US08808969B2

Radiation-sensitive sol-gel compositions are provided, along with methods of forming microelectronic structures and the structures thus formed. The compositions comprise a sol-gel compound and a base generator dispersed or dissolved in a solvent system. The sol-gel compound comprises recurring monomeric units comprising silicon with crosslinkable moieties bonded to the silicon. Upon exposure to radiation, the base generator generates a strong base, which crosslinks the sol-gel compound in the compositions to yield a crosslinked layer that is insoluble in developers or solvents. The unexposed portions of the layer can be removed to yield a patterned sol-gel layer. The invention can be used to form patterns from sol-gel materials comprising features having feature sizes of less than about 1 μm.
US08808955B2

A toner includes a coloring agent, a binder resin comprising a crystalline resin having a urethane skeleton and/or urea skeleton, and a releasing agent (a microcrystalline wax). A development agent, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus employ the toner to form images on recording media electrophotographically.
US08808954B2

The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoconductor that can improve unevenness in image density and reduce image defects such as fogging and dots. The electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive support, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive layer. The intermediate layer includes metal oxide particles surface-treated with a titanium chelate compound represented by the following formula (1): Ti(OR)n(L)4-n  (1) wherein R at each occurrence independently represents a C1-16 aliphatic hydrocarbon group; L at each occurrence independently represents a ligand derived from a chelating agent selected from the group consisting of β-ketoester represented by the following formula (1a): β-diketone represented by the following formula (1b): and a C3-10 alkylene glycol; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; if n is 2 or more, two Rs may be coupled to each other.
US08808946B2

The invention relates to novel specially substituted urethane acrylates based on tris(p-isocyanatophenyl)thiophosphate having a high refractive index and reduced double bond density, and to a method for the production and use thereof.
US08808945B2

A volume hologram layer (2) is formed on a substrate (1), and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer (3) is then formed on the hologram layer (2). After the substrate (1) is peeled off the volume hologram layer (2), an adhesive layer (4) is formed on the surface of the volume hologram layer (2) with the substrate (1) peeled off, and another substrate (5) is then formed on the adhesive layer (4). Finally, a label form of cholesteric liquid crystal medium having a volume hologram is shaped out of the resulting multilayer structure; it is thus possible to fabricate cholesteric liquid crystal media having a volume hologram with efficiency yet without recourse to any complicated steps such as an alignment step.
US08808944B2

A method for storing holographic data, said method comprising: step (A) providing an optically transparent substrate comprising a polymer composition and a light absorbing chromophore, said polymer composition comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase, said dispersed phase being less than about 200 nm in size; and step (B) irradiating a volume element of the optically transparent substrate with a holographic interference pattern, wherein the pattern has a first wavelength and an intensity both sufficient to cause a phase change in at least a portion of the dispersed phase within the volume element of the substrate to produce within the irradiated volume element refractive index variations corresponding to the holographic interference pattern, thereby producing an optically readable datum corresponding to the volume element.
US08808941B2

A naphthoxazine benzoxazine-based monomer is represented by Formula 1 below: In Formula 1, R2 and R3 or R3 and R4 are linked to each other to form a group represented by Formula 2 below, and R5 and R6 or R6 and R7 are linked to each other to form a group represented by Formula 2 below, In Formula 2, * represents the bonding position of R2 and R3, R3 and R4, R5 and R6, or R6 and R7 of Formula 1. A polymer is formed by polymerizing the naphthoxazine benzoxazine-based monomer, an electrode for a fuel cell includes the polymer, an electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell includes the polymer, and a fuel cell uses the electrode.
US08808937B2

A system includes a radiator side flow path for supplying a coolant which has cooled a fuel cell stack to a radiator, a bypass flow path for allowing the coolant which has cooled the fuel cell stack to bypass the radiator, a thermostat valve for increasing a flow rate of the coolant flowing through the radiator side flow path in a case where the temperature of the coolant is high as compared to a case where the temperature of the coolant is low, and an electric heater for warming up the coolant. The electric heater is controlled based on an outside atmospheric pressure and on the temperature of the coolant such that the temperature of the coolant flowing into the fuel cell stack is raised in a case where the outside atmospheric pressure is high as compared to a case where the outside atmospheric pressure is low.
US08808935B2

A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a reformer, a combustor that heats the reformer using anode off-gas of the fuel cell as a fuel, and a ratio controller that controls a ratio of a combustion component supplied to the combustor in accordance with a temperature distribution in a gas flow direction inside the combustor.
US08808927B2

A lithium secondary battery comprises an anode capable of intercalating or disintercalating lithium ions, a cathode configured with a lithium-containing oxide, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The lithium-containing oxide comprises a lithium nickel based oxide. The nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprises vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC) and a mono-nitrile compound. This lithium secondary battery solves the deterioration of charge/discharge cycle characteristics caused by a lithium nickel based oxide used for a cathode, and also controls the decomposition reaction of electrolyte to solve the swelling phenomenon even though the battery is stored at a high temperature or charged/discharged in a fully-charged state, thereby improving high-temperature life characteristics.
US08808921B2

Disclosed are a current collector for a flexible electrode, a method of manufacturing the same, and a negative electrode including the same. The current collector for a flexible electrode includes: a flexible polymer substrate; a cross-linkable polymer layer disposed on the polymer substrate; and a metal layer disposed on the cross-linkable polymer layer, wherein the surface of the cross-linkable polymer layer includes a plurality of protrusions and grooves.
US08808910B2

A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an electrode body including a positive electrode and a negative electrode superimposed upon each other with a separator interposed therebetween. The negative electrode is superimposed upon the positive electrode in a state where a negative electrode active material layer, except the part on a proximal end part of a negative electrode tab, is positioned inside an outer edge of a positive electrode active material layer of the positive electrode. A width H1 of the negative electrode active material layer including the part on the proximal end part of the negative electrode tab, width H2 of the negative electrode active material layer or negative electrode current collector at a part other than the negative electrode tab, and width H3 of the positive electrode active material layer are formed to satisfy the relationships of H2
US08808909B2

Compositions, and methods of obtaining them, useful for lithium ion batteries comprising discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes having attached to their surface lithium ion active materials in the form of nanometer sized crystals or layers. The composition can further comprise graphene or oxygenated graphene.
US08808908B2

A battery module has a plurality of batteries, each having an electrode assembly mounted in a battery case including a metal layer and a resin layer, as unit cells, are stacked one on another in the thickness direction, wherein the battery module is constructed such that electrode leads of each unit cell are bent and placed on an upper-end sealing part of each unit cell, through-holes for mechanical coupling and electrical connection are formed in the electrode leads and the sealing part such that the through-holes of the electrode leads communicate with the corresponding through-holes of the sealing part, respectively, and conductive coupling members are inserted through the through-holes of the unit cells. The battery module accomplished a maximum reduction in volume, increasing sealability of the sealing part, and easily accomplishing the electrical connection and the mechanical coupling between components.
US08808907B2

Disclosed is a battery module which comprises a cell unit that comprises cells, and a case that contains the cell unit. The case comprises: a first member which has a first guide portion, and a second member which has a second guide portion that is fitted into the first guide portion by being slid on the first guide portion.
US08808895B2

A battery may have a foil battery pack with leads that are coupled to a printed circuit board. Battery protection structures formed from an insulating material such as plastic may be used to protect the foil battery pack. The foil battery pack may have a rectangular shape with front and rear faces surrounded by a rectangular peripheral edge. The battery protection structures may have a ring shape that surrounds the peripheral edge while leaving the front and rear faces exposed to minimize the size of the battery protection structures. An elastomeric material may be used to form the battery protection structures. The elastomeric material may allow the battery protection structures to stretch when the battery pack expands during use. Two shots of plastic may be incorporated into the battery protection structures to provide both puncture resistance and the ability to stretch during use.
US08808889B2

The sealed battery has a battery container (4, 5) and a power generating element sealed inside the battery container. The battery container is provided with a fill opening (12), an annular ridge (16), which extends around the entire circumference of the outer face surrounding the fill opening, and an annular indentation (15) on the inside of the inner wall surface of the annular ridge, and has a sealing cap (8), which fits into the annular indentation and covers the fill opening. The sealing cap is joined by being welded to the inner wall surface of the annular ridge around the entire circumference at the edge thereof. Since heat is not well transferred from the inside to the outside of the outer wall surface of the annular ridge, the effective thermal capacity during welding is mostly determined by the structure of the area inside the outer wall surface of the annular ridge. Consequently, the effective thermal capacity is nearly uniform independent of direction. Thus, it is possible to provide a sealed battery, a manufacturing method thereof, and vehicles and machinery in which the same is installed, wherein the opening can be closed under consistent welding conditions around the entire circumference.
US08808883B2

Disclosed herein is a secondary battery pack including a battery cell having an electrode assembly mounted in a battery case together with an electrolyte, a protection circuit module (PCM) having a protection circuit for controlling overcharge, overdischarge, and overcurrent of the battery cell, an insulative mounting member mounted to a top cap of the battery cell, and an insulative cap coupled to the upper end of the battery cell, wherein the top cap is provided with at least one protrusion-type electrode terminal, and the top cap is provided at a partial region where the protrusion-type electrode terminal is not formed with a space (depression space) depressed downward by a predetermined depth. The insulative mounting member is provided with a through-hole (a first through-hole) corresponding to the protrusion-type electrode terminal and a through-hole (a second through-hole) corresponding to the depression space, the PCM is provided with a coupling through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole, and the coupling of the insulative mounting member and the PCM to the battery cell is achieved by successively fixedly inserting the protrusion-type electrode terminal through the first through-hole of the insulative mounting member and the coupling through-hole of the PCM.
US08808878B2

A compound according to the present invention is represented by the general formula (1): as defined herein. This makes it possible to provide (i) a novel compound that exhibits a practically sufficient light-emitting property not only in a case where the novel compound is used as a luminescent dopant, but also in a case where the novel compound is used solely, and (ii) use of the novel compound.
US08808869B2

An objective of the present invention is to provide a lignocellulose material exhibiting superior dimensional stability and having a reduced water-absorbing property, as well as provide a lignocellulose hybrid material, a paper product or a wood product, with superior dimensional stability and a reduced water-absorbing property. In the present invention, a lignocellulose material is treated with a treatment agent for use in a lignocellulose material containing: (A) a polyvalent carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof; and (B) a silicon compound containing a functional group binding to a silicon atom, and thereby, a lignocellulose hybrid material is obtained. In addition, a paper product or a wood product is obtained by using the aforementioned lignocellulose hybrid material.
US08808868B2

A stain resistant, oil and water repellent copolymer comprising a copolymer prepared from fluorinated (meth)acrylate and amine salts of (meth)acrylic acid, and a method of providing stain resistance, oil and water repellency to substrates and a treated substrate.
US08808867B2

Provided is a bimetallic tube for transport of hydrocarbon feedstocks in refinery process furnaces, and more particularly in furnace radiant coils, including: i) an outer tube layer being formed from carbon steels or low chromium steels comprising less than 15.0 wt. % Cr based on the total weight of the steel; ii) an inner tube layer being formed from an alumina forming bulk alloy including 5.0 to 10.0 wt. % of Al, 20.0 wt. % to 25.0 wt. % Cr, less than 0.4 wt. % Si, and at least 35.0 wt. % Fe with the balance being Ni, wherein the inner tube layer is formed plasma powder welding the alumina forming bulk alloy on the inner surface of the outer tube layer; and iii) an oxide layer formed on the surface of the inner tube layer, wherein the oxide layer is substantially comprised of alumina, chromia, silica, mullite, spinels, or mixtures thereof.
US08808857B1

An interface material employing carbon nanotube (CNT) array and a method of fabricating the same. A first CNT array is provided on a first substrate. A second CNT array is provided on a second substrate. A first support layer is disposed on the first CNT array, wherein the first CNT array is between the first support layer and the first substrate. A second support layer is disposed on the second CNT array, wherein the second CNT array is between the second support layer and the second substrate. The first support layer is attached to the second support layer. The first and second substrates are removed, thereby providing the interface material.
US08808851B2

A multi-layered composite material is disclosed, which includes an ordered periodic array of particles held in a matrix composition. The composite material further includes inorganic nanosized particles infused into the array of particles.
US08808850B2

A fire retardant intumescent coating composition is disclosed, which includes expandable graphite, an aromatic polyamine resin, and a phosphorous-containing compound. An overlay for applying to a wood substrate is also disclosed, which includes a core layer comprising a substrate and a resin composition, a top layer on one side of the core layer comprising the fire retardant intumescent coating composition, and an optional bottom layer on the opposite side of the core layer from the top layer. A process of forming the overlay is also disclosed, which includes applying the resin composition to the core layer substrate to form a resinated core layer, and applying a coating composition on the resinated core layer, directly or indirectly, to form the top layer; wherein the coating composition comprises expandable graphite, an aromatic polyamine resin, and a phosphorous-containing compound.
US08808847B2

A layered composite component is disclosed, the component including: a plurality of stacked layers defining a component thickness between opposed component surfaces and at least one reinforcing element extending from each of the opposed component surfaces the reinforcing elements extending at least partially through the component thickness. Another layered composite component is also disclosed, the component including: a plurality of stacked layers defining a plane and having a primary in-plane axis, wherein the at least one block array of reinforcing elements extends into the component along a reinforcing direction that is angled with respect to the plane of the stacked layers, and wherein the at least one block array is angled in the plane of the stacked layers with respect to the primary axis.
US08808842B2

The invention concerns a coated white sheet having a fluorescence intensity of more than 55, measured in accordance with international standard ISO 11475: 2004, by the difference between the value for the CIE whiteness under D65 illuminant and the value for this same CIE whiteness after interposing a filter that eliminates wavelengths shorter than 420 nm, and being offset-printable with no mottling, said coated sheet comprising at least one base sheet and a printable white surface coat having a pigmented composition which comprises: —at least some white coating pigments and at least one coating binder; —at least one fluorescent whitening agent in a total quantity of 1% dry weight or more with respect to the dry weight of said pigments; —at least one support substance for said whitening agent in a total quantity of dry weight of more than 2% with respect to the dry weight of said pigments. The invention also concerns a method for producing said coated sheet by curtain coating said pigmented composition.
US08808838B2

Provided are methods and compositions pertaining to coatings (e.g., paints) for covering a substrate. In some aspects and embodiments the coatings may include a heat reflective metal oxide pigment that, applied to an external surface of a building (or applied on a substrate used for an external surface of a building) reduces energy consumption in the building. In other aspects and embodiments, provided are textured coatings having a texturing material; e.g., methods and compositions are provided pertaining to textured coatings that can be applied robotically or in an automated fashion. In various aspects and embodiments, textured coatings are provided that include a texturing material and a heat reflective metal oxide pigment. In some aspects and embodiments coatings are provided that include pumice texturing materials (e.g., pumice having particle sizes of greater than 150 microns).
US08808824B2

An aspect of the present invention relates to an optical information recording medium comprising a recording layer on a surface of a support, wherein the surface of the support has pregrooves with a track pitch ranging from 50 to 500 nm, the recording layer comprises an azo metal complex dye being a complex of six azo dyes and seven transition metal ions. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of recording information onto the optical information recording medium and a novel azo metal complex dye.
US08808799B2

In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to providing a first gas stream carrying vaporized material and depositing the vaporized material onto a substrate by directing a plurality of gas streams containing the vaporized material to a substrate, forming an gas curtain around the streams to prevent its dissemination beyond a target print area, and allowing the vaporized material to condense on the target print area. In another embodiment, heat is used to regulate the flow of the material and the thickness of the deposited layer.
US08808797B2

Methods of manufacturing a gas barrier plastic container include a method in which the inside of a vacuum chamber which houses a plastic container is exhausted to form a pre-set pressure, and while maintaining a state where electricity is supplied to a thermal catalyst arranged inside the vacuum chamber to generate heat above a pre-set temperature, a source gas is blown on the thermal catalyst to decompose the source gas and create chemical species, whereby a gas barrier thin film is formed by the chemical species reaching at least one of either the inner surface or the outer surface of the plastic container.
US08808795B2

A method of producing a laminate film includes coating a support with coating solutions with at least two monolayer extrusion dies to provide layers. A difference in solubility parameter between the coating solution and a solute in the adjoining layer ≧0.1 for respective coating solutions. Viscosity of the downstream side die coating solution is lower than that of an upstream side die. Each coating solution has a Capillary number Ca<1.7. A difference in surface tension |σ2−σ1| between the adjoining layers satisfies |σ2−σ1|>0.5 [mN/m], where σ1, σ2 are surface tensions of coating solution from upstream and downstream side dies, respectively. A ratio of a coating thickness h1 [μm] of the coating solution for an upper layer and a distance L [μm] of the upper layer from the support surface satisfies h1/L<0.14. Distance between discharge nozzles is ≧1 mm and ≦700 mm.
US08808793B2

A method comprising introducing a workpiece support into a chamber of an apparatus. The workpiece support is for supporting thereon a plurality of workpieces. The apparatus comprising: the chamber having an interior space configured to be maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure; a vapor source for supplying the interior space of the chamber with a linearly extending stream of lubricant vapor; the workpiece support for supporting thereon a plurality of workpieces with surfaces facing the vapor source; and a conveyor for continuously moving the workpiece support transversely past the linearly extending stream of lubricant vapor from the vapor source. The method also comprising continuously moving the workpiece support with the plurality of workpieces supported thereon transversely past the linearly extending stream of lubricant vapor from the vapor source and depositing a uniform thickness film of the lubricant on at least one surface of each of the plurality of workpieces.
US08808789B2

Methods and compositions for preparing highly conductive electronic features are disclosed. When organoamine-stabilized silver nanoparticles are exposed to an alkaline composition, the resulting electronic feature is highly conductive. Such methods are particularly advantageous when applied to aged silver nanoparticle compositions.
US08808780B2

An apparatus (1) for making shaped food chip products (2) including hotplates (3) (4) that are arranged in such way that, when in use, food snacks are hold between the hotplates and where at least one hotplate surface is covered with a steam permeable membrane (5). Also a method for making food chip product (2) including feeding slices of food in a monolayered between hotplates (3, 4) where at least one of the hotplate surfaces pressing on the food snack is covered with a membrane (5) that guidance the steam away.
US08808779B2

A method is disclosed which reduces the oil content of a potato chip. The method teaches that a steeper, faster temperature drop upon initial introduction of the potato slice to the fryer, followed by a longer period of exposure to lower temperatures before increasing to standard frying temperatures, reduces oil content of a potato chip. The invention further discloses a pre-treatment method which involves submerging the potatoes in a hot water bath which results in decreased oil content. Additionally, the invention discloses a post-treatment method involving subjecting the potato chip to superheated steam that further reduces oil content. The two pre and post-treatment methods, combined with the primary temperature scheme method for reducing oil content, yield a potato chip with significantly reduced oil content.
US08808777B2

A capsule, system and method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product is shown. The capsule includes a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, and a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall. The first, second and third wall enclose an inner space including the extractable product. The third wall forms an outermost boundary of the capsule in an axial direction thereof. The third wall comprises a woven or nonwoven filtering material, such as filtering paper.
US08808774B2

The described pKa process creates a unique combination of active ingredients. The calcium carbonate carrier is impregnated with various proportions of active ingredients and the compounds are made more effective by the sheer and absorption action as they are combined in the described process. The calcium carrier is adjusted to incorporate small amounts of highly efficient/effective pH adjusters. No natural solution exists in Nature with a pH of 10.6 that is optimal for adjusting the pKa naturally in foods. The present invention effects a change in the pKa of most acids and therefore impacts pH which can positively affect flavor, color and taste. The reduced moisture process in combination with the invention solution applied as a treatment results in fruits and vegetables that exhibit cleaner flavors, better texture, enhanced color and lower microbial counts than is found in standard IQF vegetables currently available.
US08808771B2

An active ingredient delivery system and a method of making or using the same, wherein the delivery system includes an active ingredient and a carrier component of an amorphous metal salt, with the active ingredient at least partly fixed to and partly encapsulated by the carrier component. The active ingredient may be a bitter tasting polyphenol such as a flavonoid.
US08808766B2

There is described an herbal hematophagous parasite control composition which comprises Picraena excelsa (Quassia), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Azadirachta indica folium (Neem) provided that the composition is substantially free Juglans nigra folia (black walnut) and/or Allium sativim (garlic). There are also described a method of controlling hematophagous parasites.
US08808763B2

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods and supplements for improving sleep efficiency in human beings.
US08808755B2

A skin disinfectant in ready-to-use concentrated liquid or dry powdered form. Ready-to-use liquid forms have a pH of from about 2 to about 6 and include: (a) hydrogen peroxide in a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 4% w/w of the solution; (b) at least one surfactant chosen from imidazoline derivatives, alkyl betaines, alkyl amidopropyl betaine amides, alkyl amidopropyl betaines, alkylsulfo betaines, amine oxides and derivatives thereof in a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 15% w/w of the solution; (c) at least one hydrogen peroxide stabilizer in a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 4% w/w of the solution; (d) at least one member chosen from cyclic carboxylic acids and salts thereof in a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 4% w/w of the solution; and (e) at least one skin conditioning agent in a concentration of from about 0.01 to about 10% w/w of the solution.
US08808750B2

The present invention relates to novel microporous zirconium silicate compositions that are formulated to remove toxins, e.g. potassium ions, from the gastrointestinal tract at an elevated rate without causing undesirable side effects. The preferred formulations are designed avoid increase in pH of urine in patients and/or avoid potential entry of particles into the bloodstream of the patient. Also disclosed is a method for preparing high purity crystals of UZSi-9 exhibiting an enhanced level of potassium exchange capacity. These compositions are particularly useful in the therapeutic treatment of hyperkalemia.
US08808735B2

The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of a granulate comprising a calcium-containing compound as an active substance. The method comprises a method for the preparation of a granulate comprising a calcium-containing compound as an active substance, the method comprising, i) feeding a granulation chamber with a composition comprising the calcium-containing compound, ii) wet-massing the composition with a granulation liquid optionally comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable binder for a time period of at the most 30 sec to obtain a wet granulate, iii) drying the thus obtained wet granulate. A granulate obtained by the present method is especially suitable in the preparation of solid dosage forms, in particular in the preparation of tablets.
US08808733B2

Disclosed are methods and compositions for the controlled release of a drug or agent from a liposome using light or radiation. Also disclosed are compositions comprising liposomes having a lipid layer, wherein the liposomes contain an agent, an enzyme capable of releasing the agent from the liposome, and an enzyme activator sequestered by a molecular cage. In another aspect, methods of delivering an agent to a target in a subject are disclosed.
US08808724B2

A medical device having an antimicrobial coating. The device has a first coating layer having an antimicrobial agent over at least part of the outer surfaces of the device. The first coating has an outer surface. There is a second discontinuous polymeric coating containing an antimicrobial agent, which is on top of and covering part of the outer surface of the first coating. The second discontinuous coating has a microstructure.
US08808723B2

Polymers containing poly(ester amides) and agents for use with medical articles and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. The medical article generally comprises an implantable substrate having a coating, and the coating contains a polymer comprising a polymeric product of a reaction comprising a polyol, a polycarboxylic acid, an amino acid and an agent.
US08808720B2

A product comprising microcapsules which themselves comprise (a) a polymeric shell; and (b) a core which comprises (i) a solid agrochemical dispersed in a matrix and (ii) a water-immiscible liquid characterized in that the matrix is distributed non-continuously throughout the water-immiscible liquid.
US08808719B1

Provided is the use of or compositions or formulations comprising Chromobacterium species, filtrate, supernatant, extract, pesticidally active compound or metabolite derived therefrom as an insecticide, particularly against infestation of Corn Rootworm larvae.
US08808701B2

The present invention is directed to humanized antibodies which bind the human C5a receptor and their use as therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The present invention is further directed toward nucleic acid sequences which encode said humanized antibodies, and their expression in recombinant host cells. In particular, the present invention is directed towards humanized antibodies derived from murine antibody 7F3 which specifically binds to the human C5a receptor.
US08808688B2

An object is to provide a novel medical use of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells. It was discovered that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) promote improvement of erectile dysfunction and recovery of the urge to urinate (improvement of sensory disorders of the lower urinary tract). On the basis of the discovery, a cell preparation containing adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells, which is effective to erectile dysfunction or sensory disorders of the lower urinary tract, is provided. In one embodiment, adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells and body fat are used in combination.
US08808672B2

To provide a liquid cosmetic which is loaded into a liquid applicator having an applying part and suitably used as a cosmetic for eye-makeup around the eyes, the liquid cosmetic comprises, at least, 1 to 20% by mass of high-brightness particles, 2 to 10% by mass of film-forming resin, 0.3% by mass or more of an anionic polymer compound having a thickening effect, and water, and is configured such that the viscosity at 25° C. and a shear rate of 76.8 s−1 in an EMD type viscometer falls within the range of 250 to 1,000 mPa·s.
US08808664B2

Lipidated micro- or macroparticles are prepared by covalently linking a glycoprotein, typically collagen, with at least one lipid. An amino group in the glycoprotein is joined with a primary amine in the lipid. These particles can be used to encapsulate active ingredients, such as drugs.
US08808663B2

Embodiments relate to methods of generating hydrogen including contacting magnesium and silicon to form a mixture and reacting the mixture with an aqueous solution, sufficient to generate hydrogen. The solution can include water and salt.
US08808656B2

A garnet-type single crystal is represented by a general formula, A3B2C3O12 (having a crystal structure with three sites A, B and C occupied by cations, wherein A represents an element occupying the site A, B represents an element occupying the site B, C represents an element occupying the site C, O represents an oxygen atom), and contains fluorine, in which the fluorine attains any one or both of substituting for the oxygen atom or compensating for oxygen defect.
US08808650B1

A foldable specimen rack includes a foldable box that moves from a closed, storage position to an open in-use position. The foldable box may include and open box and open bottom when the box is in the open position. The foldable specimen rack may also include a removable insert member situated adjacent the open top of the foldable box. The removable insert member includes multiple specimen holder receiving slots. Different removable insert members may includes slots that accommodate different size specimen holders.
US08808649B2

A system for conducting the identification and quantification of micro-organisms, e.g., bacteria in urine samples which includes: 1) several disposable cartridges for holding four disposable components including a centrifuge tube, a pipette tip having a 1 ml volume, a second pipette tip having a 0.5 ml volume, and an optical cup or cuvette; 2) a sample processor for receiving the disposable cartridges and processing the urine samples including transferring the processed urine sample to the optical cups; and 3) an optical analyzer for receiving the disposable cartridges and configured to analyze the type and quantity of micro-organisms in the urine sample. The disposable cartridges with their components including the optical cups or cuvettes are used in the sample processor, and the optical cups or cuvettes containing the processed urine samples are used in the optical analyzer for identifying and quantifying the type of micro-organism existing in the processed urine samples.
US08808644B2

Automated apparatus and methods for dispensing fluids into microplates utilizing microwell covers, the covers comprising open portions to allow a pipette access to one or more wells and impermeable portions which prevent the fluids from getting into wells shielded by the impermeable portion. The open portions and impermeable portions are preferably arranged and sized to align with alternating rows of wells in a particular microplate. Preferred covers are movably positioned on the microplate. Automated dispensing apparatus for use with microplates and microwell covers comprises a programmable controller, and suitable interfaces which allow the apparatus to be programmed, and which control a dispensing head such that pipettes are moved in the desired manner in order to take advantage of the protective features of the microwell covers. The apparatus also preferably comprises at least one transfer mechanism for moving a cover relative to a microplate at a dispensing station.
US08808643B1

Herein provided are fluidics platform and method for sample preparation and analysis. The fluidics platform is capable of analyzing DNA from blood samples using amplification assays such as polymerase-chain-reaction assays and loop-mediated-isothermal-amplification assays. The fluidics platform can also be used for other types of assays and analyzes. In some embodiments, a sample in a sealed tube can be inserted directly. The following isolation, detection, and analyzes can be performed without a user's intervention. The disclosed platform may also comprises a sample preparation system with a magnetic actuator, a heater, and an air-drying mechanism, and fluid manipulation processes for extraction, washing, elution, assay assembly, assay detection, and cleaning after reactions and between samples.
US08808638B2

A retort sterilization device includes a water steam generation device for generating water steam and a heating pot, connected to the water steam generation device, for accommodating retort food. The water steam generation device includes a heat exchanger for performing heat exchange between liquid flowing in a liquid path and heating vapor flowing in the vapor path. A top end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected via a water steam supply pipe to a water steam ejection section located in an internal area of the heating pot. The heat exchanger is connected to a liquid container. A bottom end of the liquid path of the heat exchanger is connected to the liquid container via a communicating tube. The liquid container is coupled to the heating pot.
US08808631B2

A system for conveying a sterilant vapor to a plurality of processing lines having articles moving therealong. The system includes a central source of a sterilant vapor. A conveying device is provided for conveying a sterilant vapor from the central source to a plurality of processing lines. A plurality of sensing devices are provided for sensing a plurality of operational parameters associated with the system and the plurality of processing lines. A controller is provided for receiving signals from the plurality of sensing devices. The controller is programmed to monitor continuously the plurality of sensing devices to determine if an event indicative of a malfunction has occurred with respect to the system or the plurality of processing lines. The controller is programmed to adjust the operation of the system in response to the event to maintain uninterrupted operation of one or more of the plurality of processing lines.
US08808626B2

An electrochemical immunosensor system with reduced interference, comprising: a first immunosensor that generates an electrochemical signal based on the formation of a sandwich between an immobilized antibody, a target analyte and a labeled antibody, wherein a portion of the signal arises from non-specific binding of the labeled antibody in the region of the first immunosensor, and a second immunosensor that acts as an immuno-reference sensor and generates a signal that is the same as or predictably related to the degree of non-specific binding which occurs in the region of the first immunosensor, and has an immunocomplex between an immobilized antibody and an endogenous or exogenous protein that is in the sample and that is not the target analyte.
US08808625B2

In a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid, such as a sample solution, on a substrate, such as a glass slide, the dispensing apparatus includes a capillary provided with a distal end and a proximal end, a pump unit configured to pump an operating liquid into the capillary and to pump the operating liquid out of the capillary, and a controller configured to control the pump unit so as to change a position of a liquid surface of the operating liquid in the capillary so that a predetermined volume of liquid is suctioned from the distal end into the capillary and the liquid suctioned in the capillary is discharged from the distal end. As a result, it is possible to precisely dispense extremely small volume amounts of liquids such as a nanoliter.
US08808624B2

This blood analyzer includes a sample preparation portion preparing a measurement sample free from a labeling substance from a blood sample and a hemolytic agent free from a labeling substance, a light information generation portion generating fluorescent information and at least two types of scattered light information from the measurement sample and a control portion performing a first classification of white blood cells in the measurement sample into at least four groups of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and others on the basis of the fluorescent information and the two types of scattered light information.
US08808622B2

A system, device and method for sterilizing or decontaminating an object that by exposing the object to a sterilant gas comprised of one or more oxides of nitrogen, such as NO, NO2, NO3, N2O3, N2O4, N2O5, N2O and mixtures thereof. The source of the sterilant gas can be generated from a sterilant gas-generating composition or provided by a source of the sterilant gas.
US08808614B2

Disclosed is a porous sintered reaction-bonded silicon nitride ceramic, which includes an array of sintered granules having fine pore channels in the sintered granules and coarse pore channels formed between the sintered granules, and in which the pore channel size is controlled so that both coarse pores and fine pores are formed together in the ceramic, thus simultaneously enhancing air permeability and capturing efficiency. A method of manufacturing the porous sintered reaction-bonded silicon nitride ceramic is also provided.
US08808604B2

