Document	Document Title
US07655819B2	Polymers with antimicrobial, bioresistant and fungal resistant properties A polymer that contains an antimicrobial, bioresistant and fungal resistant moiety that is linked into the backbone of the polymer. The moiety is a bromine atom and a nitro group linked to one or more of the carbon atoms forming the backbone. The moiety can appear in the polymer chain in various levels of occurrence from 5 ppm to has high as 100% with a normal occurrence of between 1000 ppm to 20,000 ppm. Polymer types that can be created with this moiety to display these properties include, but are not limited to, polyurethane, polyurea, polyamide, polyester, polycarbonate, polyether, polysiloxane, epoxy, polyacrylic, polyacrylate, polyvinyl.
US07655818B2	Process for dehydrating glycerol to acrolein The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing acrolein by gas-phase dehydration of glycerol in the presence of strongly acidic solid catalysts with a Hammett acidity H0 of between −9 and −18 and preferably between −10 and −16.
US07655814B2	Process for producing croconic acid or salt thereof Croconic acid or a salt thereof is easily produced at low cost by a reaction of a hydrocarbon compound consisting of a five-membered ring or a hydrocarbon compound consisting of a five-membered ring having an oxo group and/or a monovalent group linked via an oxygen atom with a halogenating agent.
US07655806B2	Process for purification of anastrozole Anastrozole can be purified by crystallization from an aqueous-based solvent system. The aqueous-based solvent system can contain dilute acid, or an alcohol or both.
US07655804B2	Diketohydrazine derivative compounds and drugs containing the compounds as the active ingredient The present invention relates to a diketohydrazine derivative of formula (I) and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (the symbols in the formula have the same meaning as described in the specification). The compound of formula (I) has an inhibitory activity against cysteine protease, and it is useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, immune diseases, ischemic diseases, respiratory diseases, circulatory diseases, blood diseases, neuronal diseases, hepatic or biliary diseases, osseous or articular diseases, metabolic diseases, etc. And the compound has inhibitory activity against elastase and it is also useful for the treatment of COPD (chronic obstacle pulmonary diseases).
US07655801B2	Substituted carbamic acid quinolin-6-yl esters useful as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors The present invention relates to new substituted carbamic acid quinoline-6-yl esters of formulae 1 and 2 where R1=alkyl, aryl; R2=H, alkyl, aralkyl useful as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and which show potent antiacetylcholinesterase activity and have potential therapeutic use for prevention or cure of acetylcholinesterase related disorders including peripheral as well as central nervous system.
US07655796B2	Process for the preparation of rosuvstatin The present invention provides a process for the preparation of the rosuvastatin intermediate FPP-CHO and its conversion to rosuvastatin and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US07655789B2	siRNA targeting transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 1 (TRPV1) Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for TRPV1.
US07655784B2	Trans-sialidases obtained from Trypanosoma congolense The invention relates to novel enzymes, which transfer sialic acid from a donor molecule onto an acceptor molecule (trans-sialidases). The enzymes are isolated from the protozoan Trypanosoma congolense. The invention also relates to functional equivalents of said enzymes, to the nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences that code for the enzymes and their functional equivalents, to expression constructs and vectors that contain said sequences, to recombinant microorganisms that carry the inventive coding nucleic-acid sequences, to a method for the recombinant production of the inventive enzymes, to a method for isolating said enzyme from Trypanosoma congolense, to a method for the enzymatic sialization of acceptor molecules using the inventive enzymes, to effectors of the inventive trans-sialidases, to the use of the nucleic acid sequences, amino acid sequences, enzymes, effectors or sialization products for producing vaccines, medicaments, foodstuffs or food additives, in addition to the latter products obtained by the inventive method.
US07655780B2	Integrin-linked kinase and its uses ILK genetic sequences and methods of use are provided. In some embodiments, a fragment or portion of an ILK polynucleotide is provided, where the polynucleotide has a sequence consisting of contiguous nucleotides within the provided ILK sequences, which may be within the provided ILK coding sequences. Such polynucleotides may be DNA, RNA, and the like, and may be double stranded or single stranded.
US07655778B2	SISP-1, a novel p53 target gene and use thereof The present invention relates to a novel p53 target gene SISP-1 (Stress induced Secreted Protein 1) and a SISP-1 protein encoded by the gene. The SISP-1 protein of the present invention induces apoptosis by interaction with p53. The present invention provides the use of the gene/protein associated with treating abnormal apoptosis such as tumor.
US07655777B2	Nucleic acid molecules associated with the tocopherol pathway The present invention is in the field of plant biochemistry. More specifically the invention relates to nucleic acid sequences from plant cells, in particular, nucleic acid sequences from maize and soybean associated with the tocopherol synthesis pathway enzymes. The invention encompasses nucleic acid molecules that encode proteins and fragments of proteins. In addition, the invention also encompasses proteins and fragments of proteins so encoded and antibodies capable of binding these proteins or fragments. The invention also relates to methods of using the nucleic acid molecules, proteins and fragments of proteins and antibodies, for example for genome mapping, gene identification and analysis, plant breeding, preparation of constructs for use in plant gene expression and transgenic plants.
US07655776B2	Bovine CAST gene SNP and meat tenderness The present invention relates to the identification of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the bovine CAST locus encoding the calpastatin protein, wherein the allelic variation of the SNP is a G/C transversion associated with post-mortem muscle tenderness. The invention further relates to oligonucleotides useful in identifying the genotype of bovines as it relates to the CAST locus polymorphic site. The invention also encompasses computer-assisted methods and systems for improving the production efficiency for livestock having marketably tender meat using multiple data, and in particular the genotype of the animals as it relates to the CAST SNP. These methods of the invention encompass obtaining a genetic sample from each animal in a herd of livestock, determining the genotype of each animal with respect to specific quality traits as defined by a panel of at least two single polynucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), one SNP corresponding to a site between exons 5 and 6 of the bovine CAST locus, grouping animals with like genotypes, and optionally, further sub-grouping animals based on like phenotypes.
US07655775B2	Expression vectors for treating bacterial infections The present invention is compositions and methods for producing anti-bacterial polypeptides, and for using those compositions and methods for treating diseases and conditions caused by a bacterial infection. More specifically, the compositions and methods include treating a gram-negative bacterium with a gram-positive host that produces a polypeptide effective against the gram-negative bacterium.
US07655774B2	Ancestral and COT viral sequences, proteins and immunogenic compositions The present invention is directed to ancestral and COT nucleic acid and amino acid sequences, methods for producing such sequences and uses thereof, including prophylactic and diagnostic uses.
US07655772B2	Materials and methods for treatment of allergic diseases The present invention pertains to a method for treatment of allergic diseases by administering a natriuretic hormone peptide (NHP), or a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP, to a patient in need thereof. In another aspect, the present invention concerns an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a host cell genetically modified with a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP. In another aspect, the present invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition comprising NHP or a nucleic acid sequence encoding NHP and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another aspect, the present invention pertains to novel fragments of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) exhibiting bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity, and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the fragments.
US07655769B2	Orthogonally protected disaccharide building blocks for synthesis of heparin Orthogonally protected disaccharide building blocks for synthesis of heparin saccharide are disclosed. The disaccharide building block has a formula (I), in which L is a leaving group, P1, P2, P3 and P4 are different, and of them P1 is an ester-type protecting group, P2 is a hydroxyl protecting group that could be oxidized to a carboxylic acid, P3 is a hydroxyl protecting group, and P4 is a hydroxyl protecting group which allows chemoselective deprotection with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ). Acting as an elongation unit, the disaccharide building block of formula (I) may react with a starting unit of formula (II) to synthesize a heparin saccharide of desired size.
US07655763B2	Neutralizing antibodies against GDF-8 and uses therefor The disclosure provides novel antibodies against growth and differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8), in particular human antibodies, and antibody fragments, including those that inhibit GDF-8 activity in vitro and/or in vivo. The disclosure also provides methods for diagnosing, preventing, or treating degenerative disorders of muscle or bone, or disorders of insulin metabolism.
US07655762B2	Monoclonal antibodies against ANGPTL4 Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to ANGPTL4 are provided. Monoclonal antibodies that neutralize at least one activity of ANGPTL4 are provided. Methods of treating a disorder of lipid metabolism using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are provided.
US07655759B2	Recombinant bivalent monospecific immunoglobulin having at least two variable fragments of heavy chains of an immunoglobulin devoid of light chains The present invention relates to fragments, especially variable fragments of immunoglobulins which are by nature devoid of light chains, these fragments being nevertheless capable of exhibiting a recognition and binding activity toward specific antigens. The present invention further relates to the use of such immunoglobulin fragments formed of at least one heavy chain variable fragment or derived therefrom, for therapeutic or veterinary purposes and especially for passive immunotherapy or serotherapy.
US07655754B2	Bacteria with increased levels of protein secretion, nucleotide sequences coding for a SecA protein with increased levels of protein secretion, and methods for producing proteins The invention relates to bacteria that have increased levels of protein secretion due to genetic modification, to nucleotide sequences and gene structures containing at least one gene coding for a SecA protein having increased levels of protein secretion, to a SecA having increased levels of protein secretion, and to a method for producing desired proteins using the inventive bacteria. The invention also relates to nucleic acids coding for a SecA protein having increased levels of protein secretion, containing a SecA gene sequence or allele, a SecA homologue or derivative, or nucleotide sequences hybridising therewith and comprising at least one mutation. Surprisingly, just one mutation in a nucleotide of a SecA gene leads to increased levels of protein secretion or to protein secretion for the first time.
US07655752B2	TNF-α converting enzyme inhibitory agents and method of using same The invention provides peptides, variants of peptides, peptide fragments, and peptidomimetics that can inhibit the protease activity of tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme. The invention also provides coupled proteins containing a partner protein coupled to a peptide, peptide fragment, or peptidomimetic. The invention also provides polyproteins containing at least two peptides, peptide fragments, or coupled proteins that are connected through a linker. Isolated nucleic acid segments, expression cassettes, and nucleic acid constructs are also provided by the invention. The invention also provides antibodies and aptamers. Pharmaceutical compositions are provided by the invention. Methods to lower or increase levels of active tumor necrosis factor alpha in a mammal are also provided.
US07655750B2	Process for the continuous preparation and isolation of soluble preceramic oligomers and/or polymers The invention relates to a method for continuously producing pre-ceramic polymers. The inventive method consists in synthesizing polymers, in separating polymers from a reaction mixture and in thermally conditioning for defining a cross linkage degree and rheological properties, wherein all said steps are integrated into a single method. The thus obtainable polymers are used in the form of an initial material for producing non-oxidized ceramics in ternary X/Y/N or X/Y/N/C quaternary systems. Said materials are characterized by the high mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance thereof, wherein any X and Y combination can represent in particular Si, B, P, Al, Ti, V, Zr, Ta elements.
