US08609631B2

Provided herein are compounds used to inhibit the deamination enzyme responsible for the inactivation of therapeutic compounds, and methods of using them.
US08609612B2

Methods of treating individuals with a glucose metabolism disorder, and compositions thereof, are provided.
US08609605B2

Immunostimulatory methods and systems for treating or preventing atherosclerosis and/or a condition associated thereto in an individual.
US08609604B2

A method of preventing or treating conditions of peri-menopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal skin comprising applying to the skin tissue, a safe and effective amount of a composition comprising between 1.0% to 3% by weight of S-palmitoyl glutathione and a dermatologically acceptable carrier.
US08609603B2

The present application relates to perfume raw materials, perfume delivery systems and consumer products comprising such perfume raw materials and/or such perfume delivery systems, as well as processes for making and using such perfume raw materials, perfume delivery systems and consumer products. Such perfume raw materials and compositions, including the delivery systems, disclosed herein expand the perfume communities' options as such perfume raw materials can provide variations on character and such compositions can provide desired odor profiles.
US08609602B2

Disclosed are cleaning solutions. More particularly, non-toxic solutions of base, water, alcohol and detergent, that effectively and surprisingly eliminate contaminating aliphatic acids in aqueous solutions. When present as a foam or even a contaminating film remaining on various parts and surfaces, aliphatic acid contaminants can be present a large and costly problem in manufacturing operations, cleaning tasks, personal hygiene. The need to remove such contaminants arises in a myriad environments and situations, such as during the manufacture of detergents, pharmaceuticals, consumer products, coring and core analysis, manipulation of oils, fuels, fermentation applications, manufacture of emollients, moisturizers, liquors, foods such as seafood, milk, butter and other dairy products, water processing, paper products, tissue culture, reusable clinical equipment, and the like. Presented are cleaning compositions and methods that effectively eliminate and prevent build up of such dangerous and costly contaminants in aqueous solutions.
US08609597B2

A lubricant or process fluid composition having excellent low temperature properties comprises a capped estolide ester, a polyalphaolefin, a synthetic ester and/or polyalkylene glycol, and a pour point depressant. The combination of the three base oils plus the pour point depressant produces a synergistic composition that may have a pour point less than −15° C., preferably less than −35° C., while also having more than 50 percent by weight renewable carbons and being economical and effective in a wide variety of applications.
US08609596B2

To provide a gear oil composition containing a base oil, and compounded therein, (A) an ashless dithiocarbamate compound and (B) an ester of pentaerythritol and a C12 to C20 branched fatty acid, the ester having a hydroxyl value of 20 to 100 mg KOH/g. The gear oil composition has a high transmission efficiency and shows both of resistance to sludge formation and extreme pressure property.
US08609590B2

A synergistic antimicrobial composition containing flumetsulam and thiabendazole.
US08609581B2

A honeycomb structure includes: porous partition walls having a large number of pores and disposed to form a plurality of cells communicating between two end faces, and plugged portions disposed to plug each of the cells on one of the end faces. A percentage of the number of carbon particulates contained in combustion exhaust gas satisfying the following condition (1) and passing through a honeycomb structure is 80% or more at a space velocity of 25000/h. The condition (1) is that the carbon particulates has a mean diameter of 0.07 to 0.2 μm, a ratio of the carbon particulates having a diameter of 1 μm or more is 0.1% or less in number and that a concentration of the carbon particulates is 10 mg/m3. The honeycomb structure is excellent in purification efficiency, has low pressure loss, and is mountable even in a limited space.
US08609578B2

An exhaust gas purifying catalyst is constituted by: noble metal particles (1); first compounds (2) which support the noble metal particles (1); second compounds (3) different in type from the first compounds (2); and oxides (4) which surround the noble metal particles (1), the first compounds (2) and the second compounds (3). A median diameter of the first compounds (2) and a median diameter of the second compounds (3) satisfy a relationship of a following inequality: median diameter of first compounds
US08609577B2

A catalyst for steam reforming of methanol, which includes a carrier material comprising a metal oxide and deposited thereon a) indium oxide (In2O3) and at least one further metal from the group of palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh) and iridium (Ir) and/or b) an alloy comprising indium and at least one further metal from the group of palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh) and iridium (Ir), as catalytically active substances.
US08609553B2

Methods of forming rutile titanium dioxide. The method comprises exposing a transition metal (such as V, Cr, W, Mn, Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pt, Ge, Sn, or Pb) to oxygen gas (O2) to oxidize the transition metal. Rutile titanium dioxide is formed over the oxidized transition metal. The rutile titanium dioxide is formed by atomic layer deposition by introducing a gaseous titanium halide precursor and water to the oxidized transition metal. Methods of forming semiconductor structures having rutile titanium dioxide are also disclosed.
US08609550B2

A structure, such as an integrated circuit device, is described that includes a line of material with critical dimensions which vary within a distribution substantially less than that of a mask element, such as a patterned resist element, used in etching the line. Techniques are described for processing a line of crystalline phase material which has already been etched using the mask element, in a manner which straightens an etched sidewall surface of the line. The straightened sidewall surface does not carry the sidewall surface variations introduced by photolithographic processes, or other patterning processes, involved in forming the mask element and etching the line.
US08609544B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising forming a first photoresist pattern having a hole on a first layer, forming a surface curing layer in the hole and curing the first photoresist pattern on an inner sidewall of the hole to form a first curing pattern, removing the surface curing layer, forming a second photoresist pattern in the hole and curing the second photoresist pattern that contacts with the first curing pattern to form a second curing pattern, removing the first and second photoresist patterns, and etching the first layer using the first and second curing patterns as an etch barrier.
US08609543B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate having a first and a second region, forming an etch target layer over the substrate, forming a hard mask layer over the etch target layer to have different thicknesses over the first and the second regions, forming a hard mask pattern by etching the hard mask layer, and etching the etch target layer using the hard mask pattern as an etch mask to form a target pattern having different densities over the first and the second regions.
US08609540B2

Methods and apparatus for forming a semiconductor device are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is a method of forming an interconnect structure that results in the interconnect structure having a top surface and portions of the side walls of the interconnect structure covered in a dissimilar material. In some embodiments, the dissimilar material can be a conductive material or a nano-alloy. The interconnect structure can be formed by removing a portion of the interconnect structure, and covering the interconnect structure with the dissimilar material. The interconnect structure can comprise a damascene structure, such as a single or dual damascene structure, or alternatively, can comprise a silicon-through via (TSV) structure.
US08609539B2

An embedded semiconductor device substrate having a semiconductor device integrated therein is formed by disposing a semiconductor device in an opening provided on an insulating resin, and sandwiching the semiconductor device and the insulating resin with a front surface wiring layer and a rear surface wiring layer and performing heat pressing. Connection between bumps of the semiconductor device and the front surface wiring layer is made with a connection wiring pattern. The connection wiring pattern is formed by patterning a resist film by direct exposure thereof with a light beam, and then performing etching. Thereby, it becomes possible to absorb a mounting error of a semiconductor device to a printed wiring board and a positional error of electrodes between semiconductor devices accompanying the tendency of reduction of the pitch of a semiconductor device, and to perform electric connection with a wiring pattern securely.
US08609536B1

Apparatuses and methods for stair step formation using at least two masks, such as in a memory device, are provided. One example method can include forming a first mask over a conductive material to define a first exposed area, and forming a second mask over a portion of the first exposed area to define a second exposed area, the second exposed area is less than the first exposed area. Conductive material is removed from the second exposed area. An initial first dimension of the second mask is less than a first dimension of the first exposed area and an initial second dimension of the second mask is at least a second dimension of the first exposed area plus a distance equal to a difference between the initial first dimension of the second mask and a final first dimension of the second mask after a stair step structure is formed.
US08609532B2

The present disclosure relates to the field of fabricating microelectronic packages, wherein microelectronic components of the microelectronic packages may have sintered conductive vias comprising sintered metal and magnetic particles.
US08609526B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes forming a copper-containing seed layer on a wafer, and performing a descum step on an exposed surface of the copper-containing seed layer. The descum step is performed using a process gas including fluorine and oxygen. A reduction/purge step is then performed on the exposed surface of the copper-containing seed layer using a nitrogen-containing gas. A copper-containing layer is plated on the copper-containing seed layer.
US08609521B2

A silicon carbide substrate having a surface is prepared. An impurity region is formed by implanting ions from the surface into the silicon carbide substrate. Annealing for activating the impurity region is performed. The annealing includes the step of applying first laser light having a first wavelength to the surface of the silicon carbide substrate, and the step of applying second laser light having a second wavelength to the surface of the silicon carbide substrate. The silicon carbide substrate has first and second extinction coefficients at the first and second wavelengths, respectively. A ratio of the first extinction coefficient to the first wavelength is higher than 5×105/m. A ratio of the second extinction coefficient to the second wavelength is lower than 5×105/m. Consequently, damage to the surface of the silicon carbide substrate during laser annealing can be reduced.
US08609509B2

When forming sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structures in an early manufacturing stage, superior process robustness, reduced yield loss and an enhanced degree of flexibility in designing the overall process flow may be accomplished by forming and patterning the sensitive gate materials prior to forming isolation regions.
US08609508B2

A shallow trench isolation is formed in a semiconductor substrate adjacent a MOS transistor. The shallow trench is filled with a fill material while other processing steps are performed. The fill material is later removed through a thin well etched into layers above the trench, leaving the trench hollow. A thin strain inducing layer is then formed on the sidewall of the hollow trench. The well is then plugged, leaving the trench substantially hollow except for the thin strain inducing layer on the sidewall of the trench. The strain inducing layer is configured to induce compressive or tensile strain on a channel region of the MOS transistor and thereby to enhance conduction properties of the transistor.
US08609505B2

A capacitor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a first capacitor plate positioned on the semiconductor substrate, the first capacitor plate including a polysilicon structure having a surrounding spacer; a silicide layer formed in a first portion of an upper surface of the first capacitor plate; a capacitor dielectric layer formed over a second portion of the upper surface of the first capacitor plate and extending laterally beyond the spacer to contact the semiconductor substrate; a contact in an interlayer dielectric (ILD), the contact contacting the silicide layer and a first metal layer over the ILD; and a second capacitor plate over the capacitor dielectric layer, wherein a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor is formed by the first capacitor plate, the capacitor dielectric layer and the second capacitor plate and a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitor is formed by the second capacitor plate, the capacitor dielectric layer and the semiconductor substrate.
US08609504B2

The present invention provides a 3D via capacitor and a method for forming the same. The capacitor includes an insulating layer on a substrate. The insulating layer has a via having sidewalls and a bottom. A first electrode overlies the sidewalls and at least a portion of the bottom of the via. A first high-k dielectric material layer overlies the first electrode. A first conductive plate is over the first high-k dielectric material layer. A second high-k dielectric material layer overlies the first conductive plate and leaves a remaining portion of the via unfilled. A second electrode is formed in the remaining portion of the via. The first conductive plate is substantially parallel to the first electrode and is not in contact with the first and second electrodes. An array of such 3D via capacitors is also provided.
US08609502B1

In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having first and second surfaces is prepared. Second conductivity type impurities for forming a collector layer are implanted to the second surface using a mask that has an opening at a portion where the collector layer will be formed. An oxide layer is formed by enhanced-oxidizing the collector layer. First conductivity type impurities for forming a first conductivity type layer are implanted to the second surface using the oxide layer as a mask. A support base is attached to the second surface and a thickness of the semiconductor substrate is reduced from the first surface. An element part including a base region, an emitter region, a plurality of trenches, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode, and a first electrode is formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08609500B2

A semiconductor device production method includes: forming in a silicon substrate first and second region of first and second conductivity type in contact with each other; forming a gate electrode above the first and the second region; forming an insulation film covering part of the gate electrode and part of the second region; forming a source region and a drain region of the second conductivity type; forming interlayer insulation film covering the gate electrode and the insulation film; and forming in the interlayer insulation film first, second and third contact hole reaching the source region, the drain region, and the gate electrode, respectively, and at least one additional hole reaching the insulation film, and forming a conductive film in the first, the second, and the third contact hole and the additional hole to form first, second and third electrically conductive via and electrically conductive member.
US08609497B2

The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes forming first and second gate structures over first and second regions of a substrate, respectively, forming spacers on sidewalls of the first and second gate structures, the spacers being formed of a first material, forming a capping layer over the first and second gate structures, the capping layer being formed of a second material different from the first material, forming a protection layer over the second region to protect the second gate structure, removing the capping layer over the first gate structure; removing the protection layer over the second region, epitaxially (epi) growing a semiconductor material on exposed portions of the substrate in the first region, and removing the capping layer over the second gate structure by an etching process that exhibits an etching selectivity of the second material to the first material.
US08609492B2

Methods of forming, devices, and apparatus associated with a vertical memory cell are provided. One example method of forming a vertical memory cell can include forming a semiconductor structure over a conductor line. The semiconductor structure can have a first region that includes a first junction between first and second doped materials. An etch-protective material is formed on a first pair of sidewalls of the semiconductor structure above the first region. A volume of the first region is reduced relative to a body region of the semiconductor structure in a first dimension.
US08609490B2

A method to form a LDMOS transistor includes forming a gate/source/body opening and a drain opening in a field oxide on a substrate structure, forming a gate oxide in the gate/source/body opening, and forming a polysilicon layer over the substrate structure. The polysilicon layer is anisotropically etched to form polysilicon spacer gates separated by a space in the gate/source/body opening and a polysilicon drain contact in the drain opening. A body region is formed self-aligned about outer edges of the polysilicon spacer gates, a source region is formed self-aligned about inner edges of the polysilicon spacer gates, and a drain region is formed under the polysilicon drain contact and self-aligned with respect to the polysilicon spacer gates. A drift region forms in the substrate structure between the body region and the drain region, and a channel region forms in the body region between the source region and the drift region.
US08609489B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming memory. A series of photoresist features may be formed over a gate stack, and a placeholder may be formed at an end of said series. The placeholder may be spaced from the end of said series by a gap. A layer may be formed over and between the photoresist features, over the placeholder, and within said gap. The layer may be anisotropically etched into a plurality of first vertical structures along edges of the photoresist features, and into a second vertical structure along an edge of the placeholder. A mask may be formed over the second vertical structure. Subsequently, the first vertical structures may be used to pattern string gates while the mask is used to pattern a select gate. Some embodiments include methods of forming conductive runners, and some embodiments may include semiconductor constructions.
US08609487B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising a first insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a charge storage layer formed on the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the charge storage layer, and a control electrode formed on the second insulating film, wherein forming the second insulating film comprises forming an insulating film containing silicon using source gas not containing chlorine, and forming an insulating film containing oxygen and a metal element on the insulating film containing silicon.
US08609485B2

A semiconductor-based electronic fuse may be provided in a sophisticated semiconductor device having a bulk configuration by appropriately embedding the electronic fuse into a semiconductor material of reduced heat conductivity. For example, a silicon/germanium fuse region may be provided in the silicon base material. Consequently, sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of replacement gate approaches on bulk devices substantially without affecting the electronic characteristics of the electronic fuses.
US08609483B2

Electrical device structures constructed in an isolated p-well that is wholly contained within a core n-well. Methods of forming electrical devices within an isolated p-well that is wholly contained within a core n-well using a baseline CMOS process flow.
US08609480B2

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes performing at least one etching process on a semiconducting substrate to form a plurality of trenches and a plurality of fins for the FinFET device in the substrate, forming a first layer of insulating material in the trenches, wherein an upper surface of the first layer of insulating material is below an upper surface of the substrate, forming an isolation layer within the trenches above the first layer of insulating material, wherein the isolation layer has an upper surface that is below the upper surface of the substrate, forming a second layer of insulating material above the isolation layer, wherein the second layer of insulating material has an upper surface that is below the upper surface of the substrate, and forming a gate electrode structure above the second layer of insulating material.
US08609478B2

It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor having stable electric characteristics. It is another object to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device at lower cost with high productivity. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor where a semiconductor layer including a channel formation region using an oxide semiconductor layer, a source region, and a drain region are formed using an oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment for reducing impurities such as moisture (heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed so as to improve the purity of the oxide semiconductor layer.
US08609476B2

The present invention provides a vapor deposition method and a vapor deposition system of film formation systems by which EL materials can be used more efficiently and EL materials having superior uniformity with high throughput rate are formed. According to the present invention, inside a film formation chamber, an evaporation source holder in a rectangular shape in which a plurality of containers sealing evaporation material is moved at a certain pitch to a substrate and the evaporation material is vapor deposited on the substrate. Further, a longitudinal direction of an evaporation source holder in a rectangular shape may be oblique to one side of a substrate, while the evaporation source holder is being moved. Furthermore, it is preferable that a movement direction of an evaporation source holder during vapor deposition be different from a scanning direction of a laser beam while a TFT is formed.
US08609475B2

Methods for forming a NiO film on a substrate for use with a resistive switching memory device are presenting including: preparing a nickel ion solution; receiving the substrate, where the substrate includes a bottom electrode, the bottom electrode utilized as a cathode; forming a Ni(OH)2 film on the substrate, where the forming the Ni(OH)2 occurs at the cathode; and annealing the Ni(OH)2 film to form the NiO film, where the NiO film forms a portion of a resistive switching memory element. In some embodiments, methods further include forming a top electrode on the NiO film and before the forming the Ni(OH)2 film, pre-treating the substrate. In some embodiments, methods are presented where the bottom electrode and the top electrode are a conductive material.
US08609474B2

Disclosed are a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. In the semiconductor device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at the time of forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, a field plate electrode, and a gate electrode on a substrate having a heterojunction structure such as AlGaN/GaN, the field plate electrode made of the same metal as the gate electrode is formed on the side surface of a second support part positioned below a head part of the gate electrode so as to prevent the gate electrode from collapsing and improve high-frequency and high-voltage characteristic of the semiconductor device.
US08609471B2

A structure (46) for holding an integrated circuit (IC) die (50) during packing includes a flexible structurally reinforced silicone adhesive film (22) and a mold frame (44). The mold frame (44) adheres to an adhesive side (38) of the film (22). A method (20) of packaging the IC die (50) includes placing the IC die (50) on the adhesive film (22) with its active surface (52) and bond pads (54) in contact with an adhesive side (38) of the film (22). A molding compound (58) is dispensed over the IC die, and the IC die (50) is encapsulated using compression molding to form a compression molded encapsulant layer (70). IC die (50) is subsequently released from the film (22) as a panel (72) of IC dies (50).
US08609469B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: supplying a supercritical fluid mixed with an under-fill material to a stacked unit, which has a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips; and filling the under-fill material in the space between the plurality of the semiconductor chips, by heating the stacked unit placed in the inside of the high-pressure vessel and curing the under-fill material flowing in the space between the plurality of the semiconductor chips by a polymerization reaction, while the supercritical fluid is being supplied.
US08609462B2

A method includes dispensing an underfill between a first package component and a second package component, wherein the first package component is placed on a lower jig, and the second package component is over and bonded to the first package component. A through-opening is in the lower jig and under the first package component. The underfill is cured, wherein during the step of curing the underfill, a force is applied to flatten the first package component. The force is applied by performing an action selected from the group consisting of vacuuming and air blowing through the through-opening.
US08609460B2

A semiconductor structure and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The fabricating method includes forming a gate, a source, and a drain on a substrate and forming an oxide semiconductor material between the gate and the source and drain. The oxide semiconductor material is formed by performing a deposition process, and nitrogen gas is introduced before the deposition process is completely performed, so as to form oxide semiconductor nitride on the oxide semiconductor material.
US08609457B2

Generally, the present disclosure is directed to a semiconductor device with DRAM bit lines made from the same material as the gate electrodes in non-memory regions of the device, and methods of making the same. One illustrative method disclosed herein comprises forming a semiconductor device including a memory array and a logic region. The method further comprises forming a buried word line in the memory array and, after forming the buried word line, performing a first common process operation to form at least a portion of a conductive gate electrode in the logic region and to form at least a portion of a conductive bit line in the memory array.
US08609454B2

A self-assembly apparatus for assembling a plurality of devices with a predetermined aspect ratio is provided. The self-assembly apparatus includes a guiding element, a vibration device, and a magnetic field inducing device. The guiding element has a mesh structure. The vibration device is coupled to the guiding element and configured to vibrate the guiding element. The magnetic field inducing device is disposed below the guiding element and configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field to rotate each of the devices. Through a collective effect of the vibration of the guiding element, the time-varying magnetic field, and the self-gravity of each of the devices, the devices are positioned on a plate between the guiding element and the magnetic field inducing device through the mesh structure.
US08609451B2

Fabrication of a single crystal silicon solar cell with an insitu epitaxially deposited very highly doped p-type silicon back surface field obviates the need for the conventional aluminum screen printing step, thus enabling a thinner silicon solar cell because of no aluminum induced bow in the cell. Furthermore, fabrication of a single crystal silicon solar cell with insitu epitaxial p-n junction formation and very highly doped n-type silicon front surface field completely avoids the conventional dopant diffusion step and one screen printing step, thus enabling a cheaper manufacturing process.
US08609442B2

A coating film (90) is formed by causing vapor deposition particles (91) discharged from a vapor deposition source opening (61) of a vapor deposition source (60) to pass through a space between a plurality of control plates (81) of a control plate unit (80) and a mask opening (71) of a vapor deposition mask in this order and adhere to a substrate, while the substrate (10) is moved relative to the vapor deposition mask (70) in a state in which the substrate (10) and the vapor deposition mask (70) are spaced apart at a fixed interval. A difference in the amount of thermal expansion between the vapor deposition source and the control plate unit is detected and corrected. It is thereby possible to form, at a desired position on a large-sized substrate, the coating film in which edge blur and variations in the edge blur are suppressed.
US08609439B2

The present disclosure concerns memory device comprising magnetic tunnel junction comprising a tunnel barrier layer between a first ferromagnetic layer having a first magnetization with a fixed orientation and a second ferromagnetic layer having a second magnetization being freely orientable, and a polarizing layer having a polarizing magnetization substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnetization; the first and second ferromagnetic layers being annealed such that a tunnel magnetoresistance of the magnetic tunnel junction is equal or greater than about 150%. Also disclosed is a method of forming the MRAM cell.
US08609407B2

Endogenous Sp35 is a negative regulator for neuronal survival, axon regeneration, oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination. Molecules that block endogenous Sp35 function, such anti-Sp35 antibodies can be used as therapeutics for the treatment of neuron and oligodendrocyte dysfunction. The present invention provides antibodies specific for Sp35, and methods of using such antibodies as antagonists of endogenous Sp35 function. The invention further provides specific hybridoma and phage library-derived monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acids encoding these antibodies, and vectors and host cells comprising these antibodies. The invention further provides methods of promoting oligodendrocyte survival and myelination in a vertebrate, comprising administering to a vertebrate in need of such treatment an effective amount of an anti-Sp35 antibody.
US08609405B2

The present inventors identified a selective marker 65B13 for GABA neuron progenitor cells of the spinal dorsal horn and cerebellum, and successfully isolated GABA neuron progenitor cells using antibodies that bind to a protein encoded by the gene. 65B13 was demonstrated to be useful as a marker to isolate GABA-producing neuron progenitor cells in the spinal dorsal horn and cerebellum. GABA neuron progenitor cells can be efficiently identified or isolated by using the identified marker as an indicator.
US08609395B2

The invention provides a polypeptide comprising an agonist of a MHC Class I binding native sequence having amino acid substitution(s) and enhanced immunogenicity compared to the native sequence. The invention provides DNA encoding the polypeptide, as well as vectors and cells comprising the DNA and methods comprising the administration of the polypeptide.
US08609393B2

Fluorescent proteins comprising the following internal amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 47) Gly Tyr Xaa Xaa Xaa Gln Tyr Leu Pro Xaa Pro 1               5                   10 wherein Xaa in position 3 is Ala or Gly, Xaa in position 4 is Phe, His or Tyr, Xaa in position 5 is His, Tyr or Asn, or Xaa in position 10 is Phe or Tyr are disclosed. Such proteins are e.g. isolated or recombinant fluorescent proteins from a Cephalochordata, such as Branchiostoma floridae or Branchiostoma lanceolatum, or isolated mutants or recombinant proteins that have at least 80% amino acid sequence identity with the fluorescent proteins. Isolated and purified structural genes encoding such fluorescent proteins are also disclosed.
US08609379B2

Alcohols useful as fuel compositions are produced from biomass by pretreating the biomass prior to hydrolysis and fermentation. In the pretreatment, the biomass is contacted with an aqueous solution containing a dilute acid with concentration of up to 10 wt % producing a predigested stream containing an aqueous liquor that contains at least a portion of hemicelluloses and a residual biomass that contains celluloses and lignin; separating at least a portion of the aqueous liquor from the residual biomass providing an aqueous liquor stream and a pre-digested biomass stream; then contacting the pre-digested biomass stream with a cooking liquor containing at least one alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, ammonium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof and water. A process that allows for higher recovery of carbohydrates and thereby increased yields is provided.
US08609373B2

The invention provides the protein mixture including the fusion proteins of C-myc, SOX2, KLF4, OCT-4, wherein each protein comprises a protein transduction domain (PTD) and a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fused with the said protein. The invention further provides the preparation method of the protein mixture and its use for inducing human pluripotent stem cell.
US08609363B2

Cell counts that distinguish between live and dead cells while providing an accurate count of the total of live and dead cells are obtained by the use of a vital stain in conjunction with illumination of the cell population and the taking of light images at different wavelengths, one which is not absorbed by the stain and one that is absorbed by the stain. Masking and inaccuracies in the counting of dead cells is thereby avoided.
US08609360B2

Chemiluminescent of metabolic by-products of inosine and hypoxanthine is used to diagnose acute ischemic events in human subjects.
US08609356B2

The invention relates to an in vitro method for detecting pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAHT), or the risk of developing PAHT, which includes determining the presence and/or amount of anti-tenascin C antibodies in a biological sample from a patient.
US08609351B2

Determination of cellular growth abnormality, particularly cancerous abnormality, by detection of target polypeptides or encoding mRNA, where the target polypeptides are members of the preinitiation complex of DNA replication in tissue, cells or fluid. Target polypeptides include CDC6, MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, MCM5, MCM6 and MCM7. Test samples include tissue of the cervix (both biopsy and smear samples), breast, colon, lung, bladder, skin, larynx, oesophagus, bronchus, lymph nodes and urinary tract (both biopsy and cytology smear samples), in determination of cancerous and pre-cancerous cellular growth abnormality, and cells spun from urine, blood and serum, in determination of haematological malignancies and evidence of metastatic sarcoma and carcinoma.
US08609342B2

The invention provides a reporter gene assay method by which the sex hormone-like activity inherent in a test substance can be accurately assayed excluding the effects caused by a decrease in cell activity (protein expressing capacity). The assay method is a reporter gene assay method using luciferase-expressing cells which comprises further transferring a GFP gene into the luciferase-expressing cells, measuring the luciferase expression level and GFP expression level, and making a judgment about the thus-measured luciferase expression level using the decrease in GFP expression level as an indication of the decrease in cell activity.
US08609341B2

The invention provides a method for preparing and analysing a population of fragmented polynucleotide sequences having a substantially uniform size. The method can include steps of (a) binding at least one protection molecule to at least one polynucleotide sequence; (b) cleaving the at least one polynucleotide sequence to generate a plurality of polynucleotide fragment sequences of substantially uniform size; (c) amplifying the polynucleotide fragments; and (d) determining a sequence characteristic of a plurality of the polynucleotide fragments.
US08609335B2

The present invention provides methods of making and using self-assembled arrays of single polynucleotide molecules for carrying out a variety of large-scale genetic measurements, such as gene expression analysis, gene copy number assessment, and the like. Random arrays used in the invention are “self-assembled” in the sense that they are formed by deposition of polynucleotide molecules onto a surface where they become fixed at random locations. The polynucleotide molecules fixed on the surface are then identified by direct sequence determination of component nucleic acids, such as incorporated probe sequences, or by other decoding schemes. Such identification converts a random array of determinable polynucleotides, and their respective probes into an addressable array of probe sequences.
US08609333B2

The present invention relates to various methods of detecting DNA methylation and defected DNA. In one embodiment, the invention provides a nanosensor bound to a probe that is complementary to a DNA methylation sequence.
US08609331B2

The present invention provides a method of detecting adventitious agents in a composition comprising a microorganism by using ribozyme-expressing indicator cells, as well as indicator cells useful in such detection.
US08609322B2

A lithographic structure comprising: an organic antireflective material disposed on a substrate, and a silicon antireflective material disposed on the organic antireflective material. The silicon antireflective material comprises a crosslinked polymer with a SiOx backbone, a chromophore, and a transparent organic group that is substantially transparent to 193 nm or 157 nm radiation. In combination, the organic antireflective material and the silicon antireflective material provide an antireflective material suitable for deep ultraviolet lithography. The invention is also directed to a process of making the lithographic structure.
US08609319B2

A radiation-sensitive resin composition that includes (A) a polymer that includes a repeating unit (a1) and a fluorine atom, the repeating unit (a1) including a group shown by the following formula (1) or (2), the radiation-sensitive resin composition including the polymer (A) in an amount of 0.1 mass % or more and less than 20 mass % based on the total amount of polymers included in the radiation-sensitive resin composition.
US08609316B2

A method for manufacturing a capsule toner having improved preservability with no deterioration in low-temperature fixability is provided. The method for manufacturing a capsule toner includes a mixed fine resin particle adhering step of adhering mixed fine resin particles including crystalline polyester fine resin particles and amorphous fine resin particles to surfaces of toner base particles to form mixed fine resin particle-adhered particles, a spraying step of spraying a mixed solution of a liquid for plasticizing the toner base particles and the mixed fine resin particles and a crystal nucleating agent, while fluidizing the mixed fine resin particle-adhered particles, and a film-forming step of making a film of the mixed fine resin particles by impact force so that the film is a resin coating layer on the surfaces of the toner base particles.
US08609310B2

An electrophotographic photoreceptor has at least an electroconductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer formed on or above the electroconductive substrate, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor is a cured membrane of a composition containing at least one compound (a) having in a single molecule thereof a charge transporting skeleton and a chain polymerizable functional group, and at least one thermopolymerizable or photopolymerizable silicone polymeric radical polymerization initiator (b).
US08609305B2

In a method of forming a reticle and electron beam exposure system, first electron beams are irradiated onto a first region of a blank reticle having a light shielding layer and a photosensitive layer, to form first shot patterns. Second electron beams having a cross-sectional area larger than the first electron beams are irradiated onto a second region of the blank reticle. The photosensitive layer is developed to form first and second mask patterns at the first and second regions, respectively. The light shielding layer is etched off using the first and second mask patterns as an etching mask, thereby forming the mother pattern including a first pattern in the first region and a second pattern in the second region. Accordingly, the enlargement of the second electron beams reduces the scan time for the blank reticle, thereby reducing the process time.
US08609301B2

A circular cylinder-shaped mask is used to form an image of a pattern on a substrate via a projection optical system. The mask has a pattern formation surface on which the pattern is formed and that is placed around a predetermined axis, and the mask is able to rotate, with the predetermined axis taken as an axis of rotation, in synchronization with a movement of the substrate in at least a predetermined one-dimensional direction. When a diameter of the mask on the pattern formation surface is taken as D, and a maximum length of the substrate in the one-dimensional direction is taken as L, and a projection ratio of the projection optical system is taken as β, and circumference ratio is taken as π, then the conditions for D≧(β×L)/π are satisfied.
US08609294B2

