a memory for storing a programming code. A processor is in communication with the memory and the input device in order to generate a display signal for an output device to generate one of a plurality of screens, such as near view and far view screens. The programming code is operable to display on a far view screen a plurality of medical therapy buttons that can be used to navigate directly to a near view programming screen. The far view screen can also concurrently display quick titration buttons that are associated with the medical therapy buttons and can be used to navigate directly to a quick titration screen without having to go to a general near view delivery screen or near view programming screen.
US08317749B2
A method of enabling administration of a drug includes determining, within a drug-transfer device including cells, a location of at least one cell and generating information identifying the determined location. A user may be provided with the drug-transfer device. The drug is retained within the at least one cell when the user is provided with the drug-transfer device. The method also includes encoding a key with the information and providing the user with the key before, after or when the user is provided with the drug-transfer device. Drug retained within the at least one cell is selectively releasable when the key is operably proximate to the drug-transfer device and is encoded with the information. The key can be encoded with the information before and/or after being provided to the user. In some embodiments, the key is encoded based on instructions transmitted over a network.
US08317745B2
A robotic catheter rotatable device cartridge may include a housing member attachable to a drive mechanism for rotating the cartridge and a catheter attached to the cartridge along an axial direction of the catheter. A slider block may be generally slidable relative to the housing and engaged with one or more steering wires for controlling movement of the catheter in a transverse direction relative to the axial direction. The catheter may include the steering wire(s) engaged therewith and movable in the transverse direction when the slider block is linearly driven in a predetermined direction.
US08317743B2
A method for mixing and injection and an apparatus for performing the method includes the use of a needle and a needle base, a syringe attachment element and a mixing chamber engagement assembly including a needle chamber surrounding the needle and a first liquid conduit portion, sealed from the needle chamber. A mixing chamber engagement portion includes a second liquid conduit portion communicating with the first liquid conduit portion and a mixing chamber. When the syringe attachment element and the needle base are in a first relative engagement orientation liquid can flow between an interior of the syringe and the first liquid conduit portion and upon axially displacing the needle base and syringe attachment element to a second relative engagement orientation, liquid can flow between an interior of the syringe and the needle.
US08317742B2
Herein disclosed is a system for applying shear stress ex-situ to a fluid. In some embodiments, the system comprises a shear device; and at least one device configured for intravenous administration of the fluid to a patient, the devices defining a fluid passage configured to be sterilized and maintained sterile during use, the fluid comprising at least one therapeutic fluid, blood, or a combination thereof. The shear device of the system is in fluid communication with the at least one device configured for intravenous administration of the fluid to a patient. Herein also disclosed is a method of preparing a fluid for intravenous administration to a patient.
US08317740B1
A drug pressuring and delivering system has an internal quantitative pusher for providing stable and precise drug delivery, and a drug pressuring and delivering device for introducing a compression gas for pressuring and ejecting a drug into an atomized drug. The quantitative pusher adopts a bidirectional motor for driving a screw rod to rotate forward or reversely to push the push rod forward or backward, such that the drug is delivered through a solenoid and a drug delivering needle in a cylinder drug delivering pipe and then quantitatively delivered to a drug delivery pressuring tube. In addition, an introduced mainstream gas in the drug delivery pressuring tube forms a gas-liquid mixing and pressuring action to achieve the precisely quantitative and uniform atomization high speed ejection function. Also, all members of the invention can be assembled/disassembled, so that the damaged or contaminated members can be detached, cleaned or replaced.
US08317724B2
This invention relates generally to the targeting and biopsy of tissue for medical purposes, and more particularly to a targeted biopsy system which allows planning of tissue to be sampled, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, capturing the tissue sample and recording the source location of the tissue sample, particularly for use in collecting tissue samples from the prostate gland. A further purpose of this invention is to provide a targeted treatment system which allows planning of tissue to be treated, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, and delivering the treatment to the targeted tissue.
US08317723B2
A pressure sensor for connecting to a detector is provided. The pressure sensor comprises: an optical fibre, having a distal end with a distal plane for sensing pressure, a proximal end for communicating with a patch cord, and an In-fibre Bragg grating (FBG) therebetween; a housing, having a distal aperture, a proximal aperture and a bore therebetween, and sized to accept the optical fibre; an annular ring, forming a flexible seal between said optical fibre and housing at least distal to the FBG and a holder for retaining the housing. The FBG is housed in the housing such that in use, axial strain is transferred to said In-fibre Bragg grating housed within said housing by pressure exerted on the distal plane.
US08317715B2
There is herein described a catheter for measuring a pressure in a cardiovascular system. The catheter comprises: a guiding tube adapted for insertion into the cardiovascular system. The guiding tube defines a lumen for sliding a guidewire therethrough. The catheter further comprises a tip pressure sensor eccentrically mounted relative to the guiding tube and a signal communication means extending therefrom. The tip pressure sensor is for sensing a pressure in the cardiovascular system and the signal communicating means is for transmitting a signal indicative of the pressure to a processing device in order to obtain a pressure measurement reading.
US08317712B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system transmits a plurality of focused beams normal to the plane of a transducer aperture and receives multiple receive lines in response to each transmitted beam. Sub-apertures of the transducer aperture are defined by apodization and signals of the sub-apertures are aligned and combined to produce signals exhibiting the effect of transmit steering at different angles with respect to the sub-apertures. The steered signals are detected and the detected signals relating to common points in an image field are combined. The combined detected signals are used to produce an ultrasound image with reduced speckle.
US08317710B2
Provided is a bone inspecting system for placing the lower legs (L) of an examinee (P) on a proximal support block (26) and a distal support block (28) mounted on a turning base (24). The proximal support block supports the heads of fibula, and the distal support block supports the lateral malleolus or medial malleolus of a tibial distal end of the examinee. The turning base is supported turnably on a turning axis positioned near the knees of the examinee, with respect to a main base (22), and is moved up and down by an elevating mechanism (30) disposed near the ankles. The turning base (24) is turned by the elevating mechanism while bearing the lower legs thereon, thereby positioning the lower legs horizontally.
US08317677B2
A system for regulating the functioning of an organ or duct generally includes an implantable band structured to at least partially circumscribe an organ or duct and an actuating mechanism operable to effect constriction of the band. The system further includes a plurality of incompressible cushion segments defining a substantially star-shaped inner circumference of the band, the star-shape effective to prevent pinching and necrosis of tissue during adjustment.
US08317676B2
A balloon-type gastric band includes a balloon shaped and dimensioned to circumscribe a stomach at a predetermined location. A supply tube is secured to the balloon for fluid communication with an internal cavity of the balloon, wherein the supply tube includes both at least one colored section and at least one clear section for respectively contrasting the supply tube from surrounding tissue when placed within a patient and facilitating identification of leaks within the supply tube. In accordance with an alternate embodiment the supply tube is colored while remaining translucent.
US08317670B2
A trifold side seamed plastic produce bag includes a front wall and a taller back wall, first and second side edges sealed together and a seamless bag bottom. The taller back wall provides means for finding the bag opening. The bag is joined at the side edges to additional bags by a perforation. The bag is corona treated on at least one wall and promotional material is printed on the treated surface. The bags are folded to one third of their height to fit compact bag roll dispensers. The bags are folded in a Z-fold or C-fold configuration. The method and apparatus for producing the bags includes a slitter that removes a strip of plastic from only the top layer of the bag stream to form an extended flap on each bag. The method includes manufacturing the bags and winding them onto cores or forming the bags into coreless rolls.
US08317663B2
An exercise device includes a flexible support element and a step height adjustment mechanism. The flexible support element couples at least one crank to a right foot support and a left foot support. The step height adjustment mechanism allows a person to adjust a step height of a path through which the left and right foot supports move.
US08317657B2
A system for encouraging a user to perform substantial physical activity. The system may include sensors that may be worn by the user while the user is performing a substantial physical activity, such as running or playing basketball. The sensors may detect the magnitude of the physical activity and may transmit data regarding the physical activity to a processing system. The processing system may display a reward to encourage the user for participating in physical activity and the reward provided may be based on the physical activity of the user.
US08317652B2
An internal combustion engine drives, via a belt drive, a first and a second auxiliary unit embodied respectively as a water pump and an air-conditioning compressor and drives a starter-generator operating as a starter and as a generator depending on the operating mode. The belt drive is connected through a clutch element, which has a freewheel, to the internal combustion engine such that, when the internal combustion engine is at standstill, only the two auxiliary units, but not at the same time the internal combustion engine, are driven by the starter-generator. The clutch element which has a freewheel allows a stepless transition of the drive mode from the internal combustion engine to the starter-generator. In order to start the internal combustion engine, the clutch element is engaged only for a short time, so that the drive power of the starter-generator is transmitted to the internal combustion engine.
US08317650B2
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a main axle is adapted to receive a shift rod that cooperates with a shift rod nut to actuate a ratio change in a CVT. In another embodiment, an axial force generating mechanism can include a torsion spring, a traction ring adapted to receive the torsion spring, and a roller cage retainer configured to cooperate with the traction ring to house the torsion spring. Various inventive idler-and-shift-cam assemblies can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. Embodiments of a hub shell and a hub cover are adapted to house components of a CVT and, in some embodiments, to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT.
US08317643B2
A hydraulic tensioning system (1), which is used in traction mechanism drives, particularly chain drives of internal combustion engines, is provided. The tensioning system (1) includes a piston (3), which is designed in the shape of a crucible, subjected to a pressure by a pressure spring (8), guided in a linearly displaceable manner in a housing (2) and spring-loaded against a traction mechanism. Hydraulic fluid can flow out of a pressure chamber (5) depending on an actuating direction of the piston (3) via an overpressure valve (11) forming a damper and associated with the piston (3) or can enter via a one-way valve (7) of the housing (2) into the pressure chamber (5). The overpressure valve (11) encloses a valve plate (15) that is integrated in the piston (3), and a pressure spring (8) of the piston (3) surrounds an outside of the valve housing (12) of the overpressure valve (11).
US08317641B1
A football lacing system having a molded backbone with a series of spaced finger grooves separated by resilient ridges to insure proper hand placement for throwing a spiral pass. The backbone is preferably molded of thermal plastic rubber and is secured over the bladder seam of the exterior football covering by lacing that extends between paired lace holes along the length of the bladder seam.
US08317639B1
A soccer training device includes a pair of leg components to be worn on a user's legs, each having a shin guard kneepad and foot cover member. An assortment of recessed attachment portals are included on shin guards, kneepads, and foot covers for releasably securing opposite ends of an elastomeric cord, which has a training ball secured along its length, producing two legs of the elastomeric cord, each being selectively secured to a respective leg component. In operation, the user begins alternating movement of his or her legs, thereby causing the ball to alternatively strike the selected areas and travel away from the user until the elastomeric cord stretches taut and causes the ball to travel back towards the user for striking with the opposite leg. The user continues kicking the ball from one leg to the other as many times as he or she can consecutively hit the ball.
US08317638B2
The present invention relates to golf balls, specifically, to a golf ball with multifaceted depressions comprising two discrete geometries surrounded by a first perimeter. A second perimeter is circumscribed within the first and surrounds prismatoid depressions or protrusions. Primarily the first and second perimeters are circular and the depressions or protrusions are based on a polyhedral prismatoid having a minimum of three and a maximum of twelve edges, wherein the ratio of the first and second diameters is between 0.25 to 0.90.
US08317635B2
A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long, mid- and short irons with channel back configurations and a mass control insert. The mass of the insert is systematically varied through the set such that the mass distribution properties of the set may be systematically varied while retaining a continuous look and feel through the set. The mass of the insert is varied by altering the volume or the density of the insert through the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. In one embodiment, the mass control insert comprises a dense insert and a lightweight cover. The density of the dense insert can be easily varied to change the mass distribution properties of the club head. One application of the mass control insert is to provide customization of the club head at the point of sale or distribution.
US08317630B1
A constant velocity joint has an outer joint part, an inner joint part, a ball cage and a plurality of balls located in the cage. The outer surface of the inner joint part is provided with two radii and the inner surface of the ball cage is provided with two radii resulting in a joint that is more compact, more durable and lubricated better than known joints.
US08317622B2
An architecture that employs an internal entity that controls import and export of data (“import/export controller”) and an external entity that operates as a liaison (“data liaison”) between the import/export controller and one or more online social communities allows online social community access in a secure manner. The import/export controller and the data liaison handle data transmissions (e.g., data feeds, data updates, etc.) between the secure entity and the one or more online social communities. The import/export controller applies rules that regulate import and export of data, and the data liaison allows the import/export controller to operate in obscurity. Funneling data transmissions through the import/export controller and the data liaison allows players to securely access an online social community from a wagering game machine while in a wagering game establishment.
US08317605B2
A method of gaming comprising conducting one or more paid game rounds initiated in response to the payment of a wager by a player and a series of one or more free game rounds initiated in response to a free game series trigger event, the method comprising: in each paid game round, selecting a set of paid game round symbols for display to the player, determining a paid game round outcome based on the selected symbols, and incrementing a jackpot by a paid game jackpot increment; in each free game round, selecting a set of free game round symbols for display to the player, determining a free game round outcome based on the selected symbols, and incrementing the jackpot by a free game jackpot increment; and awarding the jackpot on the occurrence of a jackpot award event.
US08317601B1
A system and method for using bonus points, where bonus points may be accumulated by a player in a casino setting to invoke a bonus play or bonus game ordinarily reachable only through a random event. Bonus points are usable in combination with tiered bonus levels, allowing the issuance of points or credits that a player may accumulate until they have enough to trade-in for a bonus round, event, or game at the chosen level.
US08317599B2
A system comprises: a receiving unit for receiving information of a user; a first notifying unit for notifying the user of a first challenge in a first game apparatus a first output unit for outputting first clear information when a progress result of a game controlled by the first game apparatus becomes the first result relating to the first challenge; a second notifying unit for notifying the user of a second challenge in a second game apparatus; a second output unit for outputting second clear information when a progress result of a game controlled by the second game apparatus becomes the second result relating to the second challenge; and a processing unit for performing predetermined process for determining whether a predetermined process condition is satisfied, and for performing, when the predetermined process condition is satisfied, predetermined process that is not performed when the predetermined process condition is not satisfied.
US08317597B2
A method for playing video gambling games whereby pay tables vary from play to play, or, alternatively, whereby a plurality of pay tables are possible within a game. For example, in a video poker game a player wagers against a first pay table. If a winner occurs, the next game offers a new pay table with a greater expected value. This process continues until the player loses, whereupon the player is returned to play against the first pay table. Pay tables increment and decrement in expected value based on achieving predetermined events within the current game, within a previous game or games or randomly.
US08317594B2
When a game-number addition symbol is rearranged in arrangement areas, a value determined based on the number of game-number addition symbols rearranged is added to a bonus game-number. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, executed is a bonus game of which scale depends on the bonus game-number.
US08317593B2
A method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of symbols and displaying the selected symbols at respective ones of a plurality of display positions arranged in a grid having a plurality of display positions arranged between a plurality of pairs of opposing sides, each symbol being selected from a symbol set; determining whether a line of contiguous symbols is formed by one or more designated symbols between a pair of opposing sides of the grid; and making an award in response to a positive determination.
US08317592B2
A gaming machine includes manufacturer-limited parameter values or parameter value combinations selectable by an operator during gaming machine set-up. The parameter values preferably include different maximum pay lines associated with different denominations and are limited to those which have been determined by the manufacturer to provide optimum game play. The different maximum pay lines may be associated with different math models having substantially the same payback percentage values. Subsequent operator selection of the parameter values during gaming machine setup allows the gaming machine having a single game theme or a gaming machine having multiple game themes to be configured with different maximum pay lines for each single game theme. Thus, the player can play a single theme wagering game with a first maximum pay line value and with a second maximum pay line value where the second maximum pay line value differs from the first maximum pay line value.
US08317585B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of conducting a wagering game is provided. The method allows an opportunity to achieve a first progressive award and a second progressive award. The method comprises the acts of receiving a primary wager from a player for playing the wagering game and initiating the wagering game. The method further includes the act of displaying a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game via a plurality of symbols. The plurality of symbols are selected from a set of symbols including a predetermined symbol. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a first number of the predetermined symbols, the method includes the act of triggering an event in which the first progressive award can be achieved. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a second number of the predetermined symbols, the method includes the act of triggering an event in which the second progressive award can be achieved.
US08317582B2
A game device includes an object arrangement changing unit for changing the arrangement of objects, which are of plural kinds, placed in a game field following an instruction from a user, an arrangement condition determining unit for determining objects that meet an arrangement condition for erasure out of a plurality of objects placed in the game field and selecting the objects that meet the arrangement condition as objects to be erased, an object kind changing unit for changing the kind of the objects selected as objects to be erased, and an object erasing unit for erasing the objects selected as objects to be erased. The arrangement condition determining unit determines again objects that meet the arrangement condition and further selects objects that newly meet the arrangement condition as objects to be erased, during a time from when the kind of the objects selected as objects to be erased is changed by the object kind changing unit until when the objects are erased by the object erasing unit.
US08317581B2
A puzzle game includes a plurality of game pieces arranged in an arrangement of game pieces. Each of the game pieces includes a matrix of polytopes. Each of the polytopes of each of the game pieces includes one of a pre-determined number of individual indicia disposed thereon, which is different than the individual indicia disposed on all of the other polytopes of the respective game pieces. The arrangement of game pieces includes a pre-determined number of rows and columns of polytopes. The game pieces are re-positioned within the arrangement of game pieces so that each of the individual indicia is displayed only once in each row of polytopes in the arrangement of game pieces and is displayed only once in each column of polytopes in the arrangement of game pieces.
US08317579B2
A video game is provided in which a player can switch a player character in a battle to an enemy character by a switching operation. With such a switching operation, the player performs the battle with the enemy character. If a predetermined time elapses, the enemy character is switched back to the player character. At this time, an HP of the enemy character reflects on an HP of the player character. If a special ability of the enemy character is used, the special ability is inherited by the player character and can be used in battles thereafter.
US08317578B2
A discharge arrangement of an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a retaining arrangement, a housing removably mounted onto the retaining arrangement, and a measuring device mounted within the housing. The measuring device is adapted to detect properties of the harvested crop. A cover arrangement is pivotably mounted onto the retaining arrangement to enclose the housing and the measuring device such that the housing and the measuring device are positioned between the cover arrangement and the discharge arrangement.
US08317568B2
A mark-free fabric strap wire casing. The casing is provided with a cushion B which is composed of erect fine hairs C for relieving the stress generated by the bra wire on skin. With simple structure, the present invention which is used as the casing for the wire used in female underwear can be manufactured with high production efficiency and suitable for the production automation. Because the fabric strap itself is provided with a cushion composed of erect fine hairs, it has a softer feel when in contact with skin and relieves the pressure feel generated by the wire within the underwear on skin. It reduces the wire impression mark left under the breasts after wearing it. The wire can be embedded without causing much embossment, thereby enchaining visual appearance of the underwear article.
US08317561B2
An organic light-emitting component, having a substrate, a first electrode arranged on the substrate, a layer stack that is arranged on the first electrode and that has at least one organic layer and a second electrode arranged on the layer stack. The layer stack is suitable for emitting electromagnetic radiation during operation. The component also has a receiver device, which is suitable for drawing energy from an alternating electromagnetic field and for converting this energy at least partially into electrical energy and for making this energy available to the layer stack.
US08317559B2
The invention comprises a non-slip foam pad that provides an ergonomically shaped grip for the hands for use on a personal water craft surface, such as a surfboard or body board, to provide for maximum grip during maneuvers which involve moving through oncoming water while maintaining a grip on said watercraft.
US08317550B2
A receptacle terminal to be utilized in an electrical receptacle includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a connecting member, and a restricting member. The second sidewall cooperates with the first sidewall to define a receiving space to receive an electrical terminal. The connecting member connects the first sidewall to the second wall. The restricting member includes a first hook and a second hook. The first hook extends from one end of the first sidewall. The second hook extends from one end of the second sidewall. An end of the first hook and an end of the second hook are spaced from each other. When the electrical terminal is received in the receiving space, the first hook engages with the second hook, to prevent the receiving space from being stretch beyond a predetermined size or size range.
US08317547B2
An electrical receptacle includes a first portion having a face with a plurality of openings and including a first set of protrusions and a first set of receptors, the first portion being configured to receive a plurality of electrical conductors, and a second mating portion including a second set of protrusions and a second set of receptors. The first set of receptors is configured to interact with the second set of protrusions and the first set of protrusions is configured to interact with the second set of receptors to snap lock the second mating portion to the first portion and form the electrical receptacle. Further, a method is provided for assembling and disassembling an electrical receptacle.
US08317540B2
The present invention relates to a coaxial connector, more particularly relates to a coaxial connector with shielding shell that comprises a main body, a flat portion connected to the main body and a wire holder on the rear end of the flat portion. The main body includes a pair of holding arms and a receiving hole for receiving the cylinder portion of the insulating housing. The flat portion has a front end and a back end, the front end receives the cylinder portion and supports the main body after the main body being bent toward to the flat portion, and there is a cavity formed in the center of the back end through bending over a cover plate, the bending arms bend inward to cover the insulating housing and holding arms from outside.
US08317527B2
An electrical plug with a user-replaceable prong, which includes a body and current-carrying prongs, at least one of which is removable. The removable prong includes a weakened portion positioned outside of the body when the removable prong is seated in the body of the plug. The weakened portion is designed to be the point at which the prong is most likely to break and is located so that the removable prong will be easy to remove from the body even after breaking.
US08317525B2
A press-fit connecting element for being pressed into a first contact opening in a first connection element and into a second contact opening in a second connection element is provided. The press-fit connecting element includes an elongated base body configured to be guided through the second contact opening in the second connection element to the first contact opening in the first connection element. The press-fit connecting element further includes a first press-fit zone configured to contact-connect the first contact opening in a force-fitting manner and a second press-fit zone which is at a distance from the first press-fit zone in a longitudinal direction and configured to contact-connect the second contact opening in a force-fitting manner.
US08317513B1
The invention includes a dental tool for applying orthodontic attachments to teeth. The tool includes a body having a portion for holding the dental tool and a portion for selectively gripping an object to be bonded to a tooth. The tool also includes a nozzle for emitting pressurized air adjacent the portion for selectively gripping the object to be bonded to the tooth. A method of using the tool is also disclosed.
US08317512B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a firing furnace, in particular for the dental sector, in which the temperature is measured and, based on the measured temperature, a temperature control is performed. If appropriate, the temperature integral, recorded at discrete points, is determined over the course of time and in particular stored, and is used, if appropriate in addition to the temperature, for controlling the firing furnace.
US08317505B2
This invention discloses apparatus for generating an ophthalmic lens with at least a portion of one surface free-formed from a Reactive Mixture. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic lens is formed on a substrate with an arcuate optical quality surface via a source of actinic radiation controllable to cure a definable portion of a volume of Reactive Mixture.
US08317503B2
A device for producing Lyocell fibers which are extruded from a cellulose solution of water, cellulose and tertiary amine oxide in a spinning head (25). The cellulose solution is obtained in a number of process steps directly from the cellulose (3, 4) or with the formation of a cellulose suspension. Since the degree of polymerization decreases in the course of processing the cellulose through to its extrusion in the cellulose solution, with the processing of celluloses with a low degree of polymerization there is the risk that the endless molded bodies (2) extruded in the spinning head (25) exhibit defective quality. In order to also be able to process celluloses (3, 4) with a low degree of polymerization without having to accept reduced quality, according to the invention, the residence time of the cellulose from its introduction into the device (1) through to the extrusion of the cellulose (3, 4) in the cellulose solution is set in dependence of the degree of polymerization of the cellulose, of the cellulose suspension and/or of the cellulose solution.
US08317500B2
A fluid transportation system includes: an elastic tube; a tube frame having a tube guide groove to which the tube is attached in a circular arc; a cam driving wheel interior of the tube and having a rotational center coinciding with the center of the circular arc of the tube guide groove; a first cam fixed to a center shaft of the cam driving wheel; a second cam rotatably supported by the center shaft; and a plurality of fingers radially extending from the rotation center between the tube and the first and second cams and pressing the tube by the rotation of the first and second cams, wherein when the fluid transportation system starts to operate, the first and second cams produce a state in which the second cam is attached to the first cam and at least one of the plural fingers closes the tube.
US08317491B2
A cooling system for an indwelling heat exchange catheter includes a heat exchange bath that is configured to receive a conduit that carries saline to and from the catheter. A heating/cooling fluid is in the bath and exchanges heat with the saline. The heating/cooling fluid flows through a heat exchanger that includes a refrigerant and two variable speed DC compressor for removing heat from the refrigerant. A gear pump circulates the working fluid to and from the catheter and is removably engaged with a pump support platform.
US08317486B2
A variable capacity vane includes a pump control ring which is moveable to alter the capacity of the pump and the pump can be operated at either of at least two selected equilibrium pressures. The pump ring is moved by at least first and second control chambers, the control chambers abutting the control ring such that pressurized fluid supplied to them acts on the pump control ring to move the pump control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump. When pressurized fluid is supplied to only one control chamber, the pump operates at a first equilibrium pressure and when pressurized fluid is also supplied to the second chamber, the pump operates at a second equilibrium pressure. Pressurized fluid can also be supplied only to the second control chamber to operate the pump at a third equilibrium pressure and/or additional control chambers can be provided if required.