US07655749B2	Method for making nitrogen aromatic oligomers and polymers Methods for synthesizing dimeric or higher polymeric reaction products of nitrogen aromatics comprise contacting a composition comprising the nitrogen aromatic with a catalyst composition. The catalyst is in particulate form and comprises a first metal substrate having a second reduced metal coated on the substrate.
US07655748B2	Poly(arylene sulfide) and production process thereof A poly(arylene sulfide) having properties that a melt viscosity is 1 to 3,000 Pa·s as measured under conditions of a temperature of 310° C. and a shear rate of 1,216 sec−1, a pH is 7.0 to 12.0 as measured in a mixed solvent of water/acetone (volume ratio=2/1), a crystallization temperature is at most 220° C. as measured in the course of lowing the temperature of the polymer at a rate of 10° C./min from a molten state, and a whiteness degree is at least 70 as measured in the form of a melt molded or formed product, and a production process thereof.
US07655741B2	Thermostable vinylchloride mixed polymers A process for the preparation of vinyl chloride copolymers involves free radical suspension polymerization or emulsion polymerization of a mixture of vinyl chloride, epoxide-containing vinyl monomers and further comonomers copolymerizable therewith, wherein a) from 49.5 to 90% by weight of vinyl chloride, b) from 0.01 to 0.7% by weight of epoxide-containing vinyl monomers and c) from 9.5 to 50% by weight of further comonomers copolymerizable with a) and b) are polymerized, the data in % by weight totaling 100% by weight, and from 0.001 to 0.1% by weight of one or more aliphatic or alicyclic, saturated or unsaturated dicarboxylic acids having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or aliphatic and alicyclic, saturated and unsaturated hydroxymono-, hydroxydi- and hydroxytricarboxylic acids having 3 to 10 carbon atoms and 1 to 4 hydroxyl groups are added during or after the polymerization, and the vinyl chloride copolymer is isolated as a solid resin.
US07655739B1	Adhesive compositions comprising a polyfarnesene Adhesive composition comprises a polyfarnesene and a tackifier. The polyfarnesene can be a farnesene homopolymer derived from a farnesene (e.g., α-farnesene or β-farnesene) or a farnesene interpolymer derived from a farnesene and at least a vinyl monomer. In some embodiments, the at least one vinyl monomer is ethylene, an α-olefin such as styrene, or a substituted or unsubstituted vinyl halide, vinyl ether, acrylonitrile, acrylic ester, methacrylic ester, acrylamide or methacrylamide, or a combination thereof. The composition disclosed herein can be used as a hot melt adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive or the like.
US07655732B2	Low compression, resilient golf balls with rubber core A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center including a material formed from the conversion reaction of sufficient amounts of polybutadiene, a free radical source, and a cis-to-trans catalyst to convert a portion of cis-isomer to trans-isomer in the polybutadiene, wherein said material has an amount of trans-isomer greater than the amount of trans-isomer present before the conversion reaction, and wherein the reaction product includes low levels or substantially no antioxidant.
US07655728B2	Preparation of thermoplastic elastomers by dynamic vulcanization in multi-screw extruders The invention relates to a method of preparing a thermoplastic vulcanizate comprising: a) melt processing a blend of thermoplastic polymer and vulcanizable elastomer in a multi-screw extruder having at least three intermeshing screws, wherein said screws have 3-170 mixing zones, and said extruder having a L/D ratio of 15-100, and a screw profile that has 3 to 17 meshes per L/D; b) adding at least one curing agent to the melt-processed blend of a) in at least one location in the first 46% of the length of said extruder, or adding at least one curing agent to the melt-processed blend of a) in a second extruder, so as to initiate curing of the blend: and, curing at least partially said elastomer by reactive melt processing. Improved processing, reaction kinetics and efficiencies are achieved, as well as thermoplastic vulcanizate products having decreased weight gain when placed in mineral oils.
US07655727B2	Method for preparing thermoplastic vulcanizates with improved extrusion surfaces A process for the preparation of dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers comprising melt processing under shearing conditions in melt reaction extruder, A) at least one thermoplastic resin, B) at least one vulcanizable gas-phase elastomer having a Mooney viscosity (ML.sub.1+4(125° C.)) of from about 65 to about 450, C) a curing agent or agents, and D) process oil, wherein said process oil D) is added to the extruder in at least three oil injection positions located a) at least one location before or within the first 15% of the total length of the extruder; b) at least one other location prior to, at or within 10% total extruder length after the onset of the vulcanization of said gas-phase elastomer; and c) at least one location subsequent to the location of the point at which the vulcanization of said gas-phase elastomer is substantially completed.
US07655726B2	Thermoplastic partially crystalline molding compound having a reduced surface luster and products made therefrom The present invention relates to novel molding compositions based on semicrystalline engineering thermoplastics which, in conventional processing techniques, give moldings with reduced surface gloss. A feature of the molding compositions is that they comprise, in a polymer matrix, if appropriate with the usual additives, polymer particles with a median size d50 of from 0.1 μm to 100 μm, and comprise at least one other incompatible or semicompatible polymer which has not been chemically crosslinked, and also, if appropriate, comprise salt-like additives. The invention further relates to moldings which are produced by means of conventional processing techniques, in particular via injection molding, from these matt-effect molding compositions.
US07655722B2	Adhesive composition The present invention relates to adhesive compositions having: a phosphate group-containing monomer (a) having a fluorocarbon group represented by Chemical Formula 1; and a solvent (b), where R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, n, p and q are natural numbers 2≦n≦10, p+q≦n and p+q+n≦13.
US07655717B2	Ointment composition for treating decubitus ulcers and methods for its making and its use An ointment composition for treating decubitus ulcers and methods for its making and its use. The composition includes a skin protestant ointment, a rash cream, an antibiotic ointment, virgin olive oil, and boric acid powder. The skin protestant ointment includes active ingredients petroleum 53.4%, lanolin 15.5%, and inactive ingredients cod liver oil containing vitamin A & vitamin D, a fragrance, light mineral oil, microcrystalline wax, and paraffin. The rash cream includes active ingredients dimethicone 1% and zinc oxide 10%, and inactive ingredients aloe barbadensis extract, benzyl alcohol, coconut oil, cod liver oil containing vitamin A & vitamin D, a fragrance, glycerol oleate, light mineral oil, ozokerite, paraffin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, synthetic beeswax, and water. The antibiotic ointment includes active ingredients polymyxin B sulfate 5,000 units, bacitracin zinc 400 units, and neomycin base (as sulfate) 3.5 mg., and an inactive ingredient white petroleum.
US07655715B2	Phosphorus-containing mixtures, a process for their preparation and their use The invention relates to phosphorus-containing mixtures containing compounds of the formula RO—PO(A)-CH2—CH2—CO2H and (I) HO—PO(A)-CH2—CH2—CO2R (II) in which A is C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-alkylaryl, C6-C18-aralkyl or aryl, R is (D,E)C═C(B, R5), H B, D, E are identical or different and are each H or C1-C18-alkyl R5 is C1-C20-alkylene, a process for their preparation and their use.
US07655712B2	Bituminous composition and method A binder for bituminous compositions including at least one dialkylamide derived from an unsaturated fatty acid; and at least one catalyst for polymerizing the at least one dialkylamide under the action of oxygen is provided. A bituminous composition including (i) 80% b.w. to 94.9% b.w. bitumen; and (ii) a binder, that includes (a) 1% b.w. to 19% b.w. unsaturated fatty acid dialkylamides; and (b) 0.1% b.w. to 1% b.w. of a polymerization catalyst, where the amounts are calculated based on the solids content of the composition, and where the amounts total 100% b.w. is also provided. A method for preparing a binder for a bituminous composition including combining at least one unsaturated dialkylamide derived from an unsaturated fatty acid with at least one catalyst for the polymerization of the at least one dialkylamide under the action of oxygen is also provided.
US07655706B2	Polymethylmethacrylate bone cement A polymethylmethacrylate bone cement with a liquid monomer component and a solid component contains in the monomer liquid, for example, 0.001-1.00 mass percent of a dye or dye mixture that is insoluble or poorly soluble in methacrylic acid methylester and, for example, 0.001-2.00 mass percent of a synthetically produced, protein-free, hydrophobic, low molecular or oligomeric solubilizer for the dye or dye mixture. The solubilizer preferably is liquid or pasty at room temperature. The monomer liquid is translucent at room temperature. Preferably, 0.001-1.00 mass percent of a dye or dye mixture that is insoluble or poorly soluble in methacrylic acid methylester and, preferably, 0.001-2.00 mass percent of a synthetically produced, protein-free, hydrophobic, low molecular or oligomeric solubilizer that is liquid or pasty at room temperature are homogeneously dissolved in the polymethacrylate or polymethylacrylate of the powder component.
US07655704B2	Hydrocarbon synthesis process using an alkali promoted iron catalyst This invention relates to a high temperature Fischer-Tropsch (HTFT) hydrocarbon synthesis process comprising the conversion of a feed of H2 and at least one carbon oxide to hydrocarbons containing at least 30% on a mass basis hydrocarbons with five or more carbon atoms (hereinafter referred to as C5+ compounds). The conversion is carried out in the presence of an alkali-promoted iron hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst, and the process is characterised therein that the reaction mixture formed during the conversion contains less than 0.02 mol alkali per 100 g iron, and that the H2:carbon oxide molar ratio in the feed of H2 and carbon oxide is at least 2.
US07655682B2	Triple anti-irritant composition The present invention relates to a composition comprising two or more anti-irritants, each having at least about 7.2% oxygen content. In a separate embodiment, the composition may be defined to include a skin conditioning agent, a skin protectant agent, and an anti-irritant agent, each having an oxygen content of at least about 7.2%. The invention further comprises methods of treating and preventing skin conditions by applying the composition to the skin, and then optionally washing the skin.
US07655676B2	Use of amide derivative of GE 2270 factor A3 for the treatment of acne Use of the compound of formula (I) and the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts thereof for the manufacture of a medicament for topical treatment or 5 prevention of acne formula (I) wherein: R represents methoxymethyl, R1 represents methyl, Rz represents methyl, Y represents the group formula (II) The compound of formula (I) and the pharmaceutically acid addition salts thereof show selective activity against propionibacterium acne and are suitable for use in a method of treatment or prevention of acne.
US07655663B2	Fluoropyrrolidines having dipeptidyl peptidase enzyme inhibitory activity The present invention relates to new, potent DPP-IV enzyme inhibitors of the general formula (I), which contain fluorine atoms.
US07655658B2	Thieno [2,3-D]pyrimidine-2,4-dione melanocortin-specific compounds A thienopyrimidine compound of the formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined herein, and methods of use of such compounds for the treatment of melanocortin receptor-associated disorders.
