US08580697B1
The present invention meets these needs by providing improved methods of filling gaps. In certain embodiments, the methods involve placing a substrate into a reaction chamber and introducing a vapor phase silicon-containing compound and oxidant into the chamber. Reactor conditions are controlled so that the silicon-containing compound and the oxidant are made to react and condense onto the substrate. The chemical reaction causes the formation of a flowable film, in some instances containing Si—OH, Si—H and Si—O bonds. The flowable film fills gaps on the substrates. The flowable film is then converted into a silicon oxide film, for example by plasma or thermal annealing. The methods of this invention may be used to fill high aspect ratio gaps, including gaps having aspect ratios ranging from 3:1 to 10:1.
US08580687B2
One or more embodiments relate to a method for forming a semiconductor structure, comprising: providing a workpiece; forming a dielectric barrier layer over the workpiece; forming an opening through the dielectric barrier layer; forming a seed layer over the dielectric barrier layer and within the dielectric barrier layer opening; and electroplating a first fill layer on the seed layer.
US08580682B2
A device includes a substrate having a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. A through-substrate via (TSV) extends from the first surface to the second surface of the substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate. A metal pad is disposed in the dielectric layer and physically contacting the TSV, wherein the metal pad and the TSV are formed of a same material, and wherein no layer formed of a material different from the same material is between and spacing the TSV and the metal pad apart from each other.
US08580680B2
Techniques for forming metal silicide contact pads on semiconductor devices are disclosed, and in one exemplary embodiment, a method may comprise depositing a metal layer on and between a plurality of raised silicon-based features formed on a semiconductor substrate, the metal layer comprising metal capable of reacting with external silicon-based portions of the features to form a metal silicide. In addition, such a method may also include depositing a cap layer on the metal layer deposited on and between the plurality of raised silicon-based features, wherein a thickness of the cap layer on the metal layer between the raised features is greater than or equal to a thickness of the cap layer on the metal layer on the raised features. Furthermore, such a method may also include annealing the structure to cause portions of the metal layer to react with portions of the external silicon-based portions of the features to form metal silicide pads on and between the raised features.
US08580665B2
An integrated circuit device having doped conductive contacts, and methods for its fabrication, are provided. One such method involves depositing a dielectric layer on the surface of a silicon semiconductor substrate, and photolithographically patterning a plurality of contact trenches on the dielectric layer. A tantalum barrier is deposited in the trenches, followed by a copper seed layer. The trenches are then plated with copper, including an overburden. A layer of doping material is deposited atop the overburden, and diffused into the copper by a heat treatment process. The overburden is then removed through chemical mechanical planarization, resulting in usable conductive interconnects in the trenches.
US08580661B1
A method for hydrogenating poly-si. Poly-si is placed into the interior of a chamber. A filament is placed into the interior of a chamber. The base pressure of the interior of the chamber is evacuated, preferably to 10−6 Torr or less. The poly-si is heated for a predetermined poly-si heating time. The filament is heated by providing an electrical power to the filament. Hydrogen is supplied into the pressurized interior of the chamber comprising the heated poly-si and the heated filament. Atomic hydrogen is produced by the filament at a rate whereby the atomic hydrogen surface density at the poly-si is less than the poly-si surface density. Preferably, the poly-si is covered from the atomic hydrogen produced by the heated filament for a first predetermined covering time. Preferably, the poly-si is then uncovered from the atomic hydrogen produced by the heated filament for a first hydrogenation time.
US08580657B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a wafer having a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, and a scribe line between and adjoining the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip; forming a notch in the scribe line, wherein the notch has a bottom no higher than a top surface of a semiconductor substrate in the wafer; forming a first insulation film over the wafer, wherein the first insulation film extends into the notch; removing a portion of the first insulation film from a center of the notch, wherein a remaining portion of the first insulation film comprises an edge in the notch; and sawing the wafer to separate the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip.
US08580654B2
The present invention concerns a method for bonding a first substrate having a first surface to a second substrate having a second surface. This method includes the steps of holding the first substrate by at least two support points, positioning the first substrate and the second substrate so that the first surface and the second surface face each other, deforming the first substrate by applying between at least one pressure point and the two support points a strain toward the second substrate, bringing the deformed first surface and the second surface into contact, and progressively releasing the strain to facilitate bonding of the substrates while minimizing or avoiding the trapping of air bubbles between the substrates.
US08580644B2
A semiconductor device includes an active region having a first floating charge control structure and a termination region having a second floating charge control structure. The second floating charge control structure is at least twice as long as the first floating control structure.
US08580639B2
Monolithic, three dimensional NAND strings include a semiconductor channel, at least one end portion of the semiconductor channel extending substantially perpendicular to a major surface of a substrate, a plurality of control gate electrodes having a strip shape extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate, the blocking dielectric comprising a plurality of blocking dielectric segments, a plurality of discrete charge storage segments, and a tunnel dielectric located between each one of the plurality of the discrete charge storage segments and the semiconductor channel.
US08580633B2
A semiconductor device capable of ensuring a sufficient area of a peripheral region by forming a gate spacer to have a uniform thickness in the peripheral region and reducing a fabrication cost by simplifying a mask process and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a gate disposed over a semiconductor substrate; a first spacer disposed over sidewalls of the gate; an insulating layer pattern disposed over sidewalls of the first spacer; and a second spacer disposed over the first spacer and the insulating pattern.
US08580629B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device may include: preparing a substrate in which first and second regions are defined; forming an interlayer insulating film, which includes first and second trenches, on the substrate; forming a work function control film, which contains Al and N, along a top surface of the interlayer insulating film, side and bottom surfaces of the first trench, and side and bottom surfaces of the second trench; forming a mask pattern on the work function control film formed in the second region; injecting a work function control material into the work function control film formed in the first region to control a work function of the work function control film formed in the first region; removing the mask pattern; and forming a first metal gate electrode to fill the first trench and forming a second metal gate electrode to fill the second trench.
US08580626B2
A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a semiconductor substrate and a GaN-type layer stack on top of the semiconductor substrate. The GaN-type layer stack has at least one buffer layer, a first active layer and a second active layer. Active device regions are definable at an interface of the first and second active layer. The semiconductor substrate is present on an insulating layer and is patterned to define trenches according to a predefined pattern, which includes at least one trench underlying the active device region. The trenches extend from the insulating layer into at least one buffer layer of the GaN-type layer stack and are overgrown within the at least one buffer layer, so as to obtain that the first and the second active layer are continuous at least within the active device regions.
US08580625B2
A method for manufacturing a MOS transistor is provided. A substrate has a high-k dielectric layer and a barrier in each of a first opening and a second opening formed by removing a dummy gate and located in a first transistor region and a second transistor region. A dielectric barrier layer is formed on the substrate and filled into the first opening and the second opening to cover the barrier layers. A portion of the dielectric barrier in the first transistor region is removed. A first work function metal layer is formed. The first work function metal layer and a portion of the dielectric barrier layer in the second transistor region are removed. A second work function metal layer is formed. The method can avoid a loss of the high-k dielectric layer to maintain the reliability of a gate structure, thereby improving the performance of the MOS transistor.
US08580617B2
The thermosetting die-bonding film of the present invention is used in manufacturing a semiconductor device, has at least an epoxy resin, a phenol resin, and an acrylic copolymer, and the ratio X/Y is 0.7 to 5 when X represents a total weight of the epoxy resin and the phenol resin and Y represents a weight of the acrylic copolymer.
US08580607B2
A method of making an assembly includes the steps of applying metallic nanoparticles to exposed surfaces of conductive elements of either of or both of a first component and a second component, juxtaposing the conductive elements of the first component with the conductive elements of the second component with the metallic nanoparticles disposed therebetween, and elevating a temperature at least at interfaces of the juxtaposed conductive elements to a joining temperature at which the metallic nanoparticles cause metallurgical joints to form between the juxtaposed conductive elements. The conductive elements of either of or both of the first component and the second component can include substantially rigid posts having top surfaces projecting a height above the surface of the respective component and edge surfaces extending at substantial angles away from the top surfaces thereof.
US08580603B2
A method of fabricating a solar cell involves electroplating a Group IIB-VIA material as a first or sub-layer over a junction partner layer, and then forming a second layer, also of a Group IIB-VIA material over the sub-layer. Both the sub-layer and the second layer comprise Te. The electroplating is performed at relatively low temperatures, as for example, below 100° C. Forming the sub-layer by low temperature electroplating produces a small grained compact film that protects the interface between the sub-layer and the junction partner during the formation of the second layer. The second layer may be formed by physical vapor deposition or ink deposition. A solar cell has a first layer of a stoichiometric Group IIB-VIA material formed on a CdS film, and a second layer of a Group IIB-V1A material. Both the first and second layers contain Te. The first layer may comprise CdTe with a grain size small than 0.5 microns and the second layer may comprise CdTe with a grin size in the range of 1-5 microns.
US08580602B2
A reverse p-n junction solar cell device and methods for forming the reverse p-n junction solar cell device are described. A variety of n-p junction and reverse p-n junction solar cell devices and related methods of manufacturing are provided. N-intrinsic-p junction and reverse p-intrinsic-n junction solar cell devices are also described.
US08580600B2
An image capturing system includes an optical component, a sensor below and connected to the optical component for capturing radiation, and a chip below the sensor for processing and/or storing and/or transmitting information captured by the sensor. The sensor and the Chip are directly connected to each other. The disclosure further relates to a production method for an image capturing system.
US08580595B2
A solid-state image sensing device includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a photodiode, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The photodiode is constituted by a first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region. The first and second conductivity types are opposite to each other. The first transistor has a first-conductivity-type drain region formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region to transfer signal charge to the drain region. The second transistor has a source region and a drain region which are formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region and which have the first conductivity type. At least one second-conductivity-type potential barrier is provided under the drain region of the first transistor and the source region and/or the drain region of the second transistor.
US08580590B2
A method for manufacturing a polychromatic light emitting diode device, comprising steps of providing an epitaxial substrate and forming a multiple semiconductor layer on the epitaxial substrate, wherein the multiple semiconductor layer comprises an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and an active layer. The active layer emits light of a first wavelength. Thereafter a first wavelength conversion layer is formed on the multiple semiconductor layer. The first wavelength conversion layer is made of semiconductor and absorbs a portion of the light of a first wavelength and emits light of a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength.
US08580585B2
A method for forming identical isotropic etch patterns in an etch system is disclosed. The method comprises providing a wafer paddle, a wafer, a plurality of identical etch systems, utilizing identical etch recipes within each of the plurality of etch systems, providing a fixed temperature stability time FTST for each system so that the heat transfer from the paddle to the wafer is constant, wherein the FTST is the same on each of the plurality of etch systems; and utilizing the plurality of identical etch systems to produce identical etches on each of the wafers based upon the FTST, wherein a five-second preheat step in the etch process is not utilized.
US08580582B2
In a method for fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction, a first magnetic layer is formed on a substrate, and a tunnel insulating layer is formed on the first magnetic layer. Subsequently, a second magnetic layer is formed on the tunnel insulating layer. In the method, the first magnetic layer is formed by periodically sputtering a magnetic target while a metal target is continuously sputtered.
US08580574B2
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays simultaneously includes multiple stations, or modules, in which discrete aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a specimen sample, incubating the sample at prescribed temperatures for prescribed periods, performing an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. An automated receptacle transporting system moves the reaction receptacles from one station to the next. The analyzer further includes devices for carrying a plurality of specimen tubes and disposable pipette tips in a machine-accessible manner, a device for agitating containers of target capture reagents comprising suspensions of solid support material and for presenting the containers for machine access thereto, and a device for holding containers of reagents in a temperature controlled environment and presenting the containers for machine access thereto. A method for performing an automated diagnostic assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte. The process is performed by automatically moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles containing a solid support material and a fluid sample between stations for incubating the contents of the reaction receptacle and for separating the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is added to the separated analyte after the analyte separation step and before a final incubation step.
US08580568B2
A method including automatically displaying information obtained from a first identifier associated with a slide and a second identifier associated with a reagent cartridge. The method further including generating a staining log based on the information obtained from the first identifier and the second identifier. A further method includes displaying a location of a slide within a sample processing system and information obtained from a first identifier associated with the slide in a first table and displaying a location of a reagent cartridge within a sample processing system and information obtained from a second identifier associated with the reagent cartridge in a second table. The first table is then aligned with the second table.
US08580567B2
A method for the automated analysis of liquid samples using at least one microfluidic structure is disclosed as well as microfluidic structures, a device having at least one of the microfluidic structures, a kit and a system including such microfluidic device. In one embodiment, the method may comprise: transferring a sample into a first fluid reservoir which is in fluid communication with a second fluid reservoir by a flow channel; spinning the microfluidic structure so as to transport the sample into one or more dead-end recesses or chambers; transferring a control fluid into the structure which generates a barrier to flow and diffusion of the sample contained in the one or more dead-end recesses or chambers; and analyzing the sample contained in the one or more dead-end recesses or chambers.
US08580562B2
The inhibitory RNA for inhibiting the expression of ZFAT gene according to this invention is a siRNA comprising a sense RNA having a base sequence of contiguous 20 to 20 bases, preferably 23 to 27 bases, of ZFAT mRNA and an anti-sense RNA having a base sequence complementary to the base sequence of the sense RNA or a shRNA comprising a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with the sense RNA connected to the anti-sense RNA via a loop sequence.The inhibitory RNA for inhibiting the expression of ZFAT gene according to this invention decreases a rate of cell proliferation of cancer cells, etc., induces apoptosis of cells including cancer cells, or inhibits an immunoresponse by inhibiting the expression of the ZFAT gene. Therefore, the inhibitory RNA of this invention is useful for development of molecular target agents particularly for cancer cells or immunosuppressive agents.
US08580561B2
The present invention provides muscle-derived progenitor cells that show long-term survival following transplantation into body tissues and which can augment soft tissue following introduction (e.g. via injection, transplantation, or implantation) into a site of soft tissue. Also provided are methods of isolating muscle-derived progenitor cells, and methods of genetically modifying the cells for gene transfer therapy. The invention further provides methods of using compositions comprising muscle-derived progenitor cells for the augmentation and bulking of mammalian, including human, soft tissues in the treatment of various cosmetic or functional conditions, including malformation, injury, weakness, disease, or dysfunction. In particular, the present invention provides treatments and amelioration for dermatological conditions, gastroesophageal reflux, vesico-ureteral reflux, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.
US08580554B2
Described herein is a chemostat-like continuous cell culture system that combines certain advantages of perfusion open systems and chemostat open systems to improve the culturing of mammalian cells, e.g., genetically modified cells, particularly in serum-free or chemically-defined media. The continuous culture system described herein involves culturing mammalian cells in a continuous cell culture system, which comprises a cell retention device, wherein the cell culture system has a dilution rate (D) of less than about 2 d−1, and a cell density of less than about 2×107 cell/mL. Also described herein is a method for producing a polypeptide and/or virus of interest in a continuous cell culture, the method comprising culturing mammalian cells expressing the polypeptide and/or virus of interest in a continuous cell culture system, which comprises a cell retention device, wherein the cell culture system has a dilution rate (D) of less than about 2 d−1, and a cell density of less than about 2×107 cell/mL; and recovering the polypeptide and/or virus of interest from medium of the cell culture system.
US08580548B2
The present invention provides a process for the production of nucleic acid encoding a target protein, which comprises: (a) providing an array of RNA or DNA molecules including one or more encoding the target protein; (b) generating a target protein from the array to form RNA-protein or DNA-protein complexes in which the RNA or DNA molecule is non-covalently or covalently bound to the complex; (c) separating the complexes into compartments wherein most or all of the compartments contain no more than one complex; (d) subjecting the complexes to reaction conditions which allow target protein activity; and (e) selecting nucleic acid encoding the target protein on the basis of the activity associated therewith, wherein when the complex is a DNA-protein complex in which the DNA is non-covalently bound, step b) is performed in the absence of separate compartments for each complex.
US08580544B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for introducing a biological material, a method of introducing a biological material, and a magnetic support for introducing a biological material with the object of providing an apparatus for introducing a biological material, a method of introducing a biological material, and a magnetic support for introducing a biological material whereby a biological material can be efficiently introduced into a host.The invention comprises: one or more packing units in which a mixture solution containing a large number of magnetic supports carrying a biological material to be introduced into a host such as cells upon using, together with a large number of the hosts in a liquid is pooled; and an introduction treatment unit in which a magnetic force affecting the inside of the packing unit is controlled so as to move the magnetic supports relatively with respect to the host so that the biological material can be introduced into the host.
US08580537B2
The present invention provides transglutaminases with improved heat resistance. Specifically, the present invention provides mutant transglutaminase proteins with improved heat resistance as obtained by introducing appropriate mutations into transglutaminases, which results in the incorporation of a disulfide bond.
US08580532B2
To provide a method for stabilizing unstable α-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, a solution containing stabilized α-thrombin, and a liquid fibrinogen assay reagent containing the solution. The method for stabilizing α-thrombin in a thrombin-containing solution, which includes adjusting the percentage of α-thrombin to 70% or more with respect to the amount of total thrombin in the thrombin-containing solution.
US08580529B2
A method for detecting or monitoring the presence of protein fragments, cleaved at novel cleaving sites near the N-terminal part of the collagen IX alpha 1 chain, close to the C-terminal part of the NC4 domain, and at the COL3 domain close to the NC3 domain. Neoepitope antibodies against the neoepitopes were created by the cleavages and an epitope in the cleaved N-terminal part of the NC4 domain unique to collagen IX. A diagnostic kit and antibodies useful in carrying out such methods are also presented.
US08580528B2
The invention relates to methods for predicting a clinical response to B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapies (BCIDT) using expression levels of genes of the Type I INF pathway. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a pharmacological effect of a treatment with B-lymphocyte inhibiting or depleting therapy. More in particular, the invention relates to a method for prognosticating the clinical response of a patient to treatment with a soluble BCID or TCID agent, said method comprising the steps of obtaining at least two samples from said patient wherein a first sample has not been exposed to a soluble BCID or TCID agent and wherein at least a second sample has been exposed to a soluble BCID or TCID agent, determining the level of an IFN-I type response in said at least two samples, comparing the level of the IFN-I type response in said first sample with the level of the IFN-I type response in said at least second sample and prognosticating said clinical response from said comparison.
US08580521B2
Devices are disclosed for serologically detecting an infection with human-pathogenic Yersinia ssp, wherein said device comprises at least one antigen selected from the group of antigens consisting of the following group: YopD, YopH, YopM, YopE, V-AG and YopN or a fragment of one of said antigens having at least eight consecutive amino acids and furthermore one of two proteins selected from MyfA and PsaA or fragments of one of said two proteins having at least eight consecutive amino acids.
US08580518B2
Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample are disclosed herein. The methods, devices, kits and compositions of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample from a mammal that may also be infected with one or more of hookworm, whipworm, and heartworm. Confirmation of the presence or absence of roundworm in the mammal may be made, for example, for the purpose of selecting an optimal course of treating the mammal and/or for the purpose of determining whether the mammal has been rid of the infection after treatment has been initiated.
US08580514B2
The developed oligonucleotide microchip for simultaneous, rapid identification of multiple crucial forest Phellinus pathogens was based on the DIG or biotin-labeled specific probes derived form ribosomal DNA genes (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), by using reverse-dot hybridization. The chip can precisely and accurately identify and diagnose seventeen Phellinus species, including notorious hardwood and conifer tree killer, P. noxius and P. weirii, with a sensitivity of 1 pg DNA/μl on Nylon membrane, and 100 fg DNA/μl on plastic chip, respectively. Verification and identification of forest Phellinus pathogens infested authentic samples or voucher specimens can be accomplished within 7 hr.
US08580509B2
Recurrent gene fusions of androgen regulated genes and ETS family member genes in prostate cancer are described. Compositions and methods having utility in prostate cancer diagnosis, research, and therapy are also provided.
US08580505B2
Disclosed is a method of amplifying a nucleic acid sequence, wherein the method comprises subjecting a reaction mixture to at least one amplification cycle, wherein the reaction mixture comprises a double-stranded nucleic acid and at least two primers capable of annealing to complementary strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid and amplifying at least one short tandem repeat (STR) using a Family A DNA polymerase in a Fast PCR protocol having a two-step amplification cycle in 25 seconds or less. Also disclosed are real-time PCR methods using the two-step protocol and kits for STR profiling using the Fast PCR protocol.
US08580503B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for identifying subjects at risk of developing a complication of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia or preterm labor. The compositions are microRNAs and associated nucleic acids.
US08580500B2
The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of solid cancers. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.
US08580492B2
The present invention provides isolated methylated Tat peptides; and compositions comprising the peptides. The present invention further provides isolated antibodies specific for a Lys-51-methylated Tat polypeptide. Also provided are methods of identifying agents that inhibit Lys-51 methylation of a Tat polypeptide. The present invention further provides methods of treating an immunodeficiency virus infection in a mammalian subject.
US08580486B2
There is provided an acid having a fluorine-containing carbanion structure or a salt having a fluorine-containing carbanion structure, which is represented by the following general formula (1). By using a photoacid generator for chemically amplified resist materials that generates this acid, it is possible to provide a photoacid generator which has a high sensitivity to the ArF excimer laser light or the like, of which acid (photo generated acid) to be generated has a sufficiently high acidity, and which has a high dissolution in resist solvent and a superior compatibility with resin, and a resist material containing such a photoacid generator.
US08580481B2
The resist polymer of the present invention comprises a specific constitutional unit having a cyano group, a constitutional unit having an acid-dissociable group, and a specific constitutional unit having a lactone skeleton. When the above polymer is used as a resist resin in DUV excimer laser lithography or electron beam lithography, it exhibits high sensitivity and high resolution, and provides a good resist pattern shape, having a small degree of occurrence of line edge roughness or generation of microgels.
US08580479B2
Technologies are generally described for a photoresist and methods and systems effective to form a pattern in a photoresist on a substrate. In some examples, the photoresist includes a resin, a photoinitiator and a photoinhibitor. The photoinitiator may be effective to generate a first reactant upon the absorption of at least one photon of a particular wavelength of light. The first reactant may be effective to render the resin soluble or insoluble in a photoresist developer. The photoinhibitor may be effective to generate a second reactant upon the absorption of at least one photon of the particular wavelength of light. The second reactant may be effective to inhibit the first reactant.
US08580476B2
A toner for developing an electrostatic image is provided. The toner includes at least a binder resin; a colorant; and a particulate release agent. The particulate release agent is prepared by heating the release agent to a temperature not lower than a melting point of the release agent to melt the release agent, dissolving the melted release agent in a supercritical fluid or a sub-critical fluid, and feeding the solution into a liquid so that the solution is depressurized and the particulate release agent is formed in the liquid.
US08580469B2
Disclosed is a toner composition comprising: (a) a resin; and (b) a colorant which comprises: (1) Pigment Red 269; (2) Pigment Red 185; and (3) Pigment Red 122.
US08580465B2
Provided are a multilayer mirror for EUVL in which deterioration in reflectivity due to oxidation of a Ru protective layer is prevented, and a process for its production. A multilayer mirror for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and a protective layer for protecting the reflective layer, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the reflective layer is a Mo/Si multilayer reflective film, the protective layer is a Ru layer or a Ru compound layer, and an intermediate layer containing from 0.5 to 25 at % of nitrogen and from 75 to 99.5 at % of Si is formed between the reflective layer and the protective layer.
US08580463B2
The present disclosure relates generally to optical data storage media, and more specifically, to holographic storage media. In one embodiment, an optical storage medium includes a polymer matrix having one or more polymer chains. The optical storage medium also includes a reverse saturable absorption (RSA) sensitizer disposed within the polymer matrix that is configured to become excited upon exposure to light having an intensity above an intensity threshold and configured to transfer energy to a reactant. The optical storage medium also includes a diphenyl cyclopropene (DPCP)-derivative reactant disposed within the polymer matrix and capable of undergoing a modification upon receiving an energy transfer from the excited sensitizer that changes a refractive index of the optical medium.
US08580460B2
A plurality of flow field plate assemblies forms a fuel cell stack. Each flow field plate assembly has a first flow field plate positionable on an anode side of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a first fuel cell, a second flow field plate positionable on a cathode side of an MEA of a second fuel cell, adjacent the first fuel cell. At least one back-feed channel is interposed between the first and second flow field plates. At least a portion of the back-feed channel or a reactant manifold opening formed by the first and second flow field plates has a geometry that forms regions of high and low capillary forces, promoting liquid migration toward regions substantially isolated from a flow of reactants, to prevent water collection and ice formation. The migrated liquid is purged during a purge of the fuel cell stack after operation.
US08580448B2
By incorporating a selectively conducting component in electrical series with the anode components in a solid polymer fuel cell, degradation during startup and shutdown can be reduced. As a result, the startup and shutdown procedures can be simplified and consequently certain system apparatus may be omitted. The anode does not need to be rapidly purged with hydrogen on startup or with air on shutdown. Additionally, the auxiliary load usually employed during such purging is not required.
US08580438B2
A monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system is provided on an aerogel or nanotube scaffold. An anode, separator, cathode, and cathodic current collector are deposited on the aerogel or nanotube scaffold.
US08580435B2
According to one embodiment, a negative electrode active material includes a compound having a crystal structure of monoclinic titanium dioxide. The compound has a highest intensity peak detected by an X-ray powder diffractometry using a Cu-Kα radiation source. The highest intensity peak is a peak of a (001) plane, (002) plane, or (003) plane. A half-width (2θ) of the highest intensity peak falls within a range of 0.5 degree to 4 degrees.
US08580431B2
A porous carbonaceous composite material including a core including a carbon nanotube (CNT); and a coating layer on the core, the coating layer including a carbonaceous material including a hetero element.
US08580425B2
A secondary battery, including an electrode assembly; a can housing the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly on the can, wherein the cap assembly includes: a cap plate having a terminal hole and a terminal groove, a gasket on the cap plate having a center hole, and an electrode terminal having a terminal post in the center hole and a plate portion disposed on the gasket; the gasket including a gasket post in the terminal hole and a gasket plate seated in the terminal groove; at least one side of the terminal plate and at least one side of the gasket plate being spaced apart from at least one side of the terminal groove.
US08580424B2
A rechargeable battery includes a can having an open portion in an upper region and accommodates a power generating unit. A flexible plate is installed in the opening portion, the flexible plate being connected to an electrode of the power generating unit and flexing when the internal pressure of the rechargeable battery rises above an allowable range. A terminal cap is arranged on the flexible plate, electrically connected to the flexible plate, and has an insulating portion on a bottom surface. An insulating substrate is arranged between the flexible plate and the terminal cap and has a rupture portion that is broken when the flexible plate flexes beyond an allowable range. Upon breaking the broken ends of the insulating substrate directly contact the insulating portion of the terminal cap so that the insulating substrate is electrically disconnected from the terminal cap. Additionally, a gasket is installed between edges of the flexible plate, the insulating substrate, and the terminal cap plate and an inner wall of the opening portion to insulate the flexible plate, the insulating substrate, and the terminal cap from the can.
US08580415B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus, comprises an energy storage device having an interface and at least one terminal, the interface having first and second surfaces, the first surface having at least one first surface opening and the second surface having at least one second surface opening, wherein the at least one first surface opening allows access to the at least one terminal, wherein the at least one second surface opening allows access to the at least one terminal, and wherein the at least one first surface opening is distinct from the at least one second surface opening.
US08580412B2
In a battery pack, a component for attaching a secondary protection device to a bare cell may be omitted to reduce manufacturing costs and improve productivity. The battery pack includes a bare cell, a flexible printed circuit board in which at least one portion thereof contacts the bare cell, the flexible printed circuit board being electrically coupled to the bare cell through a lead pattern surrounded by an insulation cover, a secondary protection device on the flexible printed circuit board, the secondary protection device being electrically coupled to the flexible printed circuit board through the lead pattern, and a protective circuit module electrically coupled to the flexible printed circuit board through the lead pattern.
US08580411B2
To provide glass to be used for a substrate which is, as a substrate, less susceptible to surface roughening even if subjected to cleaning by means of a strongly acidic solution.Glass for a substrate, which comprises, as represented by mol % based on the following oxides, from 62.5 to 69% of SiO2, from 9 to 15.5% of Al2O3, from 8 to 16 of Li2O, from 0 to 8% of Na2O, from 0 to 7% of K2O and from 0 to 3.5% of ZrO2, provided that SiO2—Al2O3 is at least 53.3%, Li2O+Na2O+K2O is from 17 to 24%, and the total of contents of the above six components is at least 97%.
US08580407B2
There is provided a covering member for preventing erosion that has a high erosion resistance, is resistant to repeated thermal shocks so as to have a long life, and has a particular color allowing visual inspection of the surface layer for degradation.A covering member to be applied to a substrate made of an iron material or the like that will be eroded by contact with molten aluminum includes a Cr metal film as the lowest layer, a b layer formed of a CrN film, an intermediate layer, and an a layer formed of a TiSiN film, stacked in this order on the substrate. The intermediate layer includes layered films composed of the b layers and the a layers alternately stacked on top of one another.
US08580401B2
A curable material is provided. The curable material has the structure of formula I or formula II: wherein, X, R1, R2, m1 to m3, and n1 to n3 are defined as cited in the description.
US08580400B2
Provided are a novel bichrysene compound and an organic light emitting device having high light emitting efficiency and excellent driving durability. The organic light emitting device includes an anode, a cathode, and a layer formed of an organic compound interposed between the anode and the cathode. The layer formed of an organic compound has a bichrysene compound represented by the following general formula (1).
US08580398B2
A material for electroluminescent devices which comprises a compound in which a heterocyclic group having nitrogen is bonded to carbazolyl group and an organic electroluminescent device having at least one organic thin film layer which is sandwiched between the cathode and the anode and contains the above material in at least one layer, are provided. The material can provide organic electroluminescent devices emitting bluish light with a high purity of color. The organic electroluminescence device uses the material.
US08580396B2
The present invention relates to novel carbazole derivatives and an organic light-emitting diode device using the same. These carbazole derivatives can simultaneously or singly be used as a hole transporting layer, a host or guest of an emitting layer or an electron transporting layer of an organic light-emitting diode device.
US08580394B2
Novel phosphorescent trigonal copper carbene complexes are provided. The complex comprise a carbene ligand coordinated to a three coordinate copper atom. The complex may be used in organic light emitting devices. In particular, the complexes may be especially useful in OLEDs used for lighting applications.