A subassembly for a fuel cell includes a fuel cell plate having a first side and a second side. Each of the first side and the second side has a flow field disposed between a pair of headers. An insulating spacer abuts the first side of the fuel cell plate and is disposed adjacent a perimeter of the fuel cell plate. A unitized electrode assembly includes a subgasket, a membrane electrode assembly, and a pair of diffusion medium layers. The membrane electrode assembly has an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. The membrane electrode assembly is sandwiched between the pair of diffusion medium layers. The subgasket surrounds, and is coupled to, the membrane electrode assembly. The subgasket abuts the insulating spacer. An elastomeric seal abuts the second side of the fuel cell plate.
US08609285B2

A material for use in the cathode terminal of a battery that is made from a lithiated manganese oxide which is doped with ruthenium and optionally with a transition material and a method for the synthesis of the same. The material exhibits improved conductivity and cyclic performance at high current density (current density of 1470 mA/g and higher) and can be used in hybrid vehicles and other electronic devices due to its good cyclic performance at high current density and its relatively large capacity.
US08609284B2

Disclosed herein is a composite for the cathode of Li-ion battery comprising: a base active material represented by Li1+y(Nia—COb—Mnc—Yd)O2 wherein Y is at least one selected from Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, Cu, B, Zr, and Ti, y is 0 to 0.5, a is 0.1 to 0.6, b is 0.05 to 0.5, c is 0.25 to 0.8, d is 0 to 0.02, and the sum of a, b, c and d is 1; and a coating on the base active material comprised of a glassy phase containing the components Li2O, B2O3 and LiX in which LiX is at least one of Li2F2, Li2Cl2 and Li2SO4, relative to the total amount of the glassy phase, the mole percent of Li2O is 43% to 75%, the mole percent of B2O3 is 25% to 57%, the mole percent of LiX is from more than 0% to 20%, and the sum of the mole percents of Li2O, B2O3 and LiX is 100%.
US08609281B2

Electrolytic manganese dioxide characterized by having a surface sulfate (SO4) content of smaller than 0.10% by weight and a JIS-pH value, as measured according to JIS K1467, of at least 1.5 but smaller than 3.5, preferably at least 2.1 but smaller than 3.2 is provided. Preferably 3% to 25% in number of the fine particles of the manganese dioxide have a particle diameter of not larger than 1 μm. A battery provided with a cathode made from the electrolytic manganese dioxide as active material exhibits good high-rate discharge characteristics and good resistance to metal corrosion.
US08609277B2

Provided is a secondary battery comprising a core (7), tabs (4) protruding from an end of the core (7), a tab lead-out device placed at the end of the core (7), and a cover plate (1). The tab lead-out device includes an insulating layer (6) adjacent to the end of the core (7) and a conductive layer (5) distant from the end of the core (7). The tabs (4) are electrically connected to the conductive layer (5). The conductive layer (5) is electrically connected to the cover plate (1). The secondary battery further comprises a connector and a pad (3) stacked between the conductive layer (5) of the tab lead-out device and the cover plate (1). The tabs (4) are compacted between the pad (3) and the conductive layer (5) of the tab lead-out device by the connector.
US08609271B2

Disclosed herein is a battery module including two or more plate-shaped battery cells sequentially stacked, wherein each of the plate-shaped battery cells is constructed in a structure in which an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in a battery case formed of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer, and a heat exchange member, including a plurality of heat exchange plates and a frame to which the heat exchange plates are connected, is mounted at one side of a stack of the battery cells for removing heat generated from the battery cells during the charge and discharge of the battery cells.
US08609268B2

A battery module includes a plurality of electrochemical cells and a structure including an upper portion configured to support a bottom portion of each of the plurality of electrochemical cells and a lower portion coupled to the upper portion. The lower portion includes a thermal management feature having at least one passage provided therein. The passage is configured for a thermal management fluid to pass therethrough to provide thermal management to the electrochemical cells of the battery module.
US08609266B2

A battery pack that prevents a short from being generated when an insulation film near coupling holes formed in the conforming cover is broken by the connection tab due to external impacts and penetrates into the wire while or after the connection tab is assembled with the conforming cover through the coupling holes. The battery pack includes battery cells, a connection tab connecting the battery cells to each other in series or parallel, a conforming cover having a wire and coupling holes formed at one side thereof to allow the connection tab to pass therethrough, the conforming cover electrically connected to the connection tab, a protection circuit module electrically connected to the conforming cover and controlling charging and discharging of the battery cells, and a reinforcing member surrounding at least both sides of upper and lower edges among outer peripheral portions of the coupling holes formed in the conforming cover.
US08609264B2

[Problem to be solved] To provide a biaxially oriented polyester film, which suffers only small dimensional changes due to changes in environmental temperature and humidity and due to storage, ensures low error rates, and can little abrade the magnetic head and the magnetic tape, when used as a base film of a magnetic recording medium, and which can be used to provide a high density magnetic recording medium excellent in running durability.[Solution] A biaxially oriented polyester film having an islands-in-sea structure, an average island domain size of 30 to 200 nm, and a coefficient of hygroscopic expansion of 0 to 6.0 ppm/% RH at least either in the machine direction or in the transverse direction of the film.
US08609253B2

A coated article includes a substrate and a thermochromic coating formed on the substrate. The thermochromic coating is a vanadium dioxide layer co-doped M and R, where M is two or more elements selected from a group consisting of titanium, niobium, molybdenum and tungsten, R is one or more elements selected from a group consisting of rhodium, palladium and ruthenium.
US08609243B2

A pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film includes: an optical film; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer laminated on at least one side of the optical film with an anchor layer interposed therebetween, wherein the anchor layer has a thickness of 5 to 300 nm, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer has a thickness of 5 to 50 μm, at least one of the anchor layer and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is made from a ammonia-containing water-dispersible material, the layer made from the ammonia-containing water-dispersible material contains ammonia in an amount of 10 ng or more per 1 cm2 of the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film, wherein the amount is a measurement derived from the layer, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film contains ammonia in a total amount of 2000 ng or less per 1 cm2 of the pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film. The pressure-sensitive adhesive optical film has good appearance and high durability.
US08609239B2

A release film 10 having a base film 12 and a polymer layer 14 formed on one side of the base film 12, wherein the polymer layer 14 includes a layer containing a cured (meth)acrylate component and a film containing a silicone polymer component covering part of the surface on the side of the layer opposite the base film side, and wherein the silicone polymer component is a modified silicone oil polymer that has been modified with a (meth)acryloyl and/or vinyl group.
US08609237B2

The present invention provides composite materials that contain formaldehyde-free aqueous binder compositions comprising defatted soy flour of no greater than 43 micron mesh particle size and polymer particles of at least one emulsion (co)polymer. Preferably, the defatted soy flour is present as an aqueous dispersion, or is in denatured form. Also provided are methods of making and using composite materials containing the formaldehyde-free binder compositions.
US08609235B2

Provision of a porous ceramic material which rapidly induces bone tissue formation and has practical strength.A porous ceramic material 11 having substantially unidirectionally oriented pores 12, a porosity of 40-90%, and an average open area of one pore of 0.05×10−3-50×10−3 mm2 both in a first sectional surface perpendicular to the pore 12 orientation direction and a second sectional surface parallel to the first sectional surface and 5 mm distant from the first sectional surface in the pore 12 orientation direction. Using the material 11, when a cylindrical test piece (diameter 3 mm×height 5 mm, the pore 12 array direction as a height direction) made of the material is dipped in polyethylene glycol up to 1 mm from one end thereof, polyethylene glycol permeates through the whole test piece preferably within 30 seconds.
US08609229B2

The present invention relates to a glass/resin laminate containing a glass substrate and a resin layer, in which the resin layer contains a polyimide obtained by condensation-polymerization of an aromatic diamine having a benzoxazole structure with an aromatic tetracarboxylic anhydride, the difference in the average linear expansion coefficient at 25 to 300° C. between the glass substrate and the resin layer is from −100×10−7 to +100×10−7/° C., and at least one outermost layer of the laminate is the glass substrate.
US08609227B2

A multilayer polyester film is characterized in that a polyester (B) layer mainly composed of a polyester (B) is arranged on at least one side of a polyester (A) layer mainly composed of a polyester (A). The multilayer polyester film is also characterized by having an elastic modulus of 20 to 1000 MPa in an atmosphere at 23° C. and an elastic modulus of 10 to 200 MPa in an atmosphere at 120° C., and having substantially no-orientation.
US08609214B1

A combination handheld device and anti-slip film is produced by combining a thin, dimensionally stable plastic film having a smooth surface finish with a silicone elastomer having a low durometer and a textured and polished surface finish. The film includes adhesive means for adhering the film to objects such as a handheld device.
US08609213B2

Disclosed are waterproofing membranes comprising the following laminated layers: layer A comprising a waterproofing adhesive; layer B comprising a carrier sheet; layer C comprising a releasable bonding material; and layer D comprising a protective coating; wherein (i) the laminated layers are arranged in the sequential order A-B-C-D; or (ii) the laminated layers are arranged in the sequential order B-C-D-A; or (iii) the laminated layers are arranged in the sequential order C-D-A-B. The membrane does not include a removable release sheet that is typically used to prevent the adhesive from adhering to the carrier sheet or other portion of the membrane when the membrane is rolled up. Also disclosed is a method of making the aforementioned membrane. Preferably, layer C will comprise a water soluble polymer, an alkali soluble polymer, or a homopolymer or copolymer of polyvinyl acetate.
US08609204B2

A Solid Freeform Fabrication system, apparatus and method is provided, that includes a movable fabrication tray adapted to hold an object being fabricated; a depositing surface to hold deposited materials, and ink jet printing heads to selectively deposit a plurality of building materials on the depositing surface; wherein the deposited materials are merged to the object being fabricated, when said fabrication tray moves said object being fabricated to be in contact with said deposited materials.
US08609198B2

A method for producing a pharmaceutical dose form includes depositing a measured quantity of a first coating material on an external surface of the dose form in a patterned configuration. A measured quantity of a second coating material is deposited on the surface of the dose form in a patterned configuration in relationship to the first coating material. The first and second coating materials form a coating layer in overlying relationship with at least a portion of the external surface of the dose form.
US08609197B1

A glass container and related methods of manufacturing and coating glass containers. The container includes a hot end coating that is deposited on an exterior surface and that includes a metal oxide, and a dopant to reduce electrical resistivity of the exterior surface of the container. The container also includes an organic coating electrostatically applied to the exterior surface of the container. Preferably, the organic coating is applied at an ambient temperature and without having to use grounding pins, without having to heat the container, and without having to apply an additional conductive coating layer.
US08609196B2

A wear- and corrosion-resistance coating over a metal substrate having a first-layer carbide material, a second metal coating layer over the first metal coating layer, and a surface metal coating layer over the second metal coating layer; and thermal spray method for applying the coating.
US08609190B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a getter device (1), wherein a getter material (3) is introduced into a container (2) and the getter material (3) is heated to a temperature under reduced pressure so that getter material (3) is deposited on an inside of the container (2). In order to be able to provide a getter device (1) in a short time that has a high getter capacity, it is provided according to the invention that during a deposition of getter material (3), the container (2) is moved relative to a zone (4) in which the container (2) is cooled.
US08609177B2

The supernatant from the deposition of canola protein micellar mass is processed to provide a canola protein product having a protein content of about 60 to less than about 90 wt % (N×6.25) protein on a dry weight basis and which is soluble in an aqueous acidic environment.
US08609171B2

Circumferential pasteurizers and related methods are disclosed. A circumferential pasteurizer includes a vessel having an inner guide surface, a thermal medium inlet disposed on a first side of the vessel, a thermal medium outlet disposed on a second side of the vessel, a food product inlet disposed on the second side of the vessel, a food outlet disposed on the first side of the vessel, and a rotating paddle wheel suspended for rotation in the vessel. The paddle wheel includes a hub and a plurality of paddles distributed around the hub and extending outwardly therefrom to adjacent the vessel inner guide surface to form food receiving pockets extending the length of the hub. The paddle wheel conveys the food product from the food product inlet to the food product outlet along the vessel inner guide surface and counter to the flow of the thermal medium.
US08609170B2

A method and apparatus for forming a beverage using a beverage formation device. Opening of a brew chamber may automatically enable the provision of beverage precursor liquid from a reservoir to a heating tank that is used (heated or not) to form a beverage. For example, opening of the brew chamber may cause a valve to be opened or otherwise permit flow of beverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank. The valve may open simultaneously and automatically with a brew chamber lid, and may close when the brew chamber lid is closed.
US08609166B2

The invention concerns a food composition, in particular an animal food composition, comprising a coating designed to provide a roasted appearance to the cooked product, said coating including at least a pigment or colorant source and a protein source.
US08609161B2

An enriched conglutin-γ protein extract from lupin seeds having a % by weight of conglutin-γ between 10 and 30%, or a conglutin-γ protein, or functional derivatives thereof for use as a medicament, as food integrator or diet supplement or integrator.
US08609158B2

This is a potent drug with narcotic benefits made from distinctly and uniquely combined and processed interchangeable seed and seed derivatives that are so potent that it removes or alleviates depression, mood disorders, Attention Disorder symptoms, thought disorder, mental illness, pain, right lip retardation symptoms, physical problems, Lymph Node cancer and many other illness symptoms. It removes bumps in the neck within a week or two. It is interchangeable in most aspects. It can be combined and processed with Pharmaceuticals and medicines to create new drugs. These Pharmaceuticals are now long lasting. I prefer the daily dose, but this drug can last months. It is extremely strong or potent and can be made weak to make your little Attention deficit child normal. It is an incredible mood stabilizer and reduces psychosis. Use it for cancer patient and for people with pain issues. It works.
US08609152B2

Methods and compositions for treating at least one symptom of a viral infection, said method of treatment comprising administering to a subject with a least one symptom of a viral infection an effective dosage unit of a composition comprising pomegranate extract. The compositions comprise pomegranate extract comprising polyphenols. The composition is produced by a process comprising providing one or more pomegranate solids selected from the group consisting of a pericarp, inner membrane and seeds, creating a mixture comprising said one or more pomegranate solids in an aqueous solution, heating said mixture to a temperature that permits enzyme catalysis of said pomegranate solids, and removing residual insoluble solid materials from said mixture to provide said pomegranate extract. Compositions containing the extract may be used as a food product, beverage, pharmaceutical preparations, nutritional supplements, vitamin supplements, food additives, and food supplements.
US08609141B2

The present invention pertains to silver ion bearing carriers useful in treating monorrhagia of a mammalian uterus, comprising a physiologically inert, flexible earner, e.g., a coil, bearing a tissue cauterizing amount of a silver ion. Silver ions are delivered to the endometrium and cause necrosis of the endometrial tissue. The silver ions remaining within the uterine cavity can then be neutralized with a sodium chloride solution delivered to the uterus e.g., by catheter, and the carrier recovered from the uterus.
US08609137B2

The present invention discloses a novel soft capsule of butylphthalide and a process for preparing the same. The soft capsule of butylphthalide is composed of a capsule wall material and a drug-containing oil, wherein the drug-containing oil is essentially composed of butylphthalide and a vegetable oil as the diluent in a weight ratio of about 1:0˜10. The capsule wall material is composed of a capsule wall matrix, a plasticizer and water in a weight ratio of 1:0.2˜0.4:0.8˜1.3. The soft capsule of butylphthalide described in the present invention can mask the strong and special flavor of butylphthalide, and overcome the difficulties associated with formulating oily active ingredient into other oral formulation. The disintegration time of the soft capsule satisfies the requirement of Pharmacopoeia of P.R. China.
US08609132B2

A flow directing material includes a substrate. The substrate includes a first region that exudes fluid under a compressive or tensile load and a second region that imbibes fluid under the compressive or tensile load. The first region has a first porosity and a first permeability and the second region has a second porosity and a second permeability. The first permeability and the second permeability are about 10−13 m2 to 105 m2. The first porosity and the second porosity are about 0.3 to about 0.7. The first porosity and the second porosity are at least about 5% different.
US08609129B2

A hemostatic agent composition, delivery system and method include a hemostatic agent composition which is inert and non-reactive relative to blood clotting proteins and platelets. The composition includes a clay material combined with a humectant in a stable suspension embedded in a mesh fabric and, when dried, is capable of accelerating the formation of a stable clot when applied to an actively bleeding wound or drying other bodily fluids.
US08609126B2

Methods and compositions for treating post-myocardial infarction damage are herein disclosed. In some embodiments, a carrier with a treatment agent may be fabricated. The carrier can be formulated from a bioerodable, sustained-release substance. The resultant loaded carrier may then be suspended in at least one component of a two-component matrix system for simultaneous delivery to a post-myocardial infarction treatment area.
US08609114B2

Compositions and methods, including vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions for inducing or enhancing an immune response are disclosed based on the discovery of useful immunological adjuvant properties in a synthetic, glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant (GLA) that is provided in substantially homogeneous form. Chemically defined, synthetic GLA offers a consistent vaccine component from lot to lot without the fluctuations in contaminants or activity that compromise natural-product adjuvants. Also provided are vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions that include GLA and one or more of an antigen, a Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist, a co-adjuvant and a carrier such as a pharmaceutical carrier.
US08609112B2

Methods for preventing or treating depression including a depression mediated by the thalamus. Depression, including a thalamically mediated depression, can be treated by peripheral administration of a botulinum toxin to or to the vicinity of a trigeminal sensory nerve, thereby preventing or treating the depression.
US08609104B2

Disclosed are anti-CD70 antibodies and derivatives thereof conjugated to cytotoxic therapeutic agents, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the antibody- and antibody derivative-drug conjugates. Also disclosed are methods, for the treatment of a CD70-expressing cancer, comprising administering to a subject the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions.
US08609089B2

Methods of treating cancer and infectious diseases utilizing a treatment regimen comprising administering a compound that reduces inhibitory signal transduction in T cells, in combination with a potentiating agent, such as cyclophosphamide, to produce potent T cell mediated responses, are described. Compositions comprising the PD-1 antagonists and potentiating agents useful in the methods of the invention are also disclosed.
US08609081B2

The present invention relates to novel compositions of therapeutic cyclodextrin containing polymeric compounds designed as a carrier for small molecule therapeutics delivery and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. These cyclodextrin-containing polymers improve drug stability and solubility, and reduce toxicity of the small molecule therapeutic when used in vivo. Furthermore, by selecting from a variety of linker groups and targeting ligands the polymers present methods for controlled delivery of the therapeutic agents. The invention also relates to methods of treating subjects with the therapeutic compositions described herein. The invention further relates to methods for conducting pharmaceutical business comprising manufacturing, licensing, or distributing kits containing or relating to the polymeric compounds described herein.
US08609079B2

The present invention is directed to a long wearing, transfer resistant cosmetic composition which is waterproof, comfortable and has a unique creamy texture and feel containing: (a) a reaction product of (i) at least one polyamine and (ii) at least one oil soluble high carbon polar modified polymer; (b) water; (c) at least one volatile solvent capable of solubilizing the polar modified polymer; (d) optionally at least one non-volatile solvent; and (e) optionally, at least one colorant.
US08609074B2

Disclosed herein are methods of making up and/or enhancing the appearance of a keratinous substrate comprising (1) forming a film on the keratinous substrate by applying to said keratinous substrate (a) a first cosmetic composition comprising at least one polyvinyl alcohol-styrylpyridinium polymer and (b) a second cosmetic composition comprising at least one complexing agent, and (2) exposing the film to radiation chosen from UV and visible light radiation.
US08609072B2

Disclosed are compositions and corresponding methods of their use that include a topical skin composition comprising an extract from Boehmeria platyphylla, an extract from Karelinia caspica, and an extract from Inula helianthus-aquatica.
US08609070B2

Processes for preparing an oral care composition having improved taste, color, odor and/or clarity, wherein said processes comprise the steps of: providing an unfiltered dentifrice component selected from unfiltered alkyl phosphate surfactants, alkyl phosphate ethoxylated surfactants, lauryl sulfate surfactants, betaine surfactants, antibacterial agents, cetyl pyridinium chloride, metal Salts, phytic acids, or mixtures thereof; filtering the unfiltered dentifrice component with an adsorbent to form a filtered dentifrice component; and incorporating the filtered dentifrice component into the oral care composition. In one such process, activated carbon with a median particle size of less than or equal to about 30 μm, optionally a macro-mesoporous:microporous ratio about 0.9 or higher and optionally a BET per Total Volume of equal to or less than about 1600 m^2/g, has been found to remove undesirable contaminants from oral care dentifrice components, such as alkyl phosphate surfactant, alkyl phosphate ethoxylated surfactant, lauryl sulfate surfactant, betaine surfactants, antibacterial agents, cetyl pyridinium chloride, metal salts, or phytic acid.
US08609064B2

Disclosed are a novel NU-85 molecular sieve having a specific surface area ranging from about 405 m2/g to about 470 m2/g and a pore volume ranging from about 0.27 cm3/g to about 0.35 cm3/g, and processes for preparing the NU-85 molecular sieve.
US08609058B2

A fluidized bed reactor and a Siemens reactor are used to produce polycrystalline silicon. The process includes feeding the vent gas from the Siemens reactor as a feed gas to the fluidized bed reactor.
US08609057B2

In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates generally to a method for recovering an element from a mixture of the element with an ionic halide. In one embodiment, the method includes treating the mixture of the element and the ionic halide with an acidic solution to dissolve the ionic halide, wherein the acidic solution comprises water and an acid and has a pH of less than 1.0 and removing the element from an aqueous solution that results after the treating step.
US08609054B2

A method of forming hydrogen gas comprises the steps of providing a reactor and providing a hydrogen-generating composition to the reactor. The hydrogen-generating composition consists essentially of a borohydride component and a glycerol component. The borohydride, e.g. sodium borohydride, and glycerol components are present in a generally three (3) to four (4) stoichiometric ratio, prior to reaction. The borohydride component has hydrogen atoms and the glycerol component has hydroxyl groups with hydrogen atoms. The method further comprises the step of reacting the borohydride component with the glycerol component thereby converting substantially all of the hydrogen atoms present in the borohydride component and substantially all of the hydrogen atoms present in the hydroxyl groups of the glycerol component to form the hydrogen gas. The reaction between the borohydride component and the glycerol component is an alcoholysis reaction. Reactors and reaction systems employing the method of the present invention are also described.
US08609042B2

A method of cutting at least one thin section from a sample block that is arranged in a cassette and tagging at least one specimen slide such that it can be allocated to the specific sample block from which the thin section has been cut. The method includes removing a cassette from a cassette magazine; reading the machine-readable coded information of the cassette identifier; generating by at least one tagging unit a specimen slide identifier that interrelates to the cassette identifier read by the reading unit; inserting the cassette into a microtome; transferring data from the microtome to a tagging unit via a data transfer path while the cassette is inserted into the microtome; enabling tagging of the specimen slide; tagging the specimen slide by the tagging unit; and cutting the thin section and transferring it onto the specimen slide that was tagged by the tagging unit.
US08609038B2

Provided are a centrifugal force-based microfluidic device, in which biochemical treatments of samples are executed, and a method of fabricating the centrifugal force-based microfluidic device. The centrifugal force-based microfluidic device is mountable on a rotatable device and includes: a disk-shaped portion; and an inlet hole defined within, configured to receive fluid from outside the centrifugal force-based microfluidic device having a first opening with a first inner diameter, and a second opening disposed on the first opening having a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter, and a depth of the second opening greater than a height of a fluid droplet formable in the second opening.
US08609036B2

A method and device for destroying and inhibiting exposure to microbes and infection includes a first element and a second element, and a power source. At least one of the elements includes antimicrobial metal, which, when energized by the power source, produces ions that are lethal to microbes. The device can be incorporated into virtually any useful object. During normal use of the object, electrical communication is established between the two elements, causing current supplied from the power source to flow through the antimicrobial metal. The two elements are configured and arranged to ensure that ions flowing from the antimicrobial metal flow through the region in which it is desired to kill microbes. The antimicrobial metal can be on the surface of the element, incorporated into the material making up the element, or provided in any other way that allows the antimicrobial effect to be achieved.
US08609035B2

Equipment for treating a matter to be treated more stably and uniformly between approaching/receding treatment planes in a treatment section where at least one plane can rotate relatively to the other plane. Treatment is performed by introducing a first fluid containing a matter to be treated between the treatment planes, introducing a second fluid containing the matter to be treated between the treatment planes from a channel independent from the channel which introduced the first fluid and communicating with the space between the treatment planes and then mixing and stirring them between the treatment planes. The outlet portion of the channel introducing the second fluid to the space between the treatment planes is provided with a plurality of split channels.
US08609022B2

A medical heat exchanger includes a thin tube bundle 2 in which a plurality of heat transfer thin tubes 1 for letting heat medium liquid flow therethrough are arranged and stacked, seal members 3a to 3c sealing the thin tube bundle while allowing both ends of the heat transfer thin tubes to be exposed and forming a blood channel 5 which allows blood to flow therethrough so that the blood comes into contact with each outer surface of the heat transfer thin tubes; a housing 4 containing the seal members and the thin tube bundle and provided with an inlet port 8 and an outlet port 9 of the blood positioned respectively at both ends of the blood channel; and a pair of heat transfer thin tube headers 6, 7 forming flow chambers 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b that respectively surround both ends of the thin tube bundle and having an inlet port 6a and an outlet port 7a of the heat medium liquid. The thin tube bundle is divided into a plurality of thin tube bundle units 12a to 12c, and the heat transfer thin tube headers are configured so that the heat medium liquid passes through the plurality of the thin tube bundle units successively. Heat exchange efficiency is enhanced while the flow speed of the heat medium liquid flowing through the heat transfer thin tubes is increased to suppress the increase in volume of the blood channel.
US08609021B2

The present invention relates to a method for disinfecting a room and the objects that may be contained therein, or surfaces in general, including the following steps: (a) determining the volume of the room to be disinfected; (b) as a function of the value determined in step a) above, determining a volumetric concentration of an aqueous disinfecting solution delivered into the room in the form of a dry mist required for obtaining a predefined level of disinfection, said disinfecting solution comprising hydrogen peroxide and silver ions (Ag+); (c) delivering into the room said aqueous disinfecting solution in the form of a dry mist until the desired volumetric concentration is achieved; (d) keeping said aqueous disinfecting solution in the form of a dry mist in contact with the room and with the objects that may be contained therein for a predefined time, so as to achieve a desired level of disinfection. A second object of the present invention consists in a disinfecting solution that is particularly suitable for implementing said method.
US08609014B2

According to one embodiment, a template manufacturing method is a method for manufacturing a template for use in an imprint processing in which a pattern having irregularities are formed on a principal surface, and the pattern is brought into contact with a resist member formed on a substrate to be processed, to transfer the pattern to the resist member, the method including implanting charged particles at least into the bottoms of concave portions of the template.
US08609005B2

[Problems] To provide a stretched film of an addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds favorable for use in manufacturing steps of electric insulating parts and optical parts that exhibits excellent film stability, does not suffer from coloration and has a low linear expansion coefficient.[Means for Solving Problems] A stretched film of an addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds produced by stretching a film of the addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds and having a linear expansion coefficient of at most 50 ppm/° C. The draw ratio is preferably from 1.2 times to 10 times. The stretched film is preferably a non-crosslinked film. A method for producing the stretched film comprises stretching a film of the addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds at least in one direction in an inert gas atmosphere within a temperature range of the glass transition temperature (Tg) thereof ±50° C., or stretching a film of the addition polymer consisting of norbornene compounds containing an organic compound having a specific boiling point at least in one direction.
US08609004B2

An elastomeric prosthetic breast implant is provided having a shell and a patch forming a flush interface with the shell and no sudden surface steps on both interior and exterior surfaces of the shell.
US08609003B2

A method and apparatus for forming any size antibiotic impregnated bone cement (AIBC) intramedullary (IM) nail. The cement nail is formed around a base support or base IM nail. The apparatus includes a molded plastic tube device to form the shape of the cement IM nail and plastic spacers which position the molded plastic tube around the base support or base IM nail for formation of the cement nail. The AIBC material may be any of the known antibiotic loaded/impregnated bone cements that are commercially available.
US08609002B2

An apparatus for plugging honeycomb bodies includes a controller configured to signal a plugging actuator to move a plugging piston from the predetermined start position to an extended position while a shutter plate is in an open orientation, wherein at least about 50% of the predetermined volume of plugging material is discharged from a dispensing area during a single plugging cycle. The controller is still further configured to signal a control actuator of a plugging material control module to adjust a position of a control piston within a control chamber to maintain a pressure of the plugging material within the dispensing area from between greater than 0 psi to about 200 psi when the shutter plate is moved between a closed orientation and the open orientation at the beginning of the plugging cycle. Further examples include methods of plugging a honeycomb body with a plugging material control module.
US08608993B2

A nanocomposite structure and method of fabricating same are provided. The nanocomposite structure is a polymer in an extruded shape with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) longitudinally disposed and dispersed in the extruded shape along a dimension thereof. The polymer is characteristically defined as having a viscosity of at least approximately 100,000 poise at a temperature of 200° C.
US08608990B1

Fire retardant materials are provided that contain carbon nanotubes and particles capable of endothermically reacting when exposed to elevated temperatures. The carbon nanotubes may be a buckypaper. Methods also are provided for making a fire retardant material and for improving the fire retardation capabilities of a material.
US08608986B2

Disclosed is a metal complex represented by the following formula (1). In the formula, M represents a metal atom; R1-R8 respectively represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a monovalent group; or alternatively R3 and R4, or R5 and R6 may combine together to form a ring.
US08608984B1

A multifunctional polymer nano-composite sensor system for detecting various biosignals like ECG and other kinds of signals for sensing strain, temperature and moisture has been disclosed. This sensor system includes (1) a polymer nano-composite sensor material that is flexible, elastic, soft, and conductive, (2) a sensor material fabricated into a desired shape or form, and (3) a signal capturing interface for collecting, transmitting and processing the signals. This sensor system can easily be integrated into a user environment for various user-transparent sensing applications. The present invention more specifically reveals a multi-functional nano-composite sensor for detecting biologically generated electrical signals which is comprised of a polymeric composition having an electrically conductive wire embedded therein, wherein the polymeric composition has a dispersion phase and a dispersed phase, wherein the dispersion phase is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer or a thermoset polymer, wherein the dispersed phase includes an electrically conductive filler, wherein the polymeric composition is gel-free, and wherein the electrically conductive wire is adapted for conveying an electrical signal to a signal processing device. The present invention further discloses a polymeric composition which is comprised of a thermoplastic polyurethane, a styrenic polymer, and at least one electrically conductive filler wherein the styrenic polymer is present in the composition at a level which is within the range of 10 weight percent to 50 weight percent and wherein the electrically conductive filler is present at a level which is within the range of 0.5 weight percent to 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the polymeric composition.
US08608983B2

A composite anode active material including metal core particles and carbon nanotubes that are covalently bound to the metal core particles, an anode including the composite anode active material, a lithium battery employing the anode, and a method of preparing the composite anode active material.
US08608980B2

