US08335002B2

An information processing apparatus determines whether a combination of print setting data and drawing data is a standard combination. The information processing apparatus converts the drawing data into drawing data of another format or converts the drawing data into image data if the combination of the print setting data and the drawing data is determined not to be the standard combination.
US08334998B2

An information processing apparatus acquires communication setting information for communicating with an image processing apparatus by a second communication unit via a first communication unit. In accordance with the acquired communication setting information, communication by the second communication unit is established to execute, via the second communication unit, an image processing service provided by the image processing apparatus. When establishment of communication is detected, an operation window display request for executing the image processing service is transmitted via the second communication unit. The image processing apparatus receives the operation window display request from the information processing apparatus via the second communication unit. In accordance with the received operation window display request, an operation window for executing the image processing service is displayed. Image processing for input image data is executed on the basis of the settings set via the displayed operation window.
US08334995B2

Methods and systems for adaptive control of an imaging node allow subsystems of the imaging node to dynamically register authorized commands with a pre-parser after which the pre-parser authorizes inbound line commands for execution by reference to the dynamic registrations. The methods and systems permit highly extensible and granular control over the imaging node, for example, by allowing a user to dynamically unlock and control registered options of the imaging node that are not otherwise controllable, for example, via a standard management protocol or proprietary Web interface.
US08334994B2

A management apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus for managing usage of the image forming apparatus is disclosed. The management apparatus includes a user data storage part for storing user identification data and use restriction data corresponding to the user identification data, and a use restriction data acquiring part for acquiring the use restriction data corresponding to the user identification data.
US08334991B2

An information processing apparatus determines whether a particular operation on a first file, for example, is restricted or not. The information processing apparatus also restricts the particular operation on a second file related to the first file if the particular operation on the first file is restricted.
US08334988B2

There is provided an information processing device that has a display control unit that causes, when one or more of setting items for specifying a processing are sequentially specified by a manipulation made by an operator, a display unit to display processing information sets each including setting items in a predetermined order on the basis of the sequentially specified setting items, and has a processing execution unit that executes a processing specified by setting items included in a processing information set specified by a manipulation made by the operator among the displayed processing information sets.
US08334981B2

An orthogonal-polarization Mirau interferometric system is provided, wherein a narrow-band or broad-band incident light is split into a reference light and an inspection light with the polarizations thereof being orthogonal to each other by using a beam-splitting module, while projecting the inspection light on a measured object to form an object light, and then the object light and the reference light are combined to form a combined light, and thereafter, an analyzer is utilized to modulate the polarizations and the intensities of the two lights for making the two lights interfere with each other and thus create an interference pattern. The polarization of the object light and that of the reference light can be adjusted by using an analyzer to become orthogonal to each other, and the intensities of the object light and the reference light can be adjusted to about the same for producing an interference pattern with high contrast.
US08334976B2

A coherent confocal microscope and methods for measuring elements of the non-linear susceptibility of a nanoparticle, including, more particularly, all of the elements of the second-order susceptibility tensor of a single nanoparticle under permutation and Kleinman symmetry. Using a high numerical aperture lens, two-dimensional scanning and a vector beam shaper, the second-order nonlinear susceptibility is derived from a single confocal image. A forward model for the problem is presented and a computationally efficient data processing method robustly solves the inverse problem.
US08334973B2

A spectral analysis apparatus includes a light transmissive envelope, first and second electrodes, a sleeve, and first and second electrical contacts. The light transmissive envelope contains a fluid operable to emit light when electrically energized. The first electrode is disposed upon an external surface of an end portion of the envelope external to the envelope. The second electrode is disposed upon an external surface of a second end portion external to the envelope. The sleeve defines a cavity configured to removably receive the envelope. The electrical contacts are in communication with the cavity and are configured to electrically connect to the corresponding electrode when the envelope is within the sleeve. The electrical contacts are connectable to an electrical power supply and electrically energize the fluid when connected to the electrical power supply.
US08334972B2

A device for detecting soiling, having a light source, which emits a light beam, and a layer having a first boundary surface and a second boundary surface, whereby the light beam emitted by the light source first impinges on the first boundary surface, and part of a light beam fraction, which is scattered at the second boundary surface, impinges on a receiver and forms a measuring signal, and hereby the first boundary surface is set up to scatter part of the incident light beam, and the part impinging on the receiver of the light beam, scattered at the first boundary surface, forms a reference signal, and the device is set up further to determine a measure for the soiling of the second boundary surface from the comparison of the reference signal and measuring signal.
US08334969B2

An optoelectronic sensor (10) for the measurement of distances or distance changes in accordance with the light transit time principle is provided having a light transmitter (12) for the transmission of a light signal and having a light receiver (16) for the reception of the remitted or reflected light signal, wherein an evaluation unit (18) is provided which is made to fix the transmission time for the light signal relative to a reference time and to digitize the received light signal on a sampling pattern (108) having a sampling period to determine the reception time of the light signal, and wherein a time base unit (38) is provided by means of which the transmission time can be shifted relative to the sampling pattern (108) with a time precision below the sampling period. In this respect, the time base unit (38) is made to derive the time shift from a first time signal having a first frequency (f1) and a second time signal having a second frequency (f2) different from the first frequency (f1) and to provide any desired time shifts with a time resolution given by the difference period belonging to the first and second frequencies (f1, f2).
US08334965B2

A substrate for a liquid crystal display panel includes a first projection structure and a second projection structure and/or a depression structure, the substrate for the liquid crystal display panel includes a specific structure at a part of or near the first projection structure, the specific structure having at least one of a planar shape different from a planar shape of the second projection structure and/or the depression structure and a planar area of ⅔ times or less or 1.5 times or more than a planar area of the second projection structure and/or the depression structure.
US08334964B2

A laminated spacer portion formed by laminating various thin films that constitute thin-film transistors is disposed in peripheral driver circuits. As a result, even in a structure in which part of a sealing member is disposed above the peripheral driver circuits, pressure exerted from spacers in the sealing member is concentrated on the laminated spacer portion, whereby destruction of a thin-film transistor of the peripheral driver circuits can be prevented caused by the pressure from the sealing portion.
US08334961B2

Electrooptical displays require conductors on both sides of the liquid crystal thin film. The two conductors face opposite sides of the display. The cost of electrically connecting to these displays can be decreased by having the conductors of the display all face the same side of the display. This invention includes a technique to allow both conductors to face the same side of the display.
US08334952B2

A 2D and 3D switchable display device includes an organic light emitting diode display unit, a polarization activated microlens, a polarization switching unit and a polarizer. The organic light emitting diode display unit includes a top substrate, a bottom substrate and an organic light emitting diode display array disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate. The polarization activated microlens is disposed between the top substrate and the organic light emitting diode display array, and the polarization activated microlens directly contacts both the top substrate and the organic light emitting diode display array. The polarization switching unit is disposed on the top substrate, and the polarizer is disposed on the polarization switching unit.
US08334950B2

An illumination apparatus is disclosed. The illumination apparatus includes a polarization plate, a light source, and a light transmission film. The light transmission film is disposed between the polarization plate and the light source and includes a plurality of prisms formed on a surface thereof, the plurality of prisms each having a ridge line in a first direction and being continuously arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In the illumination apparatus, the light transmission film is disposed such that a ridge line direction of the plurality of prisms is one of a perpendicular direction and an approximately perpendicular direction to a transmission axis of the polarization plate.
US08334926B2

A portable digital image acquisition device includes multiple lenses and/or multiple flashes. A main digital image and first and second reference images are acquired. The first and second reference images are acquired with different flash-lens combinations that have different flash-lens distances. One or more flash eye defects are detected and corrected in the main image based on analysis of the first and second reference images.
US08334907B2

Provided are a photographing method and apparatus using face pose estimation. The photographing method includes: detecting a face area from an input image; estimating pose information in the detected face area; and determining a face direction based on the estimated pose information and recording the input image according to the face direction. Accordingly, when a face of a subject looks at something other than a camera, a picture is not taken, and thus a failed photograph is prevented.
US08334905B2

In one embodiment, more than one surveillance cameras cover different viewing zones. The different viewing zones have different priority levels depending upon the importance of what is being covered by the surveillance camera. A controller detects the failure of a surveillance camera and directs a camera covering a lower priority viewing zone to cover the viewing zone of the failed camera. A method for the operation of the surveillance cameras is also provided.
US08334902B2

Systems and methods for facilitating use of non-electronic whiteboards and other large displays. Images of whiteboard are input to a computer device to provide automatic detection of a collaborative portion of content on the board created during a collaborative session and distribution to relevant collaborators alone while personal content of board is not distributed. Modification history of writings are preserved and displayed as change histograms to assist a user locate content that may have been erased. User finds the content by inspecting regions of board that correspond to user's memory of approximate location and time of modifying the content and are shown on the histogram as having been modified. Persistent reminder notes that clutter board space are detected and stored based on their location on the board and duration of persisting on the board so that they may be erased.
US08334901B1

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for modulating a beacon light source in a light based positioning system. In some embodiments, the method includes selecting a modulation scheme for the light source, the modulation scheme periodically varying an output of the light source from a peak output level to a bottom output level, applying the modulation scheme to the light source, and adding a DC bias to the modulation scheme, the DC bias reducing the peak output level and increasing the bottom output level of the modulation scheme. In some embodiments, the peak output level is increased beyond an un-modulated output of the light source and an average output of the light source is substantially equal to the un-modulated output of the light source. In some embodiments, the peak output level includes an un-modulated output of the light source.
US08334896B2

A stereoscopic image display device and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The stereoscopic image display device includes a display device, polarization glasses, a polarization switching element that includes a plurality of scan electrode lines and switches a polarization characteristic of light travelling to the polarization glasses according to a voltage supplied to the scan electrode lines, a driver supplying a first voltage synchronized with a right eye image displayed on the display device and a second voltage synchronized with a left eye image displayed on the display device to the scan electrode lines, and a controller controlling the driver so that a voltage of the scan electrode lines varies from the first voltage to the second voltage along a line of the display device in which the right eye image and the left eye image change.
US08334893B2

A method for combining range information with an optical image is provided. The method includes capturing a first optical image of a scene with an optical camera, wherein the first optical image comprising a plurality of pixels. Additionally, range information of the scene is captured with a ranging device. Range values are then determined for at least a portion of the plurality of pixels of the first optical image based on the range information. The range values and the optical image are combined to produce a 3-dimensional (3D) point cloud. A second optical image of the scene from a different perspective than the first optical image is produced based on the 3D point cloud.
US08334891B2

A method includes receiving a plurality of audio signals, wherein the audio signals each include a plurality of packets containing voice data associated with conference participants. One or more of the audio signals is associated with a video signal and at least one of the audio signals is associated with a voice-only conference participant. The method further includes determining an activity metric for each of the plurality of audio signals, wherein the activity metric indicates a confidence value that the audio signal is associated with a conference participant that is currently speaking. The method also includes encoding, for each of the plurality of audio signals, one or more packets of the plurality of packets with the activity metric and sending the plurality of audio signals encoded with an activity metric to a conference bridge.
US08334888B2

A first input signal, which has a first playback sequence, is resequenced based upon a characteristic of a second input signal. The resequencing occurs analyzing the characteristic in the second input signal, and modifying the first playback sequence of the first input signal based upon the analysis of the characteristic to generate a second playback sequence. Finally, a third signal is output using the second playback sequence. The third signal can be a rearranged signal or a signal played at a different rate. Using the method, video ringtones can be generated on a mobile device when a call is received.
US08334883B2

Image display which accesses an image containing multispectral data and a spectral device model for a reflective display. The reflective display renders the image by modulation of an ambient illuminant and is driven by color primary signals for corresponding color primaries. A spectral power distribution of a direct irradiance of a current ambient illuminant is cyclically and repetitively estimated by using a measurement of the spectral power distribution of the direct irradiance of the current ambient illuminant. Color primary signals are determined by using the estimation of the spectral power distribution of the direct irradiance of the current ambient illuminant, the spectral device model, and the multispectral image data. The reflective display is driven by the determined color primary signals, such that the multispectral image data rendered on the reflective display simulates the appearance of the multispectral image data calorimetrically under the current ambient illuminant.
US08334878B2

A medical image processing apparatus capable of aligning, among plural series of images, slice images included in the series easily in a short time. The medical image processing apparatus is connected to at least one display unit that displays a medical image on a screen based on inputted image data, for correlating anatomically tomographic positions of axial images among plural series of images, and includes: a standard coordinate system and feature quantity storage unit for storing a standard coordinate system in which coordinate values correlated to anatomically tomographic positions of an object to be inspected are set; and a feature quantity computing unit, a coordinate value searching unit, and a slice coordinate determining unit for providing coordinate values in the standard coordinate system to the axial images included in each of the plural series of images.
US08334869B1

Method and apparatus for modeling 3-D frustums using a single click-and-draw action. A cursor control device button is pressed at a desired starting point. The user then moves the cursor to draw a curve. When the curve intersects, the shape that has been drawn is saved as a start surface. When the cursor control device button is released, the method may search for one or more other intersections from the end of the curve. If another intersection is found, the intersection defines an end surface. If one or more additional intersections are found, the additional intersections may be used to define intermediate surfaces. The recorded points between the start and end surfaces define the path of the frustum. If a second intersection is not found, the start surface may be duplicated as the end surface. Once the user completes the curve, the frustum defined by the curve may be rendered.
US08334868B2

Method and apparatus for the interactive enhancement of 2D art with 3D geometry. A surface inflation tool may be used to create a 3D shape by inflating the surface that interpolates the input boundaries. The surface inflation tool may, for example, obtain a closed 2D boundary as input, triangulate the area within the boundary to generate an initial surface, and inflate the surface while maintaining a fixed boundary. Using the mean curvature specified at boundary vertices as a degree of freedom, the tool may control the inflated surface efficiently using a single linear system. Embodiments handle both smooth and sharp position constraints. Position constraint vertices may also have curvature constraints specified for controlling the inflation of a local surface.
US08334861B2

A display device includes a display panel. The display panel has a visible-light transmissible polarizer at a side of receiving an external light, and includes a first optical sensor, a second optical sensor and a sensor output computing part. The first optical sensor is disposed on a substrate of the display panel and unsheltered by the polarizer for detecting the external light. The first optical sensor outputs a first signal in response to a detected wavelength component of the external light. The second optical sensor is disposed on the substrate of the display panel and sheltered by the polarizer for detecting a visible light passing through the polarizer. The second optical sensor outputs a second signal in response to a detected wavelength component of the visible light. According to the first signal and the second signal, the sensor output computing part computes a UV light intensity of the external light.
US08334856B2

A stylus comprises a shell, a stylus body and at least one stopping member. The shell has a compartment defined therethrough, the shell further has at least one first stopping hole and at least one second stopping hole defined in an inner surface thereof and adjacent to the first stopping hole. The stylus body is accommodated in the compartment and is capable of tilting relative to the shell. The at least one stopping member is retractably mounted to the stylus body, each stopping member is configured for selectively resisted one first stopping hole and one second stopping hole with the tilting of the stylus body relative to the shell so as to orient the stylus body in a retracted state or in a tilted state.
US08334855B2

An electronic pen for detecting a touch location on a display panel by detecting infrared rays generated by the display panel, the electronic pen including an infrared sensor that detects the infrared rays and generates a detection signal; an amplifying unit that amplifies the detection signal; a low pass filter that filters high-frequency elements from the amplified detection signal; and a location detecting unit that detects the location on the display panel touched by the electronic pen based on the filtered detection signal.
US08334853B2

A light sensor circuit, includes a light receiving element coupled to a first power supply, a capacitor coupled between the light receiving element and a second power supply, a first transistor including a gate electrode coupled to a first electrode of the capacitor, and a second transistor including a gate electrode coupled to a selection signal line, wherein the first transistor is coupled between the selection signal line and a first electrode of the second transistor, and the second transistor is coupled between a second electrode of the first transistor and an output signal line.
US08334852B2

A selector switch is provided which always connects a receiving side electrode to one of a positive electrode input terminal and a negative electrode input terminal of a differential amplifier section. This selector switch is controlled so as to form a positive electrode region in which a plurality of electrode elements connected to the positive electrode input terminal are arranged, a negative electrode region in which a plurality of electrode elements connected to the negative electrode input terminal are arranged, and an insensitive region in which electrode elements are alternately connected to the positive electrode input terminal and the negative electrode input terminal.
US08334848B2

A resistance type touch display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed above the first substrate. The first substrate includes many scan lines and data lines defining many pixel regions on the first substrate, many pixel units and touch units. Each pixel unit is located in one of the pixel regions and electrically connected with one of the scan lines and data lines respectively. Each touch unit is electrically connected with one of the scan lines and data lines and distributed in at least two pixel regions. The second substrate includes many spacers, many touch protrusions and a common electrode covering the spacers and the touch protrusions. Each touch protrusion is located above one of the touch units and a gap is formed between the common electrode disposed on each touch protrusion and the touch unit.
US08334843B1

An electronic pointing device for a computer comprising a housing and an electronic module to detect the relative displacement over an external surface and transmit it to the computer wherein the housing comprises means to adjust the total weight of the device. According to the invention, the user can freely (within certain limits) adjust the weight depending on his wishes. In one embodiment, the pointing device is a mouse.
US08334827B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. The OLED display includes a display panel, a gate drive circuit, a data converter that divides video data corresponding to 1 frame into a plurality of bit-planes each having a different bitrate, maps bit-planes having a relatively large value of assigned time to first subfields, and maps bit-planes having a relatively small value of assigned time to second subfields arranged between the first subfields, so that time assigned values of successively arranged subfields have a zigzag pattern and a last subfield of the successively arranged subfields has a maximum time assigned value, and a data drive circuit.
US08334823B2

Disclosed herein is a display device, including: a pixel array in which pixel circuits each having a light emitting element, a driving transistor for applying a current corresponding to a gate-to-source voltage to the light emitting element connected to a source side by applying a drive voltage across a drain and a source, a sampling transistor for inputting a signal line voltage to a gate of the driving transistor by being caused to conduct, and a sustaining capacitor connected between the gate and the source of the driving transistor for sustaining a video signal voltage inputted thereto are disposed in a matrix; a signal selector; a drive control scanner; and a write scanner.
US08334820B2

A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a scan electrode and a sustain electrode positioned parallel to each other on a front substrate, an upper dielectric layer positioned on the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, a rear substrate on which an address electrode is positioned to intersect the scan electrode and the sustain electrode, a lower dielectric layer positioned on the address electrode, and a barrier rib positioned between the front substrate and the rear substrate. The barrier rib includes lead (Pb) equal to or less than 1,000 ppm (parts per million). A discharge gas is filled between the front substrate and the rear substrate and includes helium (He) of 9% to 42%.
US08334819B2

Various embodiments of methods and systems for constructing and configuring displays constructed from superimposed display subunits are disclosed. A display may be formed by superimposing two display subunits including multiple display elements or pixels which emit or otherwise modulate light. Display subunits may be optically superimposed with an optical system such that a light emitting element in the first subunit is superimposed with a corresponding light emitting element in the second subunit that emits light in a like wavelength band. A method of producing a display may include superimposing first and second display subunits to form a superimposed display area, controlling the first display subunit to produce a first light pattern; and controlling the second display subunit to produce a second light pattern that when superimposed with the first light pattern produces a desired light pattern.
US08334813B2

An automotive glass antenna which is an FM radio broadcast wave receiving antenna provided in blank spaces below or lateral sides of a defogger of a window glass provided in a rear door of a hatchback type of an automobile, the automotive glass antenna including: a first auxiliary element including at least a first auxiliary horizontal strip which branches from a lower end of a bus bar of the defogger, or from a lowermost horizontal heater strip, and which extends along the lowermost heater strip; a second auxiliary element including at least a second auxiliary vertical strip which extends from an upper end of each bus bar through an extension line, and which is apart from the bus bar in an outward direction; a horizontal element which extends in a substantially horizontal direction from a feed point provided near a lower portion of the bus bar of the defogger, and which is adjacent to the first auxiliary horizontal strip to achieve a capacitive coupling; and a vertical element which extends from the feed point along an outside of the bus bar, and which is adjacent to the bus bar to achieve the capacitive coupling.
US08334811B2

A wireless communication enabled electronic device. The wireless communication enabled electronic device includes a wireless antenna having an antenna element, and a conductive enclosure configured to inhibit electrical interference. The conductive enclosure is coupled to the wireless antenna such that a void is formed on at least one side of the antenna element. The void is bound by a sidewall of the conductive enclosure having a bottom edge, and at least one taper portion of the conductive enclosure positioned vertically intermediate a top surface of the conductive enclosure and the bottom edge of the sidewall.
US08334804B2

A dual-frequency DSP correlator receives I and Q signal components from a down convertor in a GNSS receiver system. The signal components are cross-wiped (de-spread) for noise cancellation and can be combined for use in a processor.
US08334803B1

A method for determining target echo detection efficacy of a signal processing algorithm of a radar system involves generating a simulated noise complex envelope sequence, generating a simulated radar target echo signal complex envelope pulse sequence and adding the simulated noise complex envelope sequence to the simulated radar target echo signal complex envelope pulse sequence, thereby producing simulated noisy radar target echo signal complex envelope sequence. The simulated noisy radar target echo signal complex envelope sequence is inputted into the signal processing algorithm and the output of the signal processing algorithm is analyzed to determine target echo detection efficacy of the signal processing algorithm.
US08334800B2

A radar device includes: a frequency modulating unit for modulating a frequency of a transmission signal by a triangular wave; a transmitting unit for pulsing the frequency modulated transmission signal to transmit the pulsed transmission signal as a transmission pulse; a receiving unit for generating a beat signal based on a frequency difference between a frequency modulated transmission signal and a reflected received pulse; a range gate setting unit for setting a range gate that determines a sampling timing of the received pulse based on a transmitting timing of the transmission pulse; a sampling unit for sampling the beat signal in each of range gates; a distance and relative velocity calculating unit for calculating a distance to a target and a relative velocity based on the sampled beat signal; and a control unit for controlling a transmission pulse width and a range gate width depending on a subject vehicle velocity.
US08334782B2

A smoke detector comprises a soft x-ray source (10) and an air space (16) communicating with ambient air (18) and positioned so that soft x-rays produced by the soft x-ray source (10) pass into the air space (16) to ionise air in the air space (16). A detector (14) is positioned for detecting ionised air in the air space (16). Smoke particles entering into the air space (16) mop up ionised air. This leads to a reduction in the number of ions detected which triggers an alarm. The soft x-ray source (10) preferably comprises a substrate (22) on which are provided a plurality of nanometer scale elongate structures (28). The elongate structures (28) are provided in an evacuated chamber (42) formed between the substrate (22), a spacer (30), and a laminated film (36). The laminated film (36) comprises an aluminum foil layer (38) and a supporting nylon layer (40). A voltage converting circuit (44) is powered by a 9 volt DC battery and applies a 1.5 kV DC voltage between the substrate (22) and the aluminum foil layer (38). In use, the electrical voltage induces field emission of electrons from the elongate structures (28). The electrons are accelerated across the chamber (42) to the aluminum foil layer (38), where they collide with the foil layer (38) and produce the soft x-rays.
US08334776B2

An electronic article surveillance (EAS) apparatus is comprised of a carrier and an EAS unit. The carrier receives the EAS unit and has an adhesive element on one of its surfaces to attach to an item to be protected. The EAS unit may have several electronic components including, among others, an EAS coil, a microprocessor, communication elements, a switch, a battery, and an audible alarm generator. The EAS unit can be removed from a protected item by opening, or parting, the carrier. Once the carrier is opened the EAS unit can be retrieved for reuse. External devices can be used to communicate with and disarm the EAS unit. If an EAS unit is removed without being disarmed, a switch detects the change in status and an audible alarm is generated.
US08334774B2

A book product with a pair of cover boards attached to an outer liner in spaced-relation to define a spine, with a security device positioned on a laydown area on one of the cover boards, an inner liner attached in overlying relation to the one of the cover boards, with the inner liner, the security device, the one of the cover boards, and the outer liner laminated to sandwich the security device concealingly there between, and an interior body cooperatively supported within the book product.
US08334767B2

A method and system for facilitating automated navigation in a healthcare facility. The navigation system comprises: a healthcare information system configured to have access to at least patient information, healthcare resource information and healthcare facility information; and an identification device provided to a patient in the healthcare facility, configured to communicate at least the current location of the patient to the hospital information system. The identification device and the healthcare information system interact with each other for generating and providing at least navigation information to the patient.
US08334765B2

An apparatus for tracking the status of a lock, comprising: at least one lock tracking device for tracking a status of a lock; and at least one wireless key unit; wherein each of said at least one wireless key unit is connected to one of said at least one lock tracking device, and wherein said at least one wireless key unit includes a transceiver unit for transmitting information obtained from the at least one lock tracking device regarding the status of the lock.
US08334764B1

Before semiconductor units are shipped to customers, each unit is electrically tested for ensuring its functionality. However, when a unit is stuck in a test area of a testing equipment, subsequent units are thereafter not properly tested. A reflective sensor is used to check for a stuck unit within the test area. The reflective sensor includes a transmitter and a receiver. In each test cycle, a signal is transmitted toward the test area. An alert indicating a stuck unit is generated when: (1) the reflectivity and/or color of the transmitted signal is different from a bare test area reflectivity and/or color, (2) a reflected signal is received outside a window of the receiver or is not received by the receiver, or (3) the reflected signal has the same light intensity as the transmitted signal. Embodiments of the present invention protect untested units from being inadvertently shipped to customers.
US08334754B2

To improve communication between tags by causing a mobile object having a RFID tag attached to transmit an interrogating wave only when moving in a communication range to reduce power consumption and prevent occurrence of tag confusion. By acquiring two Doppler signals from 2-frequency transmission waves (CW) with different frequencies and respective reflected waves and detecting phase difference from the Doppler signals, a cargo (21A) is detected to be moving in the communication range (A). Only when the movement is detected, a reader-writer (1A) transmits the interrogating wave (RW).
US08334753B2

To securely handle (trace/locate/identify to receive services) of an owner and items within a secure/private area, the owner is identified (101) through owner identification means, and the items are identified (101) through reusable item identification means securely fixed to the items. A link between the owner and the items is maintained in a database, and this link is activated (103) for instance through automated/semi-automated registration of the owner upon entrance of the secure/private area (104). The owner and items are handled (traced/located/identified to receive services) (105) during a transaction or event in the secure/private area to facilitate controlling the item during the transaction or event. Optionally, the items are secured (106) in the secure/private area by monitoring departure from the secure/private area via an intelligent gate that senses owner and item identification means within a predetermined, restrictive distance from the intelligent gate.
US08334750B2

The present invention provides an integrated antenna module for a push button start vehicle and an emergency start method using the same, which can perform a series of processes of starting a vehicle, such as power supply to a transponder, secret code authentication, start-up authorization, etc., when a driver simply brings the fob close to a specific location in the vehicle, without the use of the existing fob holder for an emergency start.
US08334738B2

A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.
US08334733B2

A left-handed filter of the present invention includes an interstage coupling element connected to a first capacitor and a ground, a second capacitor connected to the interstage coupling element, a third capacitor connected to the second capacitor, a first inductor connected to the connection point of a fourth capacitor and the second capacitor, and the ground, a second inductor connected to a fifth capacitor and the ground, a first input and output coupling element connected to a sixth capacitor, and a second input and output coupling element connected to the third capacitor. The first and second capacitors, the third and sixth capacitors, the first and second inductors, and third and fourth inductors are respectively arranged in symmetrical positions with respect to an interstage coupling element.
US08334731B2

A high-frequency module includes at least first and second signal circuits that are each connected between a common antenna port and at least first and second signal ports. The first signal circuit includes a first inductor connected in series between the antenna port and the first signal port, a first capacitor connected in series between the first inductor and the first signal port, and a second inductor connected in shunt between the first capacitor and the first signal port. Series resonance is produced between the first inductor, the first capacitor, and the second inductor at a frequency within the frequency band of a target signal of the second signal circuit.
US08334728B2

A high-frequency coupler is provided to include a resonator wherein an infinitesimal dipole is formed, the infinitesimal dipole including a line segment which connects the center of electric charge accumulated in the coupling electrode and the center of mirror-electric charge accumulated in the ground, and the high-frequency signal is transmitted to another high-frequency coupler at a communication partner side, which is placed opposite the high-frequency coupler so that the angle between the direction of the infinitesimal dipole and the direction from the high-frequency coupler toward the other high-frequency coupler is nearly zero.
US08334724B1

A microcontroller integrated circuit includes an open-loop transimpedance amplifier (OLTA). An input lead of the OLTA is a terminal of the microcontroller. The cathode of a photodiode is connected to VDD and the anode is connected to the terminal. The OLTA maintains the photodiode in a strongly reverse-biased condition, thereby keeping diode capacitance low and facilitating rapid circuit response. The input of the OLTA involves a diode-connected field effect transistor that provides a low impedance. This low impedance decreases as the diode current increases, thus providing effective clamping of the voltage on the terminal. By this clamping, the amount of photodiode capacitance discharging necessary when transitioning from a high input current condition to a low input current condition is reduced, thereby further improving amplifier response time. The OLTA is small and consumes less than thirty microamperes and functions to mirror photodiode current and compare to a predetermined level.
US08334722B2

Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US08334713B2

A charge pumping circuit comprises: a charging pump capacitance; a charging unit; a discharging unit; a detection resistor having one terminal and the other terminal, the one terminal being connected between a first node and a second node in a second mode; a voltage source for supplying a reference voltage to the other terminal of the detection resistor; a correction unit for correcting a charging current output from the charging unit and a discharging current that is to be sunk by the discharging unit to equalize the charging current and the discharging current in the second mode, based on a difference between a voltage of the one terminal of the detection resistor and the reference voltage when the charging unit outputs the charging current to the one terminal of the detection resistor and the discharging unit sinks the discharging current from the one terminal of the detection resistor.
US08334711B2