A method for manufacturing a concrete pole, includes steps of preparing a mold with PC steel bars; preparing a concrete composition comprising cement 19˜21 weight percent, Pozzolanic material 3˜5 weight percent, fine aggregate 25˜40 weight percent, natural stone aggregate 30˜45 weight percent, chemical admixture 0.3˜0.4 weight percent, inorganic pigment 0.4˜1.0 weight percent, and water 6˜7 weight percent; pouring the concrete composition into the mold; shaping the poured composition into a hollow pole; curing the shaped pole by steam at a temperature range from 75° C. to 85° C. from 6 to 8 hours; removing the mold from the cured pole; and grinding the outer surface of the pole so that the pattern and color of the natural stones are exposed on the outer surface.
US08808594B1

A method is disclosed for producing a coform fibrous materials comprising the steps of supplying a first fiber forming stream comprising a first phase comprising a polymer melt and a second phase comprising a pressurized gas to a two-phase flow nozzle, supplying a separate second stream containing at least one secondary material to the two-phase flow nozzle, combining the first fiber forming stream and the second stream to form a composite fiber forming stream and fibrillating the composite fiber forming stream into a coform fibrous web. Superabsorbent and filtration coform fibrous materials for filtration and produced using the method are also disclosed.
US08808590B2

Pelletizing device and method for pelletizing pelletizing materials having a pelletizing disk inclined to the horizontal and provided rotatable wherein the pelletizing disk is driven via a motor device. The pelletizing disk comprises a bottom and a side wall, the effective height of the side wall being variable. The side wall comprises an inner side wall device and an outer side wall device, the inner side wall device being disposed height-adjustable relative to the outer side wall device.
US08808585B2

A dielectric high purity vegetable oil—free from antioxidants and/or external additives to be used in electric equipment such as transformers, as isolating element and as cooling means and a method for obtaining the same in which the dielectric high purity vegetable oil—is obtained by means of the optimization of the bleaching steps—and deodorizing—from the Refining process—known as Modified Caustic Refining Long-Mix (RBD).
US08808584B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide an active material for a lithium secondary battery having high discharge capacity and excellent in high rate discharge characteristics and a lithium secondary battery using the same. The active material for a lithium secondary battery containing a solid solution of a lithium-transition metal composite oxide having an α-NaFeO2 type crystal structure and the lithium secondary battery using the same have features that the composition ratios of the metal elements contained in the solid solution satisfy Li1+(x/3)Co1−x−y−zNiy/2Mgz/2Mn(2x/3)+(y/2)+(z/2) (x>0; y>0; z>0; x+y+z<1); the active material has an X-ray diffraction pattern capable of belonging to space group P3112; and the active material has discharge capacity exceeding 200 mAh/g. Further, in addition to the above-mentioned features, they have features that an intensity ratio between the diffraction peak of (003) plane and the diffraction peak of (114) plane measured by X-ray diffractometry is I(003)/I(114)≧1.15 and/or the half width of the diffraction peak of (003) plane is 0.15° or less and the half width of the diffraction peak of (114) plane is 0.25° or less.
US08808581B2

The present invention is directed to an electrically conductive composition comprising (i) an electrically conductive metal, (ii) a component selected from the group consisting of Li2RuO3, ion-exchanged Li2RuO3 and mixtures thereof, and (iii) a glass frit all dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode. The electrodes provide good adhesion and good electrical performance.
US08808577B2

A thermally stable phosphor made of the M-Si—O—N system, having a cation M and an activator D, M being represented by Ba or Sr alone or as a mixture and optionally also being combined with at least one other element from the group Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu. The phosphor is activated with Eu or Ce or Tb alone or as a mixture, optionally in codoping with Mn or Yb. The activator D partially replaces the cation M. The phosphor is produced from the charge stoichiometry MO—SiO2—SiN4/3 with an increased oxygen content relative to the known phosphor MSi2O2N2:D, where MO is an oxidic compound.
US08808567B2

A nanoparticle composition comprises a ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic metal nanoparticle, and a functionalized carbonaceous coating on a surface of the ferromagnetic or superparamagnetic metal nanoparticle. A magnetorheological fluid comprises the nanoparticle composition.
US08808564B2

Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods for manufacturing flash memory devices. In one embodiment, a method for removing native oxides from a substrate is provided. The method includes transferring a substrate having an oxide layer disposed thereon into a first processing chamber, exposing the substrate to a plasma generated from a cleaning gas mixture, wherein the cleaning gas mixture comprises a hydrogen-containing gas and a fluorine-containing gas, heating the substrate to a temperature sufficient to remove the oxide layer from the substrate, transferring the substrate from the first processing chamber to a second processing chamber without breaking vacuum, and flowing a plasma containing substantially nitrogen-containing radicals into the second processing chamber to expose the substrate to nitrogen containing radicals.
US08808559B2

A method and apparatus for etching a photomask substrate with enhanced process monitoring, for example, by providing for optical monitoring at different regions of the photomask to obtain desired etch rate or thickness loss is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes performing an etching process on a reflective multi-material layer that includes at least one molybdenum layer and one silicon layer through a patterned mask, directing radiation having a wavelength from about 170 nm and about 800 nm to an area of the multi-material layer uncovered by the patterned mask, collecting an optical signal reflected from the area uncovered by the patterned mask, analyzing a waveform obtained from the reflected optical signal, and determining a first endpoint of the etching process when an intensity of the reflected optical signal is between about 60 percent and about 90 percent less than an initial reflected optical signal.
US08808556B2

Chemical burnout is used on fabrics having beaded and/or glittered areas to create embroidery that realistically simulates hand-sewn embroidery. A chemical fluid etchant is printed only on selected areas of a pattern on a fabric of cellulose fibers. Preferably, the fabric is a composite fabric that also has non-cellulose fibers. A curable fluid adhesive is printed only on other selected areas of the pattern. Ornamental particles are deposited onto the curable adhesive. The composite fabric is heated to cure the adhesive and fix the particles to the other selected areas, and to simultaneously activate the etchant to dissolve the cellulose fibers at the selected areas. The chemical etchant is removed by rinsing the composite fabric.
US08808550B2

A system and method for oxidation treatment of water in which ozone gas is dissolved in water by passing a mixed gas-liquid stream through a monolith at an elevated pressure that is close to the preferred gas output pressure for an ozone generator. The monolith is preferably contained at least partially within a gas-liquid separator vessel. Advanced oxidation is optionally provided by injecting hydrogen peroxide and/or embedding a catalyst on the monolith. At least a portion of the treated water is preferably recycled in order to increase total ozone dosing in the effluent stream.
US08808542B2

A filter device having a vent device for inhibiting formation of a vacuum in the filter device. The filter device includes a drum for receiving the liquid wherein the drum includes a drum headspace. The filter device also includes filter sets for filtering the liquid. The drum is rotated to enable cleaning of filter media. The filter device also includes a frame having spaced apart supports for supporting each of the filter sets. A fluid passageway extends between the supports, wherein the fluid passageway provides fluid communication between the tank headspace and a filter set to vent a filter set.
US08808531B2

A sensor designed to determine the concentration of analyte in a sample having a volume of less than about 1 μL. The sensor has a working electrode coated with a redox mediator that acts as an electron transfer agent between the analyte and the electrode. A second electron transfer agent, such as an enzyme, can be added to facilitate the electrooxidation or electroreduction of the analyte. Various electrochemical detection methods, such as amperometric, voltammetric, and potentiometric techniques, can be used to determine the analyte concentration. The sensor can be used to determine the concentration of a biomolecule, such as glucose or lactate, in a biological fluid, such as blood or serum.
US08808527B2

A method of sterilizing water that includes: immersing at least one electrode unit having a negative electrode within a container and a positive electrode within the container, the positive electrode separated from and facing the negative electrode, wherein the negative electrode has a plurality of negative electrode projections thereon, and the positive electrode has a plurality of positive electrode projections thereon, each positive electrode projection arranged to face and be aligned with each negative electrode projection one by one; and, supplying direct current by at least one power supply to the electrode unit immersed under the water.
US08808526B2

The process involves pouring a smothering powder onto a spent anode placed on a support to cover it, with the aim of limiting fluorinated gas emission by the anode. The support may include a temporary tank, pre-filled with powder and provided with an opening for discharging the powder towards the anode on the support.
US08808523B2

A method for forming a ZrO2 oxide film by plasma electrolytic oxidation includes a first step of placing an anode, which is a substrate with a ZrN film, and a cathode into an electrolyte of which the temperature range is from 65° C. to 75° C. Said electrolyte contains barium acetate or barium hydroxide ranging from 0.3 M to 0.7 M and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide ranging from 1.5 M to 2.5 M. The method includes a second step of applying a voltage ranging from 50 V to 1000 V to the anode and cathode to finally form a ZrO2 film on a surface of the ZrN film of the anode. A DC power supply, an AC power supply, unipolar pulse power supply or bipolar pulse power supply is applied to said anode and cathode in constant-voltage mode or constant-current mode. The oxide film can be formed more rapidly than the prior art and has excellent crystallinity.
US08808519B2

A microfluidic device includes a micro-channel that defines a plane. A plurality of drive electrodes is located on a first side of the plane. At least one ground electrode is operable to establish an electric potential with the plurality of drive electrodes. An array of electrochemical biosensors is located on a second, opposite side of the plane.
US08808509B2

Pyrolytic gas generator for generating clean useful gas from biomass, particularly wood, oil seeds or the like, where a gasification channel in multi-chambered construction is provided, which gasification channel is provided with an assist burner which can supply heat from the outside to the gasification channel during gasification of the biomass, a pre-pyrolyzing pipe is connected upstream of the gasification channel and an ash discharge downstream of the gasification channel, wherein the generated gases are re-gasified in the gasification channel while the material to be gasified is mechanically transported from a material container to the ash discharge.
US08808507B2

The present invention provides a microwave assisted flash pyrolysis system to carry out microwave assisted flash pyrolysis in an industrial scale. The microwave assisted flash pyrolysis system comprises at least one microwave generator; a chamber comprises: at least one feedstock inlet, at least one baffle plate, a microwave-transparent rotating window, and at least one microwave inlet, at least one wet gas outlet, and at least one dry end product outlet. The present invention also provides a method using the same system to carry out microwave assisted flash pyrolysis.
US08808501B2

A method for individualizing a trichome from an epidermis of a non-seed portion of a trichome-bearing plant in the Asteraceae family and Melastomataceae family to form a fibrous structure is provided. The method comprises contacting the plant with a device to separate the trichome from the epidermis and incorporating the separated trichome into fibrous structure.
US08808500B2

Microbial growth in an aqueous system containing borohydride residues is controlled by adding an aldehyde or aldehyde source, followed by adding an active halogen biocide. The active halogen biocide is preferably stabilized by an N-hydrogen compound.
US08808486B2

A method for manufacturing a color electrophoretic display device includes the following steps. First, a substrate having a displaying region and a circuit region around the displaying region is provided. Next, a driving array is formed in the displaying region. Subsequently, an electrophoretic display layer is formed on the driving array. Afterwards, a thermal transfer process is performed so that a color filter layer is formed on the electrophoretic display layer. The method can increase the production eligibility rate of the color electrophoretic display device, thereby improving the display quality of the color electrophoretic display device.
US08808478B2

The present invention is predicated upon methods and devices for positively mounting structural members while preventing or substantially limiting exposure of such members to environmental conditions possibly leading to corrosion.
US08808471B2

A martensitic stainless steel alloy is strengthened by copper-nucleated nitride precipitates. The alloy includes, in combination by weight percent, about 10.0 to about 12.5 Cr, about 2.0 to about 7.5 Ni, up to about 17.0 Co, about 0.6 to about 1.5 Mo, about 0.5 to about 2.3 Cu, up to about 0.6 Mn, up to about 0.4 Si, about 0.05 to about 0.15 V, up to about 0.10 N, up to about 0.035 C, up to about 0.01 W, and the balance Fe and incidental elements and impurities. The nitride precipitates may be enriched by one or more transition metals.
US08808470B2

Provided is a production method including: heating a workpiece at a temperature higher than an Ac1 transformation point in a carburizing atmosphere; slowly cooling the workpiece at not more than 70° C./Hr down to a temperature T satisfying Formula (1) while maintaining the carburizing atmosphere: Ar1−20≧T(° C.)≧300° C. . . . (1); and cooling the workpiece in an oxidizing atmosphere. According to this method, it is possible to efficiently produce a high-carbon chromium bearing steel whose depth of the recarburized layer or the overcarburized layer is within a range from 0 to 0.2 mm, having less machining allowance, and excellent in machinability, using a steel tube after hot tube-making.
US08808468B2

The invention relates to a Fe—Si—La alloy having the atomic composition: (La1-a-a′MmaTRa′)1[(Fe1-b-b′CObMb′)1-x(Si1-cXc)x]13(CdNeH1-d-e)y(R)z(I)f Mm representing a mixture of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and praseodynium in the weight proportion of 22 to 26% La, 48 to 53% Ce, 17 to 20% Nd and 5 to 7% Pr, the said mixture possibly comprising up to 1% by weight of impurities, TR representing one or more elements of the rare earth family other than lanthanum, M representing one or more type d transition elements of the 3d, 4d and 5d layers X representing a metalloid element selected from Ge, Al, B, Ga and In R representing one or more elements selected from Al, Ca, Mg, K and Na, I representing one or two elements selected from O and S, with: 0≦a<0.5 and 0≦a′<0.2 0≦b≦0.2 and 0≦b′<0.4 0≦c≦0.5 and 0≦d≦1 0≦e≦1 and f≦0.1 0.09≦x≦0.13 and 0.002≦y≦4 0.0001≦z≦0.01 the subscripts b, d, e, x and y being such that the alloy further satisfies the following condition: 6.143b(13(1−x))+4.437y[1−0.0614(d+e)]≧1  Eq.1 d*y≧0.005  Eq.2 It also relates to a powder of this alloy or to a mixture of these alloys and the method of fabrication.
US08808461B2

A method for emptying a furnace floor from smelt in a black liquor recovery boiler when the black liquor recovery boiler is being shut down. The emptying can be started while smelt is still flowing in smelt spouts. The floor is emptied by sucking smelt from the furnace with a smelt eductor. A device for removing smelt and wash water from a furnace of a black liquor recovery boiler by means of suction. Negative pressure is generated in the device by conducting pressurized gas into a suction pipe of an eductor so that preheated pressurized gas is discharged in the discharge direction of smelt and wash water.
US08808460B2

Method of cleaning containers, in particular bottles of glass or plastics, in a cleaning module with a cleaning machine where at least one cleaning medium is allowed to act on the containers transported through the cleaning machine, and with an inspection unit, including determining at least one control parameter with respect to the degree of soiling of the cleaned bottles, detecting the degree of soiling of the cleaned bottles, evaluating the detected degree of soiling of the cleaned bottles in view of the at least one control parameter with respect to the degree of soiling, returning bottles evaluated to exhibit an excessive degree of soiling to the inlet of the cleaning machine, and automatically controlling the cleaning parameters of the cleaning machine if the number of returned bottles, based on the number of cleaned bottles, exceeds a predetermined target value or target range.
US08808451B2

The invention relates to a reducing agent for the soluble chromate content of cement and to methods for the production thereof, which comprise concentrating an used sulfuric acid, containing iron (II) sulfate, and separating the sulfuric acid from the obtained precipitate which contains iron (II) sulfate.
US08808445B2

One embodiment provides a process for preparing an asphalt-coated crumb rubber composition that meets the specification set forth in ASTM D80-02 or deviations thereof which may be established by the specifying agency from time to time. The process generally comprises obtaining asphalt of different penetration grades, combining the asphalt of each grade with preselected chemicals to form separate premixed components, blending the premixed components together under predetermined conditions to form, upon curing, an asphalt-coated crumb rubber composition that meets certain physical requirements for asphalt-rubber binder (ARB), such as those set forth in ASTM D8-02. Advantageously, the resulting asphalt-coated crumb rubber composition not only meets the physical requirements of ARB used in road paving but also has improved dispersion of the rubber, such as dispersion of the rubber in an oil-in-water emulsion of an asphalt.
US08808443B2

A sizing composition for insulating products based on mineral wool, in particular of glass or of rock, which includes at least one hydrogenated sugar and at least one polyfunctional crosslinking agent. Another subject matter of the present invention is the insulating products based on mineral fibers thus obtained.
US08808441B2

The present disclosure provides inkjet inks and associated methods and systems. In one example, an inkjet ink can comprise an ink vehicle and a colorant, wherein the ink vehicle includes an organic co-solvent, water, and from 0.0001 wt % to 0.1 wt % dextran based on the inkjet ink as a whole.
US08808440B2

An ink composition containing at least three coloring materials of a first coloring material, a second coloring material, and a third coloring material, in which the first coloring material is a compound represented by Formula (Y) as described, the second coloring material is at least one compound selected from Group A consisting of compounds having a specific structure, in which the mass ratio of the content (% by mass) of the second coloring material in the composition to the content (% by mass) of the first coloring material in the composition is 0.001 to 1.0, and the third coloring material is a compound different from the first coloring material as described.
US08808433B2

A novel method and system of separating carbon dioxide from flue gas is introduced. Instead of relying on large temperature or pressure changes to remove carbon dioxide from a solvent used to absorb it from flue gas, the ion pump method, as disclosed herein, dramatically increases the concentration of dissolved carbonate ion in solution. This increases the overlying vapor pressure of carbon dioxide gas, permitting carbon dioxide to be removed from the downstream side of the ion pump as a pure gas. The ion pumping may be obtained from reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, thermal desalination methods, or an ion pump system having an oscillating flow in synchronization with an induced electric field.
US08808427B2

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the treatment of a carbon dioxide-containing gas stream from a large-scale combustion plant, in particular of a power station. The gas stream is separated in a carbon dioxide purification stage R into a gas substream having an increased carbon dioxide content and a gas substream having a reduced carbon dioxide content. The gas substream having an increased carbon dioxide content is fed to a further use and/or storage S. In particular, compression of the carbon dioxide under the ground can reduce the emission of gases which affect the climate. To increase the proportion of compressible CO2, it is proposed that the gas substream having a reduced carbon dioxide content is fed to a pressure swing adsorption stage PSA in which a fraction which is rich in carbon dioxide and a fraction which is low in carbon dioxide are produced. The fraction which is rich in carbon dioxide is recirculated to the carbon dioxide purification stage R or is passed directly to further use and/or storage S.
US08808426B2

The invention relates to an increased efficiency high-capacity pressure and/or temperature swing adsorption process comprising: contacting a feedstream at a rate of more than 75 MSCFD with an adsorbent material under conditions sufficient for the adsorbent material to selectively adsorb at least one of the component gases in the feedstream, so as to form a first effluent; and selectively desorbing the adsorbed gas from the adsorption material, so as to form a second effluent The adsorption module can contain rotary valves both on the feed end and on the product end and a rotational member defining a central rotational axis, with the adsorption bed(s) oriented circumferentially thereto. The adsorption bed walls can be angled, the feed end cross-sectional area of the adsorption bed(s) can be larger than the product end, and/or the feed end rotary valve diameter of the module(s) can be larger than the product end.
US08808422B2

A method and device are disclosed for automatically evaluating a delivery system in respect of the energy efficiency and emissions efficiency thereof. The method may include: determining a service level for the delivery system according to an energy intensity and an evaluation relevance of the particular delivery system, detecting energy data and emissions data of the delivery system corresponding to the determined service level of the delivery system, and calculating at least one indicator based on the detected energy data and emissions data and/or based on data for the energy management and environmental management of the delivery system for evaluating the delivery system with respect to the energy efficiency and emissions efficiency thereof.
US08808420B2

A process for producing nanoparticles comprises the steps of preparing silver seeds in the presence of a water soluble polyanionic polymer and growing the silver seeds to form nanoparticles. The polyanionic polymer may be poly(sodium styrenesulphonate).
US08808417B2

An air cleaner arrangement or assembly is provided. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge. The air cleaner assembly also includes an arrangement for positioning the filter cartridge into a preferred, sealing, orientation and for securing the filter cartridge in that location. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are provided, as well as methods of assembly and use.
US08808402B2

An arrangement (1) for holding a substrate (10) in a material deposition apparatus, which substrate (10) has a deposition side (10a) upon which material (M) is to be deposited, and which arrangement (1) comprises: a shadow mask (20) comprising a number of deposition openings (Di); a support structure (30) comprising a number of surround openings (Si); and a support structure holding means (6) for holding the support mask (30) and/or a substrate holding means (5) for holding the substrate (10), such that the support structure (30) is on the same side as the deposition side (10a) of the substrate (10), and the shadow mask (20) is positioned between the substrate (10) and the support structure (30) such that at least one deposition opening (Di) of the shadow mask (10) lies within a corresponding surround opening (Si) of the support structure (30).
US08808400B2

The present invention relates to a process for dyeing or lightening human keratin fibers, which consists in extemporaneously mixing at the time of use two compositions (A) and (B) and in applying the mixture to the fibers; the said mixture comprising at least 25% by weight of fatty substances relative to the total weight of the mixture of compositions (A) (B); with: composition (A) being in the form of a direct emulsion comprising: at least 30% by weight of oil(s) (i); at least one fatty alcohol having at least 20 carbon atoms in its longest hydrocarbon chain (ii); at least one surfactant (iii); at least one basifying agent (iv); and optionally at least one dye chosen from oxidation dyes and direct dyes, and mixtures thereof (v); composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent. The invention also relates to compositions (A), the mixture of the aforementioned compositions (A) and (B), and a multi-compartment device.
US08808390B2

A prosthetic component assembly, such as an acetabular cup, includes a shell, a bearing positioner and a bearing. The shell and bearing positioner are configured to facilitate orienting the bearing positioner in multiple orientations relative to the shell and for securing the bearing positioner in a selected orientation of the multiple orientations relative to the shell. The bearing is configured to be received in the bearing positioner at multiple rotational orientations for optimal joint biomechanics. The bearing positioner is selected from among a plurality of lateralized positioners to accommodate the joint anatomy.
US08808388B2

A tibial insert includes a base and a post extending from the base along a longitudinal axis. The post has a medial surface, a lateral surface, and a height along the longitudinal axis. The medial surface has a medial section, and the lateral surface has a lateral section oriented substantially parallel to the medial section. The medial section and the lateral section each have a width in a substantially anterior-posterior direction that is sufficient to enable varus/valgus constraint over a flexion/extension range from extension to about 90 to 120 degrees of flexion when the tibial insert is mated with a femoral component.
US08808370B2

A valve loading apparatus is provided for loading a crimped prosthetic valve into a lumen of a delivery system. The valve recoil adapter can counteract recoil of a compressed prosthetic valve, and maintain the valve at its desired crimp diameter. An integrated bioprosthesis/delivery system is provided for delivering a bioprosthesis to a target area within a body lumen is provided. The delivery system includes a valve covering member and a compressing member, which compresses the valve covering member to surround, hold, and/or compress the valve during delivery to the target area.
US08808360B2

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for a conduit, such as an implantable conduit for a vessel. The conduit may comprise a main member and a side-branch member. The conduit may be implanted with the side-branch member initially disposed within the main member. When positioned, the side-branch member may then be extended from within the main member and into a vessel side-branch. The materials for the conduit may include circumferentially distensible and/or low recoil materials. The materials for the conduit may be constructed by various techniques and may include materials with enhanced flexibility and kink resistance.
US08808358B2

An endograft for a vessel having a vascular branch extending from the vessel is provided. The endograft includes a main body having a wall separating interior and exterior surfaces and adapted to be inserted within the vessel. The main body is characterized by a single proximal opening and two distal openings and at least one aperture extending through the wall. At least one stent is secured to the main body that upon expansion pressure fits the main body into the vessel. An open tunnel is secured to the interior surface of the main body around the main body aperture and secured somewhere along the tunnel length to provide fluid communication between the interior and exterior surfaces of the main body through the aperture and with the vascular branch in proximity to the main body aperture. The tunnel is readily formed independent of an expandable stent. Through the addition of further apertures and tunnels, an endograft is well suited for revascularizing the celiac, superior mesenteric artery and renal arteries for the treatment of a suprarenal aortic aneurysm. The insertion of a sleeve positioned partly within the tunnel and extending beyond the exterior surface of the main body into the vascular branch assures continued fluid flow to the vascular branch. The two distal openings are adapted to engage the iliac arteries.
US08808356B2

A prosthetic heart valve is provided with a cuff having features which promote sealing with the native tissues even where the native tissues are irregular. The cuff may include a portion adapted to bear on the LVOT when the valve is implanted in a native aortic valve. The valve may include elements for biasing the cuff outwardly with respect to the stent body when the stent body is in an expanded condition. The cuff may have portions of different thickness distributed around the circumference of the valve in a pattern matching the shape of the opening defined by the native tissue. All or part of the cuff may be movable relative to the stent during implantation.
US08808355B2

A radially expandable stent graft 10 for placement in a lumen of a patient is disclosed. The stent graft 10 comprises: a prosthetic trunk 100 comprising a trunk lumen 110 there-through; a prosthetic branch 300 comprising a branch lumen 310 extending there-through, wherein the branch lumen 310 is in fluid communication with the trunk lumen 110 through a lateral opening 115 in the trunk lumen 110; a valve 150 comprising a fenestration 152 for providing temporary lateral access into the trunk lumen 110, the valve 150 positioned opposite the lateral opening 115 in the trunk lumen 110; and a valve actuator. The valve actuator closes the fenestration 152 as the stent graft 10 expands.
US08808353B2

A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold, after being deployed by the balloon, provides a crush recovery of about 90% after the diameter of the scaffold has been pinched or crushed by 50%. The scaffold also has a reduced crimped profile and a modification of the scaffold's ring structure at the crowns that contributes to the reduced crimped profile.
US08808351B2

A prosthesis (10) having a variable size or stretchable fenestration (14) in the graft material (37) of a biocompatible tubular graft (11). An expandable frame (16) is disposed about the fenestration, and a portion (17) of the graft material about the fenestration is folded back over the frame to cover the frame. Additional grafts or prosthesis of varying size can be inserted through the frame and fenestration with the stretched frame and folded portion compressing on the inserted graft forming a seal therewith.
US08808349B2

A stent graft introducer (1) which includes a handle arrangement which by telescopic movement of a slide or slide portions (104, 106) into a handle portion (100) causes controlled sequential deployment of a stent graft (14). Stops (218,217, 218, 219) ensure actions are carried out in a selected order. A sheath (116) of the introducer is fixed to a slide portion such that with retraction of the slide portion the sheath is withdrawn from a stent graft retained on the introducer and at a selected position trigger wires retaining the stent graft onto the introducer are also released. Interconnections between the slides and the handle are provided to prevent relative rotation and re-extension after full retraction.
US08808347B2

A system for treating a bifurcation includes a first radially expandable stent and a second radially expandable stent. The first stent has a side hole and a plurality of lateral elements extending from the side hole. The second stent has a plurality of axial elements extending away from the proximal end of the second stent. The axial elements of the second stent interdigitate with the lateral elements of the first stent when both stents have been expanded.
US08808336B2

An implantable fixation system for fusing a joint between a first bone and a second bone. The system may include an anchor, standoff, bolt, and cortical washer. The system may be implanted across the joint along a single trajectory, the length of the system adjustable to provide compressive force between the anchor and the cortical washer. The system may be implanted across a tibiotalar joint with the anchor positioned in the sinus tarsi. A spacing member may be inserted between the two bones and the fixation system implanted to extend through an opening in the spacing member. The spacing member may be anatomically shaped and/or provide deformity correction. An ankle arthroplasty system may include a tibial plate, a talar plate, and a bearing insert. The plates may be anchored to the tibia and talus along a single trajectory. The ankle arthroplasty system may be revisable to a fusion system.
US08808335B2

A locking element is configured to be used with a polyaxial bone anchor, and is substantially cylindrical with a bottom side facing a head of the bone anchor, a top side opposite to the bottom side, and a surface portion with an external thread. The locking element has a first recess at the bottom side for accommodating at least a portion of the head, and a second recess at the top side for engagement with a driver. The second recess is located outside the center of the top side. The head has a portion with a largest diameter, and a first level L1 is defined by the highest point of a circle with the largest diameter drawn around the head, and a second level L2 is defined by the bottom of the second recess, L2 being at a level not higher than L1.
US08808333B2

The present disclosure relates to bone plates that are configured for use with bones having periprosthetic fractures. For example, in the event that a proximal femur is fractured in an area that is adjacent to a prosthetic component, such as a femoral stem used in a hip replacement, the periprosthetic bone plates of the present invention may be used. In one exemplary embodiment, the periprosthetic bone plates include a periprosthetic zone having a plurality of central apertures and a plurality of outer apertures that are offset from the central apertures. The periprosthetic zone may further include a plurality of indentations, each indentation extending longitudinally between adjacent outer apertures to narrow a width of the bone plate.
US08808329B2

An anchor connected with a suture is moved through a passage between opposite sides of a bone. The anchor is then pivoted to change its orientation. A second anchor is connected with the suture. While tension is maintained in the suture, the suture is secured against movement relative to the anchors. This may be done by tying the suture or by using a suture retainer to hold the suture. A suture retainer may be used in place of the second anchor. The passage may extend across a fracture in the bone. The passage may have either a nonlinear or linear configuration. The passage may be formed by first moving a thin elongated member through the bone. The thin elongated member is then used as a guide for a drill. The thin elongated member is withdrawn from the drill and the suture anchor is moved through a passage in the drill.
US08808325B2

A staple having a crown, a deformable leg extending from the crown, and a spring extending from the crown configured to compress tissue between the spring and the deformable member. Owing to the flexibility of the spring, the staple can accommodate a wide range of tissue thicknesses while still compressing the tissue captured therein. As a result, a single staple design can be used in a wide variety of surgical procedures thereby reducing the amount of staple designs that must be provided to the surgeon. In at least one embodiment, the staple includes a crushable member. This crushable member can include a plastically deformable first portion and an elastically deformable second portion. The present invention can also include, in various embodiments, a crown, a first deformable member extending from the crown, and means for compressing the tissue against the first deformable member.
US08808320B2

Disclosed herein are tissue-removal devices and methods for treating spinal diseases using such devices. The tissue-removal devices may comprise a cable and/or extendable elements with a retracted and a deployed configuration. The cable and/or extendable elements may be distally supported and restrained by a support element such that the support element may be pushed transversely away when the extendable element is distally extended into its deployed configuration. An annular cutting element may be provided about the distal end of the extendable element or the support element. Various configurations of the extendable and support elements are described herein, as well as methods of using tissue-removal devices with extendable and support elements coupled by an annular cutting element for treating spinal diseases.
US08808302B2

A customized patient-specific acetabular orthopaedic surgical instrument is disclosed. A method for fabricating and using the orthopaedic surgical instrument us also disclosed.
US08808300B2

An assembly includes a guide component having (i) a base defining a first passageway, and (ii) a handle attached to the base, the base including a first coupling component. The assembly further includes a first sheath defining a second passageway, the first sheath including a second coupling component configured to cooperate with the first coupling component to couple the first sheath to the base. The first passageway is aligned with the second passageway when the first sheath is coupled to the base. The assembly further includes a stop structure defining a central passage, the stop structure including an external surface having a plurality of keyways defined therein. The first sheath includes a key member configured to be selectively received in any one of the plurality of keyways. The stop structure is fixed in relation to the first sheath when the key member is positioned in any one of the plurality of keyways.
US08808298B2