A method for providing a phosphor, including a kneading step in which a raw material is kneaded to provide a raw material mixture; a sintering step in which the raw material mixture is sintered; and a heat treatment step in which the sintered raw material mixture is heat-treated, wherein the raw material includes at least one or more M-containing materials selected from MSi2, MSiN2, M2Si5N8, M3Al2N4 and MSi6N8, wherein M is one or more divalent elements selected from M(0) and M(1).
US08608974B2

There is provided a substrate processing method capable of increasing an etching rate of a copper member without using a halogen gas. A Cu layer 40 having a smoothened surface 50 is obtained, and then, a processing gas produced by adding a methane gas to a hydrogen gas is introduced into an inner space of a processing chamber 15. Plasma is generated from this processing gas. In the inner space of the processing chamber 15, there exist oxygen radicals 52 generated when an oxide layer 42 is etched, and carbon radicals 53 generated from methane. The oxygen radicals 52 and the carbon radicals 53 are compounded to generate an organic acid, and the organic acid makes a reaction with copper atoms of the Cu layer 40. As a result, a complex of the organic acid having the copper atoms is generated, and the generated organic acid complex is vaporized.
US08608968B2

Described herein are compounds, compositions, and methods useful for bioremediation of a contamination. In particular, described herein are compositions that include one or methyl esters of a fatty acid and one or more bioremediation reagents, and methods for their use.
US08608965B2

A gas bubble agitated mixing system for viscous fluids comprising: a container (1) in which a viscous fluid (2) may be held; one or more gas pipes (6), each gas pipe having an outlet (8) arranged to introduce gas bubbles (9) into the base region of the container (1), said gas bubbles (9) being of a size suitable to agitate the viscous fluid (2). The system also comprises a moveable carrier arm (4) upon which said one or more gas pipe outlets (8) are mounted; and wherein the movement of the carrier arm (4) causes the position at which each outlet (8) introduces gas bubbles (9) into the container (1) to vary over time.
US08608958B2

A flowing water splitting apparatus includes a first flowing water channel including a weir defining a water quantity of the flowing water flowing in from a confluent pipe and leading the flowing water flowing in from the confluent pipe to a dirty water pipe; a second flowing water channel leading flowing water flowing over the weir to a rainwater pipe; a partition wall portion provided to block the flowing water flowing through the first flowing water channel to form a plurality of water diversion chambers partitioned in the first flowing water channel; and a flow throttle portion formed in the partition wall portion to throttle a flow quantity of the flowing water flowing from one water diversion chamber into another water diversion chamber.
US08608952B2

A process for de-acidifying a hydrocarbon feed includes contacting the hydrocarbon feed containing an organic acid with a feed-immiscible phosphonium ionic liquid to produce a hydrocarbon and feed-immiscible phosphonium ionic liquid mixture and separating the mixture to produce a hydrocarbon effluent having a reduced organic acid content relative to the hydrocarbon feed. Optionally, a de-emulsifier is added to at least one of the contacting and separating steps.
US08608948B2

A composition that comprises a support material having incorporated therein a metal component and impregnated with both hydrocarbon oil and a polar additive. The composition that is impregnated with both hydrocarbon oil and polar additive is useful in the hydrotreating of hydrocarbon feedstocks, and it is especially useful in applications involving delayed feed introduction whereby the composition is first treated with hot hydrogen, and, optionally, with a sulfur compound, prior to contacting it with a hydrocarbon feedstock under hydrodesulfurization process conditions.
US08608946B2

Methods and systems for contacting of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product are described. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed. The produced crude product may include oxygen, sulfur, residue, or mixtures thereof.
US08608945B2

A process is disclosed for converting heavy hydrocarbon feed into lighter hydrocarbon products. The heavy hydrocarbon feed is slurried with a catalyst comprising molybdenum supported on a base, such as boehmite or pseudo-boehmite alumina. Iron oxide may also be in the base. The base is preferably bauxite. The heavy hydrocarbon slurry is hydrocracked in the presence of the catalyst to produce lighter hydrocarbons.
US08608942B2

Systems and methods for processing hydrocarbons are provided. A hydrocarbon can be distilled to provide a distillate, a gas oil, and a residue. The residue can include, but is not limited to asphaltenes and non-asphaltenes. The residue can be mixed with a solvent to provide a mixture. The asphaltenes can be selectively separated from the mixture to provide a deasphalted oil. At least a portion of the deasphalted oil and at least a portion of the gas oil can be hydroprocessed to provide a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon. At least a portion of the distillate and at least a portion of the hydroprocessed hydrocarbon can be cracked in a first reaction zone to provide a first cracked product comprising C2 hydrocarbons, C3 hydrocarbons, C4 hydrocarbons, and naphtha.
US08608940B2

A process is disclosed for hydroprocessing two hydrocarbon streams at two different pressures. A hydrogen stream is compressed and split. A first split compressed stream is further compressed to feed a first hydroprocessing unit that requires higher pressure for operation. A second split compressed stream is fed to a second hydroprocessing unit that requires lower pressure. Recycle hydrogen from the second hydroprocessing unit is recycled back to the compression section.
US08608938B2

The present invention is directed to a crude composition comprising hydrocarbons having a boiling range distribution of from 30° C. to 538° C., the crude composition having, per gram of crude composition, from 0.01 grams to 0.2 grams of hydrocarbon having a boiling range distribution of at most 204° C., where benzene comprises at most 0.005 grams per gram of the hydrocarbons having a boiling range distribution of at most 204° C., and from 0.000001 grams to 0.05 grams of hydrocarbons having a boiling range distribution of greater than 538° C.
US08608927B2

Provided is an ion sensor with which the concentration of ions in a solution can be determined without any reference electrode. The ion sensor is equipped with: a first electrode plate; a second electrode plate which has been disposed opposite the first electrode plate and has one or multiple openings; an ion-sensitive film continuously formed so that the film is interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, blocks up one side of each opening of the second electrode plate, and extends from the end of that side of the opening to the outer surface of the second electrode plate through the inner wall surface of the opening; and a sensor support which supports the second electrode plate so that when the ion concentration of a test solution to be examined is determined, the ion-sensitive film comes into contact with the test solution only in the portions thereof that have been formed in each opening and on the outer surface of the second electrode plate. The ion sensor is configured so that the thickness of the ion-sensitive film interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate is different from the thickness of the ion-sensitive film formed on the outer surface of the second electrode plate. A difference in potential between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate is measured.
US08608917B2

A reference electrode for improving a product life cycle without using a gelled hydrophobic ionic liquid having a prescribed hardness or viscosity and without having a large thickness so as to be difficult to manufacture is provided. The reference electrode is provided with a housing for accommodating an internal electrode, a filler for electrically connecting the internal electrode, and a sample liquid. The filler is formed having a layer between the internal electrode and an opening formed in the housing for contacting the sample liquid and the filler. The filler includes a first layer including a water soluble electrolytic solution formed to be in contact with the internal electrode a second layer including a hydrophobic ionic liquid formed to be in contact with the first layer; and a third layer including a gelled hydrophobic ionic liquid formed in the opening so as to be in contact with the second layer.
US08608916B2

An electrolytic cell comprising an electrolysis vessel for receiving a liquid electrolyte that fills the vessel to a predetermined level, electrodes for passing an electric current through the electrolyte, a vent for allowing gases produced by the electrolytic process to leave the vessel and an air inlet means located substantially adjacent to the predetermined level for directing air into the vessel at a predetermined rate.
US08608914B2

A molten salt electrolysis apparatus and a molten metal electrolyzing method using such a device are disclosed having an electrolysis vessel (4) accommodating melt electrolyte including melt metal chloride, and an electrode unit (1) having electrically conductive electrodes (8), first insulation members (9) covering upper end surfaces of the electrodes and fixed thereto while extending upward from the upper end surfaces, second insulation members (10) covering lower end surfaces of the electrodes and fixed thereto while extending downward from the lower end surfaces, and an electrode frame (12) composed of an insulating body surrounding the electrodes, the electrode unit being immersed in the melt electrolyte.
US08608907B2

A composition suitable for paper brightening, wherein the composition contains one or more specified fluorescent whitening agents with taurine groups. The composition is used for whitening paper, in particular at the wet-end, in the size press or by coating.
US08608903B2

A plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber including a dielectric window; a coil-shaped RF antenna, provided outside the dielectric window; a substrate supporting unit, provided in the chamber, for mounting thereon a target substrate; a processing gas supply unit for supplying a processing gas to the chamber; and an RF power supply unit for supplying an RF power to the RF antenna to generate a plasma of the processing gas by an inductive coupling in the chamber. The apparatus further includes a correction coil, provided at a position outside the chamber where the correction coil is to be coupled with the RF antenna by an electromagnetic induction, for controlling a plasma density distribution in the chamber; and an antenna-coil distance control unit for controlling a distance between the RF antenna and the correction coil while supporting the correction coil substantially in parallel with the RF antenna.
US08608891B2

A method to manufacture microfluidic sensors 100, 100′, 132, 280, 380, includes stacking a plurality of layers of material to form at least a first cap layer 102, a first channel layer 104, an interrogation layer 106, and a second channel layer 108. During assembly, ribbon sections of substrate layers are sandwiched to cooperatively align elements through-the-thickness of the sandwich. Individual sensors are then removed from the sandwich ribbon 504. A componentizing step includes forming one or more element for successive sensors spaced along the axial length of a ribbon of substrate material. Certain elements include electrically conductive patterned structures 250 printed onto a substrate using conductive ink and a printing process. Sometimes, the printing process places material in operable position to conduct electricity through the thickness of at least one ribbon. Other elements may include channels 112, 116; tunnels 114, and vias 260, 268.
US08608883B2

The present disclosure describes embodiments of an adherent layer that may be used to attach a geo-membrane to a concrete slab and methods that include installation of the adherent layer. The adherent layer can be used to inhibit the geo-membrane from becoming disengaged with the concrete slab and can thereby help prevent water from penetrating the geo-membrane and causing moisture damage to the structure above.
US08608882B2

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a composite web for use in a disposable product, the process comprising the steps of: a) providing a continuous web of material; b) creating in the web a longitudinally repeating pattern of windows; and c) attaching at least one strip to the web, said strip at least partially covering the windows and having different functional characteristics than the web. The present invention also relates to a composite web formed in accordance with this process and to panels obtainable by cutting said web in cross direction.
US08608861B2

The invention relates to a method of decontaminating an oxide layer-comprising surface of a component or a system of a nuclear facility, wherein the oxide layer is treated with gaseous nitrogen oxide (NOx) as oxidizing agent.
US08608856B2

A sealing part that is inexpensive and enable excellent durability to be secured without the need for a predetermined sealing space as would be required for a double sealing structure. A sealing part seals an inside of a reduced pressure vessel from an outside, in which a high-elasticity polymeric material-eroding eroding substance is present and which is comprised of a substrate processing apparatus carrying out predetermined processing on a substrate housed in the reduced pressure vessel. The sealing part has a radical sealing member and a vacuum sealing member. The radical sealing member is disposed on an inside side of the reduced pressure vessel and is resistant to the eroding substance. The vacuum sealing member is made of the high-elasticity polymeric material and is disposed on an outside side of the reduced pressure vessel. At least one refuge space is formed through at least part of the radical sealing member and at least part of the vacuum sealing member being separated from one another. The radical sealing member and the vacuum sealing member are fitted together.
US08608854B2

A CVD device includes a reaction chamber, a support device, a gas input assembly and a gas output device. The support device is positioned in the reaction chamber. The gas input assembly and a gas output assembly are connected to the reaction chamber respectively. The gas input assembly includes a main body positioned in the reaction chamber and a plurality of gas jets uniformly positioned on the main body, introducing mixed gas to the reaction chamber uniformly.
US08608849B2

A method for making zinc oxide nano-structure, the method includes the following steps. Firstly, providing a growing device, the growing device comprising a heating apparatus and a reacting room. Secondly, providing a growing substrate and forming a metal layer thereon. Thirdly, depositing a catalyst layer on the metal layer. Fourthly, placing the growing substrate into the reacting room together with a quantity of zinc source material. Fifthly, introducing a oxygen-containing gas into the reacting room. Lastly, heating the reacting room to a temperature range of 500˜1100° C.
US08608842B2

An infrared absorbing composition including a compound that is represented by formula (1) and has solubility of 30 mg/mL or less in toluene at 25° C., an organic solvent having a solubility parameter of from 7.3 to 12.1, and a resin is disclosed. In formula (1), each of R1 to R16 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent group, provided that at least one of R1 to R16 represents an R17—X— group or that the compound represented by formula (1) contains at least one condensed-ring structure in which any adjacent two of R1 to R16 form a ring; X represents —S—, —NH—, —NR18—, or —O—; each of R17 and R18 independently represents an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and M represents two atoms selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and monovalent metal atoms, or a divalent metal atom, or a divalent substituted metal atom moiety including a trivalent or tetravalent metal atom and a substituent group.
US08608839B2

Provided are a low-molecular-weight organic gas absorbent material including a porous material having an average pore size of 10 to 200 nm impregnated with one or more organic compounds having 10 or more carbon atoms in a proportion of 10 wt % or more based on the porous material, and a fuel vapor treatment apparatus for an internal combustion engine using this low-molecular-weight organic gas absorbent material. This low-molecular-weight organic gas absorbent material sufficiently absorbs and removes low-molecular-weight organic gases even for a porous material having large pores which cannot adsorb low-molecular-weight organic gases such as butane and the like.
US08608838B2

The invention provides an air purification system in form of tubing, by which particulates of various sizes in the air flow can be collected. The system includes an air inlet, an air outlet and a particulate removing unit located therebetween, the particulate removing unit including a tubing array of material having low dielectric constant, when an air flow passes through the system electrostatic effect is created between the air flow and the tubing material so as to remove the particulates entrained within the air flow. The invention also provides a method for removing particulates from air flow using the electrostatic effect created between the air flow and said material.
US08608836B2

A gas purifier assembly for providing first (50) and second (38) purified gas streams having an integral heater (54). The assembly can have two separate chambers for gaseous fluid flow for the purpose of purifying a gas stream of hydrogen (34), for example, and a separate distinct stream of gas such as compressed air (46). A centrally located heater heats the first chamber to effect purification of the first gas. Waste heat from the first chamber is transferred to the second chamber via conduction to effect purification of the second gas stream.
US08608833B2

Methods are disclosed for the selective absorption of gas components based on differences in their gas phase and liquid phase resistances to mass transfer. The methods advantageously utilize a gas-liquid contacting apparatus having contacting stages with co-current flow channels that can provide contacting with increased liquid phase resistance to mass transfer, for example in the spray regime such that the liquid is effectively dispersed as small droplets into the gas phase.
US08608829B1

The disclosure provides an H2 separation membrane comprised of an alloy having the composition Cu(100-x-y)PdxMy, where x is from about 35 to about 50 atomic percent and where y is from greater than 0 to about 20 atomic percent, and where M consists of magnesium, yttrium, aluminum, titanium, lanthanum, or combinations thereof. The M elements act as strong stabilizers for the B2 phase of the alloy, and extend the critical temperature of the alloy for a given hydrogen concentration and pressure. Due to the phase stabilization and the greater temperature range over which a B2 phase can be maintained, the alloy is well suited for service as a H2 separation membrane, particularly when applicable conditions are established or cycled above about 600° C. over the course of expected operations. In certain embodiments, the B2 phase comprises at least 60 estimated volume percent of the alloy at a steady-state temperature of 400° C. The B2 phase stability is experimentally validated through HT-XRD.
US08608825B2

Embodiments of the invention generally provide a containment system having integrated bubble tight-dampers. In another embodiment, the containment system includes an integral auto-scan mechanism disposed in the housing of the containment system so that a filter element, disposed in the housing, may be leak tested without accessing the interior of the housing. In yet another embodiment, a method for testing a filter disposed in a containment system includes challenging an upstream side of a filter element disposed in a housing of the containment system with a test aerosol, and automatically moving a probe disposed within the housing to obtain samples for leak testing.
US08608817B2

Filter media, as well as related assemblies, systems and methods. Filter media may contain one or more layers formed of a meltblown material.
US08608816B2

A medical fluid filter system is provided having a housing having: a liquid trap chamber having a volume; a filter media chamber; a filter media arranged within the filter media chamber; the liquid trap chamber having a liquid trap outlet port in fluid communication with the filter media chamber; the liquid trap outlet port configured and arranged within the liquid trap chamber to inhibit flow of liquid from the liquid trap chamber to the filter media chamber and configured and arranged to allow gas to flow from the liquid trap chamber to the filter media chamber; a filter system inlet passing through the housing for intake of fluid originating from a surgical site; and a filter system outlet passing through the housing for fluid exhaust.
US08608812B2

A process is described for producing hydrocarbon fractions which can be used as diesel fuel or as components of diesel fuel, starting from a mixture of a biological origin containing esters of fatty acids possibly with amounts of free fatty acids, which comprises the following steps: 1) hydrodeoxygenation of the mixture of a biological origin; 2) hydroisomerization of the mixture resulting from step (1), after possible purification treatment, said hydroisomerization being effected in the presence of a catalytic system which comprises: a) a carrier of acid nature comprising a completely amorphous micro-mesoporous silico-alumina having a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio ranging from 30 to 500, a surface area greater than 500 m2/g, a pore volume ranging from 0.3 to 1.3 ml/g, an average pore diameter lower than 40 Å, b) a metallic component containing one or more metals of group VIII, possibly mixed with one or more metals of group VIB.
US08608805B2

An insert (11) of a joint ball receptacle of a prosthetic shoulder joint according to the invention has a first side (I) with a depression (15) for receiving a joint ball, and a second side (II) which is provided and formed for being received in a shell (13) of the joint ball receptacle. According to the invention, a snap action mechanism (19) which extends around a central axis (17) of the insert (11) is arranged on the second side (II), which snap-action mechanism (19) has, as seen from the second side (II), and together with a collar (21), an undercut (23) which extends around the central axis (17), in such a way that the collar (21) can engage with elastic deformation behind a correspondingly formed mating element (25) of the shell (13), wherein the snap-action mechanism (19) is discontinuous in the peripheral direction of the insert (11) at at least one point (31); according to the invention, the insert (11) has a cylindrical guide region (27) at the outer periphery in the region provided for being received in the shell (13).
US08608803B2

An implant which is particularly suitable for the repair and/or replacement of a skeletal joint, e.g., a vertebral joint, includes a unit of monolithic bone possessing at least one demineralized region exhibiting properties of flexibility and resilience, the demineralized region having diminished or insignificant capacity for promoting new bone growth.
US08608800B2

A lens in accordance with the present invention includes an accommodating cell having two chambers with at least one chamber filled with optical fluid with the refractive index matching the refractive index of the accommodating element separating them. The accommodating element has a diffractive surface with surface relief structure that maintains its period but changes its height due a pressure difference between the chambers to redirect most of light that passes through the lens between different foci of far and near vision. The invention also includes a sensor cell that directly interacts with the ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation to create changes in pressure between the accommodating cell chambers that results in changing surface relief structure height and the lens accommodation.
US08608797B2

Apparatus (20) is provided for treating mitral valve regurgitation, including a band (30) having distal and proximal ends, the band (30) adapted to be placed: around between 90 and 270 degrees of a mitral valve (58), including around at least a portion of a posterior cusp (56) of the valve (58), in a space defined by (a) a ventricular wall (70), (b) a ventricular surface of the posterior cusp (56) in a vicinity of an annulus (60) of the mitral valve (58), and (c) a plurality of third-order chordae tendineae (74). The apparatus (20) further includes distal and proximal coupling elements (32, 34), coupled to the band (30) at the distal and proximal ends thereof, respectively, and adapted to be coupled to a first chorda tendinea and a second chorda tendinea, respectively, each of the first and second chordae tendineae selected from the group consisting of: one of the plurality of third-order chordae tendineae (74), and a first-order chorda tendinea that inserts on a commissural cusp (78) of the mitral valve (58). Additional embodiments are also described.
US08608790B2

A catheter assembly for treatment of a vessel bifurcation. The catheter assembly is adapted for use with a single guidewire, wherein the guidewire is used to both position the catheter assembly within a main vessel of the vessel bifurcated and then be advanced into a branch vessel of the vessel bifurcated. A guidewire lumen of the catheter assembly is defined by a portion of a catheter shaft of the catheter assembly and a portion of a side catheter branch of the catheter assembly. The side catheter branch extends from a distal end of the catheter shaft at a proximal location and is connected at a distal location to a main catheter branch. After the catheter assembly has been advanced over the guidewire to a position within the main vessel at the vessel bifurcation, the guidewire is retracted, a portion of the side catheter branch is advanced into the branch vessel, and the guidewire is advanced into the branch vessel.
US08608788B2

A convective underbody blanket has a head portion and a body portion. Provided at the head portion is a non-inflatable head area surrounded by a channel that has arranged thereat at least one row of air apertures that are oriented toward the non-inflatable head area when the channel is inflated. At the body portion there is provided a non-inflatable body area. Along each longitudinal side of the body area there is at least one longitudinal channel. Each of the longitudinal channels is in fluid communication with the channel that surrounds the non-inflatable head area. The longitudinal channels that sandwich the non-inflatable body area extend substantially along the length of the non-inflatable body area and are in fluid communication with each other by way of a cross channel formed at the foot end of the blanket. The configuration of the blanket allows air input to the blanket to be circulated through the various channels, so that the heated air output from the different rows of apertures formed at the various channels has substantially the same temperature. The different rows of apertures may be provided at different areas along the blanket.
US08608781B2

Transconnector devices and methods of use are provided. A transconnector device has the capability of connecting to elongate spinal fixation elements having various cross-sectional dimensions. The transconnector device is adjustable in three degrees of freedom and is curved to ensure that it maintains a minimum distance posterior of the dura when it is fixed to elongate spinal fixation elements.
US08608780B2

A spinal implant provides support for desired parts of the spine. The spinal implant includes a pair of elongated members and a variable length cross-link. A variable length cross-link device may include a fixed portion having a receiver portion for attachment to a first elongated member, a transverse portion ,and an adjustable portion having a receiver portion for attachment to a second elongated member and a transverse portion engaging member. Inserting the transverse portion of the fixed portion into the engaging portion of the adjustable portion may form a cross-link for stabilizing motion between two elongated members. Engaging the adjustable portion at a selected point on the transverse portion establishes a length selected by the surgeon. The surgical procedure may use minimally invasive surgery or non-minimally invasive surgery, as desired. Components may be inserted through sleeves attached to various coupling devices, or may be inserted and guided along wires.
US08608769B2

A surgical access device comprising a tissue separating obturator suitable for connection with a cannula is disclosed. The obturator includes an elongate shaft having a transparent distal tip. The elongate shaft extends along a longitudinal axis and defines a lumen. The transparent distal tip has a tapered configuration and includes an inner surface and an outer surface adapted for penetrating tissue. The lumen is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument such as a laparoscope. The surgical access device further includes a scope lock at the proximal end of the shaft portion. The lock includes a multi-fingered collet coaxial with the lumen. The inner diameter of the collet is smaller than an outer diameter of the optical instrument and the fingers of the collet provide frictional engagement with the outer diameter of the optical instrument that is inserted into the lumen of the obturator.
US08608767B2

A varicose vein dissector and removal apparatus includes a handle having a first end and a second end, a dissector extending from the first end of the handle and a hook extending from the second end of the handle, and a blade positioned within the dissector for movement between a use position and a storage position. The apparatus is used by creating an initial incision in skin over a varicose vein to be removed, advancing the dissector into the incision and dissecting around the varicose vein to be removed, pushing the dissector against an inner surface of the skin a predetermined distance from the initial incision, exposing the blade by moving it from its storage position to its use position and creating a second incision in the skin letting the dissector protrude out of the skin, and grasping the vein with the hook and removing the vein.
US08608766B2

A surgical tissue cutting instrument comprises a tubular outer member, an inner member rotatably disposed within the outer member and having a cutting element, a handpiece, and an irrigation system. The irrigation system includes an irrigation channel composed of a first irrigation passage within the handpiece and a second irrigation passage within the thickness of the annular wall of the outer member, and a sleeve disposed over a front end of the handpiece and over the outer member adjacent an outlet opening of the second irrigation passage. The sleeve allows communication through the outlet opening of the second irrigation passage and an inlet port of the first passage. The inlet port is connectable with a source of irrigation fluid.
US08608760B2

Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for joining together non-conjoined lumens in a patient's body including vascular lumens. More particularly, in various aspects, this invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for joining such non-conjoined lumens, including small lumens typically requiring microsurgical technique.
US08608756B2

A disc for an epilating apparatus disc assembly includes at least one clamping portion intended to interact with a further clamping portion of a neighboring disc when the disc and the epilating apparatus are arranged as the epilating apparatus-disc assembly, with a radially outward region of the clamping portion. The radially outward region and a radially inward region are harder than a radially intermediate region of the clamping portion.
US08608752B2

An insertion tool for inserting an intervertebral spacer is provided. The tool includes first and second pincers. The first pincer is fixed and the second pincer is pivotably coupled to the first pincer at a pivot location in open-biased opposition to the first pincer. The tool includes a compression slide which may be selectively translated into and out of engagement with the second pincer. When the compression slide is in a predetermined engagement position with the second pincer, the first and second pincers are in a closed position for holding the intervertebral spacer. When the compression slide is out of engagement with the second pincer, the first and second pincers are in an open position for releasing the intervertebral spacer.
US08608748B2

A device for an orthopedic knee procedure. The device includes a drill guide having a body portion and first and second posts extending from the body portion, the first and second posts defining first and second internal through-bores, the first post having a first cross-sectional shape and the second post having a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape of the first post.
US08608724B2

Devices and methods for delivering substances to lung tissue through an extra-anatomic passage created in an airway.
US08608723B2

The present invention is directed toward fluid transfer devices including a vial adapter having a top wall and a cannula with a cannula tip, and an elastic O-ring like sealing element sealingly encircling the cannula and initially disposed towards the cannula tip and spaced apart from the top wall, the sealing element being brought into initial contact with the vial stopper subsequent to the cannula tip contacting the vial stopper at a puncture site and thereafter being slidingly urged towards the top wall and continuously sealing the puncture site during snap fit mounting the vial adapter on the vial.
US08608701B2

A puncture needle for an endoscope includes: a flexible sheath; a needle component that is placed on an interior side of the sheath such that it can move freely forwards and backwards; a wire that is provided at a base end portion of the needle component, and that moves the needle component forwards or backwards along an axial direction of the sheath; and an operating section that is connected to an operating side of the sheath, and operates the wire. This wire is formed by a metal material that has elasticity, and a bent portion is provided in the wire that generates friction against an inner wall of the operating section, and imparts resistance to the forwards and backwards movement of the needle component.
US08608690B2

Joint assemblies for joining sheaths for use in medical devices are provided, as are methods of manufacturing the joint assemblies. An elongate first sheath has a distal end portion having melt bonding material. A second sheath has first and second end portions, the second end portion having melt bonding material. An outer sleeve body includes proximal and distal engaging portions that have melt bonding materials. The proximal engaging portion is disposed about and melt bonded to the first sheath distal end portion. The distal engaging portion is disposed about and melt bonded to the second sheath proximal end portion. In one embodiment, one or both sheaths have an inner layer, a coiled middle layer optionally stopping short of the joint assembly, and an outer layer that has said melt bonding materials. In one embodiment, the sheaths are used in a rapid insertion catheter delivery system.
US08608687B2

The embodiments of the present invention relate to an endoscopic system and accessories. In particular, the various embodiments relate to endoscopic systems in which an accessory comprises a multi-lumen device that is capable of quantitatively delivering at least a catheter, a balloon, and a needle to a site. The accessory is configured to allow for individual, independent control of its components. For example, in some embodiments, the needle and guidewire can be independently controlled. In addition, the needle may be retracted back into an inner lumen of the catheter body. Accordingly, during use, the accessory of the embodiments allows the user to maintain access to an incision site without having to exchange or remove accessories for various parts of the procedure.
US08608681B2

An infusion pressure monitoring system for a phacoemulsification or vitrectomy machine to be operated by a health care provider includes an irrigation path configured to carry an irrigation solution to a surgical site and a fluid sensor configured to detect a fluid parameter in the irrigation path. An input device receives a variable fluid flow command from the health care provider commanding an irrigation fluid flow through the irrigation path at a flow rate corresponding to the command. A controller communicates with both the fluid sensor and the input device. The controller determines an expected fluid pressure value and a dynamically variable threshold pressure value based upon the variable fluid flow command.
US08608680B2

A dialysis apparatus has a dialysate infusing line. One end of the dialysate infusing line is connected to the dialysate introducing line or the dialysate discharging line. The other end is branched out at a branch point into two flow routes, respectively, a first branch end and a second branch end. The first branch end is connectable to the arterial blood circuit or the venous blood circuit. The second branch end is connectable to the tip end of the arterial blood circuit during the blood-returning process. A dialysate infusing pump is arranged on the dialysate infusing line at a connection-side of the dialysate infusing line relative to the dialysate introducing line or the dialysate discharging line from the branch point. The dialysate infusing pump supplies the dialysate of the dialysate introducing line or the dialysate discharging line to the first branch end and the second branch end.
US08608667B2

A device is disclosed for obtaining body fluid, in particular blood, comprising a lancing element having a tip for puncturing the skin of a body part and an actuator coupled with the lancing element for a forward and backward movement of the lancing element, where the lancing element can be inserted into the skin up to an optionally adjustable puncture position. The actuator is adapted to drive the lancing element forwardly to a penetration speed of at most 0.7 m/s when the lancing element penetrates the skin.
US08608658B2

One of the most significant safety concerns in the automation of extracorporeal blood treatments such as dialysis is the risk of blood leakage. Extracorporeal blood treatment systems draw blood at such a high rate that a loss of integrity in the blood circuit can be serious. There are a number of mechanisms for detecting and preventing leaks, but none is perfect. This tends to limit the use of such equipment in unsupervised settings, such as the home will be limited. Some leak detection schemes can be made sensitive enough to detect the barest of leaks, but when this is done, they result in too many false positives. The invention combines information from multiple inputs to enhance sensitivity in leak detection and reduce the problem of false positives.
US08608657B2

Provided herein are methods and apparatuses for facilitating clinical acceptance of patient monitoring features. These methods may be used in conjunction with a computer that includes software for viewing the type of display associated with the monitoring feature. The clinical acceptance systems as provided herein may display a new or experimental monitoring feature along with a benchmark feature that a clinician is familiar with. In certain embodiments, the viewing tool may be isolated from the calculation tools so that the computer may include stored files that are in a format ready for display.
US08608656B2

Systems and methods for assessing a patient's risk of poor outcome in real-time are provided. The real-time risk may be used by a physician to guide decision making during a procedure.
US08608653B2

A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual's response to the questions.
US08608648B2

A video endoscope system includes a reusable control cabinet and an endoscope that is connectable thereto. The endoscope may be used with a single patient and then disposed. The endoscope includes an illumination mechanism, an image sensor, and an elongate shaft having one or more lumens located therein. An articulation joint at the distal end of the endoscope allows the distal end to be oriented by the actuators in the control cabinet or actuators in a control handle of the endoscope. Fluidics, electrical, navigation, image, display and data entry controls are integrated into the system along with other accessories.
US08608633B2