US08580393B2
A polymer compound including a repeating unit shown by the following formula (1) wherein at least one of Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 in the formula (1) is a group shown by the formula (2) and the two bonds shown in the formula (1) are present on any one or any two of Ar1, Ar2, Ar3 and L1.
US08580385B2
An object to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a method capable of forming a multilayer coating film having excellent smoothness, distinctness of image, and chipping resistance, by a 3-coat 1-bake process comprising successively applying an aqueous first colored coating composition, an aqueous second colored coating composition, and a clear coating composition to a substrate, and heat-curing the resulting three layers of the multilayer coating film all at once. The present invention provides a method for forming a multilayer coating film, which employs a 3-coat 1-bake process comprising sequentially applying an aqueous first colored coating composition (X), an aqueous second colored coating composition (Y), and a clear coating composition (Z) on a substrate; and heat-curing the resulting three layers of the multilayer coating film all at once, wherein the aqueous first colored coating composition (X) contains an acrylic resin (A), a curing agent (B), and a urethane resin emulsion (C), and a first colored coating film formed from the aqueous first colored coating composition (X) has a water swelling rate of 100% or less and an organic solvent swelling rate of 300% or less.
US08580367B2
An adhesive layer included in an adhesive-type optical film forms a portion located on the inside of a edge line of an optical film.
US08580361B2
The invention relates to a high thermal efficiency, insulated glass unit structure sealed with a cured composition containing, inter alia, moisture-curable linear silylated resin and organic nanoclay, the cured composition exhibiting low permeability to gas(es).
US08580360B2
A thermal transfer sheet includes a protective layer and an adhesive layer which are laminated on a sheet base material in that order, the protective layer including a binder resin containing fine particles. The particle diameter of the fine particles is 0.9 to 2.8 times the thickness of the protective layer.
US08580356B2
A method of fabricating an alignment layer for a liquid crystal display device includes forming an alignment material layer on a substrate by coating an alignment material, irradiating UV rays onto the alignment material layer and pre-baking the alignment material layer; and post-baking the alignment material layer.
US08580345B2
A method including placing a body defining an undifferentiated lumen therein over a portion of a fixture coupled to a building structure, the body having at least one opening that can be expanded from a contracted state and that is biased toward the contracted state, the placing including applying an expansion force to the opening; conforming the body to a shape of the fixture at a contact portion where the fixture contacts the structure by releasing the expansion force; and treating the structure.
US08580336B2
A method of making a heat treated coated article includes forming at least one layer comprising diamond-like carbon (DLC) on a glass substrate, and forming a removable protective film on the glass substrate over at least the layer comprising DLC. The removable protective film includes first and second inorganic layers, the first inorganic layer comprising zinc oxide and nitrogen and being located between the layer comprising DLC and the second inorganic layer. The glass substrate may be heat treated so that during the heat treating the protective film prevents significant burnoff of the layer comprising DLC.
US08580328B2
Methods for replacing salt in a food composition comprising substituting all or part of the salt in the food composition with vinegar, while conserving the food composition's gustative, olfactive and physical values the presence of salt instead of the vinegar would give. In various embodiments, the food composition is a product of bakery comprising water, salt, yeast, and flour or a mix of flours. For example, vinegar may replace at least 60% of the salt in the food composition, and may have an acidity of 3% to 10%.
US08580325B2
Vase apparatus and decorating methods for associating flowers and other decorative items with cakes and other food products are described. Vase embodiments include a water-holding reservoir having a bottom wall, an upright rim, and plural flower-stem-receiving wells. Each well is defined by at least one well wall depending from the bottom wall and has an opening capable of receiving water from the reservoir. Vase embodiments may include a reservoir of various shapes and sizes. Vases may be placed on a cake or other food product permitting the cake or food product to be attractively and easily decorated.
US08580323B2
A method for removing lactose from milk comprising the steps of precipitation, ultrafiltration, re-dissolving, mixing, and restoration, with or without a step of degreasing prior to precipitation. The lactose-removed diary product can be liquid milk, milk powder, or combined with other products to make sugar-free or low-sugar healthy food. The milk used in the method can be milk from any mammals or milk obtained by dissolving milk powder in drinking water.
US08580321B2
The use of flagellin and flagellin related polypeptides for reducing cancer treatment side effects in mammals is described.
US08580313B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising taste-masked immediate release microcapsules which comprise fexofenadine and a water-insoluble polymer coating. These microcapsules and the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them have suitable drug content and desirable pharmaceutical properties, including a quick dissolution rate of fexofenadine combined with a taste masking effect.
US08580312B2
Provided is a radiotherapeutic agent, including a composite particle, which is obtained by binding a molecule that specifically recognizes a target to a substrate particle including titanium peroxide, and which generates reactive oxygen through irradiation with a radiation. Further, because the radiotherapeutic agent contains the molecule that specifically recognizes a target, the radiotherapeutic agent has a function of accumulating in the target. The radiotherapeutic agent is capable of enhancing effects of radiotherapy, and is capable of reducing side effects on a living body to efficiently attack the target.
US08580311B2
Methods for the preparation of polymer-templated core-shell nanoparticles include the steps of (a) preparing a cationic polymeric core material comprising polymeric micelles, and (b) coating the core material with a silica-comprising shell by depositing the shell onto the polymeric micelles from at least one silica precursor to form the core-shell nanoparticles. Compositions which include the core-shell nanoparticles are adapted to facilitate controlled delivery of at least one active agent into a system in response to controlled changes in the pH of the system.
US08580308B2
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising modafinil in the form of particles of defined size and methods for preparing same. The particle size of modafinil can have a significant effect on the potency and safety profile of the drug.
US08580303B2
A method of treatment for epilepsy and other disease states is described, which comprises the delivery of gabapentin in a gastric retained dosage form.
US08580299B2
The present invention is drawn to novel topiramate compositions as well as methods for effecting weight loss, e.g., in the treatment of obesity and related conditions, including conditions associated with and/or caused by obesity per se. The present invention features an escalating dosing regimen adapted for the administration of topiramate and optionally a sympathomimetic agent such as phentermine or bupropion, in the treatment of obesity and related conditions.
US08580291B2
Provided are fibrous composites prepared by methods of the present invention, comprising oxides and biodegradable polymers, in which the fibers are made of aerogel-like oxide materials having nanometer-sized pores. The fibrous composition advantageously has, at least, the following characteristics: (i) a very high nanoporous surface area, which also permits nucleation of crystallites; (ii) mesoporous/macroporous interspacial networks between the fibers, providing high bioactivity and a high transport rate; (iii) macropores for natural bone-like tissue growth; (iv) good mechanical properties for handling and for implant support; and (v) biodegradability for implant dissolution and time-variable mechanical properties. Further provided are methods for using the bioactive biodegradable fibrous composites as osteogenic composite materials for tissue engineering, tissue re-growth, bone implants, and bone repair, and/or for the delivery of drugs or therapeutic compounds.
US08580280B2
This invention relates to adjuvant formulations comprising various combinations of triterpenoids, sterols, immunomodulators, polymers, and Th2 stimulators; methods for making the adjuvant compositions; and the use of the adjuvant formulations in immunogenic and vaccine compositions with different antigens. This invention further relates to the use of the formulations in the treatment of animals.
US08580279B2
The invention provides BASB082, BASB083, BASB091, BASB092 and BASB101 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB082, BASB083, BASB091, BASB092 and BASB101 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.
US08580274B2
An objective of the invention is to provide a drug delivery vehicle capable of allowing a vaccine or adjuvant to reach a target cell or tissue efficiently while being capable of improving the immunogenicity of the vaccine or capable of enhancing the immunostimulating effect of the adjuvant as well as a vaccine or adjuvant utilizing the same. Said drug delivery vehicle contains a multimeric protein having a coiled coil structure and a ligand molecule to a receptor of an immune cell.
US08580261B2
It is possible to inhibit inflammatory processes by administration of antibodies to chemokines. Identification of chemokines which are over-produced makes it possible to block specific chemokine activity using antibodies to the over-expressed chemokines.
US08580258B2
The present invention relates to the anti-L1 monoclonal antibody 9.3 as well as to related antibodies or binding molecules and well as to the uses thereof, especially in tumor treatment.
US08580245B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating and preventing heart disease. In particular, the present invention provides compositions comprising poloxamers (e.g., poloxamer 188-P188) and methods of using the same for treating and preventing heart disease (e.g., in subjects with muscular dystrophy) and for treating cells and tissue damage caused by ischemia and cell death (e.g., for treating dystrophin-deficient cells (e.g., myocytes)).
US08580236B2
A multi-dimensional hair sustaining formulation having a liquid transport agent that carries multi-ingredients to hair follicles in order to prevent Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from attaching to receptor sites on the follicles of existing hair, hence promoting the protection and continued growth of existing hair—which otherwise would succumb to DHT attack and loss—rather than trying to re-grow hair that has already been lost.
US08580234B2
The invention provides a composition capable of exerting an excellent whitening effect and imparting gloss to teeth.A method for removing a solid product formed on surfaces of teeth, the method containing applying an oral composition to teeth, wherein the oral composition contains 0.05 to 18% by weight of phytic acid or a salt thereof, and contains no polyvalent cation or contains a polyvalent cation in an amount of less than 0.1 fold mol relative to phytic acid, and wherein the oral composition, as diluted with water to 30% by weight, has a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
US08580228B2
The present invention relates to a process for reducing cold start emissions in an exhaust gas stream (such as from an internal combustion engine) by contacting the exhaust stream with a combination of molecular sieves comprising (1) a small pore crystalline molecular sieve or mixture of molecular sieves having pores no larger than 8 membered rings selected from the group consisting of SSZ-13, SSZ-16, SSZ-36, SSZ-39, SSZ-50, SSZ-52 and SSZ-73 molecular sieve and having a mole ratio at least 10 of (a) an oxide of a first tetravalent element to (b) an oxide of a trivalent element, pentavalent element, second tetravalent element which is different from said first tetravalent element or mixture thereof and (2) a medium-large pore crystalline molecular sieve having pores at least as large as 10 membered rings selected from the group consisting of SSZ-26, SSZ-33, SSZ-64, zeolite Beta, CIT-1, CIT-6 and ITQ-4 and having a mole ratio of at least 10 of (a) an oxide of a first tetravalent element to (b) an oxide of a trivalent element, pentavalent element, second tetravalent element which is different from said first tetravalent element or mixture thereof.
US08580226B2
This invention relates to a process for producing a sodium titanate that can be utilized in an ion exchange media. The sodium titanate ion exchange media can be subsequently used to remove contaminants such as metals from water in a variety of applications. The sodium titanate can be synthesized by utilizing a source of titanium that includes a nano-crystalline titanium having a mean primary crystallite diameter of about 1 nm to about 30 nm.
US08580219B2
The methods are utilized to recover ammonium from waste water using CO2 acidified absorption water. The process is particularly suited for utilization of cellular matter and a CO2 rich tail gas from a syngas fermentation process and derives significant benefit from the recovery of ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbonate. Ammonia and ammonium are recovered from the treatment of the syngas as an ammonium rich solution, at least a portion of which is recycled to the fermentation zone to aid in the production of liquid products. A carbon dioxide rich gas produced by fermentation is used to capture the ammonia and ammonium, forming the ammonium rich solution.
US08580215B2
A NOx selective reduction catalyst for reducing NOx by the ammonia adsorbed is disposed in an engine exhaust gas passage. As states of adsorption of ammonia by the catalyst, there are a first adsorption state of ammonia that occurs when the ammonia is adsorbed during low temperature and a second adsorption state of ammonia that occurs when the ammonia is adsorbed or has already been adsorbed during high temperature. The amount of adsorbed ammonia in the first state is restricted to control concentration of the ammonia that is in the first state and desorbed when the temperature of the catalyst increases so as to be not higher than an allowable concentration, and that in the second state is restricted to control concentration of the ammonia that is in the second state and desorbed when the temperature of the catalyst increases so as to be not higher than an allowable concentration.
US08580209B2
A microfluidic device meters liquids into a network of channels or chambers partly formed by a film partly attached to and above a substrate, the network permitting flow of fluid above the substrate. To form a channel or chamber, the edge zone between unattached and attached portions of the film forms a wedge of material by viscous flow of film material as the film is laminated to the substrate, this wedge forming a transition between the chamber wall and the substrate, raising the wall above the plane of the substrate. Film is laminated with a mask having an opening, the mask pressed onto the film under pressure and/or with heat. The film is brought to a temperature to produce a viscous flow of film and/or substrate medium into the region of the opening, forming a wedge of material as the film bulges up at the opening to form a chamber.
US08580208B2
The present invention describes a reactor (1) for continuously preparing hydrogen sulfide H2S from hydrogen and sulfur, comprising a distributor device (15) for distributing gaseous hydrogen in a sulfur melt (9) present at least in a lower part of the reactor. The distributor device (15) is arranged in the sulfur melt (9) and comprises a distributor plate (16) which is arranged in the reactor (1) and has an edge (17) extending downward and, if appropriate, has passage orifices (19). The hydrogen from a hydrogen bubble which forms below the distributor plate (16) is (for example through the passage orifices (19)) distributed in the sulfur melt (9) via the distributor plate (16).
US08580204B2
A fluidized bed reactor is disclosed. The fluidized bed reactor includes a reaction pipe comprising silicon particles provided therein; a flowing-gas supply unit configured to supply flowing gas comprising silicon elements to the silicon particles provided in the reaction pipe; and a heater unit configured to supply heat to an internal space of the reaction pipe, with a heater channel in which inert gas flows serially.
US08580201B2
Embodiments of the present invention include processing steps and subsystems, within automated-biopolymer-synthesis systems and within other automated systems for organic-chemistry-based processing, for removing reagent solutions and solvents from reaction chambers following various synthetic reaction steps and washing steps undertaken during biopolymer synthesis. Embodiments of the present invention employ any of various different types of liquid-absorbing materials to wick, or remove by capillary action, liquids from reaction chambers. Wicking-based methods and subcomponents of the present invention remove significantly greater fractions of solutions from reaction chambers than conventional methods and subsystems and, in addition, are mechanically simpler and produce fewer deleterious side effects than currently used methods and subsystems.
US08580199B2
A sensor for measuring an oxygen content in a liquid or gaseous sample has first and second sensor sections (14a, 14b). The first sensor section (14a) can be brought into contact with the sample and has a luminescent indicator dye embedded in an oxygen-permeable first polymer matrix. The second sensor section (14b) is arranged adjacent to the first sensor section (14a) and includes the same dye embedded in an oxygen-impermeable second polymer matrix. A light guide (10) guides luminescence excitation light from a light source (31, 32) to the sensor sections (14a, 14b) and guides luminescence emission light from the sensor section (14a, 14b) to a detector (39).
US08580196B2
When a problematic reagent is identified while operating an automatic analyzer, it is required to have a plurality of screens displayed, and it is difficult for inexperienced operators to identify a problematic position of a reagent. With the present invention, control information for reagents and a calibrator required for analysis with an automatic analyzer are displayed concurrently, so that all necessary information can be referred to one screen. In the automatic analyzer according to the present invention, screen switching as required in the conventional technology is not necessary, and improved operability and visibility are provided.
US08580195B2
A laboratory system for handling sample tube racks, an alignment element for sample tube racks and a rack tray receiver assembly are disclosed. The laboratory system to handle laboratory sample tube racks comprises a robotic arm (220) with a gripper (222) for gripping primary racks (PR), wherein the primary racks (PR) to be handled comprise a first end surface (76) and a second end surface (78), the first end surface (76) having a first surface geometry and the second end surface (78) having a second surface geometry, and wherein the gripper (222) comprises a first gripping arm (226) and a second gripping arm (228), with the first gripping arm (226) having a gripping surface being complementary to the first surface geometry, and the second gripping arm (228) having a gripping surface being complementary to the second surface geometry.
US08580193B2
A method for pasteurizing a liquid product includes heating the liquid product to a pasteurization temperature, thereby killing micro-organisms, keeping it in a treatment chamber at the pasteurization temperature for a holding period, regulating a length of the treatment station based at least in part on its flow-rate, regulating a product volume within the treatment chamber by changing a level of a liquid product surface in the treatment chamber through, for example, addition and removal of sterile gas or vapor-forming medium in a partial chamber of the treatment chamber formed above the product surface, or changing a level of a product outlet in the treatment chamber.
US08580192B2
A method of sterilizing a polymeric material that is sensitive to radiation. The method includes the steps of applying at least one radiosensitizer to the polymeric material and irradiating the polymeric material with a suitable radiation at an effective dose and time to sterilize the polymeric material. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing the ability of a medical device to withstand sterilization by radiation and a bioabsorbable polymeric medical device.
US08580190B2
An iron-chromium-aluminum alloy having a long service life and exhibiting little change in heat resistance, comprising (as percentages by weight) 4.5 to 6.5% Al, 16 to 24% Cr, 1.0 to 4.0% W, 0.05 to 0.7% Si, 0.001 to 0.5% Mn, 0.02 to 0.1% Y, 0.02 to 0.1% Zr, 0.02 to 0.1% Hf, 0.003 to 0.030% C, 0.002 to 0.03% N, a maximum of 0.01% S, and a maximum of 0.5% Cu, the remainder being iron and the usual steel production-related impurities.
US08580165B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a multiple-phase particle comprising preparing a channel whose outlet port is adapted to a first fluid, feeding a second fluid into the channel, the second fluid being higher in affinity to the outlet port as compared with the first fluid, feeding a third fluid into the channel, the third fluid being lower in affinity to the outlet port as compared with the second fluid, and introducing the third fluid into the second fluid in the channel while retaining the second fluid at the outlet port by an effect of the affinity of the second fluid, thereby entrapping the third fluid in the second fluid to form the multiple-phase particle.
US08580163B2
There is described a process for manufacturing an ophthalmic lens and an apparatus for forming an ophthalmic lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein in a mold assembly a first and a second mold half (101, 102) are first arranged in an intermediate closed position in which the mold surfaces of the two mold halves are spaced apart from each other at a distance increase (d1) of preferably 1 to 100 μm relative to a final distance (d0) in a final closed position, and wherein, during curing of the lens forming material (202), the mold surfaces (105, 106) of the mold halves (101, 102) are actively or passively moved or moving from the intermediate closed position to the final closed position, where the distance increase (d1) is 0.
US08580162B2
A method of directly molding a fiber optic ferrule on an end of a fiber optic cable is disclosed. The method preferably includes stripping a cable jacket and/or a buffer layer from optical fibers of the fiber optic cable and trimming the optical fibers with a laser thereby creating trimmed ends on the optical fibers. The optical fibers and preferably a pin assembly are held near the end of the fiber optic cable by an optical fiber and pin locator. The optical fiber and pin locator can statically or dynamically hold and position the optical fibers and pin assembly. After the optical fibers and/or the pin assembly are positioned, a fixture is attached to the trimmed ends of the optical fibers and/or the pin assembly thereby preserving their relative position to each other. After the fixture is attached, the optical fiber and pin locator is removed, and the end of the fiber optic cable with the attached fixture is placed into a mold cavity. A molding material is injected into the mold cavity thereby overmolding a substantial portion of the end of the fiber optic cable and thereby creating a molded body of the fiber optic ferrule. After molding, the fixture is removed. The fixture preferably includes a thin film that is hardened on the trimmed ends of the optical fibers while the optical fiber and pin locator is attached.
US08580154B2
Disclosed are quaternary ammonium salts containing non-halogen anions such as carbonates, bicarbonates, phosphates, glycolates and mixtures thereof as conversion coatings or additives imparting anti-corrosive properties to paints. The invention relates to a method for inhibiting the corrosion of metal surfaces by applying a composition containing one or more quaternary ammonium carbonate or bicarbonate. The disclosure is also directed to anti-corrosive coatings for metal substrates containing these compounds and to metal substrates having these anticorrosive coatings.
US08580151B2
Improvements in a gasification system and process for gasifying carbonaceous feedstock with improved energy efficiency. Improved methods and systems for more efficient removal of particulates from a raw synthesis gas while simultaneously providing a novel mechanism for fluxing agent addition to the gasification reactor. A conditioning agent, in the form of coarse fluxing agent particles, is added to the raw synthesis gas upstream from the particle filtration unit. The conditioning agent allows more rapid turnaround of the filtration unit following filter element replacement, extend filter life, facilitates the removal of filter cake from the particle filters, and combines with removed filter cake for recycling to the gasifier. Addition of fluxing agent via this route eliminates the need to premix fluxing agent with the carbonaceous feedstock, thereby maximizing the rate of feedstock addition to the gasification reactor.
US08580146B2
A liquid crystal compound having a high stability to heat, light or the like, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large elastic constant K33, a large negative dielectric anisotropy and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. Also, a liquid crystal composition having characteristics similar to these of the compound. Additionally, a liquid crystal display device having a short response time, low electric power consumption, a low driving voltage, a large contrast and a wide temperature range in which the device can be used.The compound is a 2,3-difluorobenzene derivative (1) having a combination of a cyclohexane ring, a cyclohexene ring or a benzene ring phenyl and a butene bonding group. The liquid crystal composition includes this compound, and the liquid crystal display device contains this composition.
US08580145B2
A liquid crystalline polyester has a specifically high fluidity, a low anisotropy, a high toughness, a low gas property, an excellent heat resistance and a high dielectric breakdown resistance. The liquid crystalline polyester includes 38 to 74 mol % of structural unit(s) obtained from a hydroxycarboxylic acid, 31 to 13 mol % of a structural unit obtained from 4,4′-dihydroxybiphenyl and 31 to 13 mol % of a structural unit obtained from 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (100 mol % in total), characterized in that the hydroxycarboxylic acid structural units include a structural unit obtained from 2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid in an amount of 89 mol % or more and the average sequence length of the structural unit obtained from 2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid is 0.1 to 1.
US08580144B2
A composition including nanocomposites formed from blue phase liquid crystals that are stabilized with dopants and nanorods such as metallic nanorods and/or carbon nanotubes. Devices including the compositions are disclosed that provide increases temperature ranges as well as reduction in threshold voltage and turn on voltage, in addition to the inherent blue phase liquid crystal properties of sub-millisecond response time in the field induced Kerr effect.
US08580138B2
This invention covers nanofluids. Nanofluids are a combination of particles between 1 and 100 nanometers, a surfactant and the base fluid. The nanoparticles for this invention are either pyrogenic nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes. These nanofluids improve the heat transfer of the base fluids. The base fluid can be ethylene glycol, or propylene glycol, or an aliphatic-hydrocarbon based heat transfer fluid. This invention also includes a method of making nanofluids. No surfactant is used to suspend the pyrogenic nanoparticles in glycols.
US08580132B2
A method for making a strip shaped graphene layer includes the steps of: first, a graphene film is located on a surface of a substrate is provided. Second, a drawn carbon nanotube film composite is disposed on the graphene film. The drawn carbon nanotube film composite includes a polymer material and a drawn carbon nanotube film structure disposed in the polymer material. The drawn carbon nanotube film structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotube segments and a plurality of strip-shaped gaps between the adjacent carbon nanotube segments. Third, the polymer material is partly removed to expose the plurality of carbon nanotube segments. Forth, the plurality of carbon nanotube segments and the graphene film covered by the plurality of carbon nanotube segments is etched. Fifth, the remained polymer material is removed to obtain the strip shaped graphene layer.
US08580128B2
To provide an electromagnetic-wave shielding plate superior in an electromagnetic-wave shielding property, a light-transmitting property and non-visibility of a mesh pattern at low cost. A pattern of a resin layer is printed on a metal layer of a transparent substrate by a printing method. After that, the metal layer is over-etched with the resin layer used as an etching mask, and a part of the resin layer protruding from the remaining metal layer in a plate-surface direction is removed. As a result, an electromagnetic-wave shielding plate superior in an electromagnetic-wave shielding property and non-visibility and having, for example, a pattern line width of 3 μm or more and 25 μm or less.
US08580127B2
An RFID based thermal bubble type accelerometer includes a flexible substrate, an embedded system on chip (SOC) unit, an RFID antenna formed on the substrate and coupled to a modulation/demodulation module in the SOC unit, a cavity formed on the flexible substrate, and a plurality of sensing assemblies, including a heater and two temperature-sensing elements, disposed along the x-axis direction and suspended over the cavity. The two temperature-sensing elements, serially connected, are separately disposed at two opposite sides and at substantially equal distances from the heater. Two sets of sensing assemblies can be connected in differential Wheatstone bridge. The series-connecting points of the sensing assemblies are coupled to the SOC unit such that an x-axis acceleration can be obtained by a voltage difference between the connecting points. The x-axis acceleration can be sent by the RFID antenna to a reader after it is is modulated and encoded by the modulation/demodulation module.
US08580119B1
Process and steps for the production of biodiesel and/or glycerin from feedstock are provided.
US08580118B2
A water softening system includes apparatus and process that recycles a substantial percentage of the brine. This system conventionally includes a brine tank and a softening tank through which hard water from a source passes during normal operation. During the regeneration cycle, the brine solution in the brine tank passes through the softening tank acquiring hardness ions, and then through a nanofilter that passes a much higher proportion of the brine ions than the hardness ions. The hardness ions flow from the upstream end of the nanofilter into a drain. The liquid passing through the nanofilter contains salt that returns to the brine tank for reuse. A preferred embodiment includes a pump to force the brine solution through the nanofilter and a throttling valve connecting the upstream side of the nanofilter to a drain, and through which the hardness ions flow.
US08580112B2
This disclosure generally relates to dialysis systems and related methods. In one aspect of the invention, a dialysis system includes a device configured so that a medical fluid can pass therethrough, and the device is adapted to remove one or more substances from the medical fluid as the medical fluid passes through the device. The dialysis system can also include a sodium control system adapted to alter a sodium concentration of the medical fluid.
US08580103B2
An aqueous electrolyte solution including a concentration of citric acid in the range of about 1.6 g/L to about 982 g/L and an effective concentration of ammonium bifluoride (ABF), and being substantially free of a strong acid. Methods of treating the surface of a non-ferrous metal workpiece include exposing the surface to a bath of an aqueous electrolyte solution including a concentration of citric acid less than or equal to about 300 g/L and a concentration of ammonium bifluoride greater than or equal to about 10 g/L, and having no more than about 3.35 g/L of a strong acid, controlling the temperature of the bath to be greater than or equal to about 54° C., connecting the workpiece to the anode of a DC power supply and immersing a cathode of the DC power supply in the bath, and applying a current across the bath.
US08580097B2
Methods are provided for forming a complex comprising an analyte (or an analyte analogue) from a blood-derived sample and labeling substances, and separating the complex from excess labeling substances and coexisting substances from the blood-derived sample, in a rapid, simple, convenient, and highly precise isotachophoresis (ITP) process by adding 2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonate (MES) salt and/or glutamate salt to the ITP sample. Methods are also provided for measuring the analyte in blood-derived samples with high precision and high sensitivity, based on the amount of the complex separated or the amount of uncomplexed labeling substance-containing molecules.
US08580092B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a process kit for use in a physical deposition chamber (PVD) chamber. In one embodiment, the process kit provides adjustable process spacing, centering between the cover ring and the shield, and controlled gas flow between the cover ring and the shield contributing to uniform gas distribution, which promotes greater process uniformity and repeatability along with longer chamber component service life.
US08580090B2
Combinatorial electrochemical deposition is described, including dividing a wafer into a plurality of substrates for combinatorial processing, immersing the plurality of substrates at least partially into a plurality of cells, within one integrated tool, including electrolytes, the cells also including electrodes immersed in the electrolytes, depositing layers on the substrates by applying potentials across the substrates and the electrodes, and varying characteristics of the depositing to perform the combinatorial processing.
US08580088B2
A method for producing a transparent conductive film including a transparent film substrate and a crystalline transparent conductive layer, including: a first depositing a first indium-based complex oxide having a first tetravalent metal element oxide on the transparent film substrate; and a second depositing indium oxide or a second indium-based complex oxide and lower than the tetravalent metal element oxide content of the indium-based complex oxide used in the first depositing by sputtering to form an amorphous transparent conductive layer, and crystallizing the amorphous transparent conductive layer. The method allows a reduction in crystallization time.
US08580085B2
The invention is generally directed to solar distillation methods and systems for recovering potable water from non-potable water. In certain embodiments, a process for water distillation includes a cycled arrangement, alternating between a day cycle and a night cycle to enhance the yield of potable water. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the system includes a solar still having a design and orientation to maximize solar energy capture.
US08580083B2
A method to dewater a fibrous web includes directing the fibrous web through a first press zone defined between a revolving permeable belt and a revolving permeable support belt and having a first press zone length. The fibrous web is arranged lying between the revolving permeable belt and the revolving permeable support belt. A fluid is caused to flow through the permeable belt, the fibrous web and the support belt at least over a section of the first press zone length. The fibrous web is dewatered in a second press zone following the first press zone and defined between the revolving permeable belt and the revolving permeable support belt, the second press zone having a second press zone length. The fibrous web is led through the second press zone between the permeable belt and the support belt, the permeable belt and the support belt each having a different compressibility.
US08580082B2
The present invention relates to mixtures of two distinct porous, stable aggregates and rather coarse PCCs (precipitated) calcium carbonate pigments (such as a composition comprising a blend or mix of one of the two Grade B or Grade C PCCs, in combination with a second, specific S-PCC (S=scalenohedral type PCC) pigment in a ratio appropriately selected between 90/10 and 10/90 percent by dry weight, namely 80/20 and 20/80, with a coarser, third component, which may be a pigment and/or a filler such as natural calcium (ground) carbonate or (most preferably) a PCC (precipitated calcium carbonate), depending on the granulometry of the two fine PCCs the third, coarser component, may be omitted. The main criteria for selecting the said “coarser” pigment is that it should feature a granulometry which does no affect noticeably, when in admixture with the blend PCC Grade B (or PCC Grade C) with S-PCC the finest part of the granulometry data of the blend, and in particular that it should not contribute anything significant to the amount of particles <0.2 μm, preferably nothing <0.3 μm, more preferably nothing <0.5 μm and most preferably nothing <1 μm.
US08580076B2
A plasma apparatus, various components of the plasma apparatus, and an oxygen free and nitrogen free processes for effectively removing photoresist material and post etch residues from a substrate with a carbon and/or hydrogen containing low k dielectric layer(s).
US08580073B2
A hot melt adhesive composition can be used to laminate substrates together in construction industry and industrial maintenance and assembly applications. The hot melt adhesive composition is sprayable to form a thin layer (1 to 200 microns in thickness) on a substrate. The hot melt adhesive can cure by exposure to moisture or harden by cooling, or a combination thereof.