US07655645B2	Indole derivatives The invention relates to indole derivative having the general Formula I wherein A represents a 5-membered aromatic heterocyclic ring, wherein X1, X2 and X3 are independently selected from N, O, S and CH; Y represents CH2, O, S or SO2; R1 is H, (C1-4)-alkyl, (C1-4)alkyloxy, CN or halogen; R2, R2′, R3, R3′, R4, R4′, R5 and R5′ are independently hydrogen, (C1-4)alkyl (optionally substituted with OH) or CO—OR8; or one pair of geminal substituents R3 and R3′ or R5 and R5′ together represent a keto group, and the others are all hydrogen or (C1-4)alkyl; or R2 and R5 together represent a methylene or an ethylene bridge, and R2′, R3, R3′, R4, R4′ and R5′ are hydrogen; n is 1 or 2; R6 is H, (C1-4)alkyl (optionally substituted with OH, (C1-4)alkyloxy, CO—NR9R10, CO—OR11 or 1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl), SO2NR12R13 or COOR14; R7 is H or halogen; R8 is (C1-4)alkyl; R9 and R10 are independently hydrogen, (C1-4)alkyl or (C3-7)cycloalkyl, the alkyl groups being optionally substituted with OH or (C1-4)alkyloxy; R11 is H or (C1-4)alkyl; R12 and R13 are independently H or (C1-4)alkyl; R14 is (C1-6)alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as agonists of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, which can be used in the treatment of pain such as for example peri-operative pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain, cancer pain and pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.
US07655644B2	Piperidine and azetidine derivatives as GlyT1 inhibitors The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), wherein both p's are one or two, R1 is generally heteroaryl or cycloalkyl, R2 is C3-6cycloalkyl or phenyl and R3 is heteroaryl, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as GlyT1 inhibitors for treating schizophrenia, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and methods for their preparation.
US07655643B2	Antibacterial macrocycles with substituted biphenyl The invention relates to antibacterial macrocycles with substituted biphenyl and processes for their preparation, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and their use for the production of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially of bacterial infections.
US07655642B2	3-cyano-quinoline derivatives with antiproliferative activity The present invention concerns the compounds of formula the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein Z represents NH; Y represents —C3-9alkyl-, —C1-5alkyl-NR12—C1-5alkyl-, —C1-6alkyl-NH—CO— or —CO—NH—C1-6alkyl-; X1 represents —O—; X2 represents a direct bond, —NR11—C1-2alkyl-, —NR11—CH2—, —C1-2alkyl-, —O—C1-2alkyl, —O— or —O—CH2—; R1 represents hydrogen or halo; R2 represents hydrogen, cyano, halo, hydroxycarbonyl-, C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl-, Het16-carbonyl- or Ar5; R3 represents hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-4alkyloxy-, Ar4—C1-4alkyloxy or R3 represents C1-4alkyloxy substituted with one or where possible two or more substituents selected from C1-4alkyloxy- or Het2-; R10 represents hydrogen; R11 represents hydrogen, C1-4alkyl- or C1-4alkyl-oxy-carbonyl-; R12 represents Het14-C1-4alkyl, in particular morpholinyl-C1-4alkyl; Het2 represents a heterocycle selected from morpholinyl or piperidinyl optionally substituted with C1-4alkyl-, preferably methyl; Het14 represents morpholinyl; Het16 represents a heterocycle selected from morpholinyl or pyrrolidinyl; Ar4 represents phenyl; Ar5 represents phenyl optionally substituted with cyano.
US07655636B2	Use of A2A adenosine receptor agonists The present invention relates to methods for producing coronary vasodilation with little peripheral vasodilation by administering doses of a pharmaceutical composition including regadenoson, named (1-{9-[(4S,2R,3R,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-6-aminopurin-2-yl}pyrazol-4-yl)-N-methylcarboxamide, — an adenosine A2A receptor agonist — to a human in an amount sufficient to increase the average coronary peak flow velocity by at least about 16.5 cm/sec.
US07655633B2	Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivatives, medicinal compositions containing the same and medicinal use thereof The present invention provides nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivatives represented by the general formula: wherein X1 represents N or CR1; X2 represents N or CR2; X3 represents N or CR3; X4 represents N or CR4; and with the proviso that one or two of X1 to X4 represent N; R represents optionally substituted C3-8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted C6-10 aryl, etc.; R1 to R4 represent H, a halogen atom, etc.) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, or prodrugs thereof, which exert an excellent inhibitory activity in human SGLT2 and are useful as agents for the prevention or treatment of a disease associated with hyperglycemia such as diabetes, diabetic complications, obesity or the like, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and medicinal uses thereof.
US07655632B2	Pyrazole derivative, medicinal composition containing the same, medicinal use thereof, and intermediate for production thereof The present invention provides pyrazole derivatives represented by the general formula: wherein R1 represents H, an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group etc.; one of Q and T represents a group represented by the general formula: or a group represented by the general formula: while the other represents an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group etc.; R2 represents H, a halogen atom, OH, an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group etc.; X represents a single bond, O or S; Y represents a single bond, a C1-6 alkylene group etc.; Z represents CO or SO2; R4 and R5 represent H, an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group etc.; and R3, R6 and R7 represent H, a halogen atom etc., pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof or prodrugs thereof, which exhibit an excellent inhibitory activity in human SGLT1 and are useful as agents for the prevention or treatment of a disease associated with hyperglycemia such as diabetes, diabetic complications or obesity, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, pharmaceutical uses thereof, and intermediates for production thereof.
US07655613B2	Solubilizing systems for flavors and fragrances The present invention provides compositions and clear oil-in-water microemulsion containing up to 80% w/w of an oil, a surfactant system, a w/w oil/surfactant system ratio between 1 and 3, and a solubilizing-aid ingredient which is not a surfactant neither a VOC compound, the latter being present in an amount sufficient to ensure that the ratio oil/(surfactant+solubilizing-aid) is between 0.1 and 5. The present invention concerns also the articles and products associated with such compositions and microemulsions, and the methods to manufacture them.
US07655606B2	Lubricants for sports equipment The invention relates to polychlorotrifluoroethylenes (PCTFE) for improving the gliding properties of sports equipment and, in particular, winter sports equipment, to compositions containing the same, and to their use for this purpose. The polychlorotrifluoroethylenes are, in particular, polychlorotrifluoroethylenes which have a molecular weight selected so that they have a pourpoint in the range from −70° C. to 200° C. (−94° F. to 392° F.), and preferably from 0° C. to 100° C. (32 to 212° F.).
US07655605B2	Processes for producing extra light hydrocarbon liquids The present invention relates to an extra light hydrocarbon liquid derived from highly paraffinic wax. This extra light hydrocarbon liquid is suitable for use as a lubricant additive diluent oil in oil soluble additive concentrates. This extra light hydrocarbon liquid derived from highly paraffinic wax has a viscosity of between about 1.0 and 3.5 cSt at 100° C. and a Noack volatility of less than 50 weight % and comprises greater than 3 weight % molecules with cycloparaffinic functionality and less than 0.30 weight percent aromatics. The extra light hydrocarbon liquid makes an excellent lubricant additive diluent oil because it has low volatility, low viscosity, good additive solubility, and excellent solubility in lubricant base oil stocks. The present invention also relates to finished lubricants comprising the oil soluble additive concentrates made with the extra light hydrocarbon liquid and finished lubricants comprising the oil soluble additive concentrates. The present invention further relates to processes for making these lubricant additive diluent oils, oil soluble additive concentrates, and finished lubricants.
US07655591B2	Catalyst for making fluoroelastomer compositions and methods of using the same A catalyst is preparable from a first component represented by R′C(CF2R)O− Q+ and a second component (NCCFR″)bZ. The catalyst may be combined with a fluoropolymer having nitrogen-containing cure-sites to form a curable composition that is useful for preparing fluoroelastomer compositions.
US07655587B2	High resistivity refractory with a high zirconia content The invention provides a novel fused and cast refractory product with a high zirconia content having improved electrical resistivity. Said refractory product comprises, as a percentage by weight relative to the oxides and for a total of more than 98.5%: ZrO2+Hf2O: >85% SiO2: 1% to 12% Al2O3: 0.1% to 2.4%, with Al2O3/SiO2<0.5 Y2O3: ≦1%, B2O3: <1.5%; and a dopant selected from the group formed by V2O5, CrO3, Nb2O5, MoO3, Ta2O5, WO3, and mixtures thereof, in a weighted quantity such that: 0.2%≦2.43V2O5+8.84CrO3+1.66Nb2O5+6.14MoO3+Ta2O5+3.81WO3.
US07655583B2	Non-woven fabric laminate/elastomer/non-woven fabric A laminate including at least one elastic film having a width and at least one layer of non-woven fabric fixed to the film on at least said width, through interposition of a fixing agent, in particular adhesive, whereby the at least one layer of non-woven fabric has an outer surface at a distance from the film. The outer surface (25) of the at least one layer of non-woven fabric is corrugated in the stretched state of the laminate, having ridge zones (22) and hollow zones (23), whereby fixing agent (20) is provided between the ridge zones and the elastic film.
US07655579B2	Method for improving heat transfer of a focus ring to a target substrate mounting device A focus ring heat transfer method improves heat transfer of a focus ring arranged in an outer peripheral portion of a mounting surface of a mounting table adapted to mount a target substrate in a chamber. The method includes steps of: disposing a heat transfer sheet between the focus ring and the mounting table; and vacuum-evacuating the chamber prior to processing the target substrate and then restoring the pressure the inside of the chamber to an atmospheric pressure or a light vacuum pressure. Therefore, air present in a fine gap between the heat transfer sheet and the mounting surface is removed to allow the heat transfer sheet to adhere to the mounting surface.
US07655566B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A semiconductor device is manufactured by forming a gate electrode layer over a substrate having a light transmitting property; forming a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer; forming a photocatalyst material over the gate insulating layer; immersing the photocatalyst material in a solution containing a plating catalyst material and selectively exposing the photocatalyst material to light transmitted through the substrate in the solution containing the plating catalyst material with the use of the gate electrode layer as a mask to adsorb or deposit the plating catalyst material onto the light-exposed photocatalyst material; immersing the plating catalyst material in a plating solution containing a metal material to form a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer on the surface of the photocatalyst material adsorbing or depositing the plating catalyst material; and forming a semiconductor layer over the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer.
US07655560B2	Wiring board, manufacturing method thereof, semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof The invention provides a wiring board having a small-scale and high-performance functional circuit while realizing a multi-layer wiring with a small number of steps. In addition, the invention provides a semiconductor device in which a display device is integrated with such high-performance functional circuit on the same substrate. According to the invention, first to third wirings, first and second interlayer insulating films and first and second contact holes are formed over a substrate having an insulating surface. The second wiring is wider than the first wiring, or the third wiring is wider than the first wiring or the second wiring. The second contact hole has a larger diameter than the first contact hole.