A first apparatus applies magnetic field pulses to a subject, a second apparatus records electric signals of the subject, wherein the electric signals are received as analog signals from the subject while the magnetic field pulses are being applied to the subject. The first apparatus has a generating unit for generating the magnetic field pulses, a first clock generator for generating a first clock, and a first control unit for triggering generation of the magnetic field pulses by the generating unit with a fixed repetition rate based on the first clock. The second apparatus has an analog-to-digital conversion unit for converting the analog signals to corresponding digital signals by sampling each of the analog signals with a sampling rate, a second clock generator for generating a second clock, and a second control unit for causing the analog-to-digital conversion unit to set the sampling rate based on the second clock. A synchronizing unit synchronizes the second clock with the first clock.
US08608624B2

An exercising apparatus for allowing mobility recovery and slimming activities. The apparatus is an endless belt-like exercising sport mat device which comprises a) an endless belt padded with a relatively soft and elastic material for serving as a sliding sport mat; b) a rolling mechanism for allowing the endless belt to be looped at a relatively low speed around the rolling mechanism, thereby providing a lower belt section and an overlying upper belt section on which a user may perform such activities; c) a supporting surface disposed under the inner surface of said upper belt section supporting relation thereto and depressible therewith under the weight of a user for aiding the user to move the endless belt; and d) a rigid frame for containing the supporting surface and the rolling mechanism.
US08608619B2

When the temperature of oil supplied to an electrical oil pump is detected and the oil temperature is lower or higher than normal oil temperature, a gradient threshold value smaller than that at normal oil temperature is set, a gradient of a road surface on which a vehicle is stopped is detected, and an idle stop is prohibited when the detected gradient of the road surface is larger than the set gradient threshold value.
US08608616B2

A clutch control of a hybrid vehicle can engage a clutch which not otherwise possible due to temporary factors, and can determine whether engaging members of the clutch have been successfully engaged. The clutch control controls the clutch having a pair of the engaging members which are provided in a power transmission path of the vehicle, and which are moved in the axial direction and engaged or released when switching is performed between power from a motor and power from an engine. The clutch control device has a rotation control unit for synchronizing the rotations of the engaging members when the clutch is shifted from a disengaged an engaged state, and a clutch engagement control unit for determining whether the engaging members have been engaged, based on rotational speed of the engaging members a predetermined time after axial movement of the engaging members.
US08608613B2

Double shock-absorbing steering wheel, in particular for automobile vehicles, comprising a primary inertia mass connected to an engine shaft (12), a secondary inertia mass (14) connected by clutch E to a gearbox BV, and a torsion damper (18) rotatably connecting the two inertia masses (10, 14), this torsion damper including an epicycloidal gear train whose outer crown wheel (22) engages with a spring (28) for absorption of vibrations and rotation acyclisms, said spring being mounted around the crown wheel (22) in a fixed frame (26).
US08608612B2

A planetary gear train of an automatic may include an input shaft, an output shaft, a first planetary gear set having a first, second and third rotation elements, the first selectively connected to the input shaft, a second planetary gear set having a fourth, fifth and sixth rotation elements, the fourth directly connected to the second rotation element and the fifth directly connected to the input shaft, a compound planetary gear set having seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth rotation elements, the seventh selectively receiving the speed of the input shaft from the fifth, the eighth selectively receiving increased speed from the sixth, the ninth directly connected to the output shaft, and the tenth selectively connected to the input shaft, eight rotation members consisting of at least one of the rotation elements and six friction members.
US08608608B1

An apparatus consisting of a motor with a cylindrical housing homocentric to the drive shaft of the motor. A pinion is affixed concentrically to the front end of the motor housing. The motor housing is fitted with bearings which allows the motor housing to rotate inside its support housing when torque is applied. Idler gears set in a frame perpendicular to the drive shaft mesh with the pinion attached to the motor housing, and link that pinion to a similar pinion affixed to the drive shaft of the motor. When the drive shaft is coupled to a workpiece and torque is applied the opposing force generated by the torque causes the motor housing and its pinion to rotate in the opposite direction. The idler gears linking the similar pinions redirects that opposing force toward the torque initiated by the motor thus compounding the amount of energy being applied to the workpiece.
US08608606B2

A transmission device having power splitting. In the first driving range, the mechanical power branch transmits torque from the ring gear to the additional fixed gear by the fixed gear. In this case, power branches from the ring gear. The hydrostatic power branch branches from the second sun gear. The hydrostatic branch transmits power from the first to the second hydraulic unit. The first and second hydraulic units act respectively as a pump and a motor. On one of the hydrostatic shafts, the mechanical and hydrostatic powers are added and transmitted to the output. In the second driving range, power from the planet carrier partially branches to the ring gear and passes to the hydrostatic shaft for the second hydraulic unit. An auxiliary shaft can be coupled by a gear to a fixed gear operatively connected to a shaft of the power splitting device.
US08608604B1

A torque converter and torque divider includes a prime mover input and a torque converter. The torque converter and torque divider further includes a torque divider configured to receive the prime mover input and divide the prime mover input torque into at least a planetary system input torque and a second torque. A planetary gear system is configured to receive the planetary system input torque. The torque converter and torque divider further includes a lockup clutch configured to lock rotating components of at least one of the torque converter and the torque divider and further includes a torque output.
US08608603B2

[Purpose] A belt drive system, in which a drive belt 20 is wrapped between a drive pulley 1 drivingly connected to a drive source 11 and a driven pulley 2 connected to an driven unit 12 via a joint 32 provided to stop torque transmission when receiving a load equal to or over a predetermined value and torque is transmitted via the drive belt 20 from the drive pulley 1 to the driven pulley 2, ensures that when the driven unit 12 malfunctions, the joint 32 stops the torque transmission without unnecessarily increasing the coefficient of friction against the driven pulley 2 or the belt tension.[Solution] The belt drive system is configured so that when a slip corresponding to the load on the joint 32 equal to or over the predetermined value occurs between the drive belt 20 and the driven pulley 2, the coefficient of friction between the drive belt 20 and the driven pulley 2 becomes higher than that before the slip occurs.
US08608600B2

A recreational object comprises a hollow spherical member comprising a center and a plurality of apertures. A plurality of hollow arm members is configured to be joined to the spherical member at the apertures in which the arms joined to the spherical member are balanced about the center. The arm members each comprise a channel for enabling air passage through the arm and into the spherical member in which the air passage affects a flight speed and a rotational speed of the recreational object passing through air.
US08608598B2

The invention relates to a boomerang that can automatically change both elevation angle α of blades and curve radius r of blades upon the change of rotary speed of blades (12), wherein blades (12) are made of elastically plastic film preferably selected from a group of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene and high impact polystyrene, the material has a specific weight of from about 0.9 g/cm3 to about 1.60 g/cm3 and as thickness from about 0.1 mm to about 1 mm; the ratio between the depth of the rear groove and blade width is from about 1/7 to about 6/7; the ratio between depth of the front groove and blade width is from about 0 to about 3/7; the elevation angle α0 is from about 10° to about 45°; the initial curve radius r0 of the blades is longer or equal to 1/5 of the radius R of said ring (13); the ratio between the total area of said blades and the area of a circle defined by said ring (13) is from about % to about 38%.
US08608596B1

A racket with a movable throat includes a racket frame having an inner wall disposed with a pivotal groove having a throat member received therein. A racket net is firmly fixed with the inner wall of the racket frame, composed of a plurality of first main strings respectively having one end connected with the throat member. By so designing, when a user employs the racket of this invention to hit balls, the impact force of the ball dashing against the racket net will drive the throat member to sway. Thus, the time that the ball contacts with the racket net can be prolonged to enable a user to control balls more easily and additionally, all the first main strings can be actuated to sway together with the throat member to produce greater resilient force for enhancing power of hitting balls.
US08608593B2

A golf ball 2 includes a core 4 and a cover 6 positioned outside the core 4. The cover 6 has a thickness of 0.2 mm or greater and 1.0 mm or less. The cover 6 is formed by injecting a resin composition from an injection molding machine into a mold. The product (M*V*T) of: a melt fluidity M (g/10 min) of the resin composition, which is measured at 190° C.; an injection rate V (cm3/sec) of the injection molding machine; and an injection time T (sec) of the injection molding machine, is equal to or greater than 500 and equal to or less than 1000. Preferably, in the golf ball 2, the melt fluidity M of the resin composition is equal to or greater than 15 g/10 min and equal to or less than 100 g/10 min.
US08608583B2

An ultrasonic trigger for a golf equipment performance monitor is described. In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic trigger comprises at least one emitter and receiver. The emitters periodically generate sound waves at an ultrasonic frequency. The sound waves are targeted towards an object or objects within a target area. The sound waves are reflected by the objects within the target area, and are detected by at least one receiver. The receiver may be connected to a computational device to determine the position and/or velocity of the objects within the field of view.
US08608578B2

A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of guide grooves; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions positioned in the guide grooves; and a roller assembly disposed on each trunnion. The outer roller includes a convex outer surface, the convex outer surface having a first radius (Rry) seen from a cross section taken in an orthogonal direction of the outer roller, the convex outer surface having a second radius (Rrx) seen from a cross section taken along the central axis of the outer roller, in which the center of the second radius (Rrx) is displaced outwardly from the center of the first radius (Rry), and the second radius (Rrx) is shorter than the first radius (Rry).
US08608567B2

A secure and modular architecture for monitoring and controlling clusters of pay entertainment and gaming devices. The architecture allows flexible and secure use of state-of-the-art multimedia and Internet technologies to attract the younger player generation used to flashy and networked games. Cash or cash-less entertainment and gaming devices are supported.
US08608566B2

A music based video game provides an auxiliary palm input on an associated guitar shaped video game controller. In some embodiments, the auxiliary palm input is positioned near a strum input on a body of the guitar shaped video game controller, allowing for simultaneous operation of both the strum input and the auxiliary palm input with one hand. In some embodiments, the auxiliary palm input modifies audio outputs generated in the music based video game. In some embodiments, the auxiliary palm input triggers an alternate game mode, for example, a bonus mode, during video game play of the music based video game.
US08608564B2

A connector for a video game controller including electrical circuitry and a plurality of buttons. The connector includes: a plurality of contacts for receiving and transmitting electrical signals; and a plurality of pins electrically coupled to the plurality of contacts for communicating the electrical signals with the electrical circuitry of the video game controller. The plurality of contacts includes at least one contact for receiving an electrical signal that corresponds to pressing one of the plurality of buttons from among the plurality of electrical signals.
US08608563B2

A special enemy character appears in a game world when a given appearance condition has been satisfied in a node (game device). When a game status relating to the special enemy character has satisfied a given game world-to-game world transfer condition (e.g., when the special enemy character has been severely damaged), the node transmits current character data of the special enemy character to another node (another game device), and deletes the special enemy character from the game world. When the appearance condition has been satisfied in the other node, the special enemy character appears in the game world generated by the other node while maintaining the state before transfer.
US08608562B1

A method for approving data wherein a request for approval of advertising content for being impressed upon video game players within a known advertising spot within a known video game is provided. Based on the advertising spot and the video game a system determines at least a party for approving of the advertising content. Then, the system automatically transmits a message to the at least a party requesting their approval of the advertising content for being impressed upon video game players within the known advertising spot within the known video game.
US08608551B2

Gaming apparatus, e.g. an Electronic Gaming Machine (EGM) (1), includes a controller (2) for implementing e.g. a slot-machine game, a poker game or the like. The EGM (1) displays a gaming image on a display (5), e.g. virtual symbol reels or card hands, and receives player instructions via an input (6) or the like, e.g. to spin the reels or manage the cards. The EGM (1) includes a guarantee feature in which an event is guaranteed to trigger if a monitored event (e.g. of the same type as the guaranteed event) does not occur within a set amount of gameplay. A guarantee indicator (9), e.g. a numerical countdown or gauge, indicates the remaining amount of gameplay required before the guarantee feature triggers. The monitored and/or guaranteed event may be a win event or a feature event, e.g. the triggering of a bonus round, free game or the like.
US08608546B2

A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display.
US08608542B2

The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a player with an opportunity to compete against an opponent (either a virtual opponent or a human opponent). In one embodiment, the gaming system and method provide a competition game that operates concurrently with a wagering game. In one embodiment, the competition game includes a turn-based video game which enables a player to compete against an opponent. Different generated symbol combinations for the wagering game represent different game actions or sequences for the competition game. That is, the symbols or symbol combinations generated in the wager game determine which game actions or sequences the gaming system causes to occur for the competition game. Based on such displayed game actions and sequences, the disclosed gaming system and method determines whether the player or the opponent wins that competition for the competition game.
US08608537B2

To simulate group play, player controlled characters may be grouped prior to entry into a set of asynchronous videogame content. Then separate instances of the set of asynchronous videogame content may be provided to players associated with individual ones of the grouped player controlled characters. In the separate instance provided to a given player, secondary instances of the player controlled characters other than the player controlled character being controlled by the given player may be controlled automatically to accompany the player controlled character being controlled by the given player.
US08608534B1

A combine harvester has a threshing mechanism for threshing grain and cleaning apparatus for removing chaff from the threshed grain. The threshing mechanism includes a rotor and a plurality of concaves and the cleaning apparatus includes and upper chaffer and a lower sieve. A blower provides cleaning air to the combine harvester. The blower is situated in a blower housing having a first cut off plate separating high-velocity air coming from the blower and directing a first portion of the high-velocity air to a lower duct that provides an airstream to the upper chaffer and lower sieve. The blower housing also has a second cut off plate directing a second portion of the high-velocity air to an upper duct that provides an airstream under the concaves. A leading portion of the second cut off plate contains a rolled edge along the width of the upper duct.
US08608527B2

A track set and a plurality of wall mounts is disclosed herein, each of the plurality of wall mounts having: a planar member; a mount member configured to be snap fittingly engaged into the planar member; wherein the mount member is configured to releasably engage a front surface of the planar member and wherein the front surface of planar member further comprises a ledge portion that is configured to engage a bottom portion of the mount member and a1 feature that is configured to engage an upper portion of the mount member. The track set having a first track segment configured to engage at least one of the plurality of wall mounts and direct an object in a first direction generally down the first track segment; and a U-turn device configured to receive the object from the first track segment and redirect the object it in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction down a second track segment. The second track segment being configured to engage at least another one of the plurality of wall mounts.
US08608518B2

A wire-grasping structure for a terminal block includes a seat part, a fixing piece, a cover part, a fastening piece, a screw and a spring. The seat part has a transverse opening. The fixing piece is received in a lower accommodating recess of the seat part to slide in the seat part vertically. The cover part covers the seat part. The fastening piece is sandwiched between the cover part and the seat part. The screw is vertically received in an upper accommodating recess of the cover part and aligned with the through hole of the fastening piece and the threaded hole of the fixing piece. The spring is vertically received in the upper accommodating recess of the cover part and has two ends abutting against the fastening piece and the screw. The wire-grasping structure has good wire-grasping reliability and good applicability and is convenient to use.
US08608504B2

A connector and a connector assembly are provided by the invention. The connector includes a main body formed by a printed circuit board and a plurality of cables. The printed circuit board has a surface conductive trace layer, an inner insulation layer, a ground layer and a surface insulation layer. The surface conductive trace layer has a conductive trace pattern comprising a plurality of contacting-end pattern portions and a plurality of bonding pad portions. The inner insulation layer is located on the surface conductive trace layer. The ground layer is located on the inner insulation layer. The surface insulation layer overlays the ground layer and exposes out a part of the ground layer. The cables are electrically connected to the bonding pad portions of the conductive trace patterns.
US08608494B2

A micro SIM card socket is equipped with an insulator housing, wherein the SIM card is installed; a metal shell, connected to the housing at a constant distance from the housing, that guides the insertion of the SIM card; multiple contact terminals, supported by the housing, one end of which is connected to the contact terminal of the SIM card and the other end of which is fixed to the printed circuit board; a locking unit installed on the side of the housing in order to selectively fix the insertion point of the SIM card, having a curve-shaped pressure pin, at the end of the unit, putting pressure to the edge of the SIM card; a detect terminal installed in the housing in order to detect the insertion of the SIM card and that is pressured by the pressure pin, located in proximity of the pressure pin, when the SIM card is inserted; and a switch terminal that elastically contacts the detect terminal.
US08608473B2

An immediate provisional implant is provided, and method of use therefor, that serves to protect permanent dental implant anchors and overlying tissue during the healing and osseointegration process. Potentially damaging forces resulting from patient use of a temporary prosthesis during the osseointegration period are carried by the immediate provisional implant, rather than impinging upon non-osseointegrated permanent implant anchors or overlying tissue. The immediate provisional implants are self-threading and are inserted in osteotomies located near permanent dental implant anchors. The temporary prosthesis is removed after a period allowed for osseointegration of the permanent implant anchors, and the provisional implants can also be removed at the same time. The immediate provisional implants are non-linearly tapered from a maximum thread diameter near the bone surface to a more narrow distal end, providing immediate stability without the benefit of osseointegration.
US08608466B2

A blow mold unit includes a first and a second blow cavity split mold, and a plurality of raised-bottom molds. The blow mold unit also includes a first and a second securing plates on which the first and the second blow cavity split mold are secured, a plurality of first pressure-receiving plates respectively secured on the first and the second securing plates, a third securing plate disposed between the first and the second securing plates, the plurality of raised-bottom molds secured on the third securing plate, a plurality of shafts suspended from the third securing plate, and a plurality of second pressure-receiving plates secured on the first and the second securing plates at a position below the third securing plate.
US08608462B2

According to one embodiment, a motor stator includes a substantially cylindrical stator iron core and insulators. The stator iron core includes a yoke, teeth, and U-shaped grooves. The U-shaped grooves are formed on the circumference of the yoke in the axial direction. The insulators each include an outer circumference wall, hoisting drums, inner guards, and at least three engagement claws. The engagement claws are located spaced apart in the circumferential direction on the outside of the outer circumference wall and fitted in axial-direction ends of the U-shaped grooves, respectively. One of the engagement claws is arranged such that a first circumferential-direction side portion of the engagement claw is in contact with a first side wall of one U-shaped groove. Another is arranged such that a second circumferential-direction side portion of the engagement claw is in contact with a second side wall of another U-shaped groove.
US08608439B2

A system for arranging and operating an array of wind machines to protect crops from damaging weather conditions, such as freezing frost, rain and heat. The method includes a wind machine positioned to force air across the crop. The wind machine is preferably a propeller/tower configuration. The operational method of the wind machine array includes the steps of sensing ambient meteorological and the hardiness of the crop to withstand a particular adverse weather condition and operating the wind machines in response to these factors. Multiples of wind machines are employed in the preferred embodiment of the method, the siting of the wind machines preferably based upon topographic and historical meteorological conditions. The operation of the wind machines can be automatically and remotely operated with the aid of satellite communications including internet links.
US08608436B2

A connection between an annular sleeve on a gas turbine engine first rotor component includes an annular tapered conical slot extending axially inwardly into the sleeve from an annular opening and tapers axially into the sleeve from the opening. An annular rim of a second rotor component is received within the conical slot and includes a rim inner conical surface mating with and contacting a sleeve inner conical surface in part bounding the conical slot. A sleeve cylindrical outer surface in part bounds the conical slot in the sleeve and a rim outer cylindrical surface on the annular rim contacts the sleeve cylindrical outer surface. An annular lip may extend radially inwardly from the sleeve and sleeve inner conical surface at the annular opening to the conical slot. The connection may be used between a first stage disk and an interstage seal.
US08608429B2

A high pressure turbine (HPT) blade includes a substantially arcuate trailing edge including one or more fluid injection elements disposed therein. Each fluid injection element injects a fluid such as air into a desired trailing edge region of the HPT blade or vane to enhance mixing out of the wakes generated via the HPT blade or vane. The enhanced mixing out reduces HPT/LPT interaction losses and/or the axial gap between the HPT and LPT components in a gas turbine engine. The interaction losses include unsteady thermal wake segregation effects that lead to unexpected heat-up of endwalls (planforms and blade/vane-tips) of downstream blades/vanes, and further include aerodynamic losses, both transonic and subsonic.
US08608427B2

An arrangement for optimizing the running clearance for turbomachines of the axial type, such as turbocompressors, gas turbines, and steam turbines, in particular for compressors of stationary gas turbines, by controlling the inner diameter, which is relevant to the running clearance, of at least one stator structure that surrounds a rotor blade ring, including: the stator structure has a closed, circular inner ring, a circular outer ring that is situated concentric to the inner ring at a radial distance therefrom, and a plurality of links that integrally connect the inner ring to the outer ring, the links being circumferentially inclined at a defined angle (α) to the radial direction and distributed around the circumference of the stator structure, and the arrangement includes an adjustment device for rotating the inner ring relative to the outer ring with elastic modification of the running clearance-relevant inner diameter (D) of the inner ring.
US08608424B2

A turbomachine includes a housing having an inner surface, a compressor, a turbine and a rotary member including a plurality of blade members configured as part of one of the compressor and the turbine. Each of the plurality of blade members includes a base portion and a tip portion. The turbomachine also includes a honeycomb seal member mounted to the inner surface of the housing adjacent the rotary member. The honeycomb seal member includes a contoured surface having formed therein a deformation zone. The deformation zone includes an inlet zone and an outlet zone. The inlet zone is spaced a first distance from the tip portion of each of the plurality of blade members and the outlet zone is spaced a second distance from the tip portion of each of the plurality of blade members. The second distance being substantially equal to or less than the first distance.
US08608414B2

A bi-directional quick change tool-less lever and wedge actuated collet chuck, a system and/or a method provide symmetrical tool bit shank holding pressure before, during and after operation of a rotary-style power tool. The collet chuck is attached to and/or is integrated with high speed, variable speed and/or low speed rotary-style power tools, such as, for example, electrically driven rotary-style power tools and/or pneumatically-driven rotary-style power tools. The collet chuck provides tool-less automatic and/or tool-less manual tightening of the collet around a shank of an accessory for the rotary-style power tool. The collet chuck, the system and/or the method provide tool-less manual loosening of the collet for accessory replacement.
US08608411B2

Device (1) for consolidating soils by mechanical mixing and injection of consolidating fluids is designed to be connected to one or more drilling rods and to carry out operations of drilling and mixing. The device has a main body (10), one or more blades (30) (30′) (30″), which are mobile with respect to the body (10) and are constrained by cams (22) to a central structure (20) internal to the body (10). The device (1) has channels for the flow of fluids (40), which are connected in a liquid-tight way to at least one sprayer; a relative motion is generated between the central structure (20) and the external body (10) as a function of the pressure of a liquid introduced into the channels for the flow of fluids (40), which brings about opening of the blades (30) (30′) (30″).
US08608407B1

A connector for connecting together two floating dock sections includes a first half having a pair of slotted cylinders and a second half with a pair of cones. A pair of rods connects the first half to the second half. When the two halves are loosely connected together, the connector is inserted into opposing receiver sockets of a pair of opposing floating dock members. A flange located at an upper end of the first half arrests the downward travel of the inserted and loosely connected first and second halves. As the rods are tightened, the pair of cones travel toward the pair of slotted cylinders and cause the slotted cylinders to expand radially outward.
US08608402B2

A leveling blade mounts onto a support bracket of a vibrating screed, and a vibrating screed includes the same. The leveling blade has a substantially vertical portion for mounting onto the support bracket, as well as a substantially slanted portion and a substantially horizontal portion, which results in the leveling blade having a particular profile. The vibrating screed includes also a vibration-generating assembly, being operatively mounted onto the support bracket of the vibrating screed for imparting vibrations to the leveling blade via the support bracket so as to enable carrying out a surfacing of a substantially malleable material with the vibrating screed by passing the leveling blade provided with vibrations about the substantially malleable material. A kit is also provided for assembling such a vibrating screed.
US08608392B2

An imaging apparatus 10 comprises a lower housing 11, an upper housing 21, an outer camera 25, and at least one photographing button (buttons 14H and 14G). The upper housing 21 is connected to an upper surface of the lower housing 11 such that the upper housing 21 and the lower housing 11 are foldable. The outer camera 25 is provided in an outer surface of the upper housing 21 which is located outside when the two housings 11 and 21 are folded. The at least one photographing button is provided on an upper surface of the lower housing 11 for performing an instruction to sore an image taken by the outer camera 25.
US08608391B2

A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera, includes a movable mirror rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a mirror-advancing shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the retracted position to the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a mirror-retracting shock-absorbing member which comes into contact with, and is pressed and moved by, the movable mirror to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the viewfinder light-guiding position to the retracted position. The mirror-advancing shock-absorbing member is held in a position so as not to contact with the movable mirror by the mirror-retracting shock-absorbing member when the movable mirror is in the viewfinder light-guiding position.
US08608383B2

A system for securing a linear motion guide track (1010) to a support extrusion (1030) comprises an elongated wedge (1040) having a protrusion configured for insertion in a slit in one side of the well of the support extrusion for positioning the wedge in the well, the wedge having deformable teeth on a side opposite the protrusion such that insertion of the guide track in the well deforms the teeth of the wedge thereby securely holding the guide track in the support extrusion.
US08608381B2

Vertical fill and form bags fabricated from flexible packaging film are provided with at least one transverse seal at an oblique angle. Upon opening, the oblique angled seal provides a natural use easy pour dispensing feature. The bag is intuitively and ergonomically easy to use to facilitate controlled pouring without spilling. The bag are especially useful for bulk particulate contents especially consumer food products such as ready-to-eat cereals for use in food service venues such as universities and hospitals. Apparatus and method of preparation for the productions of the easy pour bulk bags are described including using transverse sealers at least one of which is oriented at an angle such as to impart the oblique angled transverse seal.
US08608377B2

A thermocouple system is disclosed. The thermocouple system includes a thermocouple having a positive lead and a negative lead. A positive wire is connected at a first end to the positive lead at a first junction and at a second end to a second junction. A negative wire is connected at a first end to the negative lead at a third junction and at second end to a fourth junction. The second and fourth junctions constitute a reference junction. At least one of a thermal conductivity and a gauge of at least one of the positive wire and the negative wire are selected to govern the respective flows of heat from the first junction toward the reference junction and the flow of heat from the third junction toward the reference junction to be of such quantities that the difference in the heat flows is less than a predetermined amount.
US08608376B2

A method for modeling the performance of a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device across a wide temperature range is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of positioning the device in an environment chamber operable to create a plurality of environment temperatures; connecting the pins of the device to a measurement system operable to measure at least one device characteristic; operating the environment chamber to set a series of four environment temperatures, acquiring a value of the device characteristic from the measurement system at each temperature, and extracting a temperature parameter set based on the value of the device characteristic at each temperature, then generating a temperature-scaling model for the device.
US08608374B2

An outside air temperature (OAT) diagnostic system includes an ambient temperature monitoring module that receives (i) an OAT signal from an OAT sensor and (ii) an intake air temperature (IAT) signal from an IAT sensor of an engine. The ambient temperature monitoring module compares the OAT signal to an IAT signal and generates a first difference signal. A performance reporting module determines whether the OAT sensor is exhibiting a fault and generates an OAT performance signal based on the first difference signal.
US08608372B2

A wristwatch has a casing containing a movement. An insertion cylindrical portion of a pipe is inserted into a through-hole in a body of the casing, and the pipe is fixed to the body. A push-button has a button shaft engageable with a contact member of the movement through the pipe, and a push operation head connected to the button shaft and disposed outside the body. The button shaft has a first portion integrated with the head and a second portion screwed onto the first portion. The second portion has a diameter greater than that of the first portion and an engagement surface capable of approaching and being separated from a tip of the insertion cylindrical portion. The push-button is biased toward the outside of the body by a spring so the engagement surface is held in contact with the tip of the insertion cylindrical portion.
US08608362B2

Collimating light engines, methods of making collimating light engines, and articles incorporating collimating light engines are disclosed. In one aspect, a light source and circuitry can be disposed between a reflector and a reflective baffle to form a collimating light engine. The light source is at least partially obscured from view by the reflective baffle. Light emitted from the light source is partially collimated upon leaving the light engine. Light uniformity of the output surface of a backlight can be proved by disposing an array of the collimating light engines in the backlight
US08608346B2

The present invention discloses a backlight module and a light guide plate (LGP) fixture thereof, wherein the LGP fixture comprises a LGP, a heat dissipation base and a plurality of clamps. The heat dissipation base is planar and correspondingly disposed below the LGP. The heat dissipation base is installed with the clamps on sides of the LGP. Each of the clamps has a bottom portion, and a retaining plate and at least one upright plate are vertically formed from the bottom portion. The upright plate and the retaining plate are clamped on the heat dissipation base, and the clamps are used to position the LGP.
US08608339B2

An outdoor lighting device for lighting a target, particularly for use in street lighting, includes a support structure and a lighting unit stably associated with the support structure and having one or more light beam sources of LED type, with preset FWHM values, and one or more reflecting surfaces designed to at least partially reflect light beams. At least a first one of the LED sources has the FWHM of its luminous spectrum totally reflected by one or more of the reflecting surfaces and totally projected towards the target for increased lighting efficiency.
US08608337B2

A lighting fixture having a louvered light shield is provided. The louvered light shield has at least one light emitting section with a plurality of alternating ridges and troughs. A plurality of sidewalls connect the ridges and troughs. A plurality of the ridges have a light exit opening therethrough. The light exit opening enables light from a light source of the lighting fixture to exit the lighting fixture.
US08608336B2

A multifunction electricity generating assembly includes: a pivot seat mounted pivotally in a housing; a solar power collecting unit mounted selectively to the pivot seat, and including a carrier connected detachably to the pivot seat to co-rotate with the pivot seat relative to the housing, and formed with electrical contacts that contact respectively and electrically exposed conductive members of the pivot seat when the carrier is connected to the pivot seat, and a solar power collecting plate connected electrically to the electrical contacts, and carried on the carrier for converting solar power into electrical energy; and a rechargeable battery unit disposed in the housing for storing collecting plate, the electrical energy converted by the solar power collecting plate.
US08608330B2

Provided are a refrigerator and a refrigerator door. The refrigerator and refrigerator door include a transparent member provided behind an exterior member defining the exterior of the refrigerator, a light emitting member provided on an extending line of an outer end of the transparent member to radiate light toward the transparent member, and a diffusing portion formed at one side of the transparent member. Light from the light emitting member passes through the transparent member and a pattern on the exterior member to be diffused to the outside. Through this configuration producing a soft glow of light, aesthetics can be improved and opulence can be enhanced.
US08608327B2

An automatic compass system for a vehicle includes compass circuitry having a multi-axis compass sensor and associated circuitry. The multi-axis compass sensor includes first and second magnetoresponsive sensing elements. The magnetoresponsive sensing elements and at least a portion of the associated circuitry are established on a common silicon substrate using CMOS technology. The associated circuitry includes at least one of (i) an A/D converter, (ii) a D/A converter, (iii) signal processing circuitry, (iv) memory, (v) signal filtering circuitry, (vi) a display driver. The compass circuitry (i) determines a directional heading of the equipped vehicle responsive to a sensing of a magnetic field by the magnetoresponsive sensing elements and (ii) automatically compensates for a deviating magnetic field. Responsive to the compass circuitry, an information display of the equipped vehicle may display the directional heading of the equipped vehicle.
US08608326B2