US08580060B2
An apparatus and a method for preparing a pre-form including at least one layer of fiber tows being at least partly fixed by a resin. The apparatus includes a work surface, a fiber tow distribution device, a fiber tow retention device, and a manipulation, device which is adapted to move the fiber tow distribution device relative to the fiber tow retention device. The apparatus is arranged so that free ends of the fiber tows can be delivered from the fiber tow distribution device to the fiber tow retention device, and the fiber tow retention device is adapted for retention of the free ends so that mutual movement of the fiber tow distribution device and the fiber tow retention device away from each other causes drawing of the fiber tows through distribution passage and distribution hereof onto the work surface.
US08580059B2
A method for separating and removing a rigid core when building a tire. When the rigid core body is to be separated and removed from the inside of the tire, the method includes removing a core holding mechanism and upper and lower support plates; transferring the tire to a support table; raising a second core separation/removal mechanism; horizontally pulling a first type of segment groups until separated from the inner surface of the tire; lowering the first type of the segment groups below the support table; lowering a first core separation/removal mechanism to the center of the height position of the rigid core body; horizontally pulling the second type of the segment groups until they are separated from the inner surface of the tire; transferring a second type of the segment groups with a second core separation/removal mechanism, and conveying the tire to the subsequent process.
US08580056B2
A wearing article configured so that loop elements engaged with associated hook elements will not ride up or curl up in the course of the production process. Mount members are attached to an inner sheet in a front waist region so as to extend along first lateral zones of the front waist region and hook elements are attached to a chassis by the intermediary of these mount members. Loop elements are attached to the inner sheet in a rear waist region so as to extend along second lateral zones of the rear waist region. Third regions of the respective mount members are formed with sticking zones operatively associated with outer lateral edges of the respective loop elements. The sticking zones formed on the respective mount members are temporarily joined to the loop elements as the hook elements are engaged with the associated loop elements.
US08580043B2
An automated cleaning system for an aircraft fuselage interior is provided. The system has a movable assembly designed to fit within an aircraft fuselage interior to be cleaned. The movable assembly has a removable track assembly and an automated transport mechanism mounted on the removable track assembly, the automated transport mechanism being a guided cart that travels on the removable track assembly. The movable assembly further has a manifold and frame assembly mounted on the automated transport mechanism and a fluid dispensing assembly coupled to the manifold and frame assembly for dispensing fluids onto an aircraft fuselage interior surface. The system further has a fluid management system coupled to the movable assembly for supplying the fluids to the fluid dispensing assembly. The system further has a control system that communicates with and controls the movable assembly and the fluid management system.
US08580039B2
A surface treatment method of a metal member according to an embodiment of the invention includes removing an oily substance on the metal member by using gas-liquid two fluids that are obtained by boiling heated and pressured water under ordinary pressure. A surface treatment device of a metal member for removing an oily substance on the metal member includes self-generation two fluids production means for producing gas-liquid two fluids by boiling heated and pressured water under ordinary pressure, and a surface treatment room carrying out a surface treatment by bringing the self-generation two fluids into contact with the metal member.
US08580031B2
A method of producing a three-dimensional photonic crystal by laminating a layer having a periodic structure, the method including the steps of forming a first structure and a second structure each including the layer having the periodic structure; and bonding a first bonding layer of the first structure and a second bonding layer of the second structure. The first bonding layer is one layer obtained by dividing a layer constituting the three-dimensional photonic crystal at a cross section perpendicular to a lamination direction, and the second bonding layer is the other layer obtained by dividing the layer constituting the three-dimensional photonic crystal at the cross section perpendicular to the lamination direction.
US08580025B2
The ink set includes a yellow ink composition and either a magenta ink composition or a cyan ink composition, or both, wherein a coloring agent of the yellow ink composition is one which includes an azo pigment represented e.g. by the following formula or its tautomers or their salts or hydrates, the magenta ink composition contains as a coloring agent at least one pigment selected from the following: C.I. Pigment Violet 19, C.I. Pigment Red 122, C.I. Pigment Red 202 and C.I. Pigment Red 209, and the cyan ink composition contains as a coloring agent at least one pigment selected from the following: C.I. Pigment blue 15:1, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:2, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3, C.I. Pigment Blue 15:4 and C.I. Pigment Blue 15:6.
US08580023B2
A run-safe filter system is provided for confirming installation of a qualified filter element in a housing. An electrical switch has a first electrical condition in response to a qualified filter element being installed in the housing, and a second electrical condition in response to the absence of a qualified filter element installed in the housing.
US08580015B2
A feed gas drying system is described for a PSA or VPSA oxygen concentrator. A membrane dryer is inserted into the feed gas path to the concentrator absorbent beds, such that the moisture in the feed gas is directed to a part of the dryer exposed to the concentrator exhaust, thus achieving efficient operation of the membrane dryer with no loss of concentrator feed gas.
US08580010B2
A dew point temperature sensor detects and sends the dew point temperature of the supply air to a dry area, as a supply air dew point temperature, to a controller. The controller has a speed of rotation of the regenerating side fan (the regenerating air flow rate) to control, and determines a control value (the regenerating air flow rate) that causes the supply air dew point temperature to go to a target dew point temperature, and determines a supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value in accordance with this control value (where if the control value is in the direction of reducing the regenerating air flow rate, the supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value is increased). Note that what is controlled is the speed of rotation of the desiccant rotors, or the exit temperatures of the air heated by the hot water coils.
US08579996B2
A process for treating organic matter to convert it into a product comprises the step of contacting the organic matter with supercritical liquid whereby it reacts to form the product. The liquid may be heated by an external heating medium, or may be heated internally of the process by co-feeding an oxidising agent with the liquid. This agent can be in an amount that is predetermined to control the extent to which the reaction mixture is heated. The heat can be supplied to provide sufficient activation energy for the process reaction to occur with sufficient speed and for the liquid to attain sufficient characteristics to cause the reaction.
US08579989B2
The present invention provides a device (10; 110) for use in parietal surgery, in particular for use in laparascopic hernia repair, the device (10; 110) comprising a body (12; 138) at one end of which is located a parietal reinforcement implant (14; 114), in a collapsed state, the device (10; 110) including means operate e to expose the parietal surgical implant from within the body, and means operable to urge the parietal surgical implant (14; 114) into an open or expanded state, once positioned at the site of the hernia, wherein the parietal surgical implant (14; 114) may be separated from the device (10; 110), in order to allow the parietal surgical implant (14; 114) to be secured against the site of the hernia such as to aid in the healing of same.
US08579988B2
Apparatus for delivering a medical device to a location in a patient's body includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, a pod coupled with the distal end of the catheter body and adapted to house the medical device during delivery to the location and to open to release the medical device, and at least one distal actuator coupled with at least one of the pod and the medical device. The distal actuator is adapted to promote opening of the pod. A method involves advancing a pod at the distal end of an elongate catheter to the location within the body and activating an actuator coupled with the pod and/or the medical device to cause the pod to open. Opening the pod releases the medical device.
US08579986B1
The present invention provides an apparatus and method that will allow surgeons to produce bone growth masses for use in spinal surgery that are capable of maintaining their physical integrity during placement and during the acute post operative period.
US08579980B2
The present invention is directed to an allograft intervertebral implant sized and configured for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies in a spinal fusion surgery. The implant is preferably manufactured from two or more pieces of allograft bone joined together by a joint, more preferably a dovetail joint. The dovetail joint being sized and configured to substantially follow the exterior shape or surface of the intervertebral implant.
US08579979B2
An intervertebral spacer is inserted between vertebral members in a compact configuration and expanded post-insertion to contact the adjacent vertebral members. The intervertebral spacer comprises a first member and a second member movable with respect to the first member between retracted and extended positions.
US08579968B1
Annuloplasty rings reduce or eliminate tricuspid regurgitation and/or tricuspid annulus dilation. An adjustable annuloplasty device includes a ring body having a first free end and a second free end. The ring body includes a shape memory material to provide a shape change to the adjustable annuloplasty device upon activation. The ring body includes a first segment including the first free end and following a curved path corresponding to an anterior leaflet region of a tricuspid annulus, a second segment following a curved path corresponding to a posterior leaflet region of the tricuspid annulus, and a third segment including the second free end and at least partially following a linear path corresponding to a portion of a septal leaflet region of the tricuspid annulus. Activation of the shape memory material changes a dimension of the adjustable annuloplasty device.
US08579967B2
An apparatus including a tether, and an aptation device coupled to the tether at a position corresponding to a location to contact cusps of an atrioventricular valve during systole, wherein the tether and aptation device are suitable for percutaneous delivery to a patient. An apparatus including a support annulus comprising a length corresponding to a circumference of one of an interior portion of an atrium and an atrioventricular valve annulus; and an aptation device coupled to the support annulus corresponding to a location to contact cusps of an atrioventricular valve during at least one of systole when the support annulus is seated in one of an atrium and an atrioventricular valve annulus, wherein the support annulus and aptation device are suitable for percutaneous delivery to a patient. Also, a method of introducing an aptation device to contact cusps or leaflets of an atrioventricular valve.
US08579960B2
Medical devices are manufactured from fine grained materials, processed from of a variety of metals and alloys, such as stainless steel, cobalt-chromium and nickel-titanium alloys. A fine grained metal or alloy is formed from a specimen rapidly heated to its recrystallization temperature, and then subjected to high temperature, multi-axial deformation, for example, by heavy cross-forging or swaging. The deformed specimen may be cooled and reheated to a second recrystallization temperature. The metal or alloy in the specimen is then allowed to recrystallize, such that the grain size is controlled by quenching the specimen to room temperature. A desired medical device is then configured from the fine grained material. Decreasing the average grain size of a substrate material and increasing the number of grains across a thickness of a strut or similar component of the medical device increases the strength of the device and imparts other beneficial properties into the device.
US08579956B2
An method and apparatus are disclosed including an expandable body having a diameter suitable for insertion into a blood vessel and capable of being modified from a first diameter to a second larger diameter in response to an inflation pressure. The expandable body includes an outer wall having a plurality of delivery outlets extending from a working length of the outer wall. The delivery outlets coincide with regions of a lesion exposed between a framework implanted within the vessel when the expandable body is in an expanded state. A treatment agent is delivered from the delivery outlets to regions of the lesion exposed between the implantable framework.
US08579952B2
A laser therapeutic apparatus includes a 532 nm wavelength laser or a 2000 nm wavelength thulium laser, a 980 nm wavelength laser or a 1470 nm wavelength laser, and a 2100 nm wavelength laser; an optical coupling device located at laser emitting ends of the above-mentioned lasers, which is used for coupling the lasers emitted from the above-mentioned lasers into the same optical fiber (1, 7, 11) to emit; and a control device capable of controlling the working modes of the above-mentioned lasers for laser emitting and the energy of the lasers emitted from the above-mentioned lasers.
US08579951B2
A handpiece can treat biological tissue using electromagnetic radiation, which can be substantially fluorescent light. The handpiece includes a source of electromagnetic radiation and a waveguide. The waveguide is adjacent the source, receives electromagnetic radiation from the source, and delivers the electromagnetic radiation to the biological tissue. The handpiece also includes a system for circulating a fluorescent substance through the waveguide. The fluorescent substance is capable of modulating at least one property of the electromagnetic radiation.
US08579944B2
A bone plate and method of forming a bone plate having a plurality of suture loops pre-attached to the bone plate. The suture loops may be flexible and formed of a strong suture material. The suture loops may have various shapes, forms and configurations and may be provided on the bone plate in any number, depending on the characteristics of the fractured bone or bone segments, or of the plate design. Preferably, the suture loops are attached to a surface of the bone plate. The suture loops may receive a strand of suture for fixation of soft tissue to the bone plate.
US08579936B2
A system for treating a septal defect having an implantable treatment apparatus and devices for delivering the implantable treatment apparatus, devices for controlling delivery of the treatment apparatus and methods for treating a septal defect are provided. The implantable treatment apparatus is preferably implantable through a septal wall or portion thereof. The treatment system can include a flexible elongate body member, a delivery device configured to deliver the implantable apparatus, and a proximal control device for controlling delivery of the implantable apparatus, among others.
US08579934B2
This invention relates to apparatus and methods for use in sealing a vascular puncture site and to apparatus and methods for properly locating and deploying a sealing device. The locating apparatus includes a lumen which extends from an opening in the distal region of the apparatus but located proximally of the sealing device, which lumen extends to another opening in the proximal region of the device. When the distal opening is in communication with blood in a blood vessel, blood flow through the lumen and out of the proximal opening signifies such location to the user. When the sealing device is withdrawn such that the sealing device is deployed such that it blocks the blood flow into the distal port, the user will know the location of the sealing device. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing device is then withdrawn proximally a predetermined distance to assure that no part of the sealing device extends into the blood vessel lumen. The sealing device is then detached from the delivery device.
US08579932B2
An apparatus for delivering a clip includes an introducer sheath including an outer surface extending between its proximal and distal ends. A clip is carried on the outer surface, e.g., on a carrier assembly that is slidable along the outer surface from the proximal end towards the distal end. A skin overlies the outer surface of the sheath and the carrier assembly that is separable from the outer surface as the carrier assembly is advanced from the proximal end towards the distal end of the sheath. During use, the distal end of the sheath is inserted into an opening through tissue, e.g., into a puncture communicating with a blood vessel. The carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end of the sheath, causing the skin to separate from the outer surface of the elongate member, and the clip is deployed from the carrier to seal the opening.
US08579921B2
A suture securing device includes a body with a distal end portion defining a suture receiving opening; a shaft and the body being assembled for relative reciprocal motion between a first position and a second position; and a tension coil spring operably attached to the body and operably attached adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft and disposed adjacent a suture receiving opening, When the body and shaft are in the first position, the tension coil spring is in a rest position, and when the body and/or the shaft are in the second position, the tension coil spring is in a tensioned position to form at least one gap therebetween to enable receipt of at least a portion of at least one suture.
US08579920B2
An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft extending from the housing, a firing rod disposed inside the elongated shaft and being movable within a first plane between a retracted position and an extended position, an advancer disposed inside the elongated shaft and being moveable within a second plane between a retracted position and an extended position, and a staging assembly located adjacent the distal end of the elongated shaft and being adapted to align surgical fasteners with a distal end of the firing rod. The staging assembly is held below the second plane by the advancer when the advancer is in the extended position and the staging assembly is adapted to move into at least partial alignment with the distal end of the firing rod when the advancer is in the retracted position.
US08579918B2
An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue has a handle portion; a body extending distally from the handle portion; a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the body; and a jaw assembly mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the body. The jaw assembly includes first and second jaw portions movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position. The apparatus also has a wedge plate longitudinally movable between the first and the second jaw portions, a clip pusher configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaw assembly while the jaw portions are in the spaced apart position; an actuator at least partially disposed within the body and longitudinally movable in response to actuation of the handle portion; and a jaw closure member positioned adjacent the first and second jaw portions to move the jaw portions to the approximated position.
US08579916B2
Presented is a simple, novel, process of removing impurities from the scalp, hair, and skin. The process consists of, simultaneously, freezing the impurities with dry, chilled air, freeing the frozen impurities by abrading, and removing the frozen impurities by vacuum suctioning.
US08579914B2
A specimen retrieval device is provided. The specimen retrieval device includes an applicator. A specimen retrieval pouch operably is disposed within the applicator and deployable therefrom. The specimen retrieval pouch defines a longitudinal axis therethrough and includes a closed bottom portion and an open upper portion. The closed bottom portion includes a plurality of spikes configured to grasp a specimen positioned within the confines closed bottom portion. The upper closed portion includes one or more axial folds that are movable from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration when a predetermined force is applied to a portion of the specimen retrieval pouch.
US08579913B2
A driver assembly (50) for an introducer assembly (10) for the deployment of an implantable medical device (16) includes a sprung element (52) coupled to a yoke (56). The yoke (56) is coupled to a gripper element (58). The yoke (56) is coupled to a first handle unit (30) of the introducer (10). The sprung element (52) is coupled to a proximal handle unit (32). A brake element (66) acts to prevent operation of the sprung element (52) when no manual force is being applied to attract a sheath (24) and the assembly (10). When manual retraction force is applied to the assembly (50) the gripper element (58) the brake element (66) releases a sprung element (52) so that the lighter can apply a force assistance to assist in the retraction of the sheath (24) and thereby to assist in the deployment of a medical device.
US08579909B2
Methods and instrumentation particularly adapted for disc space preparation for insertion of implants from an anterior approach to the spine are provided. The instruments include a guide sleeve defining a channel having overlapping cylindrical working channel portions and lateral non-distracting extensions extending from reduced thickness wall portions. The guide sleeve has an overall reduced width configuration. A pair of distractors are provided. A first distractor includes a shaft and distal tip, each having convex walls. A second distractor includes a shaft and distal tip including a recessed area at least along the tip. The first distractor is at least partially received within the recessed area of the second distractor when the first and second distractors are in side-by-side relation and a reduced overall width of the distractors is obtained. Preferably, the first and second distractors are used with the guide sleeve. Methods using the disclosed instruments are also provided.
US08579906B2
An apparatus and measuring instrument includes a first part and a second part slidably moveable with respect to one another. The first part includes a locking member that has a hard portion which is movable from a first position to a second position. The second part includes a compressible portion that has a Shore hardness less than the hard portion and is positioned such that when the locking member is in the first position the compressible portion is not engaged by the hard portion, and when the locking member is in the second position the compressible portion is at least partially compressed by the hard portion thereby preventing relative movement of the first and second parts.
US08579903B2
Apparatuses and methods deliver implants through a posterior aspect of a vertebral body such as a pedicle and place the implant or perform a procedure into the anterior aspect of the vertebral body. A representative apparatus includes an outer cannula, an advancer tube and a drill assembly. It is envisioned that at least one of the outer cannula, the advancer tube or the drill assembly can be viewed in vivo using for example, a CT scan or fluoroscope. Also included is an apparatus for forming an arcuate channel in bone material. The apparatus includes an advancer tube and a drill assembly.
US08579900B2
A minimally invasive skeletal fixation device includes two curved tubes and two positioning members. The two curved tubes are attached to each other and are in communication with each other. The positioning members are coupled to the curved tubes. The device is applicable to surgical operations for treating bone fractures and offers the advantages of small incision size, simple structure, easy operation, improved performance of surgical operation, and flexible adjustment of installation sites of Kirschner pins.
US08579899B2
A bone fixation system has a first fixation device. The first fixation device has a first longitudinally extending bone insertion blade having an orienting portion, and a first plate extending transversely from the first bone insertion blade and positionable along a surface of a bone. The bone fixation system further has a second fixation device. The second fixation device has second longitudinally extending bone insertion blade orientatively interactive with the orienting portion, and a second plate extending transversely from the second bone insertion blade and positionable along the surface of the bone adjacent the first plate. When assembled, the second bone insertion blade has an orientation that is based on an orientation of the orienting portion.
US08579895B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for, and a method of, accurate positioning of endoscopic instruments. Accurate positioning of the instruments is accomplished through the inclusion of a steering ability within the device. After the endoscopic instrument is properly positioned, the present invention may use rapid exchange technology, soft locks, and mechanical locks to maintain the position of the endoscopic instrument. Rapid exchange technology is used to minimize displacement forces present on the guidewire or catheters. Soft locks and mechanical locks resist movements caused by displacement forces.
US08579893B2
A tissue evacuation device may be designed to provide a high-energy fluid (e.g., a heated vapor) to targeted tissue for breaking down the targeted tissue, such as the nucleus of an intervertebral disc. An inner tube positioned within an outer tube, having a nozzle coupled to distal ends of the tubes, having a heating element positioned between the inner and outer tubes, delivers a heated vapor through a port to the nozzle to break down tissue. After the nucleus or other targeted tissue is broken down, the tissue evacuation device may also remove some or all of the broken down tissue.
US08579887B2
A microsurgical instrument has a pair of operative surgical surfaces that are moved relative to each other in shearing or grasping procedures performed by the instrument. The instrument has a handle containing an elongate center rod with a ring mounted for reciprocating movement on the rod. A tube is secured to the ring and a shaft extends through the tube and is secured to the rod. The handle also includes a plurality of resilient arms that extend along the length of the rod and engage against a sliding surface of the ring on the rod. The plurality of actuator arms are alternatively manually compressed radially inwardly by the surgeon's hand and released by the surgeon's hand to allow the arms to flex radially inwardly and outwardly. The inward and outward movement of the plurality of arms reciprocates the ring on the handle rod and causes the tube and shaft to move axially relative to each other.
US08579884B2
A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, and an external infusion set configured to deliver the infusible fluid to a user. A fluid delivery system is configured to deliver the infusible fluid from the reservoir to the external infusion set. The fluid delivery system includes a volume sensor assembly, and a pump assembly for extracting a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir and providing the quantity of infusible fluid to the volume sensor assembly. The volume sensor assembly is configured to determine the volume of at least a portion of the quantity of fluid. The fluid delivery system further includes at least one optical sensor assembly configured to sense the movement of the pump assembly, a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, and a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the volume sensor assembly from the external infusion set.
US08579882B1
The present disclosure provides a cannula useful for introducing a thermally responsive polymer in situ. In embodiments, the cannula possesses more than one cannula, with the thermally responsive polymer introduced in one cannula, and a material such as a coolant in a second cannula which prevents premature gelling of the thermally responsive polymer.
US08579876B2
A folded disposable absorbent garment has an absorbent chassis, a pair of front side panels extending from a front region of the absorbent chassis, and a pair of back side panels extending from a back region of the absorbent chassis. A first fastening component is disposed on each of the front side panels and a second fastening component is disposed on each of the back side panels. Each of the second fastening components is releasably attached to a respective one of the first fastening components to define a pair of refastenable seams. The front side panels and the back side panels are folded such that each of the refastenable seams overlies an outer surface of one of the front region and the back region of the absorbent chassis in a plane generally parallel to the front and back regions of the absorbent chassis.
US08579874B1
A breast interface assembly for connecting a breast pump to a nipple of a breast, includes a connector and a reversible element which has two terminal portions of differing internal diameters. The breast interface assembly is configured to be assembled in a first state, in which a first terminal portion of the reversible element connects with the connector, and the breast interface assembly presents a breast contact surface defining a nipple aperture of a first diameter. The breast interface assembly is further configured to be assembled in a second state in which a second terminal portion of the reversible element connects with the connector and the breast interface assembly presents a breast contact surface defining a nipple aperture of a second diameter. In at least one of the first and second states, the reversible element provides at least part of the breast contact surface.
US08579872B2
Systems, methods, and dressings for providing reduced pressure to a tissue site on a patient are presented that involve wirelessly providing power to a reduced-pressure pump. In one instance, a RFID antenna is used to power a reduced-pressure pump that is fluidly coupled by a conduit to a reduced-pressure dressing. In another instance, a reduced-pressure dressing incorporates a micro-pump and a RFID antenna that is used to power the micro-pump. Other systems, methods, and devices are presented.
US08579861B2
A needle magazine for holding a plurality of injection needles (50) is described. The needle magazine comprises a first opening adapted to receive the device fluid access portion (120) of a medical delivery device. Each needle (50) is selectively moveable from a respective storage position not aligned with said first opening into a needle mounting position aligned with said first opening. The needle magazine further comprises needle positioning means (41). configured to alter the mutual position between a needle selected from said plurality of needles (50) relative to a neighbor needle when said selected needle moves from its storage position to the needle mounting position.
US08579858B2
A catheter pump intended to be inserted in the circulatory system of a mammal, for example for assisting the heart. The catheter pump comprises: a hollow catheter (2); a drive cable (1) arranged in a lumen (6) of the catheter (2); a sheath (3) surrounding the hollow catheter (2); a drive shaft (5) connected to a distal end of the drive cable (1) to be rotated by the drive cable; a propeller (4) arranged at the drive shaft; and a cage (11) surrounding the propeller. The propeller and the cage are moveable from a folded position, wherein the catheter pump has a small cross-sectional dimension of about 3.3 mm to an unfolded position wherein the unfolded cage surrounds the unfolded propeller and the size of the cage is about 19.5 mm. The drive shaft comprises a distal bearing (24) and a proximal bearing (25). A purge system is arranged for passing fluid in a lumen (7) along the hollow catheter to the proximal bearing, for purging and lubrication of the proximal bearing. The fluid is returned outside the drive wire. A portion of the fluid is passed into channels (22) for passing fluid from the proximal bearing to the distal bearing, for purging and lubrication of the distal bearing.
US08579854B2
An integrated insulin delivery system having safety features for controlling medication delivery includes automatic resumption of basal rate after a particular event, such as termination of a bolus, expiration of a time period, delayed resumption after the bolus has terminated, IOB comparison, and others. Other safety features include overriding a delivery control that may result in hypoglycemia, terminating an extended bolus or temporary basal rate in view of a glucose signal indicating imminent carbohydrate deficiency, and controlling the delivery rate to take an asymmetrical bias range of a glucose sensor into account to avoid hypoglycemia.
US08579852B2
Methods and devices to process harvested skin tissue and to immediately reintroduce the ground tissue into the patient to repair a tissue defect are disclosed. A hand-held portable tissue grinder comprising a housing and a grinding element are disclosed. The tissue grinder is used for grinding skin and subcutaneous tissue and includes a sterile polymer housing having a first opening adapted to receive the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The tissue grinder also includes a sterile grinding element disposed substantially within the housing. The grinding element includes a plurality of cutting surfaces adapted to operably engage with the housing to provide ground tissue and further includes a handle mechanism coupled to the grinding element to move the grinding element with respect to the housing to grind the skin and subcutaneous tissue, wherein the ground tissue can be removed from the housing.
US08579851B2
The present invention provides a surgical system 10 for aspiration of a biological material comprising a source of irrigation fluid 20, a collection cassette 30, a pump 40 for creating a vacuum in the collection cassette 30, a handpiece 50 applied to a surgical area for infusing irrigation fluid and for aspirating a biological material, conduits 60 and 62 connecting the handpiece to each of the source of irrigation fluid and the collection cassette and means 70 for isolating the pump from the handpiece to prevent creation of vacuum within the conduit 62 and the collection cassette 30 after receiving a stop signal.
US08579847B2
Devices and methods useful for non-invasively indicating the position or setting of a mechanical device, such as a sensor or control in an implanted medical device, are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, a valve housing adapted to receive fluid flow therethrough is provided. The flow of fluid through the valve housing can be controlled, for example, by a valve assembly that has a plurality of predetermined pressure settings. A radio frequency tag can be disposed in the valve assembly, and the masking element and the radio frequency tag can be configured to move relative to one another. The relative positions of the masking element and the radio frequency tag can alter the response of the radio frequency tag to a wireless signal (which can be emitted from an external reading device, for example) and thereby indicate the pressure setting of the valve assembly. For example, in some embodiments, the masking element can selectively cover at least part of the radio frequency tag according to the pressure setting of the valve assembly, which can change a characteristic of the radio frequency tag's response to the wireless signal.
US08579842B2
A method and system are provided for that allow for varying stiffness of a system by applying a low magnetic field to magnetorheological (MR) fluid in the system. The method and system include exposed patterns on facing surfaces of sliding structures. The facing patterns contain MR fluid. When a low to moderate magnetic field is applied to the MR fluid, the patterns are magnetically attracted to MR domains confined to the opposing surface, thus requiring additional force to slide the structures past each other.
US08579841B2
An adjustable pressure cuff device is provided for the arm or leg of a user for stimulating blood flow and preventing blood clots. The pressure cuff contains a number of bladders which wrap in the direction of the cuff and which are arranged in succession down the arm or leg of a user. An air compressor is connected to the bladders via a multiplicity of tubes, each of which contain a valve. A control module runs the air compressor and sequentially opens the valves to provide air pressure to the bladders in succession along the arm or leg of a user. Further, between the bladders and the valves, additional tubes containing valves are provided to equalize pressure between bladders before exhausting the air from a previously pressurized bladder to save power and allow for increased patterns of bladder pressure. The pressure levels and bladder dwell times may be adjusted by the user or based on predetermined settings. Optionally, the device provides electrical stimulation, pulsations, heating, and cooling.
US08579840B1
A massager has a base and a shaft mounted horizontally on the base. The shaft is rotated by a motor at a slow speed. The shaft has a plurality of spaced apart cams affixed to it. Elongate spring fingers are each affixed at one end to the base. Each finger has an intermediate portion that springably engages one of cams. A free end of the finger moves up and down as the cam rotates. The free end is provided with a projection that is suited to engage a body part. The projection is periodically pressed against the body as the cam rotates. The cams are mounted on the shaft so that they raise and lower the projections as different times. This action causes the projections to each press against the body at different times to emulate massaging fingers.
US08579837B1
Devices, systems, and methods for promoting female sexual wellness and function. The devices, systems, and methods encourage clitoral engorgement using suction over the clitoris combined with vibratory stimulation.
US08579835B2
An apparatus and a method for treating adipose tissue located beneath a patient's skin is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a sonotrode and an ultrasound transducer operative to induce longitudinal and/or transversal ultrasound vibrations in a least a portion of the sonotrode. In some embodiments, the apparatus provides a “cold” or “transverse” mode where ultrasound energy delivered to the patient is primarily energy of transverse ultrasound waves, and a “hot” or “longitudinal” mode where ultrasound energy delivered to the patient is primarily energy of longitudinal ultrasound waves. The longitudinal waves may be useful for ‘pre-heating’ tissue of the patient before delivering the transverse waves.
US08579822B2
When transesophageal echocardiography is used to obtain a transgastric short axis view of the left ventricle of the heart, the best place to position the transducer is in the fundus of the stomach, aimed up through the left ventricle. The probes disclosed herein facilitate placement of the transducer in the optimum position within the fundus, despite wide variations in the distance between the lower esophageal sphincter and the fundus among different subjects. In one preferred embodiment, the ultrasound probe uses a bending section with a series of vertebrae and stiffening that is more flexible proximally and less flexible distally, which causes the probe to bend relatively sharply at the point where the probe exits the lower esophageal sphincter.
US08579812B2
A system for delivering health information is provided. The system comprises at least one apparatus configured to receive information related to a condition of a patient. The analysis system further comprises a reception system configured to receive data related to the patient's condition and a processor configured to assess a condition of a patient and to identify a data set including information related to the patient's condition. The system also comprises a communication system configured to communicate the data set to a user.