A control circuit comprising an input-output unit that is connected to a signal line, which is connected to an external apparatus, and which is connected to a resistor that is one of a pull-up resistor and a pull-down resistor; a switching unit that switches a mode of the input-output unit to one of an input mode and an output mode, wherein the output mode includes an on-voltage output mode and an off-voltage output mode; an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding whether the resistor connected to the signal line is the pull-up resistor or the pull-down resistor, when the input-output unit is in the input mode; and a control unit that controls the input-output unit to switch to one of the on-voltage output mode and the off-voltage output mode based on the acquisition information acquired by the acquisition unit, when the input-output unit is in the output mode.
US08334710B2

Circuit blocks and respectively convert high-voltage logic signals in which two logical values are expressed by a first signal potential and a second signal potential into low-voltage logic signals in which the two logical values are expressed by a third signal potential at least as large as the first signal potential and a fourth signal potential that is the third signal potential to which a positive voltage has been added and which is no greater than the second signal potential, and outputs the converted logic signals. The transistors in the circuit block are of the form of replacing the respective transistors of the circuit block with elements of opposite polarity, so that when the third signal potential is changed and operation of one of the circuit blocks and becomes difficult, the other operates normally. Consequently, stable level conversion can be accomplished.
US08334709B2

A level shifter converts an input signal having an amplitude between a ground and a first power supply voltage into an output signal having an amplitude between the ground and a second power supply voltage. The level shifter includes an input unit, driven by the first power supply voltage, that raises a first pulse signal at a rise of the input signal and raises a second pulse signal having the same polarity as the first pulse signal at a fall of the input signal, and a level shift unit that converts a signal level of the first pulse signal into an amplitude level of the second power supply voltage, and converts a signal level of the second pulse signal into an amplitude level of the second power supply voltage.
US08334705B1

An integrated circuit comprises logic circuitry driven by a clock and reference circuitry. In operation, logic elements of the reference circuitry are synchronized to the clock. In operation, a first sensing circuit outputs a voltage VC proportional to an instantaneous current consumption IC of the logic circuitry, and a second sensing circuit outputs a voltage VR proportional to an instantaneous fluctuating current consumption IR of the reference circuitry. In operation, differential circuitry outputs a voltage difference αVR−VC between a scaled-up version αVR of the voltage VR and the voltage VC, the scaled-up version scaled to approximately the scale of the voltage VC. In operation, a square root circuit receives the voltage difference as input and outputs a square root of the voltage difference. A current source is controllable by the output of the square root circuit to generate current through a dissipative load.
US08334700B2

An arc detection system for a plasma generation system includes a radio frequency (RF) sensor that generates first and second signals based on a respective electrical properties of (RF) power that is in communication with a plasma chamber. A correlation module generates an arc detect signal based on the first and second signals. The arc detect signal indicates whether an arc is occurring in the plasma chamber and is employed to vary an aspect of the RF power to extinguish the arc.
US08334694B2

An improved self-calibration method for accelerated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using inversion recovery pulse sequences allows calibration data for determining coil sensitivity profiles to be acquired by employing a calibration pulse sequence within the delay time of an inversion recovery pulse sequence. The calibration pulse sequence includes a constrained number of calibration pulses having small flip angles so that acceptable longitudinal magnetization recovery is provided.
US08334690B2

A magnetometer and method of use is presently disclosed. The magnetometer has at least one sensor void of extraneous metallic components, electrical contacts and electrically conducting pathways. The sensor contains an active material vapor, such as an alkali vapor, that alters at least one measurable parameter of light passing therethrough, when in a magnetic field. The sensor may have an absorptive material configured to absorb laser light and thereby activate or heat the active material vapor.
US08334689B2

An inductive displacement or rotational angle sensor including at least one electrical coil which is provided with turns, and an influencing element which interacts with said coil and produces a different inductance of the least one coil as a function of its position, characterized in that at least two separate coils which are arranged coaxially with respect to a coil axis and have an axial interspacing are provided, it being possible for the influencing element to enter said interspacing with a degree of overlap, which is dependent on its position, with the magnetic fields which are generated by the coils.
US08334688B2

A multi-output switch includes a dipole magnet configured to move from a central position to either a first position or a second position and a Hall Effect sensor having a first sensitive area with a first output and a second sensitive area with a second output, wherein the sensor is relatively positioned such that when the magnet is in the central position, the first output and second output read off, when the magnet is in the first position the first sensitive area is activated and the first output reads on, and when the magnet is in the second position the second sensitive area is activated and the second output reads on. The switch may further include a magnet holder configured to house the magnet and define a pathway of movement for the magnet.
US08334682B2

A buck converter with internal ripple compensation includes a comparator for generating a comparison result, a constant-on-time trigger coupled to the comparator for generating a trigger control signal according to the comparison result, a pre-driver coupled to the constant-on-time trigger for controlling a high side switch and a low side switch, an output module coupled to a first node and a signal output end, and a ripple compensation circuit coupled to the high side switch, the low side switch, the first node, and the comparator for generating a compensation signal outputted to the comparator.
US08334679B2

A generator control system is provided in a vehicle having an engine that drives an electric power generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle. The generator control system includes: a sensor that detects a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and, a controller that controls a voltage output mode of the generator in response to the SOC detected by the sensor.
US08334676B2

A lithium ion secondary battery (100) has a property of securing a flat charge-discharge capacity range (FC) in which fluctuation of terminal voltage is 0.2 V or lower in both the cases where the battery is charged and discharged with electric current having a current value of 1 C over a capacity range of 50% or more of the electric capacity range having a theoretical electric capacity as an upper limit.
US08334670B2

An electric motor control circuit includes an electric energy storage device electrically connected via DC power buses to an inverter circuit that connects via an alternating current circuit to an electric machine. A capacitive shunt circuit connects between the power buses. Current flow through the capacitive shunt circuit to the chassis ground is monitored. A fault is identified when the current flow through the capacitive shunt circuit to the chassis ground exceeds a threshold.
US08334658B2

A controller for use in a light emitting diode (LED) driver is disclosed. An example controller includes an input circuit coupled to receive an ac input signal from an ac source. A dimmer disabler circuit is included and is coupled to be responsive to the input circuit to detect an absence of a portion of an ac half cycle the ac input signal for one or more consecutive ac half cycles from the ac input signal. A regulator circuit is included and is coupled to control a switching of a switch to regulate a transfer of energy from the ac input signal to a LED load to be coupled to an output of the LED driver. The dimmer disabler circuit is coupled to disable the regulator circuit from switching the switch in response to the detection of the absence of the portion of the ac half cycle from the ac input signal for the one or more consecutive ac half cycles from the ac input signal.
US08334650B2

An organic light emitting diode display device is disclosed. The device includes: a substrate; a functional layer positioned on the substrate and making constructive interference of transmitted lights; a first electrode positioned on the functional layer; an organic emission layer positioned on the first electrode; and a second electrode positioned on the organic emission layer.
US08334641B2

A lighting device includes a bottom housing, a middle housing, a top housing, and a lamp head. Specifically, the bottom housing has a bottom surface capable of supporting a lighting module. The middle housing is coupled to the top side of the bottom housing. The top housing is coupled to the top side of the middle housing, such that the middle housing is disposed between the bottom housing and the top housing. The lamp head covers the sidewall of the top housing.
US08334629B2

An alternator comprising a rotor having plural magnetic poles in the circumferential direction; and a stator whose teeth are disposed opposite to the periphery of the rotor, with an air gap interposed between the rotor and the stator, wherein the coil conductors are wound on the stator so that two stator magnetic poles may be formed by two coil units of a phase wound around stator teeth within the range of 360 electrical degrees subtended by the magnetic poles of the rotor; each of the two coil units forming the stator magnetic poles spans an electrical angle less than 180 electrical degrees; the two coil turns forming the two stator magnetic poles are laid out so that they may not overlap each other; and the coil conductors are so wound that the adjacent stator magnetic poles exhibit opposite magnetic polarities.
US08334621B2

An electronic equipment includes: a data transmission unit that transmits or receives content data to or from an external equipment; a power supply turned-on information acquisition unit that acquires power supply turned-on information concerning the external equipment; an information-on-manipulation acquisition unit that acquires information on a power supply turning-on manipulation; and a power supply state control unit that controls a power supply state into any of an off state, a standby state, and an on state, wherein when the power supply turned-on information concerning the external equipment with the power supply state set to the off state is acquired, the power supply state control unit changes the power supply state to the standby state; and when the information on the power supply turning-on manipulation with the power supply state set to the standby state is acquired, the power supply state control unit changes the power supply state to the on state.
US08334617B2

An exemplary system for energy optimization in photovoltaic generators comprises a plurality of primary photovoltaic generators, a plurality of secondary photovoltaic generators, and a plurality of inverters. The secondary photovoltaic generators each comprise a plurality of photovoltaic generator blocks. The inverters are configured to convert direct voltage/current into alternating voltage/current. A first switching system is operable to selectively couple outputs of the primary generators with inputs of the inverters. A second switching system is operable to selectively couple outputs of the generator blocks with the outputs of the secondary generators. A control system is operable to automatically control the first switching system and the second switching system. An exemplary method comprises operating the control system to automatically control the two switching systems to optimize power provided to the inverters. The control system is responsive to data that includes detected and calculated operational, environmental, and historical data.
US08334613B2

A wind turbine generator includes: a main shaft for supporting a wind turbine rotor; a main bearing for rotatably supporting the main shaft; a generator having a generator rotor and a stator; a sleeve connected to the generator rotor and inserted onto the main shaft; and a hydraulic shrink fit provided outside the sleeve and tightening the sleeve to connect to the main shaft. The hydraulic shrink fit is constructed to reduce the inner diameter through a supply of hydraulic fluid to secure the sleeve to the main shaft.
US08334612B2

A wind-power unit with a wind turbine, a generator with vertical axis a supporting pillar which supports the wind turbine, and a foundation for the supporting pillar (2). The generator includes a stator which is integrated with the foundation.
US08334598B2

A power semiconductor device includes a substrate, an element circuit pattern formed on the substrate and made of Cu covered with an electroless Ni—P plating layer, and a power semiconductor element bonded to the element circuit pattern by a solder, wherein the solder is an alloy of Sn, Sb, and Cu, and the weight percent of Cu is in the range of 0.5 to 1%, inclusive.
US08334587B2

In at least one aspect, a semiconductor light emitting device may include a first lead, a second lead provided being apart from the first lead, a semiconductor light emitting element provided on the first lead, a wiring electrically connecting the semiconductor light emitting element and the second lead, a first resin being optically transparent to light from the semiconductor light emitting element, the first resin covering the semiconductor light emitting element, and a second resin provided on the first resin, the first lead and the second lead, and being optically transparent to light from the semiconductor light emitting element, wherein a part of the first lead which is covered with the second resin is symmetric with respect to a vertical line passing through the semiconductor light emitting element in a cross-sectional view cut along a plane, the plane passing the semiconductor light emitting element and being parallel with a direction to which the first lead is extended.
US08334585B2

An LED package and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The LED package includes an upper metal plate having an LED-receiving hole therein; a lower metal plate disposed under the upper metal plate; and an insulator which the upper metal plate and the lower metal plate from each other. A portion of the lower metal plate is exposed via the LED-receiving hole and an LED is mounted on the exposed portion of the lower metal plate and is electrically connected to both of the upper and lower metal plates. A protective cover encloses and protects exposed surfaces of the upper and lower metal plates.
US08334583B2

A leadframe strip comprises a plurality of units arranged in a line. Each unit provides two component positions, each having a chip support substrate. The chip support substrates of the two component positions are mechanically linked by at least one support bar. The two component positions of a unit are molded at essentially the same time to produce a plastic housing for a package in each component position. The central portion of the first support bars remains outside of the plastic housing of the two packages.
US08334582B2

A semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of low-k dielectric layers over the semiconductor substrate; a first passivation layer over the plurality of low-k dielectric layers; and a second passivation layer over the first passivation layer. A first seal ring is adjacent to an edge of the semiconductor chip, wherein the first seal ring has an upper surface substantially level to a bottom surface of the first passivation layer. A second seal ring is adjacent to the first seal ring and on an inner side of the semiconductor chip than the first seal ring. The second seal ring includes a pad ring in the first passivation layer and the second passivation layer. A trench ring includes at least a portion directly over the first seal ring. The trench ring extends from a top surface of the second passivation layer down to at least an interface between the first passivation layer and the second passivation layer.
US08334580B2

A technique capable of promoting miniaturization of an RF power module used in a mobile phone etc. is provided. A directional coupler is formed inside a semiconductor chip in which an amplification part of the RF power module is formed. A sub-line of the directional coupler is formed in the same layer as a drain wire coupled to the drain region of an LDMOSFET, which will serve as the amplification part of the semiconductor chip. Due to this, the predetermined drain wire is used as a main line and the directional coupler is configured by a sub-line arranged in parallel to the main line via an insulating film, together with the main line.
US08334574B2

Semiconductor fabricating technology is provided, and particularly, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device improving a contact characteristic between a silicon layer including carbon and a metal layer during a process of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A semiconductor device including the silicon layer including carbon and the metal layer formed on the silicon layer is provided. A metal silicide layer is interposed between the silicon layer including carbon and the metal layer.
US08334568B2

A P type semiconductor substrate includes a P type body region, an N type drift region formed away from the P type body region in a direction parallel to a substrate surface, an N type drain region formed in a region separated by a field oxide film in the N type drift region so as to have a concentration higher than the N type drift region, an N type source region formed in the P type body region so as to have a concentration higher than the N type drift region. A P type buried diffusion region having a concentration higher than the N type drift region is formed of a plurality of parts each of which is connected to a part of the bottom surface of the P type body region and extends parallel to the substrate surface and its tip end reaches the inside of the drift region.
US08334563B2

A semiconductor substrate of an IGFET has drain regions, a p-type first body region, a p−-type second body region, an n-type first source region, and an n+-type second source region, and additionally has multiple pairs of trenches that constitute an IGFET cell. A gate insulating film and a gate electrode are provided inside the trenches. A source electrode is in Schottky contact with the second body region. A pn junction between the second drain region and the first body region is exposed to one of the main surfaces of the semiconductor substrate. The first body region, the second body region, and the first source region are also provided outside the trenches, and an n-type protective semiconductor region is provided. The trenches contribute to miniaturization of the IGFET and to lowering of the on-resistance. The reverse breakdown voltage of the IGFET can be improved by the reduction in contact area between the second body region and the source electrode to the outside from the trenches.
US08334556B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having an active region and an isolation region. A gate structure is provided on the semiconductor device. First and second impurity regions are provided in the substrate on both sides of the gate structure. A pad electrode is provided to contact the first impurity region. Because the pad electrode is provided on the first impurity region of the semiconductor device, the contact plug does not directly contact the active region. Accordingly, failures caused by damage to the active region may be prevented.
US08334553B2

A thin-film transistor manufactured on a transparent substrate has a structure of a top gate type crystalline silicon thin-film transistor in which a light blocking film, a base layer, a crystalline silicon film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode film arranged not to overlap at least a channel region are sequentially formed on the transparent substrate. The channel region has channel length L, LDD regions having LDD length d on both sides of the channel region, a source region, and a drain region are formed in the crystalline silicon film. The light blocking film is divided across the channel region. Interval x between the divided light blocking films is equal to or larger than channel length L and equal to or smaller than a sum of channel length L and a double of LDD length d (L+2d), allowing low the manufacturing cost and suppressed photo leak current.
US08334548B2

A semiconductor light emitting device (A) includes a lead frame (1) having a constant thickness, a semiconductor light emitting element (2) supported by the lead frame (1), a case (4) covering part of the lead frame (1) and a light transmitting member (5) covering the semiconductor light emitting element (2). The lead frame (1) includes a die bonding pad (11a) and an elevated portion (11b). The die bonding pad (11a) includes an obverse surface on which the semiconductor light emitting element (2) is mounted, and a reverse surface exposed from the case (4). The elevated portion (11b) is shifted in position from the die bonding pad (11a) in the direction normal to the obverse surface of the die bonding pad (11a).
US08334542B2

A light emitting diode includes a thermal conductive substrate, an p-type GaN layer, an active layer and an n-type GaN layer sequentially stacked above the substrate and an electrode pad deposited on the n-type GaN layer. A surface of n-type GaN layer away from the active layer has a first diffusing section and a second diffusing section. The first diffusing section is adjacent to the electrode pad and the second diffusing section is located at the other side of the first diffusing section opposite to the electrode pad, wherein the doping concentration of the first diffusing section is less than that of the second diffusing section. The n-type GaN layer has an electrical resistance larger than that of the first diffusing section which in turn is larger than that of the second diffusing section.
US08334540B2

The protective circuit is formed using a non-linear element which includes a gate insulating film covering a gate electrode; a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer which are over the gate insulating film and whose end portions overlap with the gate electrode; and an oxide semiconductor layer which is over the gate electrode and in contact with the gate insulating film and the end portions of the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer. The gate electrode of the non-linear element and a scan line or a signal line is included in a wiring, the first or second wiring layer of the non-linear element is directly connected to the wiring so as to apply the potential of the gate electrode.
US08334522B2

The invention concerns methods and apparatuses for quantitatively determining the concentration of fluorophores of a substance in a sample. A constant portion of the reference light of a reference light wave length (λr) emitted by a reference light source is coupled in by an optical element in the direction of a receiving element. A first value corresponding to the portion of the reference light coupled in which is incident on the receiving element is detected. The sample is irradiated with the excitation light of an excitation wave length (λex) emitted by an excitation light source. A second value corresponding to the portion of the fluorescent light of an emission wave length (λem) emitted by the sample which is incident on the receiving element. The ratio of the second value to the first value is determined. The number of fluorophores in the substance is determined based on the ratio.
US08334503B2

A method of controlling ion parking in an ion trap includes generating a trapping field for trapping cations and anions, and applying a tailored waveform during a period when ion/ion reactions occur to park first generation product ions with m/z values that differ from those of a cation and an anion in selected m/z regions. In particular, the tailored waveform inhibits simultaneously the reactions of ions of disparate m/z ratios.
US08334493B2

An optical element includes a first filter having the function to transmit a component at a lower frequency than a first cutoff frequency in incident light, a second filter having the function to transmit a component at a higher frequency than a second cutoff frequency in the incident light, and a light-receiving element for photoelectrically converting the components transmitted through the first filter and the second filter in the incident light. A metal optical filter composed of a conductor thin film is used as at least one of the first filter and the second filter.
US08334484B2

Provided are a cooking apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The cooking apparatus senses the size of a cooking vessel, or more specifically, the undersurface area of the cooking vessel, and selectively operates heaters accordingly. Therefore, food can be more efficiently cooked.
US08334483B2

A combination including a heater, a first connection device and a second connection device. The heater has heating elements or resistors; and a heater connector with electric heater conductors connected to the electric heating elements. The first and second connection devices have first and second output connectors with conductors for connection to the conductors of the heater connector and first and second input connector for connection to first and second standard connectors of first and second power sources with first and second voltage levels. The electric conductors of the first output connector have a first connection configuration in the first connection device and the electric conductors of the second output connector have a second connection configuration in the second connection device different to the first connection configuration. At least two heating elements are so connected to the first electric conductors as to be powered: in the first connection configuration via the first connection device to the first power source; and in the second connection configuration via the second connection device to the second power source.
US08334481B2

A mounting table body made of ceramic includes power-receiving conductor portions and buried therein. A surface of mounting table body is formed with a recessed connection hole and a connection terminal electrically jointed to the power-receiving conductor portion and exposed into the connection hole, the connection terminal being made of a high-melting-point metal, an alloy thereof or a compound thereof. A power-feeding line member provided with a power-feeding connector portion is inserted at its leading end portion into the connection hole to feed electricity to the power-receiving conductor portion. A stress relaxing member is interposed between the connection terminal and the power-feeding connector portion. The stress relaxing member and the connection terminal are jointed together by a brazing material. The stress relaxing member is made of a metal free from cobalt and nickel or an alloy thereof.
US08334479B2

The system comprises a buckling arm robot with a robot frame (1) and an articulated arm (2) and a fiber optic cable (5) which is connected to one end of the articulated arm (2) and through which a laser beam (11) with a beam axis (10) is coupled into the articulated arm (2) in the direction of a first axis of the articulated arm (2). The fiber optic cable (5) is indirectly connected to the stationary end of the articulated arm (2) via an alignment unit (6) which comprises a collimating lens system (13) and at least two alignment mirrors (12.1, 12.2), each of which mirrors can swivel about at least one axis of rotation and move along at least one axis of translation, with the axes of rotation and the axes of translation being disposed at right angles to each other so that the beam axis (10) of the laser beam (11) can be made to coincide with the optical axis (4).
US08334469B2

An interlock switch includes a switch mechanism. The switch mechanism includes a switch having an arm as an actuator, a holding member to which the switch is fastened by a rocking mechanism, the holding member being rotatably disposed in an apparatus body, one pressing member which presses the arm from the arm side, other pressing member which presses the holding member from the side opposite to the arm side, one elastic member which regulates the ON position of the switch in a releasing direction in arm-side view, and other elastic member which applies a force to the switch in a direction in which the one pressing member comes close to the switch. The switch is turned on when the one pressing member presses the arm from the arm side and the other pressing member presses the holding member from the side opposite to the arm side.
US08334468B2

A method for operating an ultrasonic, self-powered surgical device, includes the steps of connecting a self-contained power supply to a surgical device handle, providing a control circuit within at least one of the handle and the power supply, the control circuit being operable to carry out at least two operational conditions of the surgical device, and effecting the at least two operational conditions with a two-stage switch electrically connected to the control circuit, a first stage of the switch effecting a first of the at least two operational conditions and a second stage of the switch effecting a second of the at least two operational conditions different from the first operational condition.
US08334467B2

An electronic device package 100 comprising a lead frame 150 having at least one lead 110 with a notch 205. The notch includes at least one reentrant angle 210 of greater than 180 degrees and the notch is located distal to a cut end 1010 of the lead.
US08334463B2

A wiring board has a first rigid wiring board having a substrate with a penetrating hole, a first insulation layer formed on the substrate to cover at least one opening of the penetrating hole, and a first wiring layer formed on the first insulation layer, a second rigid wiring board having a second wiring layer on a main surface and being accommodated in the penetrating hole, a first connection conductor which connects the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer, and a first interlayer insulation layer formed on the first wiring layer.
US08334451B2

A photovoltaic (PV) cell device comprises a first semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor substrate bonded to the first semiconductor substrate; an insulating layer provided between the first and second substrates to electrically isolate the first substrate from the second substrate; a plurality of PV cells defined on the first substrate, each PV cell including a n-type region and a p-type region; a plurality of vertical trenches provided in the first substrate to separated the PV cells, the vertical trenches terminating at the insulating layer; a plurality of isolation structures provided within the vertical trenches, each isolation structure including a first isolation layer including oxide and a second isolation layer including polysilicon; and an interconnect layer patterned to connect the PV cells to provide X number of PV cells in series and Y number of PV cells in parallel. The n-type regions are formed by performing ion implantation of arsenic to provide shallow junction depths for the n-type regions, so that PV cell device is optimized for sunlight.
US08334449B2

The present invention relates to a musical instrument tuner, e.g. a guitar tuner, featuring simultaneous display of monophonic and polyphonic characteristics.
US08334448B2

The present invention relates to a support for a percussion instrument and, in particular, to a cymbal support device. The device includes a body having a base section, an intermediate neck section, and a cap section. A bore extends through the body along body central axis. The cap section is configured to selectively tilt or flex when a predetermined amount of force is applied thereto. In operation, the support device is mounted on a cymbal support pole at the desired vertical position, and the cymbal is placed on the body such that it is supported by the cap. In use, as the cymbal is engaged by a percussionist, the cap flexes with the movement of the cymbal.
US08334445B1

A novel maize variety designated 10967280 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety 10967280 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 10967280 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 10967280, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 10967280. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 10967280.
US08334440B1

A soybean cultivar designated 08220483 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 08220483, to the plants of soybean cultivar 08220483, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 08220483, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 08220483. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 08220483. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 08220483, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 08220483 with another soybean cultivar.
US08334435B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016278. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016278. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016278 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016278 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08334428B2

Methods and compositions reduce copy number of transgenes and minimizing vector backbone sequences in plant transformation. Agrobacterium strains with T-DNA integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the Agrobacterium reduce the copy number and vector backbone sequences. Chromosomal integration vectors to integrate T-DNA into a specific locus of Agrobacterium chromosome are disclosed.
US08334427B2

The present invention generally provides a method to generate broad-spectrum resistance to bacterial blight disease in plants. More specifically, the present invention provides a method to generate broad-spectrum resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal agent of bacterial blight disease of rice, and enhanced resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, the causal agent of bacterial leaf streak of rice. Xa27, an inducible bacterial blight R gene in rice, was induced by the cognate avrXa27 gene expressed in host. Rice plants carrying the avrXa27 transgene and wild-type Xa27 gene conferred resistance to incompatible and compatible pathogens, and enhanced resistance to X. oryzae pv. oryzicola strain L8. The Xa27-mediated enhanced resistance to X. oryzae pv. oryzicola was also observed in the interaction between IRBB27 and L8 harboring pHM1avrXa27. This was further verified by the fact that the Xa27 gene in IRBB27 was induced by the avrXa27 gene in bacteria. The method can be used to engineer broad-spectrum resistance of rice to bacterial blight and enhanced resistance to bacterial leaf streak. Slight modification of this technique can be applied to control bacterial diseases in other crops.
US08334422B2

A method for decontaminating bioaerosol with high concentrations of bacterial, viral, spore and other airborne microorganisms or biologic contaminants, in flight at high flow rates. A plasma screen created across the flow of air contaminated with airborne biologic agents renders contaminants non-culturable within millisecond. The technology may cooperate with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It may be particularly beneficial in preventing bioterrorism and the spread of toxic or infectious agents, containing airborne pandemic threats such as avian flu, sterilizing spaces such as hospitals, pharmaceutical plants and manufacturing facilities, treating exhaust ventilation streams, minimizing biological environmental pollutants in industrial settings, improving general air quality, and preventing sick building syndrome.
US08334420B2

A metal complex comprising a metal compound complexed to a heteroatomic ligand, the metal complex having Structure X: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, a substituted cycloalkyl group, an aromatic group, or a substituted aromatic group, R1c, R2c, R3c, R4c, and R5c are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group, and MXp comprises a group IVB, VB, or VIB metal. A metal complex comprising a metal compound complexed to a diphosphino aminyl ligand comprising at least two diphosphino aminyl moieties and a linking group linking each aminyl nitrogen atom of the diphosphino aminyl moieties.
US08334418B2

The invention relates to using gas hydrate (clathrate and semi-clathrate) together with a catalytic formulation, including catalyst and anti-foaming agent, to separate specific gases from a gas mixture. In particular, compound hydrate is formed from a mixed gas feedstock to concentrate one or more desired gas species in the hydrate phase and the remainder in the gas phase. The hydrate is then separated from the gas phase and dissociated to produce a gas stream concentrated in the desired species. Additives that both accelerate the growth of hydrate and facilitate dissociation and separation are added to improve the rate of reaction and, at the same time, eliminate hard-to-break foam produced by the catalyst, thereby enhancing the total throughput of the complete process. The addition of some materials can also result in changes in the density of the hydrate product, which can be useful for optimizing the separation of hydrate from unreacted liquid and/or rejected gas.
US08334413B2

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical, cosmetic and cosmeceutical topical compositions containing polyisoprenyl-protein inhibitor compounds and methods useful in the promotion of healthy epithelium and the treatment of epithelial-related conditions.
US08334411B2

A method for producing a diamine includes purifying a diamine from an aqueous solution containing a diamine salt by adding an alkaline substance to the aqueous solution and then filtering the resulting solution by allowing the solution to pass through a nanofiltration membrane to remove the salt, thereby obtaining an aqueous diamine solution.
US08334396B2

Disclosed is a process for the manufacture of saturated fatty acid esters by subjecting unsaturated fatty acid esters to hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst suitable for catalysing the saturation of double bonds in the esters, which is characterized in that said catalyst represents a homogenous complex of a Group VIII metal and a sulfonated phosphite as the polar ionic ligand.
US08334378B2

Disclosed are thiazolyl-dihydro-quinazolines of general formula (I) wherein the groups R1 to R4 have the meanings given in the claims and specification, the isomers thereof, and processes for preparing these compounds and their use as pharmaceutical compositions.
US08334376B2

Chemical entities of Formula I, II, or III, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment of cancer are described.
US08334372B2

Disclosed herein are antisense compounds and methods for decreasing Factor 11 and treating or preventing thromboembolic complications in an individual in need thereof. Examples of disease conditions that can be ameliorated with the administration of antisense compounds targeted to Factor 11 include thrombosis, embolism, and thromboembolism, such as, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Antisense compounds targeting Factor 11 can also be used as a prophylactic treatment to prevent individuals at risk for thrombosis and embolism.
US08334369B2

The invention relates to polynucleotides and polypeptides which encode UBIAD1.
US08334367B2

Functional assays that detect the effect of a particular compound or compounds on the activation of at least one human T2R polypeptide are provided. These assays include e.g., assays which detect the effect of said compound on intracellular calcium, second messengers such as cAMP, cGMP, current e.g., by use of voltage-clamp or patch-clamp, techniques, fluorescence polarization or FRET assays, and the like. These assays are useful in identifying compounds that putatively elicit or modulate (inhibit or enhance) bitter taste in human subjects, e.g. bitter taste blockers. The effect of identified compounds on taste may be further evaluated in human or animal taste tests.
US08334364B2

[Problems] A derivative of a nucleic acid antimetabolite is demanded which can show a high therapeutic effect at a low dose.[Means For Solving Problems] Disclosed is a high molecular weight derivative of a nucleic acid antimetabolite, which is characterized by comprising a high molecular weight compound comprising a polyethylene glycol moiety and a polymer moiety having a carboxyl group in a side chain and a nucleoside derivative which can act as a nucleic acid antimetabolite, wherein the carboxyl group in the side chain is bound to a hydroxyl group in the nucleoside derivative via an ester bond. Also disclosed is a method for producing the high molecular weight derivative.
US08334362B2

An apparatus and method for determining the standardized melt elasticity (sME) force of a thermoplastic polymer needed to stretch a strand of melted polymer at a speed about thirty three times faster than the speed of strand formation from a body of melted polymer under constant stress from an unencumbered dead weighted piston.
US08334361B1