US08317484B2
An oil-injected compressor, with an oil circuit for lubrication, and an oil separating device which is used to separate the oil from the compressed air. A self-resetting temperature switch, which is used to switch off the compressor unit when the maximum temperature limit of the incoming compressed air is reached, is provided in the region of the inlet of the compressed air, which contains oil, in the oil separating device. At least one non-self-resetting additional temperature switch is provided in the internal area of the oil separating device, which immediately switches off the compressor unit following a fire or an explosion of the compressed air, which contains oil, and which is contained in the oil separating device.
US08317482B2
A turbomachine blade including a plurality of blade sections stacked along a radial axis is disclosed. The projection of a line interconnecting the leading edges of the blade sections of the bottom stack onto a mid-plane presents a first longitudinal angle of inclination towards the leading edge that lies in the range 10° to 25°. The projection of a line interconnecting the leading edges of the blade sections of the intermediate stack presents a second longitudinal angle of inclination towards the trailing edge lying in the range 10° to 25°. The projection of a line interconnecting the leading edges of the blade sections of the top stack presents a third longitudinal angle of inclination towards the trailing edge lying in the range 20° to 50°. The bottom limit of the intermediate stack of the blade sections lies in the range 30% to 40% of the total radial height of the stack of blade sections.
US08317477B2
Disclosed is a simultaneous twin pitch adjustment system that includes a flexible shafting cord operatively connected to first and second couplers. The couplers are supported by posts and are operatively connected to pitch communicators. A handle is supported by each post and is configured such that manipulation of the handle translates to adjustment of the pitch of an associated rotor blade assembly. When the simultaneous twin pitch adjustment system is engaged, manipulation of one handle further translates, via the flexible shafting cord, to adjustment of the pitch of another rotor blade assembly in an amount essentially equal to the amount the associated rotor blade assembly is adjusted.
US08317476B1
A turbine rotor blade with a blade tip cooling circuit that is formed by bonding a blade tip to a top side of an airfoil. The blade tip includes a first series of ribs formed on a bottom side that defines a first layer of tip cooling holes. The top side of the airfoil includes a second series of ribs that define a second layer of cooling holes. The first and second series of ribs are formed before the blade tip is bonded to the airfoil to enclose the two layers of tip cooling holes that open onto the walls of the blade below the tip edge.
US08317469B2
A shroud for a wind turbine and a method for modifying performance of a wind turbine are disclosed. The wind turbine includes a rotor mounted to a nacelle, the rotor including a plurality of rotor blades and defining an outer diameter. The shroud is positioned downstream of the rotor in an air flow direction, and has an inner diameter of less than the outer diameter of the rotor.
US08317468B2
A flow-routing component of a pump is composed of at least two parts, a first part (2) of the component being manufactured by metal-powder injection molding, and a second part (4) of the component being manufactured from sheet metal. A pump assembly is also provided having such a flow-routing component.
US08317460B1
A boundary layer wind turbine having one or more flaps coupled to the underneath of a turbine disk is provided. The turbine uses an assembly of closely stacked disks that are rotated by the wind blowing across the face of the disks to rotate a turbine shaft that is attached to an electrical generator to generate electricity. The wind moves the turbines as it flows across the surface of the closely spaced disks. The disks include one or more flaps attached to the bottom side of the disks. The wind blows against the flap, which in turn exerts a force on the disk, causing the turbine to rotate. The flaps may be located near the outer circumference of the disks. The one or more flaps on the disks retract automatically as the rotational velocity of the turbine increases.
US08317457B2
A method of operating a compressor having a row of blades for preventing a compressor stall is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of mounting a plasma generator in a casing or a shroud radially outwardly and apart from the blade tips wherein the plasma generator comprises a radially inner electrode and a radially outer electrode separated by a dielectric material; and supplying an AC potential to the radially inner electrode and the radially outer electrode.
US08317455B2
Device for removing a bundle from the casing of a heat exchanger, comprising a carrier frame provided with pulling means for removing the bundle from the casing, wherein the carrier frame is adapted to hold the bundle removed from the casing, wherein the device is provided with hoisting means for hoisting the carrier frame, wherein the hoisting means comprise at least one gripper and wherein the device is also provided with connecting means for connecting the gripper releasably to the carrier frame.
US08317445B2
The Butterfly Push-Pull Pin, also referred to as a force advantageous push-pull pin in this application is a practical fastener used to support penetrable materials on supporting material such as a bulletin board, notice board, tack board, wall or other element penetrable by a push pin. In the Butterfly Push-Pull Pin, two broad, sloped, opposing sides of a polygonal handle are grasped to push the pin in. Two other broad, sloped, opposing sides of the polygonal handle are used to pull the pin out.
US08317433B2
Bar cutter head (20) for receiving multiple bar cutters of a first bar cutter set, the bar cutter head (20) having n receptacle openings (25.1-25.6) for receiving n bar cutters of the first bar cutter set, which are all situated along a first concentric cutter head nominal circle having a first cutter head nominal radius (r1). A first spiral-toothed bevel gear (11) can be milled in the single-indexing method in this configuration. The bar cutter head (20) additionally has m receptacle openings (26.1 -26.6) for receiving m bar cutters of a second bar cutter set, which are all situated along a second concentric cutter head nominal circle having a second cutter head nominal radius (r2). A second spiral-toothed bevel gear can be milled in the configuration having the m bar cutters. It is thus a universally-usable cutter head (20).
US08317429B2
Connectors having redundant fasteners for interconnecting adjacent structures are disclosed. Some connectors have first and second bearing bodies and a member disposed between the bearing bodies. A first fastener is held in tension and extends through the bearing bodies and the member. The tension in the first fastener urges the bearing bodies against each other in compression. A second fastener held in loose engagement relative to the bearing bodies and the member extends through the bearing bodies. On release of the tension in the first fastener, such as by failure of the first fastener, the second fastener is placed in tension.
US08317427B2
A portable winch and method of use is shown. One advantage of winches shown includes an ability to lower a boom or boom sections into limited access exit pit for winching operations such as pipe bursting. Sectional boom designs shown provide the ability to easily raise and lower a boom large distances without the need for a single long boom. Selected winch designs shown include flexible inserts between the boom and the winch frame that help resist damage from unforeseen shifting of the device during operation. Designs and methods shown also include multiple pulleys on a boom end unit. Fasteners are shown that reduce build up of debris.
US08317422B2
A distributor (1) of fluid, particularly of liquid soap, has a sealed shell (2) suitable for containing the fluid to be distributed. The shell (2) has a shape and dimensions suitable for being able to be held between the hands of a user when the hands are being washed. Distribution mechanisms (30) are mounted movably on the shell (2) between a rest position in which they prevent the fluid from coming out of the shell and an active position in which they allow the fluid to come out when the user presses his hands against them during washing.
US08317420B2
In one embodiment, a ribbon cassette includes two rows of spherical bumps extending between sidewalls of the cassette on both a floor and ceiling of the cassette and a pair of concentric arched retaining walls on both the floor and ceiling between an exit gate and the rows of bumps. In another embodiment, there is only one row of bumps and one retaining wall on the floor and ceiling. In another embodiment, the retaining walls are straight. The two rows and retaining walls, along with cassette sidewalls, form three distinct zones for densely packing the ribbon, unpacking the ribbon, and isolating the ribbon, resulting in less jamming with longer lengths of ribbon.
US08317419B2
An ink ribbon cassette is inserted into and removed from a thermal transfer printer in the longitudinal direction of the thermal head. The thermal head is provided with a lifting member, while the ink ribbon cassette is provided with a contact element. The lifting member and the contact element of the ink ribbon cassette are configured to be in contact with each other during insertion and removal of the ink ribbon cassette, and thereby lift the thermal head to widen the space for the ink sheet to pass through.
US08317413B2
A packaged fused-fiber device includes a fused-fiber device having at least one input fiber and at least one output fiber, and a fused portion between the input fiber and output fiber. A concave shaped substrate has an inside surface and an outside surface, wherein a minimum distance from the inside surface to the outside surface that is generally set by the substrate thickness is substantially constant throughout the substrate. An affixment material secures the first and second ends of the fused portion to the inside surface of the substrate. A thermally conductive housing is in thermal contact with the outside surface of the substrate. In one embodiment the substrate has an L-shaped cross section and the housing is a hollow housing that has a rectangular cross section.
US08317412B2
In aligning ends of optical fibers (13), e.g. for performing a prealignment of ends of large mode area double-clad fibers (LMA-DCFs) in order to thereafter perform a core alignment process, in a fiber optic fusion splicer a best, optimum or near optimum position or setting of the optical system (7) for observing the self-focusing effect is first determined and then the very alignment operation may be performed using the determined setting. The very alignment process may then be performed by adjusting stepwise the offset distance between the observed fiber ends by e.g. using a cascade technique.
US08317410B2
This disclosure describes techniques for attaching a connector to a fiber optic cable. As described herein, lengthwise slits are made into the jacket and the buffer tube of a fiber optic cable, thereby exposing interior segments of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable. A loop is then made in the fiber optic cable at the slits. The ends of the optical fibers can then telescopically slide out the end of the fiber optic cable. When this happens, the exposed interior segments of the optical fibers slide out of the buffer tube and the jacket through the slits, forming a smaller loop within the loop. A connector may then be attached to the exposed ends of the optical fibers. When the fiber optic cable is unlooped, the exposed interior segments of the optical fibers slide back into the buffer tube and jacket. The jacket may then be resealed.
US08317408B2
Provided is an optical-fiber connection unit in which a split sleeve (14) for performing centering of distal end portions of ferrules (11 and 111) is provided not to an optical adapter (20) but to an optical connector (10). With this configuration, it is unnecessary to provide a sleeve holder inside a casing (21) of the optical adapter (20), and hence a shape of the optical adapter (20) is simplified. Further, a sleeve holder (13) provided to the optical connector (10) is formed in a state of being exposed outward. Thus, a risk of defective molding is reduced, and presence or absence of defective molding can be easily confirmed.
US08317404B2
A cage for a ball bearing assembly has a pocket for accommodating one of the balls defined at a plurality of locations in a direction circumferentially thereof and each of the pockets has an inner surface so shaped as to represent a concaved spherical surface. A concaved portion extending from an open edge on the cage inner diametric side towards the cage outer diametric side is provided in an inner surface of each of the pockets. The sectional shape of the inner surface of this concaved portion in a cage circumferential direction is represented by an arcuate shape of a radius of curvature smaller than the radius of curvature of the concaved spherical surface defining the inner surface of the respective pocket. The inner surface of each of the pockets may be formed with a film.
US08317403B2
A rolling bearing, with a bearing inner and outer ring where at least one of the bearing rings is split, in a parting plane which is normal with respect to an axis, into two ring halves of identical shape. Latching members are integrally formed on a radially inner or radially outer ring part. Segment-like and shell-shaped projections project axially beyond the ring part at a part of the circumferential extent thereof. The projections are arranged in a different radial plane to the latching members, which projections are delimited in the circumferential direction by segment-like depressions and the projections of one ring half engage into the depressions, which are of complementary shape, of the other ring half, such that the projections and the ring part overlap in the axial direction and the latching members of the one ring half engage into clearances which are arranged in the other ring part.
US08317402B2
Disclosed is a connecting rod bearing for crankshafts having a pair of semi-cylindrical bearings. Circumferential grooves (CG) on the bearing inner surface extend from each circumferential end toward the circumferential center within a maximum circumferential angle of 45 degrees and divide reduced wall thickness region into two sections. Axial grooves communicating with the CG are provided along abutted ends of the bearings. Circumferential length of the CG is larger than that of the reduced region. Depth of the CG becomes gradually smaller from the end toward the center. Width of the CG is not smaller than one-quarter of a diameter of lubricant-oil outlet of internal lubricant-oil passage in a crankpin and less than the diameter. Cross-sectional area of the CG is larger than that of the axial grooves at a connection portion thereof.
US08317391B2
The device for pivoting an arbour (11) in a timepiece, includes two pivots (12, 12′; 32) each forming one end of the arbour and two bearings for receiving the two pivots. Each of the pivots includes an approximately cylindrical portion (19, 19′; 39) and a convex rounded portion (13, 13′; 33) that extends the approximately cylindrical portion and gradually decreases in the direction of the end. Each of the bearings includes a pivoting structure (25; 35) held in place elastically, which includes an approximately cylindrical passage traversed by said approximately cylindrical portion (19, 19′; 39) of one of the pivots. The pivoting structure also includes a bearing surface against which the end of said pivot will abut. The pivoting device is characterized in that the pivoting structure of each of the bearings includes an aperture (16, 16′; 36; 46) that has a portion of inverted triangular or trapezoidal profile (16, 16′; 38; 46), and in that the convex rounded portion (13, 13′; 33) of one of the two pivots is for abutting against said inclined inner wall so that the arbour (11) is held axially between the inclined walls of the apertures of the two bearings.
US08317390B2
An apparatus and method for mixing gas streams of different temperatures and/or compositions contemplates that at least one of the streams contains particle. The apparatus includes a main duct for the first gas stream and a plurality of duct assemblies extending in the main duct generally transversely to the first gas stream. Each assembly has plural inlets and outlets for receiving and discharging separate parts of the second gas stream, moving initially generally transverse to the first stream. The assemblies each have plural secondary ducts of mutually different lengths from inlet to outlet, the outlets being spaced from each other across the main duct for distributing the parts of the second gas stream into the first gas stream. A gas flow deflector is connected to each duct assembly for temporarily deflecting the first gas stream before it is combined with the parts of the second gas stream.
US08317387B2
A light emitting diode package may be provided that includes a light emitting diode chip and a heat sink. Heat generated from the light emitting diode chip may be radiated to the outside using the heat sink.
US08317385B2
An ultra thin lighting element including at least one light source. A lightguide element includes one lightguide layer comprising a plurality of discrete fine optic surface relief structures on at least one portion of at least one surface. Each surface relief structure includes basic structural features on the order of about 10 microns or less in height, and on the order of about 10 microns or less in each lateral dimension. The number, arrangement and size of each surface relief structure and height and lateral dimensions of the structural features of the surface relief structures being varied to provide a desired degree of outcoupling modulation of light incoupled into the light guide element.
US08317375B2
An adapter for an outdoor light is disclosed. The adapter includes a hollow elongated element having a top end and a bottom end and a first opening at the top end of the elongated element, wherein the first opening accepts a shaft of the outdoor light to create a friction fit with the shaft. The adapter further includes a second opening at the bottom end of the elongated element, wherein the second opening includes a tapered interior brim and a plug located at substantially a midpoint of an interior of the elongated element, wherein the plug comprises substantially a disk that contacts an interior surface of the elongated element. The adapter further includes a fastener that extends lengthwise along a centerline of the elongated element, wherein the fastener is coupled at one end to a midpoint of the plug and wherein the fastener protrudes from the second opening of the elongated element.
US08317364B2
A lighting apparatus is broadly disclosed and embodied herein. The lighting apparatus may include a heat sink, a first reflector provided over the heat sink, a light emitting module provided at the first reflector, an enclosure provided over the heat sink to surround the light emitting module, and a second reflector provided over the light emitting module. At least a portion of the light emitted from the light emitting module may be reflected at least in a direction a prescribed angle below a horizontal plane of the light emitting module.
US08317363B2
An LED lamp includes a body, a first LED illuminant located at a side of the body and a second LED illuminant located at another side of the body opposite to the side of the body. An intersecting angle exists between the body and each of the first LED illuminant and the second LED illuminant so that light generated from the first LED illuminant and light generated from the second LED illuminant meet each other at a position above the body.
US08317362B2
A light emitting diode (LED) lamp includes a lamp body, an LED module mounted on an end of the lamp body and a switching member mounted on the lamp body. The LED module has LEDs facing outwards. The switching member is capable of switching the LED lamp between N type of working modes including modes I1, I2, . . . In. The LEDs are connected with each other in series into an LED string. The modes I1, I2, . . . In correspond to n different connecting points of the LED string.
US08317358B2
An LED lamp includes a light engine. The light engine includes a substrate including a transparent or translucent thermally conductive material, a plurality of LED semiconductor devices mounted to the substrate, a plurality of conductive traces formed over the substrate to electrically interconnect each of the plurality of LED semiconductor devices, and conductive leads connected to the substrate for supplying electrical energy to the plurality of LED semiconductor devices. The substrate of the light engine may include an aluminum nitride (AlN), or diamond film material. A thermally conductive rod is connected to the light engine. A heatsink is formed by an extrusion or die casting process. The heatsink includes a fin structure for dissipating heat energy into the environment. The thermally conductive rod and the heatsink are thermally connected. An optional optical envelope is mounted to the heatsink. The optional optical envelope is disposed over the light engine.
US08317354B2
The invention relates to a lamp (1), especially a suspended lamp, comprising a housing (2) that is provided with a first light emitting area (4) with a first light influencing element (9) on one side thereof while being fitted with a second light emitting area (21) with a second light influencing element (22) on another side for direct illumination. In order to improve indirect illumination of the lamp, the second light influencing element (22) can be moved into at least two different positions (S1, S2, S3).
US08317351B2
Disclosed is a knife that includes a knife blade and a tang configured for cutting a material. The tang of the knife includes a slot configured therewithin. Further, the knife includes a first handle plate. The first handle plate includes a protruding member configured therewithin. The first handle plate also includes a first cavity portion configured therewithin. Furthermore, the knife includes a second handle plate. The second handle plate includes a second cavity portion therewithin. Further, the knife includes an integrated circuit board mounted within the second cavity portion of the second handle plate. The knife also includes a holding member. The holding member is configured to receive at least one power source therewithin that is electrically coupled with the integrated circuit board. Further, the knife includes a micro-switch disposed within the first cavity portion of the first handle plate. The knife also includes at least one light-emitting member.
US08317350B2
A power tool having a light for illuminating an area proximate a movable end effector. The light may be mounted in such a way as to transmit light through a rotatable collar on the power tool, through or through a member of a housing of the power tool, or from the moving end effector. The light may be powered by a power source that is used for moving the end effector or from a generator that generates electrical power when the power tool is used.
US08317346B2
A mirror assembly for a vehicle that has a double curved mirror positioned next to a vehicle side view mirror and said double curved mirror along with said side view mirror allows a user to view the lower perimeter of the vehicle in the side view mirror while operating the vehicle.
US08317340B2
The instant invention is directed to an image reflecting adhesive patch comprising a reflective layer, an adhesive layer positioned on one surface of the reflective layer, and an image printed on a surface of the reflective layer opposed to the adhesive layer. When incident light reflects from the reflective layer it refracts at different angles thereby making the image, which is not reflected, discernible through the light reflected from the reflective layer. Another embodiment of the instant invention involves an image reflecting adhesive patch comprising a reflective layer, an adhesive layer positioned on one surface of the reflective layer, and a transparent layer containing a visible image, positioned on a surface of the reflective layer opposed to the adhesive layer. When incident light reflects from the reflective layer it refracts at different angles thereby making the image, which is not reflected, discernible through the light reflected from the reflective layer.
US08317337B2
A projector configured to modulate a luminous flux emitted from a light source in accordance with image information, forms an image light, and projects the image light, includes: an exterior housing having an intake vent for taking in the ambient air, and an insertion slot communicating with the intake vent; an anti-dust filter being installed in the exterior housing so as to be mountable in and removable from the exterior housing through the insertion slot, prevents dust from intruding into the exterior housing from the intake vent; and a cover configured so as to be switchable between an open condition in which it exposes the insertion slot, and a closed condition in which it covers the insertion slot.
US08317336B2
An image projection apparatus is disclosed which is capable of reducing noise when airflows from plural flow paths are taken in into a fan and exhausted therefrom. The apparatus comprises a first flow path through which a first airflow for cooling a light source passes, a second flow path through which a second airflow for cooling constituent parts other than the light source passes, a fan which exhausts air introduced from the first and second flow paths to the outside of the apparatus, a third flow path which introduces a third airflow to an exhaust area between the light source and the fan in the first flow path, and a light-shielding member which is provided in the exhaust area and shields the light from the light source.
US08317334B2
Projector alignment in a multiple-projector projection system is checked by determining a location of at least a portion of a boundary of an image field projected by at least one of the projectors and comparing the determined location of the at least the portion of the image field to a system-calibrated reference location of the at least the portion of the boundary of the image field.
US08317331B2
A recycling system and method for increasing the brightness of light output using at least one recycling light pipe with at least one light source. The output end of the recycling light pipe reflects a first portion of the light back to the light source, a second portion the light to the input end of the recycling light pipe, and transmits the remaining portion of the light as output. The recycling system is incorporated into a projector to provide color projected image with increased brightness. The light source can be white LEDs, color LEDs, and dual paraboloid reflector (DPR) lamp.
US08317325B2
The apparatus represents a device having one or two sensors for capturing a single image or two images having the subject's eyes, and processor(s) in a housing with the one or two sensors and/or in a computer system which receives the single image or two images. Such processor(s) determine a head tilt angle between a virtual line extending between the two eyes of the subject in accordance with a predefined features associated with the eyes and a dimension characterizing zero head tilt in the single image or two images, segment left and right iris images, and rotate the segmented left and right iris images in accordance with the angle to substantially remove head tilt when present. The apparatus may also determine head tilt using predefined features associated with a single eye in the image. The resulting iris image(s) are utilized for enrollment or identification.
US08317320B2
This invention discloses a spectacle frame with the function of vision training, including frame members, a nose bridge, temple connecting extensions and spectacle legs. The frame, nose bridge and spectacle legs are provided with LED illuminant bodies. One spectacle leg is provided with a regulating switch and the other spectacle leg is provided with a battery cell and a charging hole. The nose bridge and spectacle legs are provided with chips to control the LED illuminant bodies to flash or extinguish in order according to a program. The LED illuminant bodies, chip, battery and regulating switch are interlinked via a flexible board. The angle between the spectacle frame and spectacle legs can be freely adjusted in the range of 180°. When the angle is 180°, all the LED illuminant bodies on spectacle legs and nose bridge are aligned in one straight line. This invention effectively combines multi-vision training and 3-color ball training with the spectacle frame and can be used to train eyeballs to move toward different directions, thus fully exercising eye muscle. The spectacle frame of this invention is simple in structure, convenient for use and carrying and able to improve visual acuity, ease the fatigue of eye muscle, improve visual quality and control myopia.
US08317319B2
An eyeglass retainer coupling having a plurality of co-axially aligned connection apertures, each aperture having a different inside diameter designed to accommodate the wide variety of modern eyeglass and sunglass frame styles and sizes. A large frame eyeglass temple can be inserted into the outmost connection aperture for sufficient retention. Whereas, a medium or small frame temple may be inserted through one or more of the larger connection apertures and into a connection aperture having a proper fit. The user may also choose to cut away or remove oversize connection apertures if the eyeglass retainer is used for eyeglasses having small temple earpieces.
US08317317B2
Eyeglasses comprising a first frame and a second frame each having an inner end and an outer end. A lens is secured within each frame. A connecting member is fixedly attached to the outer end of its respective frame and has a dovetail groove therein with a magnet secured within the groove for releasably engaging a chain. A first pivotal member is fixedly attached to the inner end of the first frame while a second pivotal member is fixedly attached to the inner end of the second frame thereby permitting pivotal movements along a common longitudinal direction. At least one clip is fixedly attached to at least one connecting member for removably securing the eyeglasses to an article. Each connecting member includes a connecting magnet for releasably engaging with each other when the eyeglasses are folded closed. A chain is releasably secured within the dovetail grooves of the connecting members.
US08317316B2
An ink jet recording apparatus is presented. The ink jet recording apparatus includes an apparatus casing comprising a discharge port which opens in a forward direction, a support member disposed within the apparatus casing in the rear of the discharge port and configured to support a recording medium, an ink head disposed within the apparatus casing and configured to eject ink which is curable with irradiation of ultraviolet light to the recording medium, an ultraviolet light irradiation device disposed within the apparatus casing and configured to irradiate ultraviolet light to the recording medium, and a first cover body configured to cover the discharge port in a freely openable and closeable manner, wherein the first cover body is opened upon discharging the recording medium via the discharge port.
US08317312B2
The invention provides an ink composition including a pigment, water, a polymerizable compound having an acrylamide structure, a polymerization initiator and a wetting agent that is in the form of a solid at a temperature of 25° C. and an atmospheric pressure of 1 bar, the wetting agent being included in the ink composition in an amount of from 0.01% by mass to 400% by mass with respect to the polymerizable compound having an acrylamide structure.
US08317303B2
A liquid-droplet jetting apparatus includes a pressure-applying mechanism and a channel unit. The channel unit has a stacked body made of a plurality of metal plates. A plurality of pressure chambers arranged in a row in one direction, a plurality of manifolds which are arranged to be mutually adjacent and which extend in the one direction, and a plurality of communication channels each communicating one of the pressure chambers with one of the manifolds are formed in the stacked body. Here, the communication channels have channel resistances which are same. It is possible to divide the manifold into a plurality of divided manifold portions, and the construction of the channel unit as a whole can be made compact while suppressing the variation in jetting characteristic, thereby making the size of the liquid-droplet jetting apparatus to be small.
US08317300B2
An inkjet printer includes a carriage guide including a carriage guide direction; an inkjet nozzle array that is movable back and forth along the carriage guide direction; an ink tank for providing ink to the inkjet nozzle array; and a holding receptacle for the ink tank, the holding receptacle includes a base surface for supporting the ink supply, the base surface including a first end and a second end that is opposite the first end; a latch including a latching member proximate the first end of the base surface for retaining the ink tank in the holding receptacle; and a wall that includes an ink inlet port configured to receive ink from the ink tank, wherein the wall is proximate the second end of the base surface.