The present disclosure provides a cut guide for use in preparation of the distal femur to form the anterior, anterior chamfer, distal, posterior chamfer and posterior facets as well as the intercondylar box cuts utilized to prepare a femoral intercondylar box. To allow for the use of a single cutting guide to make all of these femoral osteotomies, the present disclosure implements an orthopedic guide assembly including a primary guide body with a secondary guide body rotatably connected to the primary guide body. With this configuration, the secondary guide body can be rotated into an operable position to guide a femoral osteotomy and may also be rotated into an inoperable position in which it is moved from a configuration (i.e., the operable position) in which it acts as a barrier to movement of an osteotome across a guide surface of the primary guide body.
US08808291B2

A fixator for use in the reconstruction of acute, chronic and traumatic injuries to the upper and lower extremities. The fixator has a unique clamping system that allows for the snapping in of pins and rails, and for multi-planar fixation of bones. The claim system includes a hinge, a first clamp, and a second clamp.
US08808283B2

A system and method for wirelessly powering an electrosurgical device using a generator to generate a radio frequency (RF) energy field. A switch on the electrosurgical device sends a wireless signal to the generator, where the generator allows a current to pass through an inductive coil to generate the RF energy field. The RF energy field induces a current to flow across an inductive coil within the electrosurgical device. The current flow is then processed through a RF conditioning circuit and outputted to the end effector assembly of the device.
US08808274B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for dressing a wound. The apparatus comprises a sealing layer comprising at least one orifice, an absorbent layer over the sealing layer, absorbing wound exude and a liquid impermeable, gas permeable filter layer over the absorbent layer.
US08808272B2

A modified medical device for delivery of a pharmaceutically active material is described. The present inventors have found that many conventional medical devices contain a metallic or polymeric component that comes into contact with a pharmaceutically active material during use, and that the contact substantially reduce the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active material. The invention described herein concerns various modifications to the metallic or polymeric component that are effective to diminish such a substantial reduction in pharmaceutical effectiveness.
US08808269B2

Apparatus are provided for infusion devices and related control systems and methods. An infusion device includes a voided portion adapted to receive a shaft portion that includes a shaft coupled to a plunger of a reservoir and a sensing arrangement proximate the voided portion to sense a detectable feature. A control module may determine a remaining amount of fluid in the reservoir or identify an anomalous condition based at least in part on the sensed position of the detectable feature.
US08808267B2

Wearable disposable absorbent articles such as disposable diapers, having elastically extensible fastening members (also sometimes known as fastening “ears”) with particular features, extending from a chassis or main portion of the articles, are disclosed. The fastening members may be highly extensible and have an overall geometry characterized by greater length nearer the chassis or main portion and lesser length nearer the distal end. Examples disclosed may have a fastener zone having a Stiffness of at least about 1,500 N/m, and shape and dimensional characteristics, that help avoid problems of buckling and/or flipping of edges of the fastening members, dishing of fastener components, and fastening member tearing, while the articles are applied and worn.
US08808261B2

A ureteral bypass device and procedure suitable for performing internal urinary diversions within patients, including patients such as humans and veterinary animals (cats and dogs). The device includes a nephrostomy catheter having a proximal end, an oppositely-disposed distal end, and means for securing the distal end within the renal pelvis of a kidney of a patient, a cystostomy catheter having a proximal end, an oppositely-disposed distal end, and means for securing the distal end of the cystostomy catheter within the urinary bladder of the patient, and an adaptor fluidically connected to the proximal ends of the nephrostomy and cystostomy catheters so as to fluidically connect the nephrostomy and cystostomy catheters together through the adaptor. If implanted subcutaneously, the adaptor may include an entry site that has a self-sealing septum that can be accessed with a needle while the device remains implanted and secured under the skin to subcutaneous tissue.
US08808256B2

A punctal plug or lacrimal insert comprising a microelectromechanical system pump and associated reservoir may be utilized to deliver precise dosages of an active agent into the eye though the tear film. The microelectromechanical system pump comprises four main components; namely, a reservoir, a pump, a series of valves and a vent. The microelectromechanical system pump is positioned within a cavity in the punctal plug. The microelectromechanical system pump is positioned with a cavity in the punctal plug.
US08808255B2

Embodiments provide a drug delivery cuff including a drug reservoir. In an embodiment, an integrated drug pump may be provided. A drug delivery cuff in accordance with an embodiment may be placed around any suitable vascular graft (e.g., ePTFE) or directly around any natural tissue conduit (e.g., perivascularly), at any position along the graft/conduit or overlapping a graft and conduit, either at the time of graft surgical placement or separate therefrom.
US08808250B2

The invention relates to an auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament (M), comprising: an elongate outer casing arranged to contain a syringe with a hollow needle and a stopper for sealing the syringe and displacing the medicament (M), the outer casing having a distal end (D) and a proximal end (P) with an orifice intended to be applied against an injection site, wherein the syringe is slidably arranged with respect to the outer casing, spring means capable of, upon activation: pushing the needle past the proximal end (P), operating the syringe to supply the dose of medicament (M), and retracting the syringe with the needle activating means arranged to lock the spring means in a pressurized state prior to manual operation and capable of, upon manual operation, releasing the spring means for injection, wherein the spring means is a torsion spring grounded at one end in the outer casing and at the other end in a first gear member rotatable about a longitudinal axis, wherein the first gear member, upon rotation, is arranged for translatively moving a second gear member toward the proximal end (P), the second gear member prevented from rotating and coupled to the stopper in order to push it towards the proximal end (P), wherein the first gear member is engaged with the activating means prior to manual operation in a manner to prevent rotation and disengaged from the activating means upon manual operation.
US08808248B2

A sheath introducer for use with a catheter, has a hub and a tube through which the catheter extends, and a lock assembly which has a rotational knob that actuates a plurality of prongs arranged in a radial pattern around a hole in the hub that receives the catheter, wherein the prongs synchronously rotate in one direction to grip the catheter or in the other direction to release the catheter.
US08808246B2

Methods and devices are provided for transporting fluid between a body and an external source. More particularly, the methods and devices provided can be used to transport blood from a body. In one exemplary embodiment, a system is provided for transporting fluid between a body and an external source. The system can include a collection catheter that is sized to fit inside a catheter that is placed in the body and configured to have its distal end extend beyond a distal end of the catheter that is placed in the body. Various methods for transporting fluid from the body to an external source are also provided.
US08808242B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for injection into an eye comprising of a means for displacing a conjunctival layer of the eye over an underlying scleral layer of the eye so as to form a fold in the conjunctival layer, and means for guiding a needle through the conjunctival layer once the fold has been formed.
US08808225B2

Methods and devices are provided for targeted administration of a drug to a patient's eye. In one embodiment, the method includes inserting a hollow microneedle into the sclera of the eye at an insertion site and infusing a fluid drug formulation through the inserted microneedle and into the suprachoroidal space of the eye, wherein the infused fluid drug formulation flows within the suprachoroidal space away from the insertion site during the infusion. The fluid drug formulation may flow circumferentially toward the retinochoroidal tissue, macula, and optic nerve in the posterior segment of the eye.
US08808213B2

A mechanically advantaged progressive spinal system and method, wherein a string- and pulley-free strap arrangement facilitates adjustment of tension and enhances patient delivered muscle strength, wherein posterior plate curvature may be quickly and easily adjusted to best accommodate a patient's lordosis and kyphosis, and wherein modular components allow for adaptation of mobility and support to improving patient needs.
US08808202B2

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or receiving a substance or substances such as blood from subjects. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for receiving or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a substance transfer component (for example, one or more needles or microneedles) and a reduced pressure or vacuum chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some embodiments, the device may contain a “snap dome” or other deformable structure, which may be used, at least in part, to urge or move needles or other suitable substance transfer components into the skin of a subject. In some cases, for example, the device may contain a flexible concave member and a needle mechanically coupled to the flexible concave member.
US08808193B2

To assess regional oxygen uptake and/or perfusion in a patient, a volume of air inhaled by the patient is determined and, according to a method of electrical impedance tomography, a first regional lung volume is measured at a first time point of a breathold procedure. The first regional lung volume is compared to a second regional lung volume at a second time point of the breathold procedure.
US08808175B2

A vaginal manipulator includes a shaft, a handle connected to a first end of the shaft, and a head connected to a second end of the shaft. The head includes a rigid anterior surface that moves independently from a rigid posterior surface of the head. When the vaginal manipulator is inserted into a vagina, the rigid anterior surface is movable to displace an anterior wall of the vagina and the rigid posterior surface is movable to displace a posterior wall of the vagina. A light source is provided on the head.
US08808172B2

A method for laterally accessing a lumbosacral intervertebral disc space of a patient includes positioning the patient laterally and making an incision to provide lateral access to the patient's iliac crest. A bracket (24) may be placed on the iliac crest and a retractor (28) may be attached to the bracket such that a distal end of the retractor is positioned over the lumbosacral intervertebral disc space while a proximal end of the retractor provides an entry space for a surgeon to insert at least one tool (90). The surgeon may perform a surgical procedure on the lumbosacral intervertebral disc space through a channel (49) defined by the retractor.
US08808167B2

A rotation shaft, a bending operation knob, a fixed shaft, two movable disks, a fixed disk, a cam member, a resistance giving member and a fixing lever are included. The resistance giving member has a rocking portion that fixes a rotation position of the cam member in a second position of the movable disks by abutting onto an inner circumferential face of a protruding portion provided at the cam member that moves with rotation of the cam member with an urging force, and is rockable in a diameter direction of the cam member.
US08808161B2

A redundant temperature monitoring system and method for an electrosurgical system are provided. The temperature monitoring circuit includes at least one temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at a measuring point, a first temperature measurement circuit coupled to the at least one temperature sensor for generating a first temperature value, a second temperature measurement circuit coupled to the at least one temperature sensor for generating a second temperature value, and a control circuit for determining a difference between the first and second temperature values and for comparing the difference to a first predetermined threshold. If the difference is greater than the first predetermined threshold, the control circuit generates a warning signal. If the difference is greater than a second predetermined threshold, the control circuit generates an alarm signal and/or shuts down a power source of the electrosurgical system.
US08808160B2

A method and apparatus for providing therapy using spontaneous otoacoustic emission (SOAE) analysis is described. In one embodiments, a method for utilizing the voice-ear-brain connection to achieve self-healing includes capturing audio emissions of at least one ear of a patient, determining a frequency spectrum of the audio emissions, identifying a peak frequency in the frequency spectrum, and producing at least one audio signal in response the peak frequency.
US08808146B2

An activity meter includes an activity amount acquisition unit that acquires an amount of physical activity of a user, an activity age acquisition unit that acquires an activity age representing a standard age of a person who does a same amount of activity as the activity amount acquired in a unit period, using body information and a basal metabolic rate of the user, and an output processing unit that outputs information relating to the acquired activity age.
US08808137B2

A method of operating a drive train of a motor vehicle with a drive assembly which has a combustion engine and an automatic transmission with frictional shift elements positioned between the drive assembly and an output, namely for executing a traction upshift or a traction downshift in which at least one frictional shift element of the automatic transmission is engaged and at least one frictional shift element of the automatic transmission is disengaged. During execution of a traction upshift and at least, during the engagement procedure of a frictional shift element being engaged, reducing the torque provided by the combustion engine, and for executing a traction downshift at least during the lowering of the transferability of a frictional shift element being disengaged, reducing the torque provided by the combustion engine.
US08808130B2

A gear reduction assembly may include an input shaft, a first spur gear, and a second spur gear. The first and second spur gears may be coupled to one another. At least one of the first spur gear and the second spur gear may be associated with the input shaft such that the input shaft drives at least one of the first and second spur gears. The gear reduction assembly may further include a first internal gear engaged with the first spur gear, a second internal gear engaged with the second spur gear, and a hub associated with the first internal gear The first and second internal gears have a first number of teeth and a second number of teeth, respectively, and the first number of teeth differs from the second number of teeth by from one to five teeth. The gear reduction assembly may be included in a winch.
US08808127B2

A differential assembly is disclosed, and more particularly a differential assembly for a motor vehicle driving axle drivable by an electric motor. The differential assembly comprises a driving gear; a differential drive with an input part and two output parts, wherein the output parts are drivingly connected to the input part and, relative to one another, have a differential effect; a coupling which is arranged effectively between the driving gear and the differential drive, wherein, in a closed condition of the coupling, torque is transmitted from the driving gear to the differential drive and, in an open condition of the coupling, a transmission of torque is interrupted; a controllable actuator for actuating the coupling and a sensor for determining at least three switched positions of the coupling. Furthermore, a driving assembly with such a differential assembly is also disclosed.
US08808116B2

A tennis skill training device comprising a substantially planar foot placement platform platform having foot placement graphics disposed thereon, the foot placement graphics consisting of a first stance position representing right and left foot positions for a right-handed player proximate a first court position, a second stance position representing right and left foot positions for a right-handed player proximate a second court position, and a first toss target representing a first forward foot post-stroke position for the right-handed player. In some embodiments, the graphics include a third stance position representing right and left foot positions for a left-handed player proximate the first court position, a fourth stance position representing right and left foot positions for the left-handed player proximate the second court position, and a second toss target representing a first forward foot post-stroke position for the left-handed player.
US08808095B2

A torque connector assembly includes an outer tube having a first threaded portion, a first hole and multiple windows. Each window has first and second scales formed on its two sides. An inner tube has a second threaded portion, a second hole and an index line. The first and second threaded portions are threadedly connected to each other. The index line is located corresponding to the windows. A first connector has a first engaging end and a second engaging end. A second connector has a first matching portion and a second mounting portion which is mounted to the second engaging end. A third connector has a second matching portion which is connected with the first matching portion. The third connector has a third mounting portion which extends from the second hole. The resilient member is biased between the second connector and the outer tube.
US08808074B2

Disclosed is a motorized diffuser which is shut when not in use and which reduces energy consumption in a building, eliminates the necessity of a maintenance hole, prevents contamination, has a simple configuration, and enables easy maintenance when applied in a cooling/heating system adopting a proportional air flow control scheme. According to the disclosed diffuser, a diffuser cone includes: a diffuser cone body which forms a fluid passage on the outer surface thereof which is disposed between the diffuser cone body and a diffuser casing when the diffuser cone is opened; a diffuser cone cover fixed to the diffuser cone body such that the diffuser cone cover can be assembled/disassembled to/from the diffuser cone body with a space therebetween; and a motor means fixedly installed in the space.
US08808068B2

A method of automatically removing meat from an animal extremity that includes first and second bones articulated by a joint and surrounded by the meat. The method includes obtaining the animal extremity, holding the first bone at a free end thereof remote from the joint, separating the meat from the first bone while moving the meat lengthwise of the first bone in a direction toward the joint, and moving the meat just short of the joint. The method further includes severing the second bone from the first bone adjacent the joint, collecting the severed second bone with the meat attached thereto, holding the thus collected second bone at a distal end thereof and removing the meat from the second bone longitudinally thereof.
US08808062B2

A flexible membrane for use in a carrier head has a generally circular main portion with a lower surface, an annular outer portion for connection to a base assembly, and an annular flap extending from the main portion on a side opposite the lower surface for connection to the base assembly. At least one surface of the flap has a surface texture to prevent adhesion.
US08808054B1

In one embodiment, an action piece for a toy play set is provided, the action piece being configured to have at least three separate engagement features configured to retain and subsequently release a portion of an action figure. In another embodiment a play set is provided, the play set having: a ring structure, at least one action figure and an action piece for securement to a portion of the ring structure. In still another embodiment, a method of launching an action figure from a play set in order to cause the action figure to fly through the air in a predetermined fashion is provided.
US08808049B2

The present disclosure relates to a method for making the sheet-shaped heat and light source. An array of carbon nanotubes on a substrate is provided. A carbon nanotube film is formed by pressing the array of carbon nanotubes. A first electrode and a second electrode are electrically connected with the carbon nanotube film. Furthermore, a method for heating an object is related.
US08808043B2

An outer mounting body is made of semi-soft material having a primarily flat planar shape formed with an upper housing portion, and an outer flange portion having a planar upper surface tapering from the housing portion to outer peripheral edges of the mounting body and adapted to be mounted to flexible or curved surfaces such as those of an inflatable surfboard. An inner mounting insert made of rigid material is molded within the outer mounting body and has an upper recess for sturdily mounting an object such as a surfboard fin. The inner mounting insert may be formed asymmetric for reversibly mounting left and right side fins near the edges of a surfboard.
US08808041B2

This disclosure provides improved nautical craft that can travel and navigate on their own. A hybrid vessel is described that converts wave motion to locomotive thrust by mechanical means, and also converts wave motion to electrical power for storage in a battery. The electrical power can then be tapped to provide locomotive power during periods where wave motion is inadequate and during deployment. The electrical power can also be tapped to even out the undulating thrust that is created when locomotion of the vessel is powered by wave motion alone.
US08808039B2

A receptacle assembly is provided with an electrically conductive terminal received within a receptacle. A longitudinal guide body is received within the receptacle in engagement with the terminal. The guide body has an aperture formed therethrough, which is sized to receive a pin through the aperture. At least one fastener extends from the guide body to provide an interference fit with a housing of the receptacle. A retainer is also provided with at least one fastener extending from a guide body to fasten the retainer to the receptacle. A charge assembly is also provided with a handle housing. A shoulder extends transversely from the guide body to engage a distal end of the receptacle and to position the guide body relative to the receptacle. A sleeve extends from the shoulder at least partially over the receptacle housing. The sleeve is formed integrally with the handle housing.
US08808037B2

There is provided a slidable pogo pin including: a first member including a first body and a first connection portion extending from the first body and integrally formed with the first body; a second member including a second body and a second connection portion extending from the second body and integrally formed with the second body; and a spring applying elastic force to the first member and the second member, with at least a part of the first member and at least a part of the second member inserted into the spring. Further, the first member and the second member are electrically connected to each other via the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and the first connection portion and the second connection portion are configured to slide with respect to each other while the first connection portion is brought into surface-to-surface contact with the second connection portion.
US08808036B2

An electrical connector has a circuit comprising a first side; a second side; a first differential channel located between the first side and the second side and comprising a first positive differential trace and a first negative differential trace for transmitting first differential signal; a second differential channel located between the first side and the second side comprising a second positive differential trace and a second negative differential trace for transmitting second differential signal; and a plurality of mating contacts connected to the second side and comprising a first contact connected to the first positive differential trace, a second contact connected to the first negative differential trace, a third contact connected to the second positive differential trace and a sixth contact connected to the second negative differential trace, the first contact, the second contact, the third second and the sixth contact are arranged one by one.
US08808035B2

An audio jack connector (100) includes an insulating housing (1) and a number of contacts (2) assembled in the insulating housing. The insulating housing defines a mating surface (111) with an insertion hole (14) through which an audio plug is inserted into a receiving channel (15) of the insulating housing, a rear surface (123) opposite to the mating surface, a mounting surface (121) facing to a printed circuit board, and a top surface (122) opposite to the mounting surface. The audio jack connector includes an insulative plate (4) attached to the rear surface of the insulating housing and a solidified glue portion (5) formed between the insulative plate and the insulating housing. The insulative plate defines a plurality of holes (41) through which the contacts extending out of the insulating housing. The rear surface of the insulating housing is sealed by the insulative plate and the solidificated glue portion.
US08808022B2

A connector structure includes a clamping terminal including a first terminal part and a second terminal part which project from a terminal base, and an insertion space which is formed between the first terminal part and the second terminal part. An insertion member is formed with a fixing slope part, which is inclined with respect to an insertion direction, at a front end part of the insertion member in the insertion direction. A conductor exposed from the circuit body is fixed to the fixing slope part. A connecting protrusion is formed on one of the first terminal part and the second terminal part. The connecting protrusion is formed with a connecting slope part which is inclined in accordance with the fixing slope part.
US08808021B2

A securing structure includes a housing, and a securing member. The housing defines a receiving space and includes a base at end of the housing adjacent to the receiving space. The base includes at least one latching patch secured on the base. The securing member includes a latching portion and at least one resisting portion extended from one side of the latching portion. The latching portion detachably engages with the at least one latching patch with an end of the at least one latching patch pressing the resisting portion toward the receiving space.
US08808019B2

An electrical connector that comprises a connector body that has opposite first and second ends. The first end is configured to be coupled with a prepared end of a cable. A coupling member that has an interface end configured to interface with a mating connector and a free end opposite the interface end that is rotatable with respect to the connector body at the second end of the connector body. A resilient grounding member is disposed between an outer surface of the second end of the connector body and the free end of the coupling member. Each of the connector body, the coupling member, and the resilient grounding member is conductive thereby creating a grounding path between the connector body and the coupling member.
US08808017B2

A novel connector pair suppresses arcing during connection and disconnection. In one general aspect of the invention, first and second insulating barriers are configured to extend beyond corresponding first and second contacts, the barriers being arranged to cover a leading end of at least one of the contacts, and to engage with each other when the contacts are separated by a small gap, thereby closing off substantially all through-air arcing paths between them. In another general aspect of the invention, at least one electrical contact in a connector pair is a bimetal contact having a transitional segment made from high resistivity metal. The transitional segment is configured to make first and last contact during the initial phases of mating and un-mating, thereby increasing electrical resistance and significantly lowering the electrical current and the energy available for electrical arcing.
US08808016B2

A rotatable connector device includes a steering roll connector that accommodates a flat cable in an accommodation space in the state where the flat cable can be wound and unwound. Also, a plurality of rotatable rollers are located on a top surface of a retainer concentrically with the retainer at an equal interval in a circumferential direction of the retainer. A regulation section on which a reversed part is allowed to be pressed is provided on the top surface of the retainer at a position away from one of the plurality of rotatable rollers, namely, a rotatable roller, on the side of a part of the rotatable roller along which the reversed part can be wound. The regulation section is away from the part of the rotatable roller by a gap which allows the reversed part to contact or detached from the rotatable roller.
US08808014B2

The instant disclosure relates to a plug connector for inserting into at least one hole of an electrical outlet. The plug includes a plug body, a switch, a pushing member, at least one conductive member, and at least one locking member. The plug body is constructed of at least one shell defining a via hole, where the via hole penetrates entirely through the shell. The switch has a connecting end inserted through the via hole for connecting pivotally to the pushing member. The conductive member protrudes from the plug body, and the locking member is arranged in close to the conductive member. Thus, when the switch is operated, the connecting end is driven to push the pushing member to move with respect to the conductive member, and the locking member is pushed by the pushing member to deform or move.
US08808006B2

Disclosed is a display system that combines the advantages of a dry-erase surface with a customized, interchangeable background so that information and or fields over which dry-erase markings are made are integrated with the background display.
US08807996B2

A fixing device (1: 20) for orthodontic devices which includes a screw (2; 40) complete with an operating head (3; 42) with longitudinal slots (4; 45) for the insertion of orthodontic devices and a threaded shank (5) designed to be screwed inside the patient's oral cavity; apparatus for fixing orthodontic devices contained inside the operating head (3; 42). The fixing apparatus includes a shaped body (6) engaging inside a recess (7, 47) in the operating head (3; 42) and revolvable inside the recess (7; 47). The shaped body (6) has a through opening (8) for the insertion of the orthodontic device and opposing apparatus that anchor the orthodontic device to the operating head (3; 42) when the shaped body (6) is rotated inside the recess (7; 47) after the orthodontic device has been inserted in the through opening (8) and in the longitudinal slots (4; 45).
US08807991B2

A regenerative oxidant heater internal arrangement, including a system and method for use thereof, utilizing a unique recycle oxy-combustion methodology which includes at least two primary combustion oxidant sectors placed adjacent to both the flue gas side as well as a secondary oxidant sector positioned between the two primary sectors.
US08807989B2

Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
US08807985B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming molded tapered products, such as masonry blocks, whereby high quality finished products are removed from their mold without the need for complex machinery for demolding. The mold may include one or more mold cavities having one or more movable cavity walls. The movable cavity walls may include an end liner having a planar product forming surface capable of moving from a vertical position to an angled position. Tapered products may be formed by moving the mold towards a pallet so that the pallet engages with the end liner and causes the end liner to move from the vertical position to the angled position. Moldable material may then be introduced into the mold cavity and may be allowed to remain in the mold cavity until it is self-sustaining.
US08807984B2

A tire tread extractor used in the manufacture of treads includes a frame, a first nip roller rotatably associated with the frame, and a second nip roller rotatably associated with the frame. The first and second nip rollers are adapted to engage a tire tread at least partially resident in a mold. A driving mechanism associated with the first and/or second nip rollers operates to impart rotational motion thereto. The frame is configured for longitudinal movement along a substantial portion of a longitudinal length of the mold while maintaining the first and second nip rollers in a spaced relation to the mold.
US08807976B1

Disclosed is a machine for rotation of the bead area of a green tire so that the bead areas are parallel and concentric in order to remove potential anomalies that can occur to a green tire bead portion during pre-cure handling, storing or during shaping in the tire press. The tire apparatus orients the beads of the green tire parallel and square to one another and also rotates the bead area of the tire into the proper configuration prior to cure. The bead portions of the tire maintain the parallel position as the tire is loaded into a tire mold. Also disclosed is a tire loader that has a bead support ring and paddles to grip the outer crown portion of the tire.
US08807973B2

A 2-stage rotary compressor is provided that includes a hermetic container, a rotating shaft provided in the hermetic container to transfer a rotational force, a low pressure compression assembly including a low pressure roller eccentrically rotated around a center of the rotating shaft, a low pressure cylinder that accommodates the low pressure roller, and a low pressure vane that partitions an inner space of the low pressure cylinder, a high pressure compression assembly including a high pressure roller eccentrically rotated around the center of the rotating shaft, a high pressure cylinder that accommodates the high pressure roller, and a high pressure vane that partitions an inner space of the high pressure cylinder, a connection pipe that provides a passage for the refrigerant compressed in the low pressure compression assembly to be introduced into the high pressure compression assembly, and an injection pipe connected to the connection pipe. An inner diameter of a middle portion of the connection pipe is greater than inner diameters of both end portions of the connection pipe.
US08807967B2

A blower fan includes a shaft including an outer circumferential surface, a rotor magnet arranged to rotate about a rotation axis together with the shaft, a stator arranged radially outwards of the rotor magnet in an opposing relationship with the rotor magnet, a substantially cylindrical holder unit arranged to rotatably support the shaft through a bearing, and an impeller arranged to rotate together with the shaft. The bearing includes a pair of axially spaced-apart bearing units. The rotor magnet and the stator are arranged between the bearing units. The bearing units and the stator are held on an inner circumferential surface of the holder unit.
US08807954B2

The invention relates to a method of preparing an assembly, including providing a first structure; providing a second structure; providing at least one flexible adhesive limiting member extending between the structures; and providing an adhesive between the structures to bind the structures to each other; wherein the adhesive is limited by the flexible adhesive limiting member such that a concave front line surface of the adhesive is defined. The invention also relates to such an assembly as well as to a wind turbine rotor blade, and to a wind turbine, having such an assembly.
US08807950B2

The present application provides a turbine nozzle including an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape may have a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1. The Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The airfoil profile sections at Z distances may be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
US08807948B2

Systems and methods for real-time design checking of an integrated circuit design, include the operations of receiving at a design tool, design elements of an integrated circuit design entered by an integrated circuit designer; the design tool performing real-time design checks on the design elements as they are entered by the integrated circuit designer to determine whether a design element violates a design rule; when the design tool detects a violation of a design rule based on the design checks alerting the integrated circuit designer; and the design tool presenting a correction to correct the violation of the design rule. The real-time design checks can include, comparing each design element to one or more known non-compliant design elements stored in a database to determine whether a non-compliant design element was entered or is being entered by the integrated circuit designer.
US08807945B2

A turbine airfoil comprises a wall portion, a cooling channel, a plurality of trip strips and a plurality of pedestals. The wall portion comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side and a suction side. The cooling channel is for receiving cooling air and extends radially through an interior of the wall portion between the pressure side and the suction side. The plurality of trip strips line the wall portion inside the cooling channel along the pressure side and the suction side. Each of the pedestals is an elongate, tapered pedestal having a curved leading edge. The plurality of pedestals is interposed within the trip strips and connects the pressure side with the suction side.
US08807936B2

A fan-turbine rotor assembly for a tip turbine engine includes a multiple of fan blades, which include an inducer section, a hollow fan blade section and a diffuser section. The hollow fan blade section defines an airflow passage. The core airflow is turned, spread and split toward opposite ends of the diffuser section by a multiple of internal turning vanes. The airflow streams are then further turned by discharge turning vanes before discharge from a diffuser discharge outlet. Along with turning and splitting the core airflow, the fan blade profile balances the mass of the diffuser section such that the center of mass thereof is over the hollow airfoil section structure.
US08807929B2

A turbine housing for a supercharger, includes an inlet opening, a turbine seat and a race extending from the inlet opening to the turbine seat, the race including a first spiral chamber (7) which mouth into the turbine seat and a second spiral chamber (8) which mouth into the turbine seat. Both the first spiral chamber (7) and the second spiral chamber (8) mouth in a first angular segment (β) of the turbine seat, the axial height of the mouth into the turbine seat of the second spiral chamber (8) in the first angular segment (β) is bigger in the end of the first angular segment (β) than in the beginning thereof seen in a flow direction (F), and in that the A/R-ratio of the first spiral chamber (7) is smaller than the common A/R-ratio of the first spiral chamber (7) and the second spiral chamber (8).
US08807923B2

A wind turbine having a tower and a rotor hub that is supported by the tower. At least one blade extends from the rotor hub, and a nacelle is located proximate the rotor hub. The wind turbine also has a transport conduit that selectively provides communication between an interior of the nacelle and an interior of the rotor hub. The transport conduit may have a collapsed condition in which the transport conduit is located completely within the nacelle, and an extended condition in which the transport conduit partially extends into the interior of the rotor hub. In a specific embodiment, the transport conduit is a telescoping structure. A method for using the transport conduit includes accessing the interior of the nacelle to position an object therein and transporting the object to the interior of the rotor hub using the transport conduit.
US08807914B2

The present invention provides a seal device comprising a sealing passage which allows communication between a first space and a second space, and evacuation lines individually connected to the first space and the sealing passage. A gas feed line for feeding dry gas is connected to the sealing passage.
US08807911B2

A transfer robot according to the embodiment includes an arm unit, a base unit, a guide unit, a lifting unit, and a vent part. The arm unit includes a robot hand capable of holding an object to be transferred. The base unit is formed into a substantially box shape. The guide unit includes a vertical shaft vertically arranged in the base unit. The lifting unit is provided to be raisable and lowerable along the vertical shaft and supports the arm unit at an upper end portion. The vent part is opened in an upper surface of the base unit and vents downflow from an outside to an inside of the base unit.
US08807909B2

A tilting system for an implement pivotally connected to a lift arm. The tilting system includes a tilt cylinder configured to provide a rotary movement to the implement. The tilting system includes a tilt lever pivotally connected to the tilt cylinder by a pivot pin E and to the implement by a pivot pin C. The tilting system further includes a tilt link pivotally connected to a lift arm by a pivot pin F, and to the tilt lever by a pivot pin D. An angle defined between a line DE connecting the pivot pins D and E and a line DC connecting the pivot pins D and C, is in the range of 135 to 165 degrees.
US08807908B2