US07655556B2	Interconnect structures for semiconductor devices A cap layer for a copper interconnect structure formed in a first dielectric layer is provided. In an embodiment, the cap layer may be formed by an in-situ deposition process in which a process gas comprising germanium, arsenic, tungsten, or gallium is introduced, thereby forming a copper-metal cap layer. In another embodiment, a copper-metal silicide cap is provided. In this embodiment, silane is introduced before, during, or after a process gas is introduced, the process gas comprising germanium, arsenic, tungsten, or gallium. Thereafter, an optional etch stop layer may be formed, and a second dielectric layer may be formed over the etch stop layer or the first dielectric layer.
US07655553B2	Microstructure sealing tool and methods of using the same A method of packing electronic devices and an apparatus thereof are disclosed herein. The method allows for usage of solder materials with a melting temperature of 180° C. or higher, such as from 210° C. to 300° C., and from 230° C. to 260° C., so as to provide reliable and robust packaging. This method is particularly useful for packaging electronic devices that are sensitive to temperatures, such as microstructures, which can be microelectromechanical devices (MEMS), such as micromirror array devices.
US07655551B2	Control of poly-Si depletion in CMOS via gas phase doping A method to control the poly-Si depletion effect in CMOS structures utilizing a gas phase doping process which is capable of providing a high concentration of dopant atoms at the gate dielectric/poly-Si interface is provided. The present invention also provides CMOS structure including, for example, nFETs and/or pFETs, that are fabricated utilizing the gas phase doping technique described herein.
US07655550B2	Method of making metal gate transistors A semiconductor device has a gate with three conductive layers over a high K gate dielectric. The first layer is substantially oxygen free. The work function is modulated to the desired work function by a second conductive layer in response to subsequent thermal processing. The second layer is a conductive oxygen-bearing metal. With sufficient thickness of the first layer, there is minimal penetration of oxygen from the second layer through the first layer to adversely impact the gate dielectric but sufficient penetration of oxygen to change the work function to a more desirable level. A third layer, which is metallic, is deposited over the second layer. A polysilicon layer is deposited over the third layer. The third layer prevents the polysilicon layer and the oxygen-bearing layer from reacting together.
US07655537B2	Semiconductor substrates having useful and transfer layers A method of fabricating composite substrates by associating a transfer layer with an intermediate support to form an intermediate substrate of predetermined thickness with the transfer layer having a free surface; providing a sample carrier having a surface and a recess that has a depth that is approximate the same as the predetermined thickness of the intermediate substrate so that the transfer layer free surface is positioned flush with the sample carrier surface; providing a support layer both on the transfer layer free surface and on a portion of the sample carrier surface surrounding the recess; removing the portion of the support layer that extends beyond the intermediate substrate; and detaching the transfer layer and support layer from its intermediate support to form the composite substrate. The support layer is made of a deposited material that has a lower quality than that of the intermediate support. A bonding layer may be included on one of the intermediate support or the useful layer, or both, to facilitate bonding of the layers. The final substrates are useful in optic, electronic, or optoelectronic applications.
US07655532B1	STI film property using SOD post-treatment A method of forming a shallow trench isolation region includes providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a top surface; forming an opening extending from the top surface into the semiconductor substrate; filling a precursor into the opening using spin-on; performing a steam cure to the precursor to generate a dielectric material; after the steam cure, performing a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) to the dielectric material; and after the CMP, performing a steam anneal to the dielectric material.
US07655531B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same The semiconductor device comprises a capacitor formed over a semiconductor substrate 10 and including a lower electrode 32, a dielectric film 34 formed over the lower electrode and an upper electrode 36 formed over the dielectric film, a first insulation film 42 formed over the semiconductor substrate and the capacitor, a first interconnection 48 formed over the first insulation film and electrically connected to the capacitor, a first hydrogen diffusion preventive film 50 for preventing the diffusion of hydrogen formed over the first insulation film, covering the first interconnection, a second insulation film 58 formed over the first hydrogen diffusion preventive film and having the surface planarized, a third insulation film 62 formed over the second insulation film, a second interconnection 70b formed over the third insulation film, and a second hydrogen diffusion preventive film 72 for preventing the diffusion of hydrogen formed on the third insulation film, covering the second interconnection. Since the second hydrogen diffusion preventive film positioned above the capacitor is planarized, the dielectric film is surely prevented from being reduced with hydrogen.
US07655529B1	InP based heterojunction bipolar transistors with emitter-up and emitter-down profiles on a common wafer A wafer comprising at least one emitter-up Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (HBT) and at least one emitter-down HBT on a common InP based semiconductor wafer. Isolation and N-type implants into the device layers differentiate an emitter-down HBT from an emitter-up HBT. The method for preparing a device comprises forming identical layers for all HBTs and performing ion implantation to differentiate an emitter-down HBT from an emitter-up HBT.
US07655527B2	Semiconductor element and process of manufacturing semiconductor element Shown are embodiments where a process of manufacturing a semiconductor element on a semiconductor wafer is shown. The semiconductor element is obtained by dividing the function-providing semiconductor wafer into functional elements. The function-providing semiconductor wafer is, at its first main surface, mechanically coupled to a handling wafer. The thinning is carried out in the coupled state of the function-providing semiconductor wafer, and the function-providing semiconductor wafer is divided in its state coupled to the handling wafer. During or after connecting the semiconductor element to a lead frame the mechanical coupling between the semiconductor element and the corresponding part of the handling wafer is destroyed. Other embodiments are also shown.
US07655519B2	Methods of fabricating metal-insulator-metal capacitors with a chemical barrier layer in a lower electrode A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor includes a lower electrode, a dielectric layer, and an upper electrode. The lower electrode includes a first conductive layer, a chemical barrier layer on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer on the chemical barrier layer. The chemical barrier layer is between the first and second conductive layers and is a different material than the first and second conductive layers. The dielectric layer is on the lower electrode. The upper electrode is on the dielectric layer opposite to the lower electrode. The first and second conductive layers can have the same thickness. The chemical barrier layer can be thinner than each of the first and second conductive layers. Related methods are discussed.
US07655517B2	Spin polarization amplifying transistor An embodiment of the invention is a transistor formed in part by a ferromagnetic semiconductor with a sufficiently high ferromagnetic transition temperature to coherently amplify spin polarization of a current. For example, an injected non-polarized control current creates ferromagnetic conditions within the transistor base, enabling a small spin-polarized signal current to generate spontaneous magnetization of a larger output current.
US07655513B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device After crystallization of a semiconductor film is performed by irradiating first laser light (energy density of 400 to 500 mJ/cm2) in an atmosphere containing oxygen, an oxide film formed by irradiating the first laser light is removed. It is next performed to irradiate second laser light under an atmosphere that does not contain oxygen (at a higher energy density than that of the first laser light irradiation), thus to increase the flatness of the semiconductor film.
US07655512B2	Method for forming electrodes of organic electronic devices, organic thin film transistors comprising such electrodes, and display devices comprising such transistors Disclosed are methods for forming electrodes for organic electronic devices which allow for the use of an improved range of conductive materials for forming source/drain electrodes. The disclosed methods also allow for the use of different conductive materials for forming data lines and source/drain electrodes during the fabrication of organic electronic devices. Organic electronic devices manufactured according to the methods may provide advantages over conventional methods including, for example, improved patterning and increased accuracy in the formation of electrodes for organic electronic devices. Organic electronic devices fabricated according to the disclosed method are expected to be useful in display devices and electronic displays.
US07655507B2	Microelectronic imaging units and methods of manufacturing microelectronic imaging units Methods for manufacturing microelectronic imaging units and microelectronic imaging units that are formed using such methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes coupling a plurality of singulated imaging dies to a support member. The individual imaging dies include an image sensor, an integrated circuit operably coupled to the image sensor, and a plurality of external contacts operably coupled to the integrated circuit. The method further includes forming a plurality of stand-offs on corresponding imaging dies before and/or after the imaging dies are singulated and electrically connecting the external contacts of the imaging dies to corresponding terminals on the support member. The individual stand-offs include a portion between adjacent external contacts.
US07655500B2	Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for packaging microelectronic devices Packaged microelectronic devices and methods for packaging microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of packaging a microelectronic device including a microelectronic die having a first side with a plurality of bond-pads and a second side opposite the first side includes forming a recess in a substrate, placing the microelectronic die in the recess formed in the substrate with the second side facing toward the substrate, and covering the first side of the microelectronic die with a dielectric layer after placing the microelectronic die in the recess. The substrate can include a thermal conductive substrate, such as a substrate comprised of copper and/or aluminum. The substrate can have a coefficient of thermal expansion at least approximately equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the microelectronic die or a printed circuit board.
US07655498B2	Film comprising organic semiconductors The invention concerns a film (1), in particular a stamping or laminating film, and a process for the production of such a film. At least one component produced using organic semiconductor technology, in particular one or more organic field effect transistors, is integrated into a film (1).
US07655497B1	Growth method for chalcongenide phase-change nanostructures A method for growth of an alloy for use in a nanostructure, to provide a resulting nanostructure compound including at least one of GexTey, InxSby, InxSey, SbxTey, GaxSby, GexSby,Tez, InxSbyTez, GaxSeyTez, SnxSbyTez, InxSbyGez, GewSnxSbyTez, GewSbxSeyTez, and TewGexSbySz, where w, x, y and z are numbers consistent with oxidization states (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) of the corresponding elements. The melt temperatures for some of the resulting compounds are in a range 330-420° C., or even lower with some compounds.
US07655476B2	Reduction of scan time in imaging mass spectrometry Techniques are disclosed for reducing scan times in mass spectral tissue imaging studies. According to a first technique, a tissue imaging boundary is defined that closely approximates the edges of a tissue sample. According to a second technique, a low-resolution scan is performed to identify one or more areas of interest within the tissue sample, and the identified areas of interest are subsequently scanned at higher resolution.
US07655464B2	Dual inhibitors of HIV-1 GP-120 interactions Compounds, which inhibit the binding of gp120 to CD4 as well as 17b and methods for their use in inhibiting the HIV fusion process, are provided.
US07655462B2	Anti-tumor activity of Ea-4-peptide of pro-IGF-I Compositions of pro-IFG-I E-peptides for the treatment and amelioration of tumor-producing diseases, and methods for their utilization.