US08317298B2
A printhead assembly includes a plurality of inkjet ejector arrays having corresponding ink receptacles. Each inkjet array is formed from a plurality of inkjet stack layers that are bonded to a single aperture layer, and the inkjet arrays are positioned with a predetermined alignment about a curved image receiving surface.
US08317285B2
A printer that provides improved image placement on documents including identification documents such as identification cards, credit and debit cards, and the like, and passports. The printer eliminates blind moves and mechanism errors to achieve repeatable image placement on the document surface with the correct horizontal image placement dimension. The printer senses an edge of the document to immediately initiate printing. The edge of the document can be either the leading edge or the trailing edge. The edge of the document can also be sensed by a separate sensor to initiate movement of a print head of the print station toward a print position.
US08317281B2
A method of storing data on a photograph includes delimiting a plurality of data block regions on the photograph, the plurality of data block regions superposing a region of the photograph delimited for the printing of a photographic image; compressing data representing the image contained in the photograph with a compression technique; redundantly encoding the compressed data using Reed-Solomon encoding techniques; shuffling the redundantly encoded compressed data in a deterministic manner to reduce potential effects of localized encoded data caused by damage to the photograph; and printing the shuffled data as dots within the data block regions on the photograph. Each of the plurality of data blocks is printed on a first side with a first column of orientation dots, and on a second side with a second column of orientation dots.
US08317276B2
A furniture drive is provided for driving a movable piece of furniture. The drive includes an electric motor, an actuator that can be moved back and forth between two end positions to apply a force on the piece of furniture to be driven, and a gearbox connected between the electric motor and actuator. The gearbox has at least one gear stage configured as an eccentric gearbox and includes two gear wheels that mesh with each other. One of the two gear wheels is firmly connected or coupled to the actuator, and the other gear wheel is coupled to the electric motor such that the eccentric gearbox has two limit positions which correspond to the end positions of the actuator. Upon a rotation of the gear wheels, starting from the limit positions, the gear ratio decreases over a deformed rotational angle range.
US08317274B2
An exemplary switching cabinet includes a rack. The rack includes four vertical braces. Each of the vertical braces includes a main body having an open inner lateral side. The main body includes a main plate and two extending plates extending from two opposite lateral sides of the main plate in a same direction. A first flange and a second flange extend oppositely and outwardly from free sides of the extending plates.
US08317273B2
Modular display and dispensing system and module device for building a display and dispensing system
A merchandising display and dispensing system for displaying and dispensing articles, including cylindrical shaped articles or rolls of disk-shaped articles. In particular, the invention relates to a modular display and dispensing system having a plurality of modules fitted with one another. Each module comprises a left side panel and a right side panel which are fitted together and form a serpentine chute which feeds articles by gravity to an access tray where an article can be removed by hand, thus permitting another article to enter the tray. The front of the module receives a front cover for covering the chute and provides a surface for indicia of contents inside the module. The front cover is preferably hinged at the bottom to permit reloading product in the top of the chute. Various connecting structures can be formed on the side panels and adapted to join the module to a front cover, to another adjacent module, to a module base, and/or to a module header to form a modular display and dispensing system.
US08317270B2
A backrest device for a chair includes two lateral pipe units, each including a backrest mounting pipe member and a coupling pipe member, and a backrest unit. The backrest mounting pipe member has a main surrounding wall defining a surrounding space therein, and a convex groove-defining wall disposed in the surrounding space and defining an engaging groove therein. The coupling pipe member has a coupling surrounding wall coupled to a lower end of the main surrounding wall, and an abutting wall for closing a top end of the coupling surrounding wall. The backrest unit includes a backrest member having opposite lateral portions each forming a rod-receiving loop, and two positioning rods sleeved respectively in the rod-receiving loops. Each lateral portion and a respective positioning rod are retained within the engaging groove of a corresponding pipe unit.
US08317268B2
A portable footrest for elevating the feet of an individual when seated on a toilet includes an elongated carrying case and two collapsible rectangular box like support members. The footrest also includes a cross member for positioning the support members in a temporarily fixed spaced relationship. Each of the support members includes four rectangular or square shaped elements pivotally connected to one another and wherein one of the side of one of the elements is releaseably connected to an opposite side of another of the elements and each of the support members is positionable in a flat linear end-to-end relationship with two interior elements and two end elements for storage in the carry case. A block on three of the elements prevent the elements from rotating more than about 90° when forming a rectangular box like support. Further, a releaseable latch fastens the outer edges of the elements to form a box like structure.
US08317266B2
A vehicle seat (10) includes a support frame (12) that mounts a suspension frame (22) by a spring suspension (29) under the operation of a control lever (32) and a slide assembly (38) for providing suspension of the seat and horizontal positioning.
US08317264B2
The invention relates to a seat for a means of transport, having a supporting structure (1, 2, 3, 4), on which seating surface (5) and backrest (6) are mounted, and having a seat crossbeam (3, 4) of hollow design. The invention provides for the cavity of the seat crossbeam (3, 4) to contain electrical and/or electronic components (7).
US08317252B2
Added openings are provided for sport utility vehicles (SUV), pick-up trucks, two and four door vehicles, vans, minivans, sedans, station wagons, or other vehicles. The opening(s) may utilize doors, gates, windows, sunroofs, or lids that provide more physical and/or visual access to the interior space, cargo, and/or seating within the vehicles that currently are not easily accessible, viewed, seen-by, or displayed-on conventional opening means. These openings may also provide the ability to place cargo within the space of the vehicle that current vehicles prohibit from being carried therein, or they may provide decorative, descriptive, or electronic displays for such vehicles, for example, advertising on taxi cabs. Among the embodiments, this invention results in a new 2 door or a 4 door SUV vehicle having added rear side doors, and a new 2 door or 4 door sedan that in effect functions likes a pick-up.
US08317250B2
A slide-out or retractable room for a mobile living quarters, such as a recreational vehicle, is provided with actuating assemblies mounted on opposite side walls of the slide-out room and the adjacent wall of the main living area. The actuating assemblies include a pair of parallel gear racks mounted on the side wall, which are engaged by pinions rotated by torque shafts mounted on the main living quarters. Each torque shaft is rotated by a separate motor. A roller engages a bearing surface on the lower portion of the gear racks. Accordingly, the slide-out room is extended and retracted by rotating the torque shafts to cause the gear racks and the attached slide-out room to extend and retract. The weight of the slide-out room is supported by the rollers, thereby supporting the slide-out room off of the floor of the main living quarters as it extends and retracts. A synchronizing control operates the motors.
US08317248B2
A trim cover arrangement is provided for attachment to a motor vehicle body with a first and second trim cover profile that each can be connected with the body, and are adjacent to each other on the body in the assembly position. At least one of the profiles facing the other profile comprises pointed and/or sharp-edge bounded visible surface that is outwardly visible in the assembly position, which is formed by an at least regionally overlapping arrangement of the first and second profile.
US08317223B2
A restraint system for a motor vehicle is formed by one or more inflatable supporting structures whose longitudinal extent in the deployed state substantially exceeds their transverse dimension, and which unfold mainly in the direction of their longitudinal extension. During unfolding, the supporting structure, when impacting upon an obstacle does not have the same stability as when it is completely unfolded, and/or does not reach the final volume or the final extension.
US08317211B1
A vehicle suspension lift kit includes a first suspension lift component having a first interlocking pattern, and a second suspension lift component having a second interlocking pattern. The first and second interlocking patterns are selectively matingly engagable with one another to prevent relative motion among the first and second components along an interfacial plane. Each of the first and second suspension lift components are specifically configured to be employed individually or in combination between a vehicular leaf spring suspension and a vehicular axle housing to provide a selected extent of suspension lift.
US08317210B1
A suspension height adjustment apparatus includes first and second plates which may cooperatively engage to define a plurality of thickness dimensions, which correspond to suspension height adjustment dimensions. The first and second plates of the suspension height adjustment apparatus may be coupled between an upper strut assembly and a vehicle frame through a plurality of connection adapters which engage to the upper strut studs of the strut assembly.
US08317202B2
Mounting rings and methods for mounting structures to shafts are provided. The rings and methods may be used to mount other rings or housings to a shaft. The rings are characterized by having flexible inner diameters that can deflect under a radial load. The radial deflection of the inner diameter permits the rings to deflect and engage an outer diameter of a shaft. The engagement of the rings with a shaft provides at least some resistance to movement, for example, rotation and/or axial displacement, of the shaft relative to the ring and structure. In one aspect, the ring has a closed, hollow, construction, for example, a circular, oval, or polygonal closed, hollow construction. The ring may include a plurality of indentations, such as slots, on the inside diameter of the ring that may relieve at least some of the circumferential stress in the ring. Methods for using the rings to mount a structure to a shaft are also disclosed.
US08317197B2
An apparatus (100) and method (300) for media hold down transport air flow in an image production device is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport belt (110) configured to transport media sheets (105) in a process direction (116). The media transport belt can include a plurality of belt apertures (115) arranged along a cross-process direction (118), where the cross-process direction is perpendicular to the process direction. The plurality of belt apertures can be configured to conduct air to secure the media sheets on the media transport belt. The apparatus can include a vacuum plenum assembly (120). The vacuum plenum assembly can include a plurality of plenum apertures (125) arranged along the cross-process direction. The plurality of plenum apertures can be configured to conduct air through at least some of the plurality of belt apertures. The plurality of plenum apertures can include at least a first plenum aperture (121) of a first width (123) in the cross-process direction and at least a second plenum aperture (122) of a second width (124) in the cross-process direction, where the first width can be different from the second width. The apparatus can include a media transport shift assembly (130) configured to shift a relative position between the media transport belt and the vacuum plenum assembly in the cross-process direction to align at least some of the plurality of belt apertures with at least some of the plurality of plenum apertures.
US08317193B2
A sheet conveying apparatus has a conveying portion which conveys a sheet, a lever which is pushed by the sheet conveyed by the conveying portion, and moves from a standby position, a detecting portion which generates a signal corresponding to a position of the lever, and generates a first signal when the detecting portion detects movement of the lever in a first moving area from the standby position to a predetermined position and generates a second signal when the detecting portion detects movement of the lever in a second moving area beyond the predetermined position, and a biasing portion which does not apply to the lever a biasing force when the lever is in the first moving area, and applies to the lever a biasing force opposite in a direction in which the lever is pushed by the sheet and moves when the lever is in the second moving area.
US08317189B2
A movable side regulating plate is provided on a frame body. The movable side regulating plate regulates side edges in a width direction of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking plate, and is movable in the width direction. A sheet pressing portion configured to press the side edges of the sheets and press the sheets onto a stationary side regulating plate is provided on the movable side regulating plate. The sheet pressing portion has a relief shape for reducing a pressing force exerted on the sheets when an amount of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking plate becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount. The relief shape is formed so that a downstream edge in a sheet feeding direction of a lower surface is located higher than an upstream edge in the sheet feeding direction of an upper surface.
US08317186B2
A paper delivering device includes a delivering module and a detecting module. The delivering module includes a paper tray for supporting at least one paper, at least one roller attached on the paper tray for delivering the at least one paper, and a blocking member pivotably attached to the paper tray. The detecting module detects whether the at least one paper is placed in a position predetermined as correct. The blocking member is locked at a first position to prevent the sliding movement of the at least one paper when the at least one paper is not placed at the predetermined position, or may be rotated to a second position to allow the forward movement of the at least one paper when the at least one paper is correctly placed.
US08317185B1
A method and apparatus for feeding media sheets in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include applying a downward airflow to a top of a leading edge of a media sheet located at a top of a media stack that is to be fed to an image production section of the image production device, and applying a vacuum airflow to the top of the leading edge of the media sheet located at the top of the media stack that is to be fed to the image production section of the image production device, the applied downward airflow and the applied vacuum airflow causing the top media sheet to separate from the media stack, and feeding the separated top media sheet to the image production section.
US08317184B2
A printing apparatus has a sheet path and is adapted to produce print job sheets and dividing sheets. The apparatus includes a printing unit for printing the print job sheets. A first device in the sheet path downstream of the printing unit generates dividing sheets. The device includes a deforming unit with a stamp for punching and deforming a partial area of a dividing sheet so that a hook-shaped deformation is imparted in the dividing sheet. An output tray is arranged in the sheet path downstream of the first device and includes an inclined support for receiving the print job sheets and the dividing sheets.
US08317182B2
A method is provided to control a paper-processing machine. Following an occurrence of at least one error, the error is automatically detected with at least one detection device. Following the detection of the error, a measure is automatically introduced to counteract the error. The measure is then canceled at least in part if the error no longer occurs or the machine is stopped completely if the error is still detected by the detection device following completion of a predetermined criterion.
US08317181B2
A spine formation device includes a sheet conveyer to transport a bundle of folded sheets with the folded portion of the bundle forming a front end portion of the bundle, a clamping unit to clamp the bundle from both sides in a direction of thickness of the bundle, a spine forming member to flatten the folded portion of the bundle, disposed in that order in a sheet conveyance direction, and a controller that causes the sheet conveyer to transport the bundle of folded sheets to a first position downstream from an upstream end of the spine forming member in the sheet conveyance direction and to reverse the bundle a predetermined distance from the first position to a second position upstream from the first position in the sheet conveyance direction before the clamping unit clamps the bundle.
US08317174B2
System for positioning a component on a frame relative to a reference.It comprises a ball assembly (4), composed of a rod (6), a ball (8) fixed to the rod (6) and a ball joint clamping system (10, 12) mounted on the rod to fix the ball assembly relative to the component; a vee assembly composed of a rod (16), a vee (18) fixed to the rod (16) and a ball joint clamping system (20, 22) mounted on the rod to fix the vee assembly relative to the frame; an elastic connecting element (26) to keep the ball (8) in contact with the vee (18).
US08317172B2
A multistage jounce bumper, including a jounce bumper cushion integrated with a hydraulic jounce bumper, wherein provided are the damping characteristic of the hydraulic jounce bumper and the damping/spring characteristics of a jounce bumper cushion. The hydraulic jounce bumper hydraulic response is tunable via adjustment of hydraulic flow with respect to a communicating hydraulic fluid reservoir. When maximum jounce is approached, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a first stage, with the jounce bumper cushion, then at a predetermined compression, jounce force and energy are exchanged, at a second stage, with the hydraulic jounce bumper. Thereafter, a mechanical abutment is provided as a third stage of jounce management.
US08317171B2
A bicycle suspension including a stroke adjustment unit, a suspension damper, and a damper adjustment unit. The stroke adjustment unit is configured to adjust a stroke of the bicycle suspension, which is configured to expand and contract within the stroke. The suspension damper is configured to apply damping force to the bicycle suspension, and the damper adjustment unit is configured to adjust the damping force applied by the suspension damper in accordance with the stroke adjusted by the stroke adjustment unit.
US08317169B1
A generally mushroom-shaped vibration isolator having a broad cap and a smaller diameter stem that is used for safety enhancement between a heavy furnace, air conditioning unit, storage hot water heater tank, or other fluid-producing unit, and a fluid-collecting pan positioned under it. Vibration isolator stems are placed within indentations in raised areas of the pan and comprise highly impact-resistant materials, temperature-resistant materials, provide enhanced air movement and heat deflection around a furnace/unit/tank, reduce after-installation furnace/unit/tank movement, and meet furnace non-combustible clearance requirements. The cap has a broad underside surface, top surface radially-extending ribs and cutouts, and may have a slightly convex top, while the stem has at least one outwardly-depending wedge-shaped projection that is sufficiently flared-out to flip over as it is inserted into an indentation for a tight fit within several sizes of indentation, as well as removal resistance. A tapered connection also exists between cap and stem.
US08317159B2
A lift assembly system and method can include: a funnel-shaped drum having a constant diameter portion and a gradually increasing diameter portion; a cable management system adapted to position a cable in a single layer in a tray; a beam clamp tube receiver adapted to allow a tube to slide relative to a beam and be secured to the beam; a cable keeper and a slack line detector adapted to maintain cables in position about a drum upon loss of cable tension; a horizontally oriented low profile cable adjuster adapted to adjust the length of a cable; an overspeed braking mechanism; a fleet pivot arm pivotable on the end of a tube so as to guide cables along a desired fleet angle; and/or a pull-type load sensor connected between a tube and a drum adapted to sense changes in a load force and adjust movement of a load.
US08317158B2
Flapper valve assemblies are provided. One flapper valve assembly includes a flowbody, a flapper valve element, and an elongated stiffening rib formed in the flowbody. The flowbody includes a generally flat plate portion, and an arcuate portion adjacent the generally flat plate portion. The flapper valve element is hingedly coupled to the flowbody proximate the generally flat plate portion. The elongated stiffening rib extends from the generally flat plate portion to the arcuate portion to distribute mechanical stress and to reduce deflection of the flowbody during pressure loading.
US08317157B2
A module solenoid valve (14) includes a valve body (16) defining an inlet opening (22) and an outlet opening (20). The valve body includes a seating surface (18) at a distal end thereof. A valve member (24) controls flow of fuel through the outlet opening. A movable armature (26) is coupled with the valve member such that movement of the armature moves the valve member between a closed position and an open position. A stator (38) is associated with the armature. A first spring (32) biases the armature and thus the valve member to the closed position. A cover (28) is coupled to the stator. A second spring 34 is between the cover and the armature to provide a biasing force on the armature. An electromagnetic coil (36) is associated with the stator and armature for causing movement of the armature towards the stator.
US08317156B2
A method is described for controlling the operation of a metering valve driven by a stepper motor, a position sensor normally providing position information to allow control over the metering valve in a closed loop manner. The method comprises the steps of: performing a calibration operation to derive a relationship between stepper motor position and metering valve position; controlling the operation of the metering valve in a closed loop manner; and controlling the operation of the metering valve in an open loop manner in the event that the position sensor output is thought to be unreliable; wherein, when operating in the open loop manner, the metering valve is moved to a desired angular position by using the relationship derived in the calibration operation to determine the stepper motor position associated with the desired metering valve position and moving the stepper motor to the determined stepper motor position.
US08317152B1
A bracket for supporting an electronic device includes a receiving part, a rotating arm, a base, and a locking device. Two opposite ends of the rotating arm are connected to the electronic device and the base. The locking device includes a locking mechanism positioned on the rotating arm, and a locked part positioned on the base. The locking mechanism includes a locking member, an elastic member, and an operating member. The locked part defines a locked position and an unlocked position, the locking member is capable of moving from the locked position to the unlocked position, the elastic member provides an elastic force to keep the locking member in the locked position so that the rotating arm stops moving, the operating member is operable to enable the locking member to overcome the elastic force to move to the unlocked position so that the rotating arm is capable of rotating.
US08317148B2
A substrate-mountable holder system comprising: a first portion, a cover, an anchor and at least one fastener, the first portion having a hook extending therefrom and at least one opening for receiving the fastener(s), a cover configured to engage the first portion and hide the fastener(s). The first portion may include a lobe proximate the top of the rear surface to bias the bottom of the first portion toward the substrate to aid in more stable mounting of the first portion and further may include a tang projecting rearwardly from proximate the bottom for engagement with the substrate or a second fastener spaced proximate the first fastener to inhibit rotation of the system when installed. In addition, the first portion and the cover may have various features to fasten the cover securely to the first portion and provide the appearance of a unitary structure.
US08317139B2
A display support includes a sliding module and a base module detachably connected to each other. The sliding module includes a first integral-formed frame and a second integral-formed frame movably disposed therein. When using the display support, the sliding module is joined in a receiving portion of the base module.
US08317138B1
An eating utensil holder clip which attaches to a plate without scratching the surface of the plate, provides slots within an upper section formed of dense foam into which various eating utensils are removably disposed, and holds the utensils in a horizontal balanced position relative to the plate to prevent slippage of the utensils from the slots.
US08317136B2
The stabilized controllable drogue for an inflight aerial refueling system includes a reception coupling, a paradrogue frame, a drogue canopy, and a plurality of actuators for moving the drogue canopy in a desired direction to control, steer and stabilize the stabilized controllable drogue during turbulent conditions.
US08317133B2
An aircraft floor including two lengthwise external beams and at least one pair of cross beams extending between the lengthwise beams, an external end of each cross beam being interlocked to the lengthwise beam. The internal ends of the beams of the pair of the cross beams are connected to each other, where the cross beams are inclined in such a way that the internal ends of the cross beams are directed downward when compared to the horizontal plane of the floor. Moreover, the floor includes self-stiffened panels extending between the cross beams.
US08317130B1
Landing gear mount techniques for aircraft are described. The landing gear is mounted to composite structures of the aircraft in a manner that distributes landing loads, including out-of-plane loads, adequately so that the landing gear and its mounting to the aircraft is tough and can withstand variable landing loads. The landing gear is disposed between and fastened on each side to composite bulkheads. The composite bulkheads are also bonded to the outer skins of the aircraft. The described mounting distributes the loads into the composite bulkheads and from there into the outer skins. This distribution of the loading helps the landing gear withstand variable landing loads and helps maintain the integrity of the composite materials.
US08317122B2
A device and a method for preparing mandrels (1′) to be fitted on a rod (7) and spaced from one another. The device includes two grooves (2, 3) arranged in the vicinity of one another, i.e. a supply groove for receiving the mandrels (1) along the axis of the groove, the groove being combined with elements for juxtaposing the mandrels, and a groove for receiving the mandrels selected from the mandrels of the supply groove, the receiving groove being fitted with abutment members (6) for defining individual housings (18) for the selected mandrels, and an element (5) for transferring the selected mandrels towards the housings. A device for collecting coiled mandrels, and a device and method for handling the mandrels are also described.
US08317119B2
A double course vane assembly for use in connection with the milling bowl of a pulverizer/classifier. The two courses are either attached to the outer peripheral edge of the milling bowl so as to rotate with the bowl or are attached to the pulverizer/classifier wall so as to remain stationary. In both embodiments, the vane courses are concentric with one another. The vanes in the first course are angled in one sense and the vanes of the second course are angled in the opposite sense.
US08317114B1
A dual span center pivot irrigation system comprising first and second center pivot span structures pivotally secured at their inner ends to a fixed center pivot structure. Each of the center pivot span structures are independently operable with the movements thereof being coordinated by suitable controls. The center pivot span structures may be operated in at least three different modes, namely: (1) independent wiper; (2) follow the leader; and (3) independent full circle.
US08317113B2
An electrostatic atomization device that electrostatically atomizes condensed water and emits atomized water. The electrostatic atomization device includes a discharge electrode. A water supplier unit includes a cooling unit coupled to the discharge electrode to cool the discharge electrode and a heat radiation unit coupled to the cooling unit to emit heat when the cooling unit performs cooling. The cooling unit cools air and produces condensed water on the discharge electrode. A controller includes electronic components mounted on a circuit board. A casing accommodates the discharge electrode, the water supplier unit, and the controller. First electronic components each of which temperature is increased by a predetermined value or greater are arranged in a heat radiation unit side region of the circuit board.
US08317108B2
The invention relates to a chip card with a dual contact and contactless communication interface, including a microelectronic module (11) and a card body (22) provided with a cavity (23) which can receive the microelectronic module, said microelectronic module (11) being formed by a substrate (15), the first face thereof bearing a terminal block of electric contacts (4) and a second face thereof bearing a first microelectronic chip (9) electrically connected to the terminal block of electric contacts (4) and a second chip (10) electrically connected to the terminals of an antenna (13), the coils of which are disposed on the second face of the substrate of the electronic module. The invention is characterised in that the card body (22) includes a device (18) for concentrating and/or amplifying electromagnetic waves, which can channel the electromagnetic flow received, in particular, from a contactless chip card reader toward the coils of the antenna (13) of the microelectronic module (11).
US08317106B2
The present invention relates to an attachment arrangement that comprises a body, an attachment component and a fastener. One of the body (20) and the attachment component defines a protrusion (22) and the other of the body (20) and the attachment component defines a recess configured to receive the protrusion (22). The fastener is operative to resist separation of the body (20) and the attachment component when the protrusion (22) is received in the recess. Each of the protrusion (22) and the recess defines a surface profile (28, 30) with the surface profiles cooperating with each other to force the body (20) and the attachment component progressively apart from each other against the operation of the fastener as the body (20) and the attachment component are rotated in relation to each other when the protrusion (22) is received in the recess. The body (20) and the attachment component are rotated about an axis that extends in substantially a same direction as a direction in which the body (20) and the attachment component move together and apart when the protrusion (22) is being received in and removed from the recess.
US08317098B2
A method of enabling subsequent validation of an item having a data tag. Data may be read from a tag using an electronic reader. A readable marker, such as a barcode, may be selected from a plurality of different readable markers and applied in proximity to the tag. An association request can be created and communicated to a database, where the association request comprises data from the tag and data relating to the selected readable marker, so that the database may use data from the association request for subsequent validation of the tag. An authentication database for recording an association between a data tag and a readable marker applied to an item carrying that data tag are also described.
US08317085B2
A system for detecting fraudulent documents comprises a barcode reader and a sensor arrangement. The output from the barcode reader and the sensor arrangement are used in conjunction to increase the accuracy of determining if a document is fraudulent.