A control for a load-handling device including a gripper for handling a load and being connected to pressure controlled gripping, lifting and tilting actuators The control including a pressure-sensing actuator assembly, a gripping pressure regulator and pressure control assembly. The pressure-sensing actuator assembly being is placed in pressure communication with the lifting and tilting actuators. The gripping pressure regulator regulates the gripping pressure. The pressure control assembly includes interrelated movable members for interacting with the pressure-sensing actuator assembly and for acting on the gripping pressure regulator. The pressure-sensing actuator is adapted to sense the weight of the load from the pressure of the lifting and tilting actuators and to communicate this pressure to the pressure control assembly. Thereby, interacting with the pressure control assembly as to cause to latter to so act on the gripping pressure regulator as to provide a suitable gripping pressure in response to the weight of the load.
US08807907B2

A lift having a platform with a substantially level ride and including an extension plate is described. The lift also reduces the distance between the ground and the platform in the ground position.
US08807886B2

A hole includes a blade cylinder and at least one first blade portion and at least one second blade portion, which are arranged along the rotation direction at intervals. Each of the first and second blade portions includes an inside blade and an outside blade. In the first and second blade portions that are adjacent to each other along the rotation direction, the sum of the number of cutting edges of the outside blade and the cutting edge of the inside blade of the first blade is three or more, the sum of cutting edges of the outside blade and the cutting edge of the inside blade of the second blade is two or more, the number of the cutting edge of the first blade being different from the number of the cutting edges of the second blade.
US08807882B2

A face milling cutter has a shank portion adjoining a cutting portion. The cutting portion terminates in a plurality of cutting edges extending in a radial direction from a central axis of the face milling cutter. The cutting edges are convexly curved at least along a part of their length. A portion of the cutting edges proximate the central axis is nearer in an axial direction to the shank portion than a point, X, on the cutting edges that is farthest away from the shank portion. A distance Y, between the point, X, and the central axis is between 20% and 40% of a diameter, D, of the face milling cutter, and a central portion extends the distance, Y, and has a radius of curvature of about 110% of the diameter, D.
US08807876B2

A device and method for supporting lightly loaded structures on highly expansive soils. A plurality of domes is positioned between the lightly loaded structure and the soil. Each of the domes has a convex side and a concave side. The convex side faces upward against the lightly loaded structure and the concave side faces downward against the soil. The concave side provides a void area for expansion of soil. Each dome also has two soil contact ends. The soil contact ends provide a small contact area with the soil to increase the pressure exerted by the lightly loaded structure at the soil contact area to overcome the swelling effects of expanding soil. In a preferred embodiment each dome is fabricated from PVC pipe.
US08807870B2

The invention relates to a method for treating soil material. According to the invention, the soil material is treated by a mixture composition containing at least microfibrillated cellulose and water.
US08807869B1

There is disclosed a floating barrier for installation in deep oceans for dampening winds, waves, and currents, and for containing oil spills. Applications of this invention include tsunami wave alleviation, storm protection, and oil spill containment.
US08807866B2

A method of laying a finishing layer with a road finisher F having a screed B, whereby the screed, equipped with a tamper device T and a smoothing plate, at least compacts and superficially smoothes the finishing layer, and the stroke and/or the frequency of the tamper device T are remotely varied for laying a finishing layer with a paving thickness and/or laying rate V which vary over the pave width and transversely to the working direction R within the pave width. A road finisher having a screed suitable for implementing the method set forth above wherein the road finisher or screed has an adjustment device for the remotely actuated local variation of at least the stroke of the tamper device within the pave width.
US08807863B2

A securement device is provided for securing articles such as collapsed shipping racks together for maintaining their stability and alignment. The device includes a tether that is connectable between adjacent shipping racks to secure the racks together, and that provides a clear visual indication that the racks are secured. A securement device affixed to a collapsible shipping rack may further comprise a bracket member and upper and lower pin members coupled to the bracket member, with the tether having first and second opposite end portions and the first end portion of the tether being coupled to one of the upper and lower pin members, and the second end portion being releasably attachable to another securement device of another collapsible shipping rack adjacently stacked relative to the first collapsible shipping rack.
US08807858B2

A mopping device includes a mopping portion, a fluid release device for releasing fluid to at least one of a surface to be mopped and the mopping portion, a handle configured to be gripped by a user to control the mopping portion, and a reservoir for storing fluid. The reservoir can include an expandable bladder. The reservoir also can be configured such that air need not be evacuated from the reservoir during filling of the reservoir. The mopping device also can be part of a mopping system, in which a refill reservoir is provided to refill the reservoir of the mopping device.
US08807850B2

A support head for an optical or video-photographic apparatus, having a first body traversed by a first axis of rotation with respect to a base of the head, a second body coupled in a rotary manner to the first body, a third body traversed by a second axis of rotation, and being coupled in a rotary manner to the second body. A user may lock by a single movement of a control member both the relative rotation of the first and second bodies about the first axis and the rotation of the second and third bodies about the second axis. The lock may be a tie-rod extended from the control member along the second axis and a slider connected to the tie-rod and interposed between the first body and the second body configured to lock the relative rotation of the second body with respect to the third body.
US08807838B2

In a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing, a silicone grease whose base oil is a silicone oil, whose coefficient of kinematic viscosity at 25° C. is not less than 100 cSt and not more than 500,000 cSt, and which contains a thickener so as to set its worked penetration to not less than 200 and not more than 400 is interposed at sliding interfaces between, on the one hand, an upper surface of a lower annular flat plate-shaped portion defining a bottom surface of a lower annular recess and a lower surface of an upper annular flat plate-shaped portion and, on the other hand, an upper surface and a lower surface of a thrust bearing piece which are respectively brought into sliding contact with the upper and the lower surface.
US08807836B2

A rotating device includes a shaft body having a shaft, a first flange extending in the radial direction from the side face of the shaft, and a second flange extending outwardly of the radial direction from another end side, a freely rotatable bearing body including a shaft encircling member present between the second flange and the first flange in the axial direction, a radial dynamic pressure generating groove provided in either one of the shaft and the shaft encircling member, a first thrust dynamic pressure generating groove provided in either one of the first flange and the shaft encircling member, and a lubrication medium. An end of the region where the radial dynamic pressure generating groove is formed and which is distant from the second flange is located outwardly of the region where the first thrust dynamic pressure generating groove is disposed in the axial direction.
US08807834B2

An easy-open and reclosable package includes a pouch including a reclosure mechanism including a first and second interlocking strip each having an interlocking segment having a base surface and an interlocking surface; a panel section so arranged that when the panel section is displaced, and the package is opened, a product can be accessed between the first and second interlocking strips, the first and second interlocking surfaces are at least partially exposed, and the package can thereafter be reclosed by folding the package such that the interlocking surface of the first interlocking strip is interlocked with the interlocking surface of the second interlocking strip. The first and second strips are not exposed until the package is initially opened, and are not interlocked with one another until the package is initially opened and then reclosed.
US08807827B2

A detent escapement for a timepiece includes an escape wheel, a balance having an unlocking jewel, and a blade. A rotation reference line is formed by a straight line passing through a rotation center of the blade in a state where the balance is at an oscillation center. In order to balance (1) a sum total of the effects on rotational movement of the balance caused by “impulse before dead point” and by “resistance after dead point”, which together comprise the total effect causing the timepiece to advance, and (2) a sum total of the effects on rotational movement of the balance caused by “resistance before dead point” and by “impact after dead point”, which together comprise the total effect causing the timepiece to slow, the unlocking jewel is aligned with the rotation reference line and positioned at a position facing towards a direction farthest from the escape wheel.
US08807826B2

A static mixing device has a flow duct (10) with at least one mixing element (12) arranged in the flow duct (10). Each mixing element (12) has a multiplicity of webs (14A, 14B) which are arranged in a crossed fashion and which enclose an angle (α) of greater than 0° with the longitudinal axis (x) of the flow duct (10). The webs (14A, 14B) are of waisted design between adjacent crossing points (16), and in the middle between adjacent crossing points (16) the webs (14A, 14B) have their smallest width (b) and mutually adjacent webs (14A, 14B) have their greatest intermediate spacing (a). Those webs (14A, 14B) which are adjacent to the inner wall of the flow duct (10) have, between face-side abutting edges (22), a recess which corresponds to the waisting of the webs (14A, 14B) so as to form a greatest wall spacing (c) in the middle between the face-side abutting edges (22), with the sum, measured over the diameter of the mixing element (12), of the smallest widths (b) of the webs (14A, 14B) amounting to at least 35% of the diameter of the mixing element (12).
US08807821B2

A device for mixing a liquid present in a container is provided with a threaded spindle that can be attached in the container, a body that is provided with an internal thread and can be moved by pivoting about a horizontal axis along the threaded spindle being disposed on the threaded spindle. The body is provided with mixing and/or stirring elements substantially protruding in the radial direction.
US08807820B2

A display apparatus includes a display panel which displays an image, a backlight unit which provides light to the display panel, a heat sink plate adjacent to the backlight unit, the heat sink plate including a catch portion on one side surface thereof, and a mold frame between the display panel and the backlight unit, the mold frame including a first hook which is coupled with the catch portion.
US08807819B2

An illumination unit of the present invention includes a tabular light guide plate having a light emitting surface for emitting light coming from an LED as planar light, wherein a recessed portion is formed in the opposite surface of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and wherein the LED is provided in the recessed portion so that the optical axis of the LED becomes parallel to the light emitting surface of the light guide plate. Then, a dimming pattern is provided at a location corresponding to the LED of the light emitting surface of the light guide plate, and the dimming pattern includes a main portion covering the LED on the light emitting surface side, and protrusions radially extending toward a light emitting direction of the LED around the LED.
US08807815B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a light source structure for optical fiber display device and an optical fiber display device. The light source structure for optical fiber display device comprises a light source. The light source structure for optical fiber display device is of a hollow truncated cone structure, a upper surface, a side surface and a lower surface of the hollow truncated cone structure are constituted by the light source, a reflection cover and an optical fiber connection surface, respectively, a light emitting surface of the light source is disposed to face the optical fiber connection surface, a reflection surface of the reflection cover is provided inside the hollow truncated cone structure, and the optical fiber connection surface has an optical fiber connection region that corresponds to the position of the light source and has a same size as the light source.
US08807799B2

A lamp comprises: a dish-shaped (parabolic); an LED operable to generate excitation light; a light guide configured to extend along an axis of the reflector, wherein light generated by the at least one LED is coupled into a first end of the light guide and wherein light is emitted from the light guide at a light emitting surface that is in proximity to a second end of the light guide and at least one phosphor material provided as a layer on at least a part of the light emitting surface of the light guide. An LED light bulb is also disclosed.
US08807797B2

An ornamental fixture having a support structure and a plurality of ornaments mounted to the support structure in a substantially completely spherical arrangement of ornaments. The ornaments may be glass crystal ornaments, for example, octagonal glass crystals, and a light may be mounted within the fixture. The support structure may include an upper support ring and at least one lower support ring vertically spaced from the upper support ring and a plurality of arcuate sector assemblies removably mounted to the upper support ring and the at least one lower support ring. The sector assemblies retain the ornaments to provide a substantially continuous 360-degree array of ornaments. The sector assemblies can also be disassembled from the support structure for maintenance, servicing, relamping, and cleaning of the fixture. For example, the disassembled components of the fixture may be washed in a dishwasher without damaging the ornaments or the support structure.
US08807792B2

A lighting apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed lighting apparatus omni-directionally radiates light emitted from a light emitting diode (LED) in a uniform light intensity. The lighting apparatus may include at least one LED and a reflector to reflect light emitted from the at least one LED. The reflector may include openings that are positioned to correspond to a position of a respective LED. The LED may emit light in a first direction and the reflector may reflect the light in a second direction such that a difference in light intensity at any angle within a first range between 0° to 135° with respect to the first direction is less than or equal 20% of an average light intensity of the entire range, and a light flux within a second range between 135° to 180° is greater than or equal to 5% of the total flux.
US08807791B2

An illuminating device with adjustable light beams and a method for assembling the same. The light-emitting units are disposed on the substrate. The optical element is disposed in the path of a light emitted by at least one of the light-emitting units. The driving unit drives a first or second set of the light-emitting units, wherein a light beam formed by light that is emitted by the first set of the light-emitting units and passes through the optical element has a different shape or projection angle from a light beam formed by light that is emitted by the second set of the light-emitting units and passes through the optical element.
US08807789B2

An LED (light emitting diode) illumination device that can generate a uniform light output illumination pattern. The illumination device includes an array of LEDs, each having a LED central axis. The LED central axis of the array of LEDs is angled approximately toward a central point. The illumination source includes a reflector with a conic or conic-like shape. The reflector wraps around the front of the LED to redirect the light emitted along a LED central axis.
US08807788B2

An information display device illuminates a light pipe, and includes a controller to regulate the power levels delivered to a light source, thereby regulating the amount of light delivered to the light pipe. Alternatively, the information display device delivers visual data, including alpha-numeric characters, predetermined images, or a controlled phasing. The information display device may be utilized to illuminate information associated with the structure. The illumination system provides the ability to phase between different colors, as well as blended colors. Accordingly, an information display device phases between varying colors, and may blend colors to create color schemes. The illumination system includes a control module disposed within the structure to control device parameters. The illumination system further includes landscape lights that are in communication with the control module and the information display device, such that the landscape lights may phase with the information display device, thereby providing a unified phasing effect.
US08807787B2

The illumination device has a lamp fixing on the upper end of the support rod standing on the walkway to be located in a side of the roadway. An inside circumferential surface of the lamp fixing has a first arrangement surface inclined upwardly from the walkway to the roadway and a second arrangement surface inclined upwardly from the roadway to the walkway. The first arrangement surface and the second arrangement surface are provided with the light emitting diodes, respectively. The color of the light of the light emitting diode on the first arrangement surface and the second arrangement surface are set such that the S/P ratio of the scotopic luminance to the photopic luminance of the light emitting diode on the second arrangement surface is greater than that of the first arrangement surface.
US08807786B2

An illumination apparatus includes a light source unit comprising at least one light source module comprising a plurality of light-emitting device chips and a lead frame on which the light-emitting device chips are mounted and which connects the mounted light-emitting device chips; a diffusion cover having an interior space in which the light source module is accommodated and diffusing light emitted from the light source module; and an installation portion formed adjacent to the diffusion cover to install the light source module.
US08807781B2

A portable light or other device having a safety lock may comprise: a body having an opening; a cover for engaging and covering the opening of the body; and a lock mechanism including a lock member for engaging the body and the cover for preventing removal of the cover from the body unless the lock mechanism is released by a tool, wherein the lock member is retained on the body or on the cover when the lock mechanism is engaged and when the lock mechanism is released. The cover may be a light head or a light source.
US08807776B2

A backlight unit for a dynamic image and a display employing the same are provided. The backlight unit is used for a light source of a display and includes light-emitting devices located separately on a substrate, an image analyzer which analyzes an image signal and extracts position information on a region requiring the relative increase or decrease of brightness, and a control unit which independently drives and controls the light-emitting devices located in a region corresponding to the position information inputted from the image board. Accordingly, the display employing the backlight unit can provide a more dynamic and realistic image.
US08807772B2

Embodiments relate to a backlight unit, a display device therewith, and a lighting system therewith, the backlight unit including a first reflector and a second reflector, at least one light source disposed between the first reflector and the second reflector, an upper cover plate and a lower cover plate separate from each other, and a heat dissipation unit for holding the light source and being disposed between the upper cover plate and the lower cover plate to dissipate heat from the light source.
US08807766B2

A laser scanning projection apparatus includes an illumination unit, a projection surface, a scanning mirror, a projection window, an optical sensor, and a controlling unit. The projection window includes a transmissible part and a blocking part. A reflection-differential pattern is formed on the blocking part. When the laser beam reflected by the scanning mirror is projected on the transmissible part, the laser beam is transmitted through the transmissible part and projected on the projection surface. When the laser beam reflected by the scanning mirror is projected on the reflection-differential pattern, a reflective beam with different intensities is reflected by the reflection-differential pattern. The controlling unit calculates a phase difference between an actual projection position and a predetermined projection position of the laser beam according to the sensing signal, and compensating a subsequent image frame according to the phase difference.
US08807758B2

A light source unit is provided which includes a first light source which shines excitation light of a predetermined wavelength band; an optical path switching device which switches in a time-sharing fashion the light shone from the first light source into first light which is shone in a first direction and second light which is shone in a second direction; a light emitting plate on which a luminescent material layer is formed which emits luminescent light of a wavelength band which is different from that of the excitation light when receiving the second light; and a light guiding optical system which guides the first light and the luminescent light to the same optical path.
US08807757B2

A mobile electronic device includes: a housing; an image projector provided on the housing for projecting a portion of an original image to a projection area; and a processing unit. The processing unit causes the image projector to change an image projected to the projection area from a first image corresponding to a first portion of the original image to a second image corresponding to a second portion of the original image according to change information for changing the image projected by the image projector.
US08807751B2

A method and apparatus for quantitative imaging of the retinal fundus. The method for retinal health assessment comprises imaging the retinal fundus of a patient's eye at different wavelengths within a spectral range and determining spectral reflectivity of the retina for each pixel within a field of view (FOV). The retinal health is assessed based on the spectral reflectivity of the retina. The metabolic and anatomical activity of the eye is monitored to detect, at the earliest stage, activity that could lead to the onset of blinding eye diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, etc.
US08807745B2

A substantially fully copolymerized UV blocking hydrogel lens demonstrating sufficient blocking of UV light to meet at least FDA Class II specifications for UV blocking formed from a reaction mixture comprising at least NVP and one other comonomer and a free-radical polymerizable, substituted or unsubstituted, Bis O-hydroxy benzophenone is provided herein.
US08807732B2

An ultraviolet irradiation unit (100) is provided with an ultraviolet irradiation device (50) and an ink mist sucking and removing device (60). The ink mist sucking and removing device (60) includes a blower fan (62), an air filter (63) and a device cover (61) for forming an air flow passage whose one end is provided with a suction port (64) located in an upper vicinity of a printing object (80) and whose another end is provided with a ventilation port (58a) facing an LED drive circuit board (55). Air in the upper vicinity of a printing object (80) is sucked through the suction port (64) by the blower fan (62), ink mist included in the air is removed by the air filter (63), and cleaned air discharged through the ventilation port (58a) is blown to an LED circuit board (51), an LED drive circuit board (55).
US08807729B2

An ink set for ink jet recording is provided, the ink set including a first ink containing first resin particles and not substantially containing a colorant; and a second ink containing titanium oxide particles and containing the first resin particles in an amount less than 6 weight %, the second ink being ejected substantially at the same time as ejection of the first ink.
US08807728B2

An inkjet recording method is provided in which image formation is carried out by employing an ink set, the inks of each color including a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator, and discharge of the inks being repeated 2 to 16 times for the same area.
US08807719B2

A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid distribution layer between a fluid manifold and a substrate. The fluid distribution layer includes fluid supply channels and fluid return channels. Each fluid supply channel receives fluid from the fluid supply chamber and circulates a fraction of the received fluid back to the fluid return chamber through a return-side bypass. The substrate include a plurality of flow paths, each flow path includes a nozzle for ejecting fluid droplets. Each flow path receives fluid from a respective fluid supply channel, and channel un-ejected fluid into a respective fluid return channel. Each fluid return channel can collect the un-ejected fluid from one or more flow paths and a supply-side bypass, and return the collected fluid back to the fluid supply chamber.
US08807716B2

Among other things, an apparatus for use in ink jetting includes a reservoir system including a reservoir to contain a volume of ink to be delivered to and jetted from at least two jetting assemblies onto a substrate in an ink jetting direction. The reservoir system is located adjacent to at least two of the jetting assemblies along the ink jetting direction.
US08807714B2

An ink-jet recording apparatus has a print head 13 incorporating: a nozzle 20, which vibrates ink at a constant cycle, jets out the ink, and atomizes the ink; an electrification electrode 26, which electrify an ink particle 19; and deflection electrodes 27b, which deflect the electrified ink particle in a main scanning direction. The print head 13 carries out printing by causing the ink particle to fly to a printing workpiece W conveyed by a conveyer 15. Flying time of the ink particle in a printing distance La between the printing workpiece W and the print head 13 is calculated, timing of an electrification signal supplied to the electrification electrode 26 is controlled in accordance with the flying time, and a printing position to the printing workpiece W is set. Thus, printing can be carried out at a predetermined position to the printing workpiece W, and printing quality can be enhanced.
US08807712B2

An inkjet printer head includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vibration diaphragm provided on the semiconductor substrate and capable of vibrating in an opposing direction in which the vibration diaphragm is opposed to the semiconductor substrate; a piezoelectric element provided on the vibration diaphragm; a pressure chamber provided on a side of the vibration diaphragm adjacent to the semiconductor substrate as facing the vibration diaphragm, the pressure chamber being filled with an ink; and a nozzle extending through the vibration diaphragm and communicating with the pressure chamber for ejecting the ink supplied from the pressure chamber.
US08807711B2

An ink jet print head, having a pressure generation chamber arranged for being in communication with a print head nozzle and an actuator membrane for delimiting the pressure generation chamber. The actuator membrane has a substrate and a piezoelectric actuator provided on the substrate, said piezoelectric actuator having a lower electrode, an upper electrode and at least one piezoelectric layer arranged between the lower electrode and the upper electrode; the substrate and the upper electrode are arranged on opposite sides of the piezoelectric layer, and the upper electrode has a Titanium-Tungsten film.
US08807709B2

According to one embodiment, an ink-jet head includes a substrate, a piezoelectric member, electrically conductive portions, a frame member, an insulating film, an electronic component and a protective agent. The piezoelectric member is mounted on the substrate and includes pressure chambers. The electrically conductive portions extend from the pressure chambers and are disposed on the substrate. The frame member inside which the piezoelectric member is disposed is attached to the substrate from above the electrically conductive portions. The insulating film covers the piezoelectric member, the frame member, and a part of the electrically conductive portions. The electronic component is connected to the electrically conductive portions. The protective agent covers an end portion of the insulating film located between the frame member and the electronic component and the electrically conductive portions between the electronic component and the end portion of the insulating film.
US08807708B2

A semiconductor device including segments, a power supply pad and conductive patterns is provided. Each segment includes driving units for discharging a liquid. Each driving unit includes a driving circuit and an element driven by the driving circuit to apply discharging energy to the liquid. The conductive pattern includes a first conductive portion connected to the power supply pad, a second rectangular conductive portion, a third conductive portion connected to the driving portions, and a connection portion which connects the second and third conductive portions. These conductive portions elongate in a first direction. In a second direction, a length of the second conductive portion is larger than a length of the first conductive portion. The second conductive portion is connected to the first conductive portion at a first corner and the connection portion at a second corner diagonal to the first corner.
US08807706B2

A liquid ejecting head includes: a head casing including a plurality of block-shaped portions and a plurality of plate-shaped portions, the plate-shaped portions including a first plate-shaped portion and a second plate-shaped portion which are staggered, the first plate-shaped portion arranged next to both the first and second block-shaped portions, the second plate-shaped portion arranged next to both the first and second block-shaped portions; a plurality of flow channel units, each of which is fixed on a surface of corresponding one of the block-shaped portions, the flow channel units including: a first flow channel unit that includes a first nozzle plate; and a second flow channel unit that includes a second nozzle plate, the first and second nozzle plates which are staggered; and a plurality of drive units configured to eject liquid from the flow channel units.
US08807696B2

In an apparatus including an irradiation unit capable of irradiating a sheet with at least either visible light or ultraviolet light, and an acquisition unit which acquires a spectral reflectance for each of a plurality of wavelength regions based on light reflected by the sheet, a spectral reflectance acquired by the acquisition unit when the sheet is irradiated with the visible light is stored in a memory unit. A storing unit stores, in the memory unit, a spectral reflectance in a wavelength region shorter than a predetermined wavelength among spectral reflectances acquired by the acquisition unit when the sheet is irradiated with both the visible light and the ultraviolet light.
US08807692B2

A method for monitoring stitching between two adjacent printheads includes capturing one or more images of content printed on a moving print media in at least a stitch boundary or overlap region to obtain pixel data. The pixel data is then averaged in a media transport direction to produce blur in an image or images. Derivative data of the averaged pixel data is determined and one or more peaks is detected in the derivative data. A type of stitching artifact is determined based on the detected peak in the derivative data.
US08807678B2

A method of driving a hybrid type inkjet printing apparatus according to example embodiments may use both a piezoelectric method and an electrostatic method. The method of driving may include a plurality of driving modes that are determined by adjusting the order, amplitude, and duration of a piezoelectric driving voltage to a piezoelectric actuator and an electrostatic driving voltage to an electrostatic force applying unit. As a result, ink droplets may be ejected in various sizes and shapes. In a first driving mode, a dome-shaped ink meniscus may be formed at an end portion of a nozzle and ink droplets having a smaller size than the nozzle may be ejected from a surface of the dome-shaped ink meniscus. In a second driving mode, a cone-shaped ink meniscus may be formed at an end of the nozzle, and ink droplets having a smaller size than those of the first driving mode may be ejected from a sharp end portion of the cone-shaped ink meniscus. In a third driving mode, a syringe/cone-shaped ink meniscus may be formed at an end portion of the nozzle and ink in the form of an ink stream may be ejected from a sharp end portion of the syringe/cone-shaped ink meniscus.
US08807675B2

A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a liquid droplet jetting head; a liquid kind detecting section detecting whether a liquid, used in the liquid droplet jetting head, is a first liquid having a conductivity of not less than a predetermined value or a second liquid having a conductivity of less than the predetermined value; a discharge mechanism discharging the liquid inside the liquid droplet jetting head therefrom; a waste liquid recovery device recovering the liquid discharged by the discharge mechanism, and including: a waste liquid case, an absorbing body accommodated in the waste liquid case, and a waste liquid detection mechanism measuring an electric current value in the absorbing body and thereby detecting whether or not the liquid arrives at a full-liquid detection position of the absorbing body; and a waste liquid absorb amount estimating section estimating an amount of the waste liquid absorbed in the absorbing body.
US08807662B2

A construction machine for the treatment of ground surfaces includes a machine frame, a drive motor, a work drum supported from the machine frame and including exchangeable tools fastened to the work drum, a belt drive and an auxiliary drive. The belt drive includes a motor-side pulley connected to the drive motor, a drum-side pulley connected to the work drum, and at least one drive belt connecting the motor-side pulley to the drum-side pulley. The auxiliary drive may be permanently coupled to the belt drive, or the auxiliary drive may include an adjustment mechanism for moving the auxiliary drive between a coupled and an uncoupled position.
US08807649B2

A system for coupling a saddle to a seatpost; said saddle comprising a fork (12) positioned below it; said seatpost (50) comprises a first pin (53) and a slot; said fork (12) comprising two lateral apertures bounded by a bar structure; said first pin (53) being insertable into said two lateral apertures; said first pin (53) comprising two heads (54, 55); said coupling system comprising an eccentric second pin (60) disposed in said slot; said first pin (53) and said eccentric second pin (60) each comprising two heads (54, 55, 61, 62), one per side, which abut against said bar-like structure bounding said two lateral apertures; said eccentric second pin (60) being rotatable.
US08807647B2

In a vehicle seat in which a first member is arranged on a surface of a seat structure member and tucked into a recessed portion, and air blown out from a blower is blown at a seating side of the seat structure member via a flow path portion of a cushion, the flow path portion is provided in a portion of the cushion that is offset from a position where the recessed portion is formed.
US08807646B2

In one embodiment, an assembly for an openable sliding roof having a cover for selectively exposing and closing a roof opening is provided, the assembly having: at least one lever for raising and lowering the cover, the at least one lever being pivotally mounted to the cover; and a height adjusting mechanism for repositioning the lever with respect to the cover, the height adjusting mechanism having an eccentric coupling the lever to the cover.
US08807645B2

The invention relates to a device for sealing the aperture of a tipped-back sliding roof of a car. The device has a control device designed to monitor the gearbox of the car and ensure that the aperture is sealed when the reverse gear is engaged.
US08807641B2

A roof weather strip capable of being readily attached to the motor vehicle with reduced costs. The roof weather strip adapted to effect a seal between a sliding panel and a fixed panel composing a vehicle roof, includes a base portion for attachment to an edge of a fixed base panel adapted to attach the fixed panel, and a seal portion for contacting the sliding panel. The base portion includes a panel engaging section for engagement with the edge of the fixed base panel, and a rim engaging section for engagement with a panel rim attached to the edge of the fixed panel. The panel engaging section is formed on the lower surface side of the base portion, and the rim engaging section is formed on the upper surface side of the base portion.
US08807640B2

A roof apparatus includes a weather strip arranged at a position where a frontward link member and a rearward link member slide thereon at a position outward of either a first edge portion of a front panel or a second edge portion of a rear panel in a state where the front panel makes a sliding movement. Each of the frontward link member and the rearward link member includes a frontward guide surface and a rearward guide surface generating a component of force that makes the weather strip to resiliently deform upwardly, the frontward guide surface and the rearward guide surface arranged at end surfaces of the frontward guide surface and the rearward guide surface, the end surfaces that come into contact with the weather strip first in a state where the frontward link member and the rearward link member move in a frontward-rearward direction together with the front panel.
US08807625B2

A tonneau cover apparatus is provided. In one aspect, a tonneau cover apparatus includes a handle or lever, a mount, a locator, a finger, a detent and a complementary peg. In another aspect, a handle and mount are configured such that the handle is substantially horizontal when in a closed position. A further aspect employs at least one locator to align a tonneau cover to a truck bed. Another aspect includes a finger which is coupled to a handle to clamp a tonneau cover apparatus to a truck bed when the handle is in a closed position, thus securing the tonneau cover to the truck bed.
US08807614B2

A gripping device comprising: a house; at least one gripper configured with at least one claw, the claw being configured with a pair of first phalanxes linked to the house at a first joint, and a pair of second phalanxes linked to the first phalanxes at a second joint; a first actuator arranged on the first joint; a second actuator arranged on the second joint; and a motor configured to enable the first and the second actuators co-operate so as to push the second phalanxes off a gripping substrate, or to push the second phalanxes back to the gripping substrate.
US08807603B2

A lid lock apparatus includes a housing formed by assembling a first body member and a second body member, a driving motor housed in the housing, an output gear, a movable member, a stopper member retained at one of the first body member and the output gear, a stopper wall formed at the other one of the first body member and the output gear and restricting the pivotal movement of the output gear by contacting the stopper member, and a stopper disengagement preventing portion formed on the other one of the first body member and the output gear, on which the stopper wall is formed, the stopper disengagement preventing portion restricting a disengagement of the stopper member in an axial direction of a rotational axis of the output gear by contacting the stopper member in the axial direction of the rotational axis of the output gear.
US08807600B2

A versatile label of the present invention comprises at least one label body. Each label body comprises at least one identifier set, with each identifier set comprising a plurality of identifier markers. The plurality of identifier markers is positioned on the face side of the label body. The label body further comprises at least one selection indicator.
US08807596B1

An exemplary passenger airbag for a vehicle passenger restraint system may include an inflatable cushion having an upper rear portion with a convex surface and a lower rear portion with a concave surface when the airbag is deployed. The airbag may further include a longitudinal tether secured to the lower rear portion to limit longitudinal expansion of the inflatable cushion and form the concave surface in the lower rear portion.
US08807595B2

A curtain airbag for mitigating vehicle occupant ejection. The curtain airbag is stored in the upper portion of a side face section in the interior of a vehicle and is inflated and deployed along the side face section. The curtain airbag includes a front chamber partitioned at the frontmost side of an inflation region. The front chamber is inflated and deployed overlapping a divider-bar that separates a side window from a front pillar window.
US08807593B2