US08579808B2
A tensioning device of a surgical retractor has a tensioning section for applying a tensile force to a tool that is to be arranged thereon, and a holding bar fixed in position relative to the tensioning section, and also a locking device. The locking device is provided between the holding bar and the tensioning section and has a releasable locking function counter to the direction of the tensile force. The tensioning device can be operated comfortably, with minimal force being applied, is optimally accessible and takes up only a small overall volume. This is made possible by the fact that the locking device is configured as a linear ratchet or linear feed mechanism and that the feed mechanism has an actuating lever and an unlocking device.
US08579804B2
An adjustable sheath assembly sized to accept a medical instrument and adapted for insertion into a body of a patient for maintaining a passageway therein. The device includes a first hollow member having a first length, and a second hollow member having a second length, the first and second members being coaxially joined together through a length adjustment element. At least one of the first and second hollow members is sized to accept a medical instrument. The length adjustment element allows for the length of the sheath assembly to be fitted to bodies of various sizes by adjusting the length prior to insertion into the patients body. A properly adjusted length ensures that at least a portion of the sheath assembly remains outside of the patient's body.
US08579803B2
An endoscope includes an insertion portion including an image pickup section, an illumination section, and a light guide inserted inside the insertion portion, the light guide including a plurality of fibers made of a glass not containing lead, the plurality of fibers guiding illuminating light from a light source apparatus to the illumination section, the light guide having a numerical aperture of 0.46 to 0.90. A core glass of a fiber have a refractive index nd of 1.56 to 1.74, and a composition of (A) 20 to 55 wt % SiO2, (B1) 0 to 4.0 wt % B2O3, (B2) neither P2O5 nor GeO2 contained, (C) 25 to 72 wt % (BaO+SrO+La2O3+Lu2O3+Ta2O5+Gd2O3+WO3), (D) 0 to 30 wt % ZnO, (E) no Al2O3 contained, (F) no ZrO2 contained, (G) neither PbO nor As2O3 contained, (H) 0 to 15 wt % (Na2O+K2O), (I) 0 to 0.050 wt % Sb2O3 and (J) 0.26 to 1.63 wt % (Na2SO4+K2SO4).
US08579801B2
An endoscope deflection section frame including a plurality of rings and rivets. Each ring has front ears and rear ears with rivet holes through the ears. The rivets are located in the rivet holes to thereby pivotably connect the rings to one another. Each rivet includes a head at an interior side of an inner one of the ears and an opposite end at an exterior side of an outer one of the ears. The opposite end is welded to the outer ear.
US08579789B1
This embodiment suggests new approach for Endovascular Ventricular Assist Device, using the mathematical objective & principle of superposition allow design and calculation of the body response to VAD pump located in the Aorta. This new approach allows minimal invasive Endovascular VAD that result in similar relief to the heart as partial VAD. Using special power transfer technique will allow wireless power transformation into the aorta. This methods and technique should dramatic reduce VAD barrier.
US08579781B2
The flexible packaging (10) comprises a body (22) which has, at the outer side, at least one main face (26) which is formed at least partially by a flexible sheet (12). It comprises a reclosing strip (43) which is separate from the flexible sheet (12) and an adhesive (44) which can be reactivated by means of pressure and which is interposed between the outer surface of the flexible sheet (12) and the reclosing strip (43), the adhesive strength of the adhesive (44) to the surface of the reclosing strip (43) being greater than the adhesive strength of the adhesive (44) to the outer surface of the packaging sheet (12), the reclosing strip (43) and the packaging sheet (12) having identical structural features.
US08579768B2
A training ladder formed of a plurality of substantially rigid polygon-shaped segments detachably secured together with segment connectors extending therebetween. The sides of each segment are substantially the same to allow the segment connector to join any sides between two adjacent segments. Accordingly, the path through the ladder can be varied. In one disclosed embodiment, the segments are octagon shaped and pivotally secured to the segment connectors, thereby allowing the ladder to collapse into a stack when not in use and allowing some of the segments to extend substantially vertically, thereby defining a hurdle or other possible vertical structure.
US08579760B2
An engine start-up control device for a vehicle is provided with a structure which prevents the occurrence of an uncomfortable shock arising from amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance, when an output of a first motor generator starting up an engine by driving the same is limited. With a second motor generator having reactive torque restricting the rotation of a transfer member, the first motor generator rotatably drives a sun gear to crank the engine for start-up thereof. When this takes place, if the output of the first motor generator is limited, torque reference reactive-force control is executed to control reactive torque of the second motor generator in accordance with a predetermined torque whereby when the engine load torque exceeds a predetermined value, a rotation speed variation of the transfer member is permitted against reactive torque such that the rotation speed variation of the transfer member allows engine load torque to escape for thereby precluding engine load torque fluctuation to be amplified due to resonance.
US08579758B2
In a method for operating a hybrid drive device for a motor vehicle having at least one internal combustion engine, another drive unit and a separating clutch, to start the internal combustion engine the separating clutch is engaged, and during the start of the internal combustion engine, a setpoint rotational speed is predefined for the other drive unit. This setpoint rotational speed for the other drive unit is determined with the aid of a drivetrain model.
US08579756B2
Disclosed is a reclining mechanism comprising: a first plate fixed to a seat back; a second plate fixed to a seat cushion; a plurality of planetary gears in meshing engagement with internal gears of the first and second plates; a sun gear in meshing engagement with the planetary gears; and a holding member rotatably holding the planetary gears. An inner peripheral wall of the holding member and an opposing wall section of the sun gear define therebetween a wedge-shaped space in which a restriction member is displaceably disposed. The opposing wall section of the sun gear is formed such that a width of the wedge-shaped space is gradually narrowed toward a counter direction opposite to a specific direction along which the first plate is urged to be rotated according to a force applied to the seat back in a rearward tilting direction.
US08579748B2
An in-vehicle power transmission apparatus is equipped with a motor-generator working as an engine to drive a vehicle and a power split device made up of a plurality of power split rotors. A first one of the rotors is coupled to a driven wheel of the vehicle, while a second one of the rotors is coupled to an accessory such as an air compressor of an air conditioner. The speed of the second rotor is controllable independently of that of the driven wheel. This eases restrictions on the supply of power produced by the generator-motor to the accessory. Alternatively, the rotors are so linked that when the speed of the first rotor is not zero (0), the speed of the second rotor has one of zero (0) and a value other than zero (0), thus ensuring the stability in supplying the power to drive the vehicle to the accessory.
US08579745B2
A control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission of a vehicle such as a motorcycle includes a first storage section for storing in advance reference correlation between a position of a movable flange and a detection value of a flange position detection sensor. A first processing section moves the movable flange to a position where its movement is restricted by a restriction section. A detection value of the flange position detection sensor is stored in a second storage section. A second processing section derives correlation between the position of the movable flange and the detection value of the flange position detection sensor based on the detection value of the flange position detection sensor stored in the second storage section and the reference correlation between the position of the movable flange and the detection value of the flange position detection sensor stored in the first storage section. A detection value of the flange position detection sensor is thereby calibrated.
US08579742B2
A football having first and second ends and including a bladder, a cover and a lacing. The cover is disposed over the bladder and defines channels. The cover has an outer surface and includes a plurality of ridges. The height of the ridge is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 10 mm. The football includes an upper central region positioned between first and second upper end regions, and a lower central region positioned between first and second lower end regions. The lacing is coupled to the upper central region. The ridges extend over the upper central region, the first and second upper end regions, and the first and second lower end. The lower central region is formed without ridges. The lacing has a first length and the lower central region has a second length that is generally equal to the first length.
US08579740B2
A ball amusement device including an outer shell of transparent or semi-transparent plastic or elastomer or plastomer having good bounce characteristics, and at least one liquid within the shell. The outer shell may be configured to reduce the transparency to light through the ball.
US08579739B2
Provided is an arrow shaft having a front and rear two stage spine structure and including a front end to which an arrowhead is coupled and a rear end to which a nock is coupled, wherein the arrow shaft has a hollow tubular shape and is divided and defined into a front part and a rear part in a longitudinal direction thereof such that spine strengths of the arrow shaft are different between the front part including a center of gravity of the arrow shaft and the rear part to which the nock is coupled; wherein the front and rear parts of the arrow shaft are formed by an arrow shaft shaping sheet constituted of three layers; wherein an uppermost layer of the arrow shaft shaping sheet includes a front sheet and a rear sheet respectively formed of a carbon fabric sheet each having different elastic strengths.
US08579735B2
Disclosed is a method and a device for practicing a tennis serve, learning how to perform a tennis serve, and for teaching a student how to perform a tennis serve. The method includes placing an indicator band on the server's thumb joint, placing a positioning indicator on the throat of the server's racquet, standing at the baseline in a serving position, bringing the racquet to the tossing hand and physically touching the positioning band on the thumb with the indicator band on the racquet, dropping both hands together, one hand holding the ball and one hand holding the racquet, then extending the throwing hand skyward and releasing the ball with the palm of the hand up, and bringing the racquet around and striking the ball at the apogee of its arc.
US08579734B2
The present application is directed to a throwing target. The throwing target comprises a baseball strike zone, one or more target zones located in the strike zone and one or more target zones located around the strike zone. The throwing target also comprises one or more non-target zones located in the strike zone. The total surface area of the target zones located around the strike zone is greater than the total surface area of the target zones located within the strike zone.
US08579727B1
A fairway wood type golf club head and method for forming is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a cast body, a compression molded crown, and weight pads. The weight pads can be manipulated to create different mass property configurations for the golf club head using the same body and crown.
US08579721B1
A unique quiet reliable golf club having a Clean Burning Vortex Generator capable of varying the degree of kinetic energy applied to driving a golf ball in a linear fashion, without swinging the club. The striker piston and cylinder are disposed within the golf club head casting that contains a silencing chamber to lower the db output level. The striker piston is propelled outward by a firing mechanism releasing kinetic energy to fire a cartridge. The cartridge injects burning gas pressure into a vortex generator, located at the breech end of the cylinder. The vortex generator eliminates unburned gas and disperses the gas according to a desired distance setting of a ball travel distance scale. The one piece striker piston is sealed with a piston ring and is movable on a hard-coat cylinder-bearing surface that eliminates lubrication for the purpose of driving a golf ball in a new sport played by non-golfers.
US08579719B2
A golf swing training aid in the form of a modified golf tee including an indicator for indicating the target line from the tee to the target and a second indicator for indicating the preferred swing path of a golf club for moving the ball toward the target line and in the direction of the target.
US08579711B2
The present invention provides various modules for use with gaming machines. One such module is configured to receive data from a portable memory device and/or from a network device, e.g., from a game server. In some embodiments, the module includes, or is disposed within, a player tracking unit. Some embodiments of the module include a central processing unit (“CPU”) and a memory device such as a dual-ported random access memory (“DPRAM”). Data, such as software or content, may be downloaded to the module's CPU and written to the module's memory. According to some embodiments, data are written to a DPRAM in the module and simultaneously written from the DPRAM to the gaming machine via a high-speed digital bus. In some implementations, a memory in the module is configured to emulate a memory of the gaming machine. This allows a CPU of the gaming machine to execute software stored in the memory in the module. In alternative implementations, a CPU in the module can execute software stored in the memory in the module.
US08579707B2
An exemplary embodiment of an angling joystick includes a body, an orientation indicating unit, an imitation fishing reel and a transceiver unit. The orientation indicating unit is attached to the body and is configured for indicating an orientation of the body. The imitation fishing reel is attached to the body and includes a lever and a force-adjusting device. The lever is rotatably connected to the force-adjusting device. The transceiver unit is electrically connected to the force-adjusting device and is configured for receiving control signals. The force-adjusting device is configured for adjusting a rotating resistance to the lever according to the control signals.
US08579699B2
An embodiment of a gaming device includes a game having at least three choices, wherein each of the choices either trumps or is trumped by one of the other choices, and a processor programmed to determine if an outcome enhancing condition is satisfied, enable a player to elect to enhance an outcome if an outcome enhancing condition is satisfied, enable the player to select one of said choices, select one of said choices, determine an outcome based on a comparison of the player's choice with the processor's choice, provide a win outcome if the player elected to enhance an outcome and the comparison of the player's choice with the processor's choice results in a draw determination, provide a draw outcome if the player elected to enhance an outcome and the comparison of the player's choice with the processor's choice results in a lose determination.
US08579694B2
A method for lottery wagering on real-world events. One method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes selecting a set of variables, each variable representing a time-varying value capable of having a fixed value at a specified time. For each variable, the method includes selecting a range of values for the fixed value of the variable at the specified time, dividing the range of values into a set of n increments, randomly assigning a lottery number from a set of lottery numbers, 1 to n, to each increment, selecting a winning lottery number from the set of lottery numbers based on correlating the fixed value of the variable at the specified time with the increment associated with the winning lottery number; and determining a set of winning lottery numbers from the winning lottery numbers selected for each variable.
US08579692B2
Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment, the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.
US08579686B2
The system and method for operating an online gaming event prediction game involves obtaining answers from a plurality of players at a plurality of game playing consoles to a plurality of predictive questions relating to possible outcomes of a plurality of elements of one or more scheduled competitive events, assigning point values to the answers, determining cumulative point scores for each of the plurality of players, and awarding prizes to the plurality of players, via an online game server and a communication network.
US08579673B1
A race track including a first racing lane, a second racing lane, a first starting mechanism, a second starting mechanism and a linking mechanism. The first starting mechanism is operably mounted to the first racing lane. The second starting mechanism is operably mounted to the second racing lane. The linking mechanism is capable of selectively attaching to the first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism. The first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism are independently operable unless the linking mechanism is attached to the first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism which causes the first starting mechanism and the second starting mechanism to move in unison.
US08579670B2
An energy saving gas discharge lamp, and method of making same, is provided. The gas discharge lamp includes a light-transmissive envelope, and an electrode within the light-transmissive envelope to provide a discharge. A light scattering reflective layer is disposed on an inner surface of the light-transmissive envelope. A phosphor layer is coated on the light scattering reflective layer. A discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture is retained inside the light-transmissive envelope. The discharge-sustaining gaseous mixture includes more than 80% xenon, by volume, at a low pressure.
US08579666B2
The invention relates to a spring element, to a plug-in connection and to a contact element with an electrically conductive spring element which is in contact with the contact element and which is provided to establish an electrical contact to a mating contact element. The spring element has the form of an open band which is at least partially rolled up along a longitudinal axis.
US08579658B2
Coaxial cable connectors including washers are described herein. A coaxial cable connector configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a conductive insert, a coupling nut, and a washer. The coupling nut can include a first end portion, a second end portion, and an inner surface defining a bore for receiving a corresponding coaxial cable connector. The conductive insert can include an annular flange at least partially surrounded by the bore. The washer can be positioned between the second end portion of the coupling nut and the annular flange, and can be configured to press against at least one of the annular flange and the second end portion of the coupling nut to restrict rotation between the coaxial cable connectors.
US08579652B2
A fastening device for an electric cable is provided with an outer casing (15) in which on one side a nut (12) can be screwed, by means of which at least one clamping ring (20) pressing against the outer insulation of the cable (11) can be arranged adjustably. The clamping ring (20) is provided with a number of segments (22) connected to one another and respectively moveable approximately radially, which each have on their inner surface at least one projection (24). The respective projection (24) is formed such that the latter is pressed in when the nut (12) is screwed into the outer insulation of the cable (11). A consistently long service life and also inexpensive production of this type of fastening device is thus made possible.
US08579648B2
A component for an electronic apparatus has an insulating member that has a plurality of through holes in parallel in which the lead wires are inserted and a shield cover in which an insulating member insertion hole where the insulating member is inserted is formed that cut offs an electrical noise. The insulating member is formed in an integrated shape where parts of adjoining cylindrical parts in which the through holes are formed overlapping mutually when seen along an axial direction of the through hole. The insulating member insertion hole becomes a single hole formed identical to an outer shape of the insulating member when seen along the axial direction of the through hole.
US08579640B2
An electrical connection device comprises an electrical connector and a carriage. The electrical connector comprises a housing, a cage, and a plurality of terminals. The housing has a body, the terminals are provided in the body. The cage encloses the housing, and defines, together with the housing, an insertion slot, and an opening of the insertion slot corresponds to a front end of the body. The carriage can be slidably positioned in the insertion slot. The housing comprises at least a clamping slot provided close to the front end in the body, the carriage has a clamping block mating with the clamping slot, the carriage is releasably held to the electrical connector by clampingly connecting the clamping slot to the clamping block.
US08579639B2
An input/output (I/O) device for an automation control system includes a base portion configured to communicatively connect the I/O device with at least one other I/O device, an I/O module physically and communicatively connected to the base portion and comprising I/O communication circuitry, a terminal block physically and communicatively connected to the base portion, and an ejection device configured to eject the I/O module or the terminal block from the base portion by pushing the I/O module or the terminal block out of engagement with the base portion when activated.
US08579636B2
A receptacle assembly for a midplane connector system has a receptacle housing having openings receiving signal contacts and ground shields of a header assembly. The receptacle assembly includes contact modules coupled to the receptacle housing that each have a leadframe, a dielectric frame and a ground shield. The leadframe has signal contacts arranged in pairs carrying differential signals that are generally arranged along a leadframe plane with mating portions at ends thereof that have at least two points of contact electrically connected to a corresponding signal contact of the header assembly. The dielectric frame holds the signal contacts. The ground shield is coupled to a side of the dielectric frame and has ground tabs extending into the dielectric frame to provide electrical shielding between the pairs of signal contacts and grounding beams electrically connected to ground shields of the header assembly.
US08579633B2
A memory stores a plurality of first data structures, which includes element specific data objects indicating a classification of at least one of the plurality of segments of the test definition language, and second data structures, which include attribute specific data objects indicating at least one attribute of the segments of the test definition language implemented by a computer. A method for computer-based testing includes authoring a test specification and content of the at least one test using a test definition language, compiling the test specification and content of the at least one test to create a compiled test specification and content, which includes validating the test specification and content, storing the compiled test specification and content to a resource file, and retrieving the compiled test specification and content from the resource file during delivery of the test.
US08579626B2
Pressurized gas injecting device (14) for a machine (1) for blow molding or stretch blow molding a container from a blank (2) of plastic material. The device has a nozzle (15) movable between an upper position separated from a mold (9) intended to receive the blank (2) and a lower position pressed against the mold (9) while covering a neck (3) of the blank (2); an insert (36) mounted movably with respect to the nozzle (15), the insert (36) having a lower end face (45) capable of being pressed against a lip (4) of the blank (2); and a return device (44) applying force on the insert (36) toward a lower position in which the insert (36) is at the end-of-travel stop with respect to the nozzle (15), and in which the lower end face (45) of the insert (36) extends beyond the nozzle (15).
US08579621B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a high-quality porous film. Here, while the porous film is being manufactured through forming micropores by stretching, a raw film is prevented from slipping on the surfaces of the respective rolls as much as possible even though the raw film includes oil or liquid paraffin as a solvent. The method is for manufacturing a porous film through forming micropores by successive biaxial stretching. A tensile force applied to the raw film F transferring from the longitudinal stretching machine (10) to the transverse stretching machine (50) is set not less than a stretching force necessary for the longitudinal stretching, and thus the raw film is prevented from slipping on a contact surface between the raw film and each roll of the longitudinal stretching machine (10).
US08579609B2
A fan includes an impeller and an inner rotor motor. The inner rotor motor connects to the impeller and drives it to rotate. The inner rotor motor includes a bushing, a shaft, a magnetic conducting shell, a magnetic element and a stator. The shaft passes through the bushing and is coupled to the impeller. The magnetic conducting shell is coupled to the shaft and telescoped to the bushing. The magnetic element is disposed around outside of the magnetic conducting shell. The stator is disposed around outside of the magnetic element.
US08579607B2
Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.
US08579600B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for a backup sump pump kit. The kit is for use with a battery and an alternating current power source. The kit can be adapted to be a portable power source for an external electric device. The kit can include a portable case, a battery-operated back-up sump pump removably stored in the portable case, and a control charger integrated into the portable case. The control charger can include a battery chargers cables, a power input socket to charge the battery, and a power output socket to provide power from the battery to the external electric device. The portable case can include a handle and wheels.
US08579599B2
A system for changing a pump displacement configuration includes a blender that provides low-pressure fluid to a pump. The pump has a power end and fluid end, where the fluid end includes a number of plungers. The system includes an actuator that couples the power end with a selectable subset of the plungers. The system further includes a controller that selects a subset of the plungers according to a job pumping rate, a job pumping pressure, and/or a fluid end failure event indicator. The controller further commands the actuator to couple the selected subset of the plungers to the power end.
US08579595B2
A cooling device of a construction machine according to the present invention includes: two or more hydraulic motors that rotate positively and reversibly to correspond to a supplying direction of pressure oil and drives rotatably cooling fans connected thereto, respectively; a switching valve switching rotation directions of the two or more hydraulic motors by switching the supplying direction of the pressure oil supplied to the two or more hydraulic motors from the hydraulic motor; and flow rate makeup valves controlling an additional flow supplied upstream of the two or more hydraulic motors when a pressure drop is generated upstream of the two or more hydraulic motors on the basis of the supplying direction of the pressure oil.
US08579582B1
A drying fan has a shroud with a shape selected to improve fan efficiency by designated fluid dynamics of air flow through the fan.
US08579579B2
An exemplary assembly includes a component of a turbocharger that includes a bore that extends between an inner, exhaust gas side of the component and an outer, ambient side of the component; a shaft that includes a pin portion and a head portion; a sleeve positioned on the pin portion of the shaft; and a bushing positioned over at least part of the sleeve and over at least part of the head portion of the shaft where the bushing seats the shaft and the sleeve in the bore. During operation of a turbocharger that includes such an assembly, the shaft, the sleeve and the bushing restrict flow of exhaust gas from the inner, exhaust gas side of the component to the outer, ambient side of the component. Various other exemplary devices, assemblies, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08579573B2
A vehicle propulsion system having a manifold in fluid communication with a cross flow fan which adjusts to control an amount lift generated by a plurality of airfoils providing lift from air from the cross flow fan.
US08579551B2
A mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) system includes a vertically oriented wall offset from an earthen feature, backfill disposed between the wall and the earthen feature, and a plurality of anchor elements attached at one end to the wall and extending from the wall toward the earthen feature. The plurality of anchor elements are embedded within the backfill and include an elongated strap having an attachment end configured for attachment to the MSE wall and opposite surfaces along the length thereof. The anchor element further includes a plurality of punched openings along the length of the strap, each opening including a punched tab projecting outward from one of the opposite surfaces.
US08579534B2
A scrapbooking page alignment device for temporarily aligning at least two adjacent scrapbook pages having retention receivers extending from their respective spine edges, the device comprising (i) a base; and (ii) two or more spaced retention posts extending from said base; where said retention posts are dimensioned to temporarily receive the retention receivers of the two adjacent scrapbook pages.
US08579532B2
A dosing device with a monolithic, resilient roll meters liquid detergent, softener, concentrates, cleaning agents, and other medium-viscosity liquids. The rolling application element is used for applying detergent to very dirty fabric areas. The monolithic roll (3) encompassing a shaft (5) and an outer jacket (6) with plastic recesses is inserted into a mount (1) of a dosing receptacle (2). Radially extending spring lamellae are molded between the shaft (5) and the outer jacket (6).
US08579524B2
An assembly for supporting a photographing apparatus includes a first supporting member on which a photographing apparatus and a rotation shaft are installed, a second supporting member that supports the first supporting member such that the first supporting member is able to rotate around the rotation shaft, a driving unit that rotates the rotation shaft, a pinion installed on the rotation shaft, a rack gear engaging with the pinion, and at least one elastic member that applies elastic force to the rack gear.
US08579523B2
Provided herein are systems for engaging and transporting a camera. The system comprises a mount plate, one or more mount plate connectors, a camera connector, a strap connector, and, optionally, a strap and camera. The mount plate engages the camera at one of the attachment means provided thereon via the camera connector and is configured to slidably receive a strap via one of the mount plate connectors which are threadably engaged with the mount plate and with a strap connector. Also provided is a device for engaging a camera for transport which comprises the mount plate, the mount plate connectors, the camera connector, and, optionally, the strap connector and the strap which are assembled as described.
US08579522B2
The present invention relates to a camera screw and to a system consisting of a camera screw and a carrying strap. Carrying straps with appropriate fastenings on the sides of the camera are known. They have numerous disadvantages that should be avoided by the present invention. The camera screw in accordance with the invention for connecting a carrying strap to a tripod thread of a camera includes a first part and a second part. The first part includes a tripod screw on a first end and a circumferential collar on the second end. The second part surrounds the first part between the collar and the tripod screw in a rotatable manner relative to the first part about an axis of rotation. A friction reducing means is provided between the second part and the collar. The second part includes a fastening for the carrying strap.
US08579515B2
A bearing ring (10) has a tubular steel core (15) around which is formed an outer body (16) of lightweight material. The outer surface of the core forms a circumferential shoulder (26), a first side of which is subjected to a turning finishing process and provides an undercut surface (23) defining part of an annular groove (22). An axially opposite, second side of the shoulder (26), not subjected to a turning finishing process, has a non-circular portion (29) with radial recesses (28) that act as anti-rotation means cooperating with complementary portions formed by the outer body (16).
US08579514B2
An apparatus and associated method involving an actuator assembly having an actuator body defining a bore and a bearing assembly in the bore. The bearing assembly has a shaft, and further has a bearing having an inner race that is affixed to the shaft and an outer race that is rotatable relative to the inner race. The bearing also has a sleeve defining an annular rigid portion circumscribing the outer race and affixed thereto. The sleeve further defines an annular predictably deformable portion depending from the rigid portion that is entirely disposed longitudinally distant from the outer race and sized to deform when press fit into the bore to operably align the shaft in the bore.
US08579509B2
Disclosed is a sliding bearing for an internal combustion engine for supporting a crankshaft including a pair of semi-cylindrical bearings combined with each other into a cylindrical body. Each of inner circumferential surfaces of the respective semi-cylindrical bearings includes first and second curved surfaces following two kinds of arcs with different curvatures. The first curved surface is in a region including a circumferential central portion of the inner circumferential surface. The second curved surfaces are in remaining two regions of the inner circumferential surface. The circumferential oil groove and the axial groove communicate with each other. The circumferential grooves of the second curved surfaces and the axial groove communicate with each other. The groove bottoms of the circumferential grooves of the second curved surfaces are displaced to a side of the bearing inner circumferential surface from a groove bottom of the axial groove.
US08579508B2
A relative sliding rail structure using a pivoting mechanism mainly includes a pivot shaft, a main frame, a sliding-guided member and a pivoting seat. The main frame is connected to the pivot shaft via the pivoting seat. The sliding-guided member includes at least one sliding-guided portion engaged to a sliding seat of the main frame, so that the main frame and the sliding-guided member are relatively moved when the main frame is moved along the sliding-guided member. The main frame includes a hollow portion disposed on the sliding seat, and the pivoting seat is combined with at least one roller, wherein the roller is appropriately passed through the hollow portion to enter the sliding seat of the main frame to abut against the sliding-guided portion of the sliding-guided member, so that the main frame and the sliding-guided member are connected to each other to form a stable mutual sliding combination.
US08579501B2
Anti-shock device for the protection of a timepiece component pivotally mounted between a first and a second end in a chamber. The component is freely mounted in the chamber between pole pieces, which are distinct from the component and located in proximity to the chamber and the device includes a device for attracting the first end held in abutment on only the first pole piece, and a device for attracting the second end towards a second pole piece, the devices for attracting the first end and the second end, which are of magnetic and/or electrostatic nature, can move along an axial direction between stop members.
US08579494B2
A system and method for extrusion of dough is disclosed. The system includes an auger for moving the dough; a metering pump comprising an input; a first motor for actuating the auger to transfer dough to the input of the metering pump; a first encoder for reading a position or speed of the first motor and for transmitting a signal associated with the position or speed of the first motor; and a controller configured to receive the signal from the first encoder to control operation of the first motor. The controller operates the first motor to at least partially counteract a variance in a pressure of dough at the metering pump based signals from the encoder and/or the pressure sensor.
US08579493B2
A liquid crystal display device 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 11, an optical member 16, a plurality of elongated parts 31, a plurality of joint parts 30, a frame 17, a chassis 14, cabinets Ca and Cb, mounting structures and displacement allowance structures. The liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical member 16 are capable of light transmission. The elongated parts 31 extend along edges of the liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical member 16. The joint parts connect the elongated parts. The frame 17 is formed in a frame-like shape and holds the edges of the liquid crystal panel 11 and the optical member 16. The frame 17 is mounted to the chassis 14 and the cabinets Ca and Cb. The mounting structures are included in the joint parts 30 of the frame 17, the chassis 14 and the cabinets Ca and Cb for binding them in mounting conditions. The displacement allowance structures are provided at joint portions between the elongated parts 31 and the elongated parts 30. The displacement allowance structures allow movement of the elongated parts 31 in the extending directions thereof relative to the joint parts 30.
US08579492B2
An optical film for use in transparent displays, such as reflective LCDs. The optical film has three-dimensional, prismatic structures that reflect incoming light. The prismatic structures are configured so that the reflecting facets orient the reflected light in desired reflective light pattern. The pattern shape and intensity can be controlled by the shape and dimensions of the various reflecting facets. In one embodiment, the height of the prismatic structure varies along two dimensions of the structure.
US08579488B2
A computer bezel includes a bezel body, a light-guide structure, and a light source. The light-guide structure includes a guiding portion and a lighting portion. The lighting portion defines an outer surface exposed out of the bezel body. The guiding portion includes a first bottom surface and a first end surface. The lighting portion includes an end portion. The end portion defines a first distal surface. The lighting portion defines a second distal surface, a second bottom surface connected between the first distal surface and the second distal surface, a third distal surface, and a connecting surface connected between the third distal surface and the second distal surface. The guiding portion is configured to guide a plurality of light beams emitted from the light source to the lighting portion to enable the light beams to be refracted from the outer surface so as to be visible to a user.
US08579485B2
A vehicular lamp includes a light source disposed on an optical axis extending in a front-back direction of the vehicular lamp; and a reflector that reflects forward light from the light source. The reflector is formed by a translucent member including a plurality of optical elements disposed continuously in a radial direction of the optical axis. Each of the optical elements includes: a surface of incidence through which light from a light emission reference point in the light source is incident into the optical element and which refracts the light into a direction away from the optical axis, a reflective surface which internally reflects forward the light which is incident into the optical element through the surface of incidence, and a surface of emission through which the light internally reflected by the reflective surface is emitted forward from the optical element. The reflective surface of each of the optical elements is formed by a curved surface formed to allow generally an entirety of the light internally reflected by the reflective surface to reach the surface of emission of the optical element as substantially parallel light.