US08317078B1
A method and an apparatus for ultrasonic welding of a first workpiece to a second workpiece is disclosed. The two workpieces are clamped between a sonotrode and an anvil so that the two workpieces are in mechanical contact with each other, the first workpiece is in mechanical contact with the sonotrode and the second workpiece rests on the anvil. Fluid is introduced between the second workpiece and the anvil so that the second workpiece at least partly rests on the fluid. The fluid is frozen so that the fluid forms a solid body. Ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the first workpiece by the sonotrode for a period of time.
US08317077B2
A method of bonding includes providing a first work piece, and attaching a second work piece on the first work piece, with a solder bump disposed between the first and the second work pieces. The second work piece is heated using a heating head of a heating tool to melt the solder bump. After the step of heating the second work piece, one of the first and the second work pieces is allowed to move freely in a horizontal direction to self-align the first and the second work pieces. After the step of allowing one of the first and the second work pieces to move, a temperature of the heating head is lowed until the first solder bump solidifies to form a second solder bump.
US08317073B2
A surgical stapling instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle assembly, and a head portion. The handle assembly includes a firing trigger and a firing indicator. The firing trigger is movable between a first non-actuated position and a second actuated position. The head portion is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. Engagement structure of the firing trigger moves the firing indicator from a first position to a second position when the firing trigger is moved from its first non-actuated position toward its second actuated position.
US08317072B1
An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt configured as a continuous loop; staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; apertures defined in the continuous feeder belt; and a gear positioned at the distal end of the feeder belt within the continuous loop, where the gear engages at least one of the apertures to move the continuous feeder belt around the gear. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a plurality of staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt; and a plurality of teeth defined on the continuous feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a continuous belt assembly that has a flexible rack with two ends, and a feeder belt with two ends, each end of the feeder belt connected to a corresponding end of the flexible rack; and staples fixed to and shearable from the continuous feeder belt.
US08317059B2
An adjustable fuel tank for a vehicle includes a container body having a first container section and second container section. A container volume is defined by the container body. The first and second container sections are moveable relative to one another for adjusting at least one of an exterior shape of the container body and the container volume of the container body.
US08317058B2
Apparatus for dispensing water or other liquids to a bicyclist while riding. Invention provides a means for dispensing fluids from its bottom end so as to eliminate the need for inverting. Contents of the bottle are gravity-dispensed so as to eliminate repeated squeezing of bottle to discharge contents. Invention incorporates functional ergonomic elements including recesses for better handhold, concave sections and extended sections to provide a close conformity to a bicyclist's face to both preserve the aerodynamics of the bicyclist and for maintaining adequate clearance for breathing, while drinking from the invention. Invention is compatible with prior art carriage and retention systems.
US08317053B2
A container having a container lid and container bottom as well as a method of assembling the same is provided. In one aspect, the container lid and container bottom have cooperating locking catch portions that inhibit rotational motion therebetween. In one embodiment, the locking catch portion of the container lid is provided by a segment of a thread thereof. In another aspect, an attachment rib is provided by the container bottom that is interposed between adjacent threads. The attachment rib is used to axially engage a thread of the container lid when axially snapping the container lid to the container bottom. A method of assembling the container lid to the container bottom is provided that includes axially snap engaging the thread of the container lid with the attachment rib of the container bottom.
US08317052B2
A container (1) for meat storage, treatment and distribution has an external rib (5) to facilitate handling and provide strength. Clips (32) are provided for attaching a lid (6) to the container, and a clip removal tool (52) which allows clips to be removed to open the container.
US08317044B2
This invention is directed to a food container comprising a lid and a base. The lid and base form three seals, including a locking seal, to prevent the leakage or spoilage of food during transport or temporary storage. Blades on the lid sealing edge and blades on the base sealing edge strengthen said edges, and further reinforce the seals formed between the lid and base. The lid and base, separately or when assembled, are stably stackable requiring a minimal amount of storage space.
US08317042B2
The present invention concerns a package that includes (i) a container with a body and a neck, a container opening with an opening diameter (d), a screw thread, and a flange extending outwardly and having a flange diameter (D), and (ii) a removable closure adapted to be unscrewed from the screw threads of the container, with the closure having a top, a skirt and a tamper-evident ring attached to the lower edge of the skirt and is adapted to catch the flange of the container's neck when the closure is first screwed onto the neck. The ring is detachable from the skirt upon first removal of the closure from the neck. The container has a top load resistance inferior or equal to 30 daN, and the height h between the neck top edge and the lower part of the flange is such that it satisfies the relationship h≦(d/3).
US08317040B2
A magnetic divider system for forming one or more sub-compartments to isolate and organize articles therewithin in the interior region of a compartment having a ferruginous surface is provided. The magnetic divider system includes at least one rail member for defining one or more sub-compartments in the interior region of the compartment, the rail members having a base portion, a distal portion, and a channel extending therethrough. The magnetic divider system further includes one or more attachment members comprising magnets for fixedly restraining the rail members in the interior region of the compartment. The attachment members are disposed in the channel to magnetically attract the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment to, in turn, restrainably affix the at least one rail member to the ferruginous surface of the interior region of the compartment.
US08317038B2
A modular apparatus displays and dispenses merchandise at first and second dispensing locations placed at plural dispensing tiers at a point-of-purchase adjacent a display shelf. A first pusher-track assembly extends along a first path of travel of first serially arranged packages, and dividers are spaced apart to straddle the first path of travel and the first serially arranged packages. A second pusher-track assembly is secured to each of the dividers, elevated altitudinally above the first pusher-track assembly, and extends along a second path of travel of second serially arranged packages. A securing arrangement integrates the second pusher-track assembly with the dividers within the apparatus, and a stabilizing arrangement stabilizes the dividers against inadvertent movements relative to the display shelf to complete a stable apparatus. Multiple dividers and counterpart pusher-track assemblies enable the modular apparatus to provide any selected number of display and dispensing bays.
US08317037B2
A rack system for supporting one or more information handling systems is provided. The rack system may include a rack and one or more rails coupled to the rack and configured to support one or more information handling systems. At least one of the rails may include an upper support structure, a lower support structure, a slot defined between the upper and lower support structures and configured to receive a guide structure of the information handling system, and a shelf. The slot may have a front end opening proximate to a front end of the rail, and extend toward a back end of the rail. The shelf may extend forward from the front end opening of the slot, and can support a portion of the information handling system when the guide structure is not received in the slot. The shelf may also not be coupled to any other rail.
US08317032B2
A system for sorting and packaging products, chosen from the group consisting of eggs and fruit (10), the system comprising: —a sorting machine with at least one single sorting track (1) with carriers; —at least one sensor for determining at least one characteristic of each product (10); —the control being adapted to classify a said product in accordance with the at least one characteristic; —a plurality of packaging conveyors (2) for supplying and discharging packaging units, such as boxes, crates or trays, crossing the sorting track and extending above the sorting track; —wherein adjacent each packaging conveyor a transferring device (3) is provided at the level of or higher than the packaging conveyor, arranged for taking over a said product from a carrier and for placing the product from above into a packaging unit (20) on the corresponding packaging conveyor.
US08317028B2
A product package having a product tray and an information indicator that can be mounted in the tray. The information indicator is operable to be held in the product tray and the product placed into the tray on top of the information indicator. The tray is operable to protect the product from damage during storage or transport as well as provide an enhanced appearance during display. The information indicator is operable to convey information to the consumer as well as assist in removal of the product from the product tray.
US08317022B2
The package includes a housing portion having a transparent window region. A plurality of disposable absorbent pants is disposed within the housing portion. Each pant defines a waistband region which abuts a waist end. Each waistband region comprises a front waistband portion and a back waistband portion. Each pant further defines a crotch region which abuts a crotch end. At least a first pant is folded and positioned such that at least a portion of the waistband region of the first pant is visible through the transparent window region. Specified portions of the first pant may be obscured by an opaque border region. The first pant may include a back-label indicator that is visible through the transparent window region. A second pant may also be visible through the transparent window region.
US08317017B2
An article of packaging in the form of a carton having an information-bearing insert enclosed within a substantially closed chamber defined by at least one side wall portion of the carton and a further panel facing an inner face of said at least one side wall portion, said side wall portion having a plurality of pre-cut tear lines or perforations defining an openable tab or flap for gaining access to said chamber and to the insert located therein, wherein said chamber is not accessible from a loading opening of the carton such that the chamber does not interfere with the loading of a product into the carton.
US08317013B2
An auger assembly transfers particulate material from a source area to a target area using a main auger, an open top swing auger or U-trough, and an extendable loading swing auger connected to one another. The main auger is supported on a wheeled frame similar to conventional grain augers while the U-trough is pivoted thereon, and the extendable loading swing auger is mounted on a rail system on the top of the U-trough. The inlet hopper of the extendable swing auger can be extended out to reach away from the main auger thus can be more easily positioned for proper alignment with the discharge hopper of a particulate material container even when the discharge hopper is within a confined space.
US08317010B2
Transfer system cooperating with a machine for producing tobacco and filter product rods having a rod receiving unit, a cutting head, and a control system. The machine enables adjustment of the length of the produced rods, whereby the rod receiving unit of the transfer system is synchronized with the cutting head by the control system. The transfer system is situated between the machine for producing rods and a machine for further processing or transmitting the rods. A rejection unit is provided for rejecting the rods outside the transfer system during the synchronization of the rod receiving unit of the transfer system with the cutting head after a new length is entered into the control system. The rejection unit is located between the cutting head of the machine and the rod receiving unit.
US08316997B2
Provided is an elevator group control system which is excellent in convenience and can prevent a decrease in operation efficiency even when an elevator is used by a group of a plurality of persons. For this purpose, there are installed in an elevator hall a destination operating panel by use of which users register their destination floors before boarding and a group boarding registering device for registering that users use an elevator as a group. The number of users expected when users use an elevator as a group is stored beforehand in a user head-count storage section. When registration of a destination floor by use of the destination operating panel has been performed at the same time with registration of a group use by use of the group boarding registering device, a car to be assigned to a hall car call is determined on the basis of the number of users stored in the user head-count storage section.
US08316991B2
There is disclosed a device of an evacuation system, in particular a foldable evacuation means which is arranged to be lowered from a parked folded up position on the vessel to be evacuated to stretched out position on a rescue device, the bottom section of which including a weight device to keep the evacuation means sufficient extended in use position, an including a set of one or more cables/wires connected to a winch arrangement for lowering and lifting the evacuation means. The evacuation device is characterized in that the weight device is arranged to be positioned on the rescue device, and the system includes means to compensate for varying distances between the vessel to be evacuated and the rescue vessel.
US08316984B2
In an electric power steering apparatus including a capacitor for smoothing out the voltage of a battery and a relay including a relay contact disposed at a place upstream of the capacitor, a path is provided for directly conducting a terminal voltage of the capacitor from a downstream side of the relay contact to a system power supply that generates a source voltage for a control system including a controller and the like, so that the system power supply and the control system that is supplied therefrom with electric power for control purpose are utilized as a discharge circuit. Thus is obtained a simplified configuration of circuit responsible for discharging the capacitor.
US08316977B2
A utility vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame to which the engine is mounted; a seat frame fastened to the vehicle body frame and including a seat bottom support member; and a seat bottom detachably fastened to the seat bottom support member; wherein a portion of an upper wall surface of an engine room in which the engine is disposed is defined by at least a portion of a lower surface of the seat bottom.
US08316962B2
It is an object of the invention to reduce noise caused by run-out of a tool bit in an impact tool. The representative impact tool according to the invention includes a tool holder 137 that houses a tool bit 119 in such a manner that the tool bit can linearly move in its axial direction, and a barrel 108 that is integrally connected to the tool holder 137 The impact tool further includes an elastic element 155 that is disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the tool holder 137 and an outer circumferential surface of the tool bit 119 in an end region of the tool bit 119 on the barrel side and connected in close contact with the tool holder 137 and the tool bit 119 over a predetermined length of the tool bit 119 in the axial direction. The elastic element 155 applies a biasing force to prevent a run-out of the tool bit 119 in a direction transverse to the axial direction. Further, an intermediate element 145 comes in point contact with the tool bit 119 on its axial center line.
US08316960B2
The present invention relates to a drop hammer assembly including a drop hammer configured with at least two end conditions, characterized in that the position of the end conditions can be reversed when required. Also claimed is a method of reversing the drop hammer with respect to the drop hammer housing.
US08316958B2
A control scheme is provided for a power tool having a rotary shaft. The control scheme includes: monitoring rotational motion of the tool generally about a longitudinal axis of the shaft; detecting a condition of the tool based on the rotational motion of the tool; and controlling torque imparted to the shaft upon detecting the tool condition, where the torque is inversely related to an angular displacement of the tool about the longitudinal axis of the shaft.
US08316954B2
An apparatus for separating a downhole tubular string into two parts. The apparatus includes a receptacle operably associated with a first part of the downhole tubular string and a mandrel operably associated with a second part of the downhole tubular string. First and second sleeves each having a profile are slidably positioned between the receptacle and the mandrel and are operable to be securably coupled to the mandrel in first and second positions relative to the mandrel. First and second rings are respectively positioned between the profiles of the first and second sleeves and the profiled surface of the receptacle. The first and second rings are operable to initially limit longitudinal movement of the receptacle relative to the mandrel, to prevent tubular string recoil during operation and to allow longitudinal movement of the receptacle relative to the mandrel after operation.
US08316949B2
An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly comprises an integrated sub-assembly encased within a shroud. The integrated sub-assembly comprises a downhole monitoring gauge, a motor, a well fluid intake, a seal section, a mounting member, and an electrical conduit extending between the mounting member and the motor. The intake has a plurality of intake slots positioned a select distance from the mounting member in order to minimize the space for the accumulation of gas within the shroud. The electrical conduit sealingly extends through the mounting member to a receptacle located on an upper portion thereof. Conductors are encased within the conduit and are connected between the receptacle and the motor. The conduit prevents the conductors from being affected by reservoir fluid and pressures.
US08316945B2
What is provided is a method and apparatus which can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer thereby separating the drilling fluid or mud into upper and lower sections and allowing the fluid to be displaced in two stages, such as while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve of the swivel.
US08316939B2
A method of installing a sand control screen assembly in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is carried out in a wellbore having a cased section and an uncased section. The wellbore contains synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids containing drilled solids. A first water-based displacement fluid that contains a shale inhibitor is introduced into the wellbore to displace the synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A second water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. The sand control screen assembly is then run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore to facilitate a gravel packing operation.
US08316934B2
A computer system and computerized method for allocating production among multiple formations produced by a hydrocarbon well, using isotopic concentration analysis. According to an aspect of the system and method, multiple single-formation isotopic concentration measurements of multiple hydrocarbon gases are taken from each formation. Within each formation, groups of similar isotopic concentration values are defined, and are mapped to geographic regions of the formations. Mixing equations are developed between regions of the different formations, for use in allocating production for a well intersecting those regions. According to another aspect of the system and method, allocation among three or more formations is performed using Monte Carlo analysis of an underspecified mixing equation, and at a measured isotopic concentration value for the commingled flow from the well.
US08316931B2
Equipment for servicing subterranean wells, and in some cases, an apparatus and method for remotely launching cementing plugs during the primary cementation of a subterranean well. The top plug and bottom plug are launched by different mechanisms, thereby preventing premature release of the top plug during a cementing operation.
US08316914B2
Movable partitions and movable partition system include a header assembly and a movable partition. The header assembly may comprise an elongated overhead track including a first channel, a second channel, and a central channel between the first and second channels. A plurality of support bracket attachment features may be included with at least one support bracket attachment feature on each of an outer surface of the first channel and an outer surface of the second channel. A support bracket may be coupled to each of the support bracket attachment features. The movable partition may comprise a plurality of panels connected to one another with hinge-like member and may be suspended from the overhead track. Embodiments of overhead tracks and methods of forming header assemblies are also disclosed.
US08316911B2
A lift cord safety system for use with a Roman shade type window covering having a head rail, a bottom rail and a shade movable between a raised and a lowered position. At least one lift cord vertically extends down from the head rail toward the bottom rail. A flexible sleeve is associated with and substantially surrounds each lift cord. A set of vertically spaced guides are also associated with each lift cord and are attached to the shade. The sleeve and the lift cord are disposed within each guide of the associated set of vertically spaced guides. A zip tie affixes the sleeve to each guide of the associated set of vertically spaced guides.
US08316910B2
Awning assemblies include at least one arm assembly. In accordance with example aspects, the arm assembly can include a first segment, a second segment pivotally connected to the first segment and a biasing member extending between portions of the segments with the biasing member being substantially hidden within an area defined by the first and second segments in a closed orientation. In accordance with further example aspects, a biasing member can be provided to resist rotation of a link member with respect to a mounting bracket with an adjustment device configured to adjust the compression of the biasing member. In accordance with yet further examples, the awning assembly can include a support leg and a pivot assembly connecting the support leg to a lead rail. The pivot assembly can include a stop member to limit a pivoting movement of the pivot assembly. In further examples, the awning assembly can include first and second support legs that each include a locking device configured to selectively lock the support legs in one of a plurality of predetermined incremental lengths.
US08316907B2
Substrate material processing equipment includes: a substrate material conveying section receiving a substrate material from a first line and conveying it to a second line; a first substrate material dividing section dividing the substrate material; a substrate material recovery section recovering the substrate material from its start edge formed by division; a substrate material supply section supplying a substrate material to an end edge of the substrate material which is formed by division; a first substrate material joining section joining the end edge of the substrate material to a start edge of the substrate material supplied from the substrate material supply section; a second substrate material dividing section provided between the substrate material supply section and the first substrate material joining section; a third substrate material dividing section provided between the first line and the substrate material recovery section; and a second substrate material joining section joining a start edge of the substrate material which is formed by division by the third substrate material dividing section to an end edge of the substrate material which is formed by division by the second substrate material dividing section.
US08316904B2
This disclosure relates to a vulcanizable layered composition comprising at least two layers and at least one tie layer. The first of the two layers comprises a fluid permeation prevention layer and the second comprises at least one high diene rubber. The tie layer comprises, a mixture, in parts by weight relative to 100 weight parts of rubber, of suitable amounts of: (1) epoxidized natural rubber; (2) at least one high diene elastomer; (3) at least one filler; (4) least one tackifier; and (5) a rubber curing system. The fluid permeation prevention layer preferably comprises suitable amounts of: (A) at least one thermoplastic engineering resin component, preferably one or more nylon resins; and (B) at least one elastomer component, preferably a brominated isobutylene p-methylstyrene copolymer/and where the total amount of (A) and (B) is not less than 30% by weight, and wherein (B) is dispersed in a vulcanized or partially vulcanized state, as a discontinuous phase, in a matrix of component (A).
US08316903B2
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a built-in sealant layer and its preparation. In one embodiment, the pneumatic tire includes an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. An optional rubber inner liner is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass. A built-in sealant layer is disposed inwardly from the rubber inner liner. The built-in sealant layer provides self-sealing properties to the pneumatic tire. A gas permeable layer is situated adjacent an innermost rubber inner liner and the built-in sealant layer. The innermost rubber inner liner has a plurality of spaced apart openings extending therethrough, which are covered by the gas permeable layer. The tire, with its innermost inner liner with holes and the gas permeable layer, allows for elimination or reduction in blister formation in the tire by permitting gas from the built-in sealant layer to escape.
US08316895B2
A tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The tool includes a tension mechanism and a ball set and cut-off mechanism. The tension mechanism tensions the metal locking tie wrapped around a bundle. The ball set and cut-off mechanism includes a guide block and a shear block that engages the guide block. Once the tool tensions the metal locking tie, a ball set and cut-off handle is manually activated to push the guide block and the shear block forward in the tool thereby setting a ball in a metal locking tie head and shearing a portion of the tensioned metal locking tie.
US08316891B2
An open port is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore of the reservoir apparatus and the port is exposed to the exterior of the reservoir apparatus. A hollow portion is formed concentrically with the port on a reservoir body. An annular thin portion is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore and the hollow portion surrounding the port in a radial direction. The thin portion is outwardly deflected and deformed by being pushed outwardly in a radial direction centering on the port in a range narrower than the inner diameter of the hollow portion. Thus, the opening of the port is outwardly sunk from the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore thereby to form a curved surface at a root portion of the thin portion on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore.
US08316889B2
A control valve (14) for a device (1) for modifying the control times of gas exchange valves (110, 111) of an internal combustion engine (100) is provided. A check valve is arranged inside an annular groove (44) which is formed on one of the components of the control valve (14) and through which a pressurized medium flows. This reduces the assembly costs.
US08316883B1
A water faucet providing a digital temperature readout indicating the temperature of the water exiting the faucet is herein disclosed. The faucet provides a switch to change the display between Fahrenheit and Celsius and is powered by a small integral solar cell and an internal battery for periods of low ambient light. The display and corresponding circuitry is mounted inside of a waterproof enclosure which is removably mounted to the faucet spout by locking fasteners. The display is removable and allows for replacement or maintenance should it malfunction or break. During use, an internal thermocouple senses a change in temperature to activate the apparatus, thereby conserving energy. Such features are ideal for measuring the temperature of water used to wash hands or dishes to ensure compliance with health department requirements.
US08316881B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel tank check valve including: a main tubular body attached on a fuel filler pipe; a valve element; a first tube that is disposed between the main tubular body and the fuel filler pipe and that has a first locking portion to engage with the fuel filler pipe; an annular seal member; and a second tube that is disposed to sandwich the annular seal member with the first tube and that has a second locking portion to engage with the main tubular body, wherein the fuel filler pipe is disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the first tube, wherein the first locking portion projects in an inside diameter direction, and wherein the first locking portion engages with an engagement hole in the fuel filler pipe from an outside.
US08316874B2
A fluid metering or pumping device includes multiple pumping or metering elements that are connected so that they all operate together, moving in the same direction and at the same speed. The multiple pumping or metering elements are intended for use at high pressures where the strain from the pressure might distort the walls of the elements, and interfere with their pumping or metering accuracy. These elements are enclosed in, but preferably not directly connected to a pressure vessel that would contain the high operating pressure, leaving the pumping or metering element housings to only contain the pressure rise or fall that occurs within that element. The pumping or metering elements are connected to a support structure that also penetrates the pressure vessel, and contains an outlet port for that element. The pressure vessel connects the elements, and serves as an intake plenum for all of the elements.
US08316871B2
A perforating device capable of perforating a process for perforating a fluid duct having a connector seat with a tapped barrel. The device generally includes a hollow cylindrical body, a cutting apparatus, a fluid passage and a valve. The cylindrical body has an internal volume, a longitudinal axis, a first open end, a second end opposite the first, and a threaded external surface. The cylindrical body can be threadingly received or retracted within the barrel such that the cylindrical body moves along the barrel toward or away from the fluid duct. The cutting apparatus is operably coupled to an end of the cylindrical body and is adapted to cut the duct by screwing the body into the barrel. The valve seals the internal volume of the cylindrical body in response to a differential pressure between the interior of the duct and the ambient atmosphere to prevent leakage from the duct.
US08316867B2
Methods and apparatus for cleaning electrostatic chucks in processing chambers are provided. The process comprises flowing a backside gas comprising a reactive agent into a zone in a process chamber, the zone defined by a space between a surface of an electrostatic chuck or of a cleaning station and a surface of a substrate. The surface of the electrostatic chuck is etched with the reactive agent to remove debris. An apparatus for cleaning an electrostatic chuck is also provided, the apparatus comprising: a process chamber; an elongate arm having a reach disposed through a wall of the process chamber; an electrostatic chuck attached to the elongate arm; a cleaning station located within the reach of the elongate arm; and a reactive gas source that is operatively connected to the cleaning station.
US08316852B2
Device for extracting particles from exhaled breath, comprising a cooling system (16) for creating droplets by condensation of the water vapor contained in the exhaled breath; a droplet recovery unit (7) provided with a side wall (2) having a grid form and converging towards an outlet opening (9), allowing the droplets attracted towards said side wall (2) to flow along the latter towards the outlet opening (9); and a discharge electrode (1) mounted inside the droplet recovery unit (7), said side wall (2) of said droplet recovery unit (7) defining a counter electrode to said discharge electrode (1) in order to attract droplet-collecting particles carried by exhaled breath towards said side wall (2).
US08316846B2
A device for adsorbing and desorbing anesthetic shall be improved in respect of the anesthetic supply. A sampling device (16) for removing a gas volume of the breathing gas and an anesthetic dispenser (18) are connected to the breathing gas line (8) between the adsorption filter (9) and the patient (10) in such a way that the gas volume removed and the gas volume supplied are compensated.
US08316842B2
A solar heat collector for using solar energy to heat a fluid flowing therethrough includes a housing having a portion facing the sun. A predetermined plurality of tubular members are disposed within the housing with each tubular member connected to a fluid input and a fluid output for carrying a fluid through the housing. An absorption film is attached to the sun facing portion of the housing. A filler member engages the absorption film and a predetermined portion of each tubular member for improving heat transfer efficiency of the absorbed solar energy from the absorption film to each tubular member. A material of the filler member has thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of air at zero degrees Celsius.
US08316839B2
A cleaning system for a cooking range exhaust having a hood, a backsplash, and a flue for exhausting cooking effluent is disclosed. The cleaning system includes a fluid delivery system constructed for placement within the cooking range exhaust. The fluid delivery system includes a hood spray conduit constructed for placement within the hood and comprising spray openings for directing a degreasing composition to the backsplash. The fluid delivery system includes a flue spray conduit constructed for placement within the flue and comprising spray openings for directing the degreasing composition to an interior surface of the flue. The cleaning system includes a pump system constructed for conveying the degreasing composition from a degreasing composition source and through the fluid delivery system. The cleaning system includes a collection reservoir constructed to collect degreasing composition runoff from the cooking range exhaust. A method of cleaning a cooking range exhaust and a self cleaning exhaust system are also disclosed.