A method of treating oil-based paint waste is provided which includes removing at least a portion of the solvent contained in the paint waste and emulsifying the paint waste to form a paint waste residue. The paint waste residue can be combined with varying amounts of water-based paint waste, emulsifiers, a virgin latex polymer, and a plasticizer to form various roofing products including an elastomeric sealer, a primer, and elastomeric caulk. A bedding cement is also provided which includes water-based paint, sand, and an optional plasticizer. The roofing products may be used in combination to form a strong, water-resistant roofing composite overlay for new or existing roof structures.
US08334358B2

The present invention relates to a sulfonated poly(arylene ether) copolymer, a manufacturing method thereof and a polymer electrolyte membrane for fuel cell using the same.
US08334356B1

There is provided segmented copolymer compositions and methods of making the same. The composition has one or more α,ω (alpha, omega) amine or α,ω (alpha, omega) hydroxyl terminated polysiloxane first soft segments having an average molecular weight of between about 2500 grams per mole to about 10,000 grams per mole. The composition further has one or more diisocyanate species. The composition further has one or more low molecular weight diol or diamine chain extenders. The composition has a high flexibility at an environmental temperature of down to about −100 degrees Celsius, and further has a percent elongation of greater than about 250%, a high tensile strength of greater than about 25 MPa (megapascals), and a single low glass transition temperature (Tg) in a range of from about −60 degrees Celsius to about −110 degrees Celsius.
US08334352B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a branched non dendrimeric macromolecule, comprising: a) providing an addition product of an α,β-olefinically unsaturated compound and an amine comprising at least two hydroxyl groups; and b) esterifying at least part of the hydroxyl groups of the addition product with an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid, an olefinically unsaturated carboxylate anion or an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride. The invention further relates to macromolecules obtainable by a method of the invention.
US08334348B2

Process for the modification of a polymer or copolymer having the following general structure for one or more of the repeating units: (1) wherein n is an integer, m is an integer in the range 0 to 6, and R is selected from hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20 alkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C6-C20 aryl, C7-C20 aralkyl, and C7-C20 alkaryl, which groups may include linear or branched alkyl moieties; the optional one or more substituents being selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, linear or branched alk(en)yl, aryloxy, halogen, carboxylic acid, ester, carboxy, nitrile, and amido groups, which process involves contacting the polymer or copolymer with a cyclic organic peroxide under conditions whereby at least some of said peroxide is decomposed. This process results in a (co)polymer with a high degree of branching but free of gel formation.
US08334347B2

A 2K basecoat clearcoat system includes a solvent borne basecoat having a low Tg branched polyester polyol, optionally, a high Tg, high molecular weight thermoplastic resin, and a hardener that includes an isocyanate functional material suitable for crosslinking the polyester polyol, and optional thermoplastic resin. The solvent borne clearcoat composition includes a low Tg linear or branched polyester polyol, at least one other multi-functional polyol, and an isocyanate functional material suitable for crosslinking the polyester and multi-functional polyols.
US08334339B2

Disclosed are a conjugated diene-based polymer from which a polymer composition excellent in fuel cost-saving properties and a tensile strength at break can be obtained. There is provided a conjugated diene-based polymer having a monomer unit based on a conjugated diene, a monomer unit based on a compound represented by the following formula (1), and a monomer unit based on a compound represented by the following formula (2), in which at least one end of the polymer is modified with the following compound (G). V1-S1  (1) wherein V1 represents a hydrocarbyl group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond, and S1 represents a substituted silyl group.) V2-A2  (2) wherein V2 represents a hydrocarbyl group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond, and A2 represents a substituted amino group, or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group. Compound (G): at least one kind of compound selected from the compound group consisting of a compound having an amino group optionally having a substituent and a carbonyl group, and a compound having an amino group optionally having a substituent and a thiocarbonyl group.
US08334323B2

Disclosed are compositions of the formula wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group containing from (1) to about (18) carbon atoms, provided that R1 and R2 together contain from about (8) to about (18) carbon atoms, and further provided that less than about 10 mole percent of R1 or R2 is hydrogen; R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing from (1) to about (6) carbon atoms; R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing from (2) to about (6) carbon atoms, provided that R4 and R5 together contain from (2) to about (6) carbon atoms; m is an average value ranging from (0) to about (10), and n is an average value ranging from about (3) to (about 40), provided that the group containing m and the group containing n may be exchanged with one another as to position; and z is an average value ranging from about (0.5) to about (5). These compositions are conveniently prepared by a process including at least two steps and are useful as surfactants.
US08334322B1

Drug substances comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of amine containing pharmaceutically active compounds useful for the treatment of a therapeutic ailment administration and exhibiting prophylactic properties when employed in non-therapeutic administration.
US08334320B2

The invention relates to compositions and methods of treatment using an iron chelator, an antioxidant, estrogen, and/or combinations thereof, optionally, linked to a nanoparticle, to treat a subject in need thereof. The compositions and methods may be used to restore or protect the normal functions of osteoblast and osteoclast by depleting iron and inhibiting oxidative damage. The compositions and methods may also be used to increase the bone formation rate in a subject.
US08334300B2

The present invention relates to novel C2-phenyl-substituted cyclic ketoenols of the formula (I) in which W, X, Y, Z and CKE are as defined in the description, to processes for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and herbicides.
US08334295B2

The invention is related to compounds of Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester, and/or phosphonate thereof, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds.
US08334290B2

Compounds of Formula I, including pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds, are CETP inhibitors, and are useful for raising HDL-cholesterol, reducing LDL-cholesterol, and for treating or preventing atherosclerosis.
US08334280B2

The invention relates to novel ligands of the estrogen receptors α and β of general formula II, which are useful as an active substance of pharmaceuticals, for example pharmaceutical compositions useful for hormone replacement therapy, as well as for the treatment of tumors and inflammatory diseases. The invention also relates to a novel preparation method of these ligands comprising cyclotrimerization of ethynylestradiol with the appropriate diyne in an organic solvent. Further, the invention relates to pharmaceuticals comprising the novel compounds according to the invention.
US08334276B2

Interstitial cystitis and related GAG-deficient conditions of the bladder and urinary tract are treated by instillation of high dose chondroitin sulfate, such as 400 mg/20 mL. The higher dose of chondroitin is effective for the rapid reduction of symptoms, particularly in patients with severe and otherwise recalcitrant cystitis.
US08334267B2

The present invention relates to novel mangiferin calcium and its preparation and use. The mangiferin calcium can lower plasma insulin, glucose, lipid, also can improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of mangiferin.
US08334251B2

The present invention relates to a process of treating a hard surface with a composition comprising polyalkoxylate trisiloxane. More specifically, it relates to a process of treating an horizontal hard surface, wherein a composition comprising polyalkoxylate trisiloxane is applied onto said hard surface.
US08334248B2

The present invention provides a disinfectant that contains olanexidine in a concentration sufficient to exhibit an effective bactericidal effect, and that has hardly any side effects such as skin irritation. Specifically, the present invention provides a disinfectant containing an aqueous solution that contains olanexidine and at least an equimolar amount of gluconic acid, and substantially contains neither an acid other than gluconic acid nor a salt of the acid other than gluconic acid.
US08334241B2

A grease-sealed rolling bearing with a rotary outer race is provided of which the lubricating grease has a long life, and which produces less cold-time noise and can effectively prevent leakage of grease.In an outer-race-rotating type of rolling bearing A for use e.g. as a pulley bearing, lubricating grease G is sealed which contains a base oil having a dynamic viscosity at 40° C. of 13 to 73 cSt and which is thickened with a thickening agent of urea family so that the grease is present in an amount of not less than 20% of the entire spatial volume of the interior of the rolling bearing, and not more than 80% of the stationary spatial volume of the interior of the rolling bearing.
US08334237B2

The present invention relates to oxime ether-, hydrazone- or azomethine-substituted phenylamidines of the general formula (I), to a process for their preparation, to the use of the amidines according to the invention for controlling unwanted microorganisms and also to a composition for this purpose, comprising the amidines according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling unwanted microorganisms by applying the compounds according to the invention to the microorganisms and/or their habitat.
US08334235B2

The present invention relates to thiadiazolyloxyphenylamidines of the general formula (I), to a process for the preparation thereof, to the use of the amidines according to the invention in combating undesirable microorganisms and to a composition for this purpose comprising the thiadiazolyloxyphenylamidines according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a method for combating undesirable microorganisms by application of the compounds according to the invention to the microorganisms and/or to the habitat thereof.
US08334215B2

A substrate can be appropriately oxidized, while oxidation of the substrate can be suppressed. The present invention includes a step of generating mixed plasma by causing a mixed gas of hydrogen (H2) gas and oxygen(O2) or oxygen/containing gas supplied to a processing chamber to form a plasma discharge, and processing the starting substrate by the mixed plasma; and a step of generating hydrogen plasma by causing hydrogen (H2) gas supplied to the processing chamber to form a plasma discharge, and processing the substrate by the hydrogen plasma.
US08334214B2

A susceptor treatment method including placing a first substrate on a susceptor and forming a Si film on the first substrate by epitaxial growth, placing a second substrate on the susceptor in place of the first substrate and forming a SiC film on the second substrate by epitaxial growth, and allowing HCl gas to flow downward from above the susceptor while the susceptor, from which the second substrate has been removed, is heated to a temperature and rotated to remove the remaining crystalline grains derived from the epitaxial growth of Si film and the SiC film on the susceptor.
US08334213B2

A BE patterning scheme in a MRAM is disclosed that avoids damage to the MTJ array and underlying ILD layer while reducing BE-BE shorts and BE-bit line shorts. A protective dielectric layer is coated over a MTJ array before a photoresist layer is coated and patterned on the dielectric layer. The photoresist pattern is transferred through the dielectric layer with a dielectric etch process and then through the BE layer with a metal etch that includes a certain amount of overetch to remove metal residues. The photoresist is stripped with a sequence involving immersion or spraying with an organic solution followed by oxygen ashing to remove any other organic materials. Finally, a second wet strip is performed with a water based solution to provide a residue free substrate. In another embodiment, a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is inserted between the photoresist and dielectric layer for improved critical dimension control.
US08334209B2

Methods for reducing electron beam induced damage on semiconductor substrates employ compositions such as small chain organic solvents and non-neutral pH solutions to reduce or eliminate charge imbalances on semiconductor substrates caused by electron beam inspection of the semiconductor substrates. Damage to semiconductor substrates by electron beam inspection processes may also be reduced by generating or otherwise forming passivation films on a semiconductor substrate following electron beam inspection.
US08334204B2

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device, the method includes a process for forming an interlayer film on a substrate, a process for forming an opening in the interlayer, a process for forming a conductive layer which fills the opening, and a process for forming a cap film on the surface of the conductive layer. In the process for forming the cap film, a reduction process for the surface of the conductive layer and the forming of the film are performed simultaneously.
US08334203B2

An interconnect structure is provided which comprises a semiconductor substrate; a patterned and cured photoresist wherein the photoresist contains a low k dielectric substitutent and contains a fortification layer on its top and sidewall surfaces forming vias or trenches; and a conductive fill material in the vias or trenches. Also provided is a method for fabricating an interconnect structure which comprises depositing a photoresist onto a semiconductor substrate, wherein the photoresist contains a low k dielectric constituent; imagewise exposing the photoresist to actinic radiation; then forming a pattern of vias or trenches in the photoresist; surface fortifying the pattern of vias or trenches proving a fortification layer on the top and sidewalls of the vias or trenches; curing the pattern of vias or trenches thereby converting the photoresist into a dielectric; and filling the vias and trenches with a conductive fill material.
US08334201B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, including forming a circuit block in a peripheral edge portion of a semiconductor chip, forming a circuit block pad on the circuit block to provide an electrical interface for the circuit block, and forming a bonding pad laterally offset from the circuit block and the circuit block pad, the bonding pad being electrically connected to the circuit block pad and providing a bonding wire pad for the circuit block.
US08334199B2

A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device 100 includes: a GaN substrate 10 with an m-plane surface 12; a semiconductor multilayer structure 20 provided on the m-plane surface 12 of the GaN substrate 10; and an electrode 30 provided on the semiconductor multilayer structure 20. The electrode 30 includes a Zn layer 32 and an Ag layer 34 provided on the Zn layer 32. The Zn layer 32 is in contact with a surface of a p-type semiconductor region of the semiconductor multilayer structure 20.
US08334198B2

The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a semiconductor device with a plurality of gate structures. An exemplary method of fabricating the plurality of gate structures comprises providing a silicon substrate; depositing a dummy oxide layer over the substrate; depositing a dummy gate electrode layer over the dummy oxide layer; patterning the layers to define a plurality of dummy gates; forming nitrogen-containing sidewall spacers on the plurality of dummy gates; forming an interlayer dielectric layer between the nitrogen-containing sidewall spacers; selectively depositing a hard mask layer on the interlayer dielectric layer by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process; removing the dummy gate electrode layer; removing the dummy oxide layer; depositing a gate dielectric; and depositing a gate electrode.
US08334190B2

A one-step CMP process for polishing three or more layer film stacks on a wafer having a multilayer film stack thereon including a silicon nitride (SiNx) layer on its semiconductor surface, and a silicon oxide layer on the SiNx layer, wherein trench access vias extend through the silicon oxide layer and SiNx layer to trenches formed into the semiconductor surface, and wherein a polysilicon layer fills the trench access vias, fills the trenches, and is on the silicon oxide layer. CMP polishes the multilayer film stack with a slurry including slurry particles including at least one of silica and ceria. The CMP provides a removal rate (RR) for the polysilicon layer > a RR for the silicon oxide layer > a RR for the SiNx layer. The CMP process is continued to remove the polysilicon layer, silicon oxide layer and a portion of the SiNx layer to stop on the SiNx layer. Optical endpointing during CMP can provide a predetermined remaining thickness range for the SiNx layer.
US08334184B2

Techniques are disclosed for fabricating FinFET transistors (e.g., double-gate, trigate, etc). A sacrificial gate material (such as polysilicon or other suitable material) is deposited on fin structure, and polished to remove topography in the sacrificial gate material layer prior to gate patterning. A flat, topography-free surface (e.g., flatness of 50 nm or better, depending on size of minimum feature being formed) enables subsequent gate patterning and sacrificial gate material opening (via polishing) in a FinFET process flow. Use of the techniques described herein may manifest in structural ways. For instance, a top gate surface is relatively flat (e.g., flatness of 5 to 50 nm, depending on minimum gate height or other minimum feature size) as the gate travels over the fin. Also, a top down inspection of gate lines will generally show no or minimal line edge deviation or perturbation as the line runs over a fin.
US08334180B2

A flash NAND type EEPROM system with individual ones of an array of charge storage elements, such as floating gates, being capacitively coupled with at least two control gate lines. The control gate lines are preferably positioned between floating gates to be coupled with sidewalls of floating gates. The memory cell coupling ratio is desirably increased, as a result. Both control gate lines on opposite sides of a selected row of floating gates are usually raised to the same voltage while the second control gate lines coupled to unselected rows of floating gates immediately adjacent and on opposite sides of the selected row are kept low. The control gate lines can also be capacitively coupled with the substrate in order to selectively raise its voltage in the region of selected floating gates. The length of the floating gates and the thicknesses of the control gate lines can be made less than the minimum resolution element of the process by forming an etch mask of spacers.
US08334177B2

Methods are provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. A method comprises forming a layer of a first semiconductor material overlying the bulk substrate and forming a layer of a second semiconductor material overlying the layer of the first semiconductor material. The method further comprises creating a fin pattern mask on the layer of the second semiconductor material and anisotropically etching the layer of the second semiconductor material and the layer of the first semiconductor material using the fin pattern mask as an etch mask. The anisotropic etching results in a fin formed from the second semiconductor material and an exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin. The method further comprises forming an isolation layer in the exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin.
US08334173B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus includes: forming a protrusion made of a conductor on each of the electrodes provided on a semiconductor wafer top face side of a plurality of semiconductor devices formed in a semiconductor wafer; making a trench in the top face between the plurality of semiconductor devices; filling an insulator into a gap between the protrusions and into the trench to form a sealing member; grinding a bottom face of the semiconductor wafer opposing the top face until the sealing member being exposed to divide the semiconductor wafer into each of the semiconductor devices; forming a first lead made of a conductor on each of the protrusions, the first lead forming a portion of a first external electrode; forming a conductive material layer directly to form a second lead on the bottom face of the plurality of semiconductor devices, the second lead forming the second external electrode; and cutting the sealing member between the plurality of semiconductor devices to separate the plurality of semiconductor devices from each other.
US08334172B2

Technology capable of preventing the deterioration of the reliability of semiconductor devices caused by the gasification of a part of the material constituting a wiring substrate is provided. A wiring layer constituting a circuit pattern is formed over each of the front and rear surfaces of a glass epoxy substrate, and after the formation of a solder resist covering the wiring layer while exposing a part of the wiring layer and prior to a heat treatment (first heat treatment) at 100° C. to 150° C. for dehumidification, a heat treatment (second heat treatment) at 160° C. to 230° C. for gasifying and discharging an organic solvent contained in the material constituting a wiring substrate is performed for the wiring substrate.
US08334168B2

An organic light emitting display device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The organic light emitting display device includes a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate, an inorganic pixel defining layer formed on the first electrode and having an opening exposing at least a portion of the first electrode, an organic layer disposed on the first electrode and having at least an organic emission layer, and a second electrode formed on the organic layer.
US08334157B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises depositing a semiconductor layer over a semiconductor surface having at least one first region with a first (average surface lattice) parameter value and at least one second region having a second parameter value different from the first. The semiconductor layer is deposited to a thickness so self-organized islands form over both the first and second regions. The difference in the parameter value means the islands over the first region have a first average parameter value and the islands over the second region have a second average parameter value different from the first. A capping layer is deposited over islands and has a greater forbidden bandgap than the islands whereby the islands form quantum dots, which have different properties over the first and second regions due to difference(s) between the first and second region islands.
US08334148B2

An example embodiment relates to a method of forming a pattern structure, including forming an object layer on a substrate, and forming a hard mask on the object layer. A plasma reactive etching process is performed on the object layer using an etching gas including a fluorine containing gas and ammonia (NH3) gas together with oxygen gas to form a pattern. The oxygen gas is used for suppressing the removal of the hard mask during the etching process.
US08334146B2

The binding specificity of at least one plasma protein suspended or dissolved in a liquid medium is altered by exposing the protein to an oxidizing agent or an electric current sufficient to alter its binding specificity. A masked protein such as an autoantibody can be recovered from blood or blood products or extracts by oxidizing the protein to change its binding specificity.
US08334142B2

Closed-loop control of a hydrocarbon process is provided by an analyzer including an instrument configured for measuring a property of the liquid mixture, and having responsivities to concentrations of one of the components, independent of concentrations of others of the components. A temperature detector generates temperature data for the liquid mixture, and a processor captures data generated by the temperature detector and the instrument, and uses the data in combination with a model of responsivities to various concentrations of the components at various temperatures, to determine a temperature compensated concentration of the components while the liquid mixture flows continuously through the analyzer. A process control module including a process model of the hydrocarbon process, is coupled to the analyzer and is couplable to the hydrocarbon process, to receive the temperature compensated concentration and to generate at least one output configured to affect operation of the hydrocarbon process.
US08334141B2

The detecting and monitoring of solid structure or phase transformation, such as those used for testing the formation of gas hydrates and their inhibition by chemical additives may be conducted in a multi-test assembly of laboratory bench scale loops. The test loop contains a fluid that includes water and hydrate-forming guest molecules such as methane, ethane, carbon dioxide and the like at hydrate-forming conditions of low temperature and high pressure. A small bit or “pig” may be circulated through the test loop at variable speeds to circulate the fluid in the loop. The pig may be moved or impelled through the test loop remotely. The exterior of the pig and/or the interior of the loop may be smooth and/or have a friction-reducing coating thereon to facilitate movement of the pig through the loop. The formation of hydrates may be monitored with consistent and reproducible results.
US08334138B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods for the culture and maintenance of pluripotent stem cells. More particularly, the present invention provides for compositions and methods for culturing, maintaining, growing and stabilizing primate pluripotent stem cells in a feeder-free defined media further comprising human serum, or a soluble attachment component of the human serum, for promoting cell attachment.
US08334135B2

The invention concerns adult multipotent human stem cells, characterized in that they have: i) significant telomerase activity, ii) an HLA Class I negative phenotype, iii) a normal karyotype, iv) a capacity to become quiescent, v) a capacity for self-renewal preserved for at least 130 population doublings.
US08334127B2

The use of biomaterials, such as viruses and virus-like particles, to form nanostructures is generally disclosed. For instance, rod-like viruses can be used to form composite nanofibers that are fixed together in a head-to-tail assembly by a polymer. Also, 2-dimensional nanostructures formed from crosslinked viruses assembled in a single, film-like layer are generally disclosed. Porous gels having controllable pore size through the use of virus particles are also disclosed.
US08334126B2

The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide having a polynucleotide sequence which codes for the alr gene, and a host-vector system having a coryneform host bacterium in which the alr gene is present in attenuated form and a vector which carries at least the alr gene according to SEQ ID No 1, and the use of polynucleotides which comprise the sequences according to the invention as hybridization probes.
US08334116B2

The present invention provides novel isothermal methods of generating multiple copies of, detecting and/or quantifying nucleic acid sequences of interest based on limited primer extension or attachment of oligonucleotide pairs using composite RNA/DNA primers. Methods for generating multiple copies of and/or detecting and/or quantifying nucleic acid sequences, wherein products of primer extension or attachment of oligonucleotide pairs comprising a cleavable portion are generated, and wherein cleavage of the products results in dissociation of cleaved products from target polynucleotides, are provided. The invention further provides compositions, kits and systems for practicing these methods.
US08334104B2

Methods and reagents are disclosed for pretreating a sample suspected of containing a hydrophobic drug for conducting an assay method for detecting the hydrophobic drug. A combination is provided in a medium that includes the sample, a releasing agent for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties, and a selective solubility agent that provides for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The selective solubility agent includes a water miscible, non-volatile organic solvent and is present in the medium in a concentration sufficient to provide for substantially equal solubility of the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites in the medium. The medium, which may further include a hemolytic agent, is incubated under conditions for releasing the hydrophobic drug and the metabolites from endogenous binding moieties. The pretreated sample may be subjected to an assay for determining the hydrophobic drug.
US08334100B2

Encephalotoxin produced by activated mononuclear phagocytes is present in individuals having neurological disease including neurodegenerative and neuro-inflammatory diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), HIV-1-associated dementia (HAD), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, prion disease, minor cognitive/motor dysfunction, acute stroke, acute trauma, or neuro-AIDS. Biochemical detection of encephalotoxin according to the methods of the invention will allow diagnosis of neurological disease in early, presymptomatic stages, thereby allowing early intervention in disease progression as well as identification of subjects or populations at risk for developing neurodegenerative disease. The methods of the invention also provide a mechanism for monitoring progression and treatment of neurological disease.
US08334094B2

Devices, systems, and methods reduce levels of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators in blood by selective adsorption. The devices, systems, and methods are useful in situations where abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators occur, or during events that do induce or have the potential for inducing abnormal production of pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators. The devices, systems, and methods serve to prevent, control, reduce, or alleviate the severity of the inflammatory response and disease states that are associated with abnormal levels of or unregulated or excessive interaction among pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimulators or mediators.
US08334091B2

To provide a method for easily forming microscopic patterns exceeding the limit of exposure in the patterning technique utilizing the photolithography method in the vacuum deep ultraviolet ray region, a resist pattern swelling material is comprised by mixing a water-soluble or alkali-soluble composition comprising a resin and a cross linking agent and any one of a non-ionic interfacial active agent and an organic solvent selected from a group of the alcohol based, chain or cyclic ester based, ketone based, chain or cyclic ether based organic solvents.
US08334089B2

For patterning during integrated circuit fabrication, an image layer is activated for forming a respective first type polymer block at each of two nearest activated areas. A layer of block copolymer is formed on the image layer, and a plurality of the first type polymer blocks and a plurality of second and third types of polymer blocks are formed on an area of the image layer between outer edges of the two nearest activated areas, from the block copolymer. At least one of the first, second, and third types of polymer blocks are removed to form a variety of mask structures.
US08334087B2

A radiation-sensitive composition includes (A) an acid-dissociable group-containing polymer, and (B) a radiation-sensitive acid generator. The acid-dissociable group-containing polymer (A) includes a polymer that includes a repeating unit shown by a general formula (1) in which R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a fluorine atom, or a trifluoromethyl group, R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, Y represents a carbon atom, and X represents an atomic group that forms an alicyclic hydrocarbon group together with Y.
US08334081B2

For the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, a metal alloy catalyst contains the metals Pd, M1 and M2 where M1 and M2 are different metals selected from Co, Fe, Au, Cr and W (but excluding the combination PdCoAu). Preferred ternary alloys for use as catalysts may be selected from PdCoCr, PdCoW, PdFeCr, PdFeW, PdCrW, PdWAu, PdCrAu, PdCoFe and PdFeAu. Compositional ranges that are specially effective are assessed by a high throughput physical vapor deposition method. Catalysts especially suitable for use in direct methanol fuel cells are identified.
US08334079B2

A solid oxide fuel cell has anode, cathode and electrolyte layers each formed essentially of a multi-oxide ceramic material and having a far-from-equilibrium, metastable structure selected from the group consisting of nanocrystalline, nanocomposite and amorphous. The electrolyte layer has a matrix of the ceramic material, and is impervious and serves as a fast oxygen ion conductor. The electrolyte layer has a matrix of the ceramic material and a dopant dispersed therein in an amount substantially greater than its equilibrium solubility in the ceramic matrix. The anode layer includes a continuous surface area metallic phase in which electron conduction is provided by the metallic phase and the multi-oxide ceramic matrix provides ionic conduction.
US08334075B2

A composite solid electrolyte includes a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Such composites may be made by disclosed techniques. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte.
US08334071B2

A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an electrode body including a positive electrode and a negative electrode superimposed upon each other with a separator interposed therebetween. The negative electrode is superimposed upon the positive electrode in a state where a negative electrode active material layer, except the part on a proximal end part of a negative electrode tab, is positioned inside an outer edge of a positive electrode active material layer of the positive electrode. A width H1 of the negative electrode active material layer including the part on the proximal end part of the negative electrode tab, width H2 of the negative electrode active material layer or negative electrode current collector at a part other than the negative electrode tab, and width H3 of the positive electrode active material layer are formed to satisfy the relationships of H2
US08334067B2

Cathodes that include an active cathode material are described. The active cathode material can be coated.
US08334066B2

A secondary battery having a simplified structure by which a lead of a safety device can be adhered to the battery includes an electrode unit having a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate and a separator disposed therebetween, a can having a bottom portion and made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the can in which the electrode unit and an electrolytic solution are accommodated and sealed, and a surface coating provided on at least an outer surface of the bottom portion of the can to which the lead is attached.
US08334064B2

In a battery receiving mechanism in which one end of a casing for receiving a battery has an opening section for exposing an electrode of a battery and this opening section is opened and closed by a cover, the cover is divided to an outer section and an inner section sliding to each other and the outer section is connected to a casing by a hinge having a long hole. The inner section has a part engaged with the casing. When the cover is opened, the cover can be opened with a short stroke without rubbing the battery.
US08334058B2

The present invention relates to the improvement of organic electroluminescent devices, in particular blue-emitting devices, by using compounds of the formula (1) as dopants in the emitting layer.
US08334053B2

A seal structure is provided for an energy storage device. The seal structure includes a first sealing glass composition and a second sealing glass composition joining an ion-conducting first ceramic to an electrically insulating second ceramic. The first sealing glass composition includes less than or equal to about 20 weight percent silica based on the weight of the first sealing glass composition. The second sealing glass composition includes greater than or equal to about 40 weight percent silica based on the weight of the second sealing glass composition. A method for making the seal structure is provided. An article comprising the seal structure is also provided.
US08334050B2

Fibrous structures that exhibit a Geometric Mean Modulus (GM Modulus) of less than 1070 g/cm as measured according to the Modulus Test Method described herein and a Geometric Mean Elongation (GM Elongation or GM Elong) of less than 15% measured according to the Elongation Test Method described herein are provided.
US08334049B2

Fibrous structures that exhibit a Tensile Ratio of greater than 0.5 as measured according to the Tensile Strength Test Method described herein and a Geometric Mean Flexural Rigidity (GM Flexural Rigidity or GM Flex) of less than 195 mg*cm2/cm as measured according to the Flexural Rigidity Test Method described herein and/or a Geometric Mean Modulus (GM Modulus) of less than 935 g/cm and/or a Machine Direction Modulus (MD Modulus) of less than 845 g/cm, are provided.
US08334042B2

There is provided a lightweight sandwich panel of exceptional utility, which satisfies the flexural strength and in-plane shear strength requirements for an inner wall material used in aircraft. The sandwich panel comprises a laminating material in which a plurality of fiber bodies is laminated, and a surface material, the laminating material and the surface material being laminated in the stated order from the inside to the outside on the upper and lower surfaces of a hollow columnar core. The laminating material comprises at least four unidirectional fiber bodies each of which has fibers aligned in a uniform direction and is laminated so that each of the fiber directions thereof is at approximately 0°, +45°, −45°, and 90°, respectively, in relation to one edge of the sandwich panel. The unidirectional fiber bodies are stitched together using a stitching yarn.
US08334041B2

A drop cloth includes: a sheet of material having a length substantially greater than its width; and a series of panels, each panel being connected to sheet along the length of the sheet. The panels are generally identical to one another and are equally spaced along the length of the sheet such that, when the drop cloth is applied to a staircase, a first panel of a pair of adjacent panels covers a horizontal section of the stairs and the other panel of the pair of adjacent panels covers a vertical section of the stairs, with a fabric area extending between the pair of adjacent panels and over a nose of a stair. The drop cloth can be used for protection against drips and spills when painting along a staircase. The drop cloth also can be used when painting along a wall of a room.
US08334032B2

The present invention provides a fuel tank excellent in strength, low fuel permeability and durability in spite of its being light in weight as well as a method of producing such fuel tank by which the tank can be molded in a complicated shape with ease and at low production cost. The present invention is a fuel tank, produced by joining of at least two discrete parts of a tank and each having a laminate structure comprising a fluororesin layer and a thermoplastic resin layer in such a manner that at least the fluororesin layers of the parts are joined together to form the inner surface layer of the fluororesin layer.
US08334025B2