A mirror reflector sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element having a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary reflector portion. The principal reflector portion has a first radius of curvature and the auxiliary reflector portion has a second radius of curvature that is smaller than the first radius of curvature. The mirror reflective element is supported at a side of a mirror back plate and an opposing side of the mirror back plate is adapted for attaching the mirror back plate to a mirror actuator. A heater pad is disposed at a second surface of the glass substrate between the mirror reflective element and the mirror back plate. The mirror reflective element is a fixed reflectance non-electro-optic mirror reflective element and a principal mirror reflector is established at the second surface of the glass substrate at the principal reflector portion.
US08608295B2

A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer consisting a complex oxide having a perovskite structure containing bismuth and iron and electrodes provided to the piezoelectric layer. The complex oxide further contains a first dopant element that is magnesium and a second dopant element that is at least one of manganese, titanium, vanadium, niobium and tin.
US08608288B2

A method for forming a self-aligned hole through a substrate to form a fluid feed passage is provided by initially forming an insulating layer on a first side of a substrate having two opposing sides; and forming a feature on the insulating layer. Next, etch an opening through the insulating layer, such that the opening is physically aligned with the feature on the insulating layer; and coat the feature with a layer of protective material. Patterning the layer of protective material will expose the opening through the insulating layer. Dry etching from the first side of the substrate forms a blind feed hole in the substrate corresponding to the location of the opening in the insulating layer, the blind feed hole including a bottom. Subsequently, grind a second side of the substrate and blanket etch it to form a hole through the entire substrate.
US08608286B2

A method of forming an inkjet nozzle chamber includes the steps of: (a) depositing a layer of chamber material onto a substrate, the layer of chamber material defining a depth of the nozzle chamber; (b) removing a predetermined region of the layer of chamber material to define sidewalls of the nozzle chamber and an internal volume of the nozzle chamber; (c) depositing a sacrificial material to fill the internal volume contained within the sidewalls; (d) depositing a roof layer onto the sacrificial material and the sidewalls; (e) etching the roof layer to define a nozzle opening therein; and (f) removing the sacrificial material contained in the internal volume so as to form the nozzle chamber.
US08608284B2

An inter-terminal connection structure includes: a first terminal; a second terminal which is separated from the first terminal; a first connection member which is in contact with the first terminal; a second connection member which includes a coil portion, a first arm portion extending from one end of the coil portion to be in contact with the second terminal, a second arm portion extending from the other end of the coil portion to be in contact with the first connection member; a container main body which has a bottom face and a side face on which the second terminal is mounted; and a positioning member which includes a first protruding portion to be inserted into the coil portion of the second connection member, and a second protruding portion which determines a relative angle between the first and second arm portions.
US08608283B1

An inkjet printhead die includes a first endmost black nozzle of which is disposed proximate the first end of a substrate, and an opposite second endmost black nozzle of which is disposed a distance D1 from the first endmost black nozzle; a first endmost nozzle of which is disposed proximate the first end of the substrate, and an opposite second endmost nozzle of which is disposed a distance D2 from the first endmost cyan nozzle; a first endmost nozzle of which is disposed proximate the first end of the substrate, and an opposite second endmost nozzle of which is disposed a distance D3 from the first endmost nozzle; wherein D2 and D3 substantially equal to each other, and wherein D1 is greater than D2.
US08608281B2

A paper printing method for a line printer that can print a next print job with a specific margin without reversing paper. To print on label paper using a head unit having a plurality of line printheads disposed at a specific interval along the conveyance direction of the label paper, a printhead moving step advances a head unit at a first position after printing ends to a second position, and a printing step prints a label while moving the head unit in the reverse of the conveyance direction. At the second position, the printing position of the last line inkjet head of the head unit is on the forward side of the start printing position of a label on the label paper.
US08608276B2

A liquid discharge head includes a heat generating element which generates heat energy used to discharge a liquid; a temperature detecting element which changes in output voltage in response to a change in the temperature of the heat generating element; an electrical power source line and a grounding line electrically connected to each other through the heat generating element to apply a current to the heat generating element; and a pair of lines for temperature detection electrically connected to each other through the temperature detecting element to apply a current to the temperature detecting element. Here, each of the pair of lines for temperature detection is arranged adjacent to the other.
US08608272B2

A method for operating an inkjet imaging system includes generating a coverage area map that identifies areas of an image that have different coverage area densities. Color inkjet ejectors form an image on an image receiving member, and clear inkjet ejectors eject halftone patterns on the image receiving member and on the ink forming the image. The halftone levels of the clear ink in each area on the image and image receiving member are selected in response to the coverage area density for each area.
US08608271B2

A printing apparatus and a printing method are capable of not permitting a printable ratio of each printing scan to have a deviation and, even if a sudden conveyance shift occurs, outputting a uniform and smooth image in the whole area of the print medium. In order to achieve this, when performing multipass printing of 2M passes, a mask such that a printable area overlapping ratio that relates to straddling between Pass M and Pass M+1 is set higher than the printable area overlapping ratio that relates to straddling between two other consecutive passes is used. By this configuration, even if a complementary relationship of dots collapses due to a sudden conveyance shift or the like and thereby a density reduction is anticipated, by an overlapped dot being separated, increase of the density is accelerated, and it becomes possible to mitigate the above-mentioned density reduction.
US08608267B2

Among other things, for use in ink jetting, a method includes reducing an anticipated variation in a characteristic of ink drops being jetted from an ink jet assembly, the reducing comprising causing a voltage that is applied on a jetting assembly to respond to the anticipated variation.
US08608257B2

A projector suspension device includes a casing and a suspension mechanism. The casing defines a space for accommodating an optical projection engine, and the casing has a trough extending into an inside of the casing. The suspension mechanism includes a fixed rod and a movable rod, and the fixed rod is disposed inside and fixed to the casing. One end of the movable rod is connected to the fixed rod, and another end of the movable rod is fixed to a stationary object. The movable rod is slidably coupled to the fixed rod and slides relative to the fixed rod so as to be stored inside the trough or to stick out from the trough.
US08608249B2

A method of treating an oil shale formation in situ includes allowing a temperature of a portion of the formation to decrease. The portion has previously undergone an in situ heat treatment process. A first fluid is injected into a part of the portion and a second fluid is produced from the formation.
US08608248B2

A method for controlling longwall mining operations, having a face conveyor, at least one extraction machine, and a hydraulic shield support, in underground coal mining. At least one sensor is disposed on the shield support frames for acquiring solid-borne noise data generated by the engagement of the extraction machine in coal and/or country rock. A cut of the extraction machine into the country rock is determined in a downstream computer on the basis of recorded vibration data that corresponds to the generated solid-borne noise.
US08608245B2

A seat latch for use in retaining a seat back or other element in a locked position. The seat latch may include a lifting element configured to lift a locking fork into locking engagement with a retaining hook. The lifting element may be a spring that experiences increased tension when the seat back is folded into an upright position. The increased tension can cause the spring to lock the seat back relative to the retaining hook.
US08608242B2

In a seat, in a state in which tilting of a back main frame around a tilting center is locked by a reclining mechanism, a lower end of a back joint link is turnably joined to a vehicle side. Thus, turning of a first link, a back sub frame and the back joint link is locked, and operation of a back link mechanism is locked. Therefore, a supporting rigidity from rear side of a back side portion can be enhanced by the back link mechanism (the back sub frame), and a crew sitting in the seat can be thoroughly retained.
US08608233B2

There is provided a framework structure of a vehicle where high productivity can be obtained, a reinforcement and an outer frame can be completely welded to each other, and the reinforcing ability of the reinforcing member can be sufficiently obtained when the reinforcing member is provided on the outer member. A plurality of protruding portions, which protrudes toward an outer member, is formed on the outer surface of a reinforcement of a center pillar. These protruding portions are disposed so as to be separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement. Further, non-protruding portions where the protruding portions are not formed are formed in the vicinity of a belt line, and the protruding portions are formed at other positions.
US08608231B1

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle structural frame with an overlap-barrier-impact deformation scheme, the frame has: a rail defining a first longitudinal axis; a first energy absorption device defining a second longitudinal axis outside of the first longitudinal axis with respect to a vehicle; and a connector extending between the rail and the first energy absorption device.
US08608230B2

An impact protection structure for a vehicle impacting a blunt-object barrier includes a support structure of the vehicle, an energy absorbing rail coupled to the support structure, and a localized energy dissipation structure. The energy absorbing rail extends an energy absorbing rail length and includes a plurality of lumens. The localized energy dissipation structure extends a localized energy dissipation structure length less than the energy absorbing rail length.
US08608229B2

A motor vehicle having interconnected outer skin components and a method for connecting outer skin components is provided. In cutting off damaged outer skin components and replacing same, in a connected state of the two outer skin components, a reinforcing component is arranged on an inner surface of each of the two outer skin components via an adhesive. This results in a two-layer construction at the joint between the two outer skin components.
US08608225B2

A retractable top for a vehicle having an open top, the vehicle including four doors, the retractable top including a left and a right rear roll bar projecting vertically from the rear floor above the vertical walls, the roll bars projecting forward to join a transverse roll bar forming a roll cage, the retractable top including support members attached to two of the three horizontal sides. The retractable top includes linkage arms attached to support members configured to move from a retracted position to an extended position, the linkage arms including a bow arm having a first tapered interconnection aperture, the first tapered interconnection aperture shaped to receive a first connector and recess the first connector such that an end of the first connector is flush with a first surface of the bow arm. The retractable top includes an enclosure material that covers the open top when extended.
US08608223B2

A cover removal and installation roller assembly for an automobile that is particularly suited to be operated by hand, by an individual, in order to install or remove a cover from the automobile. The roller assembly includes a self-storing hand crank that is removably connectable to a cover spool whereby the cover spool can be rotated in order to wind the cover therearound or play the cover out from the spool. The cover in one embodiment is removably connectable to the cover spool. Methods for using the cover roller and installation roller assembly.
US08608219B1

A vehicle tailgate is provided with a rack having a transverse cross-member extendable vertically between raised and lowered positions with telescoping supports. A powered cable-drive is connected to the supports move the cross-member between the raised and lowered positions. When the rack is in the lowered position, the cable-drive and supports are concealed within the tailgate and the cross-member forms at least a portion of a top surface of the tailgate.
US08608215B2

A load-receiving apparatus is provided in the form of a hook block of a lifting gear, and includes a hook having a shaft and a circumferential groove in which an annular retaining element engages. The annular retaining element is supported on a supporting surface of a suspension element of the load-receiving apparatus. The annular retaining element has the form of a sleeve, which expands starting from the shaft and continuing in the direction of the supporting surface. In order to create a secure load-receiving apparatus, the annular retaining element is designed in the form of a conical sleeve or a truncated cone, and has an exterior outer surface, an interior outer surface due to the sleeve's conical shape, an upper annular top surface, and a lower annular base surface.
US08608212B2

A door closer apparatus includes: a pole lever that is rotated by a pole which rotates in the direction opposite from the direction of engaging a latch; a pole lever urging portion that urges the pole lever; a spring that urges the pole lever in the direction of coming into contact with the pole; a stopper that comes into abutment with the pole lever at a half lock position to prohibit the pole lever from rotating in the direction of coming into abutment with the pole; a first switch that is activated in response to the latch positioned in a range from the initial position to a position between the half lock position and the full lock position; and a second switch that is activated in response to the pole lever positioned in a range from a position between the initial position and the half lock position to the full lock position.
US08608208B2

A pipe coupling assembly, including a first portion having a first channel therethrough and a second channel substantially coaxial with and separated from the first channel, and a second portion rotatably connected to the first portion, wherein the second portion has a first channel substantially aligned with the first channel of the first portion and a second channel substantially aligned with the second channel of the first portion.
US08608207B2

An apparatus for providing coolant to a computer rack system comprises a first and a second quick disconnect couplings each having a male insert, a female socket aligned with the male insert and a release collar movable on the female socket between a release position and a docked position, a carriage slidably coupled to the chassis to move the male inserts between a retracted position with male inserts separated from the female sockets and a docked position with male inserts inserted into the female sockets. A resilient member intermediate the chassis and the release collars assists in moving the release collars from the release position to the docked position to make up a fluidic circuit. A collar stop coupled to the chassis and aligned with the release collars engages and moves the release collars from the docked position to the release position to break out the fluidic circuit.
US08608206B2

The invention comprises a replacement collar for a roof vent pipe. The collar provides UV protection for an existing gasket or can be used as a separate installation. Preferably, the collar has a thicker gauge and includes a seal flange and pre-applied sealant. The collar is designed for universal application for all appropriate sizes of pipe with unique cut line indentations to enable correct trimming to selected size.
US08608194B2

A steering wheel assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel that can be mounted rotatably about a steering axle on a motor vehicle is provided. The steering wheel assembly comprises an airbag module disposed in a pre-determinable use position on the steering wheel, and an adjusting device disposed on the steering wheel assembly. Said adjusting device is adapted and provided for adjusting the spatial position of the airbag module relative to the steering wheel for the purposes of compensating for tolerances perpendicular to the steering axle. In the process, the adjusting device comprises adjusting means for generating an adjusting force that has at least one force component along the adjusting direction of the airbag module and also a guide device for guiding the airbag module along the adjustment direction thereof.
US08608174B2

The present invention provides a leaf seal device which is available to assemble easily and to control and to set an inclination angle and a space of a sealing section. In the leaf seal device of the present invention, a connection holding section 21 of a sealing plate 12 is bent at a first bending section 22. Thereby, since laminated a plurality of sealing plates 12 are engaged sequentially at the first bending section 22, a radial direction is defined so as to become easily assemble. Also, according to inclining a face 24 at an inner circumferential side of the connection holding section 21, a pitch and a space of a sealing section 31 are changed. Therefore, the space of the sealing section can be controlled, if controlling a bend angle of the first bending section 22.
US08608162B2

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit, a discharger, and a presser including a swingable member and a contact member is provided. The contact member is partially attached to the swingable member in a condition to create clearance between an unattached part and the swingable member. Weights of the contact member and the swingable member affect the sheet when the recording medium contacts the contact member and the contact member is moved to swing upward along with the swingable member by the recording medium. Resilient force is provided by the contact member to affect the recording medium when the recording medium contacts the contact member and the contact member is moved in a direction to narrow the clearance.
US08608154B2

A sheet tray for feeding a sheet toward an image forming part of an image forming apparatus. The sheet tray is detachably attachable to the image forming apparatus in a sheet feeding direction and includes a tray portion, a detachable cover member provided apart from the tray portion with a gap interposed therebetween through which the sheet passes in an engaged state in which the tray portion and the cover member are engaged with each other, a lock assembly that engages the tray portion and the cover member with each other in the engaged state and disengages the cover member and the tray portion from each other in a disengaged state, and a switching mechanism that puts the lock assembly into the engaged state in absence of the sheet within the gap and into the disengaged state at presence of the sheet within the gap.
US08608153B2

A printing media loading apparatus includes a first printing media loading unit detachably disposed in an image forming apparatus; a second printing media loading unit disposed above the first printing media loading unit; a first lever assembly rotatably disposed in the first printing media loading unit; a second lever assembly disposed in the second printing media loading unit to selectively rotate the first lever assembly; and a detecting sensor disposed in the image forming apparatus to detect action of the first lever assembly, wherein, when at least one printing medium is loaded on the second printing media loading unit and there is no printing medium loaded on the first printing media loading unit, the second lever assembly is rotated and the first lever assembly is rotated by rotation of the second lever assembly to activate the detecting sensor.
US08608150B2

A sheet post-processing apparatus is provided that includes a first delivery path that guides a sheet to a first post-processing portion, a delivery holding path having a first holding path which branches off from a branch point of the first delivery path and a second holding path which is formed to be continuous with the first holding path and joins together with the first delivery path; a second delivery path that branches off from a branch point of the first holding path and guides the sheet to the second post-processing portion; a first path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first delivery path; and a second path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first holding path.
US08608143B2

The present pipe clamp device is configured for use with standard vee head jack stands. The present device can be used to secure a pipe or similarly shaped object to a standard vee head jack stand. Specifically, the present pipe clamp device can comprise one or more pivoting arms that can facilitate an object's placement into the pipe clamp device or its removal from the pipe clamp, a threaded rod, which can include a release button or quick release mechanism, which can be used to quickly tighten the clamp onto an object being secured and the jack stand or to remove an object from the jack stand.
US08608142B2

Device for absorbing kinetic energy of a moving body includes a plastically deformable helical spring having a stack of convolutions, the inner surfaces of which delimit a passage. At least a part of the convolutions can be pulled successively through the passage. Due to the resulting deformation of the convolutions, energy can be absorbed.
US08608141B2

A gas spring capable of having long and short travel modes is described. The gas spring uses liquid in combination with pressurized air to affect the travel length. Unlike conventional gas springs, the gas spring according to the invention may have its travel reduced more than, for example, by 50%.
US08608135B2

An air intake housing and flow enhancing plate for a carburetor with a fluted and contoured air intake opening that flushly aligns with and matches the shape of the carburetor air intake opening. The low profile plate is made of metal for durability and heat resistance. The centrally located air intake opening of the plate has a clover leaf or undulating shape that conforms to the shape of the carburetor air intake opening. The plate is secured directly over the top of the carburetor, and extends radially outward to provide a larger area for securing its fiberglass housing. The housing holds a conventional ring shaped air filter located around the carburetor air intake opening. The plate provides smooth transitions between surfaces to decrease turbulence and improve air flow.
US08608134B2

A method of assembling a hook block for a crane includes: providing a sheave housing containing a plurality of sheaves with a pivotal connection link secured to the top of the sheave housing, the sheave housing including extended portions each with a hole therethrough and a housing frame positioned below the plurality of sheaves, the housing frame having a locking surface; placing a cross beam on its side, the cross beam having stabilizing feet resting on the ground; positioning the extended portions of the sheave housing within a plurality of brackets of the cross beam, each bracket with a hole therethrough; aligning the holes of the extended portions of the sheave housing with the holes of the brackets; inserting a shaft through the aligned holes; securing a cap to an end of the shaft to resist lateral movement relative to the holes; and inserting a locking bar between the locking surface of the housing frame and a surface of a bracket of the cross beam, to resist relative movement between the sheave housing and the cross beam during further assembly.
US08608133B2

Apparatus for installing communication and power cables in tunnels includes a base member adapted for longitudinal transport through a tunnel on a railroad flatbed that rotatably supports a cable supply reel. A cable guide arm is connected at one end with the base member for pivotal displacement about a horizontal pivot axis parallel with the base member longitudinal axis, and a cable guide pulley is connected with the other end of the guide arm for guiding a cable supplied by the reel to a desired point of installation on the tunnel wall. A length-adjusting arrangement adjusts the length of the guide arm to correspond with the width of the tunnel, and an angle-adjusting arrangement adjusts the angle of the guide arm relative to the horizontal surface of the base member. The base member is mounted on a sled for lateral displacement transversely of the flatbed.
US08608113B2

A method for capturing a container of planet ground samples moving in space by a probe also moving in space includes, when the probe is on the orbit of the container, at a distance of a few meters therefrom and the receiving face of the probe is oriented toward the container, generating, on board the probe, a first controlled magnetic field to reduce the angular speeds of the container and orient it in a preferred direction for the capture, and, when these speeds have become negligible and the probe is positioned in the correct orientation, while the probe is being brought closer to the container, a process of attraction of the container relative to the probe is begun using another field whose field lines converge toward the capture zone of the probe.
US08608107B2

A system for automatic or auto pilot controlled landing of air vehicle (2) with an undercarriage (10) with a substantially plane lower side, at a stationary or mobile landing place is described. The system is primarily characterized in that the landing plate is settable after two axes in roll and pitch, by a set mean controlled in relationship to the air vehicle and the horizontal plane. The air vehicle (2) and the landing plate (3) are provided with transmitter and receiver which define and communicate the mutual distance and the relative angles between the landing plate (3) and the undercarriage (10). Said set means is arranged to set said two axes such that the landing plate (3) will be substantially parallel to the lower side of the undercarriage (10).
US08608106B2

An aircraft cooling system (10) comprises a cooling element (12), which comprises a housing (14), a cooling air inlet (18) formed in the housing (14) and a plurality of heat exchangers (32, 34, 36, 38), which are disposed on lateral surfaces (24, 26, 28, 30) of the housing (14) and through which cooling air supplied through the cooling air inlet (18) may flow. A cooling air supply channel (40, 40′) connects a cooling air supply opening (44, 44′) formed in a tail section of an aircraft to the cooling air inlet (18) of the cooling element (12). A cooling air outlet channel (46) connects the heat exchangers (32, 34, 36, 38) of the cooling element (12) to a cooling air discharge opening (50).
US08608103B2

A personal flight device which includes a housing which is securable to a pilot having at least one pair of ducted fans, one fan of the at least one pair of ducted fans is mounted to one side of the housing, the other fan of the at least one pair of ducted fans mounted to the other side of the housing. Each fan rotates about an axis of rotation so as to draw air through the corresponding duct from an entry end of the duct to an exit end of the duct. At least one radiator is also provided. Each engine of the at least one engine is cooled by a radiator of the at least one radiator. Each radiator of the at least one radiator is associated with at least one passage having an entry end in communication with one surface of the radiator and an exit end adjacent the entry end of one duct of the ducted fans.
US08608099B2

A hammer mill has a lockable milling chamber and a rotor disposed in the milling chamber. The rotor has a shaft supporting plural rotor discs and plural hammer pins for receiving hammers or hammer assemblies. The hammer pins do not extend over all the segments defined by the discs.
US08608097B2

In a system for monitoring the operating condition of a pulverizer, a sensor interface module positioned on or proximal to the pulverizer. The sensor interface module is operable to receive information generated by one or more sensors mounted on the pulverizer. An operator control station is in communication with the sensor interface module and is operable to receive data from the sensor interface module relevant to the signals received from the sensors. The operator control station is also operable to generate operational information indicative of a functional characteristic of the pulverizer and to track the operational information to determine whether degradation of the functional characteristic is occurring.
US08608095B2

The method for disintegration of materials containing lignocellulose to fibers is characterized in that roller pressure is applied to the material containing lignocellulose in a flat die pellet mill by pinch rollers which can have an offset from the die of several millimeters, said pressure being applicable over a wide area, and the material being in a mixture with fiber-improving agents and moist on the surface, whereby the fiber improving agents, supported by the high moisture in the pore interiors, enter far into the interior of the fiber material and react spontaneously or with a delay, wherein finally the disintegrated and refined material is pressed through the bores of the flat die.
US08608086B1

An apparatus for temporarily attaching an RFID tag to a mobile object includes a bracket comprising a first arm comprising an object mounting surface, and a second arm comprising a tag mounting surface. The first arm further comprises an attachment mechanism used to attach the bracket to a support surface.
US08608071B2

An optical indicia reading terminal configured to capture and process an image of decodable indicia can comprise a first image sensor and a second image sensor having overlapping fields of view. The optical indicia reading terminal can further comprise at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog signals read out of the two image sensors into first and second digital signals, respectively. The optical indicia reading terminal can further comprise a hand held housing encapsulating the two image sensors. The optical indicia reading terminal can further comprise a microprocessor configured to output a decoded message data corresponding to the decodable indicia by processing at least one of the two digital signals.
US08608069B1

Disclosed embodiments, as well as features and aspects thereof, are directed towards providing a system, device and method for calculating comprehensive ballistic solutions, or portions thereof, via a varying magnification optical range determining and ballistic trajectory calculating apparatus referred to as a ballistic solutions device. Advantageously, embodiments of a ballistic solutions device may drastically reduce marksman error in milling targets by employing a measurement component configured to measure angular movement of a projectile launching device, such as a rifle, thus delivering consistently accurate distance to target estimations. Additionally, embodiments of a ballistic solutions device may also comprise features and aspects that enable a user to leverage available real-time field data such that error associated with the measurement of those variables is minimized prior to calculating and rendering a comprehensive ballistic solution derived from stored DOPE.
US08608065B2

To improve security and simplify financial transactions in electronic communications environments, a cryptographic Private Key is securely stored in a storage device of a user. A Public Key Certificate corresponding to the Private Key is also created and can be stored in an online repository for merchant access. The Public Key Certificate identifies a payment card of the user, and is signed by or on behalf of a financial institution issuing the payment card. When initiating a payment card transaction with a merchant, a data item is signed using the Private Key. The signed data item and the Public Key Certificate are conveyed to the merchant, which enables the merchant to authenticate the transaction without needing to communicate with the user's financial institution, and while avoiding the inconvenience and privacy issues associated with obtaining other card details and user details.
US08608064B2

A payment system and method of IC card and a multi-application IC card as well as payment terminal are proposed in the present invention. The terminal and the IC card perform off-line data authentication using an asymmetric key algorithm during an off-line transaction, and if the transaction is not approved in manner of off-line, the terminal and the IC card performs an on-line transaction via a host. Therefore, the payment system and method of IC card and the multi-application IC card as well as payment terminal disclosed in the present invention can be used both in machinery without on-line transaction environment and in standard merchant machinery with on-line transaction environment.
US08608063B2

Potentially sensitive information (e.g., account numbers for payment cards, etc.) may be identified from data by use of an “interval scanning” technique, in which a string of data is evaluated in intervals. When a system employs an interval scanning technique, data is evaluated by analyzing bytes of data in periodic sequence (e.g., every thirteenth byte, etc.), while the bytes between the analyzed bytes are initially ignored. If the value of an analyzed byte corresponds to a character of interest (e.g., a decimal numeral or numeric digit (i.e., a character having a value that corresponds to a base-ten, or Arabic, number, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9), etc.), that byte is identified as a “base byte,” from which a more focused evaluation (e.g., a byte-by-byte analysis, or sequential analysis, etc.) may then commence.
US08608050B2

An apparatus formed from a single piece of planar material as a continuous and contiguous structure is foldable into a re-usable, knock-down box. A bottom panel supports contents placeable in the box. A front panel and a rear panel operate as shear walls to support the bottom. End panels act as shear walls adjacent to and extending between the front panel, rear panel, and bottom panel. Hinge panels are formed with a free portion, extending from an edge of one of the end, front, and rear panels, and a fixed portion, fixed to a surface of an adjacent one of the end, front, and rear panels to fix the positions of the front, rear, and end panels with respect to each other and the bottom panel in an assembled configuration. Drawing a front edge of the lid toward the front panel, one may lock the lid against the front panel by inserting a tab portion of the lid into a slot formed between the front panel and the front tuck panel.
US08608044B2

A surgical apparatus particularly suited for sequentially applying a plurality of fasteners to body tissue and simultaneously incising tissue is provided. A handle assembly includes a movable handle. The movable handle is movable through an actuation stroke. An elongate body extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The elongate body has a distal end adapted to releasably engage both articulating and non-articulating disposable loading unit types. An actuation shaft is supported at least in part within the handle assembly and is mounted for longitudinal movement in response to manipulation of the actuation handle. An energy activated firing lockout system prevents operation of the surgical apparatus under a plurality of conditions.
US08608043B2

A surgical instrument including a handle portion, a body portion, a movable handle, a tool assembly, a drive beam and a closure apparatus is disclosed. The movable handle is in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a contact surface. The drive beam includes a plurality of layers and at least one layer has a proximal engagement portion and is configured to engage a portion of the drive member. The closure apparatus is configured to engage the contact surface of the tool assembly. At least a partial actuation of the movable handle moves the closure apparatus distally into engagement with the contact surface to approximate the anvil and the cartridge assembly. At least one of the layers of the drive beam is affixed to an adjacent layer of the drive beam via at least one spot weld.
US08608035B2

A purge ring for a photonic temperature processing system includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer, the second layer and the third layer define an inner region. The first layer and the second layer define a first plenum and a first baffle. The first plenum receives a first gas that flows through the first plenum and the first baffle to the inner region. The second layer and the third layer define a second plenum and a second baffle. The second plenum receives a second gas that flows through the second plenum and the second baffle to the inner region, and wherein the second baffle is one of less restrictive and more restrictive than the first baffle.
US08608034B2

A dispensing valve includes a resiliently flexible mounting portion, a resiliently flexible opening portion disposed radially inwardly of the mounting portion, and a resiliently flexible intermediate portion disposed radially between and coupled to the mounting and opening portions, and extending both radially outwardly and axially to form a first radial space between the opening and isolating portions, and spaced radially inwardly of the mounting portion to form a second radial space between the mounting and intermediate portions. The mounting portion includes an annular rib extendable axially outward with respect to the opening portion to limit axial movement of the opening portion during dispensing and venting of the valve.
US08608033B2

Described is a shrink sleeve label for a fluid dispensing container having a bottle and fluid withdrawing assembly for liquids, such as liquid cleaners and the like. The bottle has an external integral dip tube formed at the bottle front surface and separated from the bottle by a partition. The integral dip tube fluidly connects to the bottle interior at a landing below the top of the bottle neck. A fluid dispensing mechanism, such as a pump or trigger-sprayer, is attached to the top of the bottle to take fluid up through the integral dip tube and dispense the fluid accordingly. The shrink sleeve label covers the bottle, the integral dip tube and the partition.
US08608015B2

A device capable of storing beverages is provided with a base and a lid. The base includes a central cavity capable of retaining beverage containers and a cooling component. The bottoms of beverage containers may rest in container-retaining pockets molded into the bottom of the base and the tops of beverage containers may rest in one or more pockets protruding from the lid. One advantage is that the beverage containers may come into direct contact with the cooling component located in the central cavity of the base of the device.
US08608014B2

Cylindrical pressure vessel with an internal body enclosed by an external body, with a cylindrical section closed by end caps and with the internal body and external body kept separate from each other to avoid a transfer of shear forces, wherein at least one end cap is connected only with the external body and contacts, with an overlap section intruding into the internal body, the inside surface of the internal body, with a seal arranged in the overlap section that contacts an interior circumferential surface of the internal body, and with at least one recess serving as a defined leakage path in case of an expansion of the external body relative to the internal body being arranged on the side of the seal facing away from the interior chamber, in the interior circumferential surface of the internal body that encloses the overlap section of the end cap.
US08608002B2

A closure for sealing a container comprising a cap having an outer cap surface and an inner cap surface, wherein said cap is capable of being removably attached to the container, and a wall having a first wall edge, a second wall edge, an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface.
US08608001B2

A two shot dispensing closure wherein the spout and base component of the closure is molded in a first molding step and a repositionable cap is molded over at least the spout of the closure in a second molding step. The cap may be molded in the closed position over the spout to provide a fluidic seal between the cap and spout. The cap is repositionable between a closed position closing off an aperture of the spout and an open position thereby opening the aperture of the spout.
US08607999B2

A biaxially drawn, blow molded bottle characterized in that vertical connecting zones having no intermediate layer and having substrate layers welded directly with each other are formed in parallel in a circumferential direction and in a plural number along an axial direction of the bottle and are disposed on both right and left sides of each intermediate layer segment to be formed in this height range, and that horizontal connecting zones having no intermediate layer and having substrate layers welded directly with each other are also formed in parallel in an axial direction and in a plural number along a circumferential direction of the bottle and are disposed on both upper and lower sides of each intermediate layer segment to be formed, thus allowing the intermediate layer to be segmentalized in the circumferential and axial directions by both the vertical and horizontal connecting zones.
US08607996B2