US07655450B2	Polypeptide having amidase activity and gene thereof It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel amidase that is useful for production of an optically active amino acid, and in particular, a D-amino acid, and a production method thereof.The present invention relates to a novel D-amidase isolated and purified from the Arthrobacter sp. KNK1101J, a gene encoding the above amidase, a recombinant plasmid comprising the above gene, and a transformant into which the above amidase gene has been introduced. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for producing the amidase, comprising culturing the Arthrobacter sp. KNK1101J or the above transformant, and collecting the above amidase.
US07655446B2	Crystal structure of Rho-kinase I kinase domain complexes and binding pockets thereof The present invention relates to human Rho-kinase I (ROCK I), ROCK I binding pockets, ROCK I-like binding pockets. More particularly, the present invention provides a computer comprising a data storage medium encoded with the structure coordinates of such binding pockets. This invention also relates to methods of using the structure coordinates to solve the structure of homologous proteins or protein complexes. In addition, this invention relates to methods of using the structure coordinates to screen for and design compounds, including inhibitory compounds, that bind to ROCK I protein or ROCK I protein homologues, or complexes thereof. The invention also relates to crystallizable compositions and crystals comprising ROCK I kinase domain and ROCK I kinase domain complexed with an inhibitor of that domain. The invention also relates to methods of identifying inhibitors of the ROCK I kinase domain.
US07655441B2	Nucleic acid sequences having gene transcription regulatory qualities The invention is concerned with the systematic elucidation and identification of regulatory sequences. The invention provides among others screenings and detection methods with which regulatory sequences can be identified. The invention further provides regulatory sequences and use thereof in various fields such as, but not limited to, protein production, diagnostics, transgenic plants and animals, and the therapeutic field.
US07655439B2	Trimerizing polypeptides The present invention relates to a method of preparing a trimeric protein comprising culturing a host cell transformed or transfected with an expression vector encoding a fusion protein comprising a ZymoZipper (ZZ) domain and a heterologous protein. In one embodiment, the heterologous protein is a membrane protein, the portion of the heterologous protein that included in the fusion protein is the extracellular domain of that protein, and the resulting fusion protein is soluble. In another embodiment of the present invention, the ZZ domain is derived from the transmembrane (TM) subunit of a virus envelope protein or another heptad repeat containing gene of a virus genome. The method can be used to produced homo- and hetero-trimeric proteins. The present invention also encompasses DNA molecules, expression vectors, and host cells used in the present method and fusion proteins produced by the present method.
US07655427B2	Immunogenic proteins of Leptospira The invention provides novel immunogenic proteins LigA and LigB from Leptospira for use in the development of effective vaccines and antibodies, as well as improved diagnostic methods and kits.
US07655412B2	Self-assembly molecules There is provided a method of forming a multimeric complex having affinity for a target. The method comprises: obtaining a plurality of self-assembly molecules, said self-assembly molecules including complementary self-assembly units such as verotoxin subunit B, each of which is operatively connected to an interaction domain such as a single domain antibody specific for the target; and combining said self-assembly molecules such that at least three said self-assembly units simultaneously bind to one another so as to permit the single domain antibodies to bind the target.
US07655407B2	Method for detecting target substance utilizing probe desorption It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting a target substance in a specimen with the use of fine particles, whereby the target substance can be readily detected with the exclusive use of a single type of probe and the detection limit is improved. The present invention provides a method for detecting a target substance in a specimen which comprises the steps of: allowing a complex of a fine particle and a probe to come into contact with a specimen; and detecting changes in physical properties of the fine particle that are caused by desorption of the probe from the fine particle due to interaction between the target substance in the specimen and the probe.
US07655400B2	Substance capable of accelerating nucleotide chain exchange reaction The purpose of the present invention is to provide a substance having a several ten to several hundred-fold exchange reaction accelerating activity as compared with that of conventional copolymers. In particular, the invention provides a preparation for accelerating an exchange reaction between a nucleotide sequence at specific site of a double stranded DNA or RNA for its homologous nucleotide sequence, the preparation comprising a cationic polymer having a guanidine group-containing main chain and a hydrophilic functional groups as an active ingredient. Thus, a substance having a several ten to several hundred-fold exchange reaction accelerating activity as compared with that of conventional copolymers can be provided. With this substance, the nucleotide chain exchange can be performed at a lower temperature and/or a higher rate than in the prior art.
US07655397B2	Selections of genes and methods of using the same for diagnosis and for targeting the therapy of select cancers A method of diagnosing a disease that includes obtaining experimental data on gene selections. The gene selection functions to characterize a cancer when the expression of that gene selection is compared to the identical selection from a noncancerous cell or a different type of cancer cell. The invention also includes a method of targeting at least one product of a gene that includes administration of a therapeutic agent. The invention also includes the use of a gene selection for diagnosing a cancer.
US07655396B1	Methods for detecting receptor modulator activity Disclosed herein are methods of screening compounds that modulate G-protein coupled receptors. The assays are performed at temperatures of between about 25° C. and 40° C.
US07655382B2	On-press developable lithographic printing plate having darker aluminum substrate An on-press ink and/or fountain solution developable lithographic printing plate comprising a photosensitive layer over an electrochemically grained, anodized, hydrophilically treated aluminum substrate with a reflection optical density of at least 0.30 is disclosed. The photosensitive layer is soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser having a wavelength of from 200 to 1200 nm. The plate is exposed with the laser off press or on press, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. Such darker aluminum substrate in combination with the hydrophilic treatment allows fast press roll up, clean background, and good printing durability of the plate.
US07655380B2	Polymeric material, containing a latent acid Polymeric material, containing a latent acid which can be converted to an acid by irradiation by a laser and optionally further ingredients.
US07655379B2	Ionic, organic photoacid generators for DUV, MUV and optical lithography based on peraceptor-substituted aromatic anions A photoacid generator compound P+A−, comprises an antenna group P+ comprising a cation that generates protons upon interaction with light, and A− comprising a weakly coordinating peracceptor-substituted aromatic anion that does not contain fluorine or semi-metallic elements such as boron. In one embodiment, such anions comprise the following compounds 4, 5, 6 and 7, wherein E comprises an electron-withdrawing group and the removal of one proton generates aromaticity. P+ comprises an onium cation that decomposes into a proton and other components upon interaction with photons. P+ may comprise an organic chalcogen onium cation or a halonium cation, wherein the chalcogen onium cation in another embodiment may comprises an oxonium, sulfonium, selenium, tellurium, or onium cation, and the halonium cation may comprise an iodonium, chlorine or bromine onium cation. A novel compound comprises TPS CN5. A photolithographic formulation comprises the photoacid generator in combination with a photolithographic composition such as a photolithographic polymer. The formulation, when on a substrate, is exposed to optical lithographic radiation or ArF (193 nm) or KrF (248 nm) radiation, and developed. A product comprises an article of manufacture made by the method of the invention.
US07655378B2	Negative resist composition and patterning process using the same There is disclosed a negative resist composition comprising, at least, a polymer comprising a repeating unit of hydroxy vinylnaphthalene represented by the following general formula (1). There can be provided a negative resist composition, in particular, a chemically amplified negative resist composition that can exhibit higher resolution than conventional hydroxy styrene or novolac negative resist compositions, that provides excellent pattern profiles after being exposed and that exhibits excellent etching resistance; and a patterning process that uses the resist composition.
US07655374B2	Fixing liquid, toner fixing method and apparatus, and image forming method and apparatus A fixing liquid configured to fix a toner containing a resin on a recording medium is disclosed, wherein a particle containing a component capable of dissolving or swelling at least one portion of the resin contained in the toner is dispersed in a nonaqueous dispersing medium. A toner fixing method of fixing a toner containing a resin on a recording medium is disclosed, wherein the fixing liquid as described above is used. A toner fixing apparatus configured to fix a toner containing a resin on a recording medium is disclosed, wherein the toner fixing method as described above is used.
US07655369B2	Reticle set, method for designing a reticle set, exposure monitoring method, inspection method for reticle set and manufacturing method for a semiconductor device A reticle set, includes a first photomask having a circuit pattern provided with first and second openings provided adjacent to each other sandwiching a first opaque portion, and a monitor mark provided adjacent to the circuit pattern; and a second photomask having a trim pattern provided with a second opaque portion covering the first opaque portion in an area occupied by the circuit pattern and an extending portion connected to one end of the first opaque portion and extending outside the area when the second photomask is aligned with a pattern delineated on a substrate by the first photomask.
US07655366B2	Inkless reimageable printing paper and method An image forming medium includes a substrate and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into a substrate, where the imaging layer is formed of an imaging composition that includes a solvent or a polymeric binder, and a photochromic material selected from substituted fulgides and substituted dithienylethenes, dissolved or dispersed in the solvent or polymeric binder, and where the imaging composition exhibits a reversible homogeneous-heterogeneous transition between a colorless state, an intermediate colorless or colored erasable state, and a final colored stable state, the photochromic material converting from the colorless state to the colored stable state upon irradiation with light of a first wavelength and converting from the colored stable state to the colorless state upon exposure to heat and light.
US07655362B2	Masks of semiconductor devices and methods of forming mask patterns Masks for semiconductor devices and methods of forming masks of semiconductor devices are provided which are capable of improving line resolution. A disclosed mask includes: a first mask pattern disposed on a first side of the mask. The first mask pattern includes light-blocking patterns and light-blocking fine auxiliary patterns within a light-transmitting region. The mask also includes a second mask pattern disposed on a second side of the mask. The second mask pattern includes light-transmitting fine auxiliary patterns within a light-blocking region. The light-transmitting fine auxiliary patterns are disposed at positions corresponding to the light-blocking fine auxiliary patterns to facilitate an overlapping exposing process. The second mask has the opposite tone of the first mask, and the second mask is disposed at a position horizontally-translated from a position of the first mask. Accordingly, pattern bridge regions in repeated patterns of a poly-cell transistor device can be selectively removed.
US07655361B2	Electrolyte for high voltage lithium rechargeable battery and high voltage lithium rechargeable battery employing the same Aspects of the present invention relate to an electrolyte for a high voltage lithium rechargeable battery and a high voltage lithium rechargeable battery employing the electrolyte, and more particularly to an electrolyte for a high voltage lithium rechargeable battery comprising a non-aqueous organic solvent; a lithium salt; and a combination of a halogenated biphenyl and a dihalogenated toluene used as an additive where the combined additive has an oxidation reduction potential of 4.6 to 5.0 V with respect to lithium. The lithium rechargeable battery employing the electrolyte for a high voltage lithium rechargeable battery achieves overcharge stability.
US07655359B2	Secondary battery A secondary battery having a feature in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode and electrolyte are provided; the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material layer which is alloying at least at a portion of a boundary face with a negative electrode current collector; an approximately tabular electrode body structure is formed by a constitution in which a laminated body of the lamellar positive electrode and the lamellar negative electrode is wound or folded; and in the approximately tabular electrode body structure, relation of B≦1.5A is satisfied when length in a perpendicular direction with respect to a bended portion of the laminated body is made to be A and length in a parallel direction with respect to the bended portion of the laminated body is made to be B.