The present invention provides a low viscosity photocurable composition including (i) a cationically curable component (ii) a free radically active component (iii) an antimony-free cationic photoinitiator (v) a free radical photoinitiator, and (vi) a toughening agent. The photocurable composition can be cured using rapid prototyping techniques to form three-dimensional articles which can be used in various aerospace and investment casting applications.
US08334023B2

Methods for operating a material dispensing system. The method includes measuring numerical values of an operating parameter, such as line velocity, material pressure, or material temperature, of the dispensing system to predict a future numerical value of the operating parameter. The predicted numerical value of the operating parameter is used to accurately define a start time, which is measured from the detection of the presence of a workpiece being transported past an applicator of the dispensing system, at which to initiate dispensing of the material from the applicator. A calibration procedure is provided for deriving a mathematical relationship used to determine the predicted numerical value of the operating parameter.
US08334014B1

The present disclosure provides oxide microparticles with engineered hierarchical porosity and methods of manufacturing the same. Also described are structures that are formed by templating, impregnating, and/or precipitating the oxide microparticles and method for forming the same. Suitable applications include catalysts, electrocatalysts, electrocatalysts support materials, capacitors, drug delivery systems, sensors and chromatography.
US08334006B2

Highly purified Stevioside, Rebaudioside A and a purified sweet steviol glycoside mixture were prepared from sweet glycoside extracts obtained from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaves. The resulting sweeteners are suitable as non-calorie, non-cariogenic, non-bitter, non-lingering sweeteners, which may be advantageously applied in foods, beverages, and milk products.
US08333998B2

The present invention relates to a herbal mixture extract of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Acanthopanacis Cortex and a composition comprising the same for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.The herbal mixture extract of the present invention enhances the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in osteoblasts and effectively inhibits the generation and activation of osteoclasts, so that it can be effectively used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
US08333990B2

A solid pharmaceutical dosage form providing improved oral bioavailability is disclosed for inhibitors of HIV protease. In particular, the dosage form comprises a solid dispersion of at least one HIV protease inhibitor and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polymer and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant, said pharmaceutically acceptable water-soluble polymer having a Tg of at least about 50° C. Preferably, the pharmaceutically acceptable surfactant has an HLB value of from about 4 to about 10.
US08333985B2

A demineralized bone matrix (DBM) or other matrix composition is provided that has been stabilized by lowering the pH of the composition, reducing the water content, adding water substitutes, and/or increasing the amount of deuterated water present in the composition in order to reduce the activity of endogenous degrading enzymes such as proteases. A hydrated form of a stabilized DBM composition may be stable up to a year at room temperature at acidic pH. The acidified DBM compositions may be further stabilized by the addition of a stabilizing agent such as deuterated water, water substitutes, polymers, protease inhibitors, glycerol or hydrogels.
US08333978B2

Mycobacterium w or its components are found to have poly TLR antagonistic activity to induced TLRs by varieties of TLR ligands. The induced TLR against which inhibitory effect is seen includes TLR 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. They also display antagonistic activities to effects of TLR ligands. They are also useful in management of diseases wherein TLRs are over expressed, like sepsis, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases multiple myeloma etc.
US08333976B2

A process for inhibiting development of allergic disease comprises exposing a neonatal or immature mammal or bird to irradiation-detoxified lipopolysaccharide derived from microbial, protozoan and/or fungal endotoxin.
US08333972B2

The invention provides a novel antigen, MPD6, which belongs to the group of cryptic antigens without conventional genomic structure and is encoded by a cryptic open reading frame located in the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of myotrophin mRNA. MPD6 elicits IgG antibody responses in a subset of PV patients, as well as patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia and prostate cancer. The translation of MPD6 was mediated by a novel internal ribosome entry site (IRES) upstream of the MPD6 reading frame. Furthermore, the MPD6-IRES mediated translation, but not myotrophin-MPD6 transcription, was significantly upregulated in response to IFN-α stimulation. These findings demonstrate that a novel IRES-mediated mechanism is responsible for the translation of unconventional self-antigen MPD6 in responsive to IFN-α stimulation. The eliciting anti-tumor immune response against unconventional antigen MPD6 in patients with myeloproliferative diseases indicates MPD6 as a target of novel immunotherapy.
US08333969B2

The present invention relates to use of an antagonist of BIR1 (B cell immunoglobulin receptor 1) related to the present invention, a method for screening the antagonist, in addition to subtype polypeptides of BIR1, the polynucleotide encoding them and antibodies for the polypeptides. BIR1 functions as an immunosuppressive receptor, and the antagonist of BIR1 has immunopotentive activity, which is able to use for preventing and/or treating a cancer, an immunodeficiency disease or an infectious disease.
US08333967B2

An anti-Aβ oligomer humanized antibody which does not bind to Aβ monomers and specifically binds only to Aβ oligomers; an anti-cognitive dysfunction agent, an agent for treating Alzheimer's disease, an agent for suppressing formation of neuritic plaque and an inhibitor of formation of Aβ amyloid fiber comprising the antibody as an active ingredient; a method for at least one of preventing and treating cognitive dysfunction or Alzheimer's disease, comprising the step of administering the antibody; and a method for suppressing progression of Alzheimer's disease, comprising the step of administering the antibody.
US08333965B2

The present invention includes compositions and methods that include antibodies that selectively neutralize a bioactivity of at least two interferon alpha (“IFNα”) protein subtypes for the protein subtypes A, 2, B2, C, F, G, H2, I, J1, K, 4a, 4b and WA, but does not neutralize at least one bioactivity of IFNα protein subtype D. Examples of bioactivity for measurement include activation of the MxA promoter or antiviral activity and variants, derivatives and fragments thereof. The invention also includes host cells, hybridomas and plasmacytomas that produce antibodies. Because of their unique selectivity and affinity, the antibodies of the present invention are useful to detect IFNα subtypes in sample or tissue and/or for therapeutic applications that include, but are not limited to the treatment and/or amelioration of an IFNα related disorder such as SLE, lupus, type I diabetes, psoriasis, AIDS and Graft versus Host Disease.
US08333964B2

The present application describes the use of ErbB antagonist, especially ErbB2 antibodies such as rhuMAb 2C4, for treating pain.
US08333951B2

A method produces a product gas rich in hydrogen. A starting material including carbon is split via pyrolysis, and the resulting gas is mixed with water vapor to increase the hydrogen content and heated. The heat necessary comes from the combustion of the produced pyrolysis coke. The heat necessary for individual process steps is fed via a heat transfer medium circuit having a heating zone heated via flue gas from the pyrolysis coke firing. The gas/water vapor mixture is subsequently heated in a reaction zone. The heat transfer medium heats the starting material in a pyrolysis zone indirectly, without directly contacting the starting material, is cooled in a cooling zone, and subsequently returns to the beginning of the circuit. Upstream of the heating zone, the heat transfer medium is preheated via the hot product gas.
US08333950B2

A method of producing lithium metal oxides can include mixing lithium salt and a metal oxide to form a composition, heating the composition in a first reactor, transferring the composition to a second reactor, and passing the composition through the second reactor to anneal the composition to form lithium metal oxides. The second reactor can be a fluidized bed reactor. The lithium metal oxide can have an average crystal size of between about 5 microns and about 20 microns.
US08333947B2

A method for manufacturing carbon nanotubes includes the steps of: preparing metal-containing-nanofibers which include nanofibers made of organic polymer and metal which possesses a catalytic function in forming carbon nanotubes; and forming carbon nanotubes which contain metal therein by using the nanofibers as a carbon source, wherein the carbon nanotubes are formed by putting the metal-containing-nanofibers into a heating vessel which has a substance capable of converting electromagnetic energy into heat, and by heating the metal-containing-nanofibers using heat which is generated by the heating vessel when electromagnetic energy is applied to the heating vessel.
US08333934B2

The present invention relates to a device for interfacing nanofluidic and microfluidic components suitable for use in performing high throughput macromolecular analysis. Diffraction gradient lithography (DGL) is used to form a gradient interface between a microfluidic area and a nanofluidic area. The gradient interface area reduces the local entropic barrier to nanochannels formed in the nanofluidic area. In one embodiment, the gradient interface area is formed of lateral spatial gradient structures for narrowing the cross section of a value from the micron to the nanometer length scale. In another embodiment, the gradient interface area is formed of a vertical sloped gradient structure. Additionally, the gradient structure can provide both a lateral and vertical gradient.
US08333933B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a process challenge device for a high-pressure steam sterilizer capable of reuse with little trouble.A process challenge device 1 for a high-pressure steam sterilizer, includes a plurality of stacked steam permeable bodies 7, 8, and 9 formed by a material capable of permeating of steam 11 and an indicator 10. The steam permeable bodies 8 (except the steam permeable bodies 7 and 9 arranged at both sides among the stacked steam permeable bodies 7, 8, and 9) each have an opening 8a for accommodating the indicator 10. The steam permeable bodies 7, 8, and 9 are stacked, so that the indicator 10 is surrounded by the inner wall of a cavity 24 formed by the openings 8a of the intermediate steam permeable bodies communicated with one another and the steam permeable bodies 7 and 9 arranged at both sides. The indicator 10 is contained in the cavity 24, so that a group 6 of the above-mentioned stacked steam permeable bodies containing the indicator 10 therein is fitted into and taken out of a casing 2 at will.
US08333932B2

A substrate includes; a fiducial mark disposed on the substrate, an area on the substrate on which a probe material is configured to be immobilized, the area being separated from the fiducial mark, and a probe immobilization compound disposed on the area on the substrate on which the probe material is configured to be immobilized, wherein the fiducial mark has a structure which reflects irradiated light at a greater intensity than an intensity of reflected irradiated light form the area on the substrate not corresponding to the fiducial mark.
US08333930B2

Upper space on the front surface side of a reaction plate, provided with at least a reaction container causing reaction in a sample and a reagent container containing a reagent used for reaction with the sample, is covered with an airtight cover. A dispensation tip (20) for transporting liquid on the reaction plate is arranged in such a way that the distal end side is located on the inside of the covered space and the proximal portion is located on the outside. In order to handle a reaction kit (80) supported movably in the perpendicular direction and in the in-plane direction with respect to the front surface of the reaction plate, a table (82) for attaching the reaction kit (80), a drive unit (36) engaging with the proximal end of the dispensation tip (20) and driving the movement and the dispensation operation of the tip (20), a detection unit (38) for optically detecting a reaction product by receiving light generated through interaction with the reaction product on the reaction plate or the light generated from the reaction product, and a control section for controlling at least the dispensation operation by the drive unit (36) and the detection operation by the detection unit (38) are provided.
US08333925B2

A workstation for pipetting provides for an ergonomic pipetting environment. Test tubes, centrifuge tubes, micro tubes and micro plates are inserted into a top plate, which is designed to hold such devices in a desired configuration. The top plate is adjustable with respect to height and planar angle, so that extensive pipetting efforts are less likely to result in repetitive stress related injuries.
US08333923B2

A gray cast iron alloy is disclosed. The gray cast iron alloy includes carbon from about 3.05 to about 3.40 weight percent, niobium from about 0.05 to about 0.3 weight percent, and silicon from about 1.75 to about 2.3 weight percent. The gray cast iron alloy also includes nickel less than or equal to about 0.06 weight percent.
US08333915B2

A fine-structure transfer method in which a fine-featured pattern formed on one of the two surfaces of a stamper is pressed against a coating of a resist on one of the two surfaces of a transfer element so as to transfer the fine-featured pattern to the resist coating, wherein the atmosphere in the space between the stamper and the transfer element is replaced by the vapor of the resist before the stamper is pressed against the transfer element.
US08333913B2

A sputtering target including an oxide sintered body, the oxide sintered body containing indium (In) and at least one element selected from gadolinium (Gd), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er) and ytterbium (Yb), and the oxide sintered body substantially being of a bixbyite structure.
US08333908B2

A fluorine insolubilizer capable of sufficiently insolubilizing fluorine within a short time contains calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate in an amount of 95-40 mass % and hydroxy or hydroxyl apatite in an amount of 5-60 mass % for a total of 100 mass %.
US08333899B2

According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes forming on a magnetic recording layer a first hard mask, a second hard mask, a third hard mask and a resist, imprinting the resist with a stamper, removing a residue left in the recesses of the patterned resist, etching the third hard mask by use of the patterned resist as a mask, etching the second hard mask by use of the third hard mask as a mask, etching the first hard mask by use of the second hard mask as a mask, forming a pattern of the magnetic recording layer with ion beam irradiation, and removing the first hard mask by use of a remover liquid with higher reactivity to the metal material of the first hard mask than to a constituent element of the magnetic recording layer.
US08333892B2

Multiple water purifier modules are stacked in a rack having manifolds for each of the various water filtration functions: feed, concentrate, and filtrate. Each module connects to the rack by a quick connect for each of the filtration tubes. The quick connects are of the self-sealing type. A handle on the end of the module away from the rack has a lever for causing the quick connects to release the module from the rack while the system remains in operation. The, module can then be totally removed from the rack for testing, service, or replacement while the overall system remains in operation. Each module contains complete filtration media. The water is passed into the feed tubes under pressure where it passes into an elongated cavity filled with elongated hollow fibers. Filtrate, such as purer water, passes through the walls of the hollow fibers to an outlet, while concentrate, which is fluid with a high percent of impurities, flows from the cavity into concentrate tubes to another outlet for disposal. The tubes and concentrate tubes are small diameter tubes with small holes spaced along their lengths. The tubes lie at opposite sides of the cavity, rather than at opposite ends, and the tubes are surrounded by the fibers that are tightly packed together and that are tightly packed around the tubes, to control the flow rate of feed fluid between them.
US08333884B2

Partial conversion hydrocracking process comprising the steps of (a) hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feedstock with a hydrogen-rich gas to produce a hydrotreated effluent stream comprising a liquid/vapor mixture and separating the liquid/vapor mixture into a liquid phase and a vapor phase, and (b) separating the liquid phase into a controlled liquid portion and an excess liquid portion, and (c) combining the vapor phase with the excess liquid portion to form a vapor plus liquid portion, and (d) separating an FCC feed-containing fraction from the controlled liquid portion and simultaneously hydrocracking the vapor plus liquid portion to produce a diesel-containing fraction, or hydrocracking the controlled liquid portion to produce a diesel-containing fraction and simultaneously separating a FCC feed-containing fraction from the vapor plus liquid portion. The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out the partial conversion hydrocracking process.
US08333879B2

A composition for use in electrodeposition includes a resin blend, a coalescing solvent, a catalyst, water, and a highly cross-linked microgel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel. Another composition for use in electrodeposition includes a surfactant blend, a low ion polyol, phenoxypropanol, a catalyst, water, a flexibilizer, and a highly cross-linked microgel, wherein at least 20 percent by weight of resin solids in the composition is the highly cross-linked microgel.
US08333865B2

Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape made of a flat, support material each side of which is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the pressure-sensitive adhesive on at least one side being produced from a monomer mixture comprising a monomer of the formula CH2═CH(R1)(COOR2),where R1═H or CH3 and R2 is an alkyl radical having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or H and the homopolymer possesses a static glass transition temperature of <−30° C.
US08333861B2

A method for forming a reservoir for holding ink in an ink tank, the method includes providing a housing; inserting a spring into the housing such that a first end of the spring contacts a back wall of the housing; placing a first surface of a plate against a second end of the spring; bringing a flexible sheet into contact with an edge of a side wall of the housing; welding the flexible sheet to the edge of the side wall of the housing while applying a first level of vacuum between the flexible sheet and the back wall of the housing; and applying heat to the flexible sheet in a region corresponding to the plate while applying a second level of vacuum between the flexible sheet and the back wall of the housing, wherein the second level of vacuum is greater than the first level.
US08333857B2

A composite reinforcing bar is formed by providing a reinforcing material supply of fiber strands rovings; a resin supply bath, and a puller for pulling the resin-impregnated reinforcing material through the resin bath. The material is wound on a holder, while the resin remains unset, rotated about its axis on a drive system so that the material is wrapped around a plurality of bars at spaced positions around the axis such that the fed length of the body is wrapped from one bar to the next to form bent portions of the body wrapped partly around each bar and straight portions between the bars. Each bar has angularly grooves which are shaped to mold the bent portions to a required bent shape. The holder is indexed along it axis and removed when full for curing the resin on the holder while the body remains wrapped thereon.
US08333855B2

A method for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity, comprising the steps of (i) applying a first conductive material to the flap of the envelope in an first area corresponding to a first seal location between the flap and the body portion of the envelope and (ii) applying a second conductive material to the body portion of the envelope in a second area corresponding to a second seal location between the body portion and flap of the envelope, the first and second seal locations being selected such that an end of the first conductive material contacts an end of the second conductive material when the conductive materials are arranged in a substantially common plane. The method further comprises the steps of sealing the flap to the body portion by closing the flap onto the body portion of the envelope to cause the conductive materials to lie in the substantially common plane, and inspecting the sealing interface to determine whether the conductive materials exhibit a property of electrical continuity thereby confirming that a seal has been formed between the flap and body portion of the envelope. A system and article is also described for producing an envelope having improved seal integrity.
US08333851B2

A method for producing a two-phase stainless steel pipe, which comprises: preparing a two-phase stainless steel material consisting of, by mass %, C: 0.03% or less, Si: 1% or less, Mn: 0.1 to 2%, Cr: 20 to 35%, Ni: 3 to 10%, Mo: 0 to 4%, W: 0.5 to 6%, Cu: 0 to 3% and N: more than 0.175 and up to 0.35%, and the balance being Fe and impurities; forming a material pipe by subjecting to a hot working: and performing a cold drawing, where the cold drawing is characterized in being performed under the conditions that the working ratio Rd, in terms of the reduction of area, in the final cold drawing step is within a range from 5 to 35%, and the following formula (1) is satisfied: Rd(%)≧(MYS−55)/17.2−{1.2×Cr+3.0×(Mo+0.5×W)}  (1).
US08333849B2

A material for brake discs has temper softening resistance sufficient to maintain a hardness of HRC 31 or more after tempering at 700° C. for one hour. The low-carbon martensitic chromium-containing steel contains 0.02% to 0.10% of carbon and 0.02% to 0.10% of nitrogen, the total content of carbon and nitrogen being 0.08% to 0.16%; 0.5% or less of silicon; 0.1% or less of aluminum; 0.3% to 3.0% of manganese; 10.5% to 13.5% of chromium; 0.05% to 0.60% of niobium and 0.15% to 0.80% of vanadium, the total content of niobium and vanadium being 0.25% to 0.95%; 0.02% to 2.0% of nickel; and 1.5% or less of copper, and has an Fp value (=−230C+5Si−5Mn−6Cu+10Cr−12Ni+32Nb+22V+l2Mo+8W+10Ta+40A1−220N) of 80.0 to 96.0, a hardness after quenching of HRC 31 to 40, and a hardness after tempering at 700° C. for one hour of HRC 31 or more.
US08333848B2

The present invention relates to a permanent magnet manufactured by steps of: wet-pulverizing a high-melting metal element-containing organic compound or a precursor of a high-melting ceramic in a solvent together with a magnet raw material to pulverize the magnet raw material into fine particles having a grain size of 3 μm or less and to coat a surface of the pulverized magnet raw material with the high-melting metal element-containing organic compound or the precursor of the high-melting ceramic; adding a resin binder to the magnet raw material coated with the high-melting metal element-containing organic compound or the precursor of the high-melting ceramic; producing a slurry by kneading the magnet raw material and the resin binder; molding the slurry into a sheet form to prepare a green sheet; and sintering the green sheet.
US08333829B2

Sprayable liquid emulsion polymer coating compositions comprised of polymer resin and a plurality of additives for the purpose of protecting, restoring, reconditioning, rejuvenating, and enhancing the color, luster and durability of a multitude of different newer and older substrate types. These coating and sealing compositions are anti-mold, anti-graffiti, they withstand temperatures up to, and most likely in excess of, 300 degrees Fahrenheit without compromising their structural integrity, and they protect against the substrate-degrading effects of oxygen, ozone, UV-radiation, moisture and dry rot. They are also environmentally and user-friendly because they comprise minimal amounts of hazardous constituents.
US08333824B2

A sorption agent comprising activated carbon and an impregnation of the activated carbon for the sorption of air pollutants, wherein the impregnation contains a zinc compound and a molybdenum compound, as well as a gas-filtering element, such as a respirator canister, containing said sorption agent.
US08333818B2

A compressed air filter and a filter element which is for separating foreign bodies from a compressed air stream and which has an element lower portion, an element upper portion which has a neck portion which forms a first flow channel and a collar portion which is constructed so as to extend at least partially around the neck portion and which is connected to the neck portion so as to form a second flow channel, and a filter medium which is sealingly connected to the element lower portion and the element upper portion in order to form a gas flow path between the first flow channel and the second flow channel through the filter medium, the collar portion having an abutment face, which is provided at least partially at the outer periphery and which tapers in the direction of the element lower portion, in order to receive an associated sealing ring in such a manner that a force which acts substantially axially on the sealing ring from the direction of the element lower portion brings about radial expansion of the sealing ring along the abutment face.
US08333808B2

A hair dyeing agent, a combination of the hair dyeing agent and a softener for dyeing hair and the method of using the combination are disclosed. The hair dyeing agent comprises a dye active, a mordant active, a stabilizer, water, and a carrier and/or an excipient. The dye active is selected from gallic acids, salts and esters thereof and their combinations. The mordant active is a ferrous salt selected from ferrous sulfate, ferrous chloride, ferrous nitrate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous lactate and ferrous fumarate.
US08333793B2

A heat and steam generator for eye application includes a heat and steam generating member making use of oxidative reaction of an oxidizable metal and is adapted to supply steam to eyes and surroundings. The heat and steam generator is adapted to release steam from its side brought into contact with eyes and surroundings for a period of 1 to 30 minutes to maintain the skin surface temperature to which it is applied at 34° C. to 43° C. over a period of 1 to 120 minutes. The heat and steam generator has a stiffness of 0.01 to 10 N/7 cm-width. The heat and steam generator is effective in improving near triad causing reduction in vision.
US08333787B2

Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.
US08333778B2

An ultrasonic surgical assembly includes an ultrasonic transducer operable to convert a received motional voltage into a movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide, a motional feedback circuit connected in a parallel configuration with the transducer, a variable power source operable to apply a first voltage between a set of connection points to the parallel configuration, a voltage meter operable to determine a feedback voltage measured from the motional feedback circuit, and a voltage controller operable to vary an output of the power source based upon the measured feedback voltage, resulting in a substantially constant feedback voltage and maintaining a substantially constant rate of movement of the cutting blade across a variety of cutting loads.
US08333769B2

An apparatus and method for introducing portals into bone is described herein. An example apparatus for introducing portals into bone includes a handle, a base, and a driving member. The driving member can be made to project past the base by operating the handle. The base is detachable from the handle. The apparatus also includes a guide coupled at a first end to the handle and at a second end to the base. The base is detachably coupled to the guide. A base coupling detachably coupling the base to the guide includes an actuating member movable between a coupled configuration wherein the base is coupled to the guide and an uncoupled configuration wherein the base is released from the guide. The actuating member is arranged so that motion of the handle toward the base moves the actuating member from the coupled configuration to the uncoupled configuration.
US08333763B2

The present invention relates to the field of electrosurgery, and more particularly to systems and methods for ablating, cauterizing and/or coagulating body tissue using radio frequency energy. More in particular, the systems utilize voltage threshold means for controlling the voltage applied to tissue in a cycle-to-cycle manner.
US08333756B2

There is disclosed a new low-level laser therapy apparatus and method of treating tissue. The invention includes a laser system that uses laser diodes and/or alternatively light emitting diodes (LED's), or both, and a digital interface that gives the operator the ability to generate sine waves or scalar waves as opposed to the simple on/off square waves. The invention also enables the operator to modulate not only the frequency, but also other wave characteristics such as the amplitude and phase. In one aspect, the invention involves modulating the phase relationship between multiple waves by taking one channel or wave which is pulsed through the laser system and then running a second channel or wave in relationship to the first channel, thereby creating a phased relationship, which has been discovered to provide a therapeutic and quantum healing effect on tissue. In one exemplary embodiment, the laser system of the invention may have a phase relationship of approximately 180 degrees which provides a beneficial therapeutic and quantum healing effect and, in particular, neutralizes or deletes cellular memory.
US08333754B2

Systems and methods are described for implementing or deploying medical or veterinary utility modules comprising a first module operable in a digestive or respiratory tract to engage a second module, optionally by a magnetic field. Alternatively or additionally, systems may be operable to remain in situ and also operable to permit a therapeutic material dispensation. In some contexts, for example, systems or methods may dispense a therapeutic material via a subject's throat or elsewhere in the digestive or respiratory tract.
US08333750B2

A label enables a user to recognize information necessary when using a medicine bag in a reliable fashion. The label includes a base part indicating thereon basic information including at least information on ingredients of medicines accommodated in a medicine bag and a detachable part detachably joined to the base part. The detachable part is so shaped as to be attachable to such an area of the medicine bag that it becomes difficult to use the medicine bag when a surface of the area is covered, and the detachable part indicates thereon characteristic information including at least directions on use of the medicine bag.
US08333747B2

Provided is an absorptive article having absorption elements capable of following the wearer's body of a user. This absorptive article comprises at least a generally rectangular base absorption element, a top absorption element disposed on one surface of the base absorption element at substantially lateral center of the base absorbent and along the longitudinal direction of the base absorbent, and a fixing part for fixing the base absorption element to the top absorption element so that at least one end of the top absorption element in the longitudinal direction thereof is made to be a free end. A locking part is provided on the base absorption element side contact surface of the top absorption element near the free end. The locking part is locked to the base absorption element at a position where the top absorption element is so moved as to extend along the gluteal cleft of the user.
US08333744B2

Apparatus for the provision of topical negative pressure therapy to a user is described, the apparatus comprising a device and a waste canister connected thereto, the waste 5 canister being operably connected for receiving wound exudate to a wound dressing by an aspiration conduit which is releasably connected to the dressing, wherein the waste canister has a blank connector portion thereon for sealably receiving a disconnected dressing end of the aspiration conduit.
US08333742B2

Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. Some methods relate to delivering an implant within an eye, and involve providing an elongate guide device, such as, a flexible guide member or a guide wire. A distal end of the guide device can be advanced into an anterior chamber of an eye, or through at least a portion of a site of resistance along a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye, or from an anterior chamber of the eye to a location proximate a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. The implant is advanced along the guide device toward the guide device distal end, and is positioned to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber and the physiologic outflow pathway.
US08333741B2

A phacoemulsification cannula 10 includes a hub 12 for engagement with an ophthalmic surgical instrument. An elongated needle 14 having a proximal end 16 is attached to the hub 12. The cannula 10 has an aspiration lumen 20 spanning a majority of a length of a needle 14 from the proximal end towards a distal end 18. A venturi lumen 22 is formed in the needle adjacent the distal end. The venturi lumen 22 is in communication with the aspiration lumen 20 so that fluid and tissue may be aspirated through the venturi lumen 22 and the aspiration lumen 20.
US08333727B2

An anastomotic connector comprising an endovascular component including a vascular conduit and a supply conduit and a cannula component. The vascular conduit has first and second ends that are configured to reside within a vascular structure. The supply conduit has proximal and distal ends, where the distal end fluidicly connects to the vascular conduit between the first and second ends. The cannula component, which also includes proximal and distal ends, is received by the supply conduit.
US08333720B2

A method for monitoring chest compressions using a compression member includes measuring a force exerted by the compression member, measuring a displacement of the compression member, providing a chest stiffness function representing the relationship between force and displacement based on values derived from the measured force and the measured displacement, and analyzing linearity of the chest stiffness function. Embodiments of the invention also include devices for performing the method.
US08333713B2

The invention relates to a lancet, comprising a base body (2), which has a test region (3) on an upper face for analyzing a body fluid sample, a lancing element (4) extending from the base body (2) for puncturing the skin of a patient, and a capillary structure (5) for transporting a body fluid sample from the lancing element (4) to the test region (3). According to the invention, the capillary structure (5) comprises a section that causes fluid to be transported in a direction that, in a top view of the upper face of the base body (2), has a component perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lancing element (4).
US08333711B2

The invention relates to a blood taking device (1), in particular, for newborn babies and small children or small animals, comprising a blood taking vessel (2), provided on the front end thereof with a cannula (5) with a sharpened tip (4), whereby a porous, gas-permeable limiting element (8) which automatically stops the flow of taken blood, is arranged by pressing in the blood taking vessel (2) in a defined position. The rear end of the blood taking vessel (2) is sealed by a plug (11) which may be temporarily opened for taking blood (11), which dispenses the taken blood by means of a stroke running in a sealed manner in the blood taking vessel (2), which empties under pressure at least a part amount of the blood retained before the limiting element (8).
US08333707B2

A patient monitoring instrument protects the ports of a patient gas analyzer when not in use. A spring-loaded door covers the inlet and outlet ports of the gas analyzer when not connected to a gas collection tube. The door can be opened against the force of its spring with a gas tube connector, which is guided into its fitting by the contour of the door. When the connector is locked in place the connector holds the door open, exposing the outlet port of the analyzer.
US08333706B2

This invention describes a method for processing pressure signals derivable from locations inside or outside a human or animal body or body cavity. Different aspects of the invention relate to a method for optimal differentiating between cardiac beat- and artifact-induced pressure waves, a method for obtaining new and improved information from said pressure signals. In particular, this invention describes the use of said inventive method for processing of pressure signals for controlling an adjustable shunt valve. The method can be incorporated in a processing unit of a device for use in draining fluid from a brain or spinal fluid cavity.
US08333704B2

A handheld ultrasound probe includes force detection and feedback to permit control and/or characterization of applied forces. The probe may, for example, be operated to maintain a substantially constant applied force over a period of use independent of a user's hand position, or to measure applied forces that might contribute to deformation of an imaging subject.
US08333699B2