US08579482B2
A debris protector for use with a vehicle lamp assembly installed to an opening in a vehicle body panel or garnish to prevent the migration of accumulated road debris through a gap between the lamp assembly and the body panel opening. Such a debris protector is generally in the form of a cover element that is installable along an upper, hidden portion of a vehicle lamp assembly and an inner surface of a corresponding vehicle body panel or garnish to prevent road debris from accumulating on the lamp assembly near the body panel opening. Such a debris protector may also include a seal that is located between the cover element and the rear surface of a body panel or garnish to assist with the debris blocking function of the cover element.
US08579477B2
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a body, a light source, a light shutter, and a light transmissive net structure. The body has a cavity therein. The light source is disposed in the cavity. The light shutter is disposed over the light source, wherein the light shutter includes a light transmissive pattern therein. The light transmissive net structure is disposed over the cavity and covers the light shutter. In use, light emitted from the light source would pass through the light transmissive pattern to the light transmissive net structure, thereby displaying an image corresponding to the light transmissive pattern onto the light transmissive net structure.
US08579472B2
The present invention provides an illumination lens which suppresses a change of an illuminance distribution following a change of an arrangement position of a light source with respect to the illumination lens. A reflection surface and emission surface of the illumination lens are configured to refract and emit, in the emission surface, second illumination light and third illumination light with refracting power of different signs. By changing an illuminance distribution of third illumination light to cancel the change of an illuminance distribution of the second illumination light when a light source is moved, it is possible to suppress the change of the illuminance distribution small even when the light source is moved back and forth.
US08579468B2
A semiconductor light-emitting element mounting module includes a conductive plate including semiconductor light-emitting fixing portions and first and second electrical-supply segments, wherein the semiconductor light-emitting fixing portions includes first and second conductive sections in contact with one end of first and second contacts, the other end of the first and second contacts is conductive with an anode and a cathode of an light-emitting element, a pair of the first and second electrical-supply segments are electrically conductive with the first and second conductive sections at one end of the conductive plate, and the other pair of the first and second electrical-supply segments are conductive with the first and second conductive sections at other end of the conductive plate; and a resin surface-insulation portion covering the conductive plate with the other end of the first and second contacts exposed, and with the first and second electrical-supply segments exposed.
US08579457B2
An escalator or moving walkway comprises a balustrade base, an illumination profile disposed in the base and a transparent cover through which illumination is provided. An illumination strip is located within the illumination profile, and has a plurality of LED lamps. A reflecting surface is provided on the illumination profile, and is aligned such that at least a portion of the light emitted by the LED lamps impinging upon the surface is reflected in the direction of the cover, facilitating an even level of illumination.
US08579454B2
An edge light-type lighting device with which uneven brightness on a display surface hardly occurs or is less likely to occur even though a positioning structure for positioning a light guide plate is included is provided. A backlight unit 24 according to the present invention includes a light guide plate 20, an LED unit 32, a reflection sheet 26, a backlight chassis 22, and a positioning pin 40. The light guide plate 20 has a light entrance surface 20a on the side, a light exit surface 20b on the front, an opposite surface 20c on the back, and a cutout 38 at edges. The LED unit 32 is arranged opposite the light entrance surface 20a of the light guide plate 20. The reflection sheet 26 is arranged on the opposite surface 20c side. The backlight chassis 22 includes a bottom plate 22a and side plates 22b, 22c. The positioning pin 40 is provided on the backlight chassis 22 and for positioning the light guide plate 20 when fitted in the cutout 38. The positioning pin 40 is fitted in the cutout 38. The reflection sheet 26 includes a portion that is bent in a location where the cutout 38 is located and covers a part of the positioning pin 40 exposed on an opposite side to the side plate 22b or 22c.
US08579447B2
When placing a photographic subject close to a large light source equipped with a light control grid, the problem of occluded light channels is solved by variably converging the channels, such that the soft light is directed at a focal point that can be as close as one-half the diagonal dimension of the light source. The light channels are formed by generally planar intersection of strips, the strips preferably made of a flexible fabric material and having slots with corresponding slots on other strips. Optionally, a deployable frame may be provided to help support the grid.
US08579439B2
Detecting position information related to a face, and more particularly to an eyeball in a face, using a detection and ranging system, such as a Radio Detection And Ranging (“RADAR”) system, or a Light Detection And Ranging (“LIDAR”) system. The position information may include a location of the eyeball, translational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration, jerk, etc.), rotational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., rotational displacement, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration, etc.) as the eyeball rotates within its socket.
US08579438B2
An apparatus and a method for diagnosing optic neuropathic diseases including glaucoma, are provided. The apparatus for diagnosing optical neuropathic diseases measures a thickness of a retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) using methods such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry, and includes a scanning unit which scans along an optic nerve margin in the proximity of an optic nerve head, a pattern analyzing unit which analyzes a pattern of the RNFL scanned by the scanning unit, and a disease determining unit which determines a presence of the disease based on the pattern of the RNFL analyzed by the pattern analyzing unit.
US08579430B2
A wide format printer that has an inkjet printhead assembly for printing media fed along a media path that is more than 432 mm (17 inches) wide, and an aerosol collection system for collecting ink aerosol generated by the printhead assembly. The printhead assembly is positioned on a first side of the media path and the aerosol collection system has a first aerosol collection opening positioned on the first side of the media path and a second aerosol collection opening positioned on a second side of the media path.
US08579417B2
A liquid ejecting head includes: a piezoelectric element having a first electrode provided above a flow path forming substrate in which pressure generation chambers are formed, a piezoelectric body layer provided so as to correspond to each pressure generation chamber, and a second electrode provided above the piezoelectric body layer, wherein the first electrode, which is formed in the region facing the region where the piezoelectric body layer is formed, includes a first electrically-conductive layer, and a second electrically-conductive layer, which is made of a material having a smaller Young's modulus than that of the first electrically-conductive layer and is formed closer to the flow path forming substrate than the first electrically-conductive layer; and the first electrode, which is formed in the region facing the region where the piezoelectric body layer is not formed, has a surface constituted of the second electrically-conductive layer.
US08579411B2
A nozzle and an electrostatic field induction ink-jet nozzle are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle includes a concave part, which is formed along an outer circumference of the nozzle and in which the outer circumference is adjacent to a liquid discharging surface. The discharging nozzle can minimize the overflow and damping by a liquid during a process of discharging the liquid and thus maintain the discharging performance constant despite an extended operation of the nozzle.
US08579409B2
An inkjet recording apparatus that enables a cap and a recording head stuck together to be easily separated is provided. The inkjet recording apparatus has a rotatably supported cap holder retaining a cap for covering ejection orifices in a recording head, and an actuator that moves the cap holder to bring the cap into contact with and away from the recording head. A first contact portion configured to seal an ejection orifice row and a second contact portion connected to the outer surface of the first contact portion and configured to be pressed against the ejection orifice surface are provided on a surface of the cap to be brought into contact with the ejection orifice surface. The actuator acts on the cap holder at a position to the second contact portion side of the rotational axis of the cap holder.
US08579397B2
Among other things, for ink jetting, a system includes a printhead including at least 25 jets and an imaging device to capture image information for all of the jets simultaneously, the captured image information being useful in analyzing a performance of each of the jets.
US08579392B2
An ejection device is provided for a moveable part of a piece of furniture. The ejection device includes a lever for transmitting force to the moveable part of the piece of furniture. The lever has a lever member which is mounted so as to be rotatable by a limited degree about an axis of rotation while having a free lever end. The lever member is provided with a curved section that is spaced apart from the axis of rotation and the free lever end.
US08579380B2
A water spray assembly for replaceable location in a receiving bore of a pick box, which pick box is also adapted to receive a replaceable mineral cutter pick, is constructed from two components. One component is a spray body and the other component is a co-axial spray nozzle. The two components are releasably connected together by screw threads, whereby the spray assembly may either be removed from or inserted into, its receiving bore as a whole, or alternatively as individual components.
US08579378B2
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for locking a seat belt with respect to a fixed base frame to prevent movement of a movable seat portion in the event of a crash or crash-like condition on an aircraft.
US08579376B2
A device for adjusting the height of the backrest of an office chair having a backrest unit at the rear side of a seat body. The height adjustment may take place to achieve the optimal resting angle according to the different body shapes, personal requirements and needs of the users. In moving upward to adjust the height, an automatic engagement is achieved in the predetermined position. Moreover, an automatic return to the lowest position is achieved as well in reaching the highest position. It is done without any tools or control buttons and fulfills the requirements on the user-friendly operation and a practical use. In addition, a waistrest is located at the position of the waist of the user for providing an optimal resting comfort by means of the pivoted and telescopic structure.
US08579375B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide adjustable or convertible seats for use in aircraft and other passenger transport vehicles. The seats are designed to use non-parallel slides and a single actuator for certain movements of the seat.
US08579367B2
The present invention is directed to Anti-ballistic Chairs with the preferred embodiment consisting of a conventionally appearing stacking chair with padded seat cushion and back rest, having a tubular framework with arm rests, having the addition of a skirt section below the seat extending to the floor level. The core of the chair will consist of layers of flexible anti-ballistic fabric, also known as soft armor, wrapped in two directions around the tubular members of the back rest, seat and skirt section. Alternatively, the stacking chair will be constructed of pre-manufactured hard anti-ballistic armor components, also known as hard armor. Two additional embodiments will be folding chairs with tubular frameworks, the first having hard armor anti-ballistic surfaces and the second being able to have hard armor or soft armor anti-ballistic surfaces.
US08579352B2
A shading device for a carriage windshield of a rail vehicle has a frame structure which is provided for attaching to the underside of the carriage roof. The frame structure supports a generally plate-shaped sunscreen, and the sun screen can be attached to the frame structure in a movable manner by a guide device. The guide device has a middle guideway and two outer radial guideways.
US08579349B1
A headrest assembly for a motor vehicle has an upright column secured to the vehicle supporting an arm movable between first and second positions with an actuator. An attachment connected to the arm supports a head restraint pad located behind the head of a person seated in a wheelchair in the vehicle operator's position or front vehicle passenger's position.
US08579340B2
The invention relates to an adjustable strike having a striker plate, an end cap removably attached to an end of the striker plate, and the end cap having a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each for attaching the end cap with a door frame. The end cap also has a tab for removably attaching the striker plate with the end cap. The invention also relates to a method of providing the adjustable strike.
US08579333B2
Confidential postcards are described herein. An example postcard mailer includes a substrate having a first panel and a second panel adjacent the first panel, wherein each of the first panel and the second panel includes a first face and a second face. The example mailer also includes a first line of weakness separating the first panel and the second panel and a first fastener pattern included on at least one of the first face of the first panel or the first face of the second panel to releasably adhere a first portion of the first face of the first panel to a first portion the first face of the second panel when the substrate is folded about the first line of weakness. In addition, the example mailer includes a second fastener pattern included on at least one of the first face of the first panel or the first face of the second panel to releasably adhere a second portion of the first face of the first panel to a second portion of the first face of the second panel. The second fastener pattern and at least a portion of the first fastener pattern define an area that is not visible when the first face of the first panel is releasably adhered to the first face of the second panel and a third portion of the first face of the first panel and a third portion of the second face of the second panel are separated from each other.
US08579331B2
A tank holding mechanism holds a gas tank that has a cylindrical portion and hemispherical-shaped domical portions formed on respective sides of the cylindrical portion. The tank holding mechanism includes: a tank accommodating portion that contacts a peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion of the gas tank; tank end-side members provided near respective ends of the gas tank; a tank band that pushes the gas tank against the tank accommodating portion; and band securing portions that secure end portions of the tank band to the respective tank end-side members. The tank band is routed from one of the domical portions through the cylindrical portion to the other domical portion. The tank band extends along a diagonal line of the gas tank over an outer face of the cylindrical portion, conforms to the outer face of the cylindrical portion, and conforms to hemispherical outer faces of both of the domical portions.
US08579323B2
A curtain air bag of a curtain airbag system includes a main chamber stored in a folded condition in a roof side portion that extends rearward from a front pillar, and a front auxiliary chamber formed integrally with the main chamber and stored in a folded condition in the roof side portion together with the main chamber. The main chamber is inflated with gas supplied thereto in the event of a side impact of a vehicle and rollover of the vehicle, to be deployed like a curtain downwardly of the vehicle. The front auxiliary chamber is inflated with gas supplied thereto at least in the event of rollover of the vehicle, to be deployed in front of the main chamber such that an upper portion of the front auxiliary chamber as seen in a side view overlaps the front pillar, and a lower portion thereof overlaps a front side door.
US08579318B2
A geometry-shifting strap for a binding having a baseplate is disclosed. The geometry-shifting strap is shiftable between a closed position wherein the distal end of the geometry-shifting strap is biased or disposed over the baseplate, and an open position wherein the distal end of the strap is not over the baseplate. The strap includes at least one arcuate element that biases the strap to the closed position when the arcuate element is in a concave configuration, and biases the strap to the open position when the arcuate element is in a convex configuration.
US08579316B2
A bicycle frame comprising a first tubular member having a first main portion and a first interface portion (e.g., a rounded taper), and a second tubular member having a second main portion and a second interface portion engaged with the first interface portion to create a joint. The joint includes a peripheral channel defined between the first interface portion and the second interface portion, and a weld is positioned in the peripheral channel. The second interface portion is defined at least partially by a substantially flat face wall. Preferably, the first tubular member includes an open end at the first interface portion, while the flat face wall at the second interface portion is substantially closed. In addition, it is preferred that the face wall lies in a plane that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the head tube (e.g., within ten degrees of the longitudinal axis).
US08579315B2
A modular wheelchair assembly is adapted to be reconfigured between a fixed angle of tilt, a dynamically adjustable tilt-in-space configuration with the tilt axis being near the user's knees and a dynamically adjustable tilt-in-space configuration with the tilt axis being near the user's center of gravity. The reconfiguration is achieved by modifying a limited number of selectively removable components of the support assembly or the pivot assembly of the wheelchair.
US08579305B2
A level pulling type pet carrying cart includes a main body, a rotatable pushing arrangement and a retaining assembly. The main body has a base frame, a side frame and a plurality of wheels provided below the base frame. The rotatable pushing arrangement includes a connecting arm and a stretchable pushing arm which is capable of rotating with respect to the connecting arm. The retaining assembly includes a retaining base and a connecting band, wherein the connecting band has a first end connected to a top surface of the retaining base and a second end connected to a center on top of the side frame so as to pull the retaining base to move upwardly and also controlling a rotation angle of the stretchable pushing arm. Thus, the whole body is maintained to move smoothly along a horizontal level.
US08579300B2
A truck assembly comprises a baseplate including a pivot arm hole, a first kingpin hole and a spring holder. A wheel axle is couplable to a wheel on each end of the wheel axle. A pivot arm is inserted into the pivot arm hole of the baseplate. An axle housing has a first end, a second end and a second kingpin hole. The first end includes the wheel axle and the second kingpin hole, and the second end includes the pivot arm. A swingable kingpin includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion swings relative to the second portion. A spring member is provided substantially parallel to the kingpin and is coupled to the spring holder of the baseplate and the first end of the axle housing.
US08579298B2
In a section passing through a central axis of the annular sealing device 100, if a radius of curvature of a curved face between a first inclined face 110X and a second inclined face 110Y is R0, a radius of curvature of a curved face between a side face on a sealed fluid side (O) and the first inclined face 110X in an annular groove is R1a, R2a, R3a, and R4a for respective annular grooves, and a radius of curvature of a curved face between a side face on an atmosphere side (A) and the first inclined face 110X in an annular groove is R1b, R2b, R3b, and R4b for the respective annular grooves, R1b, R2b, R3b, R4b
US08579290B2
Interchangeable glasses in accordance with one embodiment include a glasses frame; a first pair of lenses that are interchangeable with the glasses frame and have a first set of lenses that are a first color; a second pair of lenses that are interchangeable with the glasses frame and have a second set of lenses that are a second color; and a third pair of lenses that are interchangeable with the glasses frame and have a third set of lenses, where the third set of lenses includes a first lens that is the first color and a second lens that is the second color.
US08579282B2
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image forming unit disposed inside the housing, a discharging portion, a stacking unit and a pressing member. The discharging portion is configured to discharge a sheet medium on which an image is formed by the image forming unit. The stacking unit is configured to stack the sheet medium discharged from the discharging portion. The stacking unit includes a stacking surface portion on which the sheet medium is stacked. The stacking surface portion includes a planar portion formed flat and a protruding portion configured to protrude upwardly from the planar portion. The pressing member is disposed in contact with an upper surface of the sheet medium stacked on the stacking surface portion.
US08579279B2
A conveying direction-switching device is formed by direction-changing drums each having the same hollow cylindrical shape having a length corresponding to a lateral width of paper money bills to be conveyed. The direction-changing drum has first to fourth openings arranged in the outer periphery thereof, in a manner spaced from each other by a rotational angle of 90 degrees, and the rotational angle position thereof is controlled to be a predetermined phase angle. Inside the direction-changing drum, the first opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a first curved passage, the second opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a straight passage, and the third opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a second curved passage.
US08579277B2
A drive transmission apparatus includes a sun gear driven by a drive source, a planetary gear, a supporting member that supports the planetary gear capable of revolving around the sun gear in a rotatably engaged state with the sun gear, a driven gear that is engaged with the planetary gear when the planetary gear revolves and moves to an engagement position by the rotation of the sun gear in a first direction, and a rotational force providing unit that provides a rotational force to the driven gear to rotate the sun gear in a second direction opposite to the first direction via the planetary gear when the planetary gear is engaged with the driven gear. When the sun gear is rotated in the second direction by the drive source, the rotational force providing unit blocks the revolution of the planetary gear by rotating the planetary gear via the driven gear.
US08579275B1
A duplex document feeding device includes a first paper transfer channel, a second paper transfer channel, a paper exit, a power source, a paper pick-up mechanism, a paper ejecting mechanism, and a linking mechanism. The paper ejecting mechanism includes an ejecting drive roller and an ejecting idler roller. After a paper is ejected from the first paper transfer channel and the paper is introduced into the second paper transfer channel by the paper ejecting mechanism, the linking mechanism is driven by the power source, so that the ejecting idler roller is shifted and moved away from the ejecting drive roller. Consequently, the front end of the paper can be smoothly ejected from the paper exit.
US08579255B2
A step ratchet mechanism that allows for the incremental movement of an assembly that may be adapted to incrementally open or close an adjustable orifice. The step ratchet mechanism may be comprised of a modified body lock ring that permits incremental movement along a mandrel in either direction along the mandrel. The step ratchet mechanism may be actuated a designated distance by the application of pressure to the mechanism. The step ratchet mechanism may be ideal for using pressure to drive a downhole multi-position device. The modified body lock ring is adapted to both secure the mechanism at each set position as the mandrel is pumped down as well as allowing the mechanism to ratchet when the mandrel is pumped back.
US08579251B2
The invention relates to a solenoid valve, particularly for controlling the brake pressure of a wheel brake of a slip-controllable hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle. In known solenoid valves, there is a first hydraulically effective connection of an armature chamber of the solenoid valve to an outlet through the guide of a tappet in a valve insert. The first hydraulically effective connection ends in the form of a blind hole and thus does not permit flushing out gas bubbles which possibly have accumulated in the armature chamber. In order to solve this problem, the invention proposes a second hydraulically effective connection which is arranged away from the guide of the tappet, uncoupled from the first hydraulically effective connection. Thus, a closed pressure medium path is effected within a valve cartridge of the solenoid valve, the closed pressure medium path making possible an effective flushing of the armature chamber and thus a flushing out of gas bubbles.
US08579250B1
A valve and method of controlling a valve, the method including providing a valve member having at least first and second positions and a source of power to the valve member that when activated enables the valve to toggle between the at least first and second positions. The valve is maintained in the at least first and second positions when the power source is deactivated without the need for providing additional power to the valve.
US08579243B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for installing a post mount. In one embodiment, a support block for use in securing a post mount includes a body having a first end and a second end and an adjustment mechanism formed integrally with the first end of the body, by which a vertical orientation of a post mount incorporating the support block can be adjusted.
US08579231B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of a stiffening transverse internal rib (46) for an aerodynamic fairing of an engine mounting device, including: the production of a rib preform by superplastic forming having an outline of a broadly quadrilateral shape, and a central opening (52) traversing this preform; the division of the preform into two parallel straight-line segments (56, 60), which are diagonally opposed, causing the separation into two half-parts (46a′, 46a″) of the rib preform; and fishplating of the two rib preform half-parts (46a′, 46a″) by bolting.
US08579229B2
The invention relates to a device for braking/driving an aircraft wheel mounted to rotate on an undercarriage axle, the device comprising: a stack of disks comprising disks that are constrained in rotation with the wheel and that alternate with disks that are constrained in rotation with a torsion tube; a support member mounted to rotate on the axle and constrained in rotation with the torsion tube; braking actuators carried by the support member for selectively pressing the disks together; and a drive member for selectively driving the support member in rotation; the support member carrying a secondary of a transformer having a primary arranged facing the support member while being stationary in rotation, the secondary being electrically connected to the actuators and the primary being adapted to being connected to a non-DC voltage source.
US08579211B2
A nozzle includes a center body that defines an axial centerline and a shroud circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the center body to define an annular passage between the center body and the shroud. A plurality of vanes between the center body and the shroud comprise a radially outward portion separated from the shroud. A method for enhancing flow through a nozzle includes flowing a fuel through a center body and flowing a fluid stream across a vane located between the center body and a shroud surrounding at least a portion of the center body. The method further includes flowing the fluid stream between a radially outward portion of the vane and the shroud, wherein the radially outward portion of the vane is separated from the shroud.
US08579207B2
Multiple intensifier injectors with positive needle control and methods of injection that reduce injector energy consumption. The intensifiers are disposed about the axis of the injectors, leaving the center free for direct needle control down the center of the injector. Also disclosed is a boost system, increasing the needle closing velocity but without adding mass to the needle when finally closing. Direct needle control allows maintaining injection pressure on the fuel between injection events if the control system determines that enough fuel has been pressurized for the next injection, thus saving substantial energy when operating an engine at less than maximum power, by not venting and re-pressurizing on every injection event.
US08579206B2
A thermostatic mixing valve for the mixing of a first and second fluids is disclosed. The thermostatic mixing valve includes a valve body having first and second inlets, and a mixed fluid outlet. The thermostatic mixing valve includes a valve member configured to control the rate of flow of at least the first fluid. The member includes a thermostat in communication with the mixed fluid and a shuttle coupled to the thermostat, configured for movement within a liner, and oriented to adjustably engage the flow of the first fluid through an opening within a wall of the liner, the direction of flow of the first fluid being at least partially transverse with respect to the shuttle. A fluid inlet may include a check valve configured to prevent fluid from flowing out of the valve through the inlet.
US08579204B2
The present invention relates to a method for visualization of non-visible information on a packaging material to provide traceability. The method comprises the steps of: reading the non-visible information from the packaging material by means of a magnetic head reader, processing the non-visible information in a central processing unit together with additional new non-visible information, and printing an optional portion of the amount of combined non-visible information onto the packaging material as a traceability marking. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method and a packaging line with a filling machine making use of the device.
US08579202B2
Disclosed are a smart card-based browsing system, a smart card-based browsing method, and smart card for the same. A browser is installed in the smart card to form a direct connection path with an SCWS installed in the smart card. The number of sockets for HTTP request/response required to be as many as the number of contents for services between the smart card and the user terminal is reduced, so that the services can be smoothly provided through a rapid and effective interface. A web service can be provided to various multimedia appliances compatible with the smart card regardless of the existence of the browser on the user terminal and the type and version of the browser.
US08579195B2
A reconfigurable radio-frequency front-end 20 with an antenna 24 and a resonant circuit within a matching network 22. In order to provide for high tuning range with low cost and low size, a matching network 22 may comprise at least one electrically tunable passive solid-state dielectrical component 6 on a carrier substrate 2.
US08579193B2
A barcoded indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded indicator including a first barcode including a first plurality of barcode bars and at least a first colorable area, at least a second barcode including a second plurality of barcode bars and at least a second colorable area, and at least one interposed line extending between the first barcode and the second barcode, the interposed line being capable of preventing a barcode reader from reading parts of the first barcode and of the second barcode as part of a single barcode.
US08579187B2
A method and a system to identify machine-readable codes using a web crawler are provided. Machine-readable codes include, but are not limited to, Universal Product Codes (UPC), quick response (QR) codes, stock-keeping units (SKUs) and international standard book number (ISBN) codes. A web crawler downloads pages from the World Wide Web. A determination module accesses the downloaded pages and identifies a machine-readable code corresponding to a product description included in the downloaded pages. The machine-readable code is included in a downloaded page of the downloaded pages. The determination module further extracts the product description from the downloaded page. A code database stores a record of the machine-readable code and the product description.
US08579186B2
A system and method of tracking a plurality of items during transfer from a source location to a destination. One embodiment is a method comprising associating information identifying the plurality of items with a radio frequency (RF) tag that identifies a carrier unit. The method further comprises storing said associated information in at least one of the RF tag and a computer memory. The method further comprises communicating with the RF tag to identify the location of the carrier unit. The method further comprises identifying the location of at least one of the plurality of items based at least in part on the location of the carrier unit. Another embodiment is a system configured to perform an embodiment of the method.
US08579185B2
The present invention includes a package for holding comestible products and blanks for forming the same. The packages can have opposing side walls with generally rounded contoured bottom and top ends and bottom and top walls that conform to the round bottom and top end so that the bottom and top walls have a curved surface that follows the curvature of the bottom and top ends.
US08579179B2
A septal stapling apparatus includes an instrument body having proximal and distal end portions. A handle at the distal end portion enables a user to hold and manipulate the instrument body. A pair of spaced apart arms are extending from the handle and include a staple arm and a tensioning arm. The body provides a trigger that moves between resting and firing positions. An actuator link moves between first and second positions, the actuator link being moved by the trigger, wherein the actuator link includes a staple moving member that is attached to the staple arm. The staple arm has a staple bank that includes multiple staples. The trigger, actuator link, staple bank, and staple moving member are configured to move a staple to a stapling position when the trigger is pulled. The staple arm and tensioning arm move together when the trigger is pulled.
US08579172B2
Holders for supporting portable handheld electronic devices, such as but not limited to iPhones®, IPODS®, IPADS™, cellular phones, and the like. Another embodiment has a portable handheld electronic device holder with a built on bottle opener, where the bottle opener in the outer face of a slightly raised box shape on the upper back of the case. The bottle opener can also be attached to a tab that slides in and out of the casing when needed. The bottle opener can include one or a pair of upwardly extending triangular tabs (with blunt tips) that can be used to pry open can tabs on soda and beer cans. A belt clip adapter can snapably fit into the bottle cap opener to allow the holder to attach to belts and pockets. A spring biased version also allows the belt clip adapter to be attachable detachable from the bottle cap opener holders. The belt clip adapter can include a bendable disc(s) to fit into the bottle cap opener, or into a keyhole slot on the back of a case holder.
US08579171B2
A backpack system is provided including an external frame, a pack bag and a sling configured for extending between the frame and pack bag providing a space between the frame and pack bag for accommodating heavy or bulky cargo therebetween. The sling can be extended or retracted in order to selectively adjust the distance between the pack bag and frame. The backpack system may also include a pouch for supporting a lower end of relatively long object therein, which may be carried in the space between the pack bag and frame. In one embodiment, the pack bag is equipped with stiffening members for supporting the pack bag when not mounted directly to the frame.
US08579165B2
A pump type dispenser that is able to suction a maximum amount of product that is held within a container. In order to achieve this result, the pump type dispenser utilizes a suction mouth portion that is positioned along a bottom portion of the container. The pump type dispenser may also utilize a plurality of straw type extensions to reach a plurality of locations along the bottom portion of the container in order to suction a maximum amount of product that is held within the container.
US08579159B2
A foam dispenser includes a foam pump communicating with the contents of a container holding a foamable liquid. The foam pump includes a pump body, a passage extending through the pump body from an inlet to an outlet, an inlet valve including an inlet flow regulator, and an outlet valve including an outlet flow regulator. The inlet receives foamable liquid from the container. The inlet valve and outlet valve are positioned in the passage to define (a) an inlet stage, (b) an outlet stage, and (c) a transition stage. A liquid port extends through the pump body and communicates with the transition stage, and an air port extends through the pump body and communicates with the outlet stage. A liquid bellows surrounds the liquid port and an air bellows surrounds the air port. The liquid bellows contains the foamable liquid and is movable between an expanded volume and a contracted volume, and expels at least a portion of the foamable liquid to the passage through the liquid port when moved from its expanded volume to its contracted volume. The air bellows contains air and is movable between an expanded volume and a contracted volume, and expels at least a portion of the air to the passage through the air port when moved from its expanded volume to its contracted volume.
US08579158B2
A container includes a bottle formed to include an interior region and a collapsible bag in the interior region. The collapsible bag is formed to include a chamber for holding a dispensable product. A dispenser is coupled to the bottle and arranged to communicate with dispensable product held in the collapsible bag. The dispenser is operable by a consumer to discharge the dispensable product from the collapsible bag.
US08579155B2
A vending machine is disclosed. The vending machine has a selector for a plurality of beverage types and a selector for a plurality of ice types. The vending machine has a first store for storing a supply of the plurality of beverage types and a second store for storing a supply of the plurality of ice types. The vending machine also has a dispenser for dispensing into a container a selected beverage type and a selected ice type.
US08579152B2
A push and flip lid for a container is provided. The lid includes a lid body, an opening, a door, and first and second pivot supports. The lid body has a top and a skirt. The skirt depends downwardly from the top and extends around a periphery of the top. The opening is formed through the lid body. The door is arranged over the opening and connected to the lid body. The door has a push section and a flip section connected by a hinge. First and second pivot supports on the lid body are separated by the opening. The opening extends between the first and second pivot supports and engages the door at first and second discrete locations, respectively. As such, the flip section pivots about the hinge in response to downward pressure applied to the push section to uncover the opening.
US08579145B2
There is provided an infant feeding bowl comprising a bowl container defining an inner bowl surface, an outer bowl surface and a bowl rim; and projecting away from said bowl rim, a bowl handle defining an arc form handle rim. The bowl handle includes a lamellar portion that extends from said handle rim to the bowl rim and provided to the lamellar portion, a thumbhole arranged for receipt of the user's thumb in use. The thumbhole is arranged symmetrically about a chord axis extending from the arc form handle rim to the bowl rim.