US07655358B2	Positive active material composition for rechargeable lithium battery and method of preparing positive electrode using same A positive active material composition for a rechargeable battery includes a positive active material selected from compounds represented by formulas 1 to 13, and at least one semi-metal, metal or oxides thereof: LixMnA2 (1) LixMnO2−zAz (2) LixMn1−yM′yA2 (3) LixMn2A4 (4) LixMn2O4−zAz (5) LixMn2−yM′yA4 (6) LixBA2 (7) LixBO2−zAz (8) LixB1−yM″yA2 (9) LixB1−yM″yO2-zAz (10) LixNiCoO2−zAz (11) LixNiCoO2−zAz (12) LixNi1−y-zCoyM″zA2 (13) where 1.0≦x≦1.1, 0.01≦y≦0.1, 0.01≦z≦0.5, M′ is at least one transition metal or lanthanide metal selected from Al, Cr, Co, Mg, La, Ce, Sr, or V, M″ is at least one transition metal or lanthanide metal selected from Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mg, La, Ce, Sr or V, A is selected from 0, F, S or P, and B is Ni or Co.
US07655355B2	Positive electrode binder for alkaline storage battery A positive electrode for an alkaline storage battery is disclosed, comprising a conductive base material and an active material layer attached to the base material, the active material layer comprising an active material and a binder, the binder comprising an elastic copolymer comprising one or more tetrafluoroethylene units and one or more propylene units.
US07655350B2	Battery pack In accordance with the present invention, an improved battery pack is employed. The battery pack includes a housing with opposing walls, a plurality of cells disposed within the housing, at least two terminals electrically connected to the cells, a latching mechanism disposed on each opposing wall for latching the battery pack to a cordless device, each latching mechanism including a latch and a button disposed on the wall for moving the latch between unlatching and latching positions, the latching buttons being disposed along a first plane, the first plane being substantially vertical, wherein the number of cells disposed along the first plane is smaller than the number of cells disposed along a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. The battery pack may also include a stacked cell disposed on the plurality of cells. The stacked cell may be disposed along the first plane. However, the stacked cell is not included in the number of cells disposed along the first plane.
US07655349B2	Cylindrical lithium secondary battery A cylindrical lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly which has a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator provided between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, is wound in a spiral shape, and has a central space at the center of winding; a core member which is inserted into the central space of the electrode assembly; a case having a space for containing the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly which is connected to an upper portion of the case so as to seal the case. The core member is formed in a tube shape having a gap along a longitudinal direction, which divides the core member into a body portion and left and right lateral end portions, wherein an imaginary arc line extending from an outer circumferential surface of the body portion of the core member defines an imaginary circumference, and wherein the left and right lateral end portions are located inside the imaginary circumference and comprise a pair of first bending portions, inwardly bending and symmetrically disposed with respect to the gap, and a pair of second bending portions bending in a rotation direction that is opposite to the inwardly bending rotational directions of the first bending portions.
US07655343B2	Liquid fuel supply type fuel cell A fuel cell (100) which has an electrode-electrolyte joined article (101) composed of a fuel electrode (102), an oxidizing agent electrode (108) and, sandwiched thereby, a solid polymer electrolyte (114), characterized in that a separation film (330) comprising a material exhibiting an oxygen/nitrogen separation factor of more than 1 is provided on the surface of an oxidizing agent electrode side current collector (110) constituting the oxidizing agent electrode (108). The fuel cell is a liquid fuel supply type of fuel cell which has a simple structure and also is capable of supplying satisfactory oxygen to an oxidizing agent electrode.
US07655340B2	Ultra short high pressure gradient flow path flow field The present invention is directed to a planar flow field design having an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold which are configured in two offset planes. A relatively short passage extends from the intake manifold through the exhaust manifold and terminates at a reactive face of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) such that a differential flow distribution is provided from the intake manifold through the passage and across a reactive face of the MEA to the exhaust manifold.
US07655334B2	Proton-conducting electrolyte membrane method for production and use thereof in a fuel cell A proton-conducting electrolyte membrane is disclosed, comprising at least one base material and at least one dopant, which is the reaction product of an at least dibasic inorganic acid with an organic compound, comprising one acidic hydroxyl group, or the condensation product of said compound with a polybasic acid. The membrane may be produced by a single step method, which avoids the use of dangerous materials and environmental pollutants. Subsequent doping of the membrane, e.g., in conjunction with assembly of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is not excluded. The electrolyte membrane has a high and constant mechanical stability and flexibility, excellent chemical and thermal stability and a high and constant conductivity. The membrane may be used in a fuel cell in a wide temperature range from 50° C. to more than 200° C., for example, whereby the fuel cell has a high and constant power level over the entire temperature range.
US07655328B2	Conductive, plasma-resistant member An electrically conductive, plasma-resistant member adapted for exposure to a halogen-based gas plasma atmosphere includes a substrate having formed on at least part of a region thereof to be exposed to the plasma a thermal spray coating composed of yttrium metal or yttrium metal in admixture with yttrium oxide and/or yttrium fluoride so as to confer electrical conductivity. Because the member is conductive and has an improved erosion resistance to halogen-based corrosive gases or plasmas thereof, particle contamination due to plasma etching when used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment or flat panel display manufacturing equipment can be suppressed.
US07655320B2	Surface pre-treatment method for pre-coated heat-treatable, precipitation-hardenable stainless steel ferrous-alloy components and components coated thereby The present invention relates to the use, in a pre-coating process, of a flash plating, without a subsequent chromate seal, as a surface pre-treatment for a ferrous-alloy substrate prior to applying a corrosion-inhibiting coating to improve the overall corrosion protection of the pre-treatment component. Preferably the ferrous alloy is a heat-treatable, precipitation-hardenable stainless steel and the pre-treatement is a cadmium flash plate or a zinc-nickel alloy flash plate.
US07655313B2	Low-E coated articles and methods of making same In certain example embodiments, low-E coated articles may be designed so as to realize a combination of good visible transmission (Tvis) and an excellent solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC), thereby realizing an improved (i.e., higher) Tvis/SHGC ratio. In certain example embodiments of this invention, if heat treated (HT), the low-E coated articles may have approximately the same color characteristics as viewed by the naked eye both before and after heat treatment (i.e., a low ΔE* value) in certain example instances. Such coated articles may be used in insulating glass (IG) units, windows, and/or other suitable applications.
US07655299B2	Surface-coated cutting tool made of hard metal and manufacturing method for same A surface-coated cutting tool comprising: a hard substrate; a lower layer which is formed on a surface of the hard substrate, contains a composite compound consisting of at least one element selected from Ti and Al, and at least one element selected from N and C, and has an average thickness of 0.1 to 3 μm; and an upper layer having an average thickness of 1 to 13 μm, which is formed on the lower layer and having a texture in which fine grains of crystalline Ti (C,N) based compounds or fine grains of crystalline (Ti, Al)(C, N) based compounds are dispersively distributed in a matrix of a carbon based amorphous material containing W.
US07655297B2	Electrically conductive polyester molding composition having a high quality surface finish A molding compound formulation is provided that includes a unsaturated polyester, a low profile additive, and high surface area conductive carbon black particulate. The carbon black is dispersed in at least one of the unsaturated polyester and the low profile additive to produce a cured panel having a surface resistivity value of between 1×105-108Ω, and a Diffracto analysis D number of less than 100 when cured against a mold platen having a Diffracto analysis D number of 25. A process for producing such a molding compound panel is also provided that includes mixing through rotary mechanical stirring the high surface area conductive carbon black particulate into one side of the molding compound formulation under conditions that satisfy: ln(viscosity)≦−0.82{ln(RPM)}+12.734 (I) where viscosity is in Centipoise and RPM denotes revolutions per minute.
US07655288B2	Composite self-cohered web materials The present invention is directed to implantable bioabsorbable non-woven self-cohered web materials having a high degree of porosity. The web materials are very supple and soft, while exhibiting proportionally increased mechanical strength in one or more directions. The web materials often possess a high degree of loft. The web materials can be formed into a variety of shapes and forms suitable for use as implantable medical devices or components thereof.
US07655287B2	Inkjet recording medium An inkjet recording medium obtained by forming a coating layer containing a pigment and a binder on the surface of a base material and coating layer is subsequently pressed onto a heated mirror finished surface to dry to form an ink absorbing layer through a cast coating method, wherein pigment contains a colloidal silica that has a primary particle diameter of from 10 nm to 100 nm while the ratio of the secondary particle diameter to primary particle diameter is from 1.5 to 3.0.
US07655284B2	Multi-functional monomer having a photoreactive group, alignment film for LCD using the monomer, and LCD comprising the alignment film Disclosed is a multi-functional monomer including a heat-curable functional group as well as a typical photoreactive group. In the multi-functional monomer, the photoreactive group is not chained to a main chain of a polymer. Thus, since it is possible to perform desirable alignment treatment even though polarized UV is radiated for a short time, the production time and the production cost are reduced and alignment regulating force of liquid crystals is increased, thereby increasing a dichroic ratio.
US07655282B2	Method of forming patterned film A method of forming a patterned thin film comprises the step of forming a frame having an undercut near the bottom thereof on an electrode film, and the plating step of forming the patterned thin film by plating through the use of the frame. The patterned thin film includes a plurality of linear portions disposed side by side. Each of the linear portions has a portion close to the electrode film. This portion has a width greater than the width of the remaining portion of each of the linear portions.
US07655271B2	Apparatus and method for masking In one embodiment a coating process is disclosed. The process comprises, assembling a coating shield to an article, and disposing a coating on the article via an electrostatic coating process, wherein the coating lacks electrostatic attraction to the coating shield.
US07655270B2	Droplet discharge method, electro-optical device, and electronic device A droplet discharge method includes performing a plurality of scans in which a discharge head and a substrate are scanned relative to each other, and discharging droplets of a plurality of types of functional liquid from the discharge head onto a plurality of prescribed portions on the substrate configured and arranged to hold the discharged functional liquid while the discharge head and the substrate are scanned. The performing of the plurality of scans includes performing at least one full discharge scan for each of the prescribed portions so that the functional liquid is discharged over an entire region of each of the prescribed portions, and performing a partial discharge scan so that the functional liquid is discharged so as to avoid at least part of peripheral edges of the prescribed portions.