An ultrasonograph is provided which, when a difference occurs between an expected tissue displacement direction and a displacement estimation direction, minimizes errors caused by the difference to improve accuracy of an elasticity image. The ultrasonograph includes: an ultrasound probe to emit an ultrasound in a plurality of mutually crossing directions against a subject; an ultrasound transmit and receive part to control the ultrasound probe to perform a plurality of transmissions and receptions of the ultrasound in each of the plurality of directions; a displacement vector processor to calculate a displacement vector in each of the plurality of directions from a result of the plurality of transmissions and receptions; a strain processor to calculate strain information of the subject based on the displacement vectors; an image data generator to create image data based on the calculated strain information; and a display to display an image based on the image data.
US08333693B2

An endoscope plug body includes a plug frame with which a venting cap is covered, an inner peripheral surface being formed in the venting cap, the inner peripheral surface being communicated with a channel arranged in an endoscope. The plug frame includes a latch member that latches the plug frame along the periphery of the venting cap to attach the plug frame to the venting cap; and a breaking member that breaks a partial area of the plug frame while maintained in a continuous state in a circumferential direction of the plug frame, the partial area reaching one end portion of the plug frame while including a part of a latched portion of the latch member.
US08333690B2

On a rigid tip end section at the distal end of an elongated endoscopic insertion member, an observation window washer means is provided to wash an endoscopic optical observation window, along with a fluid injection means to be used for injecting a fluid from an injection passage leading to an injection hole opened on the rigid tip end section of the insertion member. Connection ports to a wash liquid conduit and a compressed air conduit of the observation window washer means are opened at a conduit connection terminal of a multiplex connector on a proximal end of a universal connection cable. Disconnectibly connected to the conduit connection terminal is a conduit coupler member having a wash liquid conduit and a compressed air conduit to supply a wash liquid and compressed air to the wash liquid conduit and compressed air conduit on the side of the conduit connection terminal. Further, an end of a injection passage is opened in the conduit connection terminal, while an injection fluid feed line is disconnectibly connected to a connection port which is provided at a lateral side of the conduit coupler member and which is brought into communication with the injection passage when the conduit coupler member is plugged into the conduit connection terminal.
US08333688B2

The recoverable intra-uterine system comprises a housing capable of containing one or a plurality of elements selected from among the group comprising an embryo, male and/or female gametes, a fertilized oocyte, and unfertilized ovum and a combination of these elements, the housing having along an axis a distal end and a proximal end, and a device for holding the recoverable intra-uterine device in the uterus. The holding device is arranged at the proximal end of the housing and includes at least one holding arm in the uterine cavity capable of taking at least two positions: —one free position in which at least one holding arm is separated from the axis; and —a retracted position in which at least one holding arm is substantially parallel to the axis. Use in medically assisted reproduction techniques.
US08333686B2

An insertion device for inserting a cannula through tissue generally comprises an inner shaft, a tip member coupled to a distal end portion of the inner shaft, a hollow outer shaft slidably received over the inner shaft, and a compressible member received over the inner shaft between the tip member and the outer shaft. The compressible member is configured to be received in a lumen of the cannula, and the inner shaft is movable relative to the outer shaft along an axial direction to compress the compressible member between the tip member and the outer shaft so that the compressible member expands in a generally radially outward direction. The radial expansion of the compressible member releasably secures the insertion device to the cannula.
US08333681B2

A speed controlled strength machine is provided. The machine includes a frame and a number of support members. A driver is mounted to the frame and includes an adjustable speed controller. During exercise, the user engages grips/handles and pulls them via one-way clutches through the resistive movement of the driver. The clutches are engaged when the user is able to reach a predetermined speed, which is adjustable and controllable.
US08333680B2

A vehicle drive device that includes a speed change mechanism; a hydraulic transmission provided closer to an engine attachment side than the speed change mechanism is and including a lock-up clutch; an electric motor having a rotor and a stator and connecting the rotor to an input portion of the hydraulic transmission; and an engine power cut-off clutch that transmits or cuts off a driving force of an engine to or from the hydraulic transmission.
US08333665B2

A lubricating having a foam lubricant that minimizes exudation of the lubricating component caused by deformation of the foam lubricant, is excellent in initial lubrication, has a long life, has a low cost, and is excellent in the productivity thereof; a bearing utilizing the lubricating system; a universal joint utilizing the lubricating system; and a process for the production thereof. A lubricating system includes a foam lubricant (9) containing a lubricating component in a resin thereof which foams, hardens, and becomes porous and a lubricant (10) for initial lubrication which is present together with the foam lubricant (9) in a portion to be lubricated. The lubricant (10) for initial lubrication consists of grease having a worked penetration not less than 300 or having a degree of oil separation not less than 0.7 wt % when the grease is left 24 hours at 70° C.
US08333664B2

Provided is an information processing apparatus, which is connected to an operation device including a magnetic sensor and an operation button used for operation input by a user, and is configured to: receive, from the operation device, a detection result of the magnetic sensor and information indicating an operation performed by the user with respect to the operation button; determine whether or not the operation button has been operated, by using the received information indicating the operation; and, when it is determined that the operation button has been operated, restrict a posture of the operation device from being identified by using the detection result of the magnetic sensor.
US08333662B2

An input device incorporating a motion sensor which detects a motion of the input device is worn on the body of a player, and in accordance with motion data detected by the input device, the player object is caused to move along a predetermined route on a course set in a virtual three-dimensional space. The course includes at least one branch point at which the course branches off into a plurality of routes. The motion data outputted from the motion sensor is successively acquired, and a moving speed of a player character is set in accordance with the motion data. Further, at the branch point on the course, a branching direction of the player object is set in accordance with the motion data. The player object is then caused to move along a route in the set branching direction at the set moving speed.
US08333661B2

A gaming console may provide safety features that may avoid or minimize the probability of a collision between the user of the gaming console and the surrounding objects while the user is playing a game. The gaming console may include body sensors to continuously track and capture images of the full body movement of the user. The gaming console may comprise proximity sensors, which may scan and capture the images of the surrounding objects at regular intervals of time. The gaming console may use the images of the full body movement and the images of the surrounding objects to determine if the user is close to the surrounding objects, which may cause collision with the surrounding objects. If the user is close to the surrounding objects, the gaming console may generate alert signals that may avoid or minimize the probability of collision of the user with the surrounding objects.
US08333659B2

The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN ONLINE BEHAVIOR MONITOR (“OBM”) transform user social-gaming behavioral pattern data via various OBM components into online social-gaming experience customizations. In one embodiment, the OBM may provide, in response to a gaming app request from a user, a gaming app including a test game feature for the user. The OBM may obtain user social graph data identifying co-users of the user. The OBM may also obtain: online gaming pattern data for the users and the co-users, including gaming action identifiers and their associated gaming action timestamps; user online social activity data, for the users and the co-users, including social networking action identifiers and their associated social networking action timestamps; and game feature adoption evaluation instructions. The OBM may generate social-gaming activity timelines for the users and the co-users using the gaming action identifiers and the associated gaming action timestamps, as well as the social networking action identifiers and the associated social networking action timestamps. The OBM may also calculate and provide game feature adoption scores by applying the game feature adoption evaluation instructions to the generated social-gaming activity timelines.
US08333656B2

A gaming system (1) comprising an electronic gaining machine (5) having an associated players station interface device (4) configured to monitor the turnover of the electronic gaming machine (5) and having an interface device display (7) configured to display an interface device electronic game such that a predetermined proportion of the electronic gaming machine turnover is pulled into an interface device electronic game jackpot controlled by a control server (2) in communication with the player station interface device (4) wherein an electronic trigger is sent from the control server (2) to the player station interface device (4) to commence an interface device game and wherein the control server (2) is configured to provide a payout for a user winning the interface device game.
US08333655B2

A gaming system for conducting a multi-player wagering game includes a multi-touch table surface that is touched by a handheld electronic wager input device (EWID) carried by a player for placing wagers on a wagering game displayed on the multi-touch table surface. Each EWID carried by a player has an associated unique identification code, linked to the respective player's account. Players indicate an amount to be wagered by touching the EWID to designated wager amount areas, then place the wager by touching the EWID to a designated wagering area. Because each EWID is uniquely associable with distinct player accounts, the gaming system can support any number of players placing wagers. The funds remain safe in the player account and no funds are stored on the EWID. Only the identification code is detected, which is compared with the associated player account before allowing that player to place wagers.
US08333648B2

In a method of playing a game, secondary indicia are used to provide information regarding game status. In one embodiment, a wagering game such as video keno, video slots or video poker is presented using one or more first indicia such as keno numbers, cards or slot symbols. Secondary indicia are displayed at one or more times to provide game state information such as information regarding win or loss, matching or un-matching symbols, correct or incorrect selections or the like. Preferably, the secondary indicia have one characteristic or attribute indicating one game state (such as a winning selection or outcome) and another characteristic indicating another game statue (such as a losing selection or outcome). One embodiment of the invention is a keno game in which secondary indicia are displayed to provide information regarding whether the player's selected numbers have matched or not.
US08333645B2

The present invention relates to a new system and method of gaming on a computer system. In particular, the invention relates to a novel method of playing games such as poker (and variations thereof) and other games where the player is provided with the opportunity to participate in a bonus round of play for an accumulated jackpot when the results of a regular round of play trigger access to the bonus round. The system and method are particularly suited for deployment on a video lottery terminal (VLT) slot machine or other computer gaming system.
US08333642B2

A system comprising a processor and computer executable instructions readable by the processor and operative to solicit at least one selection of at least one coach. A system comprising a communications module to solicit at least one selection of at least one coach, and a processor module to determine a coach's score based on at least one action of at least one member of a team. A method comprising using a processor to perform at least a portion of one or more of the following: soliciting at least one selection of at least one coach, monitoring at least one action of at least one member of a team, and determining a coach's score based on the at least one action.
US08333639B2

An improved ridge vent that includes a support, a cover, a housing, and a concealing structure provides ventilation for a building. The housing contains a biocidal source. Rainwater flows down the cover, into the housing, and over the biocidal source. The water treated with the biocidal source then flows out of the housing and down the roof, inhibiting the growth of mold, moss, bacteria, and fungus. The concealing structure hides the biocidal source from view.
US08333632B2

A lamp including a plurality of light emitting devices and heat sinks can be configured to dissipate heat generated by the plurality of light emitting devices. The heat sinks can be branched into a generally Y-shaped configuration as viewed in a section that includes a primary optical axis of the vehicle lamp. One of the light emitting devices is connected to one of the branched parts of the heat sinks. Another light emitting device is connected to the other branched part of the heat sinks.
US08333626B2

A power unit is housed in a casing, and a screw (propeller) is disposed outside the casing, the screw being driven by the power unit. The casing is formed as a watertight case in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape with a left-right width direction being a longitudinal direction, and the case has at least a front face portion coupled to a stern portion and a substantially flat upper face portion at a substantially same height as a top portion of the stern portion.
US08333619B2

A connector according to the invention includes an insulative body, and a first contact and a second contact that are disposed in the body at different height levels from each other, the first contact or the second contact being elastically deformable. The first contact includes an mismatched portion having an higher impedance than that of another portion of the first contact. The second contact includes an adjusting portion to be brought close to the mismatched portion by elastic deformation of the first contact or the second contact in a direction close to the second contact or the first contact.
US08333615B2

The invention relates to communications technologies and discloses a rotation axis, a digital device and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device. The rotation axis includes a sleeve, an elastic body, an indented washer, and a movable support. The sleeve includes a lip and a cylinder. The elastic body, the indented washer, and the movable support are configured sequentially around the cylinder with the lip adjacent to the elastic body along the axial direction of the cylinder beginning with the lip. A number of concave indents are configured on one end-surface of the indented washer and distributed on a circle. The end-surface of the indented washer where the concave indents are configured contacts one end-surface of the movable support. A number of protrusions are configured on the end-surface of the movable support to mate the concave indents. In the invention, a rotation axis is constituted by a few parts including a sleeve, an elastic body, an indented washer, and a movable part. Therefore, the rotation axis is characterized by simple structure, small size, low cost, and good reliability.
US08333607B1

An integrated insulation displacement terminal includes an IDC assembly with a pair of pivotably mounted wings and a lacing cap assembly with a lacing cap, locking cam nut and deflectable contact ring. The IDC assembly has two rows of IDC terminals mounted on one side and the lacing cap assembly has a lacing cap with two corresponding rows of receiving holes. Each wing pivoted to the IDC base assembly has two pressing portions corresponding to the two rows of IDC terminals so when the wings are rotated to press the lacing cap such that each of the IDC terminals is inserted into one of the receiving holes and each wire is introduced in the corresponding IDC terminal. Each wing has an axial cable guide engaged by the cam nut when the assembly is locked by rotating the cam nut to secure the two assemblies in place and ground the cable.
US08333595B2

A coaxial connector (1), which is attached to a circuit board (2) having a land (151), includes a coaxial terminal (51) having a coaxial structure including a centre terminal (52) and a cylindrical outer terminal (61) surrounding the centre terminal; a housing (11) accommodating the coaxial terminal; a cylindrical contact (81) movable in an axial direction of an axis of the outer terminal and brought into contact with the land; a biasing member (71) biasing the cylindrical contact so that the cylindrical contact projects from the housing; and a rotation mechanism which rotates the cylindrical contact about the axis when the cylindrical contact is pushed into the housing against a biasing force of the biasing member. Accordingly, the coaxial connector capable of performing wiping in a terminal having the coaxial structure, such as a probe, is provided.
US08333590B2

A self-tapping implant includes a shaft including a coronal end, an apical end, an outer surface having a first axial section and a second axial section, and a self-tapping configuration at the first axial section. The first axial section may be located coronally of the second axial section. Each of the first and second axial sections may include a series of peaks being axially spaced apart by troughs. In addition, the axial spacing between the adjacent peaks in the first axial section may be different than the axial spacing between adjacent peaks in the second axial section. A coronal end portion of the shaft may include the first axial section of the outer surface, and an apical end portion of the shaft may include the second axial section of the outer surface.
US08333589B2

An assembly for practicing sinus membrane elevation in the process of dental implant surgery comprising a balloon made of an elastomeric material and having a rounded head portion, an elongated, tubular sleeve portion and a flanged rim portion. Further provided is a balloon probe member having a stem portion with an outer screw-thread and a bore freely fitting the external diameter of the balloon tubular sleeve. A connector member is threadably receivable in the probe member and connected to a flexible pipe with a manually operable valve. For inflating the balloon a pump supplies a pressurized fluid through the pipe.
US08333588B2

There is disclosed a medical or dental hand-piece element comprising a coupling mechanism for a detachable connection of the hand-piece element to a drive unit, a tool receptacle that is or can be connected to the hand-piece element, and a drive element for transmitting a driving movement from the drive unit to the tool receptacle so that the tool receptacle can be set into a working movement, wherein the drive element comprises at least one rotatable shaft, and a generator for converting mechanical energy into electric energy, wherein the generator can be driven by the at least one rotatable shaft of the drive element.
US08333585B2

A glass pear shape candle jar that has inter-locking top and bottom candle pieces that collectively it forms a 4-in-1 candle set. This multi-purpose inter-locking candle jar set, has four difference types of candles. This inter-locking candle jar set is a 4-in-1 set comprising of: The use of a main full size candle jar, an upright flat dome top candle, a dinner candle holder within the flat dome and a tea light candle base and holder.
US08333583B2

A mold for imprinting a patterned region by imprint lithography is provided with a peripheral groove around the patterned region. The groove is connected, as by channels through the mold, to a switchable source for gas removal to prevent bubbles and for the application of pressurized gas to separate the mold and substrate. In use, the mold is disposed adjacent the moldable surface and gas is withdrawn from the patterned region through the groove as the mold is pressed toward and into the moldable surface. At or near the end of the imprinting, the process is switched from removal of gas to the application of pressurized gas. The pressurized gas passes through the groove and separates or facilitates separation of the mold and the moldable surface.
US08333575B2

A pump unit is provided having a wet-running electric motor, wherein a rotor of the pump unit can be driven by the electric motor at a maximum speed of greater than 20,000 rev/min, and the rotor is sealed off axially in the region of a suction port.
US08333573B2

Apparatus for detecting a flammable atmosphere within a compressor during operation thereof is provided. The apparatus comprising a test chamber which is selectably connected between the compressor and an exhaust duct of the compressor using isolation device; an ignition device which is located within the test chamber for igniting any flammable fluid mixture present therein; and sensor associated with the test chamber for monitoring a parameter indicative of combustion within the test chamber and for outputting a signal indicative of the parameter to a controller.
US08333571B2

A pump is disclosed. The pump may have a housing, and a body disposed within the housing and at least partially defining a plurality of barrels. The pump may also have a plurality of plungers associated with the plurality of barrels, and a plunger engagement surface. The plunger engagement surface may have geometry configured to reciprocate the plurality of plungers within the plurality of barrels as the plurality of plungers rotate relative to the plunger engagement surface, and a plurality of undulations configured to reduce a flow pulsation of the pump.
US08333567B2

A viscous fluid pump is provided. The pump has a housing that has an inlet for receiving viscous fluid and an outlet for dispensing viscous fluid. A bushing within the housing has an opening proximate the inlet and which provides access into an inner chamber of the bushing. The opening extends beyond the inlet in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension of the pump. A piston is movable within the inner chamber, with the piston having a first position in which the inlet is in fluid communication with the inner chamber through the opening and a second position in which the inlet is not in fluid communication with the inner chamber. The housing may define an interior, with the interior of the housing being free of soft seals.
US08333557B2

An apparatus is provided and includes a first member with a flow diverting member extending from a surface thereof and a second member disposed proximate to the first member with a clearance gap area defined between a surface of the second member and a distal end of the flow diverting member such that a fluid path, along which fluid flows from an upstream section and through the clearance gap area, is formed between the surfaces of the first and second members. The second member is formed to define dual vortex chambers at the upstream section in which the fluid is directed to flow in vortex patterns prior to being permitted to flow through the clearance gap area.
US08333556B2

A variable-nozzle turbocharger includes a cartridge containing a variable vane mechanism connected between the center housing and the turbine housing. The cartridge comprises an annular nozzle ring supporting an array of rotatable vanes, an insert having a tubular portion sealingly received into the bore of the turbine housing and having a nozzle portion extending radially out from one end of the tubular portion and being axially spaced from the nozzle ring with the vanes therebetween, a plurality of spacers connected between the nozzle portion of the insert and the nozzle ring, and an annular retainer ring fastened to the center housing so as to capture the nozzle ring between the retainer ring and the center housing. The retainer ring is formed as a separate part from the insert ring and is mechanically and thermally decoupled from the insert.
US08333554B2

A gas turbine engine is disclosed that includes at least first and second gearboxes rotationally coupled to at least one spool. Accessory drive components are mounted on and driven by the gearboxes. The accessory drive components include, for example, a fuel pump, a hydraulic pump, a generator, a lubrication pump, or a starter. The accessory drive components are split between the two gearboxes to reduce the diameter of the nacelle adjacent to each gearbox.
US08333550B2

A twin scroll exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal-combustion engine, includes a turbine housing and a first and a second gas inlet port separated from one another by the turbine housing. The inlet ports lead into a first and a second spiral duct, respectively, which extend radially on the outside around an exhaust gas turbine rotatable about an axis. The gas inlet ports are arranged at least in sections parallel to one another in the turbine housing and radially with respect to the axis of rotation in a mutually spaced manner. The first spiral duct, which connects to the first gas inlet port arranged closer to the axis of rotation, extends up to 180° around the exhaust gas turbine. The second spiral duct, which connects to the second gas inlet port farther away from the axis of rotation, extends up to 180° around the remaining circumference of the exhaust gas turbine. As a result, thermal stress to the turbine housing is significantly reduced.
US08333549B2

The turbine outlet heated diffuser may include a cavity positioned immediately downstream of an air cycle machine turbine. The turbine outlet heated diffuser may be designed to prevent or reduce ice formation at the turbine outlet by heating the diffuser wall. The cavity may receive a heated flow from an air cycle machine compressor discharge and provide a cavity outlet flow to a turbine inlet plenum. The design of the heated diffuser is such to minimize the cycle performance impact that results from the addition of an air cycle machine icing protection feature.
US08333547B2

A multiple-motor blower includes a housing and a plurality of motors. The housing has a common outlet passage and different inlet passages. The motors are accommodated in the housing and respectively drive impellers to generate airflow flowing from the inlet passages to the outlet passage. Each of the impellers includes a hub and a plurality of blades mounted around a circumference of the hub. A ratio of a distance between adjacent two of the blades to a thickness of the blade in at least one of the impellers is smaller than or equal to 3.
US08333542B2

A curable hot melt adhesive is used as a primer on a book block. A conventional thermoplastic hot melt is then applied on top of the reactive hot melt before the cover material is positioned.
US08333538B2

A fastener assembly for use in an associated fastener driving tool for driving a fastener from the assembly, in sequential order, into an associated substrate, includes a row of fasteners arranged substantially parallel to each other, each fastener having a shank and defining an axis and a collation system formed from a plastic material that is molded onto and adhered to the fasteners. The plastic material defines a collar portion at least substantially encircling the fastener shank and a connecting portion extending between and connecting adjacent collar portions. When the fastener is driven from the driving tool, the collar portion remains adhered to the fastener such that the collar portion penetrates the substrate with the fastener, and the connecting portion includes a preferentially weakened region to influence separation of the connecting portion from the collar at a desired location.
US08333536B2

A multi-spindle machining machine comprises a base including a working room to move a tool and a workpiece; a working head including a driving spindle disposed on a lower end thereof to clamp the tool; a carrier including a seat fixed on one side of the working room, a rotary shaft mounted on the seat laterally to drive the seat to rotate in an axial direction, a fixing holder connected to the rotary shaft to fix the workpiece to the fixing holder; a lateral driving device disposed on the base and located on one side of the working room in a horizontal direction to drive the working head to move in X and Y axes; a vertical driving device disposed on the base and located on another side of the working room in a lateral direction to drive the seat to move in Z axis direction.
US08333535B1

An underwater plow includes a plow assembly that is attached to a frame. The plow assembly includes a blade portion, which defines a blade trough, and a sensor chute portion. The blade portion extends downwardly below a plane that is coincident with a longitudinal axis defined by the frame, while the chute portion extends upwardly above the same plane. A depressor arm is pivotably attached to the blade portion and biased to be in contact with the trough. The depressor arm has a groove that is sized to allow the cable, but not the sensors, to pass through the groove while the depressor arm is in contact with the trough. With this configuration, an array cable passes downward through the blade portion of the plow assembly and becomes buried in the ocean floor. Array sensors, however, are routed upward and pass through the chute portion of the plow assembly.
US08333525B2

A click pen applicator device that provides predetermined dosing of the formulation for precise application, and rapidly primes the formulation using the dosing click mechanism to prepare the applicator for use.
US08333522B2

There is provided a developing apparatus capable of achieving high throughput. The developing apparatus includes an airtightly sealed processing vessel that forms a processing atmosphere therein; an atmosphere gas supply unit that supplies an atmosphere gas containing mist of a developing solution into the processing vessel in order to form a liquid film of the developing solution on a surface of a substrate loaded into the processing vessel; and a drying unit that dries the substrate in order to stop a developing process by the liquid film. A reaction between a resist and the developing solution can be stopped. Therefore, a developing process can be performed in parallel with a cleaning process performed by a cleaning module and high throughput is achieved.
US08333514B2

An arrangement for force-free retention of a bearing system having an axis of rotation comprises a cylindrical hollow axle for concentrically receiving and holding the bearing system. By way of a hold-down and release mechanism, a bearing shell can be fastened to the hollow axle in such a manner that, when the bearing system is not acted upon by a load, all lateral and axial forces applied to the arrangement can be transmitted via the cylindrical hollow axle into axle receiving devices.
US08333508B2

The present invention relates to a method of providing a quality assurance program for a medical imaging examination, including measuring quality assurance metrics, including at least one of motion, contrast resolution, spatial resolution, radiation does, noise, and anatomic positioning, using a quality assurance sensor; performing an analysis the quality assurance metrics data, comparing the data with norms for same; and providing quality assurance recommendations in real-time for adjustment of the quality assurance metrics during the examination. The sensor includes a sensor body having an upper surface and a flat lower surface, the flat lower surface being divided into more than one portioned segment; a plurality of sensors and test patterns embedded into said flat surface within each portioned segment; wherein the sensors and test patterns in each portioned segment take predetermined quality assurance metrics, to optimize image acquisition during the examination.
US08333507B2

An adapter for connecting a ring guide and rod with a holder for a radiation sensing device is provided herein. The adapter includes but is not limited to a first engagement member for engaging a complementary engagement member formed on the rod and a second engagement member for engaging a holder for a radiation sensing device. The adapter also includes but is not limited to a handle connecting the first engagement member to the second engagement member.
US08333504B2

A timepiece has a valve that discharges gas from an exterior assembly and includes a casing, a valve member that moves from a closed position to an open position in accordance with an inner pressure of the assembly, an exhaust button movable into the casing, a first spring urging the button and valve member away from each other, and a second spring urging the button toward the exterior of the assembly. When an inner pressure of the assembly is greater than a force of the first spring, the valve member is moved to the open position and a portion of the gas accumulates between the valve member and the button. When the button is moved into the casing, the accumulated gas is discharged to the exterior of the assembly by which the valve member is maintained at the closed position by the spring force of the first spring.
US08333503B2

A portable timepiece has a timepiece exterior assembly with a mounting hole having seal surfaces and escape portions. A valve member has a shaft portion movably inserted into the mounting hole and a head portion connected to the shaft portion. An urging member is provided between the head portion and the assembly for urging the valve member toward the interior of the assembly. Seal members are mounted to the shaft portion in correspondence with the seal surfaces. The seal members are configured to be moved between a sealing position in which the seal members are held in contact with the seal surfaces, and an exhaust position in which the seal members are opposed to the respective escape portions. In the sealing position, the seal members define a closed space together with an outer periphery of the shaft portion and the escape portions opposed to the outer periphery.
US08333500B1

A one-piece stackable container restraining apparatus incorporates a flat surface and four legs. The restraining apparatus can be used on the crest of a roof or on other surfaces. The stackable feature is used to accommodate roofs of differing pitches and to create a more stable combination. In certain embodiments attachment holes are utilized for ease in transportation and movement. Additionally, the container restraining apparatus can be used on a flat surface to prevent overturning of the container during transportation, such as paint buckets transported in a truck or van. Mounting holes on each leg can be used to accommodate a variety of fixtures such as wheels or articulating pads.
US08333494B2

A multicolored linear light source is disclosed. In an embodiment the multicolored linear light source (100) comprises a linear light source (100) emanating light of a first spectrum, and regions of photoluminescent material (102,104,106). The light of the first spectrum interacts with regions of photoluminescent material (102,104,106) to give light of a different spectrum. The composition of different regions of photoluminescent material is different, providing light of different spectra in different regions.
US08333488B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a compact optical assembly which improves collimation of light produced by multiple LED light sources in a light engine. A shaped primary reflector located over the light engine reflects the light toward a larger shaped secondary reflector. The shapes of the reflectors are selected to cooperatively produce a highly collimated light beam. Color mixing may be improved by providing a plurality of facets on the reflective surfaces of at least one of the primary reflector or the secondary reflector.
US08333486B2

A solid state lighting source illumination device comprising a bracket and at least one solid state lighting source module. The solid state lighting source module comprises a substrate and at least one solid state lighting source. The substrate is set up with circuit and the solid state lighting source is set up on the substrate, and the electrode of the solid state lighting source is electrically connecting with the circuit on the substrate. The substrate and the bracket further comprise a heat dissipation structure which is a space between the substrate and a base of the bracket and through holes in the substrate near the solid state lighting source.
US08333457B2

The present invention is used for a printing target having a non-flat surface portion in at least a portion of a printing surface. To form a decorative printing film on the printing surface of a base material, ink droplets of the same color as the color of the printing film are ejected from nozzles of an inkjet printer onto the printing surface. The distance from the nozzles to the printing surface is represented by X (mm). The droplet amount of the ink is represented by Y (pl). When the maximum value of the distance X is greater than 5 mm, the droplets are ejected from the nozzles each by an amount greater than the droplet amount Y represented by the equation: Y=0.9X1.5.
US08333456B2

A system for creating a three dimensional printed structure having a plurality of layers. The system includes a plurality of printheads arranged to print voxels of material so as to define respective layers of the structure, a robot for inserting objects into voids created in the structure during printing, and a conveyance for conveying a substrate past the printheads such that the printed structure is created on the substrate.
US08333453B2

A liquid dispensing device (10) having a drop ejection device (12) including an orifice (18) adapted for ejecting drops (20) therefrom above a particular turn-on-energy, a turn-on-energy detection device (28) positioned to receive turn-on-energy information from said ejected drops as a function of energy applied to the drop ejection device, and a controller (40) that receives the turn-on-energy information and conducts a mathematical operation on the turn-on-energy information to determine a drop volume of the drops ejected.
US08333449B2

A droplet ejection device includes a first determining unit that determines a first amount of liquid on an image pixel basis based on both a second amount and an ejection pattern both obtained from image data, actuator that ejects the first amount of the liquid, a second determining unit that determines a third amount of treating agent on an image pixel basis based on a difference between the first and second amounts, such that a density of the liquid corresponding to a combination of the first amount of the liquid and the third amount of the treating agent comes closer to a density of the liquid corresponding to the second amount of the liquid when there is a difference between the first and second amounts, and a treating-agent application member that applies the third amount of the treating agent to a recording medium.
US08333432B2

An adjustable sliding armrest that may be extendable in length and varied in rotational position is provided. The armrest generally includes a support member, a slide member, a locking mechanism, and a tilt adjusting mechanism. The support member and slide member are in slidable communication with one another, and the locking mechanism may serve to lock the position of the slide member with respect to the support member. Moreover, the tilt adjusting mechanism may be utilized to selectively increase or decrease the tilt angle of the armrest. Such features allow users of various arm lengths to adjust the armrest to their comfort.
US08333431B2

A lumbar supporting device for a vehicle, may include an actuator, a lumbar plate slidably mounted to a seat back frame of the vehicle, and having a lumbar support part, wherein the lumbar support part is formed between upper and lower ends of the lumbar plate, and a driving unit coupled to the actuator and pulling both upper and lower portions of the lumbar plate together towards the lumbar support part, using power transmitted from the actuator.
US08333429B2