A roof airbag device includes an outer cushion and an inner cushion. The outer cushion includes a left wing part and a right wing part, which are oppositely disposed about the passenger's head, an upper cushion part connecting the left and right wing parts, and an outlet hole through which an inflation gas from an inflator is transferred. The inner cushion is disposed between the left and right wing parts, and has an inlet hole through which the inflation gas is supplied, and a discharge hole through which the inflation gas is discharged.
US08807590B2

A panel for use over a vehicle airbag includes a multi-layer covering disposed over a substrate outer surface. The covering includes a decorative skin layer and a foam layer between the substrate and the skin layer. The covering also includes a tear seam provided at a pre-determined location for an airbag deployment opening. The foam layer has one or more material properties that vary between the substrate and the skin layer. The density of an outside layer of the foam layer may be greater than the density of an inside layer of the foam layer to improve tear seam function. The covering layers may be bonded to each other without the use of additional adhesive material. The tear seam may be formed by laser scoring and may have at least a portion that extends into the foam layer and may further extend into the skin layer.
US08807585B2

A bicycle seat tube assembly includes an arced component, a bottom bracket positioned below the arced component, and a seat tube including a pivot attachment at a lower end of the seat tube. The arced component includes a lower curved surface with a plurality of holes. The pivot attachment is coupled to the bottom bracket so that the arced component is pivotable relative to the seat tube about the bottom bracket, resulting in multiple seat tube positions between a fully forward position and a fully back position. A locking mechanism is configured to selectively lock the seat tube to the arced component. The locking mechanism includes a lock ring with a plurality of lock pins and a spring that pushes the lock ring towards the arced component. The lock ring and the spring surround the seat tube The lock ring is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
US08807574B2

A spring shock absorber unit for adjusting the elevation of a vehicle, including an oscillation absorber, a support spring to absorb shocks impacting the vehicle, an upper spring seat at which the support spring is supported, an adjustment device for adjusting the height of the upper spring seat with an actuator and an adjustment mechanism configured to convert the rotary motion generated by the actuator into a translational motion of the upper spring seat, an axial bearing for supporting the spring shock absorber unit, particularly the upper spring seat and/or a piston rod at a body of a vehicle, optimal utilization of the space available shall be possible in spite of a plurality of functional elements. The adjustment mechanism can additionally serve the function of an axial bearing.
US08807562B2

A sheet conveying apparatus comprising: a follower rotating member that is pressed to a conveying rotating member and rotates in a following manner; a bearing that movably supports the follower rotating member to be rotatable; a pressing portion that applies a force to the bearing to press the follower rotating member to the conveying rotating member; and a wire spring that includes both ends locked to locking portions and a middle abutted to the bearing and holds the bearing against a pressing force of the pressing portion.
US08807555B2

An automatic document feeder includes an upper cover, a pick-up arm, a restriction element, and a document stopper. The pick-up arm is movable between a first position and a second position. A rotating shaft of the restriction element is pivotally coupled to the pick-up arm. A rotating shaft of the document stopper is pivotally coupled to the upper cover. Moreover, the rotating shaft of the restriction element and the rotating shaft of the document stopper are not in parallel with each other. When the pick-up arm is located at the first position, a swinging action of the document stopper is limited by the restriction element. When the pick-up arm is located at the second position, the swinging action of the document stopper is no longer limited by the restriction element, so that the document stopper can be freely swung.
US08807549B2

A clamp for maintaining tight physical contact between two workpieces is disclosed. Using a pocket hole in one workpiece, the clamp includes a rod or pin which engages that workpiece. The second workpiece is either maintained in position by a resilient bumper which is clamped thereon, or by a threaded screw bolt which engages the other workpiece and drives the two together between the screw bolt and pin.
US08807542B2

A method and apparatus for a vehicle shock absorber comprising a main damper cylinder, a first reservoir and a second reservoir. One embodiment includes a first operational mode where both reservoirs are in fluid communication with the cylinder. In a second operational mode, only one reservoir communicates with the cylinder during fluid evacuation from the cylinder. In each mode, rebound from either or both reservoirs may travel through a single, user-adjustable metering device.
US08807530B2

A bottom entry plastic ball valve comprises a valve stem cap (1), a valve stem (2), a valve stem sealing ring (3), a valve stem end surface sealing ring (4), a valve ball sealing ring (5), a supporting ring (6) for the valve ball sealing ring, a valve ball (7), a connecting pipe (8), and a valve body (9). A hollow valve ball chamber (911) is provided inside the valve body (9), the valve body (9) is provided with a valve bottom cover hole (912) just below the valve ball chamber (911), and the width of the valve bottom cover hole (912) is larger than the diameter of the valve ball (7). The ball valve also comprises a valve bottom cover (10) corresponding to the valve bottom cover hole (912) so that the valve bottom cover (10) can cover the valve bottom cover hole (912) and can be fusion-bonded to the valve body (9), thereby avoiding the need for electric fusion welding in the manufacture of large-diameter ball valves.
US08807529B2

A butterfly valve for use with a tank trailer includes housing, a lateral extension, a shaft provided through the extension, the back end of the shaft having a seat for accommodating a handle thereon, and further extensions may connect with the first mentioned extension. The handle turns the butterfly valve between opened and closed positions.
US08807523B2

A low-cost safety valve for gas lines and similar supply lines that can be remotely activated via a secure wireless link employing a low leakage sealing mechanism that is compatible with low energy actuators to for extended battery life. A miniaturized controller and wireless electronics assembly provides the control mechanism for actuating the valve, as well as reporting data regarding the valve status to wireless interrogators or external networks via an ad hoc wireless network. A variety of simple magnetic valve operating mechanisms can be implemented with the miniaturized electronic control circuits and the valve body. Such control actuation mechanisms enable automatic resetting or manual resetting valves. The gas line shut off valve can provide important safety benefits at an affordable price.
US08807520B2

A system includes a set of valves and a handle, in which one valve in the set of valves is to be open at one time, and the handle is configured to move the valve between an open position and a closed position. The handle is configured to engage and disengage with the valve only when the valve is in the closed position such that the handle is not removed from the valve when the valve is in the open position. Thus, the system facilitates the sequential opening of valves in a set of valves by generally allowing a limited number of valves to be open at one time.
US08807513B2

A multi-adjustable, rotating, and opposite-double-locking umbrella-stanchion system is operated with one finger for oppositely double-locking and -unlocking the umbrella-supporting post of a crank-arm-operated umbrella to secure it in different positions. The system comprises a canopy system, a supporting post, a stanchion base, a U-shaped rotational lever, an actuator arm, a push rod, two opposite L-shaped locking arms, two opposite locking cleats, radial teeth, and two opposite tension springs for pushing the opposite locking cleats downward to oppositely double-lock the post and the canopy system, in place. The radial teeth are molded to the stanchion base. To operate the system, lift the U-shaped rotational lever with one finger to lift the opposite locking cleats to oppositely double-unlock them. Next, rotate the supporting post to a desired position. Then, release the U-shaped rotational lever to oppositely double-lock the opposite locking cleats between the radial teeth.
US08807510B2

Accuracy of positioning of a turning body to a mounting member when the mounting member and a support member are separate components is improved. In a vehicle door mirror device, a stand of a housing device is mounted to a base by being fastened with mounting screws. Axial directions of the mounting screws are angled with respect to an axial direction of the stand. An inner periphery abutting face and a vertical abutting face of the stand are abutted against an outer periphery abutting face and a perpendicular abutting face of the base in directions perpendicular to the axis of the stand. Thus, the stand is positioned to the base in whole directions perpendicular to the axis of the stand. Therefore, positioning accuracy of the housing device and a main body portion to the base in whole directions perpendicular to the axis of the stand can be improved.
US08807502B2

An adjustable fastener includes a base configured to be fixedly attached to a structure. The base defines a longitudinally extending channel therein. At least a portion of the channel has a plurality of spaced-apart ribs or teeth extending inwardly into the channel. A carriage is movably attached to the base. The carriage is directly attachable to at least a portion of an object. The carriage includes at least two laterally spaced-apart elongated extensions. Each extension has a plurality of complimentary spaced-apart ribs or teeth for engaging the plurality of ribs or teeth of the base to locate and retain the elongated extensions within the channel of the base.
US08807498B1

A sawhorse bracket permits assembly of a heavy duty sawhorse from support lumber pieces that may be easily disassembled for transport and storage. The sawhorse bracket includes a cross beam bracket and two attached and opposing support leg brackets—all of channel-shaped body construction. Both the cross beam bracket and the pair of support leg brackets have retention members that may be utilized to selectively retain support lumber within the respective brackets. A web brace extends between the opposed leg brackets to provide additional lateral support and resist the spreading of the support legs when a load is being carried by the assembled sawhorse.
US08807497B2

A footstand mechanism for adjusting a tilt angle of an electronic device includes a shaft, a first engaging member, a polygonal block and a second engaging member. The shaft is rotatably disposed on a base of the electronic device, and the first engaging member is disposed on the base and located in a position corresponding to an end of the shaft. The polygonal block is installed on the shaft and rotates with the shaft. The polygonal block includes a plurality of supporting surfaces, and the plurality of supporting surfaces is respectively away from the shaft by different distances. The second engaging member is disposed at the end of the shaft and includes a plurality of engaging portions. The plurality of engaging portions is corresponding to the plurality of supporting surfaces for respectively engaging with the first engaging member.
US08807495B2

A load-absorbing device introduces load forces such as cable forces or tensioning forces of sheet-shaped structures into supporting structures (10). At least one load-absorbing part (36, 40) can be anchored on the supporting structure (10) via a bearing element (24). The load-absorbing part (36, 40) has a transmission body (36) forming a convexly shaped transmission surface guided on the bearing element (24) on a carrier surface formed from surface parts adapted to the convexity of the transmission surface.
US08807492B2

A pipe crib-block for supporting a portion of hose or pipe in an elevated disposition. The pipe crib-block comprises a body portion causing a generally flat lower support surface and an upper surface defining a generally wedge-shaped trough in a central portion thereof. A pair of engagement keys project upwardly from the upper surface on opposed sides of the trough and a pair of key receiving apertures are disposed in the lower surface of the body portion. The apertures are axially aligned with the engagement keys and configured to receive therein and cooperate with the engagement keys on a second pipe crib-block such that two or more pipe crib-blocks can be stacked in interlocked parallel or perpendicular orientations so as to define a supporting structure for the pipe or hose at variable elevations.
US08807490B2

There is provided a cable protection and guide apparatus that improves efficiency of cable insertion and maintenance when a connecting arm attached to a link plate by a hinge structure is disconnected. In order to removably connect the connecting arm to the link plate, the guide apparatus has the hinge structure composed of a hinge stem and a hook that is rotatably engaged with the hinge stem. The hinge structure has a disengagement preventing portion that prevents the hook from disengaging from the hinge stem and a rotation restricting portion that restricts the rotation of the connecting arm in the disconnected condition. The rotation restricting portion is composed of a link-side engagement element and an arm-side engagement element. In the rotation restricting condition effected by engagement of the link-side and arm-side engagement elements, a rotational angle of the connecting arm is an obtuse angle.
US08807465B2

A hose-fed lateral move irrigation system and method that utilizes a pipe with a plurality of sprinklers attached to a wheeled cart that pulls a flexible-hose assembly therebehind using at least one onboard winch and travels laterally with the pipe and sprinklers relative to a field so that a sufficient amount of hose may be used to enable total automation of the system.
US08807445B2

A method of auxiliary heater pump control in a vehicle including a heater core and an auxiliary pump in a heater core branch of a vehicle coolant system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: determining if a power plant is on, the power plant being connected to the coolant system; calculating an estimated heating power required to meet HVAC system heating requirements that is a function of mass air flow, specific heat, and a change in temperature in a passenger compartment; determining if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than a minimum required heating power that will be able to maintain thermal comfort in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and if the calculated estimated heating power required is greater than the minimum required heating power and the power plant is not on, activating the auxiliary pump to pump a coolant through the heater core.
US08807434B1

A computer-implemented technique can receive, at a computing device, a uniform resource locator (URL) for a web page and a plurality of images. A number of pixels corresponding to a desired resolution for encoding the images determined and the images are converted to modified images having the desired resolution. The technique can then generate an animated two-dimensional barcode using a plurality of two-dimensional barcodes generated for the plurality of images, respectively. A specific two-dimensional barcode can be generated by: generating first data representative of the modified image and appending the first data to either an end of the URL to obtain a first modified URL or after a terminator bit of the two-dimensional barcode. The two-dimensional barcode can then be generated using the first and second data and third data representative of an error correction code (ECC) and that is based on the first data and the second data.
US08807432B2

Disclosed is a method of and apparatus for managing and redeeming bar-coded coupons that are displayed from a light emitting display surface of an information storage and display device, such as a cell-phone, a smart-phone, or a data communication device. The linear (1D) bar code symbols, associated with bar-coded store coupons, are displayed on the light emitting display surface using in a pulse code modulation (PCM) format, wherein a substantial portion of the pixels on the light emitting display surface are energized and de-energized to emit red-wavelengths of light energy, at a rate which temporally corresponds to the spatial frequency of the bars and spaces of the linear bar code symbol, so that a laser scanning bar code symbol reading device is capable of reading the PCM formatted bar code symbol displayed from the light emitting display surface.
US08807426B1

User credentials are passed to a mobile computing device using scannable images. A scannable image is generated based on a previously created user profile. A user accesses a website from a computer and, in response, the scannable image is locally displayed on the computer. The mobile computing device may be authenticated by capturing the scannable image that is displayed on the computer. In the event that a user profile stored on the mobile computing device matches the previously created user profile that is encoded in the scannable image, the mobile computing device is authenticated. The user may then directly access data and/or interact with the website using the authenticated mobile computing device.
US08807408B2

A storage area, particularly for vehicles, comprising a frame having opposite legs and a plurality of bars extending from one of the opposite legs of the frame to the other leg. The bars are each implemented as a detented system, so that they can be displaced independently of each other between a starting position and an ending position.
US08807400B2

The liquid material discharge device and method discharges a liquid droplet even under a condition where discharge of a small amount of liquid material is required. The apparatus has a liquid chamber having the discharge opening through which the liquid material is discharged, an extrusion member having a plunger and a contact portion, the plunger being thinner than the liquid chamber not to contact a side wall of the liquid chamber and having a forward end portion which advances and retracts within the liquid chamber, and a collision member disposed adjacent to the extrusion member on the side opposite to the plunger and having a piston and a collision portion facing the contact portion. The collision portion collides against the contact portion such that the extrusion member is advanced at a high speed to discharge the liquid material.
US08807397B2

A device that dispense dosages of a free-flowing substance has a support column with a horizontal support arm (10) cantilevered thereon. The device includes a holder unit (20) on which at least one movably supported receiving unit (30) is arranged. The receiving unit is designed so that at least one dosage unit (70) can be set into, as well as taken out of, it. The holder unit contains at least one agitation actuator (50) that acts on the receiving unit. The dosage unit can be fastened to the receiving unit by means of a pre-tensioned clamping module (60). For the insertion and/or removal of the dosage unit, the clamping module can be spread apart from a dispensing position into a loading position by means of an opener module that is based on the holder unit. In the dispensing position, the opener module is uncoupled from the receiving unit.
US08807395B2

A beverage dispensing system is disclosed, typical of prior art beverage dispensing systems, in that it is designed to dispense fluids, such as syrup and/or soda and water, from a bar gun. The bar gun is connected by a multiplicity of lines to a manifold and flow control assembly. The manifold and flow control assembly, in turn, receives a number of different fluids, typically syrup, water and soda, under pressure from a number of different pressurized containers. Applicants' novel system includes schematics, typically in the form of adhesive labels, applied to the dispensing system, typically on the manifold and flow control assembly, which schematics illustrate the button arrangement on the handle, and the inlet port layout on the handle, and relate the same, using words, symbols or a combination, to indicia identified ports on the manifold and flow control assembly.
US08807393B2

The present application describes a product dispenser. The product dispenser may include at least one macro-ingredient source, at least one micro-ingredient source positioned about the dispenser, a diluent source, a dispensing valve, a number of pumps or metering devices, and a user interface. The user interface receives a request for a product type and instructs the pumps or metering devices to dispense a predetermined type and ratio of macro-ingredients, micro-ingredients, and diluent to the dispensing valve for a predetermined flow rate.
US08807391B2

A paint cartridge includes a baggy tank having a dual structure formed by an inner bag and an outer bag in a cylindrical body. Inside the inner bag is a paint chamber. Between the outer bag and the cylindrical body, an extruding liquid flows. A detector provided in the space between the inner bag and the outer bag is visually observable from outside the cylindrical body. In the detector, a pattern formed by using one or more materials changes due to contact with paint which leaks when the inner bag has broken or with extruding liquid which leaks when the outer bag has broken. In consequence, it is possible to detect the breakage of the inner bag and the outer bag by visually observing a change in the detector's pattern from the outside.
US08807387B2

Provided is a removable handle for a kitchen object, having a lateral wall extending upwardly by a part that is curved back towards the outside, the handle comprising an inner jaw and an outer jaw to be respectively brought against the inner and outer surfaces of the lateral wall, the two jaws being mobile in relation to each other between an open position and a closed position wherein they pinch the lateral wall. The outer jaw comprises a groove that can receive the free end of the curved part of the lateral wall in abutment when the jaws are in the closed position thereof.
US08807379B1

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to garbage cans. An integrated garbage can and garbage bag dispenser in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a container having a floor, walls and an open top. A portion of the floor is elevated and has an opening for receiving garbage bags. A lip of the opening slopes down from the opening to a generally horizontal, flat surface of the elevated floor. A drawer extends from a wall of the garbage can near the bottom of the garbage can, and the drawer receives a garbage bag dispenser containing a plurality of garbage bags. When the drawer contains the garbage bag dispenser and is in a closed position, the drawer is positioned below the elevated floor and the bags of the dispenser align with the opening such that the bags may extend up into the container through the floor via the opening. Furthermore, the garbage can is weighted such that removal of a full garbage bag from the can or a new garbage bag from the dispenser will not likely lift the can from the ground.
US08807377B2

The invention provides for a container that may include a liquid-holding vessel and a skeleton shell supporting the liquid holding vessel. The liquid-holding vessel may comprise a flexible polymer or plastic material for preventing contact between a liquid stored in or dispensed from the container and the skeleton. The liquid-holding vessel and the closure may be formed from a minimal amount of polymer or plastic.
US08807375B2

The present invention provides a fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank. The fuel cap includes a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank. The body portion defines a central axis. The fuel cap also includes a valve coupled to the body portion. The valve selectively allows an airflow through the body portion. The fuel cap further includes a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion.
US08807372B2

A cap container includes a tank, a conical protrusion, and a stepped coupling. The tank includes an upper rim, a bottom opposite to the upper rim, and a hole formed through the bottom. The conical protrusion includes a lower end, an upper end, an inner wall extending from the lower end to the upper end and defining a channel, and an engagement part formed at the inner wall near the lower end. The channel passes through the lower end and the upper end and communicates with the hole of the tank, and the channel can receive a straw. The stepped coupling has at least one annular groove and is formed at the bottom of the tank. The cap container can be filled with solid food and combined with a top a commercially available drink container such as a bottle or a cup filled with liquid by the engagement part of the conical protrusion. A user can hold the bottle or the cup combined with the cap container by a hand, and the other hand can swing freely or take the solid food in the tank, such that the user can also suck the liquid from the bottle or cup by the straw at the same time.
US08807368B1

A series of vessels includes first, second, and third vessels. The first vessel includes a first bottom wall and a first coupling feature formed on a bottom surface of the first bottom wall. The second vessel includes a second bottom wall, a second coupling feature, and a third coupling feature. The second coupling feature is formed on a top surface of the second bottom wall and is configured to engage with the first coupling feature to form a first mated pair. The third coupling feature is formed on a bottom surface of the second bottom wall. The third vessel is sized larger than the second vessel and includes a third bottom wall, a fourth coupling feature, and a fifth coupling feature. The fourth coupling feature is formed on a top surface of the third bottom wall and is configured to engage with the third coupling feature of the second vessel to form a second mated pair. The fifth coupling feature is formed on the top surface of the third bottom wall and is configured to selectively engage with the first coupling feature of the first vessel to form a third mated pair.
US08807360B2

A tamper-evident package with pressurized contents which includes a closure and associated container which cooperate to provide desired tamper-evidence upon initial removal of the closure from the container, while promoting convenient and comfortable removal and use by consumers.
US08807357B2

A method of manufacturing a bottle assembly is presented including forming/constructing a body portion having a single dividing wall extending therein and forming/constructing a first chamber for holding a first liquid, the first chamber configured to connect to a first orifice. The method also includes forming/constructing a second chamber for holding a second liquid, the second chamber configured to (i) connect to a second orifice and (ii) continuously abut the first chamber via the single dividing wall being fixed relative to the first and second chambers. The method also includes forming/constructing a weight distribution mechanism configured to be placed entirely within the body portion of the bottle assembly for counterbalancing the first liquid against the second liquid, the weight distribution mechanism traveling, in its entirety, in a substantially semi-circular direction.
US08807356B2

A product merchandising outpost system of the present invention is a versatile and adaptable system of construction that allows for the merchandising of virtually any product at retail. The finished product can be custom manufactured to specific size, finish, material and design. The display can be assembled in multiple configurations based on the merchandising requirements. The product can also be used with or without several optional components. The display consists of a square tube frame with pre-punched holes approximately every four inches along the top and bottom horizontal frame members. Multiple frames can be attached together to create several merchandising display configurations using manufactured connectors. Each frame is outfitted with a merchandising panel. A decorative or functional element, such as display headers and decorative fins may also be attached to the outside of the frame. The entire product merchandising outpost system can be built or reconfigured in the field with common tools and without welding.
US08807352B2

A crockery basket of a dishwasher for receiving pieces of crockery. The crockery basket includes a bottom; lateral parts framing the bottom; and a row of projecting rods that are arranged on the bottom to hold the pieces of crockery. The row of projection rods has a base wire and individual rod wires that are attached to the base wire. Each end of the base wire is bent and fastened to the bottom and, in an area of the row of projecting rods, the base wire is located at a distance from the bottom.
US08807348B2

A card-handling device reads a suit and value of individual cards that are moved through the card-handling device. Reading of the cards is effected after the cards have been received into a card holding area and before the cards have been delivered into a card collection area from which cards are removed from the card-handling device for use. The read suit and rank are then sent to a processor, wherein the processor identifies whether any card is a card that should be rejected from the card-handling device and the card-handling device then rejecting that card from the card-handling device.
US08807340B2

A gas dissolving apparatus that combines a gas at first pressure into a working fluid, the working present at a second pressure equal to or greater than the first pressure. The device includes a molecular mixing chamber which is designed as a truncated conical chamber located between an inlet and an outlet. The device can include a plurality of inlets for the gas to enter into the mixing section, and a plurality of passages through the truncated conical chamber. The truncated conical chamber is surrounded by a cylindrical chamber leading to the outlet of the chamber.
US08807337B2

According to the invention, a golf bag is disclosed. The golf bag may include a frame and a removable cover. The frame may include a top member at a top most portion of the frame, and a bottom member at a bottom most portion of the frame. The removable cover may include a central portion, a first coupling member, and a second coupling member. The first coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a top of the central portion. The second coupling member may be coupled with at least a portion of a bottom of the central portion. The first coupling member may be reversibly coupled with a top most portion of the top member. The second coupling member may be reversibly coupled with a bottom most portion of the bottom member.
US08807335B2

The invention relates to an anti-theft safer for a cassette comprising a cassette receiving case and a locking device being adapted to releasably secure the cassette in the case, wherein the cassette receiving case is a two-part case.
US08807330B2

A device for transporting containers and in particular plastic containers has a main carrier rotatable about a pre-specified main axis D, with a multiplicity of transport elements for transporting the plastic containers. Each of the transport elements is arranged on an arm and can swivel in relation to the main carrier about a pre-specified geometric pivot axis. A multiplicity of independently controllable first drives is provided to generate the swivel movements of the transport elements. Each transport element is also mobile linear in relation to the pivot axis about which it is pivotable, and a multiplicity of independently controllable second drives is provided to generate the linear movement of the transport elements.
US08807327B2

A transfer apparatus includes a primary part, and at least one first and one second secondary part, which are each magnetically coupled to the primary part for drive purposes. A regulation device is provided for regulation of a drive of the secondary parts. The regulation device can regulate the drive of the first secondary part in a first zone of the primary part in accordance with a first regulation rule, and can regulate the drive of the second secondary part in a second zone of the primary part in accordance with a second regulation rule. The first and second regulation rules differ hereby from one another. The first zone is separated from the second zone by a boundary which can be varied dynamically by the regulation device.
US08807324B2

The invention concerns a machine for distributing tablets on a support strip having a determinate number “n” of compartments or alveoli organized in parallel rows and each able to hold at least one tablet. The machine comprises a separation, preparation and alignment device, a conveyor device with transfer pipes and a rotating transfer drum provided with seatings on an external surface. The seatings are made on distinct gripping and transport elements, disposed peripherally and axially to the transfer drum.
US08807319B2

A divider dividing products into parallel lanes comprises a support frame; at least one guide channel for receiving the products, carried by the frame and extending parallel to a longitudinal direction; a fixed first guide connected to the frame and extending parallel to a transversal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction; second guide carried by the frame and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction; first actuator for moving the guide channel parallel to the transversal direction; and second actuator for moving one of two telescopically coupled channel portions of the guide channel relative to the other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction; the second guide connected to the frame in a fixed position; the first/second actuators comprising a first/second motorized cursor slidably coupled to the first/second guide and connected to the guide channel/one of the two channel portions to move it parallel to the transversal/longitudinal direction.
US08807316B2

Disclosed are a banknote processing system and method. The system comprises: a terminal (1), an identification unit (2), a physical banknote box (4), a banknote box information storage unit (5), and a main control unit (3). The identification unit (2) detects the banknotes getting in or out of the physical banknote box (4) to obtain inherent information of the banknotes; the main control unit (3) updates a virtual electronic banknote box according to the inherent information of the banknotes, and determine information of the banknotes in the physical banknote box (4) according to the information of the virtual electronic banknote box. The virtual electronic banknote box is a set of the inherent information of the banknotes, wherein the inherent information of the virtual electronic banknote box is one-to-one mapped to the banknotes in the physical banknote box (4), and the storage sequence of the inherent information is the same as the placement sequence of the banknotes in the physical banknote box (4).
US08807315B2

A discharge device, preferably for a silo, comprising: an outer body (2), provided with an upper opening (21) and a lower opening (22); an inner body (3) positioned inside the first body (2); a plurality of arms (4), interposed between the outer body (2) and inner body (3) so as to connect the inner body (3) to the outer body (2). Each arm (4) is provided with a foot (5) endowed with at least one vibration damping portion (51) which has a resting surface on the outer body (2).
US08807313B2

Hydraulic fan drive system with sensor feed-back. A sensor positioned in the central shaft of the fan drive assembly provides speed feedback signals and eliminates the need for routing the sensor wires.
US08807309B2

The invention relates to a device for inductively transmitting electrical energy to displaceable consumers (F1-F13) that can be moved along a track, having a primary conductor arrangement (2) divided into route segments (3-7) that are electrically separated from each other, and extending along the track, wherein individual route segments (3-7) are each associated with at least one current source (3′-7′) for imprinting a continuous current into each of the route segments (3-7), and to a corresponding method. The aim of the invention is to supply the displaceable consumers in an energy-saving manner with electric energy matched to demand, and to allow short reaction times when operating the device. This aim is achieved by providing the device with a means (11) for determining the total power of the displaceable consumers (F1-F13) present in each of the individual route segments (3-7) and with a means (11) for actuating the current sources (3′-7′) for applying the electrical continuous current corresponding to the total power required for each route segment (3-7), or by determining, according to the method, the required total power of the displaceable consumers (F1-F13) present in each route segment and applying an electrical continuous current to each route segment (3-7) by means of the associated current source (3′-7′), said current corresponding to the total power required therein.
US08807300B2

A method and apparatus for a shock absorber having a damping fluid compensation chamber with a gas charge. In one aspect, a partition separates a first chamber portion from a second chamber portion, wherein the first portion of the chamber is at a first initial gas pressure and the second portion of the chamber is at a second initial pressure. A valve separates the first and second chamber portions and opening the valve commingles the first and second chamber portions so that the combined chamber portions are at a third pressure. In another aspect, a piston disposed through a wall is in pressure communication with the gas charge and is biased inwardly toward a pressure of the charge, whereby an indicator is movable by the piston in response to the pressure.
US08807297B2

A mechanical disk brake caliper assembly includes a caliper body, a crank arm, a push member defines a push portion biasable by the crank arm, a first brake pad and a second brake pads disposed at two sides relative to a disk brake rotor, a lever arm pivoted to the caliper body and defining a driven arm portion and a bearing arm portion, and a horizontal displacement means for causing the push member to move during rotation of the push member. During movement of the push member, the push portion of the push member pushes the first brake pad and the driven arm portion, causing the bearing arm portion to move the second brake pad toward the first brake pad, and therefore the first and second brake pads are synchronously moved into operative engagement with the disk brake rotor.
US08807293B2

A brake system comprising a structural unit adapted to be connected to a structure and defining a channel for the axial movement of a hoisting rope therein. A brake unit has a brake pad and an arm secured to one another for concurrent movement and movably mounted to the structural unit by at least one joint. The arm is in operative contact with a user end of the hoisting rope to be displaced with the brake pad between a hoisting position by a tautening of the hoisting rope, in which hoisting position the brake pad is distanced from the hoisting rope in the structural unit to allow movement of the hoisting rope in both pulling and releasing directions of the axial movement, and a braking position by a release of tension in the hoisting rope, in which the brake pad is displaced into contact with the hoisting rope.
US08807292B2

Improvements in a braking system for a zip line are presented. Braking occurs when a zip line rider makes contact with a braking carriage that slides along the zip line. The braking carriage pulls on a rope. The rope pulls on a length of chain in a chain reservoir to slide and lift the claim through the chain reservoir. The chain reservoir is an elongated tube that is mounted at an angle. As the zip liner moves further into the landing platform they lift a continuing greater amount of chain from the chain reservoir. The angle of the chain reservoir, coefficient of friction between the chain and the chain reservoir affects the pull-back. After the zip liner comes to a complete stop they remove the carriage from the zip line and gravity returns the brake mechanism. Minimum pull-back makes removal of the cable trolley easier.
US08807287B2

The present invention discloses a universal elevator operation plate to overcome the problems of the existing operation plate which is provided with floor buttons corresponding to the number of the floors of a building. The elevator operation plate of the present invention uses floor election buttons to show the numeric “0-9”, a clear button, a floor confirmation button, and a number/letter switch button to achieve floor election operation to indicate the floor by number or letter. The present invention can be produced in standardization to lower the cost.
US08807282B2

A lubricant system is disclosed, in particular for the supply of lubricant to a user in a gas turbine aircraft engine. The system includes a lubricant reservoir, where in the lubricant reservoir a lubricant can be set in rotation by at least one rotatable drum that is integrated into the lubricant reservoir or by at least one rotatable blade that is integrated into the lubricant reservoir, such that the lubricant, as a result of centrifugal force, comes into contact against a rotationally symmetrical wall of the lubricant reservoir, and from there can be transported toward a user. A drive system is included for the or each rotatable drum or the or each rotatable blade of the lubricant reservoir. At least one rotating lubricant separator is provided for the venting of the lubricant. The or each lubricant separator can be driven by the drive system of the or of each rotatable drum and/or of the or of each rotatable blade of the lubricant reservoir.
US08807268B2