US07655267B2	Gum application in wheyless cream cheese systems The present invention describes processes that incorporate ionic gums into wheyless cream cheese to reinforce curd structure, thus increasing product firmness. The processes involve adding a relatively small (e.g., about 0.005 to about 0.1 percent) but effective amount of the ionic gum (e.g., xanthan, gellan, carrageenan, alginate gums, low methoxy pectin, or mixtures thereof) before a fermentation step, preferably prior to initial homogenization/heating steps, to provide ionic gum-dairy protein interaction without causing coacervation with protein. In certain preferred embodiments, xanthan gum is used due to its cold water solubility, consistent composition, availability, and low cost.
US07655266B1	Method for making biscuits A method for making biscuits wherein a dough mixture is dispensed into an agitator. The dough mixture is agitated as it is being dispensed into cavities of a die. The dough mixture is compressed into the cavities of the die by a compression device. The dough mixture is ejected from the cavities of the die by pushing the dough mixture from a top surface of the die out of a bottom surface of the die and onto an apron with an ejection mechanism.
US07655264B2	Process for promoting calcium absorption Chewy confectionery products, and processes for producing said products, are provided as delivery systems for minerals such as calcium. The carbohydrates of the fortified confectionery products comprise at least one reducing sugar and one non-reducing sugar in a preferred ratio of about 1:0.2 to about 1:1 reducing sugar: non-reducing sugar. The chewy confectionery products offer a matrix for about 0.2 wt. % to 45 wt. % of a fortifying component while maintaining a smooth and soft texture.
US07655261B2	Medicament and method of treatment of patients with heavy metals A method of treatment of a diseased patient in which a dose of at least one heavy metal is delivered to the patient, with a surface area which is accessible for direct contact with the patient's tissue and effects release of heavy metal ions for uptake by immuno reactive cells. The criteria to be complied with in order for the heavy metal to be effective is that the surface area is greater than the surface area of a solid sphere of the same at least one heavy metal, and that the solid sphere and dose have the same weight. In a preferred embodiment, the dose of heavy metals is delivered to the patient as very small hollow particles.
US07655260B2	Supplement preparation Supplement preparation including (a), a first active component in form of biologically accessible silver, (b), a second active component in form of a material obtained from cartilage, and any conventional accessory agents or additives and the use of the first and the second active components with any additional active components and/or conventional accessory agent or additives for the preparation of a health-promoting supplement preparation for livestock including mink, poultry and pigs. The preparation has proved suitable for the prevention against and treatment of plasmacytosis, puppy disease, enteritis virus, three-day sickness and/or “sticky” kits in mink.
US07655249B2	Compositions and methods for WT1 specific immunotherapy Compositions and methods for the therapy of malignant diseases, such as leukemia and cancer, are disclosed. The compositions comprise one or more of a WT1 polynucleotide, a WT1 polypeptide, an antigen-presenting cell presenting a WT1 polypeptide, an antibody that specifically binds to a WT1 polypeptide; or a T cell that specifically reacts with a WT1 polypeptide. Such compositions may be used, for example, for the prevention and treatment of metastatic diseases.
US07655237B2	Use of soluble CD14 for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus Use of soluble CD14 (sCD14) for the manufacture of a medicament for therapeutic or preventive treatment of a disease involving a chronic inflammation condition and a clinical disorder associated with insulin resistance in an animal or a human. Examples of diseases include type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, arteriosclerotic disease, arterial hypertension and functional ovaric hyperandrogenism.
US07655230B2	Co-administration of a tissue plasminogen activator, anti-CD11b antibody and anti-CD18 antibody in stroke A method for improving clinical outcome in focal ischemic stroke in a mammal by increasing cerebral blood flow and/or reducing infarct size is described which involves administering an effective amount of an anti-CD18 antibody to the mammal, in the absence of removal of the arterial obstruction.
US07655194B2	Catalyst substrate support A catalyst substrate support is provided for a corrugated foil honeycomb matrix defining a plurality of passages extending therethrough which are generally parallel to an axis. A peripheral mantle extends about an outer perimeter of the matrix and has inwardly extending flanges which extend across an outer periphery of the opposite end faces to cover outermost of the passages and restrict fluid flow between the peripheral mantle and the matrix. The outer perimeter of the matrix and the peripheral mantle may be spaced apart to define a gap for accommodating differential thermal expansions of the matrix and the peripheral mantle, the gap being smaller than a height of the inwardly extending flanges. Cross members secured to each of the opposite end faces of the matrix may transfer at least part of the gravitational load of the matrix to the mantle.
US07655192B2	Method and apparatus for discharging polymerization reactors A method and an apparatus of discharging polymer from a continuously operated gas phase reactor, wherein at least one monomer is polymerized in a bed containing active catalyst formed by catalyst and polymer particles suspended in a fluid, the bed defining a fluidized bed level in said reactor. The invention includes continuously withdrawing polymer powder from the reactor; and adjusting the discharge rate of the polymer powder so as to maintain a constant bed level during polymerization. By means of the invention the discharge of the polymer can be made truly continuous without any disturbance of the polymerization. The rate of withdrawn polymer can be flexibly adjusted depending on the progress of the polymerization and it can also easily be scaled up if the capacity of the reactor is increased.
US07655190B2	Biochemical reaction apparatus and biochemical reaction method A biochemical reaction apparatus used to carry out a chemical reaction of fluid includes a cartridge including a container which is at least partially structured with an elastic body, the container including inside thereof a plurality of chambers to contain the fluid and flow passages to connect the plurality of chambers and rollers to apply an external force to the elastic body and deform the elastic body to move the fluid in the flow passages or the chambers by rotationally moving on a front surface of the elastic body while the roller contacts with the front surface of the elastic body, and in a cross-sectional shape of the roller, which is perpendicular to a roller shaft, at least not less than three corners are included, and the cross-sectional shape is a shape in which sides between the corners are equal in length.
US07655186B2	Gas generation for sensor calibration Embodiments of the present invention relate a gas sensor comprising a gas detector and a hydrocarbon gas generating device, wherein the hydrocarbon gas generating device is positioned to provide an amount of hydrocarbon gas to the gas detector for testing. The hydrocarbon gas generating device comprises a heater and a gas releasing material.
US07655185B2	Polymer sample analyzer Provided is a polymer sample analyzer from which chemical findings on the optical deterioration of a polymer material are available in a very short time. The analyzer is equipped with a gas phase component production unit for producing a plurality of gas phase components, a carrier gas introduction unit for introducing a carrier gas into the gas phase component production unit, a separation unit for separating the gas phase components into each component, and a detection unit 5 for detecting the each component thus separated. The analyzer is equipped further with a UV irradiation unit for exposing the polymer sample to UV ray, an atmospheric gas introduction unit for introducing an atmospheric gas into the gas phase component production unit and a gas switching unit for switching a gas to be introduced into the separation unit between the carrier gas and the atmospheric gas. Under the atmosphere of a gas introduced from the atmospheric gas introduction unit, the polymer sample is deteriorated and decomposed by exposure to UV ray from the UV irradiation unit. After deterioration and decomposition, a gas to be introduced into the separation unit 4 is switched to the carrier gas by the gas switching unit and the gas phase components are introduced into the separation unit by the aid of the carrier gas.
US07655182B2	Method for fabricating a metallic article without any melting A metallic article made of metallic constituent elements is fabricated from a mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds of the metallic constituent elements. The mixture of nonmetallic precursor compounds is chemically reduced to produce an initial metallic material, without melting the initial metallic material. The initial metallic material is consolidated to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the initial metallic material and without melting the consolidated metallic article.
US07655176B2	Method of making a polymeric web exhibiting a soft and silky tactile impression A polymeric web exhibiting a soft and silky tactile impression on at least one side thereof is disclosed. The silky feeling side of the web exhibits a pattern of discrete hair-like fibrils, each of the hair-like fibrils being a protruded extension of the web surface and having a side wall defining an open proximal portion and a closed distal portion. The hair-like fibrils exhibit a maximum lateral cross-sectional diameter of between 2 and 5 mils, and an aspect ratio from 1 to 3. Methods and apparatus for making the polymeric web utilize a three-dimensional forming structure having a plurality of protrusions being generally columnar forms having an average aspect ratio of at least about 1.
US07655172B2	Method of manufacturing a golf ball The present invention provides a method of manufacturing golf balls having a rubber core of at least one layer and a cover of at least one layer which encloses the rubber core, which method includes the step of molding at least one layer of the rubber core by directly injecting a rubber composition into a spherical cavity and vulcanizing the injected composition. This process enables the sphericity of the rubber core to be enhanced, the rubber materials to be used without waste, and balls of an excellent scuff resistance to be obtained.
US07655169B2	Metal mold for manufacturing a developing blade A developing blade 10 is insert molded by forming a rib portion 13 which projects from an end portion in the longitudinal direction of a blade body 12 in the transverse direction of the blade body 12, opposite to the contact surface 12a side of the blade body 12, on the blade body 12 in contact with the developing roll of the developing blade 10 and forming the gate 21G of a metal mold 20 in which a metal plate 11 as an insert member has been installed only in a cavity 21b corresponding to the above rib portion 13. Therefore, a developing blade 10 without burrs and recesses on its contact surface with the developing roll or without welds can be easily manufactured.
US07655161B2	Conductive ink composition for inkjet printing A conductive ink composition for inkjet printing, more particularly to a conductive ink composition for inkjet printing, which includes 30 to 85 parts by weight of metal nanoparticles, 10 to 60 parts by weight of an organic solvent, 10 to 30 parts by weight of a humectant, the humectant made of a diol or glycol base compound, and 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of an ethylene glycol-based ether compound additive for adjusting viscosity. The ink composition may be optimized, such that the viscosity of the ink may be adjusted while maintaining a high concentration of metal, when forming wiring using an inkjet device, for improved flow and ejection properties of the ink.
US07655158B2	Corrosion inhibitor The corrosion inhibitor blend of at least one corrosion inhibitor base (which may be a Mannich reaction product), a solvent selected from the group consisting of C1 acids and ester and salt derivatives thereof, and optionally a surfactant, has been found to be effective as a corrosion inhibitor for metals in acid media, particularly fluids containing halogen acids. The corrosion inhibitor has improved performance over similar or identical corrosion inhibitor compositions where an alcohol such as methanol is used as a solvent. Suitable, non-limiting possibilities for the solvent include, but are not necessarily limited to formic acid, formate salts, methyl formate, ethyl formate, benzyl formate, formate salts of amines, inorganic formate, and mixtures thereof.
US07655154B2	Non-aqueous heat transfer fluid and use thereof A non-aqueous, reduced toxicity diol based heat transfer fluid is provided comprised of at least one diol that acts as an antidote for ethylene glycol poisoning, such as propylene glycol. The heat transfer fluid may also include corrosion inhibitors that are soluble in the diols used for the heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid may be used as a coolant in internal combustion engines such as automobile engines.