A cup-holding device configured to be retrofitted to an armrest or other horizontal support structure. The cup-holding device has a basket in a seat mounting portion wherein there is sufficient rigidity of the structure to hold a cup with a fluid mass therein.
US08333423B2

A false division bar assembly for minimizing wind noise generated during movement of a vehicle including a retractable rear window. The assembly includes a division bar mountable in a vehicle rear door window opening to create at least two air passages on opposite sides of the division bar within the vehicle rear door window opening, to thereby minimize wind noise generated during movement of the vehicle when the vehicle front windows are closed with the vehicle rear windows being opened.
US08333422B2

The representative sun visor for vehicles has a sun visor body which can slide in an axial direction of a support rod together with a guide member with respect to a movable element. The sun visor includes a friction mechanism which imposes a predetermined frictional resistance to the relative movement of the sun visor body with respect to the movable element. The friction mechanism has a sliding member and a biasing member. The sliding member is slidably held in contact with the guide member and imposes a frictional resistance to the guide member, and the biasing member applies a biasing force in a direction that holds the sliding member and the guide member in contact with each other. The guide member and the sliding member have a plurality of sliding contact portions on which the biasing force of the biasing member acts in different directions.
US08333419B2

An inner top corner connector for a container body includes an angled fitting of elastic material. An inner roof sheet connecting portion of the angled fitting has a first end portion bending toward the inner roof sheet and includes an outer seal blade inclining toward the inner roof sheet and the first end portion of the inner roof sheet connecting portion. An inner side panel connecting portion of the angled fitting is provided with a connecting plate for connecting to a top end portion of the inner side panel of the container body. The connecting plate is provided with a guide blade. An inserting groove is defined by the guide blade, the inner side panel connecting portion and a part of the connecting plate, wherein an angle of the angled fitting defined by the inner roof sheet connection portion and the inner side panel connecting portion is 95°-105°.
US08333416B2

The present invention relates to an impact element having at least one carrier and at least one deformation element, wherein the carrier has a strip-shaped insert which is at least partly sheathed with plastic, wherein the strip-shaped insert is slit into at least two strips in at least one profile section and one strip is set back with respect to the other strip by shaping while forming a gap, with the deformation element being able to be fastened or being fastened to the carrier by means of at least one fastening means and the fastening means being guided through the gap between the strips of the insert, with at least one plastic molding being provided which is arranged such that it inhibits and/or prevents a relative movement between the fastening means or the deformation element and the insert.
US08333415B2

A door handle assembly for use with a vehicle door comprising a door paddle including an actuation arm, supported to pivot about a first axis such that lateral acceleration of the paddle and actuation arm relative to the door produces a first moment about the first axis, and masses engaged with the actuation arm and supported to pivot about a second axis, the masses being arranged such that lateral acceleration of the masses relative to the door produces a second moment about the first axis that is substantially equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the first moment.
US08333407B2

A knee bolster for vehicles, which is placed inside a lower instrument panel of a vehicle and is mounted to a cowl cross bar and relieves shock applied to knees of a passenger in case of an accident, may include a U-shaped bracket mounted to the cowl cross bar and bent to form a U-shape to be deformed by an external force during the accident, thus primarily absorbing knee load of the passenger, and a shock absorbing foam mounted in the U-shaped bracket, being deformed by the external force during the accident, and sliding along inner surface of the U-shaped bracket, thus secondarily absorbing the knee load of the passenger.
US08333404B2

A shopping cart has a basket having left and right sides, a floor, a rear wall and a front wall and has a handlebar. Squeezing the handlebar and moving it down causes a front wheel assembly to rotate from a down position in which the front wheels contact the ground toward a storage position in which the front wheels are positioned adjacent or above the floor. A rear wheel assembly is rotatable from a down position in which the rear wheels contact the ground to a storage position in which the rear wheels are positioned at or behind the rear wall. After positioning the loaded shopping cart adjacent a trunk vehicle, slide the cart and rotate the front and rear wheel assemblies, which may be lockable, to get the cart into the trunk for storage during transportation home. Reverse the process once home. The cart basket collapses into two dimensions for closet storage.
US08333403B2

The ski with a climbing system, particularly a cross-country ski consists of a front gliding part (1) and a rear gliding part (2) with an integrated kick zone (3).
US08333399B2

A cylinder mount assembly for a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly comprises a slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly, a cylinder mount, a hydraulic cylinder, a first longitudinal support, and a second longitudinal support. The slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly has a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. The cylinder mount is disposed adjacent at least two sides of a first frame cross member. The hydraulic cylinder is disposed between the cylinder mount and the slidably adjustable fifth wheel hitch assembly, and is attached to the cylinder mount. The first longitudinal support is disposed between the cylinder mount and a second frame cross member. The second longitudinal support is disposed between the cylinder mount and the second frame cross member. The cylinder mount is adapted to move laterally along the first frame cross member.
US08333397B2

A vehicle assembly includes a two-wheeled vehicle including a frame having opposed sides, opposed front and rear ends, and a front wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the front end of the frame positioned in front of an opposed rear wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the rear end of the frame and that is substantially in-line with respect to the front wheel. A member is carried by the frame of the vehicle between the front and rear wheels and has end portions disposed adjacent to the respective sides of the frame. A wheeled stabilizer assembly is carried by each of the end portions of the member to wheelingly interact with the ground over which the vehicle is driven along the sides of the frame proximate to the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.
US08333395B2

A front-axle bracket for motor vehicles has two accommodations spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal vehicle direction in each instance for the bearing locations for pivoting mounting of one of two wheel guide elements, in each instance, such as transverse control arms or A-arms, accommodations for attachment of the front-axle bracket as a pre-finished unit, together with pre-assembled assemblies, on the vehicle body, and at least individual ones of accommodations for attachment of the steering gear mechanism, for attachment of the stabilizer, and for mounting of a pendulum support. The front-axle bracket is produced as a component that is in one piece with these accommodations and connects them with one another.
US08333394B1

A bucket stand is described herein. The bucket stand has a body for receiving and supporting cylindrical objects such as paint containers. Within the body is a padding for securing the cylindrical objects, so that when a user lifts the cylindrical object, for example, the paint container's handle, the bucket stand is lifted too. This permits better portability of both objects without having to separate them and carry each individually. Furthermore, the cylindrical object is only temporarily secured within the bucket stand for easy removal of the object when desired. The bucket stand is also able to be further elevated and includes wheels to enable sliding of the stand. Additional padding is utilized to allow various sizes of cylindrical objects to be retained. Some embodiments utilize angled walls, magnets and fasteners to further assist in securing the cylindrical objects within the bucket stand.
US08333380B2

An instant lottery ticket game wherein a scratch-off material is removed from a first playing area of the ticket, and if three or more like kind outcome indicia are revealed, the ticket is a winner; however, if three or more like kind outcome indicia are not revealed in the first playing area, a scratch-off covering material is removed from a second playing area to reveal a “Bonus” prize award, so that every ticket is a winning ticket.
US08333365B2

The present invention discloses a hydraulic jack for long-term support. The hydraulic jack for long-term support includes a base, a housing, an oil cylinder, a piston rod, a top cap, a pump body, a pump core, a handle, a press handle, an oil return valve, a press cap and a slit nut. The slit nut surrounds the piston rod and engages with the piston rod via screw threads. The press cap is disposed on upper ends of the slit nut and the top cap and surrounds the piston rod. The present invention can achieve safe and reliable lifting operation.
US08333362B2

A control valve (32) that has a valve (34) that moves in relation to a rigid pressure balancing component (33). The pressure balancing component (33) and the valve (34) are connected by a valve insert (47). The control valve (32) has a pressure balancing component (33) in order for a similar pressure to be applied to both the pressure balancing component (33) and the valve (32). Use of a rigid material will increase the durability of the pressure balancing component (33). The pressure balancing component (33) is formed as part of the actuator (31) or part of the armature (45).
US08333359B2

A jamb mounting bracket for a door or window that includes a jamb flange and a wall flange connected at right angles along an edge. The jamb flange includes one or more keyhole slots extending away from the edge from a narrow portion to an enlarged portion. The jamb flange can be installed on a jamb after the jamb has been placed in the wall opening by placing the enlarged portion of the keyhole slot over a pre-installed fastener in the outer side of the jamb and then sliding the jamb flange inwardly until the shank of the fastener is in the narrow portion of the slot. Marks and score lines on the bracket can be used to plumb and properly position the bracket fasteners. Transverse slots extending from the keyhole slot can be used to lock a fastener at a given position along the keyhole slot. Removable tabs position the bracket at the edge of a wall opening.
US08333357B2

An adjustment assembly to quickly and efficiently adjust the length of a lanyard used in conjunction with aircraft umbilical connector release mechanisms. The lanyard cable includes at least two retaining mechanisms spaced apart thereon. The adjustment assembly includes a cam portion that retains one of the retaining mechanisms when in the locked position, and allows movement of the retaining mechanisms through the adjustment assembly when in the released position. The cable length can be adjusted when in the released position.
US08333354B2

A structure for removable attachment to a substantially vertical surface for example of glass, glazed tiles or metal. The structure includes a suction disk for sealingly contacting a surface, a pulling member attached to the suction disk for drawing a part of the suction disk away from the surface, so that a partial vacuum is created between the suction disk and the surface. Rotation of the rotatable member draws the pulling member and respective part of the suction disk away from the surface. An intermediate member is provided which engages the suction disk and supports the rotatable member. A structural member is mounted in or on the intermediate member. The outer diameter of the rotatable member is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the adjacent part of the intermediate member, so that a user's fingers will grip the rotatable member without catching on parts of the intermediate member.
US08333345B2

A method and apparatus comprises a first number of layers of a composite material for a wing, a second number of layers of the composite material for the wing, and a metal layer located between the first number of layers and the second number of layers in the wing. The metal layer has a first thickness at a first area configured to receive a number of fasteners and a second thickness at a second area.
US08333338B2

A device for the determination of the state of wear of comminuting tools a comminuting tool, a comminuting device with such a comminuting tool, and a corresponding method. A reference surface is provided on the comminuting tool, the surface from which the distance A0, A1 to the active edges of the comminuting tool can be determined. The degree of wear then results from a comparison of the original distance A0 in an unused comminuting tool with the distance A1 reduced due to wear after a certain period of use. The thereby achieved advantage is that the state of wear can be determined independent of the general wear of the comminuting device. A distortion of the measurement result caused by this is therefore ruled out.
US08333332B2

A spray head (1) with a nozzle insert (2) for atomizing a fluid, which tends to gum up or harden, from a reservoir, wherein the nozzle insert (2) is substantially designed as a hollow cylinder (3) that is open on one side and has, on the other side, a nozzle opening (4) towards the outside, and the nozzle insert (2) is connected to a nozzle insert receptacle (5), which has a channel (6) for the fluid, wherein the channel (6) corresponds to the nozzle opening (4). The nozzle insert (2) consists of an elastic material (7) and, in this manner, is connected to the nozzle insert receptacle (5) so that an external, free section (8) of the nozzle insert (2) along with the nozzle opening (4) is at least partially manually compressible and/or is designed to be manually bendable from its standby position (R), whereby hardened resin residue (12) can be removed from the nozzle opening (4).
US08333325B2

An optical reader system including a source light assembly that has a code-reading beam and a fluorescence-excitation beam that are configured to illuminate encoded substrates. The substrates have optically readable codes that provide output signals when the code-reading beam is incident thereon. The output signals are indicative of the codes. The reader system also includes a fluorescence detector that is configured to detect fluorescent signals from the substrates and code pickup optics that are configured to project the output signals from the optically readable codes onto a Fourier plane. The reader system also includes a code detector that is positioned to detect the output signals in the Fourier plane.
US08333324B2

An image forming apparatus, which may be a printer, includes an image acquisition subsystem and a processing subsystem. The image acquisition subsystem includes an imager and a source. The imager is configured to scan an image while the image acquisition subsystem moves with respect to the image forming apparatus and configured to provide electrical signals including information related to the scanned image. The source is configured to emanate electromagnetic radiation based on the electrical signals. The processing subsystem includes a receiving component configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation emanated from the source of the image acquisition subsystem. The image forming apparatus also includes a structure supporting both the image acquisition subsystem and the processing subsystem.
US08333321B2

Systems and methods for off line/online access controlled environments to implement temporal applications in wireless devices via near field communications in closed group venues; e.g., concert halls, race horse betting, and university scheduling, are disclosed.
US08333320B2

The document includes a support (10) provided with at least one first (12) and second (14) parts that can move relative to one another, the support including an electronic microcircuit (3) and contactless coupling members (2) electrically connected to the electronic microcircuit (3), and capable of being coupled to an external reading station (5) for establishing a contactless communications with the latter (5). The support also includes detecting elements (20) capable of detecting the relative proximity of the first and second parts independent of the contactless coupling members (2), and securing elements (30) connected to the detecting elements (20) and capable of inhibiting and/or authorizing the activation of the contactless communication according to the relative proximity of the first and second parts thus detected.
US08333314B2

A structure for joining members which is suited for joining of thin members together and suited for joining of members made of different materials. The structure includes a nut, a first member superposed on the nut such that a preliminarily formed hole on the first member is contiguous with the threaded hole of the nut, and a second member superposed on the first member so as to cover the hole.
US08333312B2

A method of separating opening devices supplied jointly in the form of a sheet and applied individually to respective packages of pourable food products involves feeding the sheet, which has a number of parallel rows of opening devices integral with one another, to a first station where a first row is detached from the rest of the sheet. The first row is fed to a second station where it is divided into individual opening devices, and a following second row of the sheet is fed to the first station as the preceding first row is being fed to the second station and/or is being at least partly divided.
US08333307B2

A liquid dispensing module includes a dispenser body assembly, a flexible seal, a needle, and an actuator. The dispenser body assembly includes a liquid inlet, a discharge outlet, and a flow channel including a valve seat between the inlet and outlet. The flexible seal engages the dispenser body assembly and includes a downstream end. The needle includes an enlarged portion engaging and retaining the downstream end of the flexible seal to place the flexible seal in lengthwise compression between the enlarged portion and the dispenser body assembly. The needle also includes a valve element that moves between open and closed positions. The flexible seal prevents liquid from leaking out of the flow channel.
US08333304B1

A spray control device for aerosol cans is provided having three or more dispensing positions. The positions in the preferred embodiment include “automatic” for continuous spray, “manual” for normal push-button control, and “off” to prevent spraying. Adjustment between the various positions is achieved by rotation of a centrally located, floating spray button device that nests on top of an aerosol can. The central spray button device floats within a can coupling ring to accommodate any misalignment between the spray control device and spray can, and movement of the central spray button device is guided by a pin and track combination for predictable and repeatable control over paint or other fluid application. A guide ring is press-fit into the can coupling ring, and both act as a part of the guide track for the central spray button device. The guide ring may optionally be removable to permit complete disassembly and cleaning.
US08333303B2

Metering devices, particularly for adhesives and sealants, that can be placed on a flexible container by means of an adapted ring, a lever being connected to the ring, and pressing against the container, are known. The invention relates to a metering device whereon the lever is connected to the ring via a deformable spring plate. A push button is formed onto the lever as an extension. Thus, the one-piece metering device is inexpensive and can be produced without needing to be assembled.
US08333302B2

An upstanding cylinder and a loading lid are produced respectively from glass. On the upper face of the bottom plate of the cylinder, a substance-pooling concave in which wine lees and tartar are pooled is formed. Owing to this constitution, there is little risk that the external air enters through a gap between the sliding faces of these members into the wine-pooling section in the cylinder and causes the oxidation of the wine. Since the cylinder comprises glass, the wine can be stored under almost the same conditions as in bottles. Further, sanitary precautions can be easily taken. Furthermore, problems such as the sticking of the cylinder to the loading lid due to stainless steel rust and so on can be overcome.
US08333290B2

A discharge cap for discharging a content liquid from a container body includes a cylinder assembly that can be tightly fitted to a mouth portion of the container body. The cylinder assembly includes a cap main body provided with a main discharge cylinder, a discharge cylinder body provided with an auxiliary discharge cylinder that is smaller in diameter than the main discharge cylinder, and a lid body for opening or closing the auxiliary discharge cylinder. Hinge-connections are provided between the cap main body and the discharge cylinder body, and between the discharge cylinder body and the lid body, for allowing a selective opening of the main discharge cylinder and the auxiliary discharge cylinder, thereby readily changing the discharge amount or discharge mode of the content liquid.
US08333289B2

A package for a particulate laundry scent additive.
US08333277B2

A storage container for paint roller sleeve includes a lid of a container in which the lid of the container has a hole in its center and a slit that extends radially to the circumferential edge of the lid to permit the roller frame to be remain attached to the roller sleeve while the roller sleeve is housed within the container via this slit. A strap holds at one end a plug for insertion into the hole in the center of the lid and at the other end of the strap a hinge fastens the strap to the lid.
US08333271B2

A convertible luggage or storage case having wheels and a telescoping or extending handle that may extend generally linearly from a retracted position to at least one, and preferably a plurality, of extended positions, so that case may be wheeled from one location to another. Handle may include a pair of arms and a cross-piece and also may pivot about an end opposite the cross-piece to form a leg, which may be part of a stand for case. Prior to pivoting, a second leg having a pair of arms and a cross-piece may be located generally coplanar with the handle or first leg, preferably in the interior space between arms. The second leg may pivot at a point between the cross-piece and the opposite end, and an end of the second leg may be located in a groove. As such, the first and second legs may cooperate to form a stand for the case, elevating the case for convenience.
US08333267B2

Disclosed is a disk brake for a vehicle having a manual release unit, capable of manually releasing the contact of a disk and a friction pad which are locked in a braking state. The disk brake includes a disk rotating together with a wheel of the vehicle, a friction pad which makes contact with a side surface of the disk to generate braking force, a wedge member to which the friction pad is attached, a drive motor which generates driving force to move the wedge member in a direction of the disk, a power transmission part which sifts rotational motion of the drive motor into a linear motion of the wedge member, a pad compensation part which maintains a uniform gap between the friction pad and the disk, and a manual release part installed in the pad compensation part such that contact between the friction pad and the disk is manually released when the friction pad and the disk are locked in a braking state due to friction between the friction pad and the disk.
US08333265B2

A device (22) manages power source variations in an elevator system. The device includes a transformer (60) having a primary (62) and a secondary (64). An input of the elevator system is connected to the secondary (64). Tap switches (66a, 66b, 66c, 66d) are connected to the transformer (60) such that each tap switch is connected to a tap point (68a, 68b, 68c, 68d) on the transformer (60). A controller (54) operates the tap switches (66a, 66b, 66c, 66d) based on a sensed power source output to provide power on the secondary (64) within a tolerance band of the elevator system.
US08333261B2

A durable, high performance, compact subwoofer speaker cabinet having a first elongate speaker tube attached to at least a second elongate tube. The at least a second elongate tube is attached to the first elongate speaker tube using a flying bridge brace structure. The at least a second elongate tube being a sound port or another speaker.
US08333258B2

A control apparatus is provided for use in an electric vehicle having a throttle input device. The throttle input device is operable by a rider for generating a throttle signal for controlling the speed of the electric vehicle. The control apparatus, which adjusts the throttle signal, includes a rider input mechanism and a control device. The rider input mechanism can be manipulated by the rider to provide a given input. The control device is coupled to the rider input mechanism and to the output of the throttle input device. The control device adjusts the throttle signal based on the given input provided by the rider input mechanism.
US08333248B1

A ripper pitch hold system and method for a ripper that includes pitch and lift cylinders. The system includes operator pitch and lift inputs, operator pitch hold input, cylinder position inputs, and a controller. The controller processes the inputs and generates pitch and lift cylinder commands that maintain the ripper pitch angle at a pitch hold setting. The controller can update the pitch hold setting with and maintain the pitch angle at the latest operator pitch input. Alternatively, the controller can cease to process operator pitch inputs, and maintain the pitch angle at the pitch hold setting. The pitch hold input can include an activation control, and pitch selector. The pitch angle and pitch hold setting can be set to the angle selected by the pitch selector. The pitch selector can include operator adjustable and fixed pitch settings. Operator adjustable executing operator pitch commands and fixed ignoring operator pitch commands.
US08333247B2

The present disclosure provides for an advantageous extinguisher or discharge assembly. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for an improved hydro-pneumatic fire extinguisher or discharge assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure provides for an improved hydro-pneumatic fire extinguisher or discharge assembly that is configured and dimensioned to fire or release a fire fighting agent (e.g., a fluid and/or liquid based fire fighting agent) while the extinguisher/assembly is oriented in any position or angle relative to gravity.
US08333245B2

A method and system for surface production of gas from a subterranean zone includes lowering reservoir pressure in an area of a subterranean zone having a medium to low effective permeability through a multi-branching well bore pattern. At least twenty-five percent of the total gas in the area of the subterranean zone is produced within three years of the start of production.
US08333232B2

A method of manufacturing an optical component that is provided with an optical element, and an optical element holding component that holds an outer circumferential portion of the optical element includes: placing the optical element on an interior side of a metal die that molds the optical element holding component, and in which an incident side protective component that protects an optical surface on an incident side of the optical element is placed against this optical surface on the incident side, and placing an emission side protective component that protects an optical surface on an emission side of the optical element against this optical surface on the emission side; and filling the interior of the metal die with a molten metal material so that the optical element holding component which is formed from an amorphous alloy is injection molded integrally with the optical element.
US08333226B2

A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion (2) provided with a wavy circumferential groove (7) and a plurality of axial grooves (4). At the junction (5) of each axial groove (4) with the wavy circumferential groove (7), a acute-angled corner (6) is formed. At the junction (5), the axial groove (4) has a toe-side edge (4r) intersecting a junction-side edge (7a) of the wavy circumferential groove (7) at a first point (P1), and a heel-side edge (4f) intersecting the junction-side edge (7a) at a third point (P3). The first point (P1) is positioned between a second intersecting point (P2) and a junction-side maximum amplitude points (RL0) wherein the second intersecting point (P2) is that between the junction-side edge (7a) and a maximally-inclined tangent (Ka) to an opposite-of-junction-side edge (7b) of the wavy circumferential groove (7), and the junction-side maximum amplitude point (RL0) is a point on the junction-side edge (7a) at which the junction-side edge (7a) protrude maximally towards the junction-side.
US08333219B2

A pipe plug comprising a shaft, a force transmission body disposed in a rotatable and axially movable manner about the shaft via a thread connection, and a stop body. Between the force transmission body and the stop body there is a first compression body disposed in an axially movable manner about the shaft in proximity of the force transmission body; a conical support body disposed in an axially movable manner about the shaft; at least one movable anchoring body on the outside of the support body; a second compression body disposed in an axially movable manner about the shaft; and at least one elastic sealing body disposed about the shaft. The shaft and the first compression body are in direct contact with each other and are connected in a non-rotational manner via complementary connection elements to prevent the compression body from rotating.
US08333216B2

A blow-off valve for a turbo blower 1000 has a body part 100 which includes a cylinder part 110, a valve-guide plate 130 on the cylinder part 110 and a head part 150 covering the valve-guide plate 130. In the cylinder part 110, a blow-connection opening 1038 connected with a blow opening 2500 of the turbo blower 2000 and a blow-off opening 1058 to blow off the emission air from the turbo blower 2000. A spool valve 300 is provided and a blow-pressure spool 380 is located at space connected with the blow-connection opening 1038 and a blow-pressure opposing spool 330 is located between the valve-guide plate 130 and the head part 150 and a stem of the spool valve penetrates the valve-guide plate 130 and is supported thereby. A three-way solenoid valve 20 is mounted on the head part 150.
US08333211B2

A method and apparatus for tapping into a pressurized multiple strings of coaxially situated tubulars for wells and/or platforms which have overturned wherein the tapping occurs underwater via a diver or remotely operated vehicle. The assembly includes a tapping tool connectable to the tubular via a saddle connection and an adjustable tapping clamp with adjustable support/locking feet, compression plate with view ports, and angularly adjustable hot tapping system, along with a drill/saw system.
US08333208B2

A collapsible walking device that can be disposed in an operative (open) configuration and a storage (closed) configuration. The open, operative configuration of the walking device provides a structure to aid a user in walking or standing. The closed, storage configuration allows for easy and convenient storage and transport of the walking device. The collapsible walking device can be transitioned from the operative configuration to the storage configuration in one motion. The walking device includes four support legs that extend to the ground from adjacent two handles.
US08333199B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a device, system and method for providing high flow therapy interfaces for use in the treatment of respiratory conditions and in assisted respirations. In an embodiment of the invention, a nasal cannula for delivery of respiratory gases can include at least one nasal insert and at least one flange coupled to the at least one nasal insert where the at least one flange is configured to partially impede the egress of respiratory gasses delivered to an upper airway of a patient is provided. In another embodiment, a flange has a shape selected from the group consisting of a slotted, vented or slitted design and configured to partially impede the egress of respiratory gasses.
US08333194B2

A high flow therapy system including a microprocessor, a heating element a non-sealing respiratory interface and a sensor is disclosed. The heating element is disposed in electrical communication with the microprocessor and is capable of heating a liquid to create a gas. The non-sealing respiratory interface is configured to deliver the gas to a patient. The sensor is disposed in electrical communication with the microprocessor and is configured to measure pressure in an upper airway of the patient.
US08333191B2

A method and arrangement for detecting a leak in an anesthesia system. The method includes controlling respiratory movements by means of ventilator gas flows and measuring the ventilator gas flow added for an inspiration and removed for an expiration. The method also includes supplying a fresh gas flow for a respiration and measuring the fresh gas flow added for the respiration. The method further includes receiving information indicative of the measured gas flows, determining based on said received information both the gas volume added and the gas volume removed and comparing these determined gas volumes to each other. The method also includes determining based on comparing the anesthesia system leakage.
US08333190B2

In accordance with non-limiting examples, a nebulizer includes a main body comprising an air channel section and further comprising a mixing chamber and a venturi positioned to be placed within the patient's oral cavity and configured to receive medicine and air and mix the medicine and air within the mixing chamber and receive the air flow through the venturi and cause the medicine entering the mixing chamber to be atomized by the action of air flowing through the venturi. An air flow sensor is associated with the main body and configured to measure the air flow created by the patient's one of at least inhaling and exhaling air.
US08333189B2

A liquid medicine reservoir that supplies liquid medicine to a liquid-medicine discharging portion via a communicating portion includes a cylindrical body configured to hold the liquid medicine therein, a first sealing portion to which the communicating portion is connected, the first sealing portion sealing the cylindrical body, and a second sealing portion configured to seal an end of the cylindrical body opposite the first sealing portion. At least one of the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion move relative to each other in accordance with the amount of liquid medicine. A substance configured to inhibit discharging of the liquid medicine is stored in a space in the cylindrical body that is on an inner side of the second sealing portion and that is separate from the liquid medicine.
US08333186B2

A parabolic trough solar collector system has a parabolic reflector used with an independently supported collector tube. The parabolic reflector has a reflective surface formed on a reflective surface support structure, supported by a circular support beam. This assembly rests on a plurality of support and drive rollers supported by a roller support arm, supported by a roller support column. The parabolic reflector assembly rotates against the rollers along a single axis to maintain a focus line of the parabolic reflector surface at the same location as the center of the circle described by the outer edge of the circular support beam. Located at this same focus line is the independently supported collector tube not attached to the parabolic trough reflector. The collector tube is supported on pipe roller hangers, which in turn are supported by a wire catenary system connected to support towers which straddle the parabolic reflector.
US08333181B1

A paintball marker with a barrel having a bore dimensioned to receive a frangible projectile. The marker has a receiver defining an interior cavity with a breech area. The receiver includes a flip top portion that is, in some embodiments, pivotally connected to the receiver. The flip top portion is configured to pivot between an open position that provides access to the interior cavity and a closed position that blocks access to the interior cavity. A valve arrangement is provided to selectively allow flow between a supply of compressed gas and the breech area to propel frangible projectiles through the barrel. The marker has a firing assembly configured to actuate the valve arrangement in response to actuation of a trigger.
US08333180B2

An arrow rest for supporting an arrow shaft with respect to an archery bow. A support element is moveably mounted between a first position or a load position and a second position or a launch position. In the launch position, the arrow shaft can be forced into, such as by the forces of gravity, a centered location or a preferred shooting position.
US08333171B2

A homogenizing fuel system involves at least one circulation loop existing outside of the injection system for continuously circulating and maintaining the homogeneity of a multi-fuel mixture apart from any demands by or delivery to the engine's injection system (whether a direct injection fuel gallery or a common rail), and at least one infusion tube configured within the at least one circulation loop for providing a volumetric expansion wherein the fuel mixture is able to slow and more sufficiently mix and thereby become relatively more homogeneous.
US08333168B2

A liquid bird feeder provides a liquid container having a sealable top opening and a bottleneck extension at its other end, and a liquid tray having a well adapted to receive the bottleneck extension and at least one feeding port. The sidewall of the well is provided with at least one drain hole and the sidewall of the bottleneck extension with at least one port. The container and bottleneck extension are rotatable within the well to selectively align and misalign the port with the well drain hole to respectively open and close the drain hole upon rotation of the container. In an alternate embodiment, the bottleneck extension is fitted with a collar rotatable with the container. The collar is received in the liquid tray well and includes at least one port. A liquid flow path is formed in the liquid tray for each feeding port to reduce the volume of nectar in the tray at any given time.
US08333163B2

Mooring system for a tanker, i.e. a mooring of a conventional tanker to an installation with fixed orientation, wherein a conventional tanker (3) which is to be moored to the installation is arriving in a direction favorable to wind, current and waves. By mooring a conventional tanker (3) in four points (A, B, C, D) on a tanker (3), wherein the hawsers to the points (C, D) are connected on board a platform (1) and hawsers to the points (A, B) are connected to two separate buoys (4, 5) and then tightening/slackening the hawsers until the tanker (3) has arrived in the desired/correct position.
US08333161B2

A seed furrow closing wheel has a generally dish-shaped body defined by a central portion and a notched outer flange portion that circumscribes the central portion and projects obliquely outwardly from the plane thereof. The notched flange portion is configured to present a series of circumferentially spaced, non-radial, obliquely projecting teeth that function to fragment and squeeze together opposite sidewalls of the seed furrow when a pair of the wheels are rolled along opposite sides of the furrow outboard of the furrow itself, crumbling the sidewalls and covering the seeds.
US08333160B2