A loudspeaker comprises a reflex port located within the enclosure at a point substantially co-incident with a nodal surface of at least one resonant mode within the enclosure. The amplitude of that resonance at the input to the duct is minimized, hence assisting in filtering out the effect of that resonance without needing absorptive material. Ideally, it is placed at the intersection of two or more nodal surfaces.
US08807263B2

An excavator includes a frame, and a platform on top of the frame. A hydraulic distribution system is received on top of the frame but below the platform. A pilot valve unit is at least partly received on top of the platform. The platform includes a dedicated hole capable of receiving therethrough at least that part of the pilot valve unit which is received on top of the platform. The pilot valve unit is fixed, directly or indirectly, on the platform. The pilot valve unit can be mounted from below the platform, through the dedicated hole, and is fixed on the platform from above the platform.
US08807259B2

A motorcycle includes a seat supported on a pair of seat frames of a vehicle body frame. A rear wheel is disposed under the pair of seat frames in a side view of the motorcycle, and is swingable in an up-down direction. A damper includes a hydraulic jack to adjust the vehicle height. The pump unit includes a hydraulic pump to feed oil to the hydraulic jack and a vehicle height adjusting motor to drive the hydraulic pump. The vehicle height adjusting motor is located under the seat, and disposed between the pair of seat frames in a plan view of the motorcycle.
US08807254B2

The invention provides an electrical wheel comprising a hub located along a center line, a rim being rotatable about the hub such that the center line forms axis of revolution, and an electrical unit arranged to provide torque between the hub and the rim. The rim forms a compartment with a sidewall extending between a circular bottom and an opening. The hub extends through a suspension located centrally in the circular bottom and terminates in a free end inside the compartment. The electrical unit is located in the compartment in continuation of the hub and fixed to the free end of the hub. The wheel comprises a transmission for transferring the torque from the electrical unit to the rim. The transmission is arranged in the compartment about the hub, and the transmission is located between the bottom and the electrical unit.
US08807234B2

An automated storage system is presented, in which a stacker crane can properly operate even in a high temperature environment, while simplifying the construction of the system facility.The automated storage system includes articles storage racks having a plurality of storage spaces for storing articles; a stacker crane 3 which freely travels along the travelling path, and a ground controller H which is on the ground side to control the operation of the stacker crane, and a fire fighting nozzles 26 on the platform 20. The article storage racks and the stacker crane are located in a high temperature environmental space Z2, while the extinguishant supply source 27 and the ground side controller are in a normal temperature environmental space Z1. A control line 31 is established from the ground side controller and the stacker crane, and a fire fighting hose 30 is from the extinguishant supply source to the fire fighting nozzle. The control line and the fire fighting hose are contained in a common travelling cable guide 32 and have travelling portions to be guided 30a and 31a, whose paths are deformable in accordance with the course of the travelling carriage 18.
US08807229B2

A tool is provided for installing a mandrel in a wellhead assembly. The tool includes an assembly having multiple independently translatable and rotatable members. The tool includes an inner member disposed in an inner sleeve. The inner member may be disposed in a first position and second position, such that in the first position the inner sleeve freely rotates and in the second position rotation of the inner sleeve causes rotation of the inner member. An outer sleeve is disposed over the inner sleeve and may be coupled to a hold down ring. The inner member may be coupled to mandrel. The tool may be inserted into a wellhead assembly and the outer rotated to engage the hold down ring, the inner and outer sleeve may be translated axially to allow rotation of the inner member to disengage the tool from the mandrel.
US08807223B2

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with redundant parallel fluid flow control systems to allow new methods to stop subsea blow outs. More specifically, this invention provides methods and apparatus to construct subsea wells with a plurality of redundant parallel paths allowing for the first time drill pipe and other intervention conduits, wire line, and fluids to be deployed below a damaged drilling riser and or a damaged blow out preventer through a separate blow out preventer and riser system presented in this invention.
US08807220B2

The present invention provides a method of producing upgraded hydrocarbons in-situ from a production well. The method begins by operating a subsurface recovery of hydrocarbons with a production well. An RF absorbent material is heated by at least one RF emitter and used as a heated RF absorbent material, which in turn heats the hydrocarbons to be produced. Hydrocarbons are upgraded in-situ and then produced from the production well.
US08807217B2

A method for using or removing unused rock debris from a bored passageway through subterranean strata using at least one rock breaking apparatus engaged with a conduit string and placed within the subterranean passageway proximal region, using a member adapted to increase the volume of reduced particle size rock debris generated by increasing the frequency of impact and associated breakage of the rock debris inventory, per revolution of the conduit string and/or per volume of fluid slurry circulated. The used volume of rock debris inventory coats the unlined strata wall of said passageway to inhibit strata fracture initiation or propagation, and the unused rock debris inventory is urged from the passageway at an increased rate by the associated reduction in fluid slurry suspension or velocities needed to urge the rock debris through the unlined strata passageway of improved pressure integrity from inhibiting said initiation or propagation of strata fractures.
US08807211B2

A shutoff tool for being entered into a well bore and shutting off openings or leaks, said shutoff tool comprising: one or more enclosures prepared for comprising a sealant, said sealant being capable of shutting off openings or leaks when cured. An outer inflatable bladder arranged outside and covering said one or more enclosures, said outer inflatable bladder being prepared for rupturing in positions where it is not supported during inflation, said rupturing will provide access from said one or more enclosures to the outside of said outer inflatable bladder. An inner inflatable bladder arranged inside the outer inflatable bladder and such that said one or more enclosures will be arranged between the outer and the inner inflatable bladders, such that when inflated said inner inflatable bladder can exert a pressure on said one or more enclosures. A core arranged inside said inner inflatable bladder, and prepared for supplying a pressurized fluid into said inner inflatable bladder.
US08807202B2

A heat dissipation device includes a fixing bracket and a heat sink connected to the fixing bracket in a horizontal rotation manner. The fixing bracket includes a fixing plate defining a through hole. Two blocks extend up from a top of the fixing plate around the through hole. A latching portion extends towards the through hole from a top of an inner side of each block. The heat sink includes a bottom plate, a number of fins extending up from a top of the bottom plate, and a base extending down from a bottom of the bottom plate. The base is received in the through hole of the fixing bracket and includes a main body, and two flanges extending outwards from a bottom circumference of the main body, to engage with bottoms of the latching portions, respectively.
US08807201B2

A device and a method for horizontal casting of a metal band. The device includes a dispensing vessel for a melt and a cooled conveyor belt disposed downstream of the dispensing vessel in the casting direction running between two deflecting rollers and on which the metal band can be transported. The device further includes at least one roller that can be engaged with the metal band for profiling. Early and therefore improved influence on the profile of a metal band, that is the leader band, is thereby made possible.
US08807186B1

A hot laminating apparatus includes a first pressing roller, a second pressing roller, a first heating element, and a first bimetallic structure. The first bimetallic structure is arranged between the first heating element and the first pressing roller. The first heating element is used for providing heat energy to the first pressing roller. As the ambient temperature changes, the first bimetallic structure is subjected to deformation to allow the first heating element to be away from the first pressing roller or allow the first heating element to be close to the first pressing roller.
US08807182B2

The present invention provides an automatic tire pressurizing and regulating system. The system maintains a predetermined pressure in a pneumatic tire during rotation of the tire. The system comprises a fill valve, one or more pumping devices, and a belt that provides fluid pathways that allow fluid (e.g., air) to flow between the outside atmosphere, the pumping device(s), and the tire as needed to maintain the predetermined pressure.
US08807170B2

A series progressive divider valve comprises a valve body having pistons. The valve body comprises a fluid inlet, piston bores, outlet bores, porting and bypass passages. The fluid inlet extends into the valve body. The piston bores extend through the valve body from a first end to a second end and include a piston. The outlet bores extend into the valve body, and each comprises first and second sets of outlet bores, wherein the outlet bores in each set are connected in an open-loop flow path. The porting forms passageways connecting the piston bores to each other and with the outlet bores such that when high pressure fluid is applied to the inlet each of the pistons reciprocates from the first end to the second end in sequence. The bypass passages each have a first end penetrating an outlet bore and a second end connected to an adjacent outlet.
US08807164B2

The present invention provides devices and methods for micro-scale simulated moving bed chromatography (SMB) for continuous preparation of analytic quantities of highly pure fractions of target molecules. The present apparatus and method of the invention is adapted in a preferred embodiment to separations by affinity chromatography involving three discontinuous liquid flow loops. An alternative embodiment of affinity chromatography utilizes standard SMB operating under isocratic conditions.
US08807163B2

A vacuum sizing tank configured to provide controlled fluid flow. A fluid control system and a vacuum sizing tank utilizing electronic controls to create and maintain controllable fluid flow within the tank. Flow meters may measure the flow in and out of the tank to maintain consistency. Temperature meters may measure the temperatures for each of the flows to maintain consistency. An electronic circuit may compare the values with preset values. Any difference between the values may trigger change by varying the voltage applied to a variable speed water pump.
US08807161B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to a fuel line valve for an aircraft, that includes a shell capable of rotation inside the valve body and connected to a driving shaft driven by an electric actuator. The valve further includes a torque generation means and position detection means. The torque generation means are connected to the shell and generate a torque that varies based on the position of said shell in the valve body on the driving shaft. The position detection means provide electric signals characterizing the positions of said driving shaft. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a method for diagnosing the operation of such a valve in order to detect a failure during the operation thereof, and to a device for implementing said method.
US08807160B2

A gas fuel tank with an internal emission fuel system includes a fill-and-vent valve system inside the fuel tank that controls fuel vapor through an exterior carbon canister and prevents spit back. This inventive system prevents exposure of the carbon canister to liquid or fuel. The fill valve assembly has a nylon wedge float that causes the fuel fill nozzle to shut off once the liquid level seals the valve opening. The vent valve assembly also has a nylon wedge float that shuts off vapor once the liquid level seals the valve opening.
US08807157B2

A hose reel assembly including a drum assembly and a motor drive system, wherein: the motor drive system includes a drive motor arranged within the drum assembly and further arranged to drive the drum assembly from inside the drum assembly, wherein the drum assembly is arranged to axially rotate relative to the drive motor, and the drum assembly includes a removable access panel for providing access to the drive motor.
US08807154B2

A rupture disk is provided for relieving pressure between the interior of a battery box and the exterior of the battery box, the box having an outlet opening. A first layer provides a gasket which abuts the battery box, the gasket having a central opening which aligns with the battery box opening. A second layer is in the form of a reverse buckling disk having a disk flange, a domed portion and a weakened portion on the dome that defines a disk burst pressure, the second layer having concave and convex sides. A third layer that is an outlet ring that sandwiches the second layer in between the first and the third layer layers, the outlet ring having a central opening surrounded by an edge. A plurality of teeth on the third layer extend from said edge inwardly. A plurality of tabs are provided on the first and third layers.
US08807148B2

The invention relates to a kit including an application device and an extracting member. The application device comprises a protective tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an interchangeable cartridge, and a control mechanism for sliding the cartridge into the protective tube. The cartridge comprises a stick of material held by a cup that comprises an inner lip. In order to extract the cartridge from the application device when said cartridge is used, the stick of material can be penetrated by the extracting member that comprises an outer lip suitable for holding the inner lip of the cup.
US08807145B2

An artificial nail is formed by injection molding a first section and a second section. The first section and second section are adjacent to one another. One of the sections defines a front distal tip of the artificial nail and is formed by injecting a quantity of heated material under pressure from a nozzle into a sprue, through a runner and through a cavity gate into a mold cavity. The other section is formed by injecting another quantity of heated material under pressure from a heated nozzle through another cavity gate into the mold cavity.
US08807142B2

A class of molecularly imprinted polymers that specifically recognizes and binds to nitrosamines members of which class are useful, for example, in analysis and separation of nitrosamines from biological fluids. Such molecularly imprinted polymers are also useful in methods of treating and manufacturing tobacco products and materials.
US08807137B2

A magnetic force system uses a magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the pharynx and another magnetic implant sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, palate, or pharynx. The system establishes different regions of magnetic interaction between the two implants across the airway, attracting and repelling, such that attractive interaction in one region of the implants combines with repelling interaction in another region of the implants, to provide a “hinge” structure. Alternatively, a magnetic force system that uses three magnetic implants sized and configured to be inserted in the tongue, pharynx, and palate, respectively. The tongue implant is attracted to the palatal implant, and repels the pharyngeal implant, forming a modified “hinge” structure. Forces of magnetic attracting bring tissue together to form a magnetic hinge joint, providing an anchor to stabilize the regions where repelling forces work to separate tissue to keep the airway open.
US08807136B2

There is disclosed an endotracheal tube which has a minimal cross-sectional profile for easy viewing of anatomical features during intubation. After the tube is placed into the trachea, the tube is adapted to increase the diameter. In this manner the tube diameter may be expanded to allow for decreased Work of Breathing (WOB) for patient, while not having so large a diameter as to cause tracheal discomfort.
US08807126B2

A sawing rope (270) with abrasive elements (506) fixed on a steel rope (502) with a polymer jacket (504) is described and claimed. The abrasive elements (506) are made of a metallic sleeve on which an abrasive layer is deposited by means of electrolytic deposition, by means of sintering or by means of cladding for example laser cladding. Characteristic about this sawing rope (270) in view of the prior known sawing ropes is that each sleeve shows a connection or closure. Such a connection makes it possible to attach abrasive elements (506) on the rope without having to thread them on the rope (270) as is needed when making prior-art sawing ropes. The inventive sawing rope (270) can therefore be made in long lengths in a very efficient way.
US08807121B2

A pressure control device controls a pressure of fuel supplied from a fuel tank to an engine via a fuel pump. The pressure control device includes a valve device, a first force-applying device and a second force-applying device. The valve device is provided in a path of the fuel from the fuel pump to the engine and comprising a valve and a spring. The valve is movable in an opening direction and a closing direction for permitting and preventing flow of the fuel from the fuel pump to the engine, respectively. The spring applies a first force to the valve in the closing direction. The first force-applying device is operable to apply a second force to the valve in the opening direction depending on the pressure of the fuel supplied from the fuel pump. The second force-applying device is operable to apply a third force to the valve in the opening direction independently of the second force applied by the first force-applying device or independently of the pressure of the fuel used for the first force-applying device.
US08807117B2

In a situation where a conventional inductive throttle sensor is used with a motor-driven throttle valve device to detect the rotation angle of a throttle shaft, plural sensor connection conductor sections for connecting a connector terminal to a circuit board terminal section are formed on the cover on one lateral surface side of a circuit board in the long-axis direction. This increases the dimension of the cover in the short-axis direction (the dimension in the direction of air flow in an intake path). Consequently, it is difficult to install the motor-driven throttle valve device and inductive throttle sensor in a narrow engine room. This problem is addressed by using a separate member to achieve electrical conduction between a stator circuit board and a conductor routed inside the cover installed over the stator circuit board in a concentrated manner on one side of the circuit board. The problem is also addressed by disposing plural electrical conduction spots in a decentralized manner and away from a protrusion provided to limit the amount of axial movement of a gear.
US08807112B2

A piston rolling thrust bearing construction is constituted of a pair of bearing plates with opposing faces disposed in a spaced alignment with a rolling ball assembly positioned between the opposing faces to support relative movement between the bearing plates. The piston rolling thrust bearing is mounted to the open end of the skirt of a piston disposed in a cylinder to compensate for non-axial motion relative to the cylinder axis due to the articulating motions of connecting elements or any structural misalignments within an engine drive train assembly.
US08807111B2

An oil pump modification adaptor for retrofitting an automobile engine that converts a no-filtration system or a bypass filtration system to a full-flow filtration system. The adaptor modifies the oil pump by providing a full-flow filtration that removes suspended particulates in the oil, so that the particulates do not damage the engine. The flow path of a lubricating oil is modified such that oil is prevented from directly entering the engine unfiltered from an oil reservoir. The adaptor has an integral oil pressure regulator that maintains design oil pressure during conditions of low and high engine speed while directing oil through a filter before entering the engine galleries and passages. The adaptor easily installs and replaces an end plate on a pump housing on the original pump.
US08807104B2

A mechanically controllable valve operating mechanism includes a cylinder head, a camshaft, a transmission arrangement mounted to move in the cylinder head via a bearing device. A gas exchange valve has the transmission arrangement act thereon. A valve-lift adjusting device comprises a rotatable adjusting element with an eccentric element having two base points and a peak contour, and at least one further eccentric element. The valve-lift adjusting device acts on the transmission arrangement so that different valve-lift positions are settable. The transmission arrangement is connected to the valve-lift adjusting device and to the camshaft. The at least one further eccentric element of the rotating adjusting element is arranged so that at least two peak contours are provided so that, depending on a rotational angle α of the rotating adjusting element, the eccentric element or the at least one further eccentric element engage with the transmission arrangement.
US08807096B2

A heat management module of a cooling system of an internal combustion engine which has a valve housing that includes at least one first feed connection for cooling water of a bypass circuit and at least one adjacent second feed connection for cooling water of a radiator circuit. The feed connections can be connected to a discharge connection depending on the position of a valve member accommodated in the valve housing. A driving element which actuates the valve member is provided on the valve housing. The driving element is a hydrostatic servo motor, which produces a rotating driving motion and which uses a feed pressure line that branches from the cooling system for pressurization.
US08807094B1

The hybrid multi-power stroke engine is an improved internal combustion engine that includes a steam engine integrated into the design, which derives power from heat generated at the combustion chamber as well as exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine. The steam engine injects and exhausts superheated steam directly into the cylinder on a 5th and 6th stroke thereby alternating the engine from internal combustion to steam. A water tank is in fluid communication with a water pump and piping that passes across the cylinder block whereby heat is removed therefrom. The piping is in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold that transfers superheated steam to an electronic steam intake valve that injects the superheated steam on a 5th stroke. An auxiliary camshaft opens an exhaust steam valve on a 6th stroke in order to exhaust the expanded steam from the cylinder.
US08807088B2

A dispensing toy for an animal. The dispensing toy may include a dispensing pump and a reservoir. The dispensing pump may include a liquid container having a wall and a first opening defined therein. The dispensing pump may also include an actuator having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the actuator is received in the first liquid container opening and the second end of the actuator includes a configuration to be engaged by an animal. The dispensing pump may also include a bore extending from the first end to the second end of the actuator, a gasket coupled to the actuator wherein the gasket exhibits an interference fit with said liquid container wall, and a locking feature affixed to the first end of the actuator.
US08807082B1

A pet food dish assembly, having a food container with a first container section, and a first bottom edge; and a water container having at least second and third container sections, a first exterior sidewall, a top wall, and a second bottom edge. The top wall has a channel extending between the second and third container sections. The food container mounts onto the water container over the second container section. The first bottom edge is elevated above the top wall when the food container is mounted onto the water container. The food container further has a second exterior sidewall with at least one cutout. The at least one cutout aligns with the channel when the food container is mounted onto the water container. The second container section stores liquid matter to create a barrier to prevent access to and/or contamination of the food container by crawling insects.
US08807079B2

An apparatus for milking an animal and provides a milking parlor includes first and second robotic manipulation devices and a plurality of milking stalls provided on a platform moveable relative to the robotic manipulation devices. The robotic manipulation devices are positioned so that each of the robotic manipulation devices is able to simultaneously service two neighboring milking stalls on the platform.
US08807073B2

A robot arrangement, for example for a painting booth, and exemplary methods associated with the same, are disclosed. An exemplary robot arrangement may comprise a displacement rail, a plurality of robots, such as painting robots or handling robots, which can be displaced along the displacement rail, and a plurality of energy supply chains. The energy supply chains may supply one of the robots each, and may be associated with said robot, and each of the energy supply chains may run along the displacement rail in a particular track. The energy supply chains which are associated with the robots on the same displacement rail may run in discrete tracks.
US08807067B2

A tool and a process for producing a repair coating on at least one metallic surface that is coated with at least one corrosion protecting coating A applied with at least one composition selected from the group of pretreatment compositions, of organic compositions and of silicon compound(s) containing compositions. Corrosion protecting coating A has been at least partially removed in area Z. Corrosion protecting coating B contains a silicon compound and is applied as a solution or dispersion containing a silane, a silanol, a siloxane, a polysiloxane or mixture thereof on at least a part of the area Z. A further corrosion protecting coating C may be applied. The tool is provided for use in the process.
US08807064B2

A scoreboard assembly has a scoreboard, a storage box and a detachable stand. The scoreboard includes a folding board. The storage box is detachably connected to the scoreboard. The stand is detachably connected to the scoreboard and is detachable into a top board, a telescopic column, a joint and at least three legs. The telescopic column is detachably connected to the top board. The joint is detachably connected to the telescopic column. The legs are detachably connected to the joint. When the scoreboard assembly is in use, the stand is assembled and the scoreboard is elevated by the stand, which allows players and spectators to watch the score displayed on the scoreboard easily. When the scoreboard assembly is not in use, the stand is disassembled for storage in the storage box and the folding board of the scoreboard is folded to cover the storage box for portability.
US08807058B1

A diving services multihull vessel with a starboard pontoon and a port pontoon, with dive support stations built into the bow and stern, a port independently operable water jet drive operated by a port diesel engine; a starboard independently operable water jet drive operated by a starboard diesel engine; a dive compressor, a water jetting unit, a hydraulic power unit, a decompression chamber, a generator; a fuel tank, an onboard dive server for tracking divers and monitoring dive operations and presenting the information on the display as well as for tracking sensor signals including diver depth, elapsed time of dive, ambient water temperature around a diver, video and/or audio feed from a diver and presenting on a display, as well as transmitting via a network to a location remote to the vessel, wherein the vessel further includes a helm control connected to a navigation control and the jet drives.
US08807057B2

The movement along the ground in seed and fertilizer distribution systems of seeder and fertilizer machines is improved by a load transfer device comprising a deformable parallelogram-shaped structure attached to the machine tool holder bar at one end and to the distribution system at the other end, and a transfer rack that articulates in one of the parallelogram vertexes acting as a rocker arm. The rocker arm is connected at one end to the parallelogram and at the other end to at least one spring through a lever arm that extends downwardly and divergently, generating a crossing angle between the parallelogram lower un upper sides, creating a torque that varies not only for the spring tension by also for the ratio of the effective lengths of the involved lever arms.
US08807055B2

A process for capturing undesirable combustion products produced in a high temperature combustion system in which a carbonaceous fuel is utilized. Very finely sized particles of alkaline earth carbonates or hydroxides, with or without added ground ash, are provided in slurry form and are injected into the high temperature zone of a furnace. The particles flash calcine to provide substantially unagglomerated particles having a particle size of less than about 0.5 microns to capture and neutralize SOx, NOx, and toxic metals present in the combustion products.
US08807046B2

A model train track rail cleaning device includes a base, a cleaning pad mounted to the bottom of the base and a grip body coupled with the top of the base. The cleaning pad has a set of grooves positioned parallel to one another and spaced to receive track rails when the pad is in a first orientation. The cleaning pad also has a second set of grooves positioned parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first set. The second set of grooves is spaced to receive track rails when the pad is in a second orientation. Preferably, the first set of grooves is spaced to receive the rails on model track of a first size and the second set of grooves is spaced to receive the rails on model track of a second size. The cleaning device is pushed and pulled across the rails to clean them.
US08807045B2

A transportation apparatus configured to travel on rails and having an induced freezing rail system includes: a transportation vehicle having a support unit configured to support a frame from the rails; and a freezing rail system comprising freezing rails positioned on a ground surface corresponding to the support unit of the transportation vehicle, the freezing rails having a refrigerant and cooling devices.
US08807033B2

A print control strip to be applied to printing material during a multicolor printing process, includes multiple measuring fields associated with one ink zone on the printing material. The measuring fields, which are associated with one ink zone, include at least two gray measuring fields. A method of measuring measuring fields in print control strips on printing material with a measuring device and a control unit connected thereto, and a method of controlling metering of ink in offset printing presses including at least one ink metering device in each printing unit and a control unit, are also provided.
US08807030B2

A clamping device for a printing cylinder with two holders arranged on a joint axis, the holders each having a recess for receiving one end of the printing cylinder and being arranged with their recesses oriented towards each other and positioned adjustably to each other, with at least one of the recesses having a contact surface on which the allocated end of the printing cylinder is held during clamping. At least one of the holders comprises a carrier and a contact element fastened on the carrier on which the contact surface is formed. The contact element comprises a material which has a higher current conductivity and/or thermal conductivity than steel. In particular, copper or a copper alloy is suitable as a material for the contact element.
US08807028B2

A graphic arts die assembly and chase for use in a graphic arts press are disclosed for use in conjunction with a press. The die assembly includes a die plate formed at least partially of ferromagnetic material and a chase with a plurality of magnet assemblies configured to provide a magnetic coupling force to selectively secure the die plate to the chase. The chase includes an actuatable releasing assembly to exert a disengagement force to separate the magnetic securement between the plates.
US08807027B2

An apparatus for metering printing ink includes an ink fountain roller, an ink fountain and a mounting for the ink fountain. The mounting permits an adjustment of the ink fountain relative to the ink fountain roller. The mounting has at least one elastic element for generating a holding force. The mounting is configured in such a way that a force flux which results from the holding force deflects the ink fountain roller in such a way that its longitudinal outer contour is adapted to the longitudinal outer contour of the ink fountain. A printing press having the apparatus is also provided.
US08807019B2

A device (1) for loading and ejecting pods/cartridges (C) and the like containing a substantially granular preparation for use in machines for infusions such as coffee and the like. The device includes: a support (2); a housing (3) for a cartridge (C), rotatably connected to the support (2); an element (4) for extracting the infusion, connected to the housing (3); a device (5, 6) for locking and supporting the housing (3); an ejector (31) apt to eject the cartridge (C) from the housing (3); and an element (21) for actuating the ejector (31).
US08807015B2

According to one embodiment, there is provide a piston pump, including: a cylinder having a bottomed cylindrical shape; a piston slidable within the cylinder, the cylinder and the piston defining a pressure chamber therebetween; a suction valve unit disposed in a suction passage of the pressure chamber; and a discharge valve unit disposed in a discharge passage of the pressure chamber, wherein the piston includes a cylindrical piston portion and a large diameter piston portion provided to cover one end of the cylindrical piston portion, and wherein the large diameter piston portion includes a working fluid guide groove extending thereinside along the axial direction of the piston.
US08807011B2

A method of removably securing a gas regulating sleeve and a gas line to a rifle by: fluidly coupling a gas block to a bore of a barrel of the rifle; removably locating and securing the gas regulating sleeve in the gas block, the gas line being in fluid communication with the bore via the gas regulating sleeve, and wherein a portion of the gas line is received within an impingement cylinder of a bolt assembly of the rifle when it is in a first position, and wherein the impingement cylinder moves away from the gas line as it moves from the first position to a second position due to gases from the gas block; and wherein the gas regulating sleeve and the gas line are removable from the gas block without disconnecting the barrel from the receiver and without removal of the gas block from the barrel.
US08807004B1

This disclosure relates to launchers and launcher systems for discharging or launching payloads to downrange targets, and associated methods of using such launcher systems. This disclosure further provides methods for attenuating or reducing felt recoil such that relatively large weight payloads can be launched while the launcher is handheld or mounted in any manner. Examples of payloads that can be deployed with the disclosed launcher apparatus include chemical, biological, pyrotechnic, marker, tracer, signaling, non-lethal, anti-personnel, explosive, smoke, and similar payloads.
US08807003B2

A method comprises providing a gun string assembly within a wellbore and perforating the wellbore using the gun string assembly. The gun string assembly comprises a plurality of perforating guns coupled in series. A first perforating gun of the plurality of perforating guns comprises a first portion of shaped charges, and a second perforating gun of the plurality of perforating guns comprises a second portion of shaped charges operably associated with a secondary pressure generator. The first perforating gun and the second perforating gun are configured in the gun string assembly to provide a pressure transient comprising one or more pressures at a location in the wellbore that meet one or more thresholds.
US08806990B1

A handtool includes a first element and a second element. A pivot end of the first element is pivotably disposed on a pivot trough of the second element wherein the pivot trough having a lateral breach. The pivot end is able to slide in the pivot trough between a restriction position and a pivotable position along a longitudinal direction of the second element. When the pivot end is located at the restriction position, the pivot end is hindered by the bottom of the pivot trough so as to fail to pivot with respect to the pivot trough. When the pivot end is located at the pivotable position, the pivot end is away from the bottom of the pivot trough so as to be pivotable via the breach. As a result, the present invention is easy to bend for use.
US08806978B2

An accelerator device includes: an accommodation part; a rotation shaft having a first end and a second end that are supported by the accommodation part; a pedal part having a first end fixed to the rotation shaft and a second end to be pressed by a driver of a vehicle in an open direction; a return mechanism part biasing the rotation shaft to be rotated in a close direction opposite from the open direction; and a seal member restricting a foreign matter from entering an interior space of the accommodation part.
US08806962B2

A torque detection device includes: a magnetic flux collecting unit, and a sensor housing. The magnetic flux collecting unit includes a holder, first and second magnetic flux collecting rings, and a magnetic shield. The holder has upper and lower through-holes. The first and second magnetic flux collecting rings are fitted to an inner periphery of the holder. The magnetic shield is fitted to an outer periphery of the holder so as to cover the through-holes. The sensor housing is formed integrally with the magnetic flux collecting unit by supplying resin onto an outer periphery of the magnetic flux collecting unit. The holder has a resin flow passage in its outer periphery. Resin that is supplied at the time of forming the sensor housing flows into the through-holes through the resin flow passage.
US08806961B1

The portable pneumatic impact wrench testing machine is a portable torque tester that tests the torque output of a pneumatic impact wrench. The machine includes a first member that is hingedly attached to a second member via a hinge member. A hydraulic jack is positioned between the first member and the second member, and includes a gauge that translates compression or pressure imposed on the hydraulic jack into torque that an impact wrench is inputting. A bolt member is positioned between the hinge member and hydraulic jack, and the bolt member passes across the first member and the second member. A nut extends on an outer surface of the second member, and is threadably engaged to the bolt member. The impact wrench rotates said nut thereby squeezing the first member towards the second member in order to compress the hydraulic jack positioned there between.
US08806959B2

A Coriolis mass flowmeter with at least one measurement tube (2) for forming a flow channel, at least one vibration generator and at least one vibration pick-up, the measurement tube (2) having one inlet end (4), two vibration sections (3a, 3b) and one outlet end (5) and being bent at least in sections such that two U-shaped or V-shaped vibration sections (3a, 3b) which run in essentially parallel planes are formed, and the vibration sections (3a, 3b) can be excited to vibrations by the vibration generator. The flow channel, except for the inlet end (4), the vibration sections (3a, 3b) and the outlet end (5), runs within a solid base (6).
US08806956B2

A magnetic flowmeter sensor includes two sensor faces, a conduit, a liner lining the conduit, and mechanical fasteners. The sensor faces are on each end of the sensor for connecting the sensor to the process fluid flow. The conduit connects the two sensor faces for conducting the process fluid flow through the sensor. The liner extends across at least a portion of each sensor face at each end of the flowmeter sensor to form a planar sealing surface on each end of the sensor. The liner includes holes through which the mechanical fasteners pass to mechanically attach the liner to the flowmeter sensor to prevent shifting of the liner. The mechanical fasteners do not extend beyond the planar sealing surfaces.
US08806950B2