US08316831B2
An engine includes: a valve stop mechanism that varies the number of operating cylinders as a cylinder cut-off mechanism; and a blow-by gas recirculation system that has a blow-by gas passage that returns blow-by gas, flowing from a combustion chamber to a crankcase, to an intake passage and a PCV valve that is equipped with an electric motor and that adjusts the flow rate of gas returned to the blow-by gas passage. A control device variably sets the opening degree, corresponding to a target value of the flow rate of gas, of the PCV valve on the basis of an intake pressure in an intake passage to adjust the opening degree of the PCV valve so that the flow rate of gas becomes the target value.
US08316823B2
A control system for controlling the ignition of a plasma-jet spark plug provided in an internal combustion engine senses an operating condition of the internal combustion engine, and determines an ignition mode of the plasma-jet spark plug in accordance with the sensed operating condition. The control system performs an ignition control of breaking down the insulation across a spark discharge gap by applying a first electric power to the plasma-jet spark plug, and producing plasma in the vicinity of the spark discharge gap by applying a second electric power to the spark discharge gap in a state of dielectric breakdown. The control system performs this ignition control according to the ignition mode determined as mentioned above.
US08316809B1
A two mode valve lifter for Diesel engines which varies the compression ratio between higher for cold starting and other selected operating conditions, and lower for warmed-up running. This is accomplished during engine starting and selected other conditions by causing the intake valve to close early (near bottom center), providing for example, up to three ratios additional compression. The invention incorporates a conventional valve lifter packaged within a sleeve, the sleeve being moved by the engine cam. In its conventional operating mode, the sleeve is rigidly attached to the lifter and the cam moves the assembly to lift the valve in the ordinary manner. When the sleeve is not attached, partial lost motion occurs, causing the valve to open later and close earlier. In the modified mode and as needed, optional damping can be introduced to allow the valve to open and close gradually and quietly. Similarly, a two mode valve lifter which retains additional exhaust gas in the cylinder to assist cold starting and warm-up by closing the exhaust valve earlier can be incorporated either alone or in combination with the intake two mode lifter.
US08316802B2
An animal cage box has a grommet for passing a watering conduit through a box side wall. The grommet is removably attachable at an opening through the side wall, using a non-round configuration by which the grommet is aligned for insertion into a non-round opening, and turned to hold the grommet in place. A flange on the grommet body rests against one face of the side wall. The non-round configuration includes one or more tabs that can be cut from the flange and are displaced axially by a distance equal to the side wall thickness. A hinge flap that can be grasped in the fingers helps to hold, align, insert or remove and twist the grommet relative to the side wall. The disclosed arrangement further minimized the cost of using inexpensive disposable cage boxes because relatively expensive grommets, for example of stainless steel, can be cleaned and reused.
US08316784B2
This disclosure includes a system and method of controlling fuel combustion including providing a system, measuring a property, and providing oxygen and fuel in response to the property. The system includes a furnace arranged and disposed to receive fuel and oxygen and combust the fuel and the oxygen to form a combustion fluid, a plurality of heat exchanger sections arranged and disposed to receive heat from the combustion fluid, and a plurality of oxygen injectors arranged and disposed to controllably provide oxygen to the combustion fluid to adjust composition of the combustion fluid and temperature of the combustion fluid. The property measured is selected from the group consisting of temperature of the combustion fluid, composition of the combustion fluid, temperature of the heat exchanger sections, and combinations thereof and is performed in close proximity to the oxygen injectors.
US08316780B2
A support device for materials handling includes a plurality of leg members used to form a support structure. A deck member is mounted on the support structure to form the support device. In particular, the deck member comprises a plurality of recesses on a first side shaped to receive the plurality of leg members.
US08316775B2
A traction/pitching control assembly for attachment to a body portion of a monorail bogie. The monorail bogie is operative for supporting a monorail car over a monorail track that has a running surface and two side surfaces. The traction/pitching control assembly comprises a first traction link, a second traction link and a linking member that has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first traction link is attached to the first end portion of the linking member, and the second traction link is attached to the second end portion of the linking member. The traction/pitching assembly further comprises a third traction link and a cross link. The cross link joins the third traction link to the first traction link and the linking member. The first traction link and the second traction link are attached to one of the body portion of the monorail bogie and the monorail car, and the linking member is connected to the other one of the body portion of the monorail bogie and the monorail car.
US08316774B1
An auxiliary drive system for a high-rail vehicle comprises a high-rail vehicle having a first prime mover, a disengaged transmission, a chassis, a first set of on-road wheel assemblies and a second set of rail wheels, a cab for controlling the high-rail vehicle on road, a remote cab spaced from the primary cab, the remote cab allowing for control of the high-rail vehicle on railroad tracks, a secondary drive assembly comprising one of a hydraulic motor or an electric motor, a friction roller engaging one of the first set of on road wheel assemblies, the friction roller drivably engaging at least one of the first set of on road wheel assemblies and, the secondary drive assembly operable from the remote cab to move the friction roller and move the high-rail vehicle along the railroad tracks.
US08316772B1
The invention describes a wall breaching explosive fragmentation ammunition and further a warhead having means for efficiently penetrating concrete and masonry walls, effectively delivering an explosive fragmentation case payload with minimum structural damage to the ammunition's projectile body. The effective wall breaching is achieved using an ogive-shaped, high strength, light weight boron carbide ceramic nose cone cap disposed adjacent to a tungsten alloy nose insert, at the fore of the ammunition. The projectile body is generally cylindrically shaped, preferably made of steel or aluminum to withstand expected forces in the launch environment. The ogive-shaped nose cone may be secured circumferentially to the projectile body with a rubber O-ring to ensure a tight seal. The ogive-shaped nose cone minimizes the penetration resistance force and provides more favorable loading onto the ammunition projectile's wall structure, ultimately minimizing the damage to the projectile's fragmenting case and the explosive payload which follows it. The remaining back projectile area may be filled with propellant. Use of light-weight boron carbide material also minimizes interference with possible steel fragment and tungsten alloy fragment spray. The projectile body includes rotating bands to trap propellant gases from escaping during launch which bands can be attached to the projectile body as a separate part.
US08316748B2
A power tool in one embodiment includes a latch hold mechanism, a swing arm pivotable about a pivot along a swing arm path, at least one alignment plate positioned adjacent to a portion of the swing arm when the swing arm is in a first position, a latch pin movable between a first latch pin position whereat the swing arm is biased against the at least one alignment plate and a second latch pin position whereat the swing arm is not biased by the latch pin, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the swing arm resulting in a bias on the latch pin in a direction toward the second latch pin position, and a control system configured to control the actuating device to transfer a force to the swing arm when the swing arm is maintained at the first swing arm position.
US08316747B2
A power tool in one embodiment is a table saw which includes a swing arm assembly movable along a swing path, an actuator configured to force the swing arm assembly away from a first swing arm position and toward a second swing arm position, and a riving knife positioned outwardly of the swing arm assembly when the swing arm assembly is in the first swing arm position, the riving knife including a channel with a first end portion and a second end portion, a first curved channel portion with a first center of curvature and located between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a second curved channel portion with a second center of curvature and located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first center of curvature is not coincident with the second center of curvature.
US08316743B2
A quick change tool holder having a base member, a body, a quick change head member, and a cutting tool cartridge. The base member includes an upper surface, bottom surface, and mating surface and is adapted to removably mount to an associated cutting machine carriage. The body includes an end wall and an inner surface, where the end wall includes a dovetail portion. The body is adapted to engage the base member in an interlocking fashion. The quick change head includes a top surface, a bottom surface, an interface wall having a channel disposed therein, and an outer wall having a plurality of longitudinal grooves, wherein said channel is adapted to receive said dovetail portion. The cutting tool cartridge is adapted to engage the longitudinal grooves of the quick change head.
US08316739B2
A method for attaching a plurality of fasteners located along a circular path uses a screwdriving device that has feed drive outputs. The drive outputs correspond to the fasteners, are located on a circular path and include a screwdriving tool bit. During the method, the drive outputs are extended from a position of repose to a working position and the screwdriving tool bit, located at the fastener, screws in the fastener. The feed drive outputs are located on circular paths of different diameters and only those drive outputs located on a particular circular path, which corresponds with a circular path on which the fasteners are located, leave their position of repose. The number of feed drive outputs corresponds to the number of fasteners.
US08316738B2
A power transmission device for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a power source and first and second drivelines includes an input shaft adapted to be driven by the power source. A first output shaft is rotatable about a first axis and adapted to transmit torque to the first driveline. A second output shaft is adapted to transmit torque to the second driveline and is rotatable about a second axis. The first and second axes do not extend parallel to each other. A transfer unit includes a first cylindrically-shaped gear rotatably supported on the first output shaft and a second conically-shaped gear fixed for rotation with the second output shaft. The first and second gears are in constant meshed engagement with each other.
US08316733B2
In an image printing device, such as a laser printer or ink jet printer, a coupling device for creating a coupling between a rotatable shaft and an interface component, such as a gear. The coupling device is an elongated modified c-shaped body having a portion for receiving the rotatable shaft, and includes integrated hinges that facilitate the coupling device to be spread apart and to receive and interface with the rotatable shaft. The integrated hinges function to compress between the rotatable shaft and interface component substantially inhibiting relative longitudinal movement and wherein a flat on the exterior of the rotatable shaft engages with a flat on the interior the interface component, to additionally inhibit relative rotational movement between the interface component and the shaft. The shaft further includes a plurality of ribs that extend from the rotatable shaft into the coupling device providing additional reduction in rotational movement between the shaft and the interface component. Retainers extending from the coupling device into the interface component provide another method of inhibiting relative rotational movement and/or provide a stop for press fit of the interface component onto the shaft.
US08316730B2
A multistage transmission includes a swing claw member having a pin-receiving portion adapted to receive a pin member and an engaging claw portion on respective sides opposite to each other with respect to swing center, and swung by the advancement and retraction of the pin member to allow the engaging claw portion to establish engagement and release the engagement; and biasing means for biasing the swing claw member in a swing direction of bringing the engaging claw portion into engagement. The biasing means is a compression spring interposed between the inner surface of the engaging claw portion of the swing claw member and the opposing surface of the gear shaft. The multistage transmission uses multiple swing claw members of the same kind, instead of swing claw members of different kinds.
US08316722B2
The measuring system comprises: a measuring transducer, through which medium flows during operation and which serves for producing oscillatory signals dependent on a viscosity of the flowing medium and/or a Reynolds number of the flowing medium; transmitter electronics for driven the measuring transducer and for evaluating oscillatory signals delivered by the measuring transducer. The measuring transducer includes: an inlet-side flow divider; an outlet-side flow divider; at least two, mutually parallel, straight, measuring tubes, connected to the flow dividers; as well as an electromechanical exciter mechanism for exciting and maintaining mechanical oscillations of the at least two measuring tubes. Each of the at least two measuring tubes opens with an inlet-side measuring tube end into a flow opening and with an outlet-side. The transmitter electronics feeds, by means of an electrical driver signal supplied to the exciter mechanism, electrical excitation power into the exciter mechanism, while the exciter mechanism converts electrical excitation power at least partially into opposite-equal torsional oscillations of the at least two measuring tubes.
US08316716B2
A method for inspecting at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine for damage, such as subsurface blade cracks, includes the steps of: attaching at least one acoustic emission sensor to a surface of a rotor blade to be inspected, exciting oscillations in the rotor blade for a time period, measuring activity signals of the oscillations in the rotor blade with the at least one acoustic emission sensor, and detaching the at least one acoustic emission sensor from the surface of the rotor blade after the inspection. An inspection system for a rotor blade of a wind turbine is also contemplated.
US08316703B2
A flexible coupling for well logging instruments includes a housing coupled at one longitudinal end to one end of a second housing. Each of the housings defines a sealed interior chamber. The housings are coupled to enable angular deflection between respective longitudinal axes thereof. A conduit extends between the housings. The conduit is sealingly engaged to each housing such that longitudinal ends of the conduit are substantially positionally fixed with respect to each housing. The conduit is formed from material and has dimensions selected to withstand at least a same hydrostatic pressure as each of the housings. The conduit includes a bending strain distribution feature configured such that at a maximum angular deflection between housings a bending strain in the conduit is at most equal to an elastic limit of the conduit.
US08316702B2
An apparatus (10) for determining the adhesive strength of materials has a test rig (12) with a base plate (14). A compression plate (20) is provided above a support (18). The compression plate (20) is urged into engagement with the support (18) by means of springs (22). The compression plate (20) has a recess (30) which receives a mould (32). The support (18) contains a substrate (34) which engages with material to be tested contained in the mould (32).The application also relates to a method which involves measuring the force required to remove the mould (32) from the substrate (34).
US08316701B2
An aerodynamic testing apparatus includes a test object carrier that carries a test object along an orbital test path through a fluid test medium. The apparatus may be configured to carry a test object along a generally spiraling orbital test path through the fluid test medium.
US08316694B2
The invention relates to a device (10) for detecting and locating fluid leakage from a hydraulic work, the device being characterized in that it comprises a geotextile fabric (12) made of yarns or fibers and provided with: at least one first optical cable (14) in contact with said geotextile (12) and formed by a protective tube within which at least one multimode optical fiber (141) is placed, said multimode optical fiber (141) being suitable for detecting a temperature variation and transmitting a signal that is modified when temperature varies and at least one second optical cable formed by a sheath receiving tightly at least one monomode optical fiber (142) suitable for detecting a deformation of the geotextile (12) and for transmitting a signal that is modified when the deformation is detected in that said second optical cable being bonded to the geotextile (12). The invention is applicable to detecting and locating leakage from hydraulic works.
US08316688B2
A method for carrying out a self-test for a micromechanical sensor device, and a corresponding micromechanical sensor device. The method has the following steps: exciting the sensor device using a first excitation signal variation in a first self-test; storing a corresponding first response signal variation of the sensor device; exciting the sensor device using a second excitation signal variation in a second self-test; storing a corresponding second response signal variation of the sensor device; analyzing the first and second response signal variations with regard to at least one predefined criterion; and preparing a self-test result based on the analytical result of the first and second response signal variations.
US08316683B2
A product intermittently having a bent portion which curves three-dimensionally and a quenched portion is manufactured by performing bending downstream of a support means while feeding a metal material which is supported by the support means from an upstream side towards a downstream side. A portion of the metal material is heated by a heating means downstream of the support means. A bending moment is imparted to the portion of the metal material heated by the heating means to three-dimensionally change the position of a movable roller die which is disposed downstream of the heating means and has a plurality of rolls which feed the heated metal material in the axial direction, and the metal material is quenched by spraying a cooling medium at the portion of the metal material which was heated by a cooling means disposed between the heating means and the movable roller die.
US08316680B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for making a seamless hollow body (10) from a solid round block (7) of steel with a diameter <95% of the diameter of the solid round block by means of a two-roll cross-rolling mill with a piercing mandrel (3) held between the inclined roll (1) and including a piercer (5) and at least one smoothing part (4) using pass-closing guides, or by means of a three-roll cross rolling mill with a piercing mandrel held between the inclined rolls and including a piercer and at least one smoothing part, wherein the distance of the rolls is adjusted in a particular manner at the narrowest cross-section (2) in relation to the diameter of the used round block, and the position of the piercing mandrel is adjusted in relation to the narrowest cross-section of the rollers.
US08316679B2
A laying pipe for use in the laying head of a rolling mill is configured for rotation about an axis, with an entry end aligned on that axis to receive a hot rolled product, and with a curved section leading to a delivery end spaced radially from that axis. The curved section defines a guide path configured to form the hot rolled product into a helical formation of rings. The laying pipe comprises a tubular ferrous wall having an interior surface comprising a wear resistant boronized layer against which the hot rolled product is confined for movement along the guide path.
US08316676B2
A re-keyable cylinder lock has a control member to permit or restrict transverse movement of a re-keying unit. The control member is movable axially between first and second positions and transversely to a third position from the second position. In the third position, the re-keying unit moves transversely and disengages from first tumbler pieces. A limit member is provided to prevent the control member from moving axially when no right key is inserted into a plug. A security arm is connected to the control member and is breakable so that destructive forces cannot reach the control member.
US08316675B2
A dual locking device includes a first casing and a second casing. A receiving space is defined between the first casing and the second casing. The second casing has a through hole defined therein. An axial shaft passes through the through hole. A latch member is connected with the axial shaft. A locking mechanism and a key operated mechanism are received in the receiving space. The locking mechanism is connected with the axial shaft for driving the axial shaft. The key operated mechanism has a lock core disposed therein and having a key hole defined therein for being inserted and rotated by a key, such that the lock core drives the axial shaft. Accordingly, the locking mechanism and the key operated mechanism are separately operable to move the latch member between a locking position and an unlocking position.
US08316674B2
A lock (10) which includes a body and an actuator (36) which is pivotally displaceable between a rest position and a displaced position. The lock further includes a first member (64) which is longitudinally displaceable by the actuator (36) and a second 5 member (66) which is longitudinally in register with the first member (64) and longitudinally displaceable relative to the body and the first member (64). The lock includes bias means (90) biasing the first and second members (64, 66) away from one another. The lock further includes retaining means (98) which is displaceable from a locked position, in which it inhibits displacement of the second member (66) and a 10 released position in which it permits displacement of the second member (66).
US08316666B2
A frame member has two spaced apart parallel rings that are fixed to one another only at a first location. At a second location diametrically opposed to the first location each of the spaced apart parallel rings has a pedestal with a notch therein at an edge of the pedestal adjacent a space separating the parallel rings. The pedestals and notches are circumferentially aligned to cooperate with one another to provide a seat for seating an ornamental article therein. The securing member secures the ornamental article to the frame member. The securing member is a ring inserted in the space between the parallel rings of the frame member in a movable manner and is provided with a means for securing the ornamental article seated in the pedestals and notches of the frame member when the means for securing is aligned with the pedestals and notches of the frame member. The securing member may be moved with respect to the frame member to allow the ornamental article to be removed and replaced by another ornamental article, and then moved back to its original position with respect to the frame member to secure replacement ornamental article in place.
US08316650B2
A system for heating and cooling a vehicle includes a solar panel disposed on a surface of a vehicle and a thermoelectric unit i) disposed on or in an internal surface disposed in a cabin area of the vehicle, and ii) operatively connected to the solar panel. The thermoelectric unit is configured to heat and/or cool the internal surface in response to electric current applied thereto from the solar panel. The system further includes a control unit operatively associated with the thermoelectric unit. The control unit is configured to determine the amount and direction of the electric current to be applied to the thermoelectric unit based on i) a measured ambient temperature, ii) a measured temperature of the internal surface, and iii) a user-preferred reference temperature.
US08316649B2
A thermal pillow apparatus comprising a pillow element, a heat exchanger, a thermal liquid, a fluid pump and a controller is disclosed. The thermal liquid circulates between the heat exchanger and the pillow element in a closed loop, transferring thermal energy between the heat exchanger and the pillow element. A fluid pump is disposed in the closed loop to aid in circulating the thermal liquid within the closed loop. A Peltier device is the typical heat pump element used in the heat exchanger. The controller coordinates the operation of the thermal pillow apparatus, for example monitoring the temperature of the thermal liquid, and activating the heat exchanger and the fluid pump.
US08316639B2
An internal combustion engine capable of improving cleaning efficiency by preventing an increase in the temperature of the exhaust gas to lessen the deterioration of the catalyst. The internal combustion engine includes a convergent section, a divergent section, and a branch section. The branch section branches a shock wave, propagating in a downstream direction at a higher velocity than exhaust gas flowing into an exhaust path from a combustion chamber when an exhaust valve is opened, from a portion of the exhaust path which is upstream with respect to the divergent section, and propagates the shock wave back to the exhaust path. The exhaust gas is caused to pass the convergent section and to collide against the shock wave between the branch section and the divergent section, so as to increase the pressure of the exhaust gas in the convergent section. Such exhaust gas is caused to pass the divergent section to generate a new shock wave and to decrease the temperature of the exhaust gas. A catalyst of an exhaust cleaning device is provided in a portion of the exhaust path which is downstream with respect to the divergent section.
US08316636B2
[PROBLEM] To provide an exhaust gas purification system suitable for a construction machine provided with a hydraulic pump driven by an engine.[SOLUTION] An exhaust gas purification system is arranged on a hydraulic excavator; and includes an exhaust gas control means for performing treatment to purify nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas emitted from an engine, a urea aqueous solution reservoir for storing urea aqueous solution to be fed to the exhaust gas control means, a remaining amount detection means for detecting a remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution stored in the urea aqueous solution reservoir, a warning lamp capable of turning on when the remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution has decreased to a predetermined amount A, and a pump absorption torque limiting means or engine revolution speed limiting means disposed in a controller to perform a control of an element relating to the operation of the hydraulic actuator, for example, a control to decrease a pump absorption torque or a maximum revolution speed to a predetermined value in a range that an operation of a hydraulic actuator included in a hydraulic drive circuit becomes feasible, as the remaining amount of the urea aqueous solution becomes smaller from the first predetermined amount A.
US08316631B2
An apparatus for reducing heating effects of an exhaust plume of a jet engine on an impinged surface includes fluid injectors disposed adjacent and aimed into an exhaust plume zone that's to be occupied by an exhaust plume when the engine is running. A flow generator transmits fluid flow into such an exhaust plume through the injectors. Each injector emits fluid in at least two divergent directions to increase the cross-sectional area of the exhaust plume by forming fluidic lobes in the exhaust plume.
US08316628B2
A grass treatment unit with an adjustable hood for use with various grass treatment inserts of different diameter for verticutting, scarifying, etc. An open topped bearing socket is provided for mounting the grass treatment insert for rotation. A hood is mounted on a slide for spacing the hood in a selected position with respect to the grass treatment insert. The grass treatment insert has a shaft with ball bearings on opposite ends which are housed within a bearing housing. A handle is provided on the bearing housing for lifting the grass treatment insert.
US08316623B2
A method of forming a sealed seam between a tear-off film (12), that is provided with a tear-off strip, and a packaging member (14), the method including at least one sealing step, in which the packaging member (14) and the film 12 are compressed between a lower die (20) supporting the packaging member (14) and an upper die (22) such that an annular sealed seam (28) is formed in the peripheral portions of the film (12) and the packaging member (14), in which wherein, during a sealing step or in a subsequent non-sealing step, the sealing seam (28) is partly destroyed or weakened at is internal peripheral edge (30) in the vicinity of the tear-off strip.
US08316622B2
A child resistant cap assembly for a bottle is disclosed comprising an inner cap and outer cap. When an external pressure is applied to the outer cap, the teeth on the outer cap engage with the inner cap. While engaged, the cap assembly is rotated in a counter clockwise direction to unfasten or unscrew the cap assembly from the bottle.
US08316619B1
Photovoltaic modules including a solar panel integrated with a supporting frame, and which are configured to be installed on a building rooftop. Modules according to the present teachings may be at least partially pre-assembled, with a solar panel oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the rooftop mounting surface of the supporting frame.
US08316615B2
A tower assembly for use with a modular tower is provided. The tower assembly includes a plurality of assembly panels each including a pair of opposing circumferential edges, and, a plurality of connectors for use in coupling adjacent assembly panels of the plurality of assembly panels to one another, each connector of the plurality of connectors including an outer flange, an inner flange, and a spacer extending therebetween, the outer flange is spaced a distance from the inner flange such that a first slot and a second slot are defined between the outer and inner flanges, each of the first and the second slots is sized to receive one of the assembly panel circumferential edges therein to enable the adjacent assembly panels to be coupled to one another.
US08316614B2
Method for establishing a wind turbine (1) on a foundation (7) where at least a part of the wind turbine rotor (4) is attached to a wind turbine tower (2). Further, the method comprises the steps of positioning the wind turbine tower including the attached wind turbine rotor on the foundation, elevating a wind turbine nacelle (3) to a use position on the tower, and directly or indirectly connecting the nacelle to the attached wind turbine rotor. The invention also relates to transport of a wind turbine tower, and a vessel (10) suitable for transporting a wind turbine tower.
US08316598B2
A translucent wall panel includes a single body of translucent polycarbonate material having skin walls and a multiwall support extending between the skin walls. The skin walls include an outer weather wall, an inner liner wall, a longitudinally extending first side and a longitudinally extending second side opposite to the first side. The first side has outer projecting and recess parts and the second side has outer projecting and recess parts. The projecting and recess parts of the first side are of mating form with corresponding recess and projecting parts respectively of the second side for engagement between the first side of one panel and the second side of another like panel. The sides have additional spacer recesses which are aligned so that when two similar panels are aligned adjacent to one another a spacer element bridges a gap between the panels and a support frame element such as a purlin.
US08316585B2
A gutter cover having a foraminous central portion with a first side structure and a second side structure, the first side structure having an upwardly extending wall portion, a downwardly extending wall portion merging with the upwardly extending wall portion, and a flange portion extending outwardly from the downwardly extending wall portion, the second side structure having an upwardly extending portion and a flange arrangement associated with the second side structure, the foraminous central portion being formed of a flexible material to permit the central portion to bend to permit placement of the gutter cover in position.