A server cabinet assembly includes a number of chassis arranged on a floor in a row, a sliding rail mounted on the floor, a sliding plate slidably supported on the rail, and a supporting frame to accommodate servers. Each chassis includes a bottom wall defining a pair of sliding slots perpendicular to the sliding rail. The sliding plate defines a pair of slots in a top surface thereof. The supporting frame includes a bottom plate, and a number of rollers mounted to the bottom plate. When the sliding plate is slid along the rail to one of the chassis, and the slots of the sliding plate align with the sliding slots of the one of the chassis, the rollers slide on the slots of the sliding plate and the sliding slots of the chassis to move the supporting frame in or out of the chassis.
US08607995B1

Embodiments of the present invention include a folding shelf intended for attachment to a door having a mail slot. The shelf is pivotably attached below the mail slot by a support and moved from its storage position to its operative position by a chain attached to the door by a fastener. The chain is attached to the shelf near that part of the shelf that is distal from the door. Using embodiments of the present invention, items inserted through the door are retained on the shelf rather than fall to the floor, and the door remains functional when the shelf is in the operative position.
US08607994B1

In an embodiment, a bottle holder apparatus comprises an elongated element comprising a first end joined to a first arcuate neck retaining portion, a first arm joined to the first arcuate neck retaining portion and to an arcuate loop, a second arm parallel to the first arm and joining the arcuate loop to a second arcuate neck retaining portion that is aligned with the first arcuate neck retaining portion, and a second end joined to the second arcuate neck retaining portion.
US08607993B2

A cable management attachment bracket is disclosed that includes a bracket body with a first attachment tab, a second attachment, and a cable management assembly (CMA) connection point for hingedly connecting with a CMA. The first attachment tab extends from a front edge of the bracket body and is formed to interface with a first receiving portion of a rack slide. The second attachment tab extends from a center portion of the bracket body and is formed to interface with a second receiving portion of a rack slide. Additionally, the CMA connection point is formed on the rear edge of the bracket body.
US08607989B2

A filter and a method of forming a suture structure. The filter includes layered structure(s) interior to the filter. Each layered structure includes a carbon structure comprising carbon and a coating on a surface of the carbon structure. Each layered structure may further include a heparin layer that includes heparin and is on the coating. The coating of the filter includes cellulose, PMMA, PEMA, or PHEMA. The carbon structure may include an activated charcoal layer or carbon nanotube(s). The layered structure is configured to remove a contaminant flowing through the filter. The method of forming the suture structure includes forming a film on a suture that has been previously formed on a mammal. The film includes both a coating on the suture and a heparin layer that includes heparin and is on the coating. The coating of the suture structure includes cellulose, PMMA, PEMA, or PHEMA.
US08607984B2

A tray having a socket configured for holding containers of different sizes is provided. The tray includes a socket having a lower portion configured for accommodating a first container, such as a beverage cup, and an upper portion configured for accommodating a second container, such as a bowl, having a base that is larger than the base of the first container. The lower portion of the socket includes a plurality of inwardly-sloping stabilizing walls extending therein that are adapted for supporting a commonly-sized beverage cup within the lower portion of the socket. The upper portion of the socket comprises a shelf structure that is surrounded by a plurality of stabilizing shoulders for supporting a bowl therein. The socket is thus adapted for optionally holding either a beverage cup within the lower portion or a bowl within the upper portion.
US08607979B1

A paint brush protector and maintenance device provides storage, protection, and care for paint brushes includes a clamshell enclosure that opens to encase bristle and ferrule portions of a paint brush. The enclosure in at least one embodiment provides a rigid plastic to ensure that the bristles remain in a straight position and a plurality of drying holes along a front surface to aid in drying the bristles after cleaning. An end portion of the enclosure has a compressible stabilizer pad to hold the paint brush securely in place. The apparatus also provides a brush comb that clips onto the exterior of the enclosure providing a toothed comb and a pair of stiff bristle brushes to clean and condition the bristles as needed.
US08607977B2

A keyboard unit adapted to provide a cradling function for a portable terminal includes: a keyboard and a keyboard case for receiving the keyboard to protect the keyboard from an external environment. The keyboard case has a cradling unit adapted for cradling a portable terminal after the keyboard is extracted from the keyboard case.
US08607968B2

A mounting apparatus for a return roller is provided. The mounting apparatus is positioned beneath a return side of a conveyor belt, the return side of the conveyor belt having a near side along one edge of the return side of the conveyor belt and a far side along an opposite edge of the return side of the conveyor belt. The mounting apparatus has a return roller support structure and a return roller supported on the return roller support structure. The return roller support structure is slidable from the mounting apparatus in a direction towards the near side of the return side of the conveyor belt.
US08607966B2

An apparatus and a method include a pipe comprising a first end, a second end and an interior wall. The pipe is configured for rotation about an axis with a rotational rate sufficient for a cohesive material to remain stationary in a layer on the interior wall. A plurality of blades is configured for deflecting the cohesive material. Each of the blades includes a blade edge having a curvature corresponding to a portion of the interior wall. A support structure supports the blade edges with each of the blade edges proximate the interior wall and having an angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis. An inlet apparatus feeds the cohesive material into the first end where a difference in rotational rate between the interior wall and the plurality of blades, and the angle determines a rate of conveyance of the cohesive material along the interior wall.
US08607953B2

A clutch adapted to transmit the motion from a driving shaft to a driven shaft, having an axis of rotation coaxial to the driven shaft and comprising, a ring gear, a first bell integral in rotation with the ring gear and coaxial to the axis of rotation, an axially fixed hub internal to the first bell and coaxial to the axis of rotation, an axially movable pressure assembly including a disk-pusher element, a disk pack, a plurality of elastic elements, and a centrifugal assembly. The clutch comprises at least one first clearance-recovery device of a unidirectional type, adapted to limit the separation of the disk-pusher element from the axially fixed hub and from the disk pack, and a second clearance-recovery device of a unidirectional type, adapted to enable an axial movement of the centrifugal assembly only towards the disk-pusher element.
US08607952B2

A clutch has an outer aluminum housing and an inner housing arranged coaxially with respect to one another to support a plurality of first and second alternating, interiorly arranged, radially extending, friction members for axial movement between engaged and disengaged positions. The outer aluminum housing can have a cylindrical side wall and a radially inwardly extending end wall. A plurality of spline teeth can be formed at angularly spaced locations along the cylindrical side wall. Each spline tooth can have radial wall portions extending inwardly and longitudinally terminating at a circumferential wall portion extending between the radial wall portions to define the spline teeth. A sheet metal liner can be wrapped around to form a continuous, generally cylindrical, corrugated ring with inwardly extending spline teeth covers connected to a collar.
US08607951B2

A synchronizer hub comprises a one-piece, disk-shaped base body having a longitudinal extent, an external toothing on an outer periphery of the base body, and an internal toothing on an inner periphery of the base body. The external toothing is divided into a plurality of tooth segments which, as viewed in the longitudinal extent, alternately extend from the base body in opposite directions.
US08607949B2

A dual clutch which has two friction clutches, a central pressure-exerting plate and two pressure plates which are axially movable relative to the pressure-exerting plate with the interposition of the friction linings of two clutch disks, which each mesh with one gearbox input shaft, of actuating devices. The dual clutch is held at the drive-input side, with the dual clutch being supported at the gearbox side by an actuating system, which holds the two actuating devices, for actuating the pressure plates, and with the actuating system being rotatably held on the clutch housing.
US08607948B2

A launch device for a vehicle transmission including a housing, an impeller, a turbine, and first and second clutches with first and second pistons, respectively. The first and second pistons are sealingly engaged with one another. The first clutch releaseably engages the impeller with the housing and the second clutch releaseably engages the turbine with the housing. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is disposed radially outside of the second clutch. In an example embodiment, the first clutch is engaged by a first pressure, and the second clutch is engaged by a second pressure greater than the first pressure.
US08607940B2

A brake has a pair of brake pads (12), each pad being moveable generally radially outwardly into contact with a brake drum by a respective operating lever (14) acted on at one end by a brake applying means (15) and pivoted (16) at the other end from a backplate (11). Each pad is contacted by a portion (14c) of the respective operating lever intermediate the lever ends and moving radially outwardly between a pair of circumferentially spaced abutments (45) which extend generally perpendicular to the backplate and which react braking torque when the brake is applied. One end of each abutment (45) is supported from the backplate and the other free ends of the abutments is linked circumferentially (46) to each other to brace the pair of abutments against relative circumferential deflection when the brake is applied. The pivots (16) of the levers may also be connected by a bracing link (75) to help to control the deflection of the pivots when the brake is applied.
US08607935B2

A patient side-system includes a column with a rail and a counterbalance subsystem. The patient side-system may further include a braking subsystem. The counterbalance subsystem includes a spring assembly coupled at one end to the column with a spring member, and a housing movably coupled to the rail. The housing includes a drum to receive the spring member and a plurality of roller elements to guide a movement of the spring member winding or unwinding on the drum. If present, the braking subsystem includes a first pulley rotatably coupled to the column, a second pulley with a locking mechanism spaced apart from the first pulley and rotatably coupled to the column, and at least one brake cable wrapped around the first pulley and the second pulley with ends coupled to the housing. The locking mechanism can set a position of the housing along the column.
US08607921B2

A hearing protection process comprises (a) providing at least one hearing protection device comprising at least one sound barrier comprising at least one substantially periodic array of structures disposed in a first medium having a first density, the structures being made of a second medium having a second density different from the first density, wherein one of the first and second media is a viscoelastic medium having a speed of propagation of longitudinal sound wave and a speed of propagation of transverse sound wave, the speed of propagation of longitudinal sound wave being at least about 30 times the speed of propagation of transverse sound wave, and wherein the other of the first and second media is a viscoelastic or elastic medium; and (b) interposing the hearing protection device between an acoustic source and an acoustic receiver in the form of a human ear.
US08607909B2

This fuel cell vehicle FCV is provided with a fuel cell FC as well as a first tank and a second tank, which store a reaction gas to be supplied to the fuel cell FC. The first tank and the second tank are arranged in the front area of the fuel cell vehicle FCV. The second tank is arranged nearer to a rear area than the first tank and arrangement is performed so that the positions of the tanks are out of alignment in a vertical direction. This configuration enables compatibility to be ensured between an increase in the tank capacity of the fuel cell vehicle and an increase in the space in a passenger room and a trunk, and is capable of absorbing the impact of a collision even if the collision occurs.
US08607907B2

A drive system for an electric battery powered vehicle including a chassis having a rigid frame, a front axle and a rear axle; a battery system mounted on said chassis; left and right wheels on left and right sides of each of the front axle and the rear axle; one or more motors attached to at least one of the wheels. Each of the one or more motors is driven by rotation of a respective wheel to produce a charge for said battery system.
US08607892B2

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotary striking tool includes: a motor; an oil pulse unit that is driven by the motor; an output shaft that is coupled to the oil pulse unit so that a tip tool can be attached to the output shaft; a first detection unit that detects a rotation angle of the motor and outputs a first output signal; a second detection unit that detects an impact generated at the oil pulse unit and outputs a second output signal; and a control unit that controls a rotation of the motor, wherein the control unit uses a portion of the second output signal based on the first output signal for control of the rotation of the motor.
US08607886B2

A combined plug and sealing ring for a sprinkler nozzle includes a nozzle plug having a substantially cylindrical portion adapted to engage within a nozzle orifice of a sprinkler nozzle, and a cap overlaying the substantially cylindrical portion. A sealing ring is adapted to seat onto a threaded pipe fitting portion of the sprinkler nozzle. A leash interconnects the nozzle plug and the sealing ring. A combined plug and sealing ring in combination with a sprinkler nozzle, and a method of installing a sprinkler nozzle in a highly corrosive or extremely corrosive environment are also disclosed.
US08607879B2

A distributed function control module adapted for use in a modular blowout preventer (BOP) stack for use subsea comprises a housing, adapted to be manipulated by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with a stab portion adapted to be received into a BOP stack control module receiver. Control electronics, adapted to control a predetermined function with respect to the BOP stack, are disposed within the housing and connected to one or more controllable devices by a wet mateable connector interface.
US08607878B2

Disclosed herein is a subsea well assembly; wherein in an example embodiment the subsea well assembly includes an umbilical attached to a power source. The power source can be on a platform. Also included is a connector for connecting the umbilical to a receptacle included with the subsea well assembly and a subsea control module delivering power and control signals to the subsea well assembly. An impressed current protection module is integrated in the subsea control module that receives power from the umbilical.
US08607872B1

The present invention comprises fire arrestor device a triggering mechanism operatively connected to a well head and a plunger with a plug at one end being connected to the triggering mechanism. A guide and a valve are mounted to an inner surface of oil piping positioned below the well head align the plunger. A plug is formed at the distal end of the plunger, and is seated on a spring below the valve seat. The spring is held in compressed mode during normal operation. In the event of destruction of the well head, the triggering mechanism will melt or break. The spring then urges the plug upward engaging the valve seat and shutting off the fuel flow.
US08607870B2

The invention discloses a method of treating a subterranean formation of a well bore, that provides a first treatment fluid; subsequently, pumps the first treatment fluid to initiate a network of low conductivity fractures in the subterranean formation; provides a second treatment fluid comprising a second carrier fluid, a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 μm and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.74; and subsequently, pumps the second treatment fluid to initiate at least one high conductivity fracture in the subterranean formation, wherein the high conductivity fracture has a conductivity higher than the average of the conductivity of the low conductivity fractures and connects the network of the low conductivity fractures.
US08607868B2

A technique utilizes micro-coil which is formed as a composite to enable use at substantial depths and/or with substantial flow rates. The micro-coil is formed as a tubing with a multi-layered tubing wall. The composite tubing wall provides substantial strength and longevity which allows deployment of the micro-coil in a much wider variety of well treatment applications, such as applications having substantial flow rates and/or applications at substantial well depths.
US08607867B2

A method for recovering heavy oil in a stratum with an injection well, a production well and a steam generator. The method begins by injecting steam from the steam generator into a horizontal portion of the injection well followed by soaking the stratum with the steam from the injection well for a predetermined period of time; and producing heavy oil from the stratum with the production well.
US08607865B2

The invention relates to a process for mineral oil extraction by means of Winsor Type III microemulsion flooding, in which an aqueous surfactant formulation comprising at least one ionic surfactant of the general formula R1—O-(D)n-(B)m-(A)l-XY−M+ is injected through injection boreholes into a mineral oil deposit, and crude oil is withdrawn from the deposit through production boreholes. The invention further relates to ionic surfactants of the general formula.
US08607864B2

A method of determining when to stop pumping proppant during hydraulic fracturing in a wellbore is described. By accurately detecting tip screen-out with a bottom hole pressure gauge mounted to a perforating gun, the optimal amount of proppant can be supplied to a fracture while avoiding the risks associated with wellbore screen-out.
US08607852B2

A distribution pipe (100) for a heat exchanger (300) including at least two parallel channels for a first medium exchanging heat with a second medium comprises a distribution portion (110) provided with a number of holes (120) provided on positions corresponding to the position of the parallel channels. A fitting portion (140) is in fluid communication with the distribution portion (110) and placed at one end of such distribution portion (110), wherein the fitting portion is provided with a brazing surface (150) adapted to be brazed onto an end plate (200) or a start plate (320).
US08607847B2

A method of continuously casting thin strip dynamically controlling roll casting surface configuation by controlling the temperature of water flowing through the longitudinal water flow passages in a cyclindrical tube thickness of no more than 80 millimeters of counter rotated casting rolls, and varying the speed of the casting rolls with attenuation of the ends of the casting rolls with a casting roll drive system responsive to electrical signals received from sensors during a casting campaign.
US08607845B2

A vehicle awning framework comprises a base stand (1), above which a pair of driving axles (2) is parallelly arranged from the front to the rear. A pair of driving axle supports (3) is sleeved on each driving axle(2). Two shaft gears(4) are sleeved respectively at the two ends of said driving axle(2), and respectively fixedly connected with a driving axle supports(3). The two ends of the driving axle (2) are respectively fixedly connected with a gear connection connectors (5) through which a laterally-turning axle (6) rotated around the gear connecting connectors (5) is arranged. The laterally-turning axle (6) rotates around itself when it turns outward, so that laterally-turning shafts (8) on the laterally-turning axle (6) are spread to the left and right sides, and the awning can be closed and folded entirely along with the turning of the laterally-turning shafts (8). Therefore the vehicle awning framework can be operated automatically and easily.
US08607840B2

A roller shutter comprises a series of links (2), each of which has a link plate (7) which determines two main surfaces (10, 11), two opposite longitudinal edges (8, 9) and two opposite transverse edges (12, 13), as well as eccentric hinge parts (4-6) which are situated near the longitudinal edges (8, 9), in each case two links (7) being hingedly connected to one another by means of the hinge parts (4-6), which series of links (2) can be brought into a rolled-up state, in which the links (2) are rotated with respect to one another, and an unrolled state in which the links (2) determine a substantially flat plane. Closure means (18) are provided on the longitudinal edges (8, 9), by means of which the link plates (7) are closed off with respect to one another in the unrolled, flat state of the series of link plates (7).
US08607834B2

A production layout for an LCD is provided. The production layout for an LCD includes a bonding part operable to bond a pair of substrates for the LCD with a sealant and a hardening part operable to harden the sealant. The hardening part includes an ion provider operable to supply ions to the substrates during a hardening process of the sealant. The production layout further includes a transfer unit that loads and unloads the bonded substrates. Footprint and tact time for manufacturing the LCD may be reduced. Electrostatic removal effect of the bonded substrates may improve.
US08607832B2

A vacuum seal valve is applied to a lid for the air-tight closing of a container for the packaging of products, particularly food products, including a closing body arranged for sealing a hole for evacuating air from the container, from which at least one punching member stems that is adapted to pierce the lid closing the container so as to form such evacuating hole. A reciprocating mechanical vacuum pump, with manual actuation, evacuates air from a container arranged for the vacuum packaging of products, for example food products, via application of the vacuum sealing valve. The pump has, at its base, a recess adapted to form a housing for retaining the valve, whereby the lowering movement of the plunger allows driving the valve in a lid of the container.
US08607828B2

Disclosed is an apparatus useful for filling containers by means of a rotating turret which is configured to rotate the containers through the container-filing apparatus to a dosing portion where they are then are filled with material by way of a tamping mechanism. The container-filling apparatus may also include a container-conveying means to move the containers to the rotating turret. Methods of filling containers by using container-filling apparatuses according to embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.
US08607816B2

A structure of a solenoid valve attached to a resin cover by insert-molding, the solenoid valve includes a valve body having a cylindrical shape and at least two fluid passages, a spool housed in the valve body and slidable therein in an axial direction relative to the valve body, a solenoid for actuating the spool, wherein a plurality of flanges is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the valve body, and at least one of the flanges has a through hole formed in the axial direction relative to the valve body.
US08607815B2

A butterfly valve with an undulating sealing surface, which has an inflatable annular seal mounted in a housing. A disk is pivotally mounted in the housing and has an edge with an undulating sealing surface and a peripheral sealing edge. The undulating sealing surface of the disk and a sealing face of the annular seal have non-mating profiles when the valve is in an unsealed condition. Pressure in a chamber proximate the annular seal causes the face of the annular seal to expand and deform and the face forms a high-pressure seal between the sealing ridge and the annular seal. Also includes a method for stopping delivery, of a conduit transportable material through a butterfly valve.
US08607814B1

An active pipe cutoff valve installation assembly includes a conduit having an top section mating with a bottom section forming the conduit having first and second open ends. Medial seals are positioned in the conduit abutting a pipe extending through the conduit and defining a sealed chamber corresponding to a medial section of the conduit. A valve is coupled to the conduit having an gate extendable into the medial section the conduit whereby flow through the conduit is cut off. A wire extends into and through the medial section of the conduit. The wire cuts the pipe while the pipe is positioned in the sealed chamber. The wire is aligned with the gate of the valve so the gate cuts off flow through the pipe.
US08607813B2

A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the oxygen content drawn from the atmosphere that enters the insulating fluid-containing expansion vessel of high-voltage systems. The apparatus is provided with inner and outer tanks that include a liquid that provides a diffusion barrier for capturing oxygen from the atmosphere. The tanks are in communication with the atmosphere on one side of the barrier and in communication with the expansion vessel on the other side of the barrier. Further provided is a moisture-capturing dehumidifier upstream of the diffusion barrier to dry the gas passing into the expansion vessel. The apparatus limits degradation of the insulation system caused by moisture and oxygen, thereby increasing the life span of the high-voltage system. In the method, gas is transferred from the expansion vessel to an external buffer space in the outer tank up to a pre-defined overpressure relative to atmospheric pressure, said gas being discharged to the atmosphere only when the pre-defined overpressure is exceeded. Further, gas is transferred from the external buffer space to the expansion vessel to approach to a pre-defined underpressure relative to atmospheric pressure, with either air from the atmosphere or inert gas being fed to the buffer space when pressure drops below the underpressure. The buffer space volume is correlated to lower and upper working temperatures of the insulating fluid in the high-voltage system, which temperatures are determined based on the geographical location of the system.
US08607806B2

Apparatuses are provided for cleaning a processing component using megasonic energy including megasonic tanks, scanning megasonic plates, megasonic jets, and megasonic sweeping beams etc., in combination with selective chemistries to remove sub-micron particulate contaminants from the surfaces of the processing component that is used in cleaning semiconductor, medical, or any other processing substrates. The apparatus includes a processing chamber having a carrier element that is configured to support the processing component. The carrier element includes a mechanism to flip the processing component within the processing chamber during cleaning. A fluid supply assembly supplies a fluid to a surface of the processing component and a beam assembly equipped with a megasonic transducer is used to provide high frequency megasonic acoustic energy to the fluid during cleaning.
US08607805B2

An oral hygiene system including a handle with a releasable locking mechanism. The system also includes an oral hygiene attachment removably coupled to the handle. The locking mechanism includes a safety gate coupled to the handle, the safety gate being pivotable relative to the handle. The locking mechanism also includes a locking receptacle configured to receive the safety gate, whereby the locking mechanism is locked.
US08607796B2

According to one embodiment, an apparatus for coupling an oral appliance to a gas delivery device includes a post, a swivel, and first and second opposing clamps. The post includes a base configured to couple to the oral appliance; a first arm extending from the base and defining a channel extending along a portion of the first arm; and a second arm extending from the base, extending substantially parallel to the first arm, the second arm defining a channel extending along a portion of the second arm. The swivel is substantially spherical and is configured to position the gas delivery device. The first clamp is configured to engage and slide along the channel defined by the first arm and the second clamp is configured to engage and slide along the channel defined by the second arm. The first and second opposing clamps are together configured to position and secure the location and orientation of the swivel relative to the post.
US08607787B2

Methods and devices for delivering a dose, such as a medicament, for inhalation. A dose may be stored by a delivery device and dispersed and delivered in a metered fashion to a subject, such as by the subject inhaling via a mouthpiece of the delivery device. One or more chambers of the device may have a toroidal shape and may be arranged to be selectively opened for fluid communication with a flow path of the delivery device, such as by sliding the chamber relative to a portion of the flow path. The flow path may include a restriction that permits air to bypass the chamber, and/or the chamber may be arranged so that fluid entering the chamber interacts with fluid exiting the chamber so as to enhance dispersion of the dose.
US08607779B2

A drainback tank having a solar return pipe, at least a portion of the solar return pipe being located within the internal body of the tank, the solar return pipe having a hole that is in close proximity to the hole of an output pipe, such that the fluid in the solar return pipe flows into the output pipe and leaves the tank housing to be used to heat the fluid of a corresponding hot water tank via convection in a heat exchanger.
US08607774B2

A gun for producing a ring of fluid is described. The gun comprises a body defining a bore therethrough; a moveable member positioned at least partially within the bore; and a nozzle assembly coupled with the body and positioned at a bore opening. The nozzle assembly defines one or more fluid entrapment regions adjacent an opening of the nozzle assembly.
US08607767B2

The invention relates to a device (1) for ventilating a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, comprising a ventilation line leading from the crankcase to the suction line of the internal combustion engine, an oil-mist separator (2) for separating the oil parts from the blow-by-gases containing the oil-mist from the crankcase is arranged in the path thereof. Also, said device (1) comprises a pump (3) which is arranged upstream of the oil-mist separator (2) and which is used to produce a negative pressure. The invention is characterized in that the oil-mist separator (2) and the pump (3) are embodied as connected modules thus providing a particularly compact structure.
US08607765B2

A method and a fuel tank system for adjusting a pressure in a fuel tank are described. Evaporated fuel tank escapes from the fuel tank under overpressure with respect to the ambient and is transferred to a temporary storage for at least one substance of the evaporated fuel. A venting means, through which the evaporated fuel escapes, is controlled by at least one parameter different from a pressure or at least one information provided in form of data. The pressure in the fuel tank can thereby be more variably adjusted.
US08607756B1

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may provide an intake manifold that may include a plastic shell defining an intake passage in fluidic communication with a runner configured to pass inlet air to a combustion chamber. The runner may have a substantially flat inner surface. The intake manifold may also include one or more ribs disposed along the inner surface. The one or more ribs may have a length extending along a portion of the inner surface in a direction substantially corresponding to a flow direction in order to reduce NVH while maintaining reducing overall volume of the manifold.
US08607755B2

An ignition laser is provided for an internal combustion engine, in which the combustion chamber window is connected to a housing of the ignition laser in a gas-resistant, pressure-resistant, and temperature-resistant manner. Furthermore, a pressure relief bore is present which effectively prevents a pressure increase in the housing of the ignition laser.
US08607745B2

A fan drive system is provided that is hydraulically controlled having an electrical failure mode wherein midrange operation of the fan drive system is maintained. Accordingly, in the failure mode, a fan drive system hydraulic relief valve is not closed thereby ensuring a degree of operation of the fan drive system even during periods of electrical failure.
US08607736B1

A broadcast dispenser for use in dispersing an animal feedstuff includes an inlet channel separating in interior space from a spreader leading to an exterior space. The inlet channel includes a flexible gasket about a central orifice and a motor and gate assembly is arranged over and about inlet channel. The motor and gate assembly includes an electric motor having affixed thereto a spreader blade, where the spreader blade is disposed within the spreader on the opposite side of the central orifice from the motor. A gate, which is adapted to lower and raise into and out of sealing engagement, respectively, with said central orifice is provide. In order to accommodate the positioning of the spreader blade with respect to the motor, the gate has an opening in a lower portion thereof and the motor is affixed to the spreader blade through the provided opening.
US08607729B2

A line for the dip coating of objects operates with a known conveyor system. In order to avoid a collision between the objects and the hard structure adjoining the movement path, a position transducer measuring the absolute value is provided for each possible degree of freedom of movement of the object fixed to the holding frame. The course of a first boundary surface or a boundary line, which reproduces the course of the hard structures along the movement path of the object, is stored in a memory. Also stored is the course of a second boundary surface or boundary line, which runs at a distance from the first boundary surface or boundary line. Finally, the course of a contour which represents the course of the object fixed to the holding frame is also stored. The control device calculates, from the signals supplied to it by the position transducers and the other stored data, whether the contour representing the object fixed to the holding frame intersects the second boundary surface or boundary line or not and, in the first case, interrupts immediately the further movement of the object.
US08607718B2

A combustion air system particularly useful for Kraft process recovery boilers or soda process recovery boilers has a level of liquor air ports located above the black liquor guns, and multiple levels of tertiary air formed by substantially vertically aligned tertiary air ports located above the black liquor guns. The liquor air ports and the tertiary air ports are on the same opposing walls of the furnace and are substantially vertically aligned with air ports in the same wall at different levels. The liquor air ports are located just above the black liquor guns, within a range of about ½ foot to about four feet. The tertiary air ports are laterally offset with respect to the tertiary air ports on the opposing wall of the furnace. The first tertiary air level is located a vertical distance in the range of about four feet to twelve feet above the elevation of liquor air ports, and the second and any additional tertiary air levels are located and spaced from an adjacent tertiary air level at regular spaced vertical intervals in the range of about four feet to eight feet. The vertically aligned and laterally offset tertiary air ports form a combustion air pattern of vertical sheets which travel across the width of the furnace to the opposing wall to carry smaller liquor particles to the walls of the furnace and reduce carryover and improve combustion efficiency.
US08607714B2

Various aspects provide for disposing an umbrella over a table. In some cases, an umbrella may be coupled to a table. An umbrella may be disposed at a location other than a center of the table, which may provide for improved shelter from weather arriving at an angle (e.g., wind-driven rain, angled sunlight, and the like).
US08607707B1

The invention relates to an identifiable bullet and methods for making an identifiable bullet. In one embodiment, the bullet has a generally circumferential body that tapers from a rearward end toward a forward end. A generally circumferential bore extends from an orifice on the forward end into the body at least part of the way between the forward end and the rearward end. The end of the bore opposite the orifice includes a polymeric material support surface. A polymeric material is placed between the polymeric material support surface and the forward end. The polymeric material may include a user identifiable marker for allowing a user to identify the bullet when viewing the forward end. Alternatively, the polymeric material may cover a user identifiable marker and seal the user identifiable marker in the bore. A user may identify the bullet by viewing the marker from the forward end of the bullet.
US08607704B2

The invention relates to a method of, in the electrical ignition of a propellent charge (1) provided with an electrically conductive surface coating (5) and comprising one or more propellant components (3), ensuring that ignition and progressive combustion of the propellent charge take place. The method is characterized in that said electrically conductive surface coating, when ignition of the propellent charge is desired, is connected to an electrical high-voltage source (6), in that said high-voltage source is made to generate at least one high electrical pulse to said connected electrically conductive surface coating, and in that said at least one high electrical pulse produces an instantaneous flashover ignition of the electrically conductive surface coating of the propellent charge and of all its propellant components, simultaneously. The invention also relates to a propellent charge and to an ammunition shot comprising the propellent charge.
US08607702B1

A primary ignition system for large caliber ammunition which ignition system is less sensitive to unwanted ignition by conventional temperatures or conventional electrical signals or by stray electrostatic voltage electrical signals, or stray RF frequency signals. This ignition primer device begins the ignition sequence with applying a high voltage electrical pulse to a non-energetic element, specially coated with nano sized aluminum particles, to release and ionized discharge that generate a plasma in order to ignite an environmentally friendly ignition composition mix. The ignition composition is also comprised of aluminum water based nano material combined with oxidizer and binder. In the device's primer head assembly is a brass ignition pin pressed into a (non-electrically conductive) Torlon® material cup. The non-conductive Torlon® material acts as an insulator for the entire system.
US08607698B2

A fruit press includes a housing removably arranged on a frame and enclosing a pressing chamber, parallel shafts mounted in the frame and protruding into the pressing chamber, for two press rollers which can be driven in opposite directions and which include semi-spherical press recesses distributed over the circumference and for two press heads provided beneath the press rollers, which can be driven in opposite directions in relation to the press rollers, and form spherical press punches cooperating with the press recesses, a knife displaceable along a guide between the press rollers, and a detachable securing device against withdrawal for the press rollers and press heads; which are slid axially onto their conical shafts. The pressing chamber includes a rear wall detachably fastened to the frame, penetrated in a liquid-tight manner by the shafts for the press rollers and press heads, and carrying the guide for the knife.
US08607695B2