US08579144B2
During installation and before a floor or foundation slab is put in place, a sewage ejector basin is set below grade and a basin extension of the present invention set in place around the basin. The basin extension of the present invention is rectangular in shape and comprises four basin extension sidewalls in communicable relation to each other at right angles; an opening within a top of the basin extension to allow access to the basin; and an opening within a bottom of the basin extension to accommodate a basin. An inlet pipe is routed underground and into the basin. A discharge pipe and a vent pipe are routed out of the basin and through a basin lid, oriented horizontally in relation to the floor, passed through a basin extension sidewall of the basin extension of the present invention, routed under the floor and toward a wall of a mechanical room. The discharge pipe and the vent pipe may then be routed vertically upward either along, or preferably within, the wall and respectively connected to a sewer line that services the structure and vented to the outside of the structure.
US08579138B2
The cocktail glass cover is a cover for beverage glasses. The cover is designed with raised ridges on its underside that permit the cover to rest securely on glasses of various sizes. An opening is formed in the cover to receive a straw therethrough. The opening can be optionally closed with a removable knob. The knob is color-coded to allow a drinker to distinguish one beverage from another.
US08579135B1
An electrical box including at least four walls extending forward from a back wall to an open front, at least two opposing walls of the four walls each including a rear mounting tab and a front mounting tab, wherein each of the rear mounting tabs are rigidly mounted to the wall and each of the front mounting tabs are pivotably mounted to the electrical box.
US08579107B2
Slow humectation can features the use of humidifying materials inside it that allow the humectation of cigars and also the restoring of dried ones, it also has a shape in it lower side used to stack them, thus making them easier to transport or storage.
US08579105B2
A conveyor system includes a conveying surface for conveying articles as defined by a plurality of rollers and a frame. Each of the rollers has an axle. The frame is made up of at least two frame members that are spaced apart a distance that corresponds with a length of at least one of the plurality of rollers. A plurality of axle retainers is connected with at least one of the frame members. Each of the axle retainers has a base and a plurality of axle retaining openings that are each adapted to receiving an axle at an end of one of the rollers. At least two of the openings are fixedly at different angles to the base. In this manner, the axle retainers are capable of mounting the rollers at more than one angle with respect to the at least one of the frame members as determined by which of the axle-retaining openings receives the axle. Each roller-mounting angle corresponds to a different orientation of the base with respect to the at least one of the frame members.
US08579104B2
A modular plastic conveyor belt that is useful in accommodating hinge rods that tend to lengthen during use and an edge module for constructing such a belt. An edge portion of the edge module has an elongated link end that provides an unimpeded growth path for a hinge rod within the confines of the belt. The edge portion of one edge module is hooked to the edge portion of an adjacent edge module by a pivot that is pivotally received in a mating receptacle on the adjacent module.
US08579094B2
A hydraulic control system for a transmission includes a first source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for providing a first flow of hydraulic fluid, a second source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for providing a second flow of hydraulic fluid, and a torque converter control subsystem for controlling a torque converter and a torque converter clutch. The torque converter control subsystem includes a torque converter control valve and a solenoid. The solenoid is multiplexed to the torque converter control valve and the torque converter clutch. The torque converter control valve is operable to control a flow of hydraulic fluid to the torque converter and to other subsystems within the hydraulic control system.
US08579079B2
The aim of the invention is to improve acoustic insulation panels of the prior art by proposing a rigid, light panel, the acoustical absorption performance of which is improved thanks to the use of a grid the structure of which enables the same to contribute to the noise absorption function. To this end, the present invention relates to an acoustic insulation panel including two facing panels (2, 4), separated by a solid structure (6) that is substantially planar and has two surfaces (7b, 7c) that are substantially planar and parallel, each of which are rigidly connected to a facing panel, said structure (6) including through-holes (6a) that form a mesh, such that the meshed structure contributes to the noise absorption function.
US08579072B2
Electric power steering system has steering mechanism; input and output shaft side rotation angle sensors detecting rotation angles of input and output shafts; operation circuit calculating command current for an electric motor; rotation direction judging circuit judging whether rotation directions of the input and output shafts are identical; advanced-phase judging circuit judging which phase of input and output shaft side rotation angle signals (S1, S2) is advanced; normal/reverse input judging circuit judging that (i) when both rotation directions are identical and S1 is advanced, input is normal input and (ii) when both rotation directions are identical and S2 is advanced, input is reverse input; and command current correcting circuit. The command current correcting circuit corrects the command current so that when the normal input is judged, torque in the same direction as input shaft rotation direction generated by the electric motor is greater than a case of reverse input judgment.
US08579071B2
A power steering system having a housing having first and second housing sections, a steering shaft rotatably housed in the housing, a sensor coil, a coil bobbin having a coil holding part and a flange part and housed in the first housing section, a first held section provided at the flange part, a sensor board housed in the housing, a second held section provided at the sensor board, first and second riveting portions provided at the first housing section, and an electric motor. The first riveting portion fixes the coil bobbin to the first housing section by melting and deforming the first riveting portion with the first held section touching the first riveting portion. The second riveting portion fixes the sensor board to the first housing section by melting and deforming the second riveting portion with the second held section touching the second riveting portion.
US08579047B2
Apparatus and methods operate to seal off a column of effluents standing in a borehole annulus from a drill bit assembly during earth drilling operations. A seal assembly, sections of drill pipe, and tubular casing members are assembled into a fluid pressure-restraining drilling tool. The drilling tool is inserted into a drill string above the drill bit. The seal assembly tracks with the drill string, traveling along the borehole wall to maintain an annular seal at a substantially constant position above the drill bit as drilling operations progress. Pressures produced by the column of effluents are exerted at the upper portion of the seal as the effluent column is prevented from reaching the drill bit.
US08579044B2
In certain embodiments, a steerable drilling tool is provided including a rotatable shaft extending through a housing where the shaft and the housing are separated by at least one bearing or two sets of bearings, the shaft having a first portion terminating at a first end of the shaft and a second portion terminating at a second end of the shaft. The steerable drilling tool may further include a drill bit structure operatively coupled to the first portion and a steering subsystem comprising a pair of bearings operatively coupled to the first portion. The steering subsystem may be configured to angulate the shaft by exerting force substantially through the pair of bearings. In certain embodiments, the first portion is between the first end and about one-third of the length of the shaft from the first end towards the second end.
US08579041B2
A safety apparatus for a portable tool having an internal combustion engine has at least one accelerometer providing a measurement of an acceleration of the portable tool in at least one plane or axis. An electronic controller is connected to an output of the accelerometer so as to receive analog or digital information. A generator is driven by the internal combustion engine so as to supply power to the accelerometer. A management card processes the analog or digital information so as to activate the system acting on an ignition exciter box so as to nearly instantaneously stop the internal combustion engine when the acceleration of the portable tool exceeds a predetermined level.
US08579040B2
Included are embodiments of a power assisted garden tool. Some embodiments include a handle and an interchangeable tool implement including a garden tool end, a connection end, and an impact platform. Similarly, some embodiments include a drive mechanism coupled to the handle, the drive mechanism including a power source, a motor that provides rotational motion to a rotary shaft, and a piston coupled to the rotary shaft, the piston exhibiting reciprocating motion from the rotational motion, the piston making contact with the interchangeable tool implement, such that the reciprocating motion of the piston causes motion of the interchangeable tool implement.
US08579033B1
What is provided is a method and apparatus wherein a swivel can be detachably connected to an annular blowout preventer while the drill string is being rotated and/or reciprocated. In one embodiment the sleeve or housing can be rotatably and sealably connected to a mandrel. The swivel can be incorporated into a drill or well string and enabling string sections both above and below the sleeve to be rotated in relation to the sleeve. In one embodiment the drill or well string does not move in a longitudinal direction relative to the swivel. In one embodiment, the drill or well string does move longitudinally relative to the sleeve or housing of the swivel.
US08579023B1
A downhole tool or plug includes a mandrel with an element, a slip ring, and a cone pressable between an upper push sleeve assembly and a lower anvil. The upper push sleeve assembly including a lock ring having one or more interior teeth on an interior of the lock ring. A mandrel sleeve is at least partially received within a recess in the mandrel and affixed with respect to the mandrel, and has one or more exterior teeth on an exterior of the mandrel sleeve.
US08579021B2
A heat exchanger, in particular for fluid cooling devices, has a package of plane-parallel plates (1) with flow regions (3, 5) for a hot medium and for a cooling medium alternatively between pairs of plates (1) lying on top of one another. Each region is laterally bordered by profile strips (7, 11) keeping the plates (1) at a distance and forming solder surfaces (25) adjoining the plates (1). The profile strips (7, 11) on the flow regions (3, 5) extend along edges of the plates (1) and abut one another at an angle. The profile strips (11) of the flow regions (5) of the cooling medium having a base body (13), two legs (17) extending from the base body along the solder surfaces (25), and a recess (15) between the legs open toward the adjacent flow region (5). The recess (15) at least in the region adjacent to its inner end segment (23) is bordered by planar wall parts (29).
US08579010B2
A sunshade hook is provided which has an improved hook shape configuration that overlaps the rod-shaped member of the sunshade to prevent inadvertent pullout. An access passage is modified and dimensional relationships established between the hook and the sunshade to prevent inadvertent removal. The stem is also modified to increase the perimeter engagement with an opening in the bracket and increase the ability to withstand shearing stress imposed by wind forces.
US08579009B2
An architectural mesh hanging system including a hanger assembly for an architectural mesh panel of predetermined size and a mechanism for mounting the hanger assembly on a support surface, the mounting mechanism including a plurality of support brackets connected to the hanger assembly and at least one of the support brackets including a pivotable support bracket.
US08579006B2
A space divider system having a track beam with opposed ends and parallel tracks along its length. The ends are removably mounted to opposed walls, below the ceiling without intermediate support. Light weight substantially frameless, translucent/transparent panels are provided to allow uninterrupted passage of light. The top edge of each panel is slidably mounted to a track of the track beam, sliding between the opposed walls on its own track, independently of the other panels. The planar surfaces of the panels are parallel to the track beam and the bottom edges are spaced a distance from the floor. The widths of the panels when added together are at least equal to the length of the track beam and can be positioned along the beam to permit complete closure of the space between the walls or to overlap each other to provide an opening through the space between the walls.
US08579000B2
An automatic rotation type correction tape structure comprises an outer casing, an inner casing and a tape delivery module. The outer casing has an opening and a circular top abutting surface formed inside the outer casing and proximate to the opening. The inner casing is movably installed in the outer casing and has an engaging structure corresponding to the inner casing, such that the inner casing can be rotated axially with respect to the outer casing. The tape delivery module is installed in the inner casing and has a tape guiding spout at an end of the tape deliver module. When use, the tape guiding spout is pressed to drive the inner casing to rotate axially in the outer casing in order to adjust an operating angle and improve the convenience of the use.
US08578997B2
The invention relates to a tightening strap device for a heat-weldable plastic strip that is used to strap a packaged item and that is joined at a welding point to form a loop. Whereas in prior art the plastic strip is held during welding by several clamping elements, in the present invention the welding plate functions simultaneously as a clamping element.
US08578995B2
The present invention relates to device and methods for fabricating a composite article having a plurality of material dispensers, which can increase productivity. In one embodiment, a device includes a structure defining a work surface datum, and material dispensers movable relative to the structure. Each material dispenser applies strip material to the work surface datum along a predetermined axis. The predetermined axes are generally parallel to one another. The strip material applied to the work surface datum forms a layer of the composite article.
US08578994B2
A tooling head for construction of a tire cord to an annular surface is provided having a first roller and a second roller for alternative engagement against the annular surface in a forward and a rearward direction, respectively, the first and second rollers having a spaced apart orientation and annular grooves defining a passageway between the rollers. A guide tube extends between the roller annular grooves within the passageway. A cord exiting guide tube end is axially offset to remote extremities of the first and second roller annular grooves and a first and second axially extending slits are formed within the guide tube opposite the roller annular grooves, respectively.
US08578990B2
A pneumatic low aspect ratio truck has a crown reinforcing structure 7. The crown reinforcing structure 7 has a first steel belt ply 9 between the at least one carcass ply 3 and the tread 5, a second steel belt ply 11 between the first belt ply 9 and the tread 5, a third steel belt ply 13 between the second steel belt ply 11 and the tread 5 and a fourth steel belt ply 15 between the third steel belt ply 13 and the tread 5. The crown reinforcing structure 7 additionally has at least one circumferential steel strip 17 between the second and the third belt plies 11, 13.
US08578984B2
A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly.
US08578975B2
An oil filter change method and apparatus for use with Harley Davidson motorcycles employs a filter funnel adapted to fit beneath the oil filter prior to removal. A drain hose may be attached to a spout portion of the funnel, the filter is punctured, and oil allowed to drain therefrom. Once drained, the filter is fully removed, and is held in the funnel for removal, with minimal or no oil spillage onto the engine of the motorcycle.
US08578973B2
The apparatus and method of the subject invention facilitates the filling of an air-permeable casement or shell with feather down material. The apparatus of the subject invention includes two chambers which are selectively connected to one another by means of a passageway. The subject invention further includes a mechanism for selectively inducing a partial vacuum in either chamber to facilitate the filling of article casements with feather down. By inducing a partial vacuum in the first chamber and connecting a supply hose to its access port, feather down may be conveyed from a supply container into the first chamber. By selectively opening the passageway and inducing a partial vacuum in the second chamber, the feather down is conveyed from the first chamber to the second chamber in a clean, efficient and controlled manner where it is contained within an air permeable casement formed over the passageway.
US08578971B2
A fluid nozzle for a pipe having a flow meter includes an inner surface having a contour. The contour is substantially defined by a compound of two ellipsoidal bodies of revolution which prevents negative pressure gradients in the fluid along the inner surface as fluid in the pipe flows through the nozzle in the pipe. The nozzle includes a throat, wherein a ratio of a diameter of the throat to a diameter of the pipe upstream of the throat is 0.7 or less.
US08578969B1
A non-return structure of water valve includes a valve body, two limiting elements, and two non-return elements. The valve body forms two inlets and two annular protrusions around the two inlets respectively. Each annular protrusion encloses a receiving room receiving one of the limiting elements. The limiting element defines a widened hole and a reduced hole, and a stepped portion is formed therebetween. The non-return element includes a blocking portion disposed in the widened hole and having an external diameter larger than the one of the reduced hole, and the blocking portion is resilient. Thereby, returning water is unable to separate the circumference of the blocking portion from the stepped portion to form gaps. Thus, the non-return structure of water valve is able to prevent water from flowing back.
US08578965B2
The present invention relates generally to a device and method for supplying a sorbent, at one or more various desired supply points in a flue gas stream, to boilers, heaters, kilns, or other flue gas-, or combustion gas-, generating devices (e.g., those located at power plants, processing plants, etc.). In one embodiment, the device of the present invention that is designed to supply a sorbent comprises a series of coaxial pipes. In another embodiment, the device of the present invention that is designed to supply a sorbent comprises a mixing section with a plurality of distribution vanes contained in at least one mixing section.
US08578960B2
A gas supply system in the form of a winding device that includes a housing with an aperture, a spool, a one way bearing, an interval locking device, a universal shaft, a spring housing, a spring torque spool and a pair of spring grounding tabs, a main base that stabilizes the housing, a rotating shaft where the main base is disposed on the distal end of the rotating shaft, a rotational bearing that is disposed on the proximal end of the rotating shaft and connects the rotating shaft to the base clamp. The base clamp has a pair of corresponding apertures and secures the gas supply system to a tubular shaped object, and includes an adjustable clamp screw that has a handle and a threaded bolt wherein the proximal end of the threaded bolt is attached to and perpendicularly extends from the handle and the adjustable clamp screw.
US08578957B2
A safety breakaway connector begins with a body that receives a cooperating insert providing a coaxial flow path. The body has threads, a collar leading to an extension, and a hollow interior. The insert also has threads, a collar that leads to an inner wall, and a hollow interior. The inner wall fits snugly within the extension of the body. Generally, the insert simply slides into and interconnects with the body for quick installation. Two spaced apart biased check valves remain slightly outwardly from the narrow portions of the body and insert. A guard covers the body. Upon the application of the minimum force, the insert separates from the body, and the check valves abruptly close preventing further leakage of fuel. Alternatively, a strategically located O-ring or gasket seals the various components and withstands pressure variations.
US08578956B2
A supplemental support assembly is provided for supporting a collapsible shelter structure, such as a ground blind for hunting. The support assembly includes a pole having a coupler at one end for coupling with a framework of the shelter structure, and a ground engaging point at the other end. The coupler has a generally cylindrical structure with a plurality of slots formed in a sidewall thereof. Each of the slots have an axial portion open at the top and a circumferential portion extending circumferentially from the axial portion. The axial portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be pushed over a central hub with spokes of the framework passing through the slots, and the circumferential portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be rotated into locking engagement with the spokes. The support assembly prevents the shelter structure from collapsing under heavy loads.
US08578927B2
A method of baking bread in a high temperature bake oven, comprising initiating a heating element in a lower portion of the bake oven, locating the bread on a first pizza stone located above the heating element, directing circulating heated air in the oven with a baffle around the first pizza stone to between the first pizza stone and a second pizza stone located above the first pizza stone, and directing the circulating heated air in the oven rapidly from between the first and second pizza stones out of the oven through an opening in the front of the oven.
US08578910B2
A fuel injection controller includes an ECU controlling an operation of a fuel injector based on a characteristic data of the fuel injector, an EEPROM provided to the injector, and an EEPROM provided to the ECU. Identification information by which the fuel injector is individually identified is stored in both of the EEPROMs. It is determined whether the identification information stored in the injector-side EEPROM is identical to the identification information stored in the ECU-side EEPROM. Based on this determination result, it can be determined whether the injector and/or the ECU are exchanged to new one.
US08578905B2
An engine having a crank case of a variable volume may include a crankshaft that may be disposed in a crank case and may be connected to a piston through a connecting rod, which reciprocate in a cylinder, a balance shaft that may be disposed in the crank case and may be operated by the crankshaft, a chamber that may be extended from the crank case, and a balance weight that may be formed on the balance shaft and selectively opens or closes a fluid communication between the chamber and the crank case according to a position of the piston.
US08578899B2
A camshaft adjuster (1) having a stator (3) and a rotor (5) located in the stator (3), having vanes (7) that are each located in a chamber (9) formed between the stator (3) and the rotor (5), each of the vanes (7) dividing its respective chamber (9) into two partial chambers, and pressurized oil being adapted to be supplied to each of the partial chambers and conducted out from each of the partial chambers via oil channels (21), so that through the pressurized oil a torque can be exerted on the rotor (5) by which the rotor (5) can be rotated, so that a camshaft adjustment can be set thereby. The rotor (5) is constructed from a metallic base frame (15) that has, axially adjacent, a casing (17) made of plastic in which at least one of the oil channels (21) is formed.
US08578898B1
A valve train control device, for use in a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine having a camshaft with a primary cam lobe, is provided herein and generally includes a primary cam follower positioned in an operational path between the primary cam lobe and a corresponding valve with the primary cam follower being constructed to follow the primary cam lobe while an auxiliary motion transfer device, having at least a portion responsive to at least one engine parameter, may be placed in a variable motion operational path including the primary cam follower to shift the primary cam follower relative to the primary cam lobe during at least a portion of the camshaft rotation to alter one or more valve operating parameters relative to a set of valve parameters defined by the primary cam lobe profile interacting with an unshifted primary cam follower.
US08578893B2
A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle and method of operation are described. In one example, the engine may operate in a two stroke cycle to provide increased engine torque when a recharging operation of the on-board energy storage device is requested. Further, a transition from a four stroke cycle to the two stroke cycle may be performed while maintaining the transmission in the previously selected gear ratio in response to a requested increase in charging or a requested increase in wheel torque as requested by the vehicle operator.
US08578892B2
A combustion system and method for operating a combustion system, such as a furnace or boiler. The method includes providing a burner system having one or more burner elements configured to combust solid fuel and one or more oxygen providing devices configured to introduce oxygen into the near burner zone of one or more burner flames. A sensor is provided and arranged and disposed to measure a flame parameter in the near burner zone of the burner flame associated with one or more the burner elements. The flame parameter is measured with the sensor and an oxygen flow is determined in response to the measured flame parameter. Oxygen flow is introduced to one or more locations in the combustion system with the one or more oxygen providing devices.
US08578891B2
A lick deterrent strip for deterring an animal from licking a wound is provided. The lick deterrent strip is securable to the animal or a bandage such that the lick deterrent strip is positioned over the wound or near the area of the wound. As used herein, a “wound” refers to an injured area on an animal, including, but not limited to, abscesses, cuts, hot spots, incisions, punctures, sores, and stitches. When secured to the animal, the lick deterrent strip provides an exposed surface with electrically energized contacts arranged on the exposed surface. When a conductive portion of the animal, such as the animal's mouth, is placed in electrical communication with the contacts, the lick deterrent strip provides an electrical stimulus to the animal, which deters the animal from accessing or licking the wound.
US08578886B1
A pivoting lid litter box assembly provides a litter box having a pan and a pivoted lid to facilitate access to contents of a pan. The assembly includes a pan having a bottom and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of the bottom. A lid is pivotally coupled to the pan. The lid has a top and a sidewall extending down from the top. The sidewall of the lid rests on the perimeter wall of the pan defining an interior space. The sidewall has an opening providing access to the interior space through the opening in the sidewall. A pedal is coupled to the pan and operationally coupled to the lid for selectively pivoting the lid between an open position and a closed position. A scoop having an extended handle and storage compartment may be provided to facilitate removing waste from the pan.
US08578884B2
An improved drinking system having a water source capable of delivering water through water supply pipes, watering stations fluidly connected to the water supply pipes, and at least one light source optically connected to at least one of the watering stations. Also provided is a method for selectively distributing water to animals within a farm facility utilizing illuminated watering stations.
US08578876B2
An apparatus for application of liquids to a continuously conveyed outer layer having a rotating plate which is horizontal and parallel to the outer layer or with a deviation of up to 15° from horizontal, wherein a liquid applied to the rotating plate is ejected centrifugally from the rotating plate via rotation and then, via gravity, passed onto the outer layer below the rotating plate, is provided.
US08578872B1
A system for retrieving a life vessel from water and drawing the life vessel onto a deck of a rescue vessels comprises a life vessel system comprising: i) a tow-line comprising a first end portion secured to the life vessel and an opposed second end portion; and ii) a deployment system configured to deploy the second end portion of the tow-line into the water. The system further comprises a rescue vessel system comprising i) a towing device on the rescue vessel, the towing device configured to receive the second end portion of the tow-line and retract the tow-line to draw the life vessel towards the rescue vessel; and ii) a retrieval assembly assembled to the deck of the rescue vessel, the retrieval assembly configured to receive the life vessel as the life vessel is drawn towards the rescue vessel and to lift the rescue vessel onto the deck.
US08578870B2
A method for applying agricultural products on a field with an implement guided by an external guidance system, wherein the implement comprises a plurality of sections that can be turned on to apply the products or turned off to stop applying the products, includes mapping the field to determine an implement travel path; determining overlap areas in the field where a section of the implement on a later pass will travel over a portion of an earlier pass of the implement; moving the implement along the implement travel path with sections turned on as required to apply the products on the field outside the overlap areas; and for at least one overlap area, during the earlier pass turning sections of the implement that are completely in the overlap area off, and during the later pass turning sections of the implement that are in the overlap area on.
US08578859B1
In an example embodiment, a mechanical crawl space organization system comprises a drive element which drives a winding element. The system further comprises a cable cooperating with at least one tubular conduit to define a drive path. The cable is mechanically connected to the winding element and a lead cart. The system enables the drive element to move the lead cart along a path defined by the cable guide.
US08578857B2
A ride system for efficiently utilizing a simulator(s) or immersive environment assembly. The ride system includes a closed-loop track and a plurality of passenger vehicles each configured for traveling along a ride path defined by the closed-loop track. The ride system includes a simulator positioned adjacent to the closed-loop track. The ride system also includes a vehicle transfer mechanism. This mechanism is typically positioned along the track (or to provide part of the track) near the simulator. In operation, the transfer mechanism receives or captures a first one of the vehicles and transfers the first vehicle a distance away from the ride path and into the simulator and its immersive entertainment environment. The transfer mechanism is configured such that a second one of the vehicles trailing the first vehicle travels along the ride path past the simulator while the first vehicle is positioned within the simulator.
US08578855B2
A vessel, such as a rocket motor tube, comprised of an insert, and a joint that allows the insert to decouple from the vessel to relieve pressure when subjected to excessive temperatures and/or a predetermined temperature or temperature range.
US08578849B2
A screen printing unit equipped with a rotary screen apparatus comprises a cylindrical screen rotatably supported so as to be brought into contact with a rotatable impression cylinder. Multiple small holes are formed in the circumferential surface of the screen, and are filled up with a coating material. Some of the holes corresponding to a pattern not being filled with the coating material, and a special ink stored inside the screen can be supplied to a sheet held on the outer circumferential surface of the impression cylinder so as to form a shape corresponding to the pattern. The small holes are formed only in an area of the screen in the circumferential direction thereof extending from a position corresponding to the downstream-side end of the sheet in the sheet-conveying direction to a position corresponding to the upstream-side end of the sheet in the sheet-conveying direction.
US08578845B2
A safe and convenient cherry pitting device that includes a freestanding detachable base, a fruit support and pitter passthrough unit and a pitter containment cone. The unit is adapted for vertical mounting on the base. Further, the unit defines axially aligned top and bottom openings and one or more side openings. The pitter containment cone generally has a cone shaped outer surface including one or more walls defining a central cavity with a top closed end and a bottom open end for placement over the unit. The cone also includes a pitter bit that projects vertically downward within the top closed end of the cone in axial alignment with the top and bottom openings of the unit.
US08578840B2
A dispensing device for dispensing coffee, milk, and/or milk foam includes a first fluid duct for supplying coffee and a second fluid duct for supplying steam. The first fluid duct opens into one coffee discharge pipe. The second fluid duct has an outlet opening for steam. The dispensing device includes a mixing arrangement for mixing milk with steam and/or air, and a housing. The mixing arrangement includes a milk duct, air duct, inlet opening, and a discharge pipe. The housing partially surrounds the fluid ducts, discharge pipe, and mixing arrangement, and includes a first and second housing part. The first housing part houses the fluid ducts, and the second housing part includes a recess for the mixing arrangement. The mixing arrangement may be positioned relative to the second fluid duct to produce a fluid connection between the second fluid duct outlet opening and the mixing arrangement inlet opening.
US08578832B2
This invention is directed to a muzzle brake that can be attachably connected to a weapon system having a barrel comprising: a housing; a front opening defined in the housing having a diameter generally the same size as the caliber of the barrel to which the housing can be attached; an impact plane included in the housing having an angle of incident greater than 90 degrees defined between the impact plane and the longitudinal axis of the housing; an eddy plane included in the housing having an angle of incident defined between the eddy plane and the longitudinal axis of the housing that is greater than the incident of angle of the impact plane; and, a concave surface included in the housing and carried by the eddy plane; a forward port defined by the impact plane, eddy plane and concave surface in the housing so that a portion of the gas expelled from the barrel is deflected outward from the housing upon contacting the impact plane and a portion of the gas expelled from the barrel is deflected by the concave surface producing eddies in the deflected gas stream.
US08578831B2
Systems and methods are presented herein that provide for ignition of explosive devices through electric discharge. In one embodiment, an electrostatic discharge is directionally propagated through air to conduct electric current to the explosive device. The electric current may ignite the explosive device via heat, via triggering of ignition circuitry, via induced electric current conduction to the explosive material therein and/or via direct electric conduction to the explosive material therein. Alternatively or additionally, a system is configured with a vehicle to distally position the propagated energy to the explosive device such that damage caused by the explosive device is reduced.
US08578827B1
A clamping cutting guide to assist a carpenter in performing various wood techniques comprises a guide plate, a pair of guide rods, and a spring-loaded clamping portion. The guide rods extend perpendicularly downward along side areas and are inserted into respective springs to provide a clamping force to the stationary guide plate and a mobile clamping plate. The cutting guide also comprises a pair of pivoting handles open the clamp portions during loading/unloading of a desired object to be cut, thereby allowing a user to operate the guide using a single hand.
US08578824B2
There is provided a wheel lathe in which the wheelset center of wheels and a spindle center can be aligned in a simple structure without using a centering part for synchronous lowering from above, and the horizontal distance from the wheelset center is measured at the position of a point along the circumference of the wheel and away from the topmost point of the wheel, such as of a point on an external edge, by a displacement meter having a fixed height, whereby the appropriate required lifting amount (lifter-required displacement) is automatically computed and the wheels are raised to allow the spindle to be appropriately fixed on a consistent basis, the device to be simplified and otherwise improved, and significant reductions to be attained in assembly and adjustment man-hours. The wheel lathe includes a lifter control device (4) used to control the operation of a lifter device (3) for raising the wheel (1) and provided with external-edge position meters (5) for measuring a point on the external edge of the wheel (1) and a lifter-required displacement calculator (6) for computing the lifter-required displacement (H) from the measured value and a known dimensional value.
US08578821B2
An oil filter wrench for use in tightening or loosening an oil filter includes a band assembly configured to be placed over the oil filter; a handle assembly attached to the band assembly for use in tightening and turning the band assembly; and a layer of flexible or compressible high friction material applied over a portion of the band assembly to reduce slippage between the band assembly and the oil filter.
US08578819B2
A corkscrew for removing a cork or a stopper from a bottle containing wine, or other beverage or food product is disclosed. The corkscrew has socket (19) which is provided with vertical axis that is dimensioned to receive the neck of a bottle, while corkscrew spiral (2) is arranged axially within the socket. A CPU is electrically communicated with battery pack, and is charged to determine whether the battery pack can perform sufficient work to open a cork and to provide a signal to the LED display (13) that indicates the number of corks which can be removed using the corkscrew. The corkscrew can be operated with one hand since physical force or dexterity are not required to operate the corkscrew, and prevents accidental injury or damaging of work surface since CPU is electrically communicated with battery pack.