US08316583B2
A sliding window assembly for a vehicle includes a fixed panel and a sliding panel moveable relative to the fixed panel between an open position and a closed position. An elongated member is connected to the fixed panel and defines a channel extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end. The channel receives the sliding panel for movement of the sliding panel relative to the fixed panel. A rail is disposed in the channel along the longitudinal axis and is spaced along the longitudinal axis from the first end. The elongated member defines a drain hole molded into the elongated member in the channel. The drain hole is defined between the rail and the first end of the channel along the axis for draining water from the channel.
US08316582B2
A small and compact, easy-to-use soil moisture management device is disclosed that is economical to produce, efficient to use, has a scientific measurement system and is easy for the user to read the moisture needs of a plant in a hanging container. The device includes a housing that is attached at one end to hardware for supporting the device and a hanging basket that contains a plant in soil and moisture in varying amounts in the soil. The device also includes a moving member that is biased by a spring against the gravitational pull on the hanging basket, plant, soil and moisture. The spring and a portion of the moving member is contained in the housing. The moving member also contains visual indicators of the position of the moving member against the bias provided by the spring to indicate the amount of moisture in the soil. In the method, an eyebolt that supports the hanging basket, soil, plant and moisture is capable of moving against a bias against the gravitational pull on the hanging basket, soil, plant and variable amount of moisture and, by the movement of the eyebolt, visually indicating the position of the eyebolt against the bias so that a first amount of moisture in the soil produces a first position of the eyebolt and a second amount of moisture produces a second position of the eyebolt.
US08316578B2
An device for attracting and capturing an insect is provided. The device includes a housing which defines an interior space and a plurality of entrances in open communication with the interior space, a downwardly sloping panel coupled to and disposed within the housing, and an adhesive attached to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the downwardly sloping panel. The downwardly sloping panel and the housing together define a tapering passageway which leads to a crevice opposite at least one of the plurality of entrances, and the adhesive attached to the bottom surface of the panel is adapted to capture the insect.
US08316575B2
A bird-shaped decoy is supported on a swivel that is supported on a tubular component which allows the decoy to rotate. A bird-shaped decoy is mounted on a first swivel and a second swivel is mounted on a tubular component. An offset support rod connects the two swivels allowing the decoy to simultaneously orbit or rotate. The tubular component mounted swivel can have multiple support rods mounted thereon each extending to a swivel that supports a bird-shaped decoy.
US08316566B2
The disclosure relates to a linear series of connected unitary sheet-like merchandise labeling articles, each of which comprises a labeling tag flatly cojoined along a unifying flat bond zone with a flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag and includes an elastic fastening loop. Adjacent labeling articles of the series are ruptureably connected in a manner permitting the series to be handled as a unit while at the same time permitting ruptureable separation of individual merchandise labeling articles from the series. In one embodiment, the linear series is wound into roll form.
US08316564B2
An earth leveling and moving apparatus designed to move and level dirt and is compact for getting into tight areas that are needed to be reached for landscaping and other similar purposes. The apparatus includes a handle assembly, a blade assembly, a blade coupled to the blade assembly, a basket and two wheel assemblies. The handle assembly is connected to the blade assembly which is coupled to the blade. The blade may be removable and may have a straight edge or a ripper edge with teeth for cutting through hard surfaces. The basket is coupled to the handle assembly and to two wheel assemblies. The blade height is determined by adjusting the wheel assemblies and varying the force used on the handle assembly. The basket may have materials for weight in order to aid in applying a downward force to cut or gouge the land and level the land as the user desires. The basket may also be used to move debris and materials around the worksite.
US08316560B2
A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided and includes an insole and an outsole. The outsole includes a ground-contacting surface and an inner surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole from the ground-contacting surface. The outsole further includes a first elongated aperture extending through the outsole and between the ground-contacting surface and the inner surface. A midsole is disposed between the insole and the outsole and includes a second elongated aperture at least partially aligned with the first elongated aperture. A window is disposed between the midsole and the outsole and extends over the first elongated aperture and the second elongated aperture. A bladder is disposed between the insole and the midsole and is visible through the window.
US08316558B2
The present invention provides a shoe having a multi-layer, multi-density midsole where the surfaces between midsole layers have one or more convexities and one or more concavities which collectively contribute to simulating the effect, and imparting the fitness benefits, of walking on a sandy beach or on a giving or uneven surface regardless of the actual hardness of the surface.
US08316554B2
The invention relates to a measuring gauge and a method for determining the diameter or cross-sectional area of an object whose cross-sectional shape is adjustable such as, for example, a litz conductor. A first measuring disc comprising a helical slot running around the center of the measurement disc and tapering down is connected in a rotatable fashion by a central axial connection to a second measurement disc comprising a slot running steadily from the vicinity of the center to the edge, the slot tapering in the same direction as the slot of the first measuring disc. A material measure for reading the detected measurement is provided on one of the two measurement discs. When the measurement discs are counter-rotated to one another, the overlapping sections of the slots form an opening into which the object to be measured is inserted, and the size of the opening is altered by counter-rotating the measurement discs to one another. The diameter or the cross-sectional surface of the remaining opening may be read from the material measure.
US08316549B2
A compound leverage hand tool with an interchangeable tool head. The tool includes a pair of pivotably interconnected handles and a tool head defined by a pair of pivotably interconnected blade members. Each blade member terminates at one end in a mounting dowel that is pivotably mounted in a pair of retention slots in one of the handles. Tool head latches are pivotably mounted to the handles and include locking fingers that extend over the retention slots. The tool head latches can be pivoted relative to the handles between a locked position, wherein the locking fingers prevent the mounting dowels from being removed from the handles, and an unlocked position, wherein the mounting dowels can be removed from the handles. A spring biases the tool head latches toward the locked position. To unlock the tool head latches and remove the tool head, a user engages a tool head latch and pulls the handles apart.
US08316548B2
Hand-held electrical shears has a housing with a tool head and a grip part, an electric motor, a drive shaft driven by the electric motor via a transmission, a rotatable tool mounted on the drive shaft, and a rechargeable energy accumulator in the grip part. The transmission and a portion of the electric motor are in the tool head, an actuating element of an on/off switch is on an underside of the grip part, a grip cover is attached to a top side of the grip part. A shaft end section extending laterally out of the housing carries a bearing flange with a driving element for the tool, and a blade retaining plate with a counter-blade and a supporting base are detachably attached in a flattened region of the housing.
US08316547B2
A hand-held power tool protective device (10a-d) for a hand-held power tool (12a-d) with a drive unit and a tool (26a-d) includes an operating element (14a-d, 16a-d) which can actuate an electrical switch for activating the drive unit and a shut-off unit (18a-d) have a shut-off mechanism (24a-d). The shut-off unit (18a-d) brings about a shut-off during a deactivation of the operating element (14a-d, 16a-d) and therefore, a deactivation of the drive unit via the at least one shut-off means (24a-d). An emergency shut-off unit (28a-d) enables an emergency shut-off of an operation of the tool (26a-d) when the operating element (14a-d, 16a-d) is activated. The shut-off unit (18a-d) and the emergency shut-off unit (28a-d) are at least partially formed integrally.
US08316521B2
A device for producing a break-scheduled line for a vehicle upholstery member having an air bag door equipped with a fabricated skin. The device for producing the vehicle upholstery member having such air bag door comprises a support base for substantially flatly mounting the skin thereon, a cutting blade for forming the break-scheduled line in the skin, and measuring means for measuring the depth of the break-scheduled line or the thickness of the remaining portion. The support base includes a protrusion having a shape corresponding to that of the break-scheduled line formed in the skin on an upper surface of the support base.
US08316518B2
Methods for the manufacture of electrical components, such as ultrasound transducers, are illustrated and described. In particular, several embodiments of the methods can include patterning electrodes, such as for the connection of an ultrasound transducer to an electrical circuit. The methods also can include depositing metal on surfaces and making an integrated matching layer for an ultrasound transducer. Ultrasound transducers produced by these methods also are illustrated and described.
US08316505B2
A steam cleaner capable of automatically absorbing dust includes a main body; a handle arranged at an upper end of the main body; and a cleaning towel arranged at a bottom of the main body. The main body is provided with a shell, an inner cavity of the shell is provided with a steam generating device, and the inner cavity of the shell is further provided with a dust absorbing device, and wherein the dust absorbing device includes a telescopic dust absorbing head, and the shell or the handle is provided with a switch for controlling the dust absorbing head to be telescopic and absorb the dust. The shell of the steam cleaner is internally provided with the dust absorbing device with the telescopic dust absorbing head; and the switch controls the dust absorbing head to be telescopic and absorb the dust. A user only needs to press or rotate the switch, so that the dust absorbing head can be automatically outwards extended to absorb the dust on the ground; and after cleaning, the user only needs to press or rotate the switch, so that the dust absorbing head can be inwards retracted, and the steam cleaning function is recovered, therefore, the steam cleaner is very convenient to be used.
US08316495B2
A structural system comprised of prefabricated deck units spaced along longitudinal load-carrying members with tensioned structural elements, typically anchored in longitudinal load-carrying members, which produce longitudinal axial compression in these units. During construction, prefabricated deck units are erected on top of and supported by the longitudinal load-carrying members via leveling devices. Leveling devices permit relative motion between the longitudinal load-carrying members and the prefabricated deck units, except at two ends of a structural unit, where deck connection units are connected to longitudinal members. In the longitudinal direction, each girder line contains more than one girder or girder segment and the girders or girder segments are not continuous during tensioning. The girder support allows the girder or girder segments to move in the longitudinal direction. When the tensioned structural elements are stressed, the longitudinal component of the tensioned structural element can become compression in the deck. Tensioned structural elements in the girder or girder segments are deviated relative to the horizontal plane of the prefabricated deck units, subsequently enhancing the load-carrying capacity of the longitudinal load-carrying members.
US08316485B2
A folding mattress support system replaces both a conventional box spring and the bed frame with rails. The mattress support system is lighter, quieter and easier to transport, and also provides more storage space beneath the mattress. The mattress support system includes bed frame assemblies, central connecting bars, edge attachments and a bed skirt. Leg brackets fold out from the bed frame assemblies, which themselves unfold in the middle. Central connecting bars connect inner side edges of the bed frame assemblies. Plastic edge attachments are attached at outer corners of the bed frame assemblies and hold a bed skirt taught around the frame assemblies when the frame assemblies are standing on the extended leg brackets. A mattress is then placed on top of the assembled mattress support system. Optionally, metal edge attachments at the head corners of the mattress support system both hold the bed skirt and support a headboard.
US08316476B2
A hot tub including a straddle chair that allows a user to comfortably sit within the hot tub in a variety of positions while receiving a water massage to various parts of the user's body. The tub includes a floor, an interior, a sidewall projecting upward relative to the floor, an upper rim around the upper perimeter of the tub, a plurality of seats along the sidewall of the tub, the straddle chair, and a hydrotherapy system for applying a water massage to users sitting in the straddle chair and the plurality of seats. The straddle chair has a back support and a straddle seat. The back support protrudes outward from the sidewall to create space between the straddle seat and the sidewall and between the straddle seat and the other seats in the tub, which allows the user to sit in the straddle chair in a wide range of positions and receive a water massage without contacting other seats or users in the tub.
US08316472B1
A swiveling toilet seat device for attaching to a rim of a toilet bowl comprising a toilet seat-shaped first base pivotally attached to the back of the rim of the toilet bowl; a toilet seat-shaped second base disposed above the first base, wherein a plurality of wheels extend from the bottom surface of the second base and fit into a track disposed in the top surface of the first base; wherein the second base can rotate in a first direction and second direction atop the first base.
US08316470B2
A goggle is disclosed having a frame with upper and lower frame portions with the upper frame portion being substantially more rigid than the lower frame portion. A fastener secures the upper perimeter of a lens to the upper frame portion. The lower portion includes slots receiving tabs extending from opposing sides of a notch in the lens for receiving the wearer's nose. The fastener includes an elongate member insertable within a slot formed in the lens and rotatable to a crosswise position hindering removal of the elongate member from the slot.
US08316466B2
A secure-fitting and absorbent elongated hood for containing, managing, and drying wet hair and preventing water from dripping onto flooring or onto the wearer's clothing during the hair drying or hair setting process, requiring no leaning forward of the head for application. Such elongated hood generally comprises an absorbent concave form-fitting cap having a centering button located thereon, a triangular wing of fabric extending from each of the left and right sides of said form-fitting cap of said elongated hood, reciprocal hook-and-loop fabric strips sewn onto each left and right triangular wing, an elongated tail region being progressively tapered from said concave form-fitting cap to a rounded and concave distal end and having an elastic loop for fastening purposes, and concave petal-shaped protuberances of absorbent fabric at such concave distal end for catching, retaining, and absorbing water dripping from the wearer's hair.
US08316463B2
A protective device is disclosed that may have the configuration of a leg protector, for example. As a leg protector, the protective device includes a knee portion, a first thigh portion, and a second thigh portion. The first thigh portion is positioned adjacent the knee portion and has an elastic member. The second thigh portion is positioned adjacent the first thigh portion and opposite the knee portion. The knee portion, the first thigh portion, and the second thigh portion are secured relative to each other with at least one flexible strap that is attached to the knee portion, attached to the elastic member of the first thigh portion, and attached to the second thigh portion. The strap is unattached to the first thigh portion. In some embodiments, the first thigh portion does not include a restraint for securing the leg protector to the leg.
US08321957B2
The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices.
US08321955B2
Systems and methods utilizing the network layer and/or application layer to provide security in distributed computing systems in order to thwart denial of service attacks. The systems and methods of the present invention utilize puzzles placed at the network layer level and/or application layer level to protect against denial of service attacks. Further, the systems and methods of the present invention advantageously provide a robust and flexible solution to support puzzle issuance at arbitrary points in the network, including end hosts, firewalls, and routers and thereby a defense against denial of service attacks.
US08321952B2
A method and system for monitoring users on one or more computer networks, disassociating personally identifiable information from the collected data, and storing it in a database so that the privacy of the users is protected. In one embodiment, the system generates an anonymized identifier and associates that anonymized identifier with collected network data. An embodiment of the system may further anonymize data such as resource location identifiers, by identifying and removing personal information.
US08321946B2
Preventing identity theft in electronic communications sequences (180) involves generating a consumer identifier (126) for an individual (92) from a trusted service (82), including a primary key (128), a unique identifier (130), and a consumer-defined sequence (132). The consumer-defined sequence (132) allows the individual (92) to control use of the consumer identifier (126) by third parties, such as business entities (112). The method and system further allows business entities (114) to verify use of the consumer identifier (126) by first initiating a verification process (196) via a secure connection (110). Verification includes comparing (200) the consumer identifier (126) with a pre-determined set of database records (86, 88, and 90). If the requesting business (108) has registered with the trusted service (82), the invention presents a positive or negative confirmation (208) to the requesting business (108) according to the inquiry (204). Then, the invention permits confirming (210) the requested information relating to the individual (92) via the secure connection (98, 102, 106), conditioned upon the requested information having previously been authorized by the individual for presenting to the requesting business (108).
US08321941B2
A system and method for detecting malware by modeling the behavior of malware and comparing a suspect executable with the model. The system and method extracts feature elements from malware-infected applications, groups the feature elements into feature sets, and develops rules describing a malicious probability relationship between the feature elements. Using malware-free and malware-infected applications as training data, the system and method heuristically trains the rules and creates a probability model for identifying malware. To detect malware, the system and method scans the suspect executable for feature sets and applies the results to the probability model to determine the probability that the suspect executable is malware-infected.
US08321934B1
Websites used for phishing are detected by analyzing end user confidential data submission statistics. A central process receives data indicating confidential information submitted to websites from a plurality of user computers. The received data is aggregated and analyzed, for example through statistical profiling. Through the analysis of the aggregated data, anomalous behavior concerning submission of confidential information to websites is detected, such is an unexpected, rapid increase in the amount of confidential information submitted to a given website. Responsive to detecting the anomalous behavior, further action is taken to protect users from submitting confidential information to that website. For example, an alert can be sent, a protective measure against the site can be published, the site can be added to a blacklist or a procedure to have the site shut down can be initiated.
US08321927B2
Among other things, one or more systems and/or methods for a network aware firewall are disclosed. A method comprises accessing a first network connection from a client computer system and determining whether the first network connection is a first network type or a second network type. The method further comprises dynamically modifying security parameters associated with a firewall local to the client computer system in response to determining whether the network connection is the first network type or the second network type.
US08321920B2
An image forming system comprising: a server device including user information, for performing a user authentication via a computer network and for receiving and adding up count data on a user basis; and an image forming apparatus including: a storage unit to which a data area for storing therein the count data including a count value of an occurrence of a predetermined event can be allocated; a login processing unit for determining whether or not to permit a user to log in; a count unit for updating, when the predetermined event occurs based on an operation performed by the user permitted to log in, the count data for the user; and a transmission unit for transmitting, when the user logs out, the count data for the user to the server device.
US08321915B1
Disclosed are various systems, methods, and other embodiments for the control of access to a mass storage system. In one example, a plurality of buckets are maintained in mass storage system, each of the buckets being employed to store at least one data file. In a server, a use of the buckets by a plurality of entities that use a plurality of clients is facilitated for the storage of a plurality of files over a public network. The use of one of the buckets by the one of the entities is restricted to a namespace.
US08321913B2
The present invention relates to authenticating a mobile device using logical location information associated with the device which provides an indication of the proximity of the device to other devices. The present invention provides a mechanism for authenticating a mobile device based on location related information or a “logical location”, but without requiring an actual location. The mobile user device identifies or discovers other devices, using direct wireless communication, within its vicinity and forwards this information to the authenticating authority. If this information matches previous or otherwise predetermined information, then the device is authenticated.
US08321910B1
A malware detection system capable of detecting and removing malware from a computer system. The malware detection system determines whether there are files potentially related to a selected malware file using a time-based embodiment based on whether files were installed around the time of the malware. A cache-based embodiment searches an Internet cache to determine the URLs that might be the source of the malware. A location-based embodiment dissects the file system path to determine an application related to the malware. Results are displayed to the user for action.
US08321893B2
A method of providing discovery information of an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) bootstrap entry point is provided. The method includes listing at least one piece of ESG bootstrap characteristic information for an ESG bootstrap proper for a status of a terminal, creating a Management Object (MO), which connects the ESG bootstrap entry point with said at least one piece of ESG bootstrap characteristic information and transmitting the created MO to the terminal through an interactive channel.
US08321884B2
A clamp 1 for a disk rotation driving device 3 has a centering hole 18 and a contact portion 17. The centering hole 18 is fitted to an outer circumference of a centering projection 19 of a hub 7 of the disk rotation driving device 3. A clamping screw 21 is screwed into an axial center of the hub 7 so that a fastening head 23 of the clamping screw 21 fastens the clamp 1 to the hub 7 and so that the contact portion 17 of the clamp 1 comes in contact with an information recordable magnetic disk 5 attached to the hub 7 and applies pressing load onto the disk 5 in a rotation axis direction. The clamp 1 includes a centering cylinder 13 bent in an axial direction. The centering cylinder 13 has a circumferential inner surface. The inner surface defines the centering hole 18. The rounded section 29 is provided along an edge of the centering hole 18 and has a radius smaller than the thickness of the centering cylinder 13. The fastening surface 25 is continuous to the rounded section 29.
US08321882B2
A disk device configured in such a manner that, in addition to tilt adjustment, the adjustment of the distance between a disk and an optical pickup can be easily performed. The disk device is provided with a stepping motor (23) for moving the optical pickup (5), a base chassis (2) to which a spindle motor (3) for rotating a turntable on which a disk (1) is affixed is mounted so as to be adjustable in position, a guide shaft (6) provided to the base chassis (2) so as to extend in the radial direction of the disk and guiding the movement of the optical pickup (5) by being in contact with a portion of the optical pickup (5), a sub guide shaft (7) provided to the base chassis (2) and guiding the movement of the optical pickup (5), a tilt adjusting section (300) for adjusting the relative distance between the sub guide shaft (7) and the base chassis (2), and a turntable adjusting section (200) for adjusting the radial angle, the tangential angle, and the height of the spindle motor (3) relative to the base chassis (2).
US08321878B2
Various aspects are disclosed for building a device driver stack in a virtual machine partition that does not physically control the device represented by the stack. In an embodiment, a secondary interface and driver for an I/O device may be instantiated. Information from an I/O virtualization layer describing the devices that the associated driver may control may be requested. A multi-path redirection layer may provide a handle to an existing stack that includes a driver for the I/O device. This existing stack may then be used to communicate with the device and allow the creation of a new stack including an object representing the device and a new driver for the device. The multi-path redirection layer may then open a handle to the new stack and inform the device virtualization layer, which may then ask the existing device interface to relinquish control of the device to the newly created interface.
US08321873B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and/or method offline data generation for online system analysis.
US08321870B2
A system for processing a computational task is presented. The system includes a plurality of nodes operationally coupled to one another via one or more networks. The plurality of nodes includes a base node including a processing subsystem configured to receive the computational task, select a subset of available nodes from the plurality of nodes based upon a present status, processing capability, distance, network throughput, range, resources, features, or combinations thereof of the plurality of nodes, divide the computational task into a plurality of sub-tasks, distribute the plurality of sub-tasks among the subset of available nodes based upon a number of nodes in the subset of available nodes, completion time period allowed for the plurality of sub-tasks, a distribution criteria, level of security required for the completion of the plurality of sub-tasks, resources available with the subset of available nodes, processing capability of the subset of available nodes, range of the subset of available nodes, features in the subset of available nodes, reliability of the subset of available nodes, trust in the subset of available nodes, the current load on the subset of available nodes, domain of the plurality of sub-tasks, or combinations thereof, receive sub-solutions corresponding to the plurality of sub-tasks from the subset of available nodes in a desired time period, and reassemble the sub-solutions to determine a solution corresponding to the computational task.
US08321862B2
A method for migrating a virtual machine executing on a host. The method involves monitoring, by a monitoring agent connected to a device driver, hosts in a network, wherein the device driver is connected to a network interface card, determining a virtual machine to be migrated based on a virtual machine policy, sending, by the host, a request to migrate to at least one of a plurality of target hosts in the network, receiving an acceptance to the request to migrate from at least one of the plurality of target hosts, determining, by the monitoring agent, a chosen target host to receive the virtual machine based on a migration policy, wherein the chosen target host is one of the at least one target hosts that sent the acceptance, sending a confirmation and historical information to the chosen target host, and migrating the virtual machine to the chosen target host.
US08321860B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for remotely collecting data from the local storage of a machines. For example, embodiments of the method involve deploying a collection tool to the machine via a network, automatically installing the collection tool on the machine, generating a snapshot of the data, storing the snapshot in a storage area on the machine, and transmitting the data from the storage area to a remote collection server. Because the data is transmitted from the snapshot stored in the storage area rather than from the original data stored on the local storage of the machine, the data may be transmitted to the remote collection server without substantially affecting a user's ability to use the machine and interact with the data stored on the machine.
US08321855B2
A patch application method restores a file not to be authorized to change by applying a patch to an original state after applying the patch. A patch application program applies a patch to a part of patch application target files in a system extracts information about the target files from a patch, copies and stores the files as patch pseudo application files, applies the patch to the pseudo files, compares the target files with the pseudo files to which the patch has been applied and obtains a difference, selects a file not to be authorized to change by the patch from among the target files based on the difference, copies and stores the files as post-application change files, applies the patch to the target files, and replaces the files prevented from being changed in the target files changed by the patch application with the post-application change files.
US08321854B1
Described are techniques for obtaining grammar updates. A grammar service receives a notification regarding a grammar update applied to a target. The grammar update is an update to a command syntax used by said target. The grammar service sends an update request to said target to obtain said grammar update. The target sends to the grammar service an update response including said grammar update. Also described are techniques for processing a command line. One of a plurality of rule sets is selected. The command line is parsed at said client using said selected rule set. If parsing did not result in a syntax error, a command request is sent from said client to said target. In response, the client receives a command response including information regarding a version of syntax rules currently used on said target.
US08321846B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with executable templates are described. One example method includes generating an executable template from a set of template data. When an executable template is executed, the executable template creates one or more instantiated entities. These instantiated entities may then be combined with entities created from portions of the original template that were not compilable into the executable format.
US08321845B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to XPATH expression debugging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for an XPATH expression debugging framework. In an embodiment of the invention, an XPATH expression debugging method can include receiving an XPATH input expression, parsing the XPATH input expression to produce a group of sub-expressions, and ordering the sub-expressions in a model for the XPATH input expression. Thereafter, in response to a selection of one of the sub-expressions in the model, a result set can be produced for the sub-expression.
US08321844B2
A computer-implemented method for providing registration of a communication includes locating a reference in metadata for an object-processing framework. The reference identifies a portion of logic that performs a specific service. The method includes storing at least part of the located reference in a trace object. The method includes replacing the located reference in the metadata with a reference to the trace object.
US08321843B2
A method and system for automatic analysis of an application's runtime configuration settings is provided. The configuration processing system includes a monitoring component and an analysis component. The monitoring component observes requests for configuration information stored in configuration data stores of a monitored device. For example, the monitoring component may observe requests directed to the configuration data stores when an application starts, during runtime, and when the application exits. The monitoring component may record the observed requests in a file or data structure that may be accessed by or sent to the analysis component. Based on the observed requests of an application, the analysis component automatically identifies a reduced set of configuration settings which likely correspond to user-specific configuration settings used by the application. The configuration processing system may include a post-analysis component that displays the reduced set of configuration settings to a user for review, manual analysis, and/or verification.