A strap driving device for a strapping machine including an insertion-return unit; a tensioning unit; and guide channel portions for the strap which lead toward the device for inserting, returning and tensioning the strap and away from the strap driving device, with the guide channel portions being provided with cheeks guiding the strap along both sides of its flat sides, wherein rollers on one side of the insertion, return and tensioning unit and the cheeks of the guide channel portions are mounted preferably in a stationary manner on the same side while the cheeks of the guide channel portions on the other side are mounted on a movable carrier which is displaceable, using an actuation device, between a working position with closed pairs of rollers and guide channel portions and a service position with open pairs of rollers and guide channel portions.
US08607689B2

A sealing member for a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder bore of a hydraulic system includes a seal body having an outer sealing surface arranged to contact the cylinder bore and a glide ring at least partially disposed within the outer sealing surface of the seal body. The glide ring includes an outer surface and the outer sealing surface of the seal body includes at least one seal lip projecting beyond the outer surface of the glide ring.
US08607688B2

A multi use retro fit capable adjustable gas block designed to interface with an autoloading gas operated firearm is provided to replace existing gas blocks. The adjustable gas block optimizes gas flow into the host firearms operating system. The adjustable gas block has a spring loaded adjustment knob that releases when pulled forward allowing it to rotate. By rotating the adjustment knob the gas flow is increased or decreased based on one of four provided gas settings. Setting one is optimal for using a silencer, setting two is optimal for normal operations, setting three is optimal for adverse conditions, and setting four either turns the gas flow off optimizing sound reduction and providing for manual operation, or provides an extra high gas setting for the host firearm. The system works by precisely metering gas entering the operating system and not by exhausting excess gas into the atmosphere. The adjustable gas regulator may be configured with a piston operating system or a direct gas impingement operating system, e.g. gas tube, as is the case with the standard AR-15/AR-10 family of firearms.
US08607685B2

A shield system for an ordnance includes a frame and a flexible net subsystem supported by the frame. Diagonal lines of net material intersect at nodes forming diamond shaped mesh openings and a hard point is attached to at least select nodes.
US08607679B2

A laminate flooring saw system which can be used for both rip cuts and miter cuts in one embodiment includes a first power switch proximate the saw and movable with the saw along a support arm; a second power switch that is not movable with the saw along the support arm; and a third switch movable between a first position wherein application of energy to the saw is dependent upon the position of the second power switch and independent of the position of the first power switch and a second position wherein application of energy to the saw is dependent upon the position of both the first power switch and the second power switch.
US08607678B2

A miter saw has a base assembly, a table assembly rotatably disposed on the base assembly, a support housing connected to the table assembly, and a saw assembly pivotably attached to the support housing. The saw assembly is pivotable downwardly for cutting a workpiece disposed on the table assembly. The saw has a miter lock assembly including a shoe assembly connected to the table housing and movable between a first position not contacting the base assembly and a second position contacting the base assembly. The shoe assembly has a movable shoe for adjusting the angular position of the table assembly relative to the base assembly.
US08607677B2

A shock absorbing anvil pruner/lopper comprises a cutting blade and a shock absorbing anvil member with a compound action tang. The anvil member includes a liner member for engagement with the blade and a shock absorber in relation to the liner member, whereupon on engagement of the blade with the liner member during a cutting operation, the shock absorber will compress or otherwise absorb some of the force, providing for less physical shock being transmitted to the user through the pruner/lopper handles.
US08607676B2

A die grooving tool for insertion into a pipe having a first die body and a second die body mounted upon a first end of the first die body. Each of the first die body and a second die body have a plurality of openings thereon for receiving a plurality of cutting wheels mounted therein. The first die body is configured to rotate at least partially in a clockwise direction and the second die body is configured to rotate at least partially in a counter clockwise direction, so that the cutting wheels of the first die body and the second die body create a double helix groove on an interior of the pipe, whereby the double helix groove intersects at an intersection point every 360 degrees along an entire length of the pipe.
US08607675B2

A torque wrench includes a driving head, a hollow handle, compression unit, an adjustment unit, an index unit and a display unit. The driving head and the handle are pivotably connected to each other. The compression unit has a resilient member and an end piece which contacts the driving head. The adjustment unit adjusts the length of the resilient member to set the torque of the wrench. The index unit has a first index and a second index, both of which are moved with the movement of the adjustment unit. The movement of the first index is detected by the display unit and transferred into digits to display the value of the torque. The second index is cooperated with the marks of the scale member to display the value of the torque.
US08607672B2

A tool may loosen seized bolts by sending shock waves into the bolt shank and thread areas via axial blows with a pneumatic hammer on the center of the bolt head prior to removal. The tool may allow impacts to be centered on the bolt head without damaging the bolt head or without worry of the bit jumping off the bolt. The tool may be comprised of a separate driver and one or more sockets.
US08607662B2

A wall-mounted faucet control component includes a control handle, a conversion block and a restricting device, wherein two spaced protruding ribs are located at the periphery of the opening of a receiving space of the control handle, and a connecting pole is protrudingly formed at the center of the opening surface of the receiving space. The conversion block is located at the receiving space of the control handle, wherein two recessed slots are spacedly and recessedly formed at the periphery of the conversion block, and the recessed slots are engaged with the protruding ribs of the control handle. According to the abovementioned structure, since the detachable conversion block is formed at the receiving space of the control handle, it can be used for water control bases of different sizes to increase the practicability of the faucet handle and increase the convenience in assembly process.
US08607654B2

A sensor stabilization platform and method for installation in an enclosure is described, wherein the platform can be lowered into the enclosure from the enclosure's entry way (without requiring a person to enter the enclosure) and properly oriented to provide the structural support/securing capabilities needed for a sensor that is “sensing” the material at the bottom of the enclosure. The securing platform is weighted or configured to rest (without movement) at the bottom of the enclosure floor or manhole, and sensors can be lowered into the platform's receptacle(s), etc. The platform may be configured to be foldable, allowing it to be compact and pass through narrow entry ways.
US08607648B2

A rotor includes a cylindrical magnet having a plurality of magnetic pole pairs. There are two types of the magnitude of magnetic force in the magnetic pole pairs, that is, a relatively large first magnetic force and a second magnetic force that is smaller than the first magnetic force. Three magnetic sensors are arranged around the rotor. A rotation angle computing device detects the peak values of output signals of the respective magnetic sensors. Then, the rotation angle computing device identifies the magnetic pole pair, sensed by the first magnetic sensor, based on a combination of the local maximum values of the three output signals.
US08607634B2

A transducer is used to send an ultrasound pulse toward a stone and to receive ultrasound reflections from the stone. The recorded time between a pulse that is reflected from the proximal surface and a pulse that is reflected either from the distal surface of the stone or from a surface supporting the stone is used to calculate the stone size. The size of the stone is a function of the time between the two pulses and the speed of sound through the stone (or through the surrounding fluid if the second pulse was reflected by the surface supporting the stone). This technique is equally applicable to measure the size of other in vivo objects, including soft tissue masses, cysts, uterine fibroids, tumors, and polyps.
US08607632B2

A micromechanical sensor having at least one movably mounted measuring element which is opposite at least one stationary electrode, the electrode being situated in a first plane, and being contacted by at least one printed conductor track which is situated in a second plane. A third plane is located between the first plane and the second plane, the third plane including an electrically conductive material.
US08607630B2

A vibrating nano-scale or micro-scale electromechanical component including a vibrating mechanical element that cooperates with at least one detection electrode. The detection electrode is flexible and is configured to vibrate in phase opposition relative to the vibrating mechanical element. Such a component may find, for example, application to resonators or motion sensors.
US08607620B2

After a target compound is captured by an adsorbent within a trap column (7) held by a column rack (8) in a substantially vertical position and the column is filled with water to wash its inside, dichloromethane is slowly introduced from an inlet end (7a) on the lower side by a pump (5). The water within the trap column (7) is pushed upward by dichloromethane and exits from an outlet end (7b), to be disposed of via a two-way selector valve (12) and a disposal passage (14). Dichloromethane elutes the captured target compound. Therefore, when the eluate, which initially consists of water, changes via an emulsion to dichloromethane, the eluate contains an adequately high concentration of target compound. At this point, the two-way valve (12) is switched to a preparative separation passage (13). As a result, a solution that is adequately free from water and yet contains the target compound can be collected into a collection container (17), and the target compound in solid forms can be quickly obtained.
US08607619B2

A device for detecting a property of a fluid includes a body region and a flexible element having a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly located on the body region. The flexible element is arranged to move from at least a first configuration to a second configuration via bending of the flexible element. The flexible element includes an actuating portion arranged to move the flexible element between the first configuration and the second configuration. The device also includes a movement detector for detecting movement of the flexible element.
US08607618B2

Determination of hydraulic properties such as porosity and permeability of soil is of paramount importance in hydrology and civil engineering. In order to achieve greater accuracy in determination of permeability of soil using falling head permeameter, the two important known constraints of human monitoring error in noting the falling water level between two selected levels and elapse time between these two levels had overcome through electronically sensing the levels between two selected points and activating the timer clock automatically by the pulses coming from senor. The precision in measurement of time lapse in 1/100th of a second enables greater accuracy in estimation of permeability. Provision of perforated Teflon disc above and below the soil core facilitates in application of water uniformly over the entire surface area of soil core at top and similar way permeated water leaving the soil core uniformly without any obstruction. The use of carbon steel seamless tube while collecting soil core facilitated in undisturbed soil core recovery from desired depth section. The permeability test was conducted for various sorted sands of different size ranges and each sample was subjected to repetitive tests and elapsed time for each test was recorded from timer unit. Coefficient of Permeability was calculated for each test. The lab experiment conducted for sorted and unsorted sediments has yielded a consistent performance of Electronic level sensor and timer based falling head soil permeameter.
US08607609B2

A rolling mill, which can use work rolls of a smaller diameter for rolling a hard material and a thin strip material, and can decrease edge drops and improve surface gloss, is provided. For this purpose, a rolling mill, which includes upper and lower work rolls (2) as a pair for rolling a strip (1), upper and lower intermediate rolls (3) as a pair for supporting the upper and lower work rolls as the pair, and upper and lower back-up rolls (4) as a pair for supporting the upper and lower intermediate rolls as the pair, is configured such that the upper and lower work rolls as the pair are supported by a plurality of supporting bearings (8a to 8f and 9a to 9f) arranged vertically zigzag on an entry side in a rolling direction, and a plurality of supporting bearings (10a to 10f and 11a to 11f) arranged vertically zigzag on an delivery side in the rolling direction, at positions outward of a rollable strip width, and the plurality of supporting bearings lap over each other vertically.
US08607604B2

A bolt has a male screw with a surface hardening portion that has an increased surface hardness and that is applied with a compressive residual stress. The male screw is formed by cutting the bolt, and performing a process to provide at least on the surface of the male screw of the bolt the surface hardening portion that has increased hardness and that is applied with a compressive residual stress. As a result, the fatigue resistance of the male screw is improved and the bolt is effective for use in a portion where the male screw is subject to a repetitive stress.
US08607603B2

Systems, devices and methods are provided for bending an elongate member used in association with a medical procedure. In one form, a device for bending an elongate member includes a support platform and a plurality of engaging members positioned on the support platform. Each of the plurality of engaging members includes at least one engaging portion configured for positioning in contact with the elongate member. Each of the plurality of engaging members is movable in at least three directions relative to the support platform to form one or more bends in the elongate member. In one aspect, the elongate member is formed of a heat deformable material and the device includes a heating member configured to apply heat to one or more portions of the elongate member to facilitate bending. However, other embodiments, forms and applications are also envisioned.
US08607601B1

A lock is provided including a lower housing including an engagement member attached thereto, a shaft engaged with the engagement member opposite the lower housing, a ratcheting mechanism operably connected to the shaft to control the rotation of the shaft and a locking mechanism operably engaged with the ratcheting mechanism, the locking mechanism being selectively operable to control the operation of the ratcheting mechanism and the rotation of the lower housing and engagement member with regard to the shaft and ratcheting mechanism to engage the lock over an opening in a container to selectively prevent access to a material held therein.
US08607580B2

A process and apparatus for regasification of LNG to form natural gas using ambient air as the primary source of heat are described. LNG is directed to flow through an ambient air vaporizer to form a natural gas stream through direct heat exchange between the LNG and ambient air. The temperature of the natural gas stream is adjusted to suit a predetermined delivery temperature in a trim heater exchanging heat with a circulating intermediate fluid. The intermediate fluid is directed to flow through an ambient air heater such that the intermediate fluid exchanges heat with ambient air. Heat transfer between the ambient air and the LNG is assisted using one or more force draft fans to direct the flow of ambient air over the ambient air heater and the ambient air vaporizer in turn to dry the ambient air before it arrives at the ambient air vaporizer.
US08607578B2

An intermediate casing for a turbojet fan compartment, including: a shroud centered along a longitudinal axis of the turbine engine; an annular cheek plate centered along the longitudinal axis of the turbine engine and mounted against a downstream face of the shroud; a suspension beam fastened to the cheek plate and extending downstream parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbine engine; and an AGB suspended from the beam and including an upstream side face spaced apart axially from the cheek plate, a downstream side face opposite the upstream side face, and a plurality of accessories mounted against its downstream side face and distributed about the longitudinal axis of the turbine engine.
US08607573B2

A combustor includes a chamber mixing and burning fuel and air and an air hole plate disposed on a wall surface of the chamber. The air hole plate includes a plurality of rows disposed concentrically of a plurality of air holes jetting coaxial jets of fuel and air into the chamber. A first fuel nozzle and a second fuel nozzle are disposed near a fuel hole for jetting fuel into an air hole row on an inner peripheral side. The first fuel nozzle is structured to suppress turbulence of surrounding air flow and the second fuel nozzle is structured to promote turbulence of a surrounding air flow. In accordance with the aspect of the present invention, good flame stability can be maintained while further reducing NOx in a combustor using coaxial jets.
US08607571B2

A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle body defining a central axis and having a main fuel circuit. An air circuit is formed within the nozzle body inboard of the main fuel circuit. A primary pilot fuel circuit is formed within the nozzle body inboard of the air circuit. A secondary pilot fuel circuit is formed within the nozzle body inboard of the air circuit and outboard of the primary pilot fuel circuit.
US08607564B2

An automobile-mount diesel engine with a turbocharger is provided, which includes an engine body with the turbocharger, the engine body being mounted in the automobile and supplied with fuel containing diesel fuel as its main component, a fuel injection valve arranged in the engine body so as to be oriented toward a cylinder of the engine body and for directly injecting the fuel into the cylinder, an injection control module for controlling a mode of injecting the fuel into the cylinder through the fuel injection valve, and an EGR amount control module for adjusting an amount of EGR gas introduced into the cylinder. EGR and fuel injection are adjusted based on speed-load conditions of the engine.
US08607556B2

A torque converter, including: a turbine shell; a turbine hub fixedly connected to the turbine shell; and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes: a damper hub; first and second cover plates fixedly connected to one another and engaged with a first plurality of springs, the second plate fixedly connected to the turbine hub; third and fourth cover plates fixedly connected to one another and engaged with the plurality of first springs and with a second plurality of springs disposed radially inward of the first plurality of springs; a third spring for displacing the third cover plate in a first axial direction such that the first and third cover plates are in contact and the turbine and damper hubs are in contact.
US08607552B2

In an emission control system, an absorbent in an exhaust-emission passage absorbs a particular component in the emission with a temperature thereof being lower than a first temperature, and desorbs therefrom the absorbed particular component with the temperature thereof being equal to or higher than the first temperature. A catalyst in the exhaust-emission passage converts the particular component desorbed from the absorbent into another component with a temperature thereof being equal to or higher than a second temperature higher than the first temperature. A heat recovery device is disposed in the exhaust-emission passage upstream of the absorbent and recovers heat from the exhaust emission by heat exchange between a heat-transfer medium and the exhaust emission. An adjusting unit adjusts an amount of heat to be recovered by the heat recovery device to thereby adjust a temperature state of the exhaust emission.
US08607539B2

Provided are an organopolysiloxane composition for producing a rope structure excellent in fatigue resistance, a rope structure using the same, and a process for producing the rope structure. The organopolysiloxane composition comprises an organopolysiloxane having an average polymerization degree of 50,000 to 200,000 and represented by the following formula (I): wherein X1, X2, X3 and X4 are the same or different, each independently representing —H, —OH, —COOH, —R, —NH2, —ROH, —RCOOH, or —RNH2; R representing an alkyl group or an aryl group; and each of m and n independently denotes an integer of not less than 1. The organopolysiloxane composition is applied to liquid crystalline polymer filaments in the process of producing the rope structure from the filaments.
US08607537B2

In a medicine packaging machine including a medicine accommodating mechanism for accommodating plural medicines, a chute for guiding medicines arbitrarily taken out from the medicine accommodating mechanism to a medicine packaging sheet, and a medicine packaging mechanism having a heater for thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet, the heater is provided with an incision tooth for forming an incision at an edge portion of the medicine packaging sheet at the same time when the medicine packaging sheet filled with the medicines. Furthermore, a cutting mechanism for cutting at a predetermined position a separate package bag formed by thermally welding the medicine packaging sheet is provided.
US08607529B2

A mini-truss thin-sheet panel assembly, in one embodiment, a substantially rigid thin-sheet panel assembly having a non-rigid thin-sheet component includes the thin-sheet component which has selected plan area and shape, a hacker having a plan shape and area substantially similar to the thin-sheet component, and plural riser elements of selected height and configuration each extending from the backer to distal ends connected to a reverse surface of the thin-sheet component, the riser elements being configured and disposed in an array which causes the assembly to have substantial rigidity in a selected direction in the thin-sheet component.
US08607526B2

A foundation form comprising a first barrier, an opposed second barrier oriented at a non-right angle toward the first barrier, and a plurality of ties engaging with the first barrier and the second barrier at a plurality of axial lengths.
US08607525B2

The present system and method enables water entering a dwelling or structure to be contained and removed, while preventing evaporation of the water into the interior of the dwelling. Embodiments of the present invention can comprise a waterproofing system comprising a waterproofing form, affixable to a first surface of a wall at a mounting angle, and comprising a vapor barrier retainer for detachably affixing a vapor barrier to the waterproofing form, and a gutter channel, disposed at a pitch angle, and in fluid communication with the first surface of the wall, the vapor barrier, and a collection area, where the pitch angle and the mounting angle are the same angle, and where the pitch angle causes the water to flow through the gutter channel to the collection area for removal.
US08607524B2

An anchoring device including an anchoring element suitable for being anchored an object of construction material with the aid of mechanical vibrations. The anchoring element includes a thermoplastic material and a tool. The thermoplastic material forms at least a part of a radially outer surface of the anchoring element, and the tool has a proximal portion and a broadening portion distally of the proximal portion. The broadening portion has an outer second cross-section, the second cross section being larger than the first cross section but being adapted to the first cross section so that the tool can be moved with respect to the anchoring element while the broadening portion is in the axially-extending opening and locally expands the anchoring element while thermoplastic material of the anchoring element that surrounds the broadening portion is in a solid state.
US08607517B2

The foundation structure includes a plurality of structural members. A first end of each structural member is coupled to a central shaft. In appropriate soil conditions, the foundation structure is buried in the soil and the soil itself constrains the mass at the base of the foundation and keeps it from moving. The foundation structure is made of structural components comprises a material, including concrete pre-cast concrete, cast-in place concrete, reinforced concrete, pre-stressed concrete, pre-tensioned concrete and post-tensioned concrete, for resisting the expected forces transferred from the tower.
US08607508B2

A stayed connection for a wind turbine (1) is provided with a tower (4) having an upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) and a lower tower portion (14) and where the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) is connected to the lower tower portion (14) by means of a stayed connection (16), and wherein the stayed connection (16) comprises pipe-shaped diagonal stays (18) extending from the lower tower portion (14) and in toward the outside of the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12), as the diagonal stays (18) at their toward the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) facing end portion (28) are compressed and connected directly or via a plate portion (30) to the upper pipe-shaped tower portion (12) by means of a welded connection.
US08607506B2

A door handle and door-handle connector assembly comprises a door handle having a glass body and at least one door-handle connector. The door-handle connector comprises a glass interface having an elongated body made of glass. The body has a first end adhered to the glass body of the door handle, and a second end having a head portion. The door-handle connector also comprises a door interface having an inner cavity receiving the head portion of the glass interface, and an opening for the elongated body of the glass interface to project out of the door interface to be connected to the door handle. The door interface is adapted to be secured to a door whereby the glass interface is held captive to the door interface by the head portion held by the door interface. A door system and a door-handle connector are also provided.
US08607492B2

Embodiments herein relate to the field of weapon accessories, and, more specifically, to modular, electrically powered weapon accessories. Various embodiments include powered modular vertical foregrips that may serve as platforms for multiple firearms accessories, such as modular laser and/or LED lighting and/or sighting systems, radiofrequency receiver and/or transmitter systems, and/or other powered accessories. Various embodiments may be adapted to couple to a mounting rail, such as a Picatinny or Weaver rail, and particular embodiments may be adapted to couple to a lower hand guard quad-rail of an M4 or other small arms weapon. Systems in accordance with various embodiments may provide a platform that may consolidate multiple accessory devices and functions into a single ergonomic and compact unit. Thus, in some embodiments, systems disclosed herein may greatly reduce the size and weight of the total accessory package, and may provide an extremely ergonomic platform that is much easier to manage before, during, and after operations.
US08607491B2

Devices, systems and methods of canting, tilting, and rotating firearms such as rifles relative to fore grip. One version allows for a rocking and canting of the firearm by pivotally attaching an upper portion of expanded legs. Another version allows for a separate canting member to be clamped to both the upper portion of a vertical fore grip and to the lower mounting rail of the firearm. The canting member has portions that cant (move to the left or to the right) relative to one another. An operator can cant the firearm in a free-state or to fixed positions as desired. Another canting embodiment allows for an extra sleeve to compress the legs on the fore grip inward allowing the upper pivoted connection of the legs to move within the lower fore grip housing. Embodiments to allow the fore grip to rotate can also made part of the fore grip.
US08607487B1

A life support algorithm display system for providing convenient access to basic life support or advanced life support algorithms for a user during an emergency features an I.V. (intravenous) pole located on a base. The system features a plurality of rectangular life support algorithm cards with a tab located on a card bottom edge. A life support algorithm is printed on each card. The system features a plurality of display modules each having a side arm attached to a clip. The clip is adapted to snugly, yet pivotally clip onto the I.V. pole allowing the display module to rotate around the I.V. pole. Each life support algorithm card is located in a display module with the tab passing through a module bottom aperture. Each display module is clipped onto the I.V. pole and adapted to be rotated for viewing.
US08607482B2

A plow assembly for attachment to a vehicle, the vehicle having a longitudinal axis, comprises a plow blade having first and second ends, a first plow wing pivotally mounted to the first end of the plow blade, a plow support adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, the plow blade being pivotally mounted to the plow support to permit the plow blade to pivot relative to the vehicle between a center position, where the plow blade is positioned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a first position, where the first end of the plow blade is pivoted toward the vehicle, and between the center position and a second position, where the second end of the plow blade is pivoted toward the vehicle, and either a single link rod, a resilient connecting member, or a cam and follower mechanism connected to the first plow wing and to the plow support and configured to pivot the first plow wing relative to the plow blade during pivoting of the plow blade relative to the vehicle such that when the plow blade is in the center position the first plow wing is angled forwardly relative to the plow blade, when the plow blade is in the first position the first plow wing is generally parallel to the plow blade, and when the plow blade is in the second position the first plow wing is angled forwardly relative to the plow blade.
US08607479B2

The invention relates to a pair of golf shoes with a rolling surface supporting the swing, wherein an external rolling surface is provided along a shoe outer edge and in the big toe region to the tip region of the other shoe an inner rolling surface is provided along the shoe inner edge.
US08607473B2

Disclosed are a door for a dryer and a dryer having the same, the door for the dryer having a concave portion or an inclined portion formed at an end surface of a door glass, such that an inner volume of the dryer can be enlarged without increasing the size of the dryer, under consideration of the dryer having the same capacity, resulting in allowing a large quantity of clothes to be dried at once.
US08607468B2

The invention relates to a device (1) used as a laying aid for tiling work, comprising a base element (7, 8) having a support region (12) for laying flat on a surface to be covered with tiles (16), and a tile-supporting region (2) on which tiles (16) are placed. The tile-supporting region (2) has at least two web-like spacer elements (9) which extend perpendicularly with respect to a plane defined by the tile-supporting region (2) and which are arranged at an angle of an integer multiple of 90° relative to one another in said plane, and which have a thickness (10) corresponding to a desired joint spacing. To avoid the disadvantages of the known laying aids and to achieve uniform joint spacing and an even surface, whereby the laying aid is intended to be especially easy to handle, the base element (7, 8) is designed as a disk-like element having a base area that is smaller than a base area of the tiles (16) to be laid.
US08607449B2

A method of waterproofing a crimping part of a crimp terminal where a wire is crimped includes a step of forming a waterproof structure. The waterproofing structure seals a crimping region containing the crimping part with an adhesive tape. The adhesive tape has waterproofing performance and has a thickness no more than a predetermined value.
US08607441B1

A tool mounting system having at least one support tool structure with at least one tool connected to each of the at least one tool support. A first and second mounting portion is connected to each of the at least one tool support structure and is connectable to a first and second mount on a base, respectively. The first and second mounting portions have particular mounting characteristics for each of the at least one support tool structure such that the first and second mounting portions are only correspondable to the first and second mounts of the base to ensure the proper position of the at least one tool support structure relative to the base.
US08607439B1

A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head are described. The method and system include providing a slider, an EAMR transducer coupled with the slider, and a top layer on the slider. The top layer includes a mirror well therein and has a substantially flat top surface. The method and system further includes providing a laser including a light-emitting surface and providing a mirror optically coupled with the laser. The laser is coupled to the top surface of the top layer external to the mirror well. The mirror has a bottom surface and a reflective surface facing the light-emitting surface of the laser. A portion of the bottom surface of the mirror is affixed to the top surface of the top layer. A portion of the mirror resides in the mirror well.
US08607436B2

A method for terminating and winding coils of a core (20) of a dynamo electric machine. The coils being formed from at least an electric wire (W) and the core (20) having a longitudinal axis (20′). The coils (19) are wound by relatively moving a wire dispenser (21) with respect to a core with relative motions of translation and rotation; at least a stretch of wire extends from the coil and the stretch of wire is provided with a portion (W4) for a termination connection to a termination structure (22) of the core (20) such as a tang. The method avoids waste cut wire in the apparatus. The core is provided with a groove (120) at an end to receive at least a wire in the path of the wire for the termination of the coils. The apparatus comprises a wire deflector positioned adjacent the end of the core, where the groove (120) is located, in order to intercept and align the wire with the groove (120). The apparatus can comprise a device for applying torques in two directions on a pulley wheel for feeding wire as a function of the position of the dispenser in the translation and the position of the core in the rotations.
US08607435B2

A tool holder, used for holding a milling cutter and a grinding wheel, includes a tool bar, a tool base, a flange, a mounting shaft, and a fixing ring. The flange is formed on an end of the tool bar. The tool base is used for mounting the milling cutter. The ends of the mounting shaft are connected to the flange and the tool base respectively. The grinding wheel is mounted on the mounting shaft. The fixing ring is used for fixing the grinding wheel to the mounting shaft.
US08607426B1

A method and apparatus for automated valve spring assembly includes a head assembly with elongated passageways that movably support a pair of retainer keys. A pair of control members selectively close off the passageways. The head assembly further includes a moveable divider plate and a pair of jaws. A push member or rod closes off the passageways by shifting the control members upon movement of the pushrod. The pushrod also slides the retainer keys such that the retainer keys contact tapered inner surfaces of the jaws and rotate the jaws outwardly. The retainer keys are thereby axially positioned relative to the end of a valve stem. The retainer plate is then retracted, and the jaws shift inwardly and push or position the retainer keys on the valve stem.
US08607422B2

A hose clamp for forming an air tight seal between a hose and a connector projecting from a housing of an air cooler of a vehicle. The hose clamp including a band which encircles the hose at a location where the hose and the connector overlap and has an adjustable diameter. The hose clamp positioned by a wrap-around hose clamp positioner. The wrap-around hose clamp positioner including flat portions, which contact the outer surface of the hose, and a raised portion where the band passes through a space of the raised portion. The wrap-around hose clamp positioner further including a wrap-around portion and a crimp tab, the wrap-around portion extending over a lip edge of the hose such that the crimp tab pierces through at least the inner surface of the hose.
US08607421B2

A clamp fitting (1) for a hose end (80) is described which employs a hose clamp (2) and at least one support element (4). The support element (4) includes a substantially U-shaped section in which the hose source (2) is held. An extension section (10) is located at this U-shaped section, said extension section including at least one engagement element (14, 15). The end of the at least one engagement element (14, 15) has sharp edges. The ends can also be designed in pointed fashion. If the clamp fitting is attached to a hose, the engagement elements penetrate the hose by way of these ends. This arrangement prevents further slipping of the clamp fitting attached to the hose.
US08607412B2

There is provided a portable cleaning appliance (100) comprising a main body (102), a nozzle (104) and a graspable handle (106), the nozzle (104) and handle (106) each being movable relative to the main body (102) between a first, storage, position adjacent the main body (102) and a second, in-use, position in which the nozzle (104) and handle (106) extend from the main body (102), wherein the nozzle (104) and handle (106) are connected by a linkage member (128) arranged such that, in use, movement of one of the nozzle (104) and the handle (106) between the first and second positions causes a corresponding coupled movement of the other of the nozzle (104) and handle (106) between the first and second positions.
US08607411B2

In a platform-carried carpet-cleaning machine for facilitating transport of the machine, the platform including a machine-supporting base having upper surface extending between an open entry-end and a closed back-end, the upper surface having an entry portion sloping at no more than about 5° with respect to horizontal such that the machine can be driven on and off the platform with application of about the same amount of user force as during carpet-cleaning operations. Inner surfaces of first and second platform sidewalls both include protrusions frictionally engaging the machine side panels and configured to sandwich the machine therebetween to prevent lateral movement of the machine on the platform. A pair of wheels is mounted with respect to the base for rolling the machine on the platform across a floor, each wheel being secured to its corresponding sidewall by an axle which extends therethrough and is molded in place through the sidewalls to facilitate assembly of the platform. At least one skid-resisting projection extends from the lower surface to hold the platform from unintended backward rolling when the machine is driven onto the platform.
US08607400B2

A disposable liquid absorbing cleaning pad for a hand held cleaning implement having an elongated handle includes a layer of sponge material, a layer of flexible open cell foam material made from melamine resin fixedly attached to the layer of sponge material and attachment structure fixedly secured to the layer of sponge material for removably attaching the cleaning pad to the cleaning implement. In one embodiment of the invention the attachment structure includes a backing plate which is fixedly mounted onto the layer of sponge material and a pair of wing screw assemblies which are removably and slidably mounted on the backing plate for removably attaching the cleaning pad to the cleaning implement. In using the hand held cleaning implement the layer of flexible open cell foam material made from melamine resin is the layer that contacts the surface to be cleaned.
US08607399B2