US08578818B2
A mechanical device for reducing the energy absorbed by an electrical motor of a hoisting plant. The device includes at least one first rotating member moved by the motor of the hoisting plant. The device also includes a second rotating member connected to the first member through a gear transmission. At least one third rotating member is connected to the second rotating member through a bevel-gear transmission. The device further includes a fourth rotating member operatively connected to the rotor of the electric motor. The fourth rotating member and the third rotating member are connected through a transmission with flexible elements or through a gear transmission which develop a transmission ratio equal to unity. The transmission elements of the device are designed to enable rotation of the fourth rotating member in a direction of rotation concordant with that of the first rotating member.
US08578808B2
In the present invention, there are provided a movement member which includes an engaging section, which is engaged with an intermediate part of an operation shaft of a joystick device, and operates as one body with the operation shaft at a time of performing an inclining operation of the operation shaft, and a damper case in which the movement member is movably inserted, and which holds a viscous fluid which increases a sliding resistance of the movement member when the movement member is moved. Thereby, a desired operational sensation can be always obtained, and a stable bending operation can be performed.
US08578805B2
A twin clutch transmission can be made sufficiently small and can easily be mounted on a motorcycle without biasing the lateral weight balance. In this transmission, a first clutch is arranged to input rotation power transferred from a crankshaft to a first main shaft and to output the rotation power to a rear wheel via an odd-numbered transmission gear mechanism, and a second clutch is arranged to input rotation power transferred from the crankshaft to a second main shaft and to output the rotation power to the rear wheel via an even-numbered transmission gear mechanism. The first and second main shafts are arranged in a mutually rotatable fashion on an axis line parallel or substantially parallel to the crankshaft, and a transmitting portion of driving force output to the rear wheel via the even-numbered transmission gear mechanism on the second main shaft has an outer diameter approximately identical to that of a transmitting portion of driving force output to the rear wheel via the odd-numbered transmission gear mechanism on the first main shaft, and is arranged so as to not concentrically overlap the transmitting portion of the first main shaft.
US08578797B2
The present invention discloses a multi-section sediment pore water sampler, which comprises a plurality of sampling units arranged coaxially and separated with each other; this arrangement ensures no water exchange occurred between two adjacent sampling units, collection of the sediment pore water samples from different depths of a same position is realized, whereby to facilitate organic pollutant sampling in sediment pore water at different depths according to different time resolutions. Furthermore, as the heights of the sampling units as well as the clearances between two neighboring sampling units may be various, in use users can configure the sampler according to the actual condition of the time resolution required, thus this sampler can also help improve the time resolution of water sampling.
US08578795B2
An implantable active pressure transducer including a pressure sensing element and associated sensor circuitry together enclosed within an innermost glass packaging. The pressure sensing element is anodically bonded to the innermost packaging substantially aligned with an opening defined therein. An outermost biocompatible metal packaging forms a cavity divided into first and second chambers by an intermediate partition. The innermost packaging is disposed within the first chamber without physically directly contacting or being fixed to the outermost packaging. A barrier plate is hermetically sealed to the intermediate partition to hermetically isolate the battery and communication circuitry from a pressure transmitting fluid. Inductive coupling is used to communicate data detected by the pressure sensing element internally within the implant.
US08578789B2
An analysis method using an analysis apparatus are described herein. By way of an example, the analysis method includes a first step of driving a pressurizing pump and a pressure-reduction pump, and of filling a liquid from a supply piping in an interior of a resistive body through which a sample passes, a second step of discharging, from a discharging piping, some of the liquid filled in the interior of the resistive body, and of securing a space in the interior of the resistive body for filling the sample, a third step of supplying the sample into the space, a fourth step of causing the sample to travel in the interior of the resistive body, and a fifth step of measuring a travel time of the sample in the interior of the resistive body by using the flow rate sensor.
US08578785B2
A low power, low cost system and method for the detection of flow disturbances in a fluid dripping system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a light source and a light detector configured to monitor the amount of light passing through a droplet while the droplet is suspended and later falls from the tip of a tube. In another embodiment, dripping fluid is monitored from a system maintained part of the time in a sleep mode to conserve power, the system waking up at predetermined times to determine from detected light whether the monitored system is functioning properly.
US08578780B2
An apparatus internally inspects a workpiece having a hollow cylindrical hole. The apparatus contains an ultrasound transducer configuration having a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, which are arranged in at least one row, one next to the other, in an elastically deformable carrier which has the form of a segment of a hollow cylinder and has a plurality of sliding pimples which extend in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and project with a protrusion in the radial direction beyond the transmitting and/or receiving surfaces of the ultrasound transducer elements.
US08578767B2
A tire module, for installation on an inner side of a pneumatic tire for vehicles, including a device for measuring and/or monitoring of the air pressure in the tire, a transmitter for transmitting radio signals, which contain information about the air pressure in the tire, a mechanical-electrical converter having a bendable piezoelectric element, which converts into electric energy alternating deformations of the piezoelectric element caused by the rolling tire, and a storage device for the electric energy, which is connected to the converter. The converter includes a circular, disc-shaped, piezoelectric element (piezo disc) on which an electrical voltage generated by the piezo effect is tapped at contact points, which are situated on opposite sides of the piezo disc.
US08578765B2
The following features may be carried out: providing a wheel suspension alignment system having four measuring heads situated in a known position with respect to one another; recording a wheel or a measuring target mounted on it in an initial position of the vehicle; shifting the vehicle from the initial position to at least one further position; recording a wheel, or a measuring target mounted on it, of the vehicle standing in the further position; recording a reference target in at least one of the initial position and the further position of the vehicle, and determining from this an absolute scale; carrying out local 3D reconstructions for determining the translation vectors, the rotation vectors and the wheel rotational angles as well as the wheel rotational centers and the wheel rotational axes of the wheels; and determining the wheel suspension alignment parameters of the vehicle.
US08578763B2
A method of monitoring operation of a fuel system includes urging a fuel flow from a fuel source toward a pressure regulating valve via a fuel pump. A pressure of the fuel flow is detected at the pressure regulating valve, and a pump speed required to produce a selected pressure at the pressure regulating valve is detected. The pump speed is compared to a range of acceptable pump speeds, and an operational status of the fuel pump is determined based on a result of the comparison.
US08578751B2
The invention relates to a tool for processing a workpiece in particular for pressing, holding and/or cutting a pipe, having a first pair of jaws which has a first upper jaw and a first lower jaw, having a first effective area formed between the front ends of the first jaws, having a first inlet contour formed between the rear ends of the first jaws and having a holding device which movably accommodates the first jaws independent of one another, wherein the first jaws can be pivoted between an open position and a closed position. The present invention is based on the technical problem of specifying a tool, by means of which in one process at least one first and one second effect can be assigned to the tool independently from one another in time.
US08578741B2
A washing machine having a cabinet, a pressure sensor located in the cabinet, and an air trap having at least one baffle to substantially block water at the air trap. The air trap may have an inlet in communication with a sump of the washing machine and an outlet in communication with a hose coupled to the pressure sensor. The at least one baffle may be partially traversing the air trap to substantially block water from entering the outlet when the cabinet is in a horizontal orientation.
US08578736B2
A method and apparatus for making an optical fiber preform. The apparatus has an outer wall and an inner wall. The outer wall surrounds the inner wall and the inner wall surrounds an inner cavity of the apparatus. A consolidated glass rod is deposited in the inner cavity after which particulate glass material, such as glass soot, is deposited in the inner cavity around the glass rod. A radially inward pressure is applied against the particulate glass material to pressurize the particulate glass material against the glass rod.
US08578729B2
Apparatus and methods for dispensing small amounts of a viscous material onto a workpiece. The narrow-profile dispensing apparatus includes a fluid chamber, a nozzle, and a valve seat disk representing individual components that are removable from a main body of the dispensing apparatus for cleaning and/or replacement. The nozzle is coupled with the fluid chamber by a heat transfer body that may be cooled by, for example, a cooling fluid routed through an air pathway defined in the heat transfer body. The main body of the dispensing apparatus may be cooled by air exhausted from an air cavity of a pneumatic actuator regulating the movement of a needle to control the flow of viscous material in the dispensing apparatus.
US08578728B2
The present invention relates to a window kit (200) and a window sealer (400) of an air conditioner (100). The window kit (200) is provided in the exhaust guide means (140) of the movable air conditioner (100) is firmly fixed to the window frame (D) without having a separate connection member. The gap between the windows generated in the installation process of the window kit (200) is effectively shielded by the window sealer (400).
US08578727B2
To provide a low-cost and highly reliable indoor unit and an air-conditioning apparatus having the same by obtaining a dew point temperature at the outlet side without installing a humidity sensor and a dew point temperature detector at the outlet side. An indoor unit includes: an evaporator, a blower, a suction air temperature detector that detects a suction air temperature at the upstream side of an air flow of the evaporator, an outlet air temperature detector that detects an outlet air temperature at the downstream side of the air flow of the evaporator, an evaporator inlet fluid temperature detector that detects a fluid temperature at the fluid inlet side of the evaporator, an adjustment valve that adjusts a flow amount of the fluid made to flow into the evaporator, and a controller that calculates a suction air dew point temperature by suction air temperature information detected by the suction air temperature detector to calculate an outlet air dew point temperature based on the suction air dew point temperature, the suction air temperature, the outlet air temperature, and the evaporator inlet piping temperature.
US08578725B2
An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit, first and second shut-off mechanisms, a communication pipe and a refrigerant detection mechanism. The refrigerant circuit is configured to at least perform a cooling operation. The first shut-off mechanism is downstream of the receiver and upstream of the liquid refrigerant connection pipe when the cooling operation is performed. The second shut-off mechanism is downstream of the heat source-side heat exchanger and upstream of the receiver when the cooling operation is performed. The communication pipe interconnects the refrigerant circuit between the first and second shut-off mechanisms, and the refrigerant circuit on the suction side of the compressor. The refrigerant detection mechanism is upstream of the second shut-off mechanism when the cooling operation is performed. The refrigerant detection mechanism is configured to detect a state quantity relating to the quantity of the refrigerant existing on the upstream side of the second shut-off mechanism.
US08578724B2
A heat pump is provided having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. A compressor is fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A reversing valve is fluidly coupled between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The reversing valve is adapted to flow of a refrigerant from the compressor to the first heat exchanger during heating mode and to the second heat exchanger during a cooling mode. A thermal expansion valve is positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. An electronic expansion valve is positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A controller is electrically coupled to operate the electronic expansion valve between a fully open, a fully closed and a modulated position depending on the operation of the compressor.
US08578714B2
A power system based on a binary power cycle and utilizing a multi-component working fluid is disclosed. The working fluid is partially vaporized and a split recirculation approach is used to control the enthalpy-temperature profiles to match the heat source. A portion of the unvaporized working fluid is sprayed into the condenser.
US08578711B2
A master cylinder includes a cylinder body which an operating fluid is introduced from a reservoir, a piston which is slidably fitted in the cylinder body and defines a pressure chamber inside the cylinder body, a supply pathway which is formed in the cylinder body and supplies the operating fluid from the reservoir to the pressure chamber, a bypass pathway which bypasses the supply pathway and allows the reservoir to communicate with the pressure chamber, and a check valve which is installed in the bypass pathway and opens a valve when the pressure inside the pressure chamber is lower than the pressure of the reservoir.
US08578708B2
In various embodiments, compressed-gas energy storage and recovery systems feature one or more valves, which may be disposed within end caps of cylinder assemblies in which gas is expanded and/or compressed, for admitting fluid to and/or exhausting fluid from the cylinder assembly.
US08578696B2
Disclosed is a turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements for utilizing waste heat generated from a turbine engine. The turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements is located within the turbine casing at a heat exhaust end of the turbine engine. The turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements convert heat exhaust generated from the turbine engine into electrical energy. In one embodiment, the electrical energy generated from the turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements can be used to power electrical components located about the turbine engine.
US08578694B2
Embodiments herein relate to the general art of connector links, and to the particular field of coupling links for coupling to one or more chain links. Particular embodiments include coupling links having a body with a central portion that has an aperture passing therethrough, a closed first end that is integral, and a second end that has an opening, and a retaining member in the form of a removable, deformable, or pivotable member that may selectively provide a closure to the opening. Other embodiments include retaining members on both ends of the coupling link.
US08578693B2
The invention relates to a process for making a polyolefin fiber. The process comprises the steps of providing at least one polyolefin tape; twisting or folding the at least one polyolefin tape longitudinally to obtain a precursor fiber and exposing the precursor fiber under tension to a temperature within the melting point range of the polyolefin for a time sufficient to at least partly two or more parts of the precursor fiber. The invention also relates to the fiber obtainable thereby.
US08578688B2
A harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants. The harvester includes a chassis, at least one ground contacting propulsion device connected to the chassis, and a basecutter assembly. The basecutter assembly is coupled to the chassis. The basecutter assembly includes a plurality of cutting knives and a pair of counter rotating plates. The pair of counter rotating plates include a first plate and a second plate, each of which have at least one of the plurality of cutting knives attached thereto. The first plate rotates about a first axis. The first plate has at least one portion thereof that extends in a radial direction such that the portion would interfere with the knife of the second plate except that the first plate is offset in a direction parallel to said first axis relative to said knife of said second plate.
US08578680B2
A method for constructing a structure to be lifted and moved from a first location to a second location includes (a) constructing, at the first location, a framework of the structure that includes braces to withstand lifting and moving the structure; (b) constructing, at the first location, at least some internal components of the structure; (c) providing a lift platform capable of supporting, balancing and lifting the structure below the lift platform by flexible lift members attachable to the lift platform and the framework; (d) attaching the flexible lift members to the lift platform and to a plurality of spaced portions of the framework; (e) lifting the lift platform to thereby lift the structure; and (f) while lifted, moving the lift platform and the structure to the second location, where the structure is lowered. A lift platform preferably made of subassemblies of beams and braces is used in the method.
US08578676B2
A tower barrel for wind electric power generation includes a barrel wall for supporting a wind turbine generator system, a torsion cable direction-changing device which is placed in the tower barrel and fixed on the barrel wall for holding the cable from the wind turbine generator system and restraining the torsion of the cable, and cable clamps which are placed under the torsion cable direction-changing device and connected to the barrel wall for securing the cable. The torsion cable direction-changing device includes a beam and two supports for the beam, the supports are fixed on the barrel wall. The torsion cable direction-changing device in the tower barrel improves the safety of the cable, and so improves the safety of the wind turbine generator system.
US08578674B2
A device for spacing, bracing and leveling tiles during installation on a ceiling substrate, comprises a, spacer and a bracer having a threaded substrate penetrating screw to releasably engage with the substrate for bracing and leveling tiles. The spacer and bracer are made of rigid material to support the weight of tile. The spacer carries at least one spacer ridge that when placed between tiles will create an equal distance between adjacent tiles. When the screw is inserted through a hole defined in the spacer and screwed until a first surface of the spacer frictionally contacts an exposed surface of the tile, the spacer will secure the tile and prevent a ceiling tile from falling until an adhesive dries.
US08578664B2
A connector to connect a pair of components of a building and transfer a load from one to the other. The connector comprising a pair of members, each to be connected to a respective one of the components, and an adjustable abutment acting between the members to inhibit relative movement between the members in one direction. The ratchet mechanism acting between the members to permit movement in the one direction and to inhibit relative movement in an opposite direction, whereby adjustment of the abutment to cause relative movements in the one direction is accommodated by the ratchet mechanism.
US08578663B2
A cover for an inflatable modular structure is claimed. A plurality of covers fit on the core of an inflatable module. An inflatable shell is attached to the core enclosing the covers and the core. In the pre-deployed configuration, the inflatable shell is folded over the covers and the covers provide a measure of protection for the shell. In the deployed state, the inflatable shell is filled with air and expands to its deployed configuration. The covers can be removed from core and attached to the inside of the shell. The covers then function as a platform to secure items in place.
US08578656B2
A barrier has an expandable width barrier having opposing first and second ends. A locking arm is pivotably coupled to the expandable width barrier at the first end and slidably coupled to the expandable width barrier at the second end. The locking arm may be an adjustable-length construction. The pivoting of the locking arm causes the barrier to move between locked and unlocked states. When the locking arm is pivoted to lock the barrier, it causes the barrier to linearly expand a supplemental amount and fits the barrier to opposing sides of a passageway opening.
US08578651B1
Embodiments of a frame structure and grow media for use in vertical aquaponic gardens are described. The frame comprises a substantially rectangular tube structure with attachment points and connection means to hold a grow media in a vertical orientation. The grow media comprises a permeable or non-permeable backing layer having a defined elasticity to facilitate stretching, an activated carbon filter layer attached to the backing layer, one or more capillary biomats attached to the filter layer that physically support the growth of one or more varieties of plants and distribute water to the roots of the plants through capillary action through the area of the grow media, and an optional front panel layer attached to one of the capillary biomat layers, the front panel layer comprising a porous structure made of polypropylene or natural fibers and configured to support the plants growing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane the front panel surface.
US08578645B2
A firearm holding device for holding a firearm having a forend, a grip and a buttstock. The holding device comprises a base having a longitudinal axis, a forend support mounted on the base for supporting the forend of the firearm, a grip support mounted on the base for supporting the grip of the firearm, and a buttstock support mounted on the base for supporting the buttstock of the firearm. At least one of the forend support, grip support and buttstock support are moveable on the base along the longitudinal axis of the base to accommodate various sizes and types of firearms.
US08578632B2
An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.
US08578631B2
Golf shoe sole 10 having extendable spikes 71 activated by compressed air from a pump 42 located inside sole of shoe. Pump 42 is operated by weight of wearer's heel on a bladder 41 located in heel of sole and check valves 51 maintain pressure in pneumatic system. Pushbutton switch 58 selects movement of spikes 71 between retracted and extended modes.
US08578626B2
A laundry dryer includes a drying chamber, a process air channel having a supply air opening for drawing in process air, an exhaust air opening for expelling process air, an exhaust air channel through which process air is conducted to the exhaust air opening, and a nebulizer that distributes condensate in process air. The dryer further includes a fan in the process air channel for driving process air through the drying chamber, and a heat exchanger that extracts heat from process air flowing out from the drying chamber, supplies heat to process air flowing into the drying chamber, and separates the condensate from the process air for the nebulizer.
US08578624B2
A method and apparatus for indirect-heat thermal processing of material, such as a dryer or evaporator for treatment of particulate material, is provided. In one embodiment, a dryer for drying particulate material comprises a plurality of heat transfer plates arranged in spaced relationship for the flow of the material to be dried therebetween. Each heat transfer plate is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the flow of the heating fluid through the plates. A purge fluid delivery system provides a flow of purge fluid, such as air, gas or steam between the plates in a direction across the direction of flow of the material to be dried. The purge fluid delivery system provides a flow path for the purge fluid which is isolated from the flow of the heating fluid through the plates. A method for the indirect-heat processing of particulate material is also provided.
US08578623B1
Embodiments are provided for a hair dryer attachment for accelerating hair drying time. The hair dryer attachment includes a housing and multiple flexible conduits. The housing may include an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface may define an interior volume having a size sufficient to cover a substantial portion of a person's head. The interior surface and the exterior surface may define multiple passages. The multiple flexible conduits may each include an inlet and an exit. The inlet of each of the conduits may be in fluid communication with one or more of the multiple passages.
US08578622B2
The invention relates to an alignment device for the aligned and detachable fixing of at least one functional component (10), in particular in the form of a tool holder, to a further functional component (12), in particular in the form of a tool disk, around at least one alignment axis (14), wherein the two functional components (10, 12) have in each case at least one contact face (16, 18) for mutual contact with each other. Said alignment device is characterized in that both the one and the further functional component (10, 12) have at least one alignment part (22, 24), in that the respective alignment part (22) of the one functional component (10) is a constituent part of an alignment element (30) and forms an alignment face (26), which can be brought into at least partial contact with a positioning face (28) of the associated alignment part (24) of the further functional component (12) with a predefinable alignment force, and in that the predefinable alignment force is formed by the preload which is produced by a resilient deflection of the part (36) forming the respective alignment face (26) relative to the remaining part (34) of the alignment element (30), taking place as the functional components (10, 12) are fixed to each other.
US08578616B2
A relative angle sensing device includes: a sensor contained in a housing provided with a communication hole and outputting an electric signal corresponding to a relative rotation angle between two rotary shafts coaxially arranged; an electric cable transmitting the electric signal to a device arranged outside of the housing; an electric cable holding member fitted with the communication hole and holding the electric cable; and an external member arranged at a location outer than the electric cable holding member, wherein the external member includes a pair of dividable members dividable in a direction intersecting a hole direction of the communication hole, and the external member passes the electric cable within the pair of dividable members and presses the electric cable with the pair of dividable members to change a direction of the electric cable at the outside of the housing into the direction intersecting the hole direction.
US08578614B2
Disclosed is an improved pipe cutting tool based upon a ratchet closure action wherein handles are pivotedly attached to allow successive movement of a cutting blade in response to the squeezing of the handles. The handles are also hingedly coupled to the cutting member to maintain the cutting member in a position perpendicular to the tubular item to be cut while allowing the operator to squeeze the handles at offset angles, up to and including a right angle cut. The hinged handles allow for offset operation without forgoing the ease of operation by the consumer or causing a large reduction in the mechanical advantage. A ratchet allows sequential advancement of a cutting member toward a tubular shaped jaw that holds the item to be cut.
US08578610B2
Easy and precise setting of a predetermined thrust bearing gap is made possible.An axial gap 13 having a dimension that is equal to the sum of two thrust bearing gaps is first provided between the flange part 2b of the shaft member 2 and the bearing member or bearing sleeve 8. The shaft member 2 and the bearing sleeve 8 are accommodated inside the housing 7 with this gap dimension δ being kept, and the bearing sleeve 8 is secured to the housing 7.
US08578608B2
A rod-based well screen is formed in place on a perforated pipe base by wrapping wire around the pipe base and a plurality of rods located around the outside of the pipe. The wire is welded sequentially to each individual rod as it is wrapped around the pipe. The welding and ground electrodes engage the wire and the rods respectively. The rod engaging ground electrode is positioned a short distance ahead of the wire being wrapped around the rods and the pipe base. The ground electrode includes a plurality of contacts. Each contact is mounted to pivot toward and away from a rod. Springs urge each contact toward a rod to hold the rod against the outside surface of the pipe base and to maintain good electrical contact between the contact and the rod. Each contact has a groove to guide the rod into position for welding to the wire.
US08578604B2
The method comprises positioning a first blade (10A) in substantially vertical position, connecting first ends of a first and a second cable section (24, 26), respectively, with a structure included by the nacelle (6), connecting second ends (30) of the first and the second cable section (24, 26), respectively, with the repair platform (18) and lifting the repair platform along said blade (10A) by means of the first and second cable sections (24, 26). The first and second cable sections (24, 26) are positioned so that they extend over the hub (8) and are supported at a distance from each other between root regions (16) of a second and a third blade (10B, 10C), respectively.
US08578594B2
A process for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer for use in a data storage system comprises providing a substrate, an underlayer and a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer deposited to a first thickness on and in contact with the underlayer, performing a first scanning polishing on a first section of the first intermediate layer to planarize the first section of the first intermediate layer to a second thickness, providing a main pole in the planarized first section of the first intermediate layer, providing a first pattern of photoresist on and in contact with the first section of the first intermediate layer, the pattern comprising an aperture to define a side shield trench, performing a wet etch to remove at least a portion of the first intermediate layer thereby exposing at least one of the plurality of main pole sides, and depositing side shield material in the side shield trench.
US08578588B2
A system pendulum apparatus (13) is provided for a chuck and a method is provided for the clamping of workpieces with a pendulum element (16) and a basal element (30). An axially swivelable connection is provided between the pendulum element and the basal element by way of an element connection device. A swivel range a of the pendulum element can be restricted by a restriction device (39), and the pendulum element can be returned by a return device to a central position of the swivel range. The pendulum element can be fixed within the swivel range by a fixing device (23). The basal element can be joined by a joining device to one jaw of a chuck (10). The pendulum element has a clamping device with two exchangeable clamping elements (20), which are displaceable and fixable.
US08578582B2
A method for dismantling a furnace having a multilayered refractory structure including: a furnace shell; a containing layer that is formed of a containing refractory that contains asbestos, and covers the inner side of the furnace shell; and a multilayered non-containing layer that is formed of a non-containing refractory that contains no asbestos, and covers the inner side of the containing layer, the method includes: a primary dismantling process; and a secondary dismantling process conducted after the primary dismantling process. In the primary dismantling process, the non-containing layer is dismantled from a furnace-core side thereof but the containing layer and at least one layer of the layers forming the non-containing layer, which is in contact with the containing layer, are left as a remnant. In the secondary dismantling process, the remnant is dismantled while asbestos measures are implemented.
US08578578B2
A pipe adjustment tool for use in aligning the confronting ends of a pair of pipe sections having a joint therebetween provides a frame having a seating surface for acting against an exterior surface of a pipe section. The seating surface being disposed at a 45-degree angle relative to a threaded bore of the frame. A flexible clamping member is attached to the frame at one end and is a of length to substantially encircle the pipe section. The opposite end of the clamping member is received and secured by a retainer. The retainer and the frame are connected together by an articulated joint formed by a ball-shaped end of a threaded bolt extending through frame and a ball-shaped socket in the retainer. The retainer and frame are movably relative to each other by operating the threaded bolt to provide tension in the clamping member about the pipe section.
US08578576B2
An apparatus for expanding metal and forming tubing combines two metal-forming operations into a single process. Tubing, such as that used for filters, is desirably expanded so that air or liquid may pass thru “diamonds” formed in the tubing. Expanding metal and forming tubing is accomplished in a single, continuous process by first slitting and expanding the metal, and then locking its seams to form a spiral pipe. This avoids depending on vendors for delivery of expanded metal at fluctuating prices, eliminates intermediate steps of handling the coils, and eliminates rusting while the expanded steel coils await formation into tubing. Tubing made from expanded metal may be used for air filters, oil filters, water filters, separators and other types of filters. Double-wall HVAC ducting systems or silencers can also use expanded material for reducing heat transfer and noise.IG
US08578575B2
Device and method for producing a unidirectional (UD) layer from a predetermined number of filament strands. Device includes a dispenser arrangement structured and arranged for delivering the predetermined number of filament strands, and a storage arrangement, structured and arranged for temporary storage of the predetermined number of filament strands. The storage arrangement includes separate storage parts for each of the predetermined number of filament strands. Device also includes a spreading arrangement and an outlet.
US08578571B2
A plastic clip for fastening an article in the region of an end face of a flat workpiece comprises a base section, including a first and a second leg extending from the base section to form a U shape, and a fastening section connected to the base section and operable to fasten the article to the clip. The base section and the legs are made of a relatively hard plastic material and the legs can be elastically expanded relative to one another in order to accommodate the workpiece between their inner sides. An anti-slip section made of a relatively soft plastic material is provided on at least one of the inner sides.
US08578567B2
A clamp collar of the annular band type is provided, and includes a connecting mechanism for connecting at least one pair of adjacent ends of the band, and to a run-flat device intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle mounted assembly incorporating same. This clamp collar includes a band, preferably made of metal, having at least one pair of ends spaced apart in the circumferential direction, connecting mechanism for connecting the or each pair of ends together with adjustable tightening in this direction and a locking member for locking the connecting mechanism. The locking member is mounted solid with one of these ends being able to occupy an unlocked position in which it is disengaged from the connecting mechanism for tightening and loosening the collar and a locked position in which it engages with them to oppose this loosening.
US08578561B2
A dual-axis hinge is mounted between a cover and a base of a portable device and has a connecting bracket, an upper rotating bracket, a lower rotating bracket, an upper active gear, a lower active gear and a transmission gear assembly. The connecting bracket is mounted between the upper and lower rotating brackets. The upper and lower active gears are connected respectively to the upper and lower rotating brackets. The transmission gear assembly is connected between the upper and lower active gears to adjust a velocity ratio of the upper and lower active gears. Therefore, the cover and the base align with each other without a drop whether or not the upper and lower active gears are the same in teeth number or whether or not the included angles between the upper and lower rotating brackets with the connecting bracket are the same.
US08578557B2
A patch fitting for a glass door includes a mount for being mounted on a floor, a shaft connected with the mount, a clamping seat pivotally connected with the shaft, and a piston unit installed inside the clamping seat. When the glass door is sweeping to open or close, the clamping seat will turn along with the sweeping movement of the glass door about the shaft and the piston unit will be pushed by an eccentric cam of the shaft to press the hydraulic oil contained in the clamping seat so as to provide a damping resistance in response to the sweeping movement of the glass door. The patch fitting can be easily installed on the floor by a simple work.
US08578556B1
The present invention is related to an auto-return apparatus of a glass door, comprising a clamping base, a damper and a misalignment adjuster. The clamping base is secured onto the glass door and comprises a securing axle. The securing axle comprises an eccentric cam and the damper is received within the clamping base and abuts the eccentric cam of the securing axle to provide resisting force for door opening and closing. The misalignment adjuster comprises a moving plate and a securing means. The moving plate comprises a long slot provided for the securing means to pass therethrough and a mounting slot provided for the securing axle to be connected thereto such that the moving plate moves together with the clamping base along the extending direction of the long slot and relative to the securing means in order to achieve the objective of adjusting misalignment of the glass door.
US08578550B2
A domestic air treatment apparatus such as a vacuum cleaner comprises a fluid flow path including a dirt inlet and a clean air outlet. A suction motor and a treatment member are provided in the flow path. The fluid flow path comprises a portion that has a bend, such as an elbow, wherein all portions of the fluid flow path through the bend have a cross sectional area that is at least about the same as a cross sectional area of the inlet.
US08578542B2
An improved apparatus for removing snow and ice from the roof top of a truck, trailer, bus or similar vehicle is mounted atop a converted flatbed trailer for ease of relocation from one site to another for use. The addition of a height adjustable scraper or plow blade that is operator controlled to remain in contact with the roof of the vehicle being cleaned is provided with a self-contained front-to-back and side-to-side stabilization mechanism to prevent damage to the tops of vehicles by gouging or tearing the roof top.
US08578541B2
A shoe cleaning device 10 comprises a rotatable cleaning disc 12, a housing 14 on which the cleaning disc 12 is rotatably mountable, a horizontally mounted motor 16, mounted sideways within the housing 14 to maintain an extreme low profile, and a non-centrally configured gearbox 68, non-central to a central axis of the cleaning disc 12, non-centrally configured to allow the sideways mounted motor 16 to be housed within, or substantially within a circumference of the cleaning disc 12, the device 10 thus maintaining both an extreme low profile and an extreme compact diametric profile. Preferably the housing 14 encapsulates the motor 16, forming a mounded pinchgrip 38 for gripping by a user. Preferably there is provided a pressure activated unit 62 so that pressurizing of the pinchgrip 38 activates the device 10, which is intended to provide an intuitive interface.