A method and apparatus for an electromagnetic acoustic transducer. An apparatus comprises a conductive material and a current inducer. The conductive material is configured to generate a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field has magnetic flux lines that are substantially fixed and the conductive material has a temperature that is equal to or less than a critical temperature at which the conductive material has substantially zero electrical resistance. The current inducer is configured to cause an electric current to flow in a test object that interacts with the magnetic field, wherein the electric current has a frequency that generates an acoustic wave in the test object.
US08806947B2

An ultrasonic wave propagation time measurement system comprises: a transmitting section that transmits an electromagnetic wave signal indicating transmission timing and an ultrasonic wave signal, and a receiving section that detects the transmitted electromagnetic wave signal and the ultrasonic wave signal and calculates an ultrasonic wave propagation time based on reception times of the electromagnetic wave signal and the ultrasonic wave signal; and an initial mode setting mechanism that constitutes an optimum ultrasonic wave transmission/reception system by selecting the set values of one or more setting parameters is provided in a controlling unit that controls the transmission of the signals in the transmitting section and in a data processing unit that controls the detection and calculation in receiving section.
US08806935B2

One or more measuring cups or spoons include a handle and a measuring container. The measuring container is formed with a volumetric capacity such as a fraction of a cup, a teaspoon, or a tablespoon. The handle of a first measuring container includes a feature that interacts with a complementary feature on the handle of a second measuring cup to secure the first and second cups together. In one version, a downwardly extending rib on the handle of a first measuring container is received within a channel formed on the handle of a second measuring container. A set of containers is formed in which each of the containers has an attachment feature allowing the set to be attached together.
US08806933B2

A thermal type air flow meter, which detects a flow rate of air flowing in an air passage, includes a sensor portion having a heating element in an air passage, a temperature control unit. The temperature control unit includes a first arm serially connecting a first resistive element and a heater temperature detection resistor which detects a temperature of the heating element, a second arm serially connecting a second resistive element and an air temperature detection resistor which detects a temperature of air flowing in the air passage, and a voltage supply unit which supplies first and second voltages respectively to the first and second arms. The voltage supply unit includes a voltage adjusting portion which can adjust at least one of the first and second voltages such that the detection temperature difference between the heater temperature detection resistor and the air temperature detection resistor becomes constant.
US08806931B2

Systems and methods, including: one of a simulated road surface and an actual road surface; a test tire physically contacting the one of the simulated road surface and the actual road surface; and a plurality of gears linking the test tire and the one of the simulated road surface and the actual road surface, such that the velocities of the test tire and the one of the simulated road surface and the actual road surface are linked and an associated slip ratio between the test tire and the one of the simulated road surface and the actual road surface is controlled. The simulated road surface includes one of a drum, a belt, a drive wheel, and a rail. The plurality of gears are varied in terms of gear ratio using a controller such that slip ratio is dynamically controlled and varied.
US08806929B2

An engine simulator for wind tunnel models exhibits a turbine with an inlet for a pressurized fluid and an outlet for a relieved fluid, a flow-type body arranged downstream from the turbine, a jacket that at least partially envelops the flow-type body with the formation of a gap, and at least two electrodes. A downstream end of the flow-type body is provided with a heater coating comprised of a matrix material that contains a conductivity additive and is connected with the electrodes for applying an electrical voltage. This may make it possible to prevent ice formation on the trailing edge of the flow-type body.
US08806927B2

In a method for testing a pressure sensor of a fuel accumulator device in an internal combustion engine, the pressure in the fuel accumulator device is altered using a first actuating variable. The influence of that alteration on the torque generated by the internal combustion engine is determined by a closed loop control system adjusting a second actuating variable to counteract the effect of the first on the torque output by the internal combustion engine. A deviation of the measured alteration from the expected alteration is then calculated.
US08806924B2

A sealing head for an installation configured to perform fluid tests on an aircraft turbine engine part. The sealing head includes a sealing element crossed by a passage for flowing of a gas flow, the sealing element including a sealing surface configured to come into contact with a part to be tested, at an aperture of the part to be tested configured to be fed with the gas flow. The sealing head includes a mechanism centering the sealing element relatively to the aperture of the part, the centering mechanism being firmly attached to the sealing element and protruding towards the front of the surface having an outer portion surrounding the centering mechanism.
US08806916B2

A single gas detector combines a dual cavity photo-acoustic gas sensor with a common microphone and common source. Electrical outputs from the microphone can be analyzed to determine an analyte gas concentration in the local region being monitored. Radiant energy from the common source can be directed into both cavities simultaneously. Alternately, the sensor can be used with two microphones to establish a concentration of each of two different gasses, or a gas and water vapor.
US08806909B2

A strip has a left and a right side. The strip is rolled in a rolling stand. Stresses occurring in the strip at the feed and exit sides are detected by corresponding measuring sensors positioned on the left and right sides of the strip. The detected stresses are fed to a control unit for the rolling stand. The control unit determines a measurement for the transversal positioning of the strip in relation to the rolling stand using the relationship Z=ZLE*ZLA−ZRE−ZRA, where Z is the measurement. ZLE, ZLA, ZRE and ZRA are the individually detected stresses. The control unit determines a correcting variable for correcting the transversal positioning of the strip using the measurement for the transversal positioning and controls the rolling stand according to the correcting variable.
US08806906B1

A lock-out bracket secures the position of a shaft extending through an actuator, the shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end being operative for controlling a valve, the second end being coupled to a limit switch mounted on a limit switch bracket mounted to the actuator. The lock-out bracket includes a substantially flat base plate and a substantially flat lock-out tab substantially perpendicular to the base plate, the base plate defining an opening configured for matingly fitting over, receiving, and engaging the second end of the shaft. The lock-out tab defines a first hole adapted for alignment with a corresponding second hole defined on the limit switch bracket for facilitating the insertion of a lock shackle through the first hole and the second hole to secure the lock-out bracket relative to the actuator and prevent movement of the shaft and valve coupled to the shaft.
US08806893B2

A manufacturing method of a glass blank for magnetic disk including a pair of principal surfaces, the method including: dropping process for dropping a lump of molten glass; pressing process for forming a sheet glass material by sandwiching simultaneously the lump from both sides of the dropping path of the lump with surfaces of the pair of dies facing together, and performing press forming to the lump; and temperature adjusting process for adjusting temperature of the lump before the pressing process such that viscosity variation of the lump is reduced with respect to positions over the entirety of the lump in the pressing process.
US08806881B2

A high-temperature circuit through which a high-temperature heat carrier fluid runs and which integrates a cooling radiator in which a cooling fluid flows, and a low-temperature circuit through which a low-temperature heat carrier fluid runs and which integrates a cooling radiator in which the cooling fluid flows, is disclosed. The pumps of the high- and low-temperature circuit form first actuators for running the heat carrier fluid though the circuits and second actuators for flowing the cooling fluids in the high- and low-temperature radiators, and sensors for detecting representative parameters of the cooling requirements of the high- and low-temperature circuits and for transmitting said parameters to a control unit. The transmitted parameters include at least one parameter related to the first actuators and at least one parameter related to the second actuators. The control unit adjusts the first and second actuators according to these parameters.
US08806877B2

A refrigerating cycle apparatus is obtained that can determine excess/shortage of a refrigerant amount in a refrigerating circuit at high precision even if a factor such as a heat exchanger whose refrigerant amount is difficult to calculate exists. The refrigerating cycle apparatus according to the present invention includes one heat source unit or more, one utilization unit or more, a refrigerating circuit constituted by the heat source unit and utilization unit, a storage part which stores an appropriate refrigerant amount of a refrigerant to be charged in the refrigerating circuit and a correction coefficient which corrects a liquid refrigerant amount such that calculation of the refrigerant amount of each constituent element of the refrigerating circuit is equal to the appropriate refrigerant amount, a measurement part which detects an operation state amount in each constituent element of the refrigerating circuit, a calculation part which calculates the refrigerant amount of each constituent element of the refrigerating circuit based on the operation state amount by using the correction coefficient, a comparison part which compares the appropriate refrigerant amount with a calculative refrigerant amount calculated by the calculation part, and a determination part which determines excess/shortage of the refrigerant amount charged in the refrigerating circuit based on a comparison result of the comparison part.
US08806870B2

According to one embodiment, a carbon-dioxide-recovery-type thermal power generation system includes an absorption column allows carbon dioxide contained in exhaust gas from a boiler to be absorbed in an absorption liquid, a regeneration column that discharges a carbon dioxide gas from the absorption liquid supplied from the absorption column, a reboiler that heats the absorption liquid discharged from the regeneration column and supplies steam generated, to the regeneration column, a condenser that generates condensate by cooling the steam exhausted from a turbine, a heater that heats the condensate, a water supply pump that supplies the condensate to the boiler, a line through the steam extracted from the turbine is supplied to the reboiler and the heater, and a steam flow rate adjusting unit. The steam flow rate adjusting unit maintains an amount of steam, which is extracted from the turbine through the line, to be constant.
US08806867B2

A variable geometry exhaust turbocharger, wherein bolts which fasten a variable nozzle mechanism do not loosen. A variable geometry exhaust turbocharger, is provided with a turbine housing a turbine rotor, a turbine shaft a bearing for supporting the turbine shaft, a bearing housing, and a variable nozzle mechanism for regulating the flow of exhaust gas. The variable nozzle mechanism is provided with a nozzle, a nozzle mount, a lever plate, and a drive ring. A nozzle plate with which the tip of the nozzle makes contact is provided to an inner tube section of the turbine housing. A sleeve member is provided between the nozzle mount and the nozzle plate so as to be coaxial with a through-hole and a screw-through hole. The nozzle mount and the nozzle plate are connected together by fastening bolts passed through the through-hole, the sleeve member, and the screw through-hole, in that order.
US08806864B2

A transmission comprises a casing, an output element, a hydrostatic stepless transmission unit (HST) and a forward/backward traveling direction selecting unit (reverser). The output element is supported by the casing. The HST is disposed in the casing so as to be driven by a drive source disposed outside of the casing. The HST includes a pump shaft and a motor shaft member. The pump shaft is drivingly connected to the drive source. The motor shaft member is fitted around the pump shaft coaxially to the pump shaft so as to be rotatable relative to the pump shaft, thereby constituting a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor centered on the pump shaft and the motor shaft member. An axially distal end of the motor shaft member is disposed on the axially proximal side of an axially distal end of the pump shaft so that axial ends of the pump shaft are the axially most distal ends of the HST in the axial direction of the pump shaft. The reverser is disposed in the casing so as to transmit power outputted from the HST to the output element. The reverser includes a forward-traveling drive train, a backward-traveling drive train, and a clutch for selecting either the forward-traveling drive train or the backward traveling drive train to transmit the power outputted from the motor shaft member to the output element. The reverser and the output element are entirely disposed between the axial ends of the pump shaft in the axial direction of the pump shaft.
US08806861B2

A compressed-air energy storage system according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a reversible mechanism to compress and expand air, one or more compressed air storage tanks, a control system, one or more heat exchangers, and, in certain embodiments of the invention, a motor-generator. The reversible air compressor-expander uses mechanical power to compress air (when it is acting as a compressor) and converts the energy stored in compressed air to mechanical power (when it is acting as an expander). In certain embodiments, the compressor-expander comprises one or more stages, each stage consisting of pressure vessel (the “pressure cell”) partially filled with water or other liquid. In some embodiments, the pressure vessel communicates with one or more cylinder devices to exchange air and liquid with the cylinder chamber(s) thereof. Suitable valving allows air to enter and leave the pressure cell and cylinder device, if present, under electronic control.
US08806855B2

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for operating an exhaust gas aftertreatment device, in particular of a motor vehicle, having a plurality of active sensors (3-8) and a control device (2) that comprises at least one voltage supply unit (9) to which the sensors (3-8) are operatively connected. According to the invention, the voltage supply unit (9) comprises at least two supply benches (13-15) that can be switched independently from each other. The sensors (3-8) are grouped according to the function thereof and are then associated with one of the supply benches (13-15).
US08806841B2

The invention is to accumulate the bottles in a nested formation at a high speed on a moving conveyor and the reduction or elimination of gaps between the nested bottles that are caused by missing bottles. The is done by oscillating the conveyor beltAnother objective of the invention is to accumulate a predetermined number of bottles in rows to be bundled by establishing a first barrier to retain the bottles on the conveyor and using second barrier to control the number of rows to be included in the bundle.
US08806836B2

A building anchor system includes a pair of elongate anchor rods (1,2), an anchor rod coupling joint (3) for joining the anchor rods end-on-end, the anchor rod coupling joint comprising or including a sleeve (4, 5, 6 & 7) for connection to an end of one of the anchor rods (1) a slideable arm (8) receivable in the sleeve for connection to an end of the other anchor rod (2) a closed slot within the arm or sleeve for slideably receiving the free end of a stop member (13) by which movement of the anchor rods along their major axis is possible to the extent allowed by the length of the slot, and frictional adjustment means (6,7) acting between the arm and the sleeve by which they may be joined and by which the force required to move them with respect to each other can be selectively varied. The invention also extends of a method of preventing or inhibiting catastrophic structural failure of a building by installing one or more anchor systems of the type described.
US08806831B1

A floor tile has a rectangular, wear resistant, decorated upper portion. A rectangular lower portion is affixed to the upper portion. The lower portion has laterally projecting tongues extending outwardly from two adjacent sides. The other two adjacent sides have inwardly directed pockets adapted to receive the tongues of adjacent tiles to form a continuous floor covering. Only the edges of the tongues and pockets that resist movement of adjacent tiles away from one another are close fitting to facilitate installation.
US08806824B2

The present invention relates to a wall construction for an exterior brick wall of a building, comprising a rear brickwork and a front brickwork, which is characterized in that the front brickwork (2) is made at least in part of constructional elements (11), particularly bricks, building blocks and the like, which at their side facing the rear brickwork (5) are designed to be reflective for heat radiation. The invention further relates to a constructional element, in particular a brick, a building block or the like, for use in the production of the front brickwork of such a wall construction which on the side which in the walled-in state faces inwardly, is provided with a layer (8) which is reflective for heat radiation.
US08806820B2

Provided are segments of a spliced prestressed concrete girder, which have improved structural integrity at joints, and a method of manufacturing the segments. The method of manufacturing the segments, which are combined to build the spliced prestressed concrete girder, includes: manufacturing one or more joint blocks, each having a first end that has a shear key and is to be spliced to an end of an adjacent segment and having a second end that is bonded to a segment body of the segment; and manufacturing the segment body by using the one or more joint blocks as one or more ends of a formwork in which the segment body is to be made and by casting and curing concrete in the formwork, wherein the one or more joint blocks are fixedly bonded to one or more ends of the segment body in the manufacturing of the segment body.
US08806811B1

A lifting insert for a concrete sandwich panel is disclosed. The lifting insert includes a fiberglass rod and two end sleeves secured to two opposite ends of the fiberglass rod. The two end sleeves create confinement of fibers of the fiberglass rod to improve stress resistance of the fiberglass rod. The two end sleeves are also separated by a predetermined distance apart from each other to prevent/reduce thermal bridging. The lifting insert further includes two anchoring members secured to the two end sleeves for anchoring the fiberglass rod within the concrete sandwich panel.
US08806810B2

The present invention relates to a freestanding architectonic and constructive proposal, produced in the manufacturing facilities, which starting from an interconnectable basic model it can be assembled and reassembled according to specific requirements. Depending on the amount and shapes, it can scale up into horizontal, vertical or both complex architectonic structures. It is a foldable structure which allows easy arrangements for transportation and location in situ. Its configuration is carried through synchronized and symmetric orthogonal rotations and translations, both in its folding phase (1) and its unfolding phase (2), (FIG. 1), executed through any electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or manual system. Each one is integrated by axially symmetric segments forming the cover, the functional wall and the floor. The functional wall can lodge in its frame a typical wall, a functional piece of furniture or incorporate a specialized coupling module.
US08806806B2

Embodiments of the resent invention provide an electric motor driven door or barrier opener with a manually operable drive for use in the event of a power failure. The operator includes a manually rotatable drive wheel and manual rotation of the drive wheel effects a movement of at least one drive coupler in generally radially extending direction relative to the drive shaft to effect a drive coupling between the drive wheel and the drive shaft to input drive to permit manual opening and or closing of the door.
US08806790B1

Improved safety selectors for firearms, which are ambidextrous and come in a plurality of interchangeable lengths and thicknesses to enable a user to select those that they feel are most desirable.
US08806785B2

Wearing element with enhanced wear resistance related to wearing elements, such as cast steel teeth to be specially used in machinery for earth-moving, ground-engaging and/or rock-cutting applications, as well as to inserts to be included within the wearing elements, to enhance their wear resistance thus prolonging their service life.
US08806781B2

A device that engages a stem of a sandal and, in turn, allows the position of toes and web space of a user around the device. The device is constructed to ease the frictional and compression forces on the user by the stem.
US08806772B1

A grain drying system includes a master control unit external to the grain storage bin which is preprogrammed with a desirable grain moisture content or EMC. Condition sensor assemblies mounted within the grain bin determine the relative humidity and the temperature of the grain within the grain bin. Also, sensors mounted in the bin's plenum determine temperature, relative humidity and air pressure. A weather station mounted externally of the grain bin determines the outside air temperature and relative humidity. Depending on the conditions determined by the sensor assemblies and the weather station, the master control unit selectively activates the grain bin's drying fan when needed and when it is efficient and effective to do so. A radio or cellular modem allows for communication of the grain's condition. The internal sensor assemblies are preferably secured to flexible cables hung within the grain bin. The cable and rigid rod-like members support the sensors. The sensors may be secured in a spaced relationship along the cable so that the grain condition can be determined throughout the grain bin.
US08806771B2

A low impact belt dryer is presented for drying pellets while minimizing high-energy pellet collisions that may create pellet dust or cause pellets to fracture. The dryer includes a vacuum chamber having multiple air knife assemblies that direct high velocity drying fluid towards the pellets and though a liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt to a vacuum port. The low impact dryer may also include a centrifugal dryer for dewatering the pellets before they pass though the vacuum chamber. The conveyor belt of the dryer may transport the pellets through multiple desiccation chambers where low velocity air is directed upwards though the belt to both dry and levitate the pellets above the belt. The dryer may also include a cleaning chamber for removing debris from the liquid-permeable pellet-impermeable belt.
US08806767B2

A laser instrument and a method for adjusting the laser power is disclosed. The laser instrument includes a laser device which generates a laser beam and a rotating device which moves the laser device back and forth around an axis of rotation between a first turning point and a second turning point. The laser beam generates a laser line between a first end point and a second end point on a target surface. A control device is provided which adjusts the laser power of the laser beam as a function of a rotation angle and/or an angular velocity of the rotating device.
US08806765B2

A revolutionary, new sizing and fitting system for jeans is based on the concept of shape, not size. This sizing and fitting system is organized around some basic body shapes categories: e.g., slight curve (straighter figure, flatter fanny), demi curve (evenly proportioned hip and seat) and bold curve (smaller waist, larger seat). To use the system, the consumer finds their shape using a shape measuring tool. The shape measuring tool calculates a shape category based on a differential of two measurements in the seat area. With this shape category information, the consumer can easily locate a pair of form-fitting jeans. The sizing and fitting system is also applicable to pants, shorts, skirts, and other clothing where form fit is desirable in the seat and hip area.
US08806761B2

A power operated rotary knife (100) including: an annular rotary knife blade (300) including a knife blade bearing surface (319); a blade housing (400) defining a blade housing bearing surface (459); and a blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) disposed between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459). The blade-blade housing bearing structure (500) includes a rolling bearing strip (502) having a plurality of rolling bearings (506), such as ball bearings, disposed in spaced apart relation in a flexible separator cage (508). The rolling bearing strip (502) traverses through an annular passageway (504) defined between the knife blade bearing surface (319) and the blade housing bearing surface (459) to secure the knife blade (300) to the blade housing (400) and support the knife blade for rotation about a central axis (R) with respect to the blade housing (400).
US08806757B2

A blade guide for a hair clipper bladeset, the guide configured for slidable engagement in a transverse track of a stationary blade, and including a blade guide body having a first edge and a second edge being generally parallel to and spaced from the first edge, each of the edges having a pair of opposed free ends. At least one arched load beam connects a corresponding opposed pair of the free ends of the first and second edges for exerting a torsion-resisting biasing force between the edges.
US08806746B2

A fast and effective method for cleaning and repairing the shell-spar glue voids of a wind turbine blade, comprising the steps of detecting voids, raising the turbine blade at an incline, drilling holes into top and bottom ends of the void, injecting cleaning solution into the holes, and allowing the cleaning solution to drain out of the bottom holes and drain holes at the tip. The void is then inspected for oil by FTIR spectroscopy. If oil is detected, additional cleaning steps are performed comprising injection of a second cleaning solution into at least two holes of the void followed by a rest period, washing the holes with water via a pressure washer, and drying with compressed air. The blade is then inspected for oil and moisture, and when clean, adhesive is applied to the void through the holes.
US08806743B2

A method is presented for forming multiple surface mount technology (SMT) sensor packages in a panel for separation into individual SMT sensor packages. A base plate is mapped as a grid of sensor footprints, and each footprint is populated with electronic and sensor components. A cover plate including window elements is mapped to a similar grid. The cover plate is bonded to the base plate, such that the window elements are positioned to allow incident electromagnetic radiation upon corresponding sensors mounted on the printed circuit board. Each sensor footprint is sealed within a recess or cell beneath the cover. The sensor circuits may be tested before and/or after being separated into individual SMT sensor packages.
US08806742B2

An electronic package has a cover or lid mounted onto a substrate to enclose an electronic device, and a liquid thermal interface material is subsequently inserted (through dispensing, injection molding or printing through apertures in the cover or lid) between the surface of the electronic device and the cover, and cured to a solid state.
US08806728B2

Method for producing a laminated ceramic electronic component including: forming a laminated body by layering and press-bonding a plurality of ceramic green sheets to become a protective layer and a plurality of the ceramic green sheets with metal paste printed thereon, forming an extended part by printing and drying a conductive paste for the extended part on the main face of the laminated body, forming a laminated ceramic element by cutting off the laminated body with the extended part formed and separating the laminated body into fragments, and forming a curled part by applying a conductive paste for the curled part on said end face of said laminated ceramic element. In the step of forming the laminated body, the laminated body is press-bonded so that the main face of the lead part of the laminated body is positioned lower than the main face of the function part.
US08806726B1

The present invention relates to a pacifier clip, which comprises a base sheet, a mobile clipping member, a pulling member and a tying tool. When the pulling member is pulled, in the rotating motion, an angled flange of the pulling member utilizes an eccentric action to optionally allow an angled part or an inclined cutting plane of the angled flange to be abutted against or adjacent to an oblique support arm of the mobile clipping member, so a passive sheet of the mobile clipping member is downwardly moved or upwardly raised, and tooth rows of the passive sheet and tooth lines of the base sheet are engaged for forming a clipping status or forming a gap in between for forming a releasing status.
US08806722B2

A clip may include an anchor portion that is configured to be inserted into an insertion hole formed in a subject member. The anchor portion has at least a pair of pillars that are positioned across an axis of the anchor portion, and flexible strips that are respectively connected to the pillars so as to be projected outward therefrom. The pillars are configured to be flexed about proximal ends thereof in a direction in which the pillars can intersect with each other. The flexible strips are configured to engage a periphery of the insertion hole formed in the subject member when the anchor portion is inserted into the insertion hole, so as to hold the anchor portion on the subject member with a retention force. The pillars can be applied with a flexing force when an extraction force greater than the retention force of the anchor portion is applied to the anchor portion, so as to be flexed in the direction in which the pillars can intersect with each other.
US08806706B2

The present invention provides a lock-out system and a lock-out apparatus for a vacuum cleaner having a closeable shell for a filter bag. The system includes a filter bag collar mount and a locking mechanism for a filter bag movably connected to the filter bag collar mount. The locking mechanism is able to be in one of an engaged position or in a disengaged position relative to the filter bag mount. Also, the locking mechanism in the disengaged position prevents the closeable shell from closing.
US08806702B2

A portable vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The portable vacuum cleaner includes a rechargeable battery and a DC motor. The portable vacuum cleaner further includes a DC power input port for receiving DC power from a remote power source. The DC motor is operable in response to power from either the battery or the remote power source.
US08806700B2

A wiper blade connector releasably secures a wiper blade to a wiper arm, thereby forming a windshield wiper blade assembly. The wiper blade connector comprises an elongate body member having opposite facing side walls, a front end, and a rear end. The opposite facing sidewalls include means for receiving and releasably securing to the mounting base on a wiper blade. At the front end of the elongate body member, a first tongue receiving opening is sized to receive the corresponding front tongue of a wiper arm. At the rear end of the elongate body member, a second tongue receiving opening is sized to receive the corresponding rear tongue of a wiper arm. A locking mechanism, such as a partially rotatable door member, releasably locks the wiper blade member to the wiper arm.
US08806689B2

The invention relates to a bay loading safety device including: —an articulated platform (14), whose level can be altered to adapt to the differences in height between a lorry trailer (10) and a loading bay (12), —a door (15) for shutting off access from (13) a building (11) opening onto the bay (12), —a set of buffers (16a, 16b) fixed on either side of the platform (14) to provide protection for the bay (12) when the lorry trailer (10) comes alongside the said bay (12), characterized in that it comprises, —a sensor (31) able to monitor a zone (34), called the crush zone, —a sensor (36) able to determine the distance of the lorry (10) from the bay (12), —an obstacle (35) that can be retracted during the travel of a lorry (10), so as to prevent it from coming alongside the bay (12) depending on whether the whole or part of a fixed or mobile object (17) situated in that zone (34) is present and on the distance of the lorry (10) from the bay (12).
US08806686B2

A seat cushion includes a cushion pad that is formed of breathable plastic foam, a breathable skin that is integrally layered on a front surface side of the cushion pad, and a non-breathable membrane-like film that is interleaved therebetween. The seat cushion includes a breathing hole formed in the film. The breathing hole extends from a back surface side of the cushion pad and passes through the cushion pad to penetrate the film. The breathing hole is formed while the cushion pad and the film are melted.
US08806680B2

A bed for nursing care comprises a mat unit including a hip receiving portion for supporting a hip portion of a care-dependent person, an upper half body receiving portion for supporting an upper half body portion that is upper than the hip portion, and a lower half body portion for supporting a lower half body portion that is lower than the hip portion; a bed frame unit for supporting the mat unit; and a toilet unit moveable to an opening portion formed when the hip receiving portion is stored in a lower portion. The lower half body portion comprises a thigh receiving portion that supports thigh portions of the care-dependent person, wherein the thigh portion is lifted with rising of the thigh receiving portions.
US08813259B2

Dynamic licensing improves the utilization of licenses available within a computer network. License sinks, such as gateways, within a computer network may request licenses from a license source. The license source may be provisioned with a number of licenses from a secure fob plugged into the license source. If the license source has the number of licenses requested from the license sink, the license source may assign the licenses to the license sink. After a certain period of time, the license sink may renew the licenses or let the licenses return to the license source to be assigned to another license sink. The license requests may be passed through the network, including through a proxy and/or a relay, to a license server provisioned with licenses. Dynamic licensing software may execute as a service on each of the license sources and license sinks to pass dynamic licensing messages between devices.
US08813256B2

The present invention describes a method and a software module making it possible to secure communications with a sensitive application, for which exchanges with the outside have been delegated to a so-called interfacing application. Accordingly, the present invention describes the application of security rules to all or some of the commands destined for this sensitive application.
US08813252B2

Methods and systems are disclosed for providing a mechanism for dynamically switching between the licensing modes on the remote presentation host to handle different kinds of licenses. In one embodiment, the mode switching may be based on the configuration of the users that are connecting to the remote presentation host. In an embodiment, users may be provided with remote presentation session files that define what type of license to be used for the current connection to the remote presentation host. In some embodiments, mechanisms are disclosed to provide the ability to convert a remote client access license from one type to another by using a convertibility matrix.
US08813249B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for enabling multiple users to access, edit and save content items using a shared computing device. The method and system described herein utilizes an identification table to identify previous associations between each user and each content item. If it is determined that a previous association exists between a particular user and the content item, the particular user may interact with the content item. If however, it is determined that a previous association does not exist, the particular user may attempt to utilize another user's credentials to interact with the content item.
US08813248B2

According to an embodiment, a system is provided comprising a memory and a processor. The memory may be operable to store a master image associated with a user account. The master image may comprise an image of a physical, non-living object. The processor may be coupled to the memory and may be operable to receive a request to perform a transaction associated with the user account. The processor may be further operable to receive an image that is scanned in real-time in conjunction with the request to perform the transaction. The processor may be further operable to compare the scanned image with the master image associated with the user account and to perform the transaction if the scanned image is substantially similar to the master image.
US08813247B1

An apparatus and method for providing an Internet Web services for securing the transmission of data between object oriented software infrastructure and relational database via web pages are disclosed. Upon generating a table having multiple columns for encrypting a database, a process is capable of handling object attributes in accordance with the table. The process, in one embodiment, encrypts HTML data elements at a browser level.
US08813244B1

A computing device comprising a security slot integral with an external surface of the computing device, wherein the security slot is configured to receive and mechanically cooperate with a blocking mechanism. In certain aspects, the computing device further comprises a switch mounted behind the security slot and integral to the computing device and configured to permit access to a developer mode when the switch is in a first position and to restrict access to the developer mode when the switch is in a second position.
US08813241B2

If the user of a first portable terminal intends to let a second portable terminal try out a certain content, the user sends to a distribution server trial permission information including the user's own user ID, a content ID of the content of interest, and a digital signature. The distribution server authenticates the received information before distributing a streaming data of a trial-oriented content with the content ID and user ID attached to it as search keys. This allows the content that can be used on a given user terminal to be tried out on another user terminal without the latter user having recourse to the steps of searching for the content in question.
US08813240B1

Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method includes executing a plurality of virtual machines on a physical machine, wherein a first virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines executes an encryption process. Execution of a hostile process that is configured to compromise the encryption process is detected, wherein the hostile process executes in a second virtual machine of the plurality of virtual machines. Migrating at least the second virtual machine to a different second physical machine based on the detection of the execution of the hostile process.
US08813232B2

Methods and systems for risk rating and pro-actively detecting malicious online ads are described. In one example embodiment, a system for risk rating and pro-actively detecting malicious online ads includes an extraction module, an analysis engine, and a filter module. The extraction module is configured to extract a SWF file from a web page downloaded by the system. The analysis engine is communicatively coupled to the extraction module. The analysis engine is configured to determine a risk rating for the SWF file and send the risk rating to a web application for display. In an example, determining the risk rating includes locating an embedded redirection URL and determining a risk rating for the embedded redirection URL. The filter module is configured to determine, based on the risk rating, whether to block the SWF file and send a warning to the web application for display.
US08813231B2

Systems and methods for selective authorization of code modules are provided. According to one embodiment, a whitelist containing cryptographic hash values of code modules that are approved for loading into memory of a computer system and execution on the computer system is maintained by a kernel mode driver of the computer system. At least a subset of the cryptographic hash values has been included within the whitelist based upon results of application of one or more behavior analysis techniques to a corresponding subset of code modules. The kernel mode driver monitors a set of events occurring within one or more of a file system accessible by the computer system and an operating system that manages resources of the computer system. The kernel mode driver causes a cryptographic hash value of a code module relating to an observed event of the set of events to be authenticated with reference to the whitelist. When the cryptographic hash value matches one of the cryptographic hash values of approved code modules within the whitelist, the code module is allowed to be loaded and executed within the computer system.
US08813226B2