US08321842B2
Replay-time-only functionalities in a computer program are executed only during replay in a virtual machine and are skipped outside of replay. If a replay-time-only functionality is detected during the replay of a program execution in a virtual machine, the replay may be paused and the virtual machine state may be saved. The replay-time-only core functionality is executed. When this execution is complete, a prior state of the virtual machine may be restored and the replay may be resumed.
US08321837B2
Techniques are provided for determining a minimum set of permissions for a software component. A first set of minimum permissions is determined for proper execution of the software component. The first set designates one or more permissions. Determining the first set includes performing iterative testing to determine whether one or more user permissions are included in the first set by only disabling one of the user permissions on an iteration. Verification processing may be performed in which a second set of minimum permissions is determined and the first set may be compared to the second set to determine whether the first set is equivalent to the second set.
US08321829B2
An interconnection design method for a multiplayer interconnection substrate having a power supply layer or a ground layer, interconnection layers having interconnections, vias connecting the interconnection layers mutually, and an opening surrounding a via in the power supply layer or the ground layer, the method including: specifying an interconnection for a specific signal as a specific signal interconnection; determining an approximate arrangement of vias; changing positions of the vias and obtaining approximate interconnection routes in respective approximate arrangement of the vias, and evaluating respective interconnectivity for an evaluation region; and obtaining a detailed interconnection route based on a result of the evaluation of the interconnectivity; the specific signal interconnection including one adjacent to a via, and the evaluating respective interconnectivity includes setting a position of one end of the evaluation region into a position associated with an outside end face of the opening.
US08321828B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure on a chip includes extracting an active layer from a design of the integrated circuit structure, forming a guard band conforming to the shape of the active layer, the guard band surrounds the active layer, and the guard band is spaced from the active layer at a first spacing in the X-axis direction and at a second spacing in the Y-axis direction, removing any part of the guard band that violates design rules, removing convex corners of the guard band, and adding dummy diffusion patterns into the remaining space of the chip outside the guard band. The first and second spacing can be specified as the same spacings in a Spice model characterization of the integrated circuit structure. The dummy diffusion patterns with different granularities can be added so that the diffusion density is substantially uniform over the chip.
US08321825B2
A method for synthesizing relative timing (RT) constraints on an integrated circuit design is disclosed. Initially, multiple trace status tables are received, each containing a trace error identified by a formal verification engine that was utilized to perform a RT verification on an integrated circuit design. An error causing signal is then recognized for each of the trace errors. For each of error causing signals, two associating signals are identified, and the two associating signals are then utilized to locate a common point of convergence (POC). The POC is further utilized to locate a common point of divergence (POD), and an RT constraint can be generated based on the identified POC and POD. All the generated RT constraints are applied to constrain the integrated circuit design such that the integrated circuit design is able to pass RT verifications in the future without any timing violations.
US08321813B2
An apparatus and method for modifying and improving pointing device operation. The apparatus comprises a signal detector, a signal modifier, and a signal transmitter. The apparatus intercepts pointing device signals before application programs receive them. The signal detector continuously listens for signals generated by a pointing device, or a pointing device program. Responsive to the signal detector detecting a pointing device signal, the signal modifier determines what type of GUI element is located at the current pointer location. Based upon the identified GUI element, the signal modifier modifies the pointing device signal appropriately. The signal transmitter then relays the modified signal to any other programs that would have received the original signal if not for the action of the apparatus.
US08321808B2
The disclosure is directed to a user interface with a menu that facilitates stimulation therapy programming. The user interface displays a representation of the electrical leads implanted in the patient and at least one menu with icons that the user can use to adjust the stimulation therapy. The user may drag one or more field shapes from a field shape selection menu onto the desired location relative to the electrical leads. A manipulation tool menu may also allow the user to adjust the field shapes placed on the electrical leads, which represent the stimulation region. The programmer that includes the user interface then generates electrical stimulation parameter values for the stimulator to deliver stimulation according to the field shapes or field shape groups defined/located by the user. The field shapes may represent different types of stimulation representations, such as current density, activation functions, and neuron models.
US08321806B2
Graphical representations of operational process control data associated with monitored processes is displayed within the context of the geographical locations at which the processes operate, and in a manner as to model individual components of the processes.
US08321804B2
Methods are provided for assessing reliability of a power system of a utility company. At least one main overview display is obtained. Violation markers are displayed on the one main overview display. A monitored elements tab is updated with a list of monitored elements.
US08321803B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for aggregating service components in a data processing system according to predefined aggregation rules. The method includes providing a plurality of visual elements, each visual element representing a corresponding service component; selecting a new visual element for addition to an aggregation structure; determining a set of eligible visual elements of eligible service components among the instantiated service components; associating a visual cue with the eligible visual elements; and aggregating the new service component to a selected eligible service component in the aggregation structure. The new service component is compatible for aggregation with each eligible service component according to the aggregation rules. The aggregation structure includes an aggregation of instantiated visual elements of instantiated service components to define an aggregated service according to the aggregation of the instantiated service components.
US08321800B2
Methods are provided for creating dynamic lists from selected areas of a power system of a utility company. The utility company has an energy management system with a control panel. The energy management system is used to access one or more source displays of a site. Rubber-banding or lassoing is used to create selected areas from at least a portion of the source displays. Lists are dynamically created. Operator defined information is displayed for each element type in a list of network elements from the selected areas that have been rubber-banded or lassoed.
US08321799B1
A method and apparatus, including a computer program product, implementing techniques for displaying a table of data including a set of markers associated with rows or columns of the table, the table having one or more sort keys having a sort key order including a most significant sort key, each sort key being a row or column of the table; receiving a user input gesture selecting a marker; establishing the row or column associated with the user-selected marker as the most significant sort key, and maintaining the positions of the remaining sort keys in the sort key order; sorting the data using the sort key order; and displaying the sorted data. The techniques also include representing visually a sort key order for a table of data by displaying on a graphical user interface display one or more markers with a pattern of distinct visual properties.
US08321796B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to C&S e-meeting scheduling and provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic agenda updating in a C&S system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic agenda updating based upon presenter participation in an e-meeting can be provided. The method can include creating a new e-meeting in a collaborative computing environment for attendees and presenters selected from amongst the attendees. The method also can include generating an invite with an agenda for the new e-meeting including a time block and time slots for presentations by different ones of the presenters. Finally, the method can include dynamically changing a view to the agenda for viewing ones of the attendees to reflect changes in the time slots resulting from replies to the invite received by individual ones of the presenters.
US08321783B2
It can be difficult to predict what the layout of a document will be if the document contains several content elements, some of which are associated with different positioning schemes. In one embodiment, elements are shown in different layers based on their positioning schemes. For example, a first layer includes elements that are associated with non-overlapping positioning schemes, and a second layer includes elements that are associated with overlapping positioning schemes. When the document is viewed from above, the layers “collapse” onto each other, and the document appears to have a conventional (two-dimensional) page rendering. However, when the document is viewed from an angle, the layers appear separately in three-dimensional space, similar to an exploded view. The separate layers reveal the positioning schemes of the various elements and the layout interactions between those elements. This visualization technique helps a user understand how various elements are positioned within the document.
US08321778B2
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for efficient in-band reliability with separate cyclic redundancy code (CRC) frames. In some embodiments, a memory system uses data frames to transfer data between a host and a memory device. The system also uses a separate frame (e.g., a CRC frame) to transfer a CRC checksum that covers the data frames.
US08321774B2
A method for fail-safe transmission of information between a transmitter and a receiver is disclosed. At least two telegrams relating to the information are transmitted as a first telegram via a first channel and a second telegram via a second channel from the transmitter to the receiver. To identify an error affecting the information during transmission, a first identifier is generated from a first subset of the first telegram being used at the receiver to identify the information contained in the first telegram. This method is used for communication from a safety switching device to a control unit.
US08321769B1
Encoder and decoder apparatus and methods derive a plurality of parity bits from a single codeword. Encoder apparatus may include a receive module receiving a data stream, a parity generation module generating a plurality of parity bits based on the data stream and a word of a tensor-product code, and a parity insertion module combining the plurality of parity bits and the data stream to generate encoded bits. Decoder apparatus may include a detector receiving and outputting encoded data, a first decoder generating first log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) from the encoded data, an error recovery module generating second LLRs from the encoded data, a second decoder that derives syndrome data from the first and second LLRs, a post-processor that combines data from the first decoder with error events from the error recovery module to generate corrected data, the post-processor further identifying a plurality of parity bits in the corrected data.
US08321757B2
Methods, apparatus and computer readable medium for handling error correction in a memory are disclosed. In some embodiments, after an attempt is made to write original data to a ‘target’ memory, data is read back from the target memory in a ‘first read operation’, thereby generating first read data. After the first read operation, the first read data is compared to the original data and/or an indication of a difference between the original data and the first data is determined. The information obtained by effecting the data-comparison and/or information related to the difference indication is used when correcting errors in data read back from the target memory in a ‘second read operation.’. The presently-disclosed teachings are applicable to any kind of memory including (i) non-volatile memories such as flash memory, magnetic memory and optical storage and (ii) volatile memory such as SRAM or DRAM.
US08321755B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for preparing and accessing super sector data sets. As an example, a data storage system including a storage medium is disclosed. The storage medium includes a first servo data region and a second servo data region separated by a user data region. The user data region includes at least a portion of a first codeword and a portion of a second codeword that are together associated with a common header data.
US08321751B2
An apparatus (1) for implementing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error detection methodology to compute a CRC error detection code for data according to the methodology, comprising computation means (2) which uses parallel computation (4) to compute the CRC error detection code, and configurator means (3) which uses the CRC error detection methodology to determine a configuration of the computation means required to compute the CRC error detection code, and configures (25) the computation means accordingly, wherein the configurator means is able to use each of a plurality of CRC error detection methodologies to determine a configuration of the computation means required for parallel computation of a CRC error detection code according to each of the methodologies, and the computation means is configurable to allow configuration thereof for parallel computation of each CRC error detection code.
US08321750B2
RLL encoding is performed to generate RLL data, including by: using a first run-length constraint and using a second run-length constraint. G is a maximum number of zeroes between two ones, I is a maximum number of zeroes between two ones in either a first subsequence or a second subsequence where the first subsequence includes odd bits associated with a DC-balanced sequence and the second subsequence includes even bits associated with the DC-balanced sequence, and S is a number of bits per symbol associated with a systematic ECC. The RLL data is encoded using the systematic ECC to obtain ECC data which includes one or more data symbols and one or more parity symbols. The data symbols and the parity symbols are interleaved.
US08321739B2
A method for optimizing re-transmission in a multi-antenna multi-terminal network, the method comprising the following steps performed by a station of the network: receiving from at least one terminal of multiple terminals one or more messages indicating a failed transmission of data sent to the multiple terminals; determining from the received one or more messages if a switching-to-beam-forming criterion is matched and, if the criterion is matched, initiating a re-transmission of the data to the at least one terminal via a beam-forming technique involving one or more of the multiple antennas and using at least one beam for the re-transmission of the data.
US08321734B2
A method of and an apparatus to improve stability and efficiency during data transmission performed over a wireless network includes transmitting a first data frame containing a plurality of data units to a receiving device, receiving from the receiving device a receipt of confirmation for each data unit received by the receiving device, and transmitting a second data frame containing at least one of the plurality of data units that have not been transmitted or received, according to the receipt of confirmation for each data unit received by the receiving device.
US08321733B2
One or more modules configured to cause a network diagnostic component to perform the following: an act of selecting first specific sampling parameters at which the SERDES is to receive network traffic; an act of determining a number of errors included in a signal output by the SERDES at the selected first specific sampling parameters; an act of repeating for a specified number of the remaining sampling parameters the acts of selecting specific sampling parameters and determining the number of errors in a signal output by the SERDES at the selected specific sampling parameter; an act of recording the number of errors for each selected specific sampling parameter in an output record, and an act of applying an optimization solution on the output record to thereby determine the specific sampling parameters that will cause the SERDES to output a signal with the lowest value of errors.
US08321730B2
A scan architecture and design methodology yielding significant reduction in scan area and power overhead is generally presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced comprising a plurality of combinatorial logic clouds, scan cells coupled with the combinatorial logic clouds, the scan cells to load test vectors, wherein the scan cells comprise a plurality of first type scan cells and second type scan cells sequentially coupled with separate combinatorial logic cloud outputs, and a first scan clock and a second scan clock, wherein the first scan clock controls the first type scan cells and the second scan clock controls the second type scan cells. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08321726B2
A memory array comprises a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each row comprising at least one addressable word. The memory array comprises at least one redundant row and at least one redundant column. Error detection circuitry analyzes the memory array by addressing words and detecting errors within the addressed words. Error repair circuitry selects for a detected error either a redundant row or a redundant column to replace one of the row or column containing the error. It is determined for the detected error whether the error is a single error bit in the addressed word or whether it is one of a plurality of error bits within the word. If the error is the latter, then the error repair circuitry preferentially selects a redundant row rather than a redundant column to repair the error.
US08321725B2
A method of interleaving blocks of indexed data of varying length is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a set of basic Interleavers comprising a family of one or more permutations of the indexed data and having a variable length; selecting one of the basic Interleavers based upon a desired Interleaver length L; and adapting the selected basic Interleaver to produce an Interleaver having the desired Interleaver length L.
US08321716B2
An integrated circuit includes first, second and third circuits, a clock module and a rate adapting module. The first circuit causes frequency dependent noise and is clocked based on a clock signal. The second circuit is rate dependent and is clocked based on an operation dependent clock signal. The third circuit is susceptible to adverse performance when the frequency dependent noise has a component within a given frequency range. The clock module generates a clock signal having a rate such that frequency dependent noise components associated with the clock signal are outside the given frequency range. The rate adapting module is coupled to produce the operation dependent clock signal from the clock signal.
US08321713B2
A fast data access circuit that has both a standard clock mode and a fast data access mode. The mode is selectable through a mode/configuration register. A configuration word loaded into the register has bits to indicate the desired mode and the input clock frequency. In the fast data access mode, a clock delay circuit uses the clock frequency setting bits to select a delay to be added to the input clock. The higher the clock frequency, the less the added delay. The delayed clock generates FIFO control signals to control a data FIFO register. During the fast data access mode, the data is output from the data FIFO register at a faster rate than in the standard clock mode.
US08321710B2
An input device includes an operation unit, a sending unit, and a power control unit. The operation unit is configured to be held by a user and to be operated in a three-dimensional free space so as to remotely operate an information processing apparatus. The sending unit is configured to send a command that disables display of a graphical user interface of the information processing apparatus when the operation unit is placed, and to send a command that enables display of the graphical user interface of the information processing apparatus when a button of the operation unit is operated. The power control unit is configured to cause the input device to enter a low power consumption state when the operation unit is placed.
US08321704B2
A method and system for managing electric power consumption by elements of a distributed computing system comprises: determining one or more system metrics that relate to electric power usage as consumed by elements of a configured distributed environment; determining a system value in response to the one or more system metrics, the value determined according to one or more value criteria; and, while in-progress applications are being run in the computing environment, evaluating one or more potential changes in the distributed computing environment and determining an alternate system value based on the changes; and, re-configuring elements of the distributed computing environment dynamically while the computing environment is operating, in accordance with a determined alternate system value. The re-configuring elements step is in accordance with a potential change operative to alter electric power consumption.
US08321687B2
A cryptographic system with a modular architecture. Memory modules make it possible to store information concerning authentication keys, data and commands, including a secure memory module for containing the keys with integrity checking and an emergency erase function. Various types of algorithm modules perform cryptographic functions of the cryptographic system by executing the commands stored in at least one memory module. External interface modules are utilized that make it possible to produce the link between the cryptographic system and external devices, through a standard or proprietary input/output bus. A control unit is responsible for the supervision of the various algorithm modules and the management of the keys, and a central interconnect module assures handling of secure exchanges between blocks.
US08321686B2
A secure memory card with encryption capabilities comprises various life cycle states that allow for testing of the hardware and software of the card in certain of the states. The testing mechanisms are disabled in certain other of the states thus closing potential back doors to secure data and cryptographic keys. Controlled availability and generation of the keys required for encryption and decryption of data is such that even if back doors are accessed that previously encrypted data is impossible to decrypt and thus worthless even if a back door is found and maliciously pried open.
US08321685B2
The invention is a method and apparatus for managing the secure acquisition, storage and disclosure of confidential information using biometric keys to lock data storage devices, a secure data input/output device and authorization procedures to facilitate identity rights management; and/or data querying techniques to preserve the anonymity of disclosed personal data.
US08321683B2
An electronic control device and method for operating an electric roller shutter include establishing a wireless connection between the electronic control device and an electronic device if a preset login password is input. The electronic control device provides an operation interface to the electronic device, and receives a function instruction from the electronic device if a function key on the operation interface is pressed. The electric roller shutter is operated by the electronic control device according to the received function instruction.
US08321679B2
Methods are provided for embedding auxiliary information in a host content signal which reduce the memory, bandwidth and computational complexity of the embedding and transmission systems. In one embodiment, a first reduced-scale signal is produced which corresponds to the host content embedded with a first logical value and producing a second reduced-scale signal corresponding to the host content embedded with a second logical value. A first set of segments from the first reduced-scale signal may be combined with a second set of segments from the second reduced-scale signal in a pre-defined manner to produce a composite embedded host content. Thus the storage and transmission requirements of the watermarking system are reduced to having to deal with only the original content plus two reduced-scale signals.
US08321672B2
An authentication system includes a mobile device carried by a user and a sensor sensing the user's biometric information. The mobile device includes a template storage unit storing the user's biometric information as a template, a first mutual authentication unit performing mutual authentication with the sensor via the user's body, and a template transmitter transmitting the stored template to the sensor via the user's body when the sensor is verified as valid. The sensor includes a second mutual authentication unit performing mutual authentication with the mobile device via the user's body, a sensing unit sensing the user's biometric information, a degree-of-match determining unit determining whether the biometric information matches the template, and a control-signal output unit outputting a preset control signal when the mobile device is verified as valid and when the biometric information and the template are determined to match each other.
US08321658B2
Certain aspects of a method for iSCSI boot may include loading boot BIOS code from a host bus adapter or a network interface controller (NIC) by an iSCSI client device. A connection may be established to an iSCSI target by the iSCSI client device after loading the boot BIOS code. The boot BIOS code may be chained to at least one interrupt handler over iSCSI protocol. An operating system may be remotely booted from the iSCSI target by the iSCSI client device based on chaining the interrupt handler. An Internet protocol (IP) address and/or location of the iSCSI target may be received. At least one iSCSI connection may be initiated to the iSCSI target based on chaining at least one interrupt handler. The iSCSI target may be booted in real mode if at least one master boot record is located in the memory.
US08321656B2
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for providing timer use and timer based execution parallelism during the DXE phase of computer start-up.Provision is made for loading a microkernel (or other kernel program) which presents itself as though it were a DXE Driver and changes a single threaded environment into a multithreaded environment.
US08321653B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a system, which can comprise a module communicatively coupled to a programmable logic controller (PLC). The module can comprise a transmission circuit and/or a receiving circuit. The module can be adapted to communicate with the PLC via 8B/10B encoded frames. A frame of the 8B/10B encoded frames can comprise a plurality of ordered fields.
US08321651B2
Systems and methods for an improved memory allocation service in embedded or wireless devices. Memory is allocated using a combination of container memory items and referencing memory items.
US08321649B2
A system and a method for configuring a memory controller that communicates with a memory device muxes selected pins for the data transfer. The memory controller includes a set of pins where each pin of the set is associated with a data bit and an address bit. A programmable logic block is connected to the set of pins and uses a subset of the set of pins to enable data transfer between the memory device and the memory controller depending on the size of the memory device such that the pins not included in the subset are available for other applications.
US08321648B2
A technique for routing data for deduplication in a storage server cluster includes computing, for each node in the cluster, a value collectively representative of the data stored on the node, such as a “geometric center” of the node. New or modified data is routed to the node which has stored data identical or most similar to the new or modified data, as determined based on those values. Each node stores a plurality of chunks of data, where each chunk includes multiple deduplication segments. A content hash is computed for each deduplication segment in each node, and a similarity hash is computed for each chunk from the content hashes of all segments in the chunk. A geometric center of a node is computed from the similarity hashes of the chunks stored in the node.
US08321646B2
A method for a storage controller to rebalance storage components within a storage tier is provided. The method maintains a linked list for each component, and each component includes a plurality of pages. Each linked list is ordered according to hot and cold pages and includes an identifier for each page. The method calculates a percent range of hot and cold pages for each component, and identifies a fullest and least full component. The method compares a random percent to the hot and cold percent ranges for the fullest component. If the random percent falls within the hot range, the method moves a selected hot page from the fullest component to an empty page in the least full component. If the random percent falls within the cold range, the method moves a selected cold page from the fullest component to an empty page in the least full component.
US08321644B2
A method, a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium, and a tape library for backing up filesystems are provided. Historic job durations to back up data to a storage device are obtained. Objects to be backed up to multiple drives in the storage device are ordered based on the job durations. The objects are assigned to agents based on priorities that first back up an object having a longest job duration. The objects are backed up with the agents to the multiple drives according to the priorities.
US08321640B2
A data mask system includes a processor providing control signals including a command signal, an address signal, and a data signal, a data mask processor receiving the control signals and providing either write data or masked data in response to the control signals, and generating data mask information and a data mask selection signal from at least one of the control signals, and a data mask register unit receiving the data mask selection signal, storing the data mask information, selecting a subset of the stored data mask information in response to the data mask selection signal, and returning selected data mask information to the data mask processor. The data mask processor receives the selected data mask information from the data mask register unit and provides the masked data as a result of performing a data mask operation on the data signal according to the selected data mask information.
US08321637B2
A computing system processes memory transactions for parallel processing of multiple threads of execution by support of which an application need not be aware. The computing system transactional memory support provides a Transaction Table in memory and a method of fast detection, of potential conflicts between multiple transactions. Special instructions may mark the boundaries of a transaction and identify memory locations applicable to a transaction. A ‘private to transaction’ (PTRAN) tag, directly addressable as part of the main data storage memory location, enables a quick detection of potential conflicts with other transactions that are concurrently executing on another thread of said computing system. The tag indicates whether (or not) a data entry in memory is part of a speculative memory state of an uncommitted transaction that is currently active in the system.
US08321632B2
A computer-implemented method and system can support mutable object handling. The system comprises a cache space that is capable of storing one or more mutable cache objects, and one or more cached object graphs. Each said mutable cache object is reachable via one or more retrieval paths in the one or more cached object graph. The system further comprises a mutable-handling decorator that maintains an internal instance map that transparently translates between the one or more cached object graphs and the one or more mutable cache objects stored in the cache space.
US08321625B2
A method for determining thresholds useful for converting cell physical levels into cell logical values in an array of digital memory cells storing physical levels which diminish over time, the method comprising determining extent of deterioration of the physical levels and determining thresholds accordingly for at least an individual cell in said array; and reading the individual cell including reading a physical level in the cell and converting the physical level into a logical value using the thresholds, wherein the determining comprises storing predefined physical levels rather than data-determined physical levels in each of a plurality of cells and computing extent of deterioration by determining deterioration of the predefined physical levels.
US08321610B2
A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a request to perform a backup of data associated with an application running on multiple servers; communicating with I/O Handlers on the servers for initiating a coordinated backup operation on the data at about a same start time; and instructing the I/O Handlers to stretch communication between instances of the application and data storage volumes associated therewith during initiating the backup operation. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed.
US08321604B2
Real-time USB class level decoding is disclosed. In some embodiments, a first packet associated with a USB class level operation and a second packet generated by a USB analyzer are received. It is determined based at least in part on a first time associated with the first packet and a second time associated with the second packet that the class level operation has timed out. In some embodiments, an enumeration record is copied from a buffer configured to store USB data associated with a target USB device to a storage location not in the buffer, based at least in part on an indication that the enumeration record as stored in the buffer may be overwritten. In some embodiments, USB data is displayed for analysis at least in part by grouping packets not likely to be of interest differently depending on whether class level decoding is enabled.
US08321600B2
In some embodiments a Universal Serial Bus cable includes a first differential pair to transmit bus signals, and a second differential pair to transmit bus signals in a same direction as the bus signals transmitted by the first differential pair. In this manner, a bandwidth of the Universal Serial Bus cable is doubled in that same direction. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08321592B2
The subject matter described herein relates to methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating and using statelessly reversible representations of SIP information by SIP cluster entities. One method includes, at a first SIP cluster entity, receiving a first SIP message including SIP information. The method further includes generating a second SIP message including a statelessly reversible representation of the SIP information. The method further includes transmitting, to a SIP entity that is not a member of the cluster to which the first SIP entity belongs, the second SIP message with the statelessly reversible representation and information for reaching the cluster.
US08321590B2
Techniques are provided to discover and integrate applications in an application router framework. The discovery operation includes receiving a registration notification for an application on a network, adding information describing the application to a repository into a data structure and publishing the data structure onto an application router. Association operations include querying one or more application routers on an application network for meta-data and other information on applications, exchanging the meta-data and other information between the application routers and associating the applications together automatically using their respective application protocols. Routing operations include receiving application information in an application protocol format, converting the application information in the application protocol format into a neutral protocol format and forwarding the application information in the neutral protocol format along with state information to other application routers on the network.