US08578536B1
A ramp assembly includes a ramp portion configured for reciprocating motion between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position. Movement of the ramp portion toward the deployed position rotates a hub in a first direction, and movement of the ramp portion toward the stowed position rotates the hub in a second. The ramp assembly includes a counterbalance comprising a flexible line having a first end coupled to the hub. A restraint is fixedly located relative to the stowed position of the ramp portion, and a biasing element is associated with the flexible line such that movement of the ramp portion away from the neutral position moves the biasing element toward the restraint. A spring is disposed between the restraint and the biasing element to bias the ramp portion toward the neutral position.
US08578534B2
An inflatable member includes at least one adjustable portion. The inflatable member may be inserted into an article. The position of the adjustable portion can be changed according to the size of the article. The inflatable member can also be filled with fluid according to the size of the article. The inflatable member may be to adjust the size of an article.
US08578528B1
An accessory storage system used with a mattress unit and a box springs unit. The system has a mounting member with a generally planar bed securing member and a generally planar storage securing member. The system has a storage member with a large storage cavity and a small storage cavity. The small storage cavity is located on the large storage cavity. For use, the mounting member is pivoted fully open to about a ninety degree angle. The bed securing member is fully inserted in between a mattress unit bottom surface and a box springs unit top surface. The back surface of the storage securing member is located flush against the mattress unit. The first large storage cavity side is located flush against the front surface of the storage securing member and held securely into place via the securing slots and the securing extensions.
US08578526B1
A modular lounge mat including a pair of cushions attached to each other with a section of mesh, further includes a carrying case, a removable cover, and a headrest. The mesh allows the first cushion to be folded against the second cushion, thereby allowing the folded pair of cushions to be transported within the carrying case. The headrest includes a pair of speakers, audio wiring, and a means of connecting the speakers to an outside audio source.
US08578525B1
A sleeping bag sized to enclose the body of a user from at least the neck to the toes has a plurality of transverse ingress/egress openings in the top cover disposed between the head end and foot end in parallel longitudinally spaced apart relation at locations corresponding generally to various body areas and segments of a human body that enable concurrent passage of selected parts or segments of the user's body into and out of the interior space such that at least one selected part or segment of the user's body can be extended into the interior space to be covered, while concurrently therewith, other selected parts or segments of the user's body can be left out or extended out of the interior space through other respective openings to be uncovered. The openings may be provided with closures and portions of the closures may be luminescent.
US08578520B2
The present application provides a helmet. The helmet includes an energy absorbing layer (2) and a sliding facilitator (5). The sliding facilitator is provided on an inside surface of the energy absorbing layer (2). A method of manufacturing the helmet is further provided. The method includes the steps of: providing an energy absorbing layer in the mold, and providing a sliding facilitator contacting an inside surface of the energy absorbing layer.
US08578516B2
An insulating product and method for its creation involving inner valves designed to impede the flow of insulating materials between compartments formed by the inner valves. This allows for creating vertical baffles in addition to the typical horizontal baffles.
US08584250B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for information assurance in a multiple level security (MLS) combat system. A plurality of tasks are executed, where at least one of the tasks requiring a transition from a first security level to a second security level. At least one of the tasks are executed on a cloud computing system; and a kernel is employed to prevent a leakage of data between at least two of the tasks. The cloud computing system comprises a virtualization layer and provides one or more operating systems, as well as interface access control to data. The kernel provides a mechanism for the transition from the first security level to the second security level. The kernel optionally tags one or more data records with a security classification to allow one or more classification levels to be segregated for role-based data access.
US08584247B1
A computer-implemented method for evaluating compliance checks may include (1) maintaining a group of compliance standards for at least one computing network, with each compliance standard comprising at least one compliance check for evaluating at least one aspect of a network device, (2) calculating a reputation score for at least one compliance check within the group of compliance standards, (3) assigning the reputation score to the compliance check, and then (4) providing a recommendation for whether to implement the compliance check based at least in part on the reputation score assigned to the compliance check.
US08584242B2
Remote assistance is provided to a mobile device across a network to enable malware detection. The mobile device transmits potentially infected memory pages to a remote server across a network. The remote server performs analysis, and provides feedback to the mobile device. Based on the received feedback, the mobile device halts a process, or retrieves and transmits additional memory pages to the remote server for more analysis. This process is repeated until a compromised region of memory is identified and/or isolated for further repair to be performed. The feedback from the remote server reduces the processing and storage burden on the mobile device, resulting in a more reliable detection that uses fewer resources. Embodiments including hypervisors and virtual machines are disclosed.
US08584229B2
A data processing system features a hardware trusted platform module (TPM), and a virtual TPM (vTPM) manager. When executed, the vTPM manager detects a first request from a service virtual machine (VM) in the processing system, the first request to involve access to the hardware TPM (hTPM). In response, the vTPM manager automatically determines whether the first request should be allowed, based on filter rules identifying allowed or disallowed operations for the hTPM. The vTPM manager may also detect a second request to involve access to a software TPM (sTPM) in the processing system. In response, the vTPM manager may automatically determine whether the second request should be allowed, based on a second filter list identifying allowed or disallowed operations for the sTPM. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08584226B2
A system and method for regulating and analyzing inbound and outbound communications in and between computer networks on the basis of geographic security assertions are provided. Geographic information is collected, optimized, and shared between network objects to enforce network access control on the basis of configurable security assertions. Security assertions are configured and metrics displayed using maps and other geographic data in a graphical user interface.
US08584225B1
Methods and systems for push channel authentication for mobile computing devices are provided. A mobile application may be supplied, and an indication that the application has been loaded on the mobile computing device may be processed. A device identifier received from the mobile computing device through a network may be processed, and corresponding information may be stored in an authentication information repository. An authentication key and an authentication token may be generated and sent separately to the mobile computing device through a push channel and through a second channel. That the mobile application has received the authentication key and the authentication token may be verified. A notification that the mobile application has received the authentication key and the authentication token may be processed. The notification may be validated at least in part with the information corresponding to the device identifier in the authentication information repository.
US08584217B2
Processing a plurality of packets through at least one service, a privilege granter monitors at least two authentication packets to obtain a source unique network identifier, one of which does not have a vendor specific attribute and detects an authentication packet among the at least two authentication packets, and the authentication packet having the vendor specific attribute. The privilege granter receives at least one response authentication packet having at least one service definition identifier, the service definition identifier corresponding to the source unique network identifier, responsive to detecting the authentication packet having the vendor specific attribute and builds an entitlement database to pair the source unique network identifier to the service definition identifier. The privilege granter receives a session packet and determines that the source unique network identifier corresponds to a user entitlement in the entitlement database. The privilege granter routes the session packet to an addressable service.
US08584212B1
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for managing a risk of access to an on-demand service as a condition of permitting access to the on-demand service. These mechanisms and methods for providing such management can enable embodiments to help prohibit an unauthorized user from accessing an account of an authorized user when the authorized user inadvertently loses login information. The ability of embodiments to provide such management may lead to an improved security feature for accessing on-demand services.
US08584202B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may receive a resource token indicating that access to the resource has been requested. The apparatus may determine the value of an access value associated with at least one network token. The apparatus may then determine that the value of the access value is insufficient to grant access to the resource and determine that access to the resource over the network should be denied.
US08584196B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for efficiently evaluating a security policy. During operation, the system retrieves one or more roles associated with the user. Next, the system checks if a session-level cache exists for a set of Access Control Entries (ACEs) which is associated with the one or more roles. If this session-level cache exists, the system returns the set of ACEs from the session-level cache. Otherwise, the system generates the set of ACEs associated with the one or more roles from an Access Control List (ACL). During operation, the system can also update the one or more roles associated with the user and update the set of ACEs based on the updated one or more roles and the ACL. The system subsequently updates the session level cache with the updated set of ACEs and updated one or more roles.
US08584190B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving broadcasting data and supplementary data. The method includes: generating broadcasting data and supplementary data for a plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services to be provided to users; multiplexing the generated broadcasting data for broadcasting channels respectively allocated to the plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services, and multiplexing the generated supplementary data for one commonly broadcasting channel commonly allocated to the plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services; encoding the multiplexed supplementary data corresponding to a conditional access system; and transmitting the encoded supplementary data to the one common broadcasting channel, and transmitting the multiplexed broadcasting data to the allocated broadcasting channels.
US08584186B2
Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content are presented. In a particular embodiment, a method of providing supplemental content in a Video-On-Demand (VOD) system is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of a first supplemental content title selected from a plurality of supplemental content titles provided by a selectable menu, where each of the plurality of supplemental content titles is associated with a particular VOD offering. The selectable menu provided is to be displayed upon detection of discontinued transmission of the particular VOD offering. The method also includes providing first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title. The first supplemental content is accessible by a subscriber when the particular VOD offering is not being presented and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible by the subscriber when the particular VOD offering is being presented.
US08584183B2
A method and apparatus for providing a virtual video on demand services is disclosed. The method and apparatus disclose the storing of a segment of the video program in advance for VOD viewing at a later time. When the subscriber selects VOD service, a pre-stored video segment is retrieved for presentation to the subscriber. Remaining video program segments simultaneously broadcast on a plurality of channels are recorded in parallel while the pre-stored video program segment is retrieved and presented to the user.
US08584175B2
A digital downloading jukebox system including a mechanism for delivering custom services to a recognized user, including services for creating playlists, communicating with others, accessing other features, etc. is provided. In some exemplary embodiments, after a user is recognized, the jukebox system allows users to access a special front-end via the Internet or on an actual jukebox. Then, the user may, for example, create playlists, share songs with friends, send messages to friends, and access other value-added content. Other exemplary embodiments allow users to become certified, charging them for services without requiring constant inputting of coinage or credit card information. Such a system preferably learns about networks of friends, and enables managers to send similar messages to regular customers and/or others known to the system.
US08584172B2
An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc.
US08584167B2
A receiver provides an EPG. The EPG includes schedule information for content accessible by the receiver from a content provider presented as slots in a grid arranged by time and source. The receiver may determine recorded content is stored and incorporate content information for the recorded content in the EPG. The content information may include one or more portions of the instance of recorded content. The receiver may automatically incorporate the content information or may incorporate such information in response to user input. The receiver may incorporate additional information and/or access recorded content in response to user selection of content information. In some implementations, the recorded content may be recorded as part of an automatic system for recording multiple instances of content received via a multi-frequency signal from a content provider wherein the instances of content are all included in a same frequency and encoded utilizing the same control word.
US08584162B1
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US08584160B1
An object recognition and event representation system includes: a server and a broadcaster, coupled to the server. In response to a request from the broadcaster, the server sends an event metadata and a recognition data. Based on the event metadata and the recognition data, the broadcaster simultaneously performs a live video broadcasting and a real-time object recognition. If the broadcaster recognizes an object, the broadcaster sends a recognition result to the server.
US08584154B2
A turn table of a spindle motor in which a small-diameter disk can be freely attached and detached is disclosed, wherein the disk insertion unit includes an inclination portion guiding the inserted disk, and a vertical portion extensively formed from the inclination portion to the disk accommodation unit to allow an inner periphery of the disk to be brought into contact, and wherein the claw includes an inclination claw portion guiding the inserted disk and a vertical claw portion bent from the inclination claw portion to chuck the disk, and wherein an outer diameter of the vertical portion at the disk insertion unit is 14.94˜l4.96 mm and an outer diameter of the vertical claw portion at the claw is 15.17˜15.23 mm.
US08584150B2
A networked spreadsheet template designer allows administrators to easily create and deploy robust reporting and input applications that leverage existing spreadsheet templates and knowledge in an easy to use user interface. Templates are created to operate directly in the particular spreadsheet program environment and can be created using existing templates and modeling workbooks of that spreadsheet program without the need for any code to be written. The template designer uses dynamic link library (DLL) worksheet functions directly on template worksheets to perform specified actions. The DLL functions enable a user to create an interactive, custom application by automating/encapsulating complex tasks. The DLL functions are managed across a computer network through an administrator interface to create the functions and a viewer interface that combines an Explorer® window to select the functions and a spreadsheet window for the actual spreadsheet program that implements the DLL functions.
US08584149B2
Systems and methods of transferring information from at least one source context to at least one target context, and associated physical computer-readable medium. A service software application is used on a processor-based platform to transfer digital data content from at least one data source to at least one data target in at least a semi-automatic manner. The data source is associated with a source software application and the data target is associated with a target software application. The digital data content includes, for example, text data, image data, graphics data, or a clipboard object.
US08584146B1
The creation of a virtual network adapter is disclosed. At least one existing network device having an existing driver is discovered. At least one of an existing device-to-driver mapping and an existing driver associated with the existing network device is removed. A new driver capable of communicating with the existing network device using a common set of primitive commands is installed. The new driver is mapped to the existing device. The use of the virtual network adapter is also disclosed.
US08584145B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for consistent and transparent replication of multi process multi threaded applications. The computer readable medium includes computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system. Primary applications runs on primary hosts and one or more replicated instances of each primary application run on one or more backup hosts. Replica consistency between primary application and its replicas is provided by imposing the execution ordering of the primary on all its replicas. The execution ordering on a primary is captured by intercepting calls to the operating system and libraries, sending replication messages to its replicas, and using interception on the replicas to enforce said captured primary execution order. Replication consistency is provided without requiring modifications to the application, operating system or libraries.
US08584138B2
An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus and a method for direct switching of software threads. The apparatus and method include performing acts including: issuing a wakeup call from a first thread to a second thread in a sleep state; removing the second thread from the sleep state; switching out the first thread from the resource; switching in the second thread to the resource; and running the second thread on the resource.
US08584132B2
Various embodiments provide a two-way interface between a URC driver (URCD) and various Protocol Adaption Layer (PAL) drivers. The two-way interface can enable bandwidth to be shared and managed among multiple different PALs. The two-way interface can also be used to implement common radio functionality such as beaconing, channel selection, and address conflict resolution. In at least some embodiments, the two-way interface can be utilized for power management to place PALs in lower power states to conserve power and to support remote wake-up functionality. Further, at least some embodiments can enable vendor-specific PALs to interact with vendor-specific hardware.
US08584113B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for cross-updating of software between self-service financial transaction machines are described. A first computer may identify connection of a removable computer-readable storage medium to the first computer. The first computer may determine whether data representing a particular version of an image of a software stack for the first computer exists on the removable computer-readable storage medium. Responsive to determining that no data representing the particular version of the image of the software stack for the first computer exists on the removable computer-readable storage medium, data indicating that no data representing the particular version of the image of the software stack for the first computer exists on the removable computer-readable storage medium may be outputted, and data representing a second computer with data representing the particular version of the image of the software stack for the first computer may be outputted.
US08584111B2
A code region forming part of a computer program is modified during execution of the computer program by a plurality of threads. In one aspect, identical modification instructions are provided to each thread for modifying a site in the code region having a desirable idempotent atomic modification, and the modification instructions direct each thread to make the desirable idempotent atomic modification. In another aspect, a thread is selected to modify the code region, each thread other than the selected thread is directed to execute an alternative execution path that generates output identical to the output of the code region after the code region has been modified, and, responsive to directing each thread other than the selected thread, the selected thread is directed to modify the code region.
US08584108B2
A computer-implemented method for evaluating a machine-executable software code specification includes using the computer to generate a system dependence graph corresponding to the software code specification. The system dependence graph includes elements including nodes and edges, wherein the computer evaluates the system dependence graph. The evaluation of the system dependence graph includes selecting a variable modified in the software code specification, traversing to selected elements of the system dependence graph, the selected elements associated with the selected variable, evaluating only the selected elements of the system dependence graph, and identifying ones of the selected elements whereat a state of the selected variable is modified.
US08584103B2
An example embodiment disclosed is a method for reducing parallelism of computer source code. The method includes receiving multi-threaded program source code and representing the multi-threaded program source code as a polyhedral framework stored in computer readable memory. The polyhedral framework is used to convert the polyhedral framework from the multi-threaded program source code representation to a single-threaded program source code representation.
US08584099B1
Apparatuses and methods for producing run-time architectures of computer program modules. One embodiment includes creating an abstract graph from the computer program module and from containment information corresponding to the computer program module, wherein the abstract graph has nodes including types and objects, and wherein the abstract graph relates an object to a type, and wherein for a specific object the abstract graph relates the specific object to a type containing the specific object; and creating a runtime graph from the abstract graph, wherein the runtime graph is a representation of the true runtime object graph, wherein the runtime graph represents containment information such that, for a specific object, the runtime graph relates the specific object to another object that contains the specific object.
US08584096B2
Systems and methods that facilitate electronic audit recording and tracking of interactions in an industrial control system via employing a differentiation engine that supplies an object-oriented presentation of an audit trail—and further present a view of a desired segment associated with a PLC program (e.g., a particular run of the PLC program), for an object that an audit is requested for. A user (e.g., a customer of the industrial process) can initially identify an object and subsequently view typically all changes to such identified object. Accordingly, a general requirement for checking every version to determine a change to the object is mitigated.
US08584079B2
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing a quality on submit process. One process includes operations for monitoring a source control system for submissions of new source code and determining that new source code has been submitted by a user to the source control system. A request to perform a quality control task for the new source code is sent to at least one quality control application. A report from the quality control application regarding results of the quality control task is received. A general report of results of each quality control task performed by each of the at least one quality control application is generated. The general report is sent to the user.
US08584077B1
A method for operating a computer system to generate a layout of a device and a computer-readable medium containing instructions that cause a computer system to carry out that method are disclosed. The computer system has a display that includes a display area. The computer system provides a list of objects and creates user selected objects from the list for inclusion in the display area. The computer assigns one of a plurality of operating modes for each connectivity object in the layout. The computer generates a Net assignment for each connectivity object that is not forced to have a specific Net assignment and for which automatic assignment of a Net is allowed. The computer generated assignment depends on the operating mode associated with that connectivity object. The operating mode of at least one of the connectivity objects can be altered by input from a user of said computer system.
US08584067B2
Techniques are disclosed relating to detecting and minimizing timing problems created by clock domain crossing (CDC) in integrated circuits. In various embodiments, one or more timing parameters are associated with a path that crosses between clock domains in an integrated circuit, where the one or more timing parameters specify a propagation delay for the path. In one embodiment, the timing parameters may be distributed to different design stages using a configuration file. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters may be used in conjunction with an RTL model to simulate propagation of a data signal along the path. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters may be used in conjunction with a netlist to create a physical design for the integrated circuit, where the physical design includes a representation of the path that has the specified propagation delay.
US08584063B1
An approach is provided in which a computing system retrieves a design description that corresponds to an electronic circuit design. The computing system selects an assertion corresponding to the electronic circuit design, which includes one or more assertion signal identifiers corresponding to one or more description signal points included in the design description. Next, the computing system creates a partitioned region from the design description based upon the description signal points. The computing system compiles and verifies the partitioned region that, in turn, verifies the electronic circuit design.
US08584051B1
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed which include displaying a circular slider on a mobile device, the circular slider displaying a current date, displaying a geographic map relative to the circular slider on the mobile device, receiving from a user of the mobile device, at a location on the circular slider, a touch gesture indicating a circular motion; in response to the touch gesture indication of the circular motion being received, changing the current date on the circular slider to a future date for each predetermined amount of circular motion received, and displaying on the geographic map on the mobile device, a representation corresponding to each of one or more future locations indicating that one or more friends of the user are going to be physically present at on the respective future location on the future date.
US08584050B2
In some embodiments, a device displays content on a touch screen display and detects input by finger gestures. In response to the finger gestures, the device selects content, visually distinguishes the selected content, and/or updates the selected content based on detected input. In some embodiments, the device displays a command display area that includes one or more command icons; detects activation of a command icon in the command display area; and, in response to detecting activation of the command icon in the command display area, performs a corresponding action with respect to the selected content. Exemplary actions include cutting, copying, and pasting content.
US08584049B1
In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a text display region comprising one or more characters. The method may further include outputting, in response to receiving an indication of an input unit detected at a first location of a presence-sensitive input device, a graphical indicator comprising a representation of a threshold distance. The method may further include receiving an indication of a gesture comprising movement of the input unit from the first location to a second location, and outputting a visual change of the graphical indicator corresponding to the movement of the input unit. The method may further include determining that a distance between the first location and the second location satisfies the threshold distance, and deleting, in response to determining that the threshold distance is satisfied, the one or more characters from the text display region.
US08584042B2
A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for creating visualizations of documents are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an electronic visual, audio, or audiovisual content; generating a display for authoring a multimedia representation of the received electronic content; receiving user input, if any, through the generated display; and generating a multimedia representation of the received electronic content utilizing received user input.
US08584034B2
User interfaces for navigating structured content. In one example embodiment, a user interface for navigating structured content includes a grid and a plurality of multi-dimensional cells each having a unique position in the grid. Each cell is configured to display only a first dimension of structured content before selection and display one or more additional dimensions of structured content upon selection.
US08584029B1
Systems and methods for assisting user interaction with physical objects. A system may include an interactive display surface configured to display visual output and receive a physical object, where the object possesses encoded data including data other than data directly identifying the object. The system may include a computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by the surface computer to implement software applications. In response to the display surface receiving the object, the surface computer may be configured to read the encoded data passively with respect to the object, without using an active electronic interface between the surface computer and the object, and to display a user interface for software applications dependent upon the passively read encoded data, such that one or more elements of the user interface are visually associated on the interactive display surface with the physical object.
US08584000B2
Even if data includes a defect or an outlier in features thereof, the influence of the defect or the outlier of the features is suppressed to perform a highly precise abnormality detection, and data including high-dimensional features is processable to accomplish the highly stable detection of an abnormality. The abnormality detection system which detects abnormal data in a data sequence including data of multi-dimensional features, and the system includes storing or generating a generation distribution of features of the data and reference data indicative of normal data; obtaining, every piece of the data sequence, a probability that when features are virtually generated from the generation distribution, the features are nearer to the reference data than the features of each piece of the data; and taking the probability as a one-dimensional dissimilarity degree between each piece of the data and the reference data, thereby determining abnormal data.
US08583997B2
A method for forming a bit sequence having a number of M bits from a bit sequence having a number of N bits, wherein M/2
US08583988B2
A computer program product for performing input/output (I/O) processing is provided. The computer program product is configured to perform: obtaining information relating to an I/O operation at a channel subsystem; generating and storing in local channel memory at least one address control word (ACW) specifying one or more host memory locations for data transfer and including a data check word generation field and/or a data check word save field; responsive to receiving an input data transfer request including at least one data check word, storing the at least one data check word in the data check word save field and performing a check of the data to determine whether the data has been corrupted; and responsive to receiving an output data transfer, generating at least one data check word based on the data check word generation field and appending the at least one data check word to the data.
US08583981B2
Systems and methods for constructing concatenated codes for data storage channels, such as holographic storage channels, are provided. The concatenated codes include an outer BCH code and an inner iteratively decodable code, such as an LDPC code or turbo code. The correction power and coding rate of one or both of the codes may be programmable based on the channel characteristics and the desired SNR coding gain. The correction power and/or coding rate of the inner and/or outer code may also be dynamically adjusted in real-time to compensate for time-varying error conditions on the channel.
US08583978B2
In one implementation, a method of distributing a multicast message in a wireless mesh network includes receiving a multicast message from a parent node of an intermediate node. The method includes transmitting the multicast message to child nodes of the intermediate node. The method includes storing the multicast message in a cache at the intermediate node. The method includes intercepting an acknowledgement message from each acknowledging child node within an acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes accessing information indicating a population of the child nodes to which the multicast message transmission was directed. The method includes comparing the acknowledging subset of the child nodes with the population of the child nodes. The method includes identifying a non-acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes retransmitting the multicast message to the non-acknowledging subset of the child nodes.
US08583975B2
A packet combining device for a communication system using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) includes: a HARQ buffer; a combiner configured to combine data which is previously received and stored in the HARQ buffer with newly-received data; and a channel decoder configured to attempt channel decoding by using the combined received data provided from the combiner and provide one or more of log likelihood ratios (LLRs) computed for a systematic bit and a parity bit of the combined received data to the combiner such that the one or more LLRs are combined with the data used for channel decoding.
US08583957B2
System and method for synchronizing devices. A device reads a first counter coupled to and associated with a master clock and a second counter coupled to and associated with the device, where the device is one of one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, where each device includes a respective clock, and is coupled to and associated with a respective second counter. Each of the first counter and the second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices. The device determines a difference between the device's associated second counter and the first counter, and determines and stores a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, where the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events.
US08583950B2
A power supply circuit for a CPU (central processing unit) includes a CPU, a power supply, a plurality of voltage adjustment modules, a pulse width modulator, a plurality of resistivity selection modules, and a module management unit. The resistivity selection module includes an electronic switch, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, and a fourth resistor. When the CPU operates abnormally, the power supply circuit utilizes the resistors in the resistivity selection module as voltage dividers, thereby restricting MOSFET or other components to operate in a normal voltage range.
US08583948B2
Techniques for determining a communication interface of a computer platform. In an embodiment, a power management unit of a computer platform provides to an agent of the platform an indication of a power state. In certain embodiments, the agent determines, based on the indication of the power state, that an interface is expected to be available. The agent may designate information for transmission via the first interface—e.g. in lieu of transmitting the information via a second interface which is available prior to the first interface becoming available.
US08583947B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for limiting power consumption of a non-volatile memory (NVM) using a power limiting scheme that distributes a number of concurrent NVM operations over time. This provides a “current consumption cap” that fixes an upper limit of current consumption for the NVM, thereby eliminating peak power events. In one embodiment, power consumption of a NVM can be limited by receiving data suitable for use as a factor in adjusting a current threshold from at least one of a plurality of system sources. The current threshold can be less than a peak current capable of being consumed by the NVM and can be adjusted based on the received data. A power limiting scheme can be used that limits the number of concurrent NVM operations performed so that a cumulative current consumption of the NVM does not exceed the adjusted current threshold.
US08583942B2
An F-RAM authenticating memory device and method providing secure mutual authentication between a Host system and a memory in order to gain read/write access to the F-RAM user memory contents. The device and technique of the present invention uses an Advanced Encryption Standard AES128 encryption module in conjunction with a true hardware random number generator and basic exclusive OR (XOR) functions in order to achieve a secure algorithm with a relatively small amount of processing. Due to inherently faster write times than that of conventional floating gate non-volatile memory technologies, the use of F-RAM significantly reduces the time available to interfere with a critical security parameter (CSP) update. Moreover, unlike floating gate technologies, F-RAM's read vs. write current signature is balanced making it less prone to side channel attacks while also providing relatively faster erase times.
US08583941B2
A computer checking tool that can repeatedly process a plurality of data sets including data distributed according to a statistical rule may include an estimator that can establish, for a data set, a value characterizing the reproduction of a criterion concerning the data contained therein. The tool may also include a driver that calls the estimator with a plurality of data sets in order to determine a plurality of values, establish a new plurality of sets from the plurality of values, and repeat the estimator call with a new previously established plurality of sets until a condition is verified that involves an extremum of the plurality of values and/or number of repetitions. In addition, the tool may include a mixer that establishes a new set of data on the basis of an existing data set while maintaining the distribution according to the statistical rule.
US08583927B2
A streaming system includes an authoring unit (2), a stream server (3) and a client terminal (5). The authoring unit generates a file composed of encrypted contents data and the ancillary information at least containing the packetizing control information for generating an RTP packet, a non-encrypted codec dependent header made up of the information pertinent to encoded contents data, and the encryption information for decrypting the encrypted contents data form packet to packet. The streaming server packetizes the encrypted contents data along with at least the codec dependent header and distributes the resulting data as a stream. The client terminal refers to the codec dependent header of the received packet, re-assembles the packet, and decrypts the encrypted contents data of the re-assembled packet to generate contents data.
US08583926B1
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for providing security against phishing attacks. The method can include receiving a login ID from a client, and providing an encrypted commitment to the client. The method can also include receiving a one-time password (OTP) from the client, and validating the OTP. The method can also include sending a commitment key, to be authenticated by the client, receiving a static password from the client and authenticating the client. Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system for providing security against phishing attacks. The system can include one or more servers configured to receive a login ID from a client, and provide an encrypted commitment to the client. The processors can be configured to receive a one-time password (OTP) from the client, validate the OTP, send a commitment key, to be authenticated by the client, receive a static password from the client and authenticate the client.
US08583922B2
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture limit unauthorized access to digital services. A hidden non-modifiable identification number is embedded into a nonvolatile memory component. The hidden number uniquely identifies a device containing the nonvolatile memory component and access to digital services is based on rights associated with the hidden number. Access to the nonvolatile memory is isolated such that access to the identification number is limited to a fixed state custom logic block. The custom logic block has hardware configured to use the hidden number and other information to provide an output that is a function of the hidden number and that can be used to confirm an identity of a device without revealing information that can be used to impersonate the device.
US08583918B2
A wireless communication system includes a plurality of terminals connected to at least one wireless network on the basis of authority of security configuration parameters shared by the plurality of terminals. Each of the plurality of terminals revokes security configuration parameters of the terminal itself or security configuration parameters of another terminal in accordance with an agreement with said another terminal.
US08583914B2
In one embodiment, a method for providing secure communications using a proxy is provided. The proxy negotiates with a client and a server to determine a session key to use with communications between the client and the proxy and between the proxy and the server. Encrypted data may then be received from the client at the proxy. The proxy can decrypt the encrypted data for processing using the session key. In one embodiment, the decrypted data is not altered. The proxy then sends the encrypted data that was received from the client to the server without re-encrypting the data that was decrypted. Because the proxy did not alter the data in its processing of the decrypted data and the same session key is used between communications for the proxy and the server, the encrypted data stream that was received from the client can be forwarded to the server.
US08583913B1
External network connectivity of an internal host can be measured by giving an external computer a payload identifying the internal host and instructions to deliver the payload to an external host. The external host may receive the payload and contact the internal host. The internal host's response and receipt of the payload may then determine the Internet connectivity of the internal host. The path from the computer through the trusted host to the internal server shows external network connectivity without exposing the internal host to the external network directly.
US08583904B2
Embodiments of a system and a method in which a processor may execute instructions that cause the processor to receive an input vector and a control vector are disclosed. The executed instructions may also cause the processor to perform a negation operation dependent upon the input vector and the control vector.