A defense method and device against intelligent bots using masqueraded virtual machine information are provided. The method includes performing global hooking on a virtual machine detection request transmitted by a process, determining, on the basis of pre-stored malicious process information, whether or not the process transmitting the virtual machine detection request corresponds to a malicious process, and when the process is found to correspond to the malicious process as a result of the determination, determining that the process is generated by the intelligent bot, and returning the masqueraded virtual machine information to the process.
US08813225B1

Methods and apparatus for provider-arbitrated mandatory access control policies in cloud computing environments are disclosed. A system includes an access manager, and a plurality of resources configurable to provide a plurality of distributed, web-accessible services. Each service has a respective service manager. The access manager determines whether a mandatory access control policy document specified by a service manager of a particular service applies to an administration request, wherein the policy indicates that a permission setting for a resource being used to implement at least a portion of the particular service cannot be modified by a client with administrative rights on the resource. In response to determining that the policy document applies, and that an evaluation of the policy document indicates that an administrative operation specified in the administration request is prohibited by the policy, the access manager rejects the administration request.
US08813224B2

A method for protecting a browser from malicious processes, comprises providing at least one process-proxy object and at least a browser-proxy object, interposed between the browser and a process, such that when the process invokes one of the DOM entry points, the process-proxy object isolates it from the real browser implementation and executes the process-proxy object's code instead.
US08813222B1

In some embodiments, a malware detecting system is configured to conduct an iterative, collaborative scan of a target object (computer file or process), comprising a server-side scan and a client-side scan, and to assess the malware status of the target object according to the results of the client-side and server-side scans. The client-side scan comprises computationally-intensive operations such as virtual-environment emulation, decryption and data compression methods, while the server-side scan comprises database-intensive operations such as hash lookups. The information exchanged between client and server systems may be limited to relatively-compact data, such as hashes, which may amount to a few bytes per target object. Exemplary methods and systems described herein allow storing malware signature databases on the server side, thus reducing the burden of frequently delivering data-heavy signature updates to large numbers of customers, without requiring the server side to perform computationally-intensive scanning tasks for large numbers of customers.
US08813221B1

Some embodiments of reassembly-free deep packet inspection (DPI) on multi-core hardware have been presented. In one embodiment, a set of packets of one or more files is received at a networked device from one or more connections. Each packet is scanned using one of a set of processing cores in the networked device without buffering the one or more files in the networked device. Furthermore, the set of processing cores may scan the packets substantially concurrently.
US08813213B2

An application provisioning device may be used to manage a profile of a host and provide data corresponding to a selected application for installation at a host. A reverse firewall may use the profile of the host to determine whether to allow or block particular network communication from an application running on the host. An indication of a selected application may be received at the application provisioning device. Configuration information may also be received at the application provisioning device. The application provisioning server may request an update to the profile of a host and transmit such a request. The profile may be updated to reflect the configuration information and/or information of the selected application. Data corresponding to the selected application may be updated and transmitted to a host computer, where it may be installed. Therefore, the installed application running on the host may operate without being prematurely blocked by the reverse firewall.
US08813204B2

A method begins with a managing unit authenticating an access request regarding a set of encoded data slices, which represents an encoded data segment. The method continues, when the access request is authenticated, by generating storage unit access requests based on the access request regarding the set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the managing unit authenticating the storage unit access requests. When the storage unit access requests are authenticated, the method continues with the storage units executing the storage unit access requests to fulfill the access request regarding the set of encoded data slices.
US08813200B2

This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for password management. In one embodiment, a method may include receiving, at a centralized password repository, requests from users. Each request may be configured to request a password to allow access to an associated application. In one embodiment, at least two of the users are at different locations. The method may further include performing a validation analysis for the users' credentials, and in response to verification of a user's credentials, transmitting a response including the password configured to provide access to the associated application.
US08813198B2

A portable computing device can enable an accessory to access a wireless network. In particular, the portable computing device can provide a wireless network access credential to the accessory. The accessory can thereafter use the wireless network access credential to access a wireless network. The portable computing device can additionally configure an access point that manages the wireless network to permit the accessory to join the wireless network.
US08813197B2

Techniques for network process identity enablement are provided. Inter-server communications within a network are intercepted so that unique identity-based information is gathered and recorded before a sending process is permitted to release a communication over the network to a receiving process. Moreover, the receiving process cannot process the communication being sent until identifying information is gathered again and independently validated against the prior recorded information.
US08813178B1

Systems and methods for preparing and submitting documents to a regulatory agency in an on-line environment are provided, which are used for the purpose of complying with various securities regulations. The systems generally include a server that hosts a website in which a user may access, prepare, and submit one or more of various standardized reports to the regulatory agency through an on-line portal. The systems further include a database that includes (i) a listing of the standardized reports (and a listing of data fields included within such reports) and (ii) a listing of acceptable data types for each of such data fields. The website is preferably configured to display all of such data fields for a single standardized report within a single graphical user interface of the website.
US08813164B2

An example apparatus that processes DTVCC data has a demultiplexer that extracts DTVCC data packets from an DTV signal. A parser receives the DTVCC data packets and parses the data packets by: passing normal DTVCC data to a CC decoder; detecting ancillary data in the DTVCC data packets; and separating the ancillary data from the DTVCC data for output to an ancillary data process. An example apparatus that processes DTVCC data has an ancillary data packager that packages data ancillary to DTV data for insertion into the DTVCC data packets. A DTVCC data packager receives CC data from a CC data source into DTVCC data packets and packages the ancillary data together with the DTVCC data into DTVCC data packets. A multiplexer multiplexes the DTVCC data packets from the DTVCC data packager with non-CCDTV data to produce DTV signal data. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08813157B2

The invention relates to a method and to a device for determining the value of a delay to be applied between sending a first dataset and sending a second dataset, the data being representative of a sequence of coded images, the datasets consisting of data subsets, the coded images being coded according to a first level of resolution and at least a second level of resolution higher than the first level of resolution, the data subsets containing data of a first level of resolution. According to the invention: first and second datasets are obtained (E506); and the value of the delay is determined (E507), the value of the delay being dependent on the number of decoded images that can be formed from the data subsets of the first dataset which contain data of the second or of a second level of resolution.
US08813154B1

A playlist and a digital advertisement are received. The digital advertisement is output to a screen on the basis of information in the playlist. A code is generated based on the information in the playlist and the generated code is output to the screen. The generated code is output to the screen by flashing the generated code on the screen at a predetermined flash frequency and for a predetermined flash time so that the generated code is visually imperceptible or barely detectable to a human viewer. A suitable equipped electronic device may detect the code and utilize information encoded in the code in various ways.
US08813151B2

The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for creating and using video playlists within a network. In accordance with the invention, a user is enabled to create a playlist comprising a plurality of video segments and store the playlist for later access and viewing. In some implementations, the user may upload playlists to the network in order to permit other users to view the playlist and, if desired, watch the playlist's contents. In other implementations, the content provider or third parties may create playlists and make the contents available for viewing. In yet other implementations, the content provider or a third party may insert advertisements into a playlist's contents.
US08813150B2

A broadcast receiving device includes: a display control unit for causing a display unit to display a video based on received data; an input unit, through which information input operation is performed; a first network communication unit communicably connected to a wide area network; a second network communication unit communicably connected to an information processing device; a network bridge processing unit for creating a bridge connection between the first network communication unit and the second network communication unit to make possible communication between the information processing device and the wide area network; and a user interface providing unit for receiving graphical user interface generated by the information processing device via the second network communication unit and supplying graphics data based on the graphical user interface to the display control unit, the user interface providing unit supplying information inputted from the input unit to the information processing device via the second network communication unit.
US08813136B2

Herein described is a system and a method of storing and distributing multimedia data selections to the tenants or occupants of a multi-unit building. The multi-unit building may comprise a hotel, motel, office complex, or apartment complex, for example. The storage capacity of the data storage device may be easily expanded by way of adding one or more additional hard disk drives. The data storage device may be conveniently located in a front office or manager's office of the multi-unit building. The system distributes one or more of the stored multimedia data selections to one or more display devices communicatively coupled to the data storage device. Each of the one or more display devices may be located in corresponding units of the multi-unit building. The one or more display devices are used to view the multimedia data selections requested by a tenant or occupant.
US08813135B2

Methods and systems for providing a home cable network may comprise, for example, in a premises-based wired network (network), receiving by a root node network controller (NC), signals that conform to first protocols, where the signals may be received from sources external to the premises. The received signals may be bridged to conform to a second communications protocol and communicated to one or more networked devices comprising a television set top box downstream from the root node device where, for example, only signals conforming to the second communications protocol may be communicated. The first protocol signals may comprise data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS), cable television, satellite television, fiber-to-the-home, and/or digital subscriber (DSL) signals. The second communications protocol may, for example, comprise a multimedia over cable alliance (MoCA) standard. The bridged signals may be communicated to networked devices at a frequency that is independent of the first communications protocols.
US08813133B1

According to the invention, a program delivery system for playing a plurality of video vignettes, which correspond to a plurality of video programs is disclosed. The program delivery system includes a first store, a second store a command signal. In one example, a method for selecting the types and order of video vignettes to be played can be selected. The first store holds a number of programs, where the number of video programs includes a first and second video programs. The second store holds a number of video vignettes that correspond to the number of video programs. The number of video vignettes includes a first and second video vignettes. The first video vignette promotes at least the first video program, and the second video vignette promotes at least the second video program. The command signal causes playing the first video vignette, but switches to cause playing the second video vignette when either a manual command is detected from a user or a triggering event automatically occurs.
US08813128B2

Methods and systems for providing a multi-decoder based channel surfing service. One aspect provides a method of providing a multi-decoder based channel surfing service for a digital broadcasting system that is connected by a network to a broadcast receiver. This includes: extracting a video signal from each AV (audio/video) signal for a multiple number of broadcast channels; generating a first and a second channel-surfing video source using the multiple extracted video signals, where the first and second channel-surfing video sources include sub-videos for different broadcast channels; and transferring the first and second channel-surfing video sources and source configuration information regarding the first and second channel-surfing video sources to the broadcast receiver, with the broadcast receiver generating a channel-surfing screen by simultaneously decoding the first and second channel-surfing video sources by way of a first and a second decoder.
US08813122B1

The invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing programs, comprising storage means for storing a plurality of stored programs, for example, a television receiver comprising or controlling a video recorder. The apparatus comprises scheduling means for composing a personal reproduction schedule of a subset of said plurality of stored programs, in accordance with a user profile. If the apparatus is also capable of receiving broadcast programs, the scheduling means are adapted to include said broadcast programs in the reproduction schedule. A user-selectable virtual channel may be provided for easy inspection and execution of the reproduction schedule.
US08813100B1

At least certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for memory management of a view of an application displayed on a display of a device. The method includes constructing a data structure having a hierarchy of layers with at least one layer being associated with the view. The method further includes storing the data structure in memory. The method further includes maintaining a retained count of the number of references to the view from other objects. The method further includes deallocating the view from memory if the retained count is zero. As discussed above, the retained count of the view will be decremented if the layer is removed from the data structure. Removing the layer from the data structure may occur based on the view associated with the layer being removed from the display of the device.
US08813093B2

A system implementable in a network including a plurality of electronic devices coupled to each other via a communication medium includes a consumer configured to advertise at least one characteristic of the consumer. The system further includes a producer configured to initiate the creation of an event-channel by a core services element and provide a service to the consumer based on the at least one characteristic.
US08813092B2

A non-transient computer-readable storage medium that stores computer program code is provided. When this code is loaded into a computer system and executed thereon, it causes the computer to compile an interface definition language (IDL) configured to provide a custom inter-orb protocol (custom IOP), configure a message header for a message in accordance with to a specification in the IDL for at least a custom-IOP message header, and define a custom-IOP message header to replace the corresponding Common Object Resource Broker Architecture (CORBA) General Inter-Orb (GIOP) message header, wherein the custom-IOP message header requires fewer bits overall than the corresponding GIOP message header by changing or eliminating at least a portion of the fields in the corresponding GIOP message header.
US08813091B2

A data structure, the distribution, may be provided to track the desired and/or actual location of computations and data that range over a multidimensional rectangular index space in a parallel computing system. Examples of such iteration spaces include multidimensional arrays and counted loop nests. These distribution data structures may be used in conjunction with locality-guided work stealing and may provide a structured way to track load balancing decisions so they can be reproduced in related computations, thus maintaining locality of reference. They may allow computations to be tied to array layout, and may allow iteration over subspaces of an index space in a manner consistent with the layout of the space itself. Distributions may provide a mechanism to describe computations in a manner that is oblivious to precise machine size or structure. Programming language constructs and/or library functions may support the implementation and use of these distribution data structures.
US08813084B2

A broadcast receiving apparatus and scheduling method thereof are provided. The broadcast receiving apparatus includes: a communication interface which performs an input-output operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus in response to a request for an input-output event from at least one of the plurality of operating systems; and a controller which processes the requested input-output event according to a priority given to the operating system that has requested the input-output event.
US08813075B2

The user needs to install an OS every LPAR on a virtual computer. Simultaneous OS installing in a plurality of LPARs is implemented by generating a first LPAR (special LPAR), a second LPAR (install mode LPAR), and a third LPAR (normal LPAR) on the basis of LPAR configuration information, copying an OS image to an MMIO space of the first LPAR, allocating the MMIO space of the first LPAR to an MMIO space of the second LPAR, and converting access to the MMIO space of the second LPAR to access to the MMIO space of the first LPAR.
US08813073B2

An apparatus and method capable of reducing idle resources in a multicore device and improving the use of available resources in the multicore device are provided. The apparatus includes a static scheduling unit configured to generate one or more task groups, and to allocate the task groups to virtual cores by dividing or combining the tasks included in the task groups based on the execution time estimates of the task groups. The apparatus also includes a dynamic scheduling unit configured to map the virtual cores to physical cores.
US08813066B2

A method is presented for installing a software application on a data processing system that may include multiple data processing entities. The software application may include multiple components for installation on one or more of the entities. The method may include providing input information for each of the components designated for installation. Each component may then be installed according to its corresponding input information, and output information corresponding to each component may be generated. This output information may be provided to one or more data processing entities identified for installation of a subsequent component. The input information corresponding to the subsequent component may be at least partially determined from this output information.
US08813059B2

A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a selection control unit which is configured to allow a user to input an operation for selecting one language from among a plurality of languages, a display control unit which is configured to display a specific character string corresponding to the selected language on a display unit, a download control unit which is configured to download first firmware corresponding to the selected language without downloading firmware corresponding to a language other than the selected language in a first case where new firmware is to be downloaded, and a storage control unit which is configured to store the first firmware in a memory.
US08813058B2

The disclosure is for run-time accessing a software component is provided, together with a computer system embodying the same, and a software utility directing the method. Initially a software component is loaded and analyzed to identify one or more features thereof, which features are checked against a database. Following the check, the component is classified as one of at least first, second, and third component types. A first component type is run without amendment. A second component type is replaced by a component of equivalent functionality prior to running. A third component type is blocked from running.
US08813056B2

A program is executed with a first programmable device (10). Device operating points such as power supply voltage and/or clock frequency are adapted dependent on the states reached by the device during execution. Operation of programs that may have been sold after the device has been supplied to users is optimized by executing the computer program on each of a plurality of programmable devices (10) like the first programmable device, and collecting statistical data associated with the execution states encountered during execution by the plurality of programmable devices (10). Each of the plurality of programmable devices (10) collects its own statistical data and uploads the collected information to a common profiling apparatus (14). The profiling apparatus assigns device operating points to respective ones of the execution states, using an optimization that depends on the combined statistical data from the plurality of programmable devices (10). Subsequently the device operating points of the first programmable device (10) are set in the respective execution states to the assigned device operating points.
US08813048B2

Embodiments of the claimed subject matter are directed to methods and a system that allows an application comprising a single code set under the COBOL Programming Language to execute in multiple platforms on the same multi-platform system (such as a mainframe). In one embodiment, a single code set is pre-compiled to determine specific portions of the code set compatible with the host (or prospective) platform. Once the code set has been pre-compiled to determine compatible portions, those portions may be compiled and executed in the host platform. According to these embodiments, an application may be executed from a single code set that is compatible with multiple platforms, thereby potentially reducing the complexity of developing the application for multiple platforms.
US08813037B2

Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are disclosed for debugging a high performance computing program by gathering lists of addresses of calling instructions for a plurality of threads of execution of the program, assigning the threads to groups in dependence upon the addresses, and displaying the groups to identify defective threads.
US08813022B2

A computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer program product are provided for designing an architectural solution. Functional requirements and nonfunctional requirements of the architectural solution are received. Responsive to receiving the functional requirements and nonfunctional requirements, first level outputs are produced. Further input is received through a guided questionnaire based on the first level outputs. Responsive to receiving the further input, a list of client specific components and subcomponents, a client specific solution reference architecture, and a set of reference links is produced.
US08813021B1

A design tool provides global resource conflict management. The design tool identifies a conflict in requested values of a global resource during development of an embedded application. The design tool further calculates new values of the global resource, and proposes the new values of the global resource as an alternative to the requested values to assist a user in resolution of the conflict.
US08813018B1

A logic design system operable to configure an integrated circuit device using custom logic design data is disclosed. The disclosed logic design system includes a computer-aided design tool that may be used to determine a memory space estimate based on a custom logic design data analysis. A memory size analysis may be performed on the custom logic design data to determine the maximum amount of stack memory that is required to execute procedures in the device. The logic design system may also monitor for changing memory requirements of the custom logic design. The logic design system may configure the device with the custom logic design data based on the memory space estimate.
US08813017B2

In one embodiment, a method for determining a contour simplification of an object for a simulation is provided. An object in a layout of a transistor design to be created with the photolithographic process is determined. The object includes a width and a length in the layout. A contour simulation is performed to determine a generated contour object. The contour simulation simulates parametric variation factors that may occur in the photolithographic process. An adjusted width and adjusted length of the object is then determined based on the generated contour object. The adjusted width and the adjusted length are usable to determine a parametric model for simulation of the object. For example, a layout versus schematic (LVS) tool may back-annotate the layout. Then, a SPICE simulation may use the output of the LVS tool to verify the electrical behavior of the transistor using the adjusted width and adjusted length.
US08813014B2

A method for designing a semiconductor ic chip includes dividing the chip into functional blocks such as a core portion and one or more other functional cells and applying design rules concerning the spatial arrangement of semiconductor fins to the core portion but not to the other functional cells. The design guidelines include the application of design rules to some but not all functional blocks of the chip, may be stored on a computer-readable medium and the design of the semiconductor ic chip and the generation of a photomask set for manufacturing the semiconductor ic chip may be carried out using a CAD or other automated design system. The semiconductor ic chip formed in accordance with this method includes semiconductor fins that are formed in both the core portion and the other functional cells but are only required to be tightly packed in the core portion.
US08813007B2

One embodiment provides a system, comprising methods and apparatuses, for simplifying a set of assumptions for a circuit design, and for verifying the circuit design by determining whether the circuit design satisfies a set of assertions when the simplified set of assumptions is satisfied. During operation, the system can simplify the set of assumptions by identifying, for an assertion in the set of assertions, a first subset of assumptions which, either directly or indirectly, shares logic with the assertion. Furthermore, the system can modify the first subset of assumptions to obtain a second subset of assumptions which either over-approximates or under-approximates the first subset of assumptions. Then, the system can refine the second subset of assumptions to either prove or falsify the assertion.
US08813001B2

A method for use in electronic design software efficiently and optimally produces minimized or reduced register flip flop area or number of registers/flip flops in a VLSI circuit design without changing circuit timing or functionality. The method dynamically generates constraints; maintains the generated constraints as a regular tree; and incrementally relocates registers/flip flops and/or the number of registers/flip flops in the circuit design.
US08812999B2

A method comprises: (a) transforming a layout of a layer of an integrated circuit (IC) or micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) to a curvilinear mask layout; (b) replacing at least one pattern of the curvilinear mask layout with a previously stored fracturing template having approximately the same shape as the pattern, to form a fractured IC or MEMS layout; and (c) storing, in a non-transitory storage medium, an e-beam generation file including a representation of the fractured IC or MEMS layout, to be used for fabricating a photomask.
US08812991B2

A system navigates among visual elements of a user interface. The system receives a keystroke indicating navigating from a current visual element in a first direction, determines a next visual element that is substantially near the current visual element and in the first direction, and navigates to the next visual element.
US08812985B2

A method and device for enhancing scrolling operations in a display of a device is disclosed. The method includes detecting a scrolling operation on a list of objects in a linear direction. During the scrolling operation, it is determined whether the list of objects is reaching an end and at least one object at the end of the list of objects is extended in the linear direction in response to reaching the end of the list of objects. Further, the method includes determining that the object(s) is reaching a peak length of extension in the linear direction and retracting the object(s) in a reverse linear direction in response to reaching the peak length or in response to detecting that the scrolling operation is terminated.
US08812981B1

A method of conditionally displaying an icon to indicate a status within a user interface as part of a media presentation system is described. An example method includes updating a status of content within the media presentation system, displaying at least one icon within a guide menu containing one or more menu sections with each menu section containing a plurality of menu layers, and displaying the icon within a first menu layer to indicate the status of content within menu layers associated with the first menu layer.
US08812975B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products feature receiving, from a client application running in a virtual machine and displayed within a first window of a graphic display, a request to create a second window within the graphic display. In an example implementation, a first set of one or more parameters is received in association with the request. The request and some or all of the first set of one or more parameters are provided to a host application. An indication of a determination is received from the host application as to whether the second window has been created. The determination is based on a policy of the host application. The indication of the determination is provided to the client application. If the indication of the determination indicates that the second window has been created, the indication further includes an identifier associated with the second window.
US08812974B2

An illustrative embodiment of a computer-implemented method to manage properties in a dialog from various sources creates a widget properties dialog and receives properties and validation rules from each source associated with the widget properties dialog to form received information. The computer-implemented method further creates a group of tabs in the widget properties dialog using the received information, wherein the group of tabs contains a general tab and a group of content tabs, wherein each content tab is specific to an instance of content provider and content type.
US08812971B2

A system is described for providing strategies to reduce the carbon output and operating cost of a workplace. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store an initial configuration of a workplace and workplace initiatives. The initial workplace configuration may include equipment and travel data items, and each workplace initiative may be associated with a data item and may provide a strategy for reducing the carbon output of the associated data item. The processor may receive the initial configuration from the user and provide workplace initiatives to the user. The processor may receive a selection of an initiative from the user. The processor may process the initial workplace configuration and selected initiative to determine a recommended configuration capable of reducing the carbon output of the data item associated with the selected initiative. The processor may provide the recommended configuration to the user.
US08812970B2

Processes for presenting a current state of a device having device storage connected with a host system are provided. In some processes, device manufacturers or vendors define a set of operational states of a device and provide user interface (UI) elements of a custom representation of each state through information stored in the device storage. Initially, the set of states of the device and UI elements associated with each state are received from the device storage. Information regarding a current state is received from the device, and a representation of the current state, which includes the received UI elements, is presented on the host system. In other processes, UI elements of a representation of each state are obtained from a remote system using device identification information. In other processes, UI elements from the device, from the host system, and/or from a remote system are combined to form a state representation.
US08812963B2

A system and website for delivering services via the internet, including a server, a database including a plurality of data records corresponding to one or more clients, software executing on the server for generating and displaying reports of at least a portion of the data records to a client via the website, software executing on the server for displaying at least one input field via the website for receiving a comment pertaining to a first one of the data records, software executing on the server for storing a comment received via the input field, software executing on the server for displaying the comment via the website, and software executing on the server for managing access to the data records and comments, wherein viewing access to the comment via the website to is restricted to a first group of users and editing of the comment is restricted to a second group of users.
US08812959B2

A method, computer program, and system for delivering digital content to a user interface. A method according to an embodiment includes: generating a starting content on the user interface including at least one clickable content, each of the at least one clickable content being previously associated with a first key; upon selection of a clickable content associated with a first key, determining a second key, associated with a destination content, from the first key; determining an executable asset program from the second key, an execution of the asset program generating the display of a predefined asset content; attaching the second key to the executable asset program according to a hiding mechanism; executing the executable asset program to display the predefined asset content, and releasing the second key during the execution of the program.
US08812958B2

Techniques are disclosed for analyzing a social network having a plurality of members, each member having declared a connection with each of one or more other members of the social network. Exemplary techniques include monitoring activity performed by members on the social network, the monitored activity including actions other than the declaring and undeclaring of connections between members. A graphical representation of at least a portion of the social network may be computed to include at least one indication of the monitored activity.
US08812952B2

In an online collage-based editor, a method for determining an effective aspect ratio for a selected project orientation that includes a group of two or more available page sizes having different aspect ratios and displaying a project page at a derived aspect ratio in the GUI during editing includes the steps (a) determining for each page size in the group, the viewable area of each page, (b) recording the aspect ratios of the viewable areas of step (a), (c) using a mathematical function, describing a total amount of error present amongst the available aspect ratios of step (b) for a given aspect ratio, (d) using a mathematical program, process, or automated calculation tool, finding the effective aspect ratio that minimizes the function and hence the error value of step (c), and (e) displaying the project page at the selected effective aspect ratio.
US08812949B2

A system and method for automatically detecting and extracting semantically significant text from a HTML document associated with a plurality of HTML documents is disclosed. The method may include receiving a HTML document, parsing the HTML document into a parse tree, segmenting the parse tree into one or more segments of one or more unique paths, processing the one or more segments based at least the HTML document, and extracting one or more processed segments from the at least the HTML document based on a predetermined number.
US08812948B2

Systems and methods for automatically submitting data entered into a web page in the event the user shifts focus away from the form may include displaying a web page to a user, the web page containing a form; receiving, from the user, at least some input corresponding to the form; detecting that the form has lost user focus; and submitting, in response to the detection, the form.
US08812930B1

A low-density parity check (LDPC) encoder that calculate parity check values for a message using an LDPC parity check matrix is provided. A matrix-vector multiplication unit is operative to multiply a portion of the LDPC parity check matrix and the message to obtain an intermediate vector. A parallel recursion unit is operative to recursively calculate a first plurality of parity check values for the message based on the intermediate vector and to recursively calculate a second plurality of parity check values for the message based on the intermediate vector. The first plurality of parity check values are calculated in parallel with the second plurality of parity check values.
US08812928B2

A memory device is configured to generate a signal having a temperature compensation function. The device includes a mode register configured to store error detection and correction (EDC) mode data, and an EDC pattern generator configured to receive pattern information and period information included in the mode data and to generate an EDC pattern signal based on the pattern information and the period information. The EDC pattern signal is a periodic signal obtained by repeating a signal pattern based on the pattern information at a periodic rate corresponding to a signal period based on the period information. In some cases, the EDC pattern signal may be disabled during a portion of the signal period.
US08812927B2

A decoding device including a decoding unit which decodes encoded data, an inverse orthogonal transformation unit which performs inverse orthogonal transformation for the encoded data and obtains a time series waveform element in a unit of blocks, a correlation calculation unit which obtains a correlation between a time series waveform element of a block arranged immediately before an error block which is a block in which an error has occurred during decoding by the decoding unit and a time series waveform element of a block arranged a predetermined number of blocks before the block, a cycle calculation unit which obtains a basic cycle of a block unit of the error block based on the correlation obtained by the correlation calculation unit, and a generation unit which generates a substitute signal of the time series waveform element of the error block.
US08812926B2

A wireless communication apparatus that uses a communication protocol to transmit and receive data with a data check bit, including a received data determining section that performs a data check for received data by using the data check bit to determine whether the data is error; a received result transmitting section that, when determined to be error, discards the data and transmits a retransmission request to other wireless communication apparatus of the transmitting origin, whereas determined to be not error, transmits a message indicating that the data is normal to the other wireless communication apparatus of the transmitting origin; and a retransmission asking section that determines whether a format of the data is incorrect or normal, and when determined to be normal, passes the data to predetermined processing, whereas when determined to be incorrect, discards the data and asks the received result transmitting section to request retransmission of the data.
US08812925B2

Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to a method of an uplink HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest) operation at an expiry of time alignment timer in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.
US08812923B2

A decoder and method of decoding a sub-band coded digital audio signal. The decoder comprises: an input, for receiving sub-band coefficients for a plurality of sub-bands of the audio signal; an error detection unit, adapted to analyze the content of a sequence of coefficients in one of the sub-bands, to derive for each coefficient an indication of whether the coefficient has been corrupted by an error of a predefined type; an error masking unit, adapted to generate from the sequence a modified sequence of coefficients for the sub-band, wherein errors of the predefined type are attenuated; a coefficient combination unit, adapted to combine the received coefficients and the modified coefficients, in dependence upon the indication of error; and a signal reconstruction unit, adapted to reconstruct the audio signal using the combined coefficients.
US08812922B2

Fault diagnosis techniques (e.g., effect-cause diagnosis techniques) can be speeded up by, for example, using a relatively small dictionary. Examples described herein exhibit a speed up of effect-cause diagnosis by up to about 160 times. The technologies can be used to diagnose defects using compacted fail data produced by test response compactors. A dictionary of small size can be used to reduce the size of a fault candidate list and also to facilitate procedures to select a subset of passing patterns for simulation. Critical path tracing can be used to handle failing patterns with a larger number of failing bits, and a pre-computed small dictionary can be used to quickly find the initial candidates for failing patterns with a smaller number of failing bits. Also described herein are exemplary techniques for selecting passing patterns for fault simulation to identify faults in an electronic circuit.
US08812921B2

An integrated circuit comprises scan test circuitry and additional circuitry subject to testing utilizing the scan test circuitry. The scan test circuitry comprises at least one scan chain having a plurality of sub-chains associated with respective distinct clock domains, and clock domain bypass circuitry configured to selectively bypass one or more of the sub-chains. The scan chain is configurable in a scan shift mode of operation to form a serial shift register that includes fewer than all of the sub-chains with at least a remaining one of the sub-chains being bypassed by the clock domain bypass circuitry so as to not be part of the serial shift register in the scan shift mode. By selectively bypassing portions of the scan chain associated with particular clock domains, the clock domain bypass circuitry serves to reduce test time and power consumption during scan testing.
US08812919B2

A method and apparatus for evaluating and optimizing a signaling system is described. A pattern of test information is generated in a transmit circuit of the system and is transmitted to a receive circuit. A similar pattern of information is generated in the receive circuit and used as a reference. The receive circuit compares the patterns. Any differences between the patterns are observable. In one embodiment, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) is implemented to produce patterns. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be practiced with various types of signaling systems, including those with single-ended signals and those with differential signals. An embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to systems communicating a single bit of information on a single conductor at a given time and to systems communicating multiple bits of information on a single conductor simultaneously.
US08812915B2

Examples disclosed herein relate to determining whether a right to use memory modules in a reliability mode has been acquired. Examples include determining whether the right to use a plurality of memory modules in a reliability mode has been acquired, if a performance mode is selected for operation of the plurality of memory modules.
US08812905B2

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of processors and a spare processor configured to perform respective processing functions. A plurality of first switches is located at respective inputs of the plurality of processors. Each of the plurality of first switches is configured to selectively provide an input signal to a respective one of the plurality of processors and the spare processor. A first multiplexer is located at an input of the spare processor. The first multiplexer is configured to receive the input signals from each of the plurality of first switches and route, to the spare processor, a selected one of the input signals corresponding to a failed one of the plurality of processors. The spare processor is further configured to perform a processing function associated with the failed one of the plurality of processors in response to receiving the selected one of the input signals.
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