US08321586B2
In a transmitting node device, a first storing device stores address information and node identification information of a plurality of first specific node devices, a detecting device detects a change in address information of the transmitting node device, a first selecting device selects at least one node device from the first specific node devices, and a notifying device transmits an address change notification message to the node device selected by the first selecting device.In a receiving node device which receives the address change notification message, a second storing device stores address information and node identification information of a plurality of the second specific node devices, and an updating device updates the address information stored in the second storing device with the address information included in the received message.
US08321576B2
A data transfer apparatus includes an attribute collecting unit collecting attribute of data managed by an equipment connected to a network, a transfer control unit selecting a method of data transfer based on the attribute information of data collected by the attribute collecting unit, a data receiving unit receiving data by the method of transfer selected by the transfer control unit, and a data transmitting unit transmitting data by the method of transfer selected by the transfer control unit. As the transfer control unit selects the method of data transfer based on the data attribute information collected by the attribute collecting unit, it becomes possible for a user or an application program to receive data by the same operation.
US08321574B2
An apparatus transfers the title of content to an ID-assigning unit which assigns an ID to the content and transmits the content ID to a broadcasting unit via a tagging unit. A broadcasting apparatus then broadcasts the content ID and a receiver extracts the content ID from a received signal and transfers the content ID to a verification unit which determines whether or not the content ID received from a reception functional unit matches a stored content ID. If the content ID received from the reception unit matches a stored content ID, user information of the receiver is transmitted to a privacy-guarding unit. The privacy-guarding unit searches privacy-guarding items and, in accordance with a result of the search, only necessary user information presented by the verification unit is transmitted to a provider unit.
US08321572B2
In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.
US08321564B2
A technique to remotely identify a source of a transaction for transferring content on a home network and to identify a plurality of renderers for rendering the content when transferred. Where multiple pathways are present to transfer the content, remote identification of one or more pathways are also determined to transfer the content. Then, a rendering parameter is determined for each renderer for rendering the content and based on one or more criteria, a renderer is selected for rendering the content, along with the pathway for delivering the content.
US08321563B2
Techniques for third party verification using override IP addresses is described, including detecting a request header from an endpoint, the request header being associated with a request for a media file, initiating a download of the media file to the endpoint, evaluating the request header to identify an address associated with the endpoint, generating a notification comprising the address, the notification being configured to indicate the address overrides a source address identified by a field in a packet associated with the request header, and sending the notification to report data associated with the media file, wherein the address overrides the source address to identify a source of the request.
US08321557B2
A method may include issuing a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) request to a Web feed server to receive a Web feed, and receiving from the Web feed server the Web feed.
US08321556B1
A method of storing collected data on a wireless device. User interaction with a wireless device and/or the performance of the wireless device is monitored and data related thereto collected. The collected data may be structured into a tagged hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of events that are separate and independent from one another. Each event may describe a specific application with a plurality of attributes. The tagged hierarchical structure formed as a tree structure is translated into a syntax generic language. The result may be formed into a compact format using a zipped format and/or a binary-equivalent format and then stored and transmitted to a central location (e.g., a server) for statistical analysis processing. The server transforms the received data into expanded format and forms a hierarchical tree structure for each event and its attributes. The result is processed for producing a statistical analysis of the collected data.
US08321553B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards a method and apparatus for calling virtual machine across processes. In one embodiment, it is determined whether a virtual machine is running in the same process. If a virtual machine is running in the same process, that virtual machine is used. If a virtual machine is running in another process, the application sends commands for the virtual machine to an intermediary application in the same process. The intermediary application passes the commands on to another intermediary application in the process where the virtual machine is running, and that intermediary application sends the commands to the virtual machine. Communication from the virtual machine to the application are performed in the reverse order.
US08321551B2
A DNS security system collects and uses aggregated DNS information originating from a plurality of client computers to detect anomalous DNS name resolutions. A server DNS security component receives multiple transmissions of DNS information from a plurality of client computers, each transmission of DNS information concerning a specific instance of a resolution of a specific DNS name. The server component aggregates the DNS information from the multiple client computers. The server component compares DNS information received from a specific client computer concerning a specific DNS name to aggregated DNS information received from multiple client computers concerning the same DNS name to identify anomalous DNS name resolutions. Where an anomaly concerning received DNS information is identified, a warning can be transmitted to the specific client computer from which the anomalous DNS information was received.
US08321548B2
A method of specifying changes to a communications network is disclosed. The method uses a network model representing a current configuration of the communications network. Scope information is received defining a subset of the network model to which changes are to be made. Model information relating to the defined subset of the network model is copied in accordance with the scope information, to create a partial model copy. The partial model copy is then modified to represent a planned configuration of the communications network. The partial model may be validated as consistent with the network model for the current configuration, and to reserve resources within it. Changes within the partial model may be passed to other models, including the current configuration.
US08321545B2
Described is a framework system residing on a network including a plurality of services, wherein each of the services registers with the framework system, a service manager to manage each of the services which register with the framework system, the management including lifecycle management for each of the services and a communication broker to manage communication between the plurality of services.
US08321544B2
In order to minimize a bandwidth required for the transfers of communication network administration information, said information relating to objects pertaining to hardware, software or network operation elements, catalogued in an administration information base (11) and with each of which is associated a formal language specification, the system comprises a translator module (10). The module (10) is designed to generate on the basis of the specification for each object, a pair of words the value of whose first word pertains to an indication of the object and the value of whose second word pertains to an information length of the object. The module (10) is also designed to generate one or more templates comprising an ordered set of pairs of words and an identifier, making it possible to subsequently send an ordered string of information corresponding to each template.
US08321530B2
A cloud computing system includes an initial request reception unit, a request reception unit, and a transmission unit. The initial request reception unit receives a connection request from a device. In a case where the device has tried to access a request reception unit, the request reception unit receives a service usage request and service identification information from the device and determines whether a back-end processing unit is present that both corresponds to the device and is configured to execute the service. If present, a service utilization preparation completion screen is transmitted to the device. If not present, an instance generation instruction is sent to a management unit and instruction to launch an instance generated to execute the service is sent. After the instance is launched and the back-end processing unit is realized, the service utilization preparation completion screen is transmitted to the device.
US08321529B2
Methods, apparatuses, and articles for receiving a search request associated with a transportation service from a client device, the search request including a plurality of search criteria, are described herein. Additionally, the methods, apparatuses, and articles further return to the client device an answer page having a plurality of answers potentially associated with the transportation service, the plurality of answers identifying a plurality of information locations having information potentially associated with at least a one of the plurality of search criteria, where at least one of the answers includes at least one input field of a query answer page for entry of at least one feature of the transportation service, the query answer page to be dynamically generated by one of the information locations in response to a query.
US08321523B1
A method of maintaining Network Information Service (NIS) maps where modifying information about any of the network entities described by the NIS maps requires only incremental update of the NIS maps instead of full NIS map regeneration. A further method of detecting when network entity records on a network directory server change so that NIS map updates are necessary.
US08321519B2
A document management system monitors proposed recipients for documents and provides recommendations on alterations to the distribution set, such as by adding or removing recipients.
US08321518B2
A method and apparatus for linking sounds and emoticons to allow a recipient of a message containing an emoticon to hear audio associated with the emoticon. In one aspect of the invention, a first user or sender establishes a link or association between the emoticon being sent and a sound file to be associated with that particular emoticon. The emoticon is then transmitted from the sender to the recipient along with the link or association such that the recipient can hear the audio when the emoticon is displayed.
US08321512B2
A method and software product for detecting unsolicited emails, e.g. spam, involves altering the case of at least some symbols comprising an email user's email address according to a predetermined criteria prior to transmitting an email message. The altered case sequence of the email user's address is stored in a database. Subsequently, as email's are received in the email user's mailbox their intended recipient addresses are processed to determine if they include symbols whose case sequence, i.e. uppercase and lowercase, matches one of the sequences that was previously stored. If no match is found then the incoming email is treated as potentially constituting spam and is handled as such. Embodiments of the invention take advantage of a property of most Internet post office email servers being that they are generally case insensitive in respect of the symbols that make up an email address.
US08321509B2
A system and method are provided for processing a request for crowd data for a large geographic area. In one embodiment, a central system, which includes one or more servers, operates to obtain current locations for users of mobile devices and form crowds of three or more users based on the current locations of the users. In order to provide access to crowd data for crowds for a large geographic area, the central system receives a request for crowd data from a requesting device, establishes a bounding region for the request, and identifies one or more starting points within the bounding region for the request. Crowds are identified, crowd data for the crowds is generated, and the crowd data is returned to the requesting device in an iterative manner for a series of two or more outwardly radiating, concentric geographic regions centered at the one or more starting points.
US08321503B2
A back-end locator service can be utilized to identify a specific computing device, from among multiple computing devices in a domain, that is the most appropriate computing device to handle a particular type of request for data or other resources. The data or resources hosted by the domain can be divided among multiple computing devices. The domain can expose a network-based application program interface where successive requests by a client computing device become more specific as to the data or resources requested. Responses from the computing devices in the domain can, at some point in time, be informed by the back-end locator service and can comprise location-specific resource identifiers. The client computing device can utilize such location specific resource identifiers to direct further communications to the appropriate, specific computing device without having to incur redirection inefficiencies.
US08321502B2
A method, computer readable medium and apparatus that optimizes a web content proxy server includes obtaining at a proxy server a web page with an original server cookie from one of one or more web content servers in response to a request from one of one or more client devices. A web optimized client cookie based on the original server cookie is generated at the proxy server. The obtained web page with the generated web optimized client cookie is providing by the proxy server to the requesting one of one or more client devices.
US08321501B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and computing devices configured to establish secure out-of-band storage control. In various embodiments, a management module in a client device may be used to communicate with a server device independent of an operating system of the client device, to facilitate remote storage services. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.
US08321497B1
A data structure disposed in a computer readable memory provides information corresponding to a location. The data structure includes a first data field for identifying the location and a second data field associated with the first data field containing information corresponding to the location.
US08321493B2
A field device connected to a network includes: a storage section; a communication section for performing communication via the network; and an arithmetic control section for controlling the field device entirely by executing a main task under an execution environment, and controlling an operation mechanism that operates under the execution environment. The operation mechanism assigns a group identifier, a unique address space and a unique name space to an additional task being started.
US08321488B2
A method for performing a singular value decomposition (SVD) upon a matrix. The method includes the steps of: (a) simplifying the matrix to derive a simplified matrix; (b) performing an iterative matrix multiplication upon the simplified matrix to generate an iterated matrix; (c) extracting a vector of the iterated matrix according to an iteration number of the iterative matrix multiplication; (d) de-correlating the simplified matrix from the vector to update the simplified matrix; (e) repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until a predetermined number of vectors have been derived; and (f) storing a first unitary matrix determined according to the predetermined number of vectors in the singular value decomposition.
US08321487B1
Locating a file object in a storage system includes determining at least one characteristic of the file object, obtaining a subset of nodes in the storage system by applying the at least one characteristic to criteria for storing file objects at particular ones of the nodes in the storage system, and examining the subset of nodes to determine if any contain the file object. A metadata location server may be used to obtain the subset of nodes. The criteria may include at least one policy relating to placement of objects corresponding to files at the time the files are created. The policies may relate to owners of the files. The characteristic information may include the owner of a target file corresponding to the file object, the date that the target file was created, a business organization associated with the target file, and/or the size of the target file.
US08321484B2
Instead of sending each item separately to a service for processing, items are communicated to the service as one or more groups. Common portions of a file path for files within the group are transmitted once to the service. For example, a root portion of the file paths for the files within the group may be common to each of the files. The unique portions of the file path for each file are transmitted to the service without including the common portions. The size of the groups may be configured differently depending on needs of the specific instance of the protocol (i.e. smaller sized groups for more bandwidth-constrained situations). The size for the group may be determined in many different ways. For example, the size of the groups may be automatically determined based on a configuration and/or a user input.
US08321480B2
Systems, methods and computer readable medium for migrating Information Management System (IMS) Full-Function databases to IMS High Availability Large Databases (HALDBs) are described. Full Function database conversion operations in accordance with this disclosure assign a unique identifier to each segment having a physically paired logically related child segment. These unique identifiers may then be used during HALDB load operations to identify a segment's physically paired logically related segment. Use of the disclosed unique identifiers permit Full Function database conversion operations to avoid the input-output (I/O) and compare operations needed by prior art unload techniques to completely identify physically paired logically related segments.
US08321471B2
In a method of forming a target error model to facilitate correcting or suggesting corrections to misspelled input text related to a target data collection, a source query log containing user queries to at least one source data collection is provided. Next, target relational data is generated based on the source query log including corrective substring suggestions that relate to the target data collection and corresponding misspelled substrings extracted from the source query log. A target error model is then built using the target relational data. The target error model includes target statistical occurrence data for the substrings of the target relational data derived from the source query log. Finally, the target error model is stored on a computer readable medium. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to a system configured to implement the method.
US08321467B2
A method for communicating between an application and a database by using a lightweight stored procedure data-binding framework for applications written in object oriented programming languages such as JAVA, significantly reduces the coding effort required to communicate with a relational database. Once the developer specifies the needed tabular data, the inventive framework generates all needed data objects and stored procedures to accomplish the interaction with that database data. The automatically generated code is then used by the application via a run-time component. This means the developer need only make simple calls in a few lines of code for database interaction. The encapsulated data model deals only with persistence and retrieval issues and is therefore de-coupled from the business model.
US08321455B2
A method and system for use in an information retrieval system that provides related informational items that can be automatically classified and summarized in a hierarchical manner. The system comprises the steps and means for the presentation and analysis of mined data through the application of four distinct processes, namely, feature selection, clustering, classification and summarization. The implementation of each of these techniques is a single process without regard to order. Individual informational items are analyzed, and relevant features extracted. Individual groups of informational items, otherwise known as clusters, are identified, and rules are determined to allow the assignment of informational items to the previously mentioned groups. Descriptive and meaningful titles are then identified for the groups. Various methods of presenting searched information to an end user are also provided. A method of adaptive clustering is also provided.
US08321449B2
A method and system for rating media. The media is one or a combination of audio, video and textual data. The media rating method comprises surveying at least a portion of media data received from a device and detecting generation of rating data, the rating data for appraising the media data. The method further comprises transmitting the rating data to the device. The system comprises a device-readable medium having programming instructions stored therein. The instructions when executed on a first device cause the first device to survey at least a portion of media data received from a second device, detect generation of rating data and transmit the rating data to the second device.
US08321437B2
Activity data is analyzed or evaluated to detect behavioral patterns and anomalies. When a particular pattern or anomaly is detected, a system may send a notification or perform a particular task. This activity data may be collected in an information management system, which may be policy based. Notification may be by way e-mail, report, pop-up message, or system message. Some tasks to perform upon detection may include implementing a policy in the information management system, disallowing a user from connecting to the system, and restricting a user from being allowed to perform certain actions. To detect a pattern, activity data may be compared to a previously defined or generated activity profile.
US08321433B1
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for filtering business process logging information at runtime. One process includes receiving a set of logging information associated with execution of at least one entity, the at least one entity associated with a business process model defining a set of business process entities for performing a defined business process, identifying a process log filter rule associated with the entity, applying the identified process log filter rule to the received set of logging information to generate a filtered set of logging information associated with execution of the entity, and storing the filtered set of logging information in a process log associated with the execution of the entity. Identifying a process log filter rule associated with the entity can include identifying an entity property and determining at least one process log filter rule corresponding to the identified entity property.
US08321429B2
A system, method, and computer program product for processing a database query are presented. Steps for creating a secondary enumeration when necessary and utilizing the secondary enumeration to improve query operations by processing enumeration values of the secondary enumeration instead of data represented by the enumeration values are disclosed.
US08321425B2
To improve traditional keyword based search engines, the present inventors devised, among other things, systems, methods, and software that use word co-occurrence probabilities not only to identify documents conceptually related to user queries, but also to score and rank search results. One exemplary system combines inverse-document-frequency searching with concept searching based on word co-occurrence probabilities to facilitate finding of documents that would otherwise go unfound using a given query. The exemplary system also allows ranking of search results based both on both keyword matching and concept presence, promoting more efficient organization and review of search results.
US08321418B2
An information processor carrying out statistical natural language processing for a document, the information processor includes a characteristic amount extraction unit configured to detect context information including a proper noun pair from the document and extract a characteristic amount of the detected context information; a characteristic amount analysis unit configured to, by analyzing the characteristic amount of the extracted context information using a probability model in which a document topic meaning an entire topic of the document and a context topic meaning a local topic of the document are considered, estimate a potential variable and a context topic ratio in the probability model; and a clustering unit configured to cluster the proper noun pair included in the context information based on the context topic ratio estimated regarding the characteristic amount of the respective context information.
US08321404B1
A query prefix is received from a user device. A user identifier is determined based on the user device. A user category is determined based on the user identifier. A node representing the query prefix is located in a query graph. Descendent nodes of the located node that represent queries are located. Each node has one or more user category specific frequency measures and each user category specific frequency measure is associated with a user category. The queries represented by the located nodes are ranked based on the associated user category specific frequency measure associated with the identified user category. The ranked queries are sent to the user device.
US08321402B2
Systems and methods for creating user interfaces for a common application such as a web browser from custom search definitions are presented. The systems and methods may enforce the security of a database. The systems and methods may provide for creating custom search definitions. The systems and methods may require a user to be authenticated before performing the search and the search may be conducted on a centralized database. The systems and methods may create user interfaces that may be executed on many different platforms.
US08321391B2
A database comprises a database interface and a database updater. The database interface enables a reading of a first set of information from the database. The database updater updates a second set of information in the database based at least in part on one or more conditions. The one or more conditions limit changes allowable to the first set of information from the database that occurred after the reading of the first set of information from the database.
US08321388B1
Systems and methods described herein may separate one or more enhancement layers of a multimedia file from a base layer of the multimedia file and treat the base layer and the enhancement layer differently when backing up and/or archiving the multimedia file (e.g., by giving the enhancement layer a lower priority than the base layer). By separating enhancement layers from multimedia files and treating the enhancement layers with a lower priority, these systems and methods may reduce the strain that large multimedia files put on data repositories and associated computing resources (e.g., storage space, network bandwidth, etc.) while still preserving and protecting enough of the multimedia file to keep important information that the multimedia file may contain intact.
US08321387B2
Techniques are disclosed for managing execution of queries against databases and more particularly for restricting access to sensitive data in underlying databases. One embodiment includes an operation for managing access to sensitive data in a database. The operation includes receiving, from a requesting entity, a query against the data in the database. The query is executed against the database to obtain a result set. The operation further includes determining whether the result set includes sensitive data based on predefined sensitivity attributes associated with data in the result set. If so, a sensitivity rating is determined for the result set, and a predefined security action is performed with respect to the result set on the basis of the determined sensitivity rating.
US08321385B2
Described embodiments provide coherent processing of hash operations of a network processor having a plurality of processing modules. A hash processor of the network processor receives hash operation requests from the plurality of processing modules. A hash table identifier and bucket index corresponding to the received hash operation request are determined. An active index list is maintained for active hash operations for each hash table identifier and bucket index. If the hash table identifier and bucket index of the received hash operation request are in the active index list, the received hash operation request is deferred until the hash table identifier and bucket index corresponding to the received hash operation request clear from the active index list. Otherwise, the active index list is updated with the hash table identifier and bucket index of the received hash operation request and the received hash operation request is processed.
US08321382B2
Embodiments described herein are directed to validating an aggregate document. An instance signature can be generated for a first instance of a data page retrieved for inclusion in the aggregate document and can be compared to a baseline signature associated with a second instance of the data page. A similarity value can be calculated in response to the comparison. The similarity value indicates a degree of similarity between the first instance and the second instance of the data page. Based on the similarity value it can be determined whether to delete or bypass the data page in the aggregate document.
US08321381B2
Specifying the policies with which (portion of) an email communication is to be stored as a record, within the content of the email communication. In an embodiment, an attachment file specifies such policies in the form of XML tags. As a result, a user may merely need to attach a file specifying the desired policies, and send the email communication. In one implementation, the user specifies a pre-specified email address as a recipient to cause the email communication to be saved as a record.
US08321375B2
A search data update system includes a navigation apparatus that uses search data and a data providing center that provides update data for updating the search data to the navigation apparatus. The navigation apparatus reads a search data main body constituted with search tree data and a plurality of sets of substance data each specified based upon the search tree data from a recording medium. The data providing center provides the update data to be used to update the search data to the navigation apparatus. The update data are provided in units of individual sets of substance data and include attached thereto information to be used in a search in correspondence to each set of substance data. Upon obtaining the update data from the data providing center, the navigation apparatus stores the obtained update data into a nonvolatile memory separately from the search data main body.
US08321374B2
An apparatus and method of synchronizing a datum between a plurality of stores is disclosed. A version history is associated with the datum in each store. The version history has one or more entries, and each entry has an identifier and a value. The identifier identifies a store that has modified the datum, and the value indicates a number of modifications to the datum made by the store. When synchronizing the datum between stores, the version histories of the datum are compared to determine whether one version history is subordinate to another version history. The datum in the store having the subordinate version history is then replaced with the datum having the dominant version history. When compared, a conflict resolution by a user is required if the version histories are not identical, if the version histories do not have all the same identifiers, and if one version history does not contain all of the identifiers with equal or greater values of those in the other version history.
US08321373B2
A method of serving query statements from one or more client machines using a database management system (DBMS) employing a relational data store and a multi-dimensional database (MDDB). A query interface is adapted to receive query statements from the client machines, and generate one or more query requests. A query handling mechanism (i) receives each request from the query interface, (ii) extracts a set of dimensions associated with the request, (iii) uses the dimensions to retrieve aggregated fact data from the MDDB, and (iv) forwards retrieved aggregated fact data to the query processing mechanism for subsequent processing. When the query processing mechanism determines that servicing of one or more query requests require data stored in the relational tables, then the query handling mechanism automatically routes the requests to the relational data tables, so that data can be accessed from the relational tables and forwarded to the query processing mechanism for use in servicing the requests, in a manner transparent to the client machine.
US08321371B2
A method of determining an appropriate response to an input includes linking a plurality of attributes to a plurality of response templates using a plurality of Boolean expressions. Each attribute is associated with a set of patterns. Each pattern within the set of patterns is equivalent. The method also includes determining an appropriate response template from the plurality of response templates based on the input.
US08321348B2
A method for providing a warranty relating to a transaction between two parties, each party being a client of at least one respective institution which provides services to the respective party, the method including: transmitting a request for a warranty from one party to the transaction which is a client of the respective institution to a respective location associated with the respective institution, which request includes information identifying the other party to the transaction and information about the nature of the transaction; conducting an exchange of information between the respective location and a location associated with a institution of which the other party is a client; and transmitting a response to the request from the respective location to the one party.
US08321343B2
A transaction account verification system and method are provided. A user computing device transmits an account registration request that includes a selection of an account verification technique. A service provider obtains the request and initiates a set of transactions with an identified financial service provider. The service provider generates at least one verification token reflective of the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The user computing device generates at least one user verification token from user input regarding the set of transactions and at least one piece of information associated with the selected account verification technique. The service provider can verify the transaction account and set transaction thresholds based upon matching verification tokens.
US08321340B2
Adjustable mounting apparatus for a peripheral device of a self-service retail item checkout station
A self-service retail item checkout station comprises a peripheral device for interacting with a customer while the customer is conducting a self-service retail item checkout transaction at the station. The self-service retail item checkout station further comprises a non-swiveling mounting mechanism including (i) a slidable mounting portion on which the peripheral device is mounted, and (ii) a fixed mounting portion on which the slidable mounting portion is supported for sliding movement between a retracted position in which a customer in a standing position at the station can more easily interact with the peripheral device an extended position in which a customer in a seated position at the station can more easily interact with the peripheral device.
US08321334B1
Systems and methods are described that simulate a credit score. The system enables a user to modify a credit data element in order to determine its effect on a credit score. The user can modify the element directly or simulate an action that, if performed, would modify the element. Since the number of possible modifications and actions can be overwhelming, in one embodiment, the system suggests modifications and actions to be simulated. These suggestions can be tailored to a user's goal, such as increasing a credit score by a particular number of points or allocating a particular sum of money in order to maximize a credit score. In one embodiment, the system obtains credit data from multiple credit bureaus and can determine credit scores using different algorithms, such as the different algorithms used by the different credit bureaus.
US08321332B2
A graphical interface and method are provided for selectively displaying market information corresponding to a plurality of tradeable objects. According to one example method, a scanning feature is provided in relation to a number of tradeable object indicators. Upon detecting a predefined movement of a user input device in relation to the plurality of indicators, a graphical interface dynamically displays market information corresponding to the tradeable objects as a predefined movement of the user input device is detected in relation to the tradeable object indicators.
US08321326B2
The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the efficiency of digitally communicated data exchanges and to a computer system that implements such a method. The invention particularly concerns the use of adaptive custom compression techniques, binary integers (“bits”), massively parallel processing, database optimization techniques and/or calculation optimization techniques to achieve such enhanced efficiency. The invention is applicable to any digitally communicated data exchange, but is particularly applicable to exchanges of financial information such as financial market buy/sell orders, market making, etc.
US08321322B2
A method and system for creating a spot price tracker index is disclosed. The method includes obtaining values of first and second derivatives at a time t and calculating an index value by linear extrapolation from the first and second futures contracts. The index value may be displayed at a trading facility and quotes based on the index value may be transmitted by the trading facility to a market participant.