Disclosed is a detachable tool cart comprising a main frame, at least a toolbox and at least a handle. The main frame includes poles standing in parallel and wire plates. Each pole has a wheel, and each wire plate has rings designated around to be locked upon corresponding poles. A position assembly is applied to fix a ring on the pole and, therefore, the poles and the wire plates construct a layered main frame. The toolbox includes two polygonal box members which are able to be placed on the wire plate with trays for placing tools or parts. The handle has two sleeves to clasp onto corresponding poles.
US08333155B2

A trolley for traveling along a cable may include a frame having a first end, a second end, and a rail extending therebetween. A user may suspend from the frame in a harness, leveraging the user's weight about a fulcrum suspended by a sheave rolling along the cable. Opposite the user, across the fulcrum, a brake shoe or pad pivotably connected to the frame may be controlled by a user shifting weight, a trim brake adjustable by the user, or both to control a braking force generated by the trolley between the brake pad and the cable. Trim braking may be set to stop the trolley on any incline, roll with a constant braking bias, or roll freely. User-weight leveraging may be dynamically adjusted by a user likewise by selectively weighting a harness, weighting a handle and tether to draw the user's weight toward the fulcrum, or both.
US08333140B2

A unit of modular armor. The module has a box-like, optically opaque outer shell of ballistic-protection material enclosed to exclude light from the module's interior. The shell contains transparent armor plates and the shell contains a self-diagnostic system for ascertaining whether the plates have been damaged. The self-diagnostic system includes a first PC board disposed along first edges of the plates, the board being divided into strips on which are mounted rows of lights. The self-diagnostic system further includes a second PC board at second, opposed edges of the plates divided into strips on which are mounted rows of light receptors. The PC boards incorporate circuitry for illuminating the rows of the lights in a row-by-row sequence, and for allowing activation only of the receptors directly opposed to illuminated lights. This circuitry has an analysis means for determining the health of the plates in response to signals from the receptors. The armor module has a transparent, elastomeric, adhesive matrix within the shell in which each of the plates and boards are suspended and encapsulated, wherein the matrix occupies all space not occupied by other elements within the shell.
US08333137B2

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a firearm actuation system is provided. The firearm actuation system, comprising a housing, a guide, a contoured actuation handle, and a bolt. The system provides an actuation mechanism for an AR-15 which is engagable by a shooter where the AR-15 is in a shouldered firing position. The contoured actuation handle may be retained in the retaining slot to provide an action-open-position. The housing may also comprise a mounting rail with a plurality of grooves, where each groove may be configured with a unique indicator.
US08333125B2

Disclosed is a system with which fuel cell stacks can be tested automatically or manually so that production of pollutants and consumption of electricity are little. The system runs various analyses and tests on the fuel cell stacks and provides operative conditions such as temperatures and fluid flows needed in the tests.
US08333122B2

A device for applying a force to a planar surface includes a tub, a cavity, a membrane, and an opening. The tub includes a bottom wall, at least one sidewall, and a cavity defined between the bottom and sidewalls. The membrane is disposed within the cavity and a perimeter edge of the membrane is fixed to the tub. The opening is formed in the tub and adapted to receive a pressurized fluid to fill a portion of the cavity below the membrane to displace at least a portion of the membrane away from the bottom wall to apply a force to the planar surface.
US08333119B2

A measuring transducer includes: a transducer housing with an inlet-side flow divider having exactly four flow openings and an outlet-side flow divider having exactly four flow openings; as well as exactly four, straight, measuring tubes connected to the flow dividers. Each of the four measuring tubes opens into one the flow openings of the inlet-side flow divider and into one the flow openings of the outlet-side flow divide. Additionally, the measuring transducer includes an electromechanical exciter mechanism for producing and/or maintaining mechanical oscillations of the measuring tubes such that the measuring tubes are excitable pairwise to execute opposite phase bending oscillations in a shared imaginary plane of oscillation.
US08333117B2

Isolation elements comprise a housing comprising a longitudinal bore formed therein and at least one recess formed in at least one longitudinally extending side of the housing. The at least one recess is in communication with the longitudinal bore. At least one diaphragm is attached proximate a periphery thereof to the housing and seals the at least one recess at the at least one longitudinally extending side of the housing. Sensor assemblies may include an isolation element including a housing and a diaphragm coupled thereto. Methods of forming an isolation element for use with a sensor comprise forming a longitudinal bore in a housing; forming at least one recess in at least one longitudinally extending side of the housing; coupling at least one diaphragm to the housing; and positioning the at least one diaphragm such that a primary direction of displacement of the at least one diaphragm extends into the at least one recess.
US08333116B2

An inspection vehicle structured to inspect a portion of the turbine disk, preferably the blade attachment hubs, while the turbine disk is disposed within a turbine housing assembly is provided. A turbine disk is generally planar but includes a inner hub and an outer blade attachment hub. The inner hub is coupled to a shaft and the blade attachment hub provides a surface to which removable blades are attached. The area between the inner hub and outer blade attachment hub is substantially planar. The inner and blade attachment hubs are the “inspection areas” that the inspection vehicle is structured to inspect. The inspection vehicle travels over, and is magnetically coupled to, the planar surface between the two hubs.
US08333114B2

A microstructure inspecting device 10 which measures a damping characteristic value of a moving portion of a microstructure includes a pressure wave generating device 1 and a pulse generating device 2 which apply an impact to the moving portion without directly contacting the microstructure, and a vibrometer 4 which measures a displacement of the moving portion for a predetermined period of time after the start of free vibration of the moving portion without contacting the moving portion. The pressure wave generating device 1 is a sound wave generating element of thermal excitation type, a piezoelectric sound wave generating element, or an electromagnetic vibration element, and is driven by a pulse signal of the pulse generating device 2. The pressure wave generating device 1 using the sound wave generating element of thermal excitation type may include a thermally conductive substrate, a heat-insulating layer formed of nano-crystal silicon in one principal surface of the substrate, an insulating layer formed on the heat-insulating layer, and a conductive layer formed on the insulating layer and emitting heat when being supplied with current containing alternating current components.
US08333096B2

A method includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
US08333095B2

An apparatus includes, in combination, a roll former with rolls configured to form a structural beam from sheet material, and a sweep unit for longitudinally sweeping a beam in any of vertical, horizontal, or combination directions. The sweep unit has a first pair of forming rolls positioned to engage first opposing sides of the structural beam and has a second pair of forming rolls positioned to engage second opposing sides of the structural beam. The sweep unit movably supports the first and second pairs of forming rolls so that any selected one of the forming rolls continuously engages an associated side of the structural beam while an associated one of the forming rolls opposing the selected one forming roll moves downstream and around the selected one forming roll. This provides a very stable beam-bending condition promoting dimensional stability during the sweeping process, and hence dimensional accuracy and repeatability.
US08333090B2

A process for manufacturing an optical fiber, includes the steps of: a) producing a soot core preform by depositing a core material on a substrate; b) removing the substrate from the soot preform leaving an axial cavity along the longitudinal axis of the soot core preform; (c) drying and consolidating the soot core preform so as to obtain a glass core preform having an axial hole corresponding to the axial cavity; d) reducing a diameter of the axial hole; and e) stretching the glass core preform so as to substantially close the axial hole, wherein the process further includes the step of measuring at least one geometric characteristic of the axial hole of the glass core preform.
US08333080B2

A supersonic cooling system operates by pumping liquid. Because supersonic cooling system pumps liquid, the compression system does not require the use a condenser. Compression system utilizes a compression wave. The evaporator of compression system operates in the critical flow regime where the pressure in an evaporator tube will remain almost constant and then ‘jump’ or ‘shock up’ to the ambient pressure.
US08333070B2

Provided is an energy storage system configured to accumulate energy for subsequent discharge. One embodiment includes an indirect energy storage assembly configured to accept energy input from a direct storage assembly. The indirect energy storage assembly includes a converter for lifting a mass, a speed reducer coupled to the converter for increasing torque provided, and a mass coupled to the speed reducer for generating potential energy when raised. In one embodiment, the direct energy storage assembly produces energy based on descent of a mass, the descent controlled by operation of a speed increaser coupled to a generator. In one example, the speed increaser provides an input:output ratio of at least 1:100. The speed increaser can be configured based on parameters of the generator (e.g., speed and torque). The mass of the direct energy storage assembly can include a float for lifting the mass responsive to water level.
US08333063B2

Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.
US08333059B2

A crop converging apparatus for a round baler having a pickup unit wider than the bale chamber. The converging apparatus comprises a pair of converging augers laterally situated along a common axis on opposing sides of the pickup unit feed table and forwardly adjacent to the bale chamber infeed opening. The converging augers and related shrouds are configured to shift the lateral converging zone of the augers rearward in relation to the auger structure to a position behind the plane of the infeed opening.
US08333057B2

A method for adjusting the lateral tilt of a combine header. The method includes receiving, at a control system, a plurality of output voltages from a plurality of potentiometers; determining, by the control system, at least one adjustment signal; determining, by the control system, a rate for transmitting the at least one adjustment signal; transmitting, by the control system, the at least one adjustment signal at the determined rate to at least one adjustment mechanism operably connected to control system; and adjusting, by the at least one adjustment mechanism, the lateral tilt of the combine header in response to the at least one adjustment signal. The rate for transmitting the signal is determined based upon one or more of a forward speed of the combine, the weight of the combine head, and an input selection made by an operator of the combine.
US08333055B2

The invention relates to a process for filling a plastic container (1) having a high degree of molecular orientation with a liquid, which process comprises the following steps: filling of the container (1) with a liquid at high temperature; cooling the walls (5) of the container (1) during the filling step; sealing of the container (1); cooling of the walls (5) of the container (1) during the sealing step; passive shrinkage of the container (1) following said sealing step; and cooling of the walls (5) of the container (1) following the shrinkage step. The invention also relates to a device for implementing said process and to a container thus obtained.
US08333052B2

In a machine for filling capsules, each of which defined by a bottom and a cap, with pharmaceutical products, the bottoms and the caps of the capsules are moved forward in sequence about a plurality of wheels provided with at least two actuating members movable under the control of respective tappets engaged in respective cams to open and close the capsules themselves, respectively; the cams being obtained on the outer surface of a drum mounted to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axes of the wheels.
US08333043B2

An apparatus for thermally hygrometrically processing and conditioning air for classified environments and preparing foods. The apparatus has a stainless steel inner bottom and monolithic thermally insulated panels. The panels have an outer wall and an inner wall therebetween a thermally insulating material is arranged.
US08333040B2

The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising a roofing substrate; one or more photovoltaic cells disposed on the roofing substrate; and a colored or patterned layer disposed on the roofing substrate and visible in the area surrounding the photovoltaic cells; and an encapsulant layer disposed over the photovoltaic cells and the patterned colored layer.
US08333028B1

A mode selection mechanism for a firearm is provided including a lever having an exposed surface and an inner surface and a pivot pin and a detent pin depending from the inner surface, the pivot pin extending through a orifice in the frame, the detent pin extending generally parallel to the pivot pin. The lever is pivotable from a first position to a second position about the pivot pin, wherein the detent pin moves in an arc-shaped aperture in the frame. A flexible stop includes an open ring of spring metal and is disposed in a ring orifice in the frame. The detent pin is disposed against the flexible stop wherein, as the lever is moved from the first position to the second position, the flexible stop compresses and then uncompresses thereby creating a detent.
US08333012B2

Electrode placement and connection systems are described which allow for the electrical connection and maintenance of one or more electrodes positioned on a substrate which is subjected to a variety of mechanical stresses. Such a system may include an imaging hood having an aperture through which transparent fluid is flowed and one or more electrodes positioned along or about the hood. As the hood is configured between a low-profile and opened configuration, these electrodes may remain electrically coupled despite the mechanical stresses subjected to the electrodes and the connections thereto.
US08333006B2

A method for removing a crack in an electromechanical rotor, including: forming a plurality of slots on a periphery of a core portion of an electromechanical rotor along an axial direction thereof; inserting coils into the slots, respectively; forming a plurality of wedges for maintaining the coils in the slots, respectively; and forming a cut hole at at least a part of the core portion from an outer surface of the core portion toward the side of a center axis thereof so as to contain a crack along a circumferential direction thereof.
US08333003B2

A stent crimping system and method for use in preparing a bifurcation catheter assembly for use in a patient. The catheter assembly includes main and side catheter branches and a stent. The stent includes a side branch aperture through which the side catheter branch extends. The stent is crimped onto the main and side catheter branches with a crimping mechanism in two crimping steps. In the first crimping step, only a distal end portion of the stent is crimped while the side catheter branch remains extending through the side branch opening of the stent and remains positioned outside of the crimping mechanism. In a second crimping step, the entire stent is crimped with the crimping mechanism.
US08332996B2

Provided are a conductive paste composition for inner electrodes and a method of manufacturing a multilayer ceramic capacitor using the same. The conductive paste composition for inner electrodes includes a metal powder having an average particle size ranging from 50 nm to 300 nm, and 4 to 10 parts by weight of a binder resin. The binder resin contains at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a high-molecular-weight polyvinylbutyral resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 250 thousand to 400 thousand, a low-molecular-weight polyvinylbutyral resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 50 thousand to 150 thousand, and a rosin ester.
US08332994B2

A shoelace with a shoelace fastener includes a first retaining base at an end of a first lace and/or a second retaining base at another end of the first lace, and a ratchet and an elastic clipping element are disposed in the first retaining base and the second retaining base respectively, such that the ratchet can be pressed at an end of the elastic clipping element, and the ratchet is pressed by the elastic clipping element into a normal slantingly pressed down status. When use, a fabric shoelace or a serrated plastic groove is passed into the retaining base, and ends of the ratchets are provided for clamping a surface of the fabric shoelace or plastic shoelace to facilitate adjusting the tightness of the shoelace.
US08332984B2

The present invention relates to a cleaning apparatus for printed circuit board. The cleaning apparatus includes a base, a clamping plate fixed to the base, at least one holding member, at least one cleaning roller, and a driving mechanism. The holding member is elastically supported on the base. The at least one cleaning roller is pivotably disposed on the at least one holding member respectively. The cleaning roller includes a cleaning layer attached to a surface of the cleaning roller. The clamping plate is opposite to and departs from the cleaning roller at a distance. The driving mechanism is coupled to the cleaning roller and configured for driving the cleaning roller to rotate. The cleaning apparatus can clean printed circuit board high efficiently.
US08332970B2

A flushing mechanism (100) includes a housing (1), an upper cover (6) on the housing (1), a sleeve (3), a first piston (4), a first piston sealed module (4-3), a first piston loading spring (5), a second piston (8) and a second piston loading spring (9). Wherein a pressure-relief and/or ejection-proof part is provided in the housing (1), the second piston sealed module (8-3, 8-4) are respectively provided surround the periphery of the bottom end and the central hole of the second piston (8). The bottom end of the second piston (8), the second piston sealed module (8-3, 8-4) and the lower end of the housing (1) define an exterior lower cavity (8-5) and an interior lower cavity (8-6) used for cooperating with the second piston loading spring (9) in course of drainage, sequentially the second piston (8) is moved upward and the outlet is opened. A toilet bowl employing the flushing mechanism can reduce the flushing water consumption.
US08332966B1

An article of clothing comprising a waistband having a front area adapted to be worn on the front of the user and a rear area adapted to be worn on the rear of the user. Leg members extend from the waistband, each of which has a distal end spaced apart from the waistband and an inseam extending between each distal end of the pair of leg members. A short zipper extends between the front area of the waistband and a location near the inseam. An extended zipper extends between the pair of leg members and extends between a location adjacent to the rear area of the waistband and a location adjacent to the front area of the waistband. A first portion of the extended zipper is positioned adjacent to the short zipper such that both the first portion of the extended zipper and the short zipper are located underneath a flap.
US08336108B2

A method and system for a communication network containing both trusted peers and untrusted hosts within the network. Trusted peers can collaborate with each other to observe and monitor the activity of the untrusted hosts. In addition, a trusted peer instantiated with a virtual machine can have an operating system kernel collaborate with a hypervisor to determine whether threats are present. A trusted peer that needs particular functionality installed can collaborate with other trusted peers and with an administrative console to have that functionality installed. An untrusted host can have a driver directly inserted into it by an administration console, which will facilitate in the collaboration process.
US08336095B2

A user-space virtualization (USV) program to allow legacy applications in embedded systems to share resources without modification without compromising security is provided. A computer-implemented USV program may be characterized by a method in a user-space including retrieving a native code of an application, and identifying an instruction sequence. Further, identifying the instruction sequence includes, first, determining if executing the instruction sequence to perform processing is a possible security risk. If it is a possible security risk, then confirming that there is an execute authority for an active application. Execute authority may be confirmed by a security manager or a processor. If it is confirmed by the security manager that the active application has the execute authority for processing, then executing the instruction sequence with a processor. If the active application has no execute authority for processing, then not executing the instruction sequence. On the other hand, if executing the instruction sequence to perform processing is not a possible security risk, then executing the instruction sequence with the processor.
US08336093B2

An abnormal Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) packet control system and method utilizes IPSec configuration and session data to detect whether or not packets encrypted by an extended header are abnormal. The IPSec packet control system can include an extended header processing unit that receives an IPSec packet and extracts the data to be used in traffic control; check units for checking the packets in the stages of IPSec configuration and IPSec communication that receive the extracted data to determine whether or not the IPSec packet has passed; and a control unit that allows the IPSec to pass or to be blocked according to a determination result from the check units for checking the IPSec configuration and communication packets, where abnormal IPSec packets are blocked using the IPSec configuration and session tables without requiring them to be decrypted and encrypted.
US08336092B2

The present invention provides a technique for improving the security of access to contents.A virus/phishing site list contains a list of URLs of phishing sites, which masquerade as valid websites and are provided with an attempt to acquire private information including card numbers, PIN numbers and passwords, from users illegally. When a communication control unit receives, via a network, a packet that contains communication data for requesting access to a content, a search circuit compares the URL of the content to be accessed included in the communication data, with URLs of phishing sites included in the virus/phishing site list. If the address of the content to be accessed matches a URL of a phishing site, a process execution circuit will prohibit the access to the content.
US08336089B1

An extensible servicing hosting platform is provided that supports the design, build and concurrent deployment of multiple web accessible services on a services hosting platform. The services hosting platform comprises a services hosting framework capable of hosting multiple service applications, each of which may be shared by multiple tenants that each customize their use of a particular application service by extending the application service to exploit run time platform services within a service execution pipeline. The services hosting framework may easily be leveraged by applications to decrease the time associated with developing, deploying and maintaining high quality services in a cost effective manner.
US08336084B2

A system for broadcasting multiple public identities corresponding to the same apparatus. For example, each public identity may correspond to different operational environments, while none of the public identities disclose a private identity that uniquely and permanently identifies the apparatus. This allows apparatuses to keep their unique identity a secret while still being able to communicate with other apparatuses in various environments.
US08336083B2

A trusted network access control system based on ternary equal identification is provided. The system includes access requestor AR, access controller AC and policy manager PM as well as the protocol interface among them. The protocol interface between the AR and AC includes a trusted network transmission interface (IF-TNT) and IF-TNACCS interface between TNAC client and TNAC server. The protocol interface between the AC and PM includes an identification policy service interface IF-APS, evaluation policy service interface IF-EPS and a trust measurement interface IF-TM. The protocol interface between the AR and PM includes a trust measurement interface IF-TM.
US08336074B2

A system and method are disclosed for facilitating fast-forwarding by viewers through a first-run program beyond the current broadcast point. In one embodiment, the first-run program is distributed before its scheduled publication time, and may be viewed at any time after the publication time. In a second embodiment, content is distributed on or after the publication time, but at a rate greater than the normal viewing rate. In a third embodiment, content is distributed on demand after the publication time by a media distribution server. In a fourth embodiment, a viewer participating in a multicast session of the content requests content beyond the current broadcast point. The viewer is switched to a unicast session, and the requested content is transmitted to the viewer. In alternative embodiments, a release code may be provided to control the time after which the viewer will be permitted to view program segments beyond the current broadcast point.
US08336070B2

A method used in a digital photo frame (DPF) with television function is provided. The DPF has a DPF mode for playing multimedia files stored in a storage and a television (TV) mode for playing TV programs received by a TV receiving module. The method includes: fetching TV program information from a TV program schedule when the DPF is in the DPF mode; detecting whether at least one TV program is airing soon or currently aired at the current time; displaying a TV listing menu prompt containing information on the at least one “airing soon” or “currently aired” TV program; receiving a mode switching signal and changing the operational mode of the DPF to the TV mode; and receiving and playing one of the “airing soon” or “currently aired” TV programs.
US08336068B2

A broadcast signal processing apparatus and channel tuning method are provided. The method comprises a host including Open Cable Application Platform (OCAP) middleware for communication with an application program provided from a broadcasting station, and a memory for storing programs and data. The method further includes: transferring the input channel tuning key signal to the application program and a service context portion in the OCAP middleware; creating a virtual inner channel map in the service context portion, and obtaining channel information from the virtual inner channel map; performing channel tuning in advance using the obtained channel information; searching the channel information by the application program; requesting channel tuning to the OCAP middleware with the searched channel information; judging whether the searched channel information is identical to the obtained channel information; and completing channel tuning by taking the advance tuning if both channel information are identical to each other.
US08336062B2

When a plug-in application “HDD Backup Utility” is designated by the user from the start menu, an administration program is started. The administration program receives information as to which plug-in application was designated, and based on the received information, places a function button for the designated plug-in application (here, “backup” and “restore” buttons corresponding to HDD Backup Utility) in a “HOME” display area. The user can readily find and select the button in the HOME display area. In this manner, the function button for the designated plug-in application is displayed in the position easily accessible by the user.
US08336052B2

A first computer program runs in user memory space of a computing environment, and a second computer program runs in kernel memory space of the computing environment. The first computer program determines processes that constitute a workload. The second computer program creates a workload identifier corresponding to the workload, and associates the processes with the workload identifier. The first computer program requests metrics regarding the workload. In response, the second computer program collects such metrics by collecting metrics regarding the processes that constitute the workload and that are associated with the workload identifier The second computer program reports the metrics regarding the workload to the first computer program.
US08336046B2

Methods and apparatuses enable creation of a virtual machine (VM) clone initiated through application or service logic. The application requests generation of a VM clone from within the runtime execution of the application. The request is serviced by a VM generator, which identifies a state of the VM to clone and identifies hardware resources on which to create the VM clone. Based on a determination of what resources on which to generate the VM clone, the VM generator creates the VM clone on the determined resources, having the identified state. In one embodiment, a use case of resource copy or reference copy is selected for each resource. In one embodiment, the VM generator considers a number of factors in determining where to instantiate the VM clone. The parameters may include hints or preference parameters sent by the application and/or resource loading or performance.
US08336042B2

A system for managing data originating from and destined for a motor vehicle, including: a first data communication unit permanently disposed on-board the vehicle; a second data communication unit disposed at a distance from the vehicle; and at least two devices for transmitting, receiving and storing data originating from and destined for the vehicle, the device communicating data with the first and second communication units, interfacing with a user of the vehicle and including a data storage. The second communication unit can be a computer terminal connected to a computer network, such as the Internet and/or an intranet, providing access to an interactive computer application, such as to transmit data originating from the vehicle and to receive the data destined for the data transmission, reception and storage devices and the vehicle. The storage devices can synchronize non-custom data that have become obsolete.
US08336038B2

A computer system for executing a computer program on parallel processors, the system having a compiler for identifying within a computer program concurrency markers that indicate that code between them can be executed in parallel and should be executed with delayed side-effects; and an execution system that is operable to execute the code identified by the concurrency markers to generate a queue of side-effects and after execution of that code is completed, sequentially execute the queue of side-effects.
US08336027B2

Indexing domains of a declarative application with view state information for the domain to enable persisting the view state of the declarative application. The domains are organized in a tree. Each domain is built by a configuration builder. The method includes indexing a domain of a declarative application by indexing a path name in an index. The path name includes a path name of the parent domain of the domain; an identifier of the configuration builder used to build the domain; and an identifier of one or more local decisions made by the configuration builder when creating the domain. The method further includes correlating a unique identifier key to the path name in the index and correlating view state information for the domain to the unique key identifier.
US08336024B2

A method, computer System and computer program product for generating ontological information from design data are disclosed. The design data has a plurality of classes, the classes having at least one association with another class. The design data is processed on the basis of rules to identify environmental artifacts. The design data is processed on the basis of rules to identify implementation artifacts. All classes that are implementation artifacts are eliminated from the design data. New associations for non-eliminated design data that have broken class associations as a result of the elimination are established. The design data remaining following the elimination is processed to preserve environmental artifact relationships between the retained classes to generate an ontology.
US08336022B2

A method and system are provided for implementing a configurable browser-based form application. A configurable application toolset is provided, having a plurality of reusable browser-based form application components, or shells, that are configured in response to a received set of configuration parameters. Based on the configuration parameters, the toolset can be used to create any number of browser-based form applications. The application includes a browser-based form, a database, and rules governing the collection and storage of gathered and stored data. All of the configuration parameters are stored as data, so that no recompiling or modification of compiled software code in the shells is required when changes are needed, or an entirely new browser-based form application is desired. This reduces cost and time in software development.
US08336020B2

In a method for inspecting the layout of a printed circuit board (PCB), a component to be checked is determined from an electronic layout diagram of the PCB, and a power transmission line which may be serving that component is selected. The layout diagram is checked to determine whether the component is connected to the power transmission line, and further checked to determine whether more than one ground pins of the component is connected to the power transmission line. Vias that are shared by two or more ground pins of the component are determined if more than one ground pin is connected to the power transmission line. Shared vias are marked on the layout diagram.
US08336005B2

A pattern dimension calculation method according to one embodiment calculates a taper shape of a mask member used as a mask when a circuit pattern is processed in an upper layer of the circuit pattern formed on a substrate. The method calculates an opening angle facing the mask member from a shape prediction position on the circuit pattern on the basis of the taper shape. The method calculates a dimension of the circuit pattern according to the opening angle formed at the shape prediction position.
US08335995B2

An image forming apparatus includes a display that displays a normal operational screen and information other than the normal operational screen; an event detecting unit that detects an event occurring; a memory that stores pairs of first events and second events which have been configured beforehand; and a display switching controller that switches what is displayed on the display to a normal operational screen, when the event detecting unit detects the occurrence of a first event stored in the memory during display of information other than the normal operational screen on the display, and switches what is displayed on the display to information other than the normal operational screen, when the event detecting unit detects a second event paired with the first event.
US08335982B1

A system and method for binding a form through a JavaScript callback is disclosed herein. During a first session, inputted information in a form is bound with a plurality of JavaScript callbacks. When the session is closed and again reopened, the inputted form is called containing the information inputted from the first session.
US08335981B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive, sequentially, individual lines of information included in a file stored in an electronic storage medium; to locate one or more tables in a spreadsheet when at least two of the lines in a sequence are consecutive lines that begin with a non-empty cell and have a matching length; to determine a vertical orientation or a horizontal orientation of the tables based on an arrangement of the information within the lines and across the lines; and to create metadata from the information, based on the arrangement. The metadata may comprise object label names, object qualifications, and/or object data types. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08335978B2

In a semiconductor storage device 10 included in a liquid container 20, on reception of an encoding request for encoding readout data, a write-read controller 140 changes over the position of a switch 141 to output encoded readout data, which is obtained by an encoding operation in a data encoding circuit 150, to a data signal terminal SDAT. In the case of no reception of the encoding request for encoding the readout data, on the other hand, the write-read controller 140 changes over the position of the switch 141 to output raw data read out from a memory array 100 to the data signal terminal SDAT.
US08335977B2

A method for decoding a plurality of flash memory cells which are error-correction-coded as a unit, the method comprising providing a hard-decoding success indication indicating whether or not hard-decoding is at least likely to be successful; and soft-decoding the plurality of flash memory cells at a first resolution only if the hard-decoding success indication indicates that the hard-decoding is not at least likely to be successful.
US08335972B2

A soft decision device and method for obtaining a soft decision value as a value expressing a probability as near the actual probability as possible by simple processing. The soft decision device and method are used to output a soft decision value for each bit of each symbol used for decoding the each symbol as a value corresponding to the function value obtained by applying a predetermined function for each bit to the sampled value of the each symbol according to the demodulated signal such that the probability distribution of the sampled value in each symbol point is the Gauss distribution. The function for each bit is approximated to a curve expressing the probability that each bit is 1 or 0 for the sampled value of each symbol of the demodulated signal and defined by using a quadratic function.
US08335960B2

Systems and methods for ensuring data integrity in a data processing system are disclosed. The method may include monitoring when data for a specified device is available for error correction code generation. A new error correction code may be generated in hardware for the data, based on the indicated size of the data. Detected errors may be corrected in software, based on the generated new error correction code. A first indication of the specified device, a second indication of the data and a third indication of a size of the data may be received during the monitoring. The method may also include indicating when the generating of the new error correction code for a specified number of accesses for at least a portion of the data is complete, and enabling or disabling the error correction code generation. The enabling and/or the disabling may be accomplished via an enable signal.
US08335956B2

Through the identification of different packet-types, packets can be handled based on an assigned packet handling identifier. This identifier can, for example, enable forwarding of latency-sensitive packets without delay and allow error-sensitive packets to be stored for possible retransmission. In another embodiment, and optionally in conjunction with retransmission protocols including a packet handling identifier, a memory used for retransmission of packets can be shared with other transceiver functionality such as, coding, decoding, interleaving, deinterleaving, error correction, and the like.
US08335955B2

A method for reconstructing a signal from incomplete data in a signal processing device includes acquiring incomplete signal data. An initial reconstruction of the incomplete signal data is generated. A reconstruction is generated starting from the initial reconstruction by repeating the steps of: calculating a sparsity transform of the reconstruction, measuring an approximation of sparsity of the reconstruction by applying an m-estimator to the calculated sparsity transform, and iteratively optimizing the reconstruction to minimize output of the m-estimator thereby maximizing the approximation of sparsity for the reconstruction. The optimized reconstruction is provided as a representation of the incomplete data.
US08335950B2