A quick release attachment for a power tool having a rotatable spindle includes a pad assembly and a quick release connector adapted to join the pad assembly to the spindle. The pad assembly includes a mounting plate and a pad affixed to at least one side of the mounting plate, wherein the pad includes a primary material that is either metal, stone, ceramic, fiber, sand, nylon or polypropylene, and the mounting plate includes a central aperture. The mounting plate aperture further comprises a circular ring disposed therein and has a t-shaped key extending diametrically across the aperture. The t-shaped key comprises a magnetically attractive material. The quick release connector has a main body adapted to fixedly engage the spindle. The connector further has a head end extending from the main body and having a circular cross-section sized to engage the circular ring. The head end further has a slot sized to engage the t-shaped key. The slot further comprises a distal portion extending axially along the head end, a proximal portion extending axially along the head end offset from the distal portion, and a transition portion joining the distal and proximal portions. The main body further comprises a permanent magnet disposed therein having at least one surface adjacent to the proximal portion of the slot. The pad assembly is selectively affixed to the quick release connector by manipulating the head end into the aperture and moving the t-shaped key through the slot until reaching the proximal portion, whereupon the t-shaped key is retained by the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet.
US08607394B1

A rotation type toothbrush has a handle set, a brush-head set and a transmitting set. The handle set has a handle, a mounting sleeve and a positioning mount. The handle has a locating recess. The mounting sleeve is connected to the handle. The positioning mount is securely mounted in the locating recess, abuts against the mounting sleeve and has a limiting recess and a holding hole. The brush-head set is connected to the handle set and has a sliding shaft and a rotating head. The sliding shaft is movably connected to the mounting sleeve and has a connecting tube, an operating head and a through slot. The rotating head is mounted on the operating head and has a mounting board and a gear wheel. The transmitting set is connected to the handle set and the brush-head set and has a rack, a pushing block and two elastic elements.
US08607389B1

A bed frame attachable transfer bar preferably includes a rail attachment member, a lengthwise member, an adjustment member, a second rail attachment member, a second lengthwise member and at least one transfer bar. The first and second rail attachment members include a rail bracket, a lengthwise member receiver and a transfer bar receiver. A deck portion of a bed frame is retained by the first and second rail brackets. The lengthwise members are retained by the lengthwise member receivers. One end of the adjustment bar is retained by the other end of the lengthwise member with a first fastener. The other end of the adjustment bar is retained by the second lengthwise member with a second fastener. Each transfer bar preferably includes a hand ring and a support post. The support post is received by a single transfer bar receiver.
US08607381B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved yoga or exercise mat shape that allows instructors and students to see each other in all yoga poses without re-positioning mats. The mat shape also ensures that the participants maintain all body parts on the mat during all poses. The mat is further provided as a one-piece configuration to allow an easy and hassle-free set up and use experience.
US08607380B2

A lightweight bed assembly kit includes slats and runners adapted for connection to each other at spaced apart locations to form a grid. A U-shaped channel member is adapted for connection to the grid to form a support frame. A covering constructed to form a substantially smooth sleeping surface for an adult human is sized and shaped to be disposed on a top surface of the support frame. A method of assembling a lightweight bed includes arranging runners and slats transversely to each other and connecting the runners and slats together to form a grid. A U-shaped channel member is connected to the grid to form a support frame. A covering constructed to form a substantially smooth sleeping surface is mounted on a top surface of the support frame. A second support frame can be connected to the first support frame by another U-shaped channel member.
US08607379B2

Knockdown furniture for an infant, having enhanced folding workability and safety for an infant. The knockdown furniture (1) for an infant has a frame (11) which forms a space for receiving an infant, and the frame (11) is provided with frame members (30, 40, 50) and a bottom plate (60) placed below the frame members (30, 40, 50). The frame members (30, 40, 50) can be folded into a flat shape lying along the bottom plate (60), and the frame members (30, 40, 50), which are folded into the flat shape lying along the bottom plate (60), and the bottom plate (60) can be integrally folded on each other.
US08607375B2

A foldable bath tub includes a bottom board (100), a panel (200) and a foldable circular basin wall (300) connected between the bottom board (100) and the panel (200). The bottom board (100) and the panel (200) are both formed by one-shot injection molding and the circular basin wall (300) is formed by two-shot injection molding.
US08607367B2

An undergarment configured to secure a second garment thereto, including an undergarment shaped to be worn about the hip region of a user. The undergarment includes a loop system extending outwardly from a non-crotch area of the undergarment and including a plurality of anchor modes having differing heights up the undergarment. The undergarment includes an attachment member coupled to the loop system, including a clip and a coupling device coupled to the clip and selectably coupleable to the loop system at the anchor modes. The loop system further includes an elongated member coupled vertically to the undergarment at a plurality of spaced positions, thereby forming successive independent loops The undergarment includes a length adjustment device configured to selectably adjust an effectual height of the clip extending therefrom. The loop system further includes a plurality of successive independent loops.
US08613101B2

Software update distribution techniques are disclosed. Authentication information is received, from a content source authenticator, by an update agent included in a client device. The authentication information comprises a list of a plurality of content sources, wherein the plurality of content sources have been verified by the content source authenticator as being authentic content sources for legitimate software applications. The update agent selects a first content source of the plurality of content sources, where the first content source is configured to provide updates for a first software application. The update agent checks the first content source for updates for the first software application.
US08613092B2

A prioritized update system, method, and computer program product are provided. In use, a priority is assigned to a plurality of instances of known unwanted data. In addition, information associated with at least one of the instances of known unwanted data is communicated over a network for updating a system, based on the priority. In one embodiment, the prioritized update system may be provided for updating a security system definition database, based on prioritized instances of known unwanted data.
US08613085B2

Aspects of a method and system for traffic management via virtual machine migration include detecting an abnormal traffic pattern in traffic communicated by a first virtual machine that utilizes a first set of network resources. Responsive to the detection of the abnormal pattern, a second virtual machine that utilizes a second set of network resources may be initialized. The second virtual machine may take over functions performed by the first virtual machine and initialization of the second virtual machine is based on an analysis of the traffic. The second virtual machine may be initialized utilizing stored virtual machine state information in instances that the abnormal traffic is a result of a malicious attack. The second virtual machine may be initialized utilizing current virtual machine state information in instances that the abnormal traffic is not a result of a malicious attack.
US08613080B2

Security analysis and vulnerability testing results are “packaged” or “bound to” the actual software it describes. By linking the results to the software itself, downstream users of the software can access information about the software, make informed decisions about implementation of the software, and analyze the security risk across an entire system by accessing all (or most) of the reports associated with the executables running on the system and summarizing the risks identified in the reports.
US08613077B2

A system grants “provisional privileges” to a user request for the purpose of provisionally performing a requested transaction. If the provisionally-performed transaction does not put the system in a degraded state, the transaction is authorized despite the user request having inadequate privileges originally.
US08613070B1

Aspects described herein allow multiple devices to function as a coherent whole, allowing each device to take on distinct functions that are complementary to one another. Aspects described herein also allow the devices function as a coherent whole when interconnected devices and their respective applications are configured to operate in various operation modes, when management policies are employed to control the operation of the interconnected devices and their respective applications, when transferring content between the interconnected devices and storing the content at those devices, when obtaining access credentials for the interconnected devices that enable the devices to access enterprise resources, when a policy agent applies management policies to control operation of and interaction between the interconnected devices, and when the interconnected devices are used to access an enterprise application store.
US08613061B2

Example methods and apparatus to implement electronic book viewers are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves presenting content on a display panel removably attachable to a binding element. The binding element is configured to receive one or more other display panels in a removably attached configuration to form an electronic book. The example method also involves enforcing a content protection policy associated with the content presented on the display panel based on an attachment status of the display panel. The attachment status is associated with the removable attachability of the display panel relative to the binding element.
US08613051B2

A method of providing an online verifiable consent from a parent to a minor to permit usage of an online education system and that prevents misrepresentation and unauthorized access is provided. The method comprises establishing a relationship between an adult parent and a minor and based on the relationship verifying whether the adult parent permits the minor access to the online education system. If the adult parent permits the minor access, the method then grants access to the minor to the online education system.
US08613036B2

A method of obtaining, preparing and visually displaying additional information on a continuous reproduction of electronic media, picture reproduction, or sound reproduction on an ongoing television program, comprises first analyzing program information from the ongoing program or of highlighted additional data to the ongoing program. Then additional information obtained from databases, from a public data network or from other sources of information subject to the program information is made available and optically prepared. This the prepared and obtained data for the additional information is then linked with manually or automatically related metadata. Finally, search criteria are linked with metadata related to individual search criteria, terms, partial entries in search criteria, or a combination thereof.
US08613030B2

A wireless video camera system including a single or dual HDTV digital camera; a system for the wireless transmission of uncompressed single or multiple SMPTE 292M, HDSDI data streams over an RF band; and automatic self-pointing transmitting and receiving antennas.
US08613025B2

One of a plurality of video channels is selected for viewing. A specific one of a plurality of video channels is bookmarked. An object representing said bookmarked channel is displayed. A displayed object is selected to select the bookmarked channel.
US08613011B2

A services gateway includes a processor configured to send a request for a video-on-demand content, receive a first content stream from a video-on-demand content server, and process the first content stream to retrieve the video-on-demand content. The first content stream includes the video-on-demand content and is protected with a first digital rights management scheme. The processor is further configured to encode the video-on-demand content in a second content stream, and provide the second content stream over a local area network to a playback device. The second content stream is protected with a second digital rights management scheme. In an embodiment, the processor can be further configured to store the video-on-demand content in a mass storage.
US08613009B2

According to one example embodiment a storage medium having computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations. The operations can include analyzing data from data sources of an internet-protocol television network where the data provided by the data sources includes set-top-box data having voice over internet protocol usage for a plurality of subscribers of the internet protocol television network in a geographic area and correlating video provisioning information obtained from the data sources, individual subscriber channel viewing information, internet-usage data, subscriber data and demographic data to produce correlated information. The operations can include generating one or more reports associated with the plurality of subscribers in the geographic area based on the correlated information. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08612995B1

Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for monitoring code injection in a computer is described. In some examples, at least one application programming interface (API) call configured to inject data into a process executing on the computer is intercepted. The data is parsed to identify instruction code to be performed by the process. The instruction code is compared with instances of predetermined instruction code to produce a score for the instruction code. The data is prevented from being injected into the process in response to the score satisfying a threshold score. The data may be allowed to be injected into the process in response to the score not satisfying the threshold score.
US08612993B2

Computing devices, computer-readable media, and methods are provided for generating and persisting a user identity associated with a client in a client-server network. A request for an identity script, the identity script comprising computer-executable instructions for creating one or more cookies, is sent from a client to a server. A dynamically generated identity script is returned to the client. User identities are persisted by utilizing cache validation to determine whether a new identity script should be generated.
US08612991B2

A method for dynamically recalculating a critical path in a job scheduling system is disclosed. In selected embodiments, the method may include determining when a first job associated with a critical path is substantially complete. The method may further include identifying a successor job of the first job and identifying multiple predecessor jobs of the successor job. The method may then determine whether there is at least one predecessor job that has not completed. In the event there is at least one predecessor job that has not completed, the method may recalculate the critical path. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product for implementing the above-stated method are also disclosed.
US08612983B2

Apparatus and method for scheduling event streams. The apparatus includes (i) an interface for receiving event streams which are placed in queues and (ii) a scheduler which selects at least one event stream for dispatch depending on sketched content information data of the received event streams. The scheduler includes a sketching engine for sketching the received event streams to determine content information data and a selection engine for selecting at least one received event stream for dispatch depending on the determined content information data of the received event streams. The method includes the steps of (i) determining content information data about the content of event streams and (ii) selecting at least one event stream from the event streams for dispatch depending on the content information data. A computer program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of the above method.
US08612981B2

A method for distributing a task to plural processors is provided. A distribution rule of distributing plural tasks to sub processors or the main processor, respectively, is previously written in a program code of an application configured to include plural tasks. At the time of executing the application, the main processor reads out the distribution rule, and distributes plural tasks to the sub processors or the main processor, respectively, in accordance with the distribution rule.
US08612978B2

A program is executed utilizing a main hardware thread. During execution, an instruction specifies to execute a portion utilizing a worker hardware thread. If a processor state indicator is set to multi-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the worker hardware thread. However, if the processor state indicator is set to single-threaded, the specified portion is executed utilizing the main hardware thread as a subroutine. The main hardware thread may pass parameter data to the worker hardware thread by copying the parameter data register or memory location for the main hardware thread to an equivalent parameter data register or memory location for the worker hardware thread. Similarly, the worker hardware thread may pass return values to the main hardware thread by copying a return value register or memory location for the worker hardware thread to an equivalent return value register or memory location for the main hardware thread.
US08612976B2

Various embodiments disclose a method and system for creating a virtual part used for composing a virtual solution. In one embodiment, a user's selection of at least one virtual image is received. A set of configurability points is associated with the virtual image. A set of parameters of a virtual part is set as configurable during virtual solution composition. A set of virtual ports is generated. Each virtual port within the set of virtual ports indicates at least one of a set of virtual parts required by a virtual part including the set of virtual ports and a set of virtual parts that is compatible with the virtual part. A set of configuration operations is received. A virtual part including at least the virtual image, the set of configurability points, the set of virtual ports, and the configuration operations is generated.
US08612970B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an architecture for securely and efficiently executing byte code generated from a general programming language. In particular, a computer system is divided into a hierarchy comprising multiple types of virtual machines. A thin layer of software, known as a virtual machine monitor, virtualizes the hardware of the computer system and emulates the hardware of the computer system to form a first type of virtual machine. This first type of virtual machine implements a virtual operating domain that allows running its own operating system. Within a virtual operating domain, a byte code interpreter may further implement a second type of virtual machine that executes byte code generated from a program written in a general purpose programming language. The byte code interpreter is incorporated into the operating system running in the virtual operating domain. In addition, an operating system running in a virtual operating domain may be configured as a special purpose operating system that is optimized for the functions of a particular byte code interpreter.
US08612969B2

An electronic apparatus is provided that can include a first downloader downloading a replacement control program from an external host computer by way of a first communicator under the control of a first communication program, in a case where a first inspector judges a control program is not normal and a second inspector judges the first communication program is normal. The apparatus can also include a second downloader downloading a replacement first communication program from an external maintenance computer by way of a second communicator under the control of a second communication program, in a case where a second inspector judges the first communication program is not normal, so that a first communication program stored in a rewritable flash ROM is rewritten with the replacement first communication program downloaded by the second downloader.
US08612963B2

Techniques are disclosed for deploying an application. In one embodiment, a packaging tool determines that an error exists in a packaged application. The packaging tool may guide a user in fixing the error by updating the packaging tool and repackaging the application using the updated packaging tool. The packaging tool may guide the user via one or more notifications output for display to the user.
US08612951B2

A method of determining which computer program functions are changed by a source code modification to a computer program's source code. The method includes compiling the computer program's source code, using a compiler that generates a relocation entry for each program access to a program function or a program data item. The method further includes compiling source code resulting from modifying the computer program's source code with the source code modification, using a compiler that generates a relocation entry for each program access to a program function or a program data item The method further includes constructing a list of object code differences by comparing the compiled source code, and excluding from the list specified object code differences.
US08612949B2

Methods and apparatuses for compiler-created helper thread for multi-threading are described herein. In one embodiment, exemplary process includes identifying a region of a main thread that likely has one or more delinquent loads, the one or more delinquent loads representing loads which likely suffer cache misses during an execution of the main thread, analyzing the region for one or more helper threads with respect to the main thread, and generating code for the one or more helper threads, the one or more helper threads being speculatively executed in parallel with the main thread to perform one or more tasks for the region of the main thread. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08612942B2

First tag addresses and data are stored in association with first index addresses in a memory cell unit provided in a cache memory. The first tag addresses and the first index addresses are configured based on address information respectively. Designation address information is provided to designate an address to read one of the stored data. The designation address information is converted to a second index address and second tag address by an address converter, in order to read the one of the stored data according to the designation address information. The memory cell unit is accessed according to the obtained second index address. When one of the first tag addresses matches the second tag address, the one of the data corresponding to the one of the first tag addresses is read. The designation address information and the one of the data are displayed in a cache memory display unit.
US08612938B2

The tool, MC/DC-Automatic Tool Generator automatically generates test data to satisfy Modified Condition Decision Coverage (MCDC) from input code/model. This tool reduces the effort required to generate MCDC test data significantly. In order to reduce the time required by model checkers, abstraction and optimization methodologies have been implemented to analyze typical reactive software model/code.
US08612935B2

This invention enables a target variable name to be confirmed without inputting all the character string even when a method of giving a name such as allocating a number to the end of the name is performed from the necessity to allocate a variable name having the same meaning to a plurality of different addresses. If narrowed down variable name exists in plurals and one or two or more continuous next character strings match each other among the variable names, the series of character strings without any choice are automatically adopted and confirmed as the character string of the target variable name without waiting for the input of an operator.
US08612931B2

An interactive design of process model for packaged application software installation and configuration generates a process model from a natural language description of software installation or configuration related operation. A data structure representing one or more work products related to the process model is identified, and one or more elements of the data structure are identified that are related to one or more sub-processes of the process model. Input information associated with said one or more sub-processes is captured and stored. The input information is linked with the one or more elements of the data structure related to said one or more sub-processes. The one or more sub-processes in the process model may be also demonstrated through a simulation.
US08612927B2

A bulk service interface can be instantiated for each of at least one service provider providing a plurality of business objects using a stored definition of a plurality of metadata properties relating to generation of a user interface that incorporates content of a plurality of business objects. The bulk service interface can query the stored definition and access, in a bulk metadata access process, dynamic metadata required for instantiation of the plurality of business objects. If the stored definition has not previously been received, a default bulk services access process that queries an existing dynamic metadata access interface of each of the plurality of business objects can be initiated to retrieve the dynamic metadata from each of the plurality of business objects. An instance of the user interface can be generated using dynamic metadata accessed by the bulk service interface and/or the retrieved by the default bulk services access process.
US08612908B2

A method for finding the process, voltage, temperature, parasitics, and power settings (PVTPP) corner at which an electrical circuit design has the worst-case optimum simulated output performance. The method uses a global optimization process in a series of iterations that aim to uncover the PVTPP corner at which the ECD has the worst-case output value. By using the present method, a designer does not have to simulate the ECD at each and every PVTPP corner, which can same considerable time or compute effort. Examples using Model-Building Optimization are provided.
US08612907B2

A method includes a) receiving a design for a static random access memory (SRAM) array including an SRAM cell having a read port cell, the read port cell including first and second MOS transistors each having an initial threshold voltage (Vth); b) adjusting one of a gate channel width (Wg) or a gate channel length (Lg) of one of the first and second MOS transistors to modify the Vth of at least one of the first and second MOS transistors; c) simulating a response of the SRAM array, the simulation providing response data for the SRAM array including the Vth for the first and second MOS transistors; and d) iteratively repeating steps b) and c) until a desired Vth is achieved.
US08612900B2

Methods, computer program products and apparatuses for optimizing design rules for producing a mask are disclosed, while keeping the optical conditions (including but not limited to illumination shape, projection optics numerical aperture (NA) etc.) fixed. A cross-correlation function is created by multiplying the diffraction order functions of the mask patterns with the eigenfunctions from singular value decomposition (SVD) of a TCC matrix. The diffraction order functions are calculated for the original design rule set, i.e., using the unperturbed condition. ILS is calculated at an edge of a calculated image of a critical polygon using the cross-correlation results and using translation properties of a Fourier transform. The use of the calculated cross-correlation of the mask and the optical system, and the translation property of the Fourier transform for perturbing the design reduces the computation time needed for determining required changes in the design rules. Once an optimum separation is calculated, it is incorporated into the design rule to optimize the mask layout for improved ILS throughout the mask, including critical and non-critical portions of the mask.
US08612898B1

A method includes receiving a device layout file in a computing apparatus defining a plurality of device structures in a semiconductor device. A foundry truth table designating valid device structures for a fabrication process is received in the computing apparatus. Device structures in the device layout file are designated as supported device structures by comparing the device structures in the device layout file to the valid device structures in the foundry truth table using the computing apparatus. Device structures in the device layout file that do not correspond to valid device structures for the fabrication process are designated as unsupported devices using the computing apparatus. A list of the unsupported device structures is generated using the computing apparatus.
US08612891B2

The present invention provides a method and system for receiving a user privacy preference that indicates an amount of activity information that the user is willing to share in response to a reward, a value of the reward related to a degree of the user privacy preference. The method and system includes setting a privacy setting for the user based on the received user privacy preference. The method and system further includes tracking web browsing activity of the user during one or more web-browsing sessions based on the privacy setting to generate user activity information. The method and system further includes sending the user activity information and providing a reward to the user based on the user activity information sent.
US08612889B2

A web application makes a registration request of a web top button to a web browser. The web application designates the title to be displayed on the button, the access URL to the web application, and the position of the icon which the web application has. The web browser makes the button registration request to a window manager in response to the button registration request. The title to be displayed on the button and the position of the icon which the web application has are designated. The window manager registers the button in response to the request and displays the button together with the icon.
US08612886B2

A change monitor as part of an online editor of a sequential function chart (SFC) programming environment monitors edits to a control routine. The change monitor provides warning to users before taking actions that would result in a reset of the control routine currently being executed by an industrial controller. The change manager reduces or eliminates many situations that would otherwise result in a reset as well by instructing online editor as to what language elements need to be assembled to implement the change. The change monitor also filters the manner in which reset warnings are given to reduce unnecessary distractions.
US08612883B2

User interfaces for multiple display regions are described. One embodiment provides an array of non-overlapping windows that are created from a set of overlapping windows, and a user can select one of the non-overlapping windows to obtain an enlarged view of that selected window while keeping the other windows in their non-overlapping state. In one embodiment, the array of non-overlapping windows can include minimized windows or windows in other virtual desktops (e.g. windows in other “Spaces”) or both. In one embodiment, only windows of a selected application are shown in non-overlapping mode while opened windows of other applications are not shown.
US08612876B2

A computer-implemented method and system for generating and displaying a calendar containing user-selected events from user-selected categories. A plurality of categories of events are provided. The user can select which categories are of interest, and then select individual events within those categories. Events are overlaid on a calendar unique to the user. Calendars may also be shared among a number of selected users, if desired. Online purchasing and related actions can be associated with each event.
US08612874B2

This document describes techniques and apparatuses for presenting an application change through a tile. These techniques enable a user to see content associated with content changes to an application or other information about the application, such as a new article, new email, or a software update having become available since a user last visited the application. By so doing, the techniques enable a user to forgo visiting the application or permit the user to quickly and easily decide whether or not to visit the application.
US08612872B2

A method for providing an animated transition effect between a first display state associated with a first control state of a control element rendered on a graphical user interface of a computer system, and a second display state associated with a second control state of said control element is provided. The method renders the control element in said first state and then receives at the graphic user interface, a user input event to invoke the second control state of the control element. The method evaluates a graph associated with the control element, the graph having entries each corresponding to a state of the control element, each entry comprising an event, an associated transition and a destination state, to identify a graph entry specifying a transition invoked by the input event from a current displayed first state to the destination state, being the second control state. An entry is identified corresponding to the second control state as the current state of the control element and a description of an animation associated with the specified transition is retrieved. The animation is then rendered.
US08612866B2

An information processing apparatus for recommending content includes a recommending unit configured to perform a content recommendation process in which a content item is determined on the basis of each of a plurality of strategies, each planned on the basis of a relationship with short term interests, a long term preference, and knowledge of a user.
US08612864B2

First acquired data that represents past values of one or more parameters is displayed in a user interface through which a user can monitor, control and predict system operations. Second acquired data that represents present values of the one or more parameters is displayed in the user interface. Virtual data that represents predicted future values of the one or more parameters is displayed in the user interface, wherein the first acquired data, the second acquired data and the virtual data are presented with a unified visual appearance such that a relationship between the past values, present values and predicted future values is visually indicated.
US08612859B2

Multi-media project editing methods and systems are described. In one embodiment, a project editing system comprises a multi-media editing application that is configured to enable a user to combine multiple different video clips into a video project. A bitmap processor coupled with the multi-media editing application receives a first bitmap that can be used to render a transition between video clips and automatically processes the first bitmap to provide a different transition between video clips. Processing of the first bitmap can include, without limitation, using the first bitmap to provide an entirely new and different second bitmap, or processing the first bitmap in a manner which renders a transition that is different from the transition defined by the first bitmap. In one embodiment, a user is able to enter one or more parameters, through a user interface (UI), with the parameters then being used to manipulate the first bitmap to provide the different transition. Processing of the first bitmap can include many different operations, among which can be included one or more of: stretching, shrinking, replication, and offsetting. In addition, the first bitmap can be processed to include, in the transition it defines, a border that is not otherwise defined by the first bitmap.
US08612858B2

Some embodiments provide a computer readable medium storing a media editing application for creating multimedia presentations. The application includes a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI includes a composite display area for displaying graphical representations of a set of media clips that are part of a composite presentation. Each graphical representation of a particular media clip is assigned to a particular row in the composite display area, where each row corresponds to a particular track in the composite presentation. Some embodiments of the GUI include a compression tool for assigning the graphical representations to new rows so as to reduce blank space in the composite display area, where the assignment of the graphical representations to new rows eliminates the correspondence between the rows and the tracks. Some embodiments include a collapsing tool for reducing a size of graphical representations in the composite display area.
US08612855B2

A method of notifying a person using a computer includes providing a computer system including at least one sensory cueing component. The method includes defining a subliminal and a supraliminal range of at least one human sense. A cue may be defined and includes a variable attribute, and the cue is directed to the at least one human sense. An alert level may be associated with the message and the alert level may be classified as being in the subliminal or supraliminal range. The method may include a presentation methodology of the cue and the message. The cue may be initiated and presented in either the subliminal range or the supraliminal range and directed to the at least one human sense in the user's sensory environment. The user acknowledges the cue and the message in either the subliminal or supraliminal range, before the cue is removed from the user's sensory environment.
US08612850B2

An information browsing method includes: partitioning contents of a page into a plurality of first data partitions by analyzing the contents of the page; assigning a plurality of first identifiers to the first data partitions, respectively; driving a display screen according to at least the first data partitions; and when receiving a partition selection input, determining a selected first data partition according to a first identifier corresponding to the partition selection input, wherein the selected first data partition is assigned with the first identifier.
US08612848B2

A display method and an apparatus to display a plurality of images on a screen, and an image forming apparatus to performs the N-up display method, wherein the image display method includes: classifying the images according to the similarities in their shapes on the basis of horizontal length information and vertical length information of the images; and displaying the images on the display screen such that images having similar shapes are positioned adjacent to each other. Therefore, by positioning images having similar, or corresponding, shapes at adjacent positions when images to be printed are displayed on a display unit, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) included in the image forming apparatus, a reduction of blank spaces between displayed images and an increase of the number of images that can be displayed on a screen are promoted.
US08612842B2

An apparatus generates a checksum for a payload having a number of payload symbols. The apparatus includes a coder for coding the payload. The coder is configured to combine a current payload symbol and a previous coding symbol or an initialization symbol to obtain a combined symbol, and map the combined symbol using a mapping rule to obtain a current coding symbol. The mapping rule is based on a power of two or more of a companion matrix of a characteristic polynomial of a linear feedback shift register. The apparatus is configured such that the checksum corresponds to the current coding symbol, when the number of payload symbols is processed by the coder, the number being one or greater than one.
US08612839B2

A data protection method is provided that includes determining a compressibility score of one or more lines of data stored in a memory. The memory includes a first area characterized by a first reliability level and a second area characterized by a second reliability level. Lines of data with a first compressibility score are migrated to the first area of the memory. Lines of data with a second compressibility score are migrated to the second area of the memory.
US08612838B2

An encoder and decoder using LDPC-CC (Low Density Parity Check-Convolutional Codes). An encoding rate setting unit sets an encoding rate (s−1)/s (s=z), and an information creating unit sets information including from information Xs,i to information Xz−1,i to zero. A first information computing unit receives information X1,i at time point i to compute the X1(D) term of a formula. A second information computing unit receives information X2,i at time point i to compute the X2(D) term of the formula. A third information computing unit receives information X3,i at time point i to compute the X3(D) term of the formula. A parity computing unit receives parity Pi−1 at time point i−1 to compute the P(D) of the formula. The exclusive OR of the results of the computation is obtained as parity Pi at time i.
US08612834B2

Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for encoder assisted decoding of linear systematic block codes. The apparatus comprises a first logic unit to receive a codeword from a memory, the codeword having a data portion and a corresponding parity portion; an encoder to encode the data portion of the received codeword and to generate a corresponding parity of the data portion of the received codeword; a second logic unit to generate a first parity portion from the corresponding parity portion of the codeword received by the first logic unit and the corresponding parity portion generated by the encoder; and a correction unit to correct the data portion of the codeword via the generated first parity portion.
US08612825B2

A method of data classification for use in a wireless communication system includes obtaining decoder metrics from a decoder. The decoder metrics correspond to data generated by the decoder. The decoder metrics include a symbol error rate (SER) and an energy metric (EM). The method also includes classifying the data into a first category if the data fails a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) check, into a second category if the data passes the CRC check and is determined to be unreliable, or into a third category if the data passes the CRC check and is determined to be reliable. A reliability of the data is determined based on the decoder metrics and an EM threshold.
US08612816B2

Problem: A packet error rate in a receiver needs to be effectively reduced.Solution to Problem: A transmitter 11 inserts error detection codes into information packets on one-to-one basis, at a certain layer at which signal processing is performed earlier than at a physical layer, to obtain first information packets. The transmitter 11 codes the first information packets at the physical layer to obtain second information packets, and transmits the second information packets. At the certain layer, the transmitter 11 generates parity packets by coding the information packets and inserts the error detection codes into the parity packets on one-to-one basis to obtain first parity packets. The transmitter codes the first parity packets at the physical layer to obtain second parity packets. The transmitter 11 transmits the second parity packets in accordance with a transmission request from each of one or more receivers.
US08612814B1

Integrated circuits with error detection circuitry are provided. Integrated circuits may include memory cells organized into frames. The error detection circuitry may compress each frame to scan for soft errors. The error detection circuitry may include multiple input shift registers (MISRs), a data register, and a signature comparator. The data frames may be read, compressed, and shifted into the MISRs in parallel. After all the data frames have been read, the MISRs may provide a scanned MISR signature at their outputs. Computer-aided design (CAD) tools may be used to calculate a precomputed MISR signature. The precomputed MISR signature may be loaded into the data register. The signature comparator compares the scanned MISR signature with the precomputed MISR signature. If the signatures match, then the device is free of soft errors. If the signatures do not match, then at least one soft error exists.
US08612807B2

An entertainment kiosk error handling and troubleshooting method which facilitates correct of errors from a remote computer. An example method includes operating a camera for capturing images within the entertainment kiosk by a processor within the entertainment kiosk, detecting an error by the processor, associating recently captured images with the error, and sending an alert to a remote computer by the processor.
US08612785B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for optimizing energy consumption utilized for workload processing in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, when a workload is received, an energy profile (e.g., contained in a computerized data structure) associated with the workload is identified. Typically, the energy profile identifies a set of computing resources needed to process the workload (e.g., storage requirements, server requirements, processing requirements, network bandwidth requirements, etc.), energy consumption attributes of the set of computing resources, and a proposed duration of the workload. Based on the information contained in the energy profile (and resource availability) a schedule (e.g., time, location, etc.) for processing the workload will be determined so as to optimize energy consumption associated with the processing of the workload. In a typical embodiment, the schedule will be determined such that a total cost for processing the workload can be minimized and/or to any budgeted amount/costs can be met.
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