A test and measurement instrument including an input configured to receive a signal and output digitized data; a memory configured to store reference digitized data including a reference sequence; a pattern detector configured to detect the reference sequence in the digitized data and generate a synchronization signal in response; a memory controller configured to cause the memory to output the reference digitized data in response to the synchronization signal; and a comparator configured to compare the reference digitized data output from the memory to the digitized data.
US08335948B2

A method is provided for quantizing an input signal. The number of equal quantized values during a period of time is counted thereby obtaining said number of counts. The counts exceeding a count threshold being defined as reliable counts, the counts lower than or equal to the count threshold being defined as unreliable counts. Two unreliable counts are calculated using a lower and a higher value for a first parameter in an extrapolating function. The first parameter is considered equivalent to the lower value if the two unreliable counts differ less than or equal to a count difference. The invention further discloses a corresponding tail extrapolator.
US08335947B2

According to one embodiment, an availability analysis tool includes executable code that is operable to calculate an availability value for a system having a number of operational units. The executable code may receive one or more reliability metrics for each operational unit and designate one or more reliability metrics for at least spare unit associated with the operational unit to be similar to the one or more reliability metrics. An availability value for the system may be calculated according to the reliability metrics of the operational unit and its associated at least one hot or cold spare unit. The executable code may then output this calculated availability value to the user interface.
US08335943B2

The present disclosure presents systems and methods for maintaining operation of stateful sessions by a secondary multi-core appliance upon failover of a first multi-core appliance. A stateful session failover module of primary appliance may receive session states from each of the cores of the primary appliance. The stateful session failover module may communicate the session states of the cores of the primary appliance to a stateful session failover module of the secondary appliance. The stateful session failover module of the secondary appliance may update each of the cores of the secondary appliance with the session states. Upon failover, cores of the secondary appliance may maintain operation and features of the sessions handled by the primary appliance prior to failover using the received state sessions for each session maintained.
US08335939B2

A notebook computer includes a keyboard, a display, a light source arranged on the keyboard or the display, and a light source control circuit. The light source control circuit includes first to third electronic switches. A control terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to a working voltage terminal. A first terminal of the first electronic switch is connected to a first terminal of the light source and a first terminal of the third electronic switch. A second terminal of the light source is connected to a standby voltage terminal. A control terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to a sleep signal terminal. A first terminal of the second electronic switch is connected to the standby voltage terminal and a control terminal of the third electronic switch. Second terminals of the first to third electronic switches are grounded.
US08335937B2

In a method and system, a first wireless device may be periodically cycled between an available state and a power saving state. While in the available state, the first wireless device may receive a probe request sent from a second wireless device operating in a discovery state. The first wireless device may transmit a probe response to the second wireless device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08335936B2

A power node provides energy management and network expansion features in a networked data communications and control environment that may be utilized in an energy management system implementing a method of managing energy. Network expansion may be provided by integrating a networking bridge from a power line network to one or more wired network ports or a wireless network. The power outlet on the power node providing power to a device may be identified and associated with information about the device.
US08335930B2

An architecture, system and method for operating on encrypted and/or hidden information (e.g., code and/or data). The invention enables creators, owners and/or distributors of proprietary code to keep such code inaccessible to users and user-controlled software programs. A memory architecture includes first and second protected memory spaces, respectively storing operating system instructions and a decrypted version of the encrypted information. The first protected memory space may further store a table linking the locations of the encrypted and/or hidden, decrypted information with a decryption and/or authorization key. The system includes the memory architecture and a processor for executing instructions, and the method loads, stores and operates on the encrypted and/or hidden information according to the memory architecture functionality and/or constraints.
US08335929B2

Communication across domains is described. In at least one implementation, a determination is made that an amount of data to be communicated via an Iframe exceeds a threshold amount. The data is divided into a plurality of portions that do not exceed the threshold amount. A plurality of messages is formed to communicate the divided data across domains.
US08335924B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for embedding information in software and/or other electronic content such that the information is difficult for an unauthorized party to detect, remove, insert, forge, and/or corrupt. The embedded information can be used to protect electronic content by identifying the content's source, thus enabling unauthorized copies or derivatives to be reliably traced, and thus facilitating effective legal recourse by the content owner. Systems and methods are also disclosed for protecting, detecting, removing, and decoding information embedded in electronic content, and for using the embedded information to protect software or other media from unauthorized analysis, attack, and/or modification.
US08335921B2

Systems, methods, computer programs, and devices are disclosed herein for partitioning the namespace of a secure element in contactless smart card devices and for writing application data in the secure element using requests from a software application outside the secure element. The secure element is a component of a contactless smart card incorporated into a contactless smart card device. A control software application resident in the same or a different secure element provides access types and access bits, for each access memory block of the secure element namespace, thereby portioning the namespace into different access types. Further, a software application outside the secure element manages the control software application by passing commands using a secure channel to the secure element, thereby enabling an end-user of the contactless smart card device or a remote computer to control the partitioning and use of software applications within the secure element.
US08335913B2

Disclosed are techniques for recovering system configuration settings, such as remote management, of an information handling system following a disorderly shutdown. A restart controller detects a disorderly shutdown of an information handling system and, in response, sets a disorderly shutdown flag and restarts the information handling system. During the restart, the basic input/output system (BIOS) checks the disorderly shutdown flag as part of its power-on housekeeping. In response to determining the disorderly shutdown flag has been set, the BIOS reconfigures the system configuration settings, such as the power management scheme, of the information handling system so as to enable one or more remote wake mechanisms, such as wake-on-LAN or wake-on-ring. The BIOS then performs an orderly shutdown of the information handling system to place the information handling system in a low-power state, from which the information handling system can be awoken via the remote wake mechanism.
US08335908B2

Memory address translation buffering circuitry is provided comprising a primary storage bank and a secondary storage bank. Storage bank accessing circuitry is provided to perform a parallel lookup of the primary storage bank and the secondary storage bank for virtual to physical address translation entries. Buffering management circuitry is configured to transfer an address translation entry between the primary storage bank and the secondary storage bank dependent upon an occupancy level of at least one of the primary storage bank and secondary storage bank.
US08335907B2

Methods of maintaining an address table for mapping logical addresses to physical addresses include continuously consolidating main address maps and an update address map, and periodically compacting the update address map. Consolidating includes selecting a main address map, reading valid mapping entries from the main and update address maps, constructing a mapping set including the valid mapping entries, and writing the mapping set to a second main address map. The update address map is compacted if a criterion is met, and includes copying the valid mapping entries to an unwritten block or metablock and assigning the unwritten block or metablock as a new update address map. The length of consolidation may depend on the average length of compacted mapping entries following a compaction operation. Increased performance due to lower maintenance overhead may result by using these methods.
US08335900B2

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for converting backup copies of objects created using a first backup program to backup copies created using a second backup program. A plurality of backup copies of versions of an object are created using a first backup program, wherein the object has an object name. The first backup program is used to restore at least one of the backup copies to a restored version of the object having a name different from the object name. A second backup program is used to create a backup copy of each restored version of the object. A name of a designated object is assigned to each backup copy created using the second backup program. Metadata of each backup copy created using the second backup program is updated with metadata for the designated object.
US08335899B1

An active/active remote mirroring system, for example an active/active SRDF system, provides for remote mirroring between multiple storage volumes, e.g., a first storage device and a second storage device, in which the storage devices may both be active. A plurality of hosts may be coupled to either the first storage device, the second storage device, or both to conduct read and write operations from and to the storage devices, for example to nearest device. The hosts may be part of an application cluster. The first storage device and the second storage device may be connected via a link, such as an SRDF link, for providing remote mirroring capabilities between the storage volumes. In various embodiments the first and second storage devices may be separate devices, volumes, or portions thereof, and/or may be different portions of the same storage device.
US08335894B1

An interface circuit that emulates a memory circuit having a first organization using a memory circuit having a second organization, wherein the second organization includes a number of banks, a number of rows, a number of columns, and a number of bits per column.
US08335889B2

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a content addressable data structure system may include directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) of data content that are addressed using both a user-defined search key and content of data blocks. Internal keys of retention roots of the DAGs may be derived from the user-defined search key while the remaining blocks may be content addressed. As opposed to using a content address, the user may provide the search key when retrieving and deleting DAGs retaining the data content. In addition, the internal keys may be implemented using internal content addressable storage operations, such as applying a hash function and employing a distributed hash table.
US08335885B2

A storage device and a method of accessing a status thereof are provided. The storage device is disposed in a host. The device data structure field of the storage device is adapted to record the status of the non-volatile memory. The control module is adapted to access the status according to a control signal from the host. Therefore, the operating system or the application of the host is capable of getting the status of the non-volatile memory to ensure the safety of the stored data.
US08335882B2

There is provided a first dock for a portable hard disk, where the first dock is connectable to a host device. There is also provided a corresponding method for accessing content on the host device during use of the dock. It is advantageous that the host device is able to access content from portable hard disks that are docked with the first dock and a second dock.
US08335880B2

The disclosure recites a device, system and method for provisioning resources from a server in a network to a mobile electronic device. The method comprises at the mobile electronic device: generating and sending a network registration request to the server to allow the server to determine whether the mobile electronic device is in a device registry linking resources managed by the server; waiting for a data transmission from the server, the data transmission containing text and a link to the resource that can receive the data transmission at the mobile electronic device; incorporating text and a link from the data transmission into a graphical user interface (GUI) generated on a display of the mobile electronic device to provide an interface to activate the link from the mobile electronic device; and generating an indicator on the GUI that the resource is new, if the resource is new to the mobile electronic device.
US08335879B2

A technique for differentiating nodes in a multi-node electronic system includes establishing an intended configuration for the system, the configuration including a number of nodes to be installed and a specification of intended node locations. A node ID for each of multiple nodes to be installed in the system is established, and the multiple nodes are installed. Using the node ID established for each of the multiple nodes, a determination is made whether the multiple nodes as installed comply with the intended configuration.
US08335874B2

A method and apparatus for processing data samples utilizes a channel map populated by device descriptor, or by an application program interface. Packet processing code loops through all of the samples contained in a packet while incrementing through a channel map and steering table without having to look up a table to determine in what audio buffer the sample is to be stored or read. Additionally, the present invention utilizes a stride map, so the audio subsystem knows how many samples to skip in order to reach the next sample frame. The present invention can be used for handling received packets as well as forming packets to send over a bus.
US08335871B2

Provided are a memory system and a method of driving the same. The method includes setting microcodes in a top control sequencer and multiple channel control sequencers, and executing the microcode set in the top control sequencer. The method may further include checking execution results of the microcode.
US08335854B2

Techniques are generally described that relate to a computer-implemented method of using a virtual device operating in a first computer network to perform a service on behalf of a low-power device operating in a second computer network includes receiving, by the virtual device, device data reports and a device descriptor from the low-power device. The virtual device may be adapted to store the device data reports and/or the device descriptor in computer-readable memory coupled to the virtual device. The virtual device may also be adapted to receive a low-power device service request from a requesting device operating in a third computer network and may determine that the device descriptor indicates that the low-power device is unavailable to respond to the low-power device service request. A response to the low-power device service request may be generated by the virtual device based on the device data reports.
US08335852B2

Disclosed herein is a contact destination information registration method employed in a network system including nodes and employing a distributed hash table. When registering contact destination information corresponding to a predetermined node address in the table, the node first performs a first operation of looking up a value associated with a key corresponding to the node address in the table, and, if no such value is found, registering provisional contact destination information in the table so as to be associated with the key and acquiring a registration time of the provisional information, but, if any such value is found, acquiring a registration time of that value, and then performs a second operation of registering the true contact destination information in the table, if the registration time of the value associated with the key in the table coincides with the registration time acquired by the first operation.
US08335848B2

Network data associated with a network session is captured at a first location. The network data includes, but is not limited to, web page data transmitted over a network between a web server and a user terminal. User interface events associated with the same network session are separately captured at a second user terminal location. The user interface events include, but are not limited to, user inputs for interacting with the web page data. Both the captured network data and the separately captured user interface events are then used for analyzing the network session.
US08335847B2

A method of servicing requests for information at a server includes receiving a request for information from a client device, and determining a number of attempts of the request made by the client device. Both the client device and the server may count the number of attempts for each request. When the number of attempts is greater than a threshold, the method includes servicing the request and sending the information to the client device. When the number of attempts is not greater than the threshold, the method includes sending a service unavailable message to the client device. A retry-after delay may be calculated by the server according to a predicted time for the server to exit the overloaded state and included in the service unavailable message. The predicted time may take into account both requests currently being serviced and requests that have been scheduled to be serviced in the future.
US08335846B2

The multi-functional peripheral judges whether or not the last display screen at the time of logout is usable as the initial display screen at the time of next login. Then, when the last display screen at the time of logout is not usable as the initial display screen at the time of next login, not information to specify the last display screen at the time of logout but a predetermined screen information is set to be transmitted to an authentication server. The authentication server manages information to specify the last display screen given from a multi-functional peripheral, and notifies the multi-functional peripheral of the last display screen information of the user to display the screen on the multi-functional peripheral when a user logs in the multi-functional peripheral next time.
US08335845B2

Operability of a web application comprising dynamic contents is evaluated continuously with high precision. In a web application execution system 1000, a web server apparatus 121 responsive to a request from a client apparatus 101 and a log server apparatus 141 are connected via a network 161. The log server apparatus 141 stores an operation log obtained when the web application is operated on the web browser in accordance with a manual having a description of an operation method of the web application, as a first operation log, stores another operation log obtained when the web application is operated in the client apparatus 101, as a second operation log, and transmits difference information between the first and second operation logs to the web server apparatus 121, the client apparatus 101 or a different external apparatus 181 to cause the difference information to be at least displayed or recorded.
US08335836B2

Implementing a consistent user name-space on networked computing devices includes various components and methods. When a network connection between a local or host computing device and one or more remote computing devices is present, remote items are represented using the same methodology as items located on the host computing device. To the user, remote and local items are indistinguishable. When the network connection is lost or items located on a remote computer are otherwise unavailable, the unavailable items remain represented on the host computing device. Unavailable items are represented in a way that informs the user that the items may not be fully accessed.
US08335832B2

A method for releasing buffered data of a Serving Gateway is disclosed□ the Serving Gateway (Serving GW) buffers downlink data sent to a user and sends a data notification message to a Mobility Management Entity (MME); after receiving the data notification message, the MME initiates a paging to the user and sets a paging timer, if the paging timer expires and no paging response of the user is received, the MME sends a notification message to the Serving GW to inform the Serving GW that there is no paging response from the user; and after receiving the notification message, the Serving GW releases the buffered downlink data. With this method, the Serving GW can release buffered data in time without causing wrong release of the buffered data, so the system efficiency can be improved.
US08335830B2

A method for presenting additional content for a word that is part of a message, and that is presented by a mobile communication device, includes the steps of: presenting the message, including emphasizing one or more words for which respective additional content is available for presenting by the mobile communication device; receiving an utterance that includes an emphasized word for which additional content is available for presenting by the mobile communication device; and presenting the additional content for the emphasized word included in the utterance received by the mobile communication device. These steps are performed by the mobile communication device.
US08335828B2

The present invention discloses a storage device connected through an internal network with an external network. The storage device includes a storage medium for storing files and an access unit for carrying out data communication of an e-mail with an attached file for accessing the storage medium with a terminal that is coupled with the external network. The access unit accepts access to the storage medium from the terminal by carrying out the data communication of the e-mail.
US08335819B2

An approach is provided for providing client-side caching in network communication. A client-side caching module receives a request, from a device, for a scripting file associated with web content, the scripting file supporting client-side caching at the device. The client-side caching module identifies that the request is received over a connection supporting connection reuse. The client-side caching module determines whether the request is a first-time request. If the request is a first time request, the client-side consistency module collects session configuration information for the web content from the device, specifies session variables in the scripting file based on the session configuration information, and initiates a subsequent request for the scripting file over the connection. If the request is a subsequent request, the client-side caching module marks the session variables in the scripting file as cacheable at the device, and causes, at least in part, transmission of the scripting file to the device.
US08335818B2

The invention relates to the technical field of local data transmission networks, in particular domestic networks. In networks such as these, the network stations log on in connection to the network. On disconnection, the network station which is leaving the network logs off in an appropriate manner. In the situation in which the user disconnects a network station simply by pulling out the network cable from the network, it is physically impossible to transmit the logging-off message. The invention is now concerned with the problem of how reliably an inactive network station can be identified, also taking account of the disconnection of the network station simply by pulling out the network plug. The invention solves the problem by regular transmission of a search request to the stations in the network. If a search request remains unanswered by one network station, an HTTP access is additionally attempted to, for example, the device description of the network station in question, or a control request. The network station is identified as being inactive only if this access/control request also fails. In the case of a UPnP network, the search request is made using the unprotected SSDP protocol, so that the lack of any response to the search request does not in its own right reliably indicate that the network station has logged off. The supposition that the network station which did not respond to the search request is inactive is confirmed by means of the HTTP access, which takes place on an error-protected basis.
US08335814B2

Methods and/or systems relating to mote networks having one or more mote-addressed content indexes. A part of an aggregate of one or more mote-addressed content indexes is transmitted from a first set of motes.
US08335813B2

A system, method, and set of protocols for dynamic group communication are provided for enabling dynamic process migration and dynamic group membership management. A process in a group receives and distributes a migration signal. Group communication continues while the processes in the group asynchronously reach a global superstep and then a synchronization point. The processes then spawn a new process on a new device and update group membership information. The new process operates in continuous execution with the new group.
US08335799B2

A system and method for the automatic generation of a website. The website is created upon a user request, where the user provides identification information that is used to search an information database. The information will provide a reference to a code that relates to a template that is used to specify the layout, style and content of the website that is to be generated, and the website is then generated in accordance with the structure of the template, based on content contained in the information database. The user may engage the system and method by means of e-mail or a dedicated website or other such suitable means.
US08335798B2

Systems and methods are provided that enable searches of social networks by acting as a “compass” that assists users in navigating the social network. Individual user participation is not required in response to queries from other users. The systems and methods offer navigational assistance or information as opposed to a traditional search which returns requested information, thus currently acceptable social mechanisms for arbitrating trust can be exploited. As a result, users do not make their personal information publicly searchable, while at the same time, they are protected from potential misrepresentations of facts.
US08335795B2

A data storing system and data processing method of the informational household appliance are provided. The system includes: one or plurality of home database server of informational household appliance which connected with each other, one or plurality of household gateway server, and one or plurality of data managing server of informational household appliance. The data processing method includes: the data processing method of the informational household appliance on-lining, off-lining and status data updating thereof, and the current status of informational household appliance in real-time reflects to the data managing server of informational household appliance through the household gateway server by this data processing method. The data of the informational household appliance can be stored separately from the informational household appliance, and the data of the informational household appliance can be unitedly managed by the system and method.
US08335788B1

An automated contiguous space identification feature for businesses is provided. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system of converting the value assigned to a work space in a coordinate system from an absolute position value to a unique relative position value. Such conversion enables identification of contiguous work spaces present within a defined area. An embodiment can be implemented via a stand-alone computing system or such a system interconnected with other platforms or data stores by a network, such as a corporate intranet, a local area network, or the Internet.
US08335769B2

A system and method for executing replication requests for objects in a distributed database is provided. A plurality of replication requests for objects in a distributed storage system is received. The replication requests are partitioned into one or more replication queues. A respective replication queue includes replication requests that have a respective replication key. The respective replication key includes information related to at least a respective source storage device at which a respective object is located and a respective destination storage device to which the respective object is to be replicated. For each respective replication queue, the replication requests in the replication queue are sorted based on priorities of the replication requests. Commands to execute a highest priority request are issued in each respective replication queue. When a respective replication request is completed, the respective replication request is deleted from the replication queue.
US08335767B2

Approaches, techniques, and mechanisms are disclosed for maintaining a history of query plans executed for a database command, along with information related to each query plan. A database server receives a request to execute a particular command. The database server determines a plan for executing the particular command. The database server adds first information to a plan history associated with the particular command. The plan history comprises information related to a plurality of plans that have been generated for the particular command. The first information may include, for example, properties of the plan (including an outline of the plan) as well as statistics collected during execution of the plan. The database server may implement techniques for periodically refreshing information in a plan history. The database server may also implement techniques for purging old or less important plans.
US08335765B2

A replicated database instance can be provisioned that provides primary and secondary replicas that can be provisioned in different data zones or geographical locations. The database can be installed on the primary replica, and both the primary and secondary replica can have installed a block level replication mechanism that allows any I/O operation to be replicated by between the primary and secondary replicas. Any failure or outage of the primary replica can be addressed by performing a failover operation to the secondary replica. A DNS name or other such approach can be used such that the name can be aliased to the secondary replica during a failover, such that there is no action needed on the part of the customer to utilize the “new” primary replica. The creation of the database and provisioning of the replicated instance can be initiated using a Web service call to a control environment.
US08335764B2

An information handling system (IHS) includes a network adapter having a hardware address store that stores multicast addresses and a device driver that stores multicast addresses in a software address store. When there is no more storage space available in the hardware address store for multicast addresses, the device driver stores multicast addresses in the software address store. When the IHS receives a multicast information packet, the network adapter searches the hardware address store for a multicast address corresponding to that multicast information packet. If the search of the hardware address store does not find that multicast address, then the device driver searches the software address store for that multicast address. The IHS may prioritize the multicast addresses in the hardware address store and the software address store on a most frequently used basis, a most recently used basis or a most popular basis. For example, the hardware address store may store addresses that are more frequently used than those in the software address store.
US08335763B2

When presenting a news feed (e.g., statuses of contacts in a social media network), it may be inefficient to display the data items in a single column according to a single filter, such as a designated group of contacts. Rather, from the data feed, a set of at least two data subfeeds may be generated based on different filters, and the at least two data subfeeds may be currently presented to the user (e.g., as two or more vertically aligned columns, each presenting a different set of data items based on a different filter.) The user may prefer the concurrent presentation due to the contextual separation of the data items according to different filters, and may more easily administrate the filters and groupings; e.g., dragging data items from one column to another column may alter the filters to achieve a more preferred sorting of data items in future presentations.
US08335761B1

In one aspect, a method, includes changing a production site from a first node to a second node, recording a point in time, Pi, of the production site fail over from the first node to the second node and replicating data from the second node to a third node. The replicating includes determining a latest common point in time, Px, that metadata changes were received between the second node and the third node, adding metadata changes between the time, Px, and a latest point in time that metadata was received at the third node to a delta marking stream on the third node, determining an earliest time, PL, between the time, Pi, and the time, Px, and adding metadata changes from the time, PL, to the latest point in time that metadata was received at the second node to a delta marking stream on the second node.
US08335760B1

A grid computing system for managing utility service content. A grid computing system comprises at least one node for storing utility service content and a repository for storing user profiles that define respective portions of the utility service content. The grid computing system further comprises a grid distributed resource manager coupled to the node storing the utility service content and the repository storing user profiles. The grid distributed resource manager is operable to access a requested portion of the utility service content from the node based on a received user profile.
US08335757B2

Described is a technology in which sequential data, such as application program command sequences, are processed into patterns, such as for use in analyzing program usage. In one aspect, sequential data may be first transformed via state machines that remove repeated data, group similar data into sub-sequences, and/or remove noisy data. The transformed data is then segmented into units. A pattern extraction mechanism extracts patterns from the units into a pattern set, by calculating a stability score (e.g., a mutual information score) between succeeding units, selecting the pair of units having the most stability (e.g., the highest score), and adding corresponding information for that pair into the pattern set. Pattern extraction is iteratively repeated until a stopping criterion is met, e.g., the pattern set reaches a defined size, or when the stability score is smaller than a pre-set threshold.
US08335754B2

A method, system and computer program product for generating a document representation are disclosed. The system includes a server and a client computer, and the method involves: receiving into memory a resource containing at least one sentence of text; producing a tree comprising tree elements indicating parts-of-speech and grammatical relations between the tree elements; producing semantic structures each having three tree elements to represent a simple clause (subject-predicate-object); and storing a semantic network of semantic structures and connections therebetween. The semantic network may be created from a user provided root concept. Output representations include concept maps, facts listings, text summaries, tag clouds, indices; and an annotated text. The system interactively modifies semantic networks in response to user feedback, and produces personal semantic networks and document use histories.
US08335753B2

A modeling system enriched with information from a single source (or multiple sources) that allows for the intelligent extension, formulation or reformulation of a request into various processes including but not limited to transmission, discovery, notification, searching, filtering and storing processes is provided. The innovation builds a network of connected information in a specific domain (or group of domains). Additionally, the system enhances the quality and specificity of the results for queries made in various systems including, but not limited to, search engines.
US08335752B2

A method for forming an associative computer memory comprises the step of forming an inhibitory memory matrix A′=−(Ap−A). According to the Wilshaw model constructed from a given set of address patterns and content patterns' and random matrix structure.
US08335745B2

Methods and systems for performing micropayment transactions over communication networks is provided. These methods and systems enable ubiquitous micropayments by providing a seamless payment solution in which micropayment is one of a plurality of payments facilitated. In an embodiment, the transaction value may be compared to a predefined threshold, and processed as a micropayment if said value is less than said threshold, and otherwise processed using a second processing system. In another embodiment, the transaction may be processed as a micropayment if the payee has previously been verified by the micropayment processing system. In a third embodiment, the transaction takes place using the payee's website.
US08335735B1

Computer based systems and program controlled methods reduce investors' exposure to the variability of an asset class's short-term volatility using rules-based long-only investments in various asset classes in which portfolio weights are dynamically rebalanced on a regular basis to a desired target volatility. This is achieved, in part, by constructing an index that represents a portfolio of liquid futures contracts, rebalanced as often as daily with the objective of maintaining the portfolio's volatility at a given level, typically the long-term average risk of that asset class.
US08335732B2

A method for pricing securities or valuing assets that generates prices and related price indicators using a partial differential form of the price equation and a conservation of capital principal. Price indicators including price channel, divergence, support level, velocity, and momentum provide into the price spread and appreciation potential of a security or asset, direction and intensity of price movement, and investor sentiment. Price indicators can be used to identify, analyze, and recommend investment opportunities and to create and manage an investment portfolio.
US08335728B1

A method and system for providing real-time financial goal monitoring and analysis whereby a given user defines budgetary and/or financial goals for one or more financial categories for a given period of time. A merchant/category database is created that associates one or more merchants with potential financial categories and when the given user accesses a given user interface of a website associated with a given merchant, Uniform Resource Locator (URL) data for the website being accessed is obtained and used to identify the given merchant associated with the given website. The merchant/category database is then searched to find potential financial categories associated with the given merchant and the financial budget/goal data indicating the given user's budgetary and/or financial goals for the financial categories associated with the given merchant is then obtained along with current financial data indicating the given user's actual spending in each of the potential financial categories associated with the given merchant for the given period of time. Remaining balance data for the potential financial categories associated with the given merchant for the given period of time is then generated and displayed to the user in the same display displaying the user interface of the given merchant website.
US08335727B2

Digital content on demand (CoD) is provided under a group purchase option that permits separately located users to receive access on demand to a desired content with group-related benefits including discounted price discount or synchronized viewing.
US08335723B2

According to one or more embodiments, apparatus, systems and methods are provided for facilitating commerce. In some embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., a central computer) facilitates posting of an item for sale by receiving a digital image of an item for sale, receiving an audio description (e.g., included in an audio file) of the item, and providing an indication of the description to at least one potential buyer. In one embodiment, the digital image and the audio description are received from a mobile phone.
US08335715B2

An advertisement exchange determines characteristics associated with advertisement slots such as slots in a commercial pod, locations on a printed page, banners in a video, billboards, etc. Characteristics may include demographic information, advertisement type, and neuro-response characteristics such as priming, attention, engagement, and retention. Advertisement slots are matched with advertisements and may be selected, purchased, exchanged, and analyzed by advertisers, individuals, corporations, and firms. In some examples, bids and offers are made for advertisement slots based on advertisement slot characteristics. Advertisement slot characteristics may be changed in real-time as placement of advertisements in surrounding slots changes the characteristics of a particular slot.
US08335706B1

A system provides program management for indeterminate scope initiatives. The system includes a user interface, a processor, and a management component. The management component, when executed by the processor, receives initiative data defined by preliminary initiative development, assigns the initiative to a program management team if the initiative is indeterminate in scope, and enables the program management team to develop the initiative to determine whether the initiative is to be developed as multiple projects. The management component assigns the initiative to a project management team if the initiative is not to be developed as multiple projects, and enables the program management team to develop the initiative as multiple projects if the initiative is to be developed as multiple projects. The program management team has a capacity to manage a group of related projects in a coordinated manner to obtain benefits and control unavailable from managing the group of related projects individually.
US08335705B2

Project management is made easier and more effective by enabling a planner to define project roles for tasks of a project and then, separately search for actual resources that match the project roles.
US08335697B2

This invention is a system and method for a matching system that cross-references patients anonymously with doctors and pharmacies. The invention uses patient-unique biometrics, such as fingerprinting, retinal scanning, or another such unique identifier, for patient identification and verification without revealing a patient's name or other personal information. The system tracks patient prescriptions and produces alerts to indicate potential problems, such as drug interactions or possible fraudulent behavior. The system utilizes the biometric data of the prescribing physician as authorization of the prescription. The system can produce a traceable paper trail, for investigation or prosecution, and protects the medical industry, patients, and the public from the consequences of doctor shopping.
US08335694B2

The present invention relates to a gesture-based reporting method and system, including a critical results reporting pathway, which is used to communicate critical findings to users according to predetermined methods (i.e., e-mail, facsimile, etc.), and create an electronic auditing trail to document receipt, understanding, bi-directional queries, and track clinical outcomes. Based on a predetermined rule set, predetermined data elements within the structured database could trigger the critical results reporting pathway. There is a quality assurance component to the invention, such that technical deficiencies in an imaging quality can be noted, analyzed, and tracked. There is a workflow and data analysis portion to the invention, wherein workflow is enhanced, and structured data is mapped to a standardized lexicon, such that data mining can be performed. Thus, the present invention extends beyond reporting alone and is a tool to facilitate electronic communication, consultation, education/training, and data mining for quality assurance.
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