US07655151B2	Method of operating a fluid treatment device employing a non-bonded media A fluid treatment and media management device having concentric inner and outer perforated cylinders defining a chamber therebetween for containing a media. A case surrounds the perforated cylinders and forms an annular space between the case and the outer perforated cylinder. Respective end caps engage the opposite ends of the case and perforated cylinders to support such members. One or both of the end caps provide ports to the central core of the inner perforated cylinder, to the media chamber and to the annular space. The media can be removed from the fluid treatment and media management device without disassembly of the device for the purpose of disposal and/or regeneration of the media.
US07655145B1	Contaminated water treatment Method and system for processing of a liquid (“contaminant liquid”) containing water and containing urine and/or other contaminants in a two step process. Urine, or a contaminated liquid similar to and/or containing urine and thus having a relatively high salt and urea content is passed through an activated carbon filter to provide a resulting liquid, to remove most of the organic molecules. The resulting liquid is passed through a semipermeable membrane from a membrane first side to a membrane second side, where a fortified drink having a lower water concentration (higher osmotic potential) than the resulting liquid is positioned. Osmotic pressure differential causes the water, but not most of the remaining inorganic (salts) contaminant(s) to pass through the membrane to the fortified drink. Optionally, the resulting liquid is allowed to precipitate additional organic molecules before passage through the membrane.
US07655143B2	Carbon dioxide stimulation of nitrification in activated sludge reactors A method of stimulating nitrification at low SRT by elevating pCO2 during aeration is disclosed. The improvement on solids settling performance when elevated pCO2 was supplied after 2 hours within the React cycle is consistent with the previous results that identified inorganic carbon as a potential remedy to poor settling and bulking sludge problems in activated sludge systems. Elevated pCO2 increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and lowers the pH, which improve nitrification. The specific growth rate of nitrifying bacteria is sensitive to pCO2, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO is a function of the aeration rate. Elevating the pCO2 and lowering the aeration rate provides conditions for nitrification rates that are comparable to conventional systems. However, the lower aeration rate yields significant energy cost savings.
US07655141B2	Membrane pipe module The invention relates to a membrane pipe module, said module comprising a cylindrical housing containing a plurality of tubular membrane sections which extend in the axial direction and are interconnected at the ends thereof, forming longer tubular membrane sections. Said cylindrical housing comprises a heatable chamber, on one or both sides, comprising U-shaped connection pipes which are arranged therein and are guided through a separating wall between the chamber and the housing, with the two open ends thereof, and respectively connect two adjacent open tubular membrane sections, forming a membrane loop.
US07655139B2	Method and system for operating a shut-off valve of a filtration system A filtration assembly includes a feed water line and a permeate line. A shut-off valve is coupled between the permeate line and the feed water line and operative to open the feed line when the faucet is opened based on a pressure differential between the feed line and the permeate line. An energy storage member is located within the permeate line and configured to compress and then expand after the faucet is closed causing the shut-off valve to fully close.
US07655126B2	Fabrication of topical stopper on MLS gasket by active matrix electrochemical deposition A method for making a gasket (32) for an internal combustion engine (20) includes forming a generally annual stopper (38) on a metallic gasket body (40) through the process of electrochemical deposition. An electrolytic cell is completed with the gasket body (40) forming a cathode. The stopper (38) is formed with a contoured compression surface (42) by selectively varying the electrical energy delivered to selected electrodes (70) over time. Electrolyte (48) rich with metallic ions is pumped at high speed through the inter-electrode gap. A PC controller (82) switches selected electrodes (70) ON at certain times, for certain durations, which cause metallic ions in the electrolyte (48) to reduce or deposit onto the gasket body (40), which are built in columns or layers into a three-dimensional formation approximating the target surface profile (106) for the compression surface (42). The subject method for building a three-dimensional formation can be applied to work parts other than cylinder head gaskets (32).
US07655122B2	Oxygen concentration detecting element An oxygen concentration detecting element including a base member made of an electrically insulating material, a heater disposed on an outer surface of the base member, the heater being adapted to generate heat upon being energized, and an oxygen detecting unit disposed in an offset position on the outer surface of the base member in which the oxygen detecting unit is prevented from overlapping with the heater, the oxygen detecting unit including a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes between which the solid electrolyte layer is disposed.
US07655121B2	Gas sensor interface device and gas sensor system An interface device for a gas sensor includes a detection resistor having first and second ends to generate voltages by a current output of the gas sensor, a differential amplifier having first and second input terminals to receive the voltages of the first and second resistor ends and an output terminal to output a voltage according to a difference between the voltages of the first and second resistor ends, a first switching element to transmit the voltage of the first resistor end to the first input terminal of the differential amplifier in a transmission state and interrupt transmission of the voltage of the first resistor end to the first input terminal of the differential amplifier in an interruption state and a second switching element turned on to establish continuity between the first and second input terminals of the differential amplifier when the first switching element is in the interruption state.
US07655117B2	Continuous plating system and method with mask registration A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.
US07655114B2	Method and device for calendering a paper web The present invention shows a process and device of calendering a web. The process includes drying the web and winding the web at the end of a production section. The process includes transporting the wound web to at least one off-line calender, unwinding the web and passing the web through the at least one off-line calender. Further, the process includes treating the web between drying and winding of the web in at least one on-line calendering unit. Further still, the process includes at least one on-line calendering unit includes at least one nip defined by at least one hard roller. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07655111B2	Plasma processing apparatus and plasma processing method At a frame 26 in a microwave plasma processing apparatus 100, numerous horizontal spray gas nozzles 27 formed therein injection holes A and numerous vertical gas nozzles 28 formed therein injection holes B are fixed. A first gas supply means 50 injects argon gas through the injection holes A into an area near each dielectric parts 31a. A second gas supply means 55 injects silane gas and hydrogen gas through the injection holes B into a position at which the gases do not become over-dissociated. The gases injected as described above are raised to plasma with a microwave transmitted through each dielectric parts 31a. Since the vertical gas nozzles 28 are mounted at positions at which they do not block the flow of plasma traveling toward a substrate G, ions and electrons do not collide with the vertical gas nozzles 28 readily.
US07655103B2	Ceramic multilayer substrate and method for manufacturing the same In a method for manufacturing a ceramic multilayer substrate, when a green ceramic stack prepared by stacking a plurality of ceramic green sheets is fired simultaneously with a ceramic chip electronic component disposed inside the green ceramic stack and including an external terminal electrode to produce a ceramic multilayer substrate having the ceramic chip electronic component inside, a paste layer is disposed in advance between the ceramic chip electronic component and the green ceramic stack, and these three are fired.
US07655097B2	Method of washing solid grain In the washing process of the invention, the solid particles in a high-concentration zone, which is formed in a washing tank by a gravitational sedimentation of solid particles, are continuously washed by a counter-current contact with upward flow of a washing liquid which is fed from the bottom portion of the washing tank. With this process, the impurities in the solid particles are sufficiently removed by a simple apparatus. Since the used washing liquid can be recycled as the disperse medium for feeding the solid particles and as the washing liquid, the amount of used washing liquid to be discharged as the waste from the system is reduced.
US07655093B2	Wafer support system A wafer support system comprising a susceptor having top and bottom sections and gas flow passages therethrough. One or more spacers projecting from a recess formed in the top section of the susceptor support a wafer in spaced relationship with respect to the recess. A sweep gas is introduced to the bottom section of the susceptor and travels through the gas flow passages to exit in at least one circular array of outlets in the recess and underneath the spaced wafer. The sweep gas travels radially outward between the susceptor and wafer to prevent back-side contamination of the wafer. The gas is delivered through a hollow drive shaft and into a multi-armed susceptor support underneath the susceptor. The support arms conduct the sweep gas from the drive shaft to the gas passages in the susceptor. The gas passages are arranged to heat the sweep gas prior to delivery underneath the wafer. Short purge channels may be provided to deliver some of the sweep gas to regions surrounding the spacers to cause a continuous flow of protective purge gas around the spacers.
US07655091B2	Formation of single-crystal silicon carbide The invention concerns a device (10) for forming in single-crystal state a compound body with incongruent evaporation, capable of being in monocrystalline or polycrystalline form, comprising at least one first chamber (20) containing a substrate (42) whereat is formed a polycrystalline source of said body and a monocrystalline germ (46) of said body; a second chamber (14), said substrate being arranged between the two chambers; means for input (36) of gaseous precursors of said body into the second chamber capable of bringing about deposition of said body in polycrystalline form on the substrate; and heating means (26) for maintaining the substrate at a temperature higher than the temperature of the germ so as to bring about sublimation of the polycrystalline source and the deposition on the germ of said body in monocrystalline form.
US07655089B2	Process and apparatus for producing a single crystal of semiconductor material A process for producing a single crystal of semiconductor material, in which fractions of a melt, are kept in liquid form by a pulling coil, solidify on a seed crystal to form the growing single crystal, and granules are melted in order to maintain the growth of the single crystal. The melting granules are passed to the melt after a delay. There is also an apparatus which Is suitable for carrying out the process and has a device which delays mixing of the molten granules and of the melt.
US07655084B2	Carbon black inks and method for making same Disclosed is a phase change carbon black ink composition comprising 1) a low polarity ink carrier comprising (A) a low polarity wax, optionally (B) an ester-terminated polyamide, (2) a dispersant, and (3) a carbon black colorant. The ink can be resistant to substantial aggregation and settling of the carbon black colorant in the melt and up to about the jetting temperature of the ink even when exposed to freeze thaw cycles.
US07655082B2	Ink compositions containing an emulsion The application discloses ink compositions containing an emulsion and, more particularly, to ink compositions containing an emulsified colorant and/or an emulsified lubricating agent, and writing instruments containing same.
US07655076B2	Device for air cleaning Air cleaning device has a particle charging zone comprising a conducting sheet having a plurality of apertures, through which air can be passed, and a plurality of corona emitters each associated with an aperture, and a filter.
US07655071B2	Process for cooling down a hot flue gas stream A process for cooling down a hot flue gas stream comprising water vapour and carbon dioxide, the process including: (a) heat exchange between the hot flue gas stream and a cooling water stream so that the hot flue gas stream is cooled to a cooled down gas stream at a temperature at which at least part of the water vapour therein has condensed and the cooling water stream increases in temperature; (b) combining the condensed water vapour and the cooling water stream to produce a combined water stream; (c) separation of the cooled down gas stream from the combined water stream; (d) cooling the combined water stream by contact with air from the atmosphere and by evaporation of a portion of the combined water stream; (e) using at least part of any non-evaporated and cooled water of the combined water stream as at least part of the cooling water stream for cooling the hot flue gas stream in step (a); and (f) storing any non-evaporated and cooled water of the combined water stream that is not used in step (e) and using the stored water later as at least part of the cooling water stream in step (a).
US07655065B2	Hydrocarbon-enhanced particulate filter regeneration via microwave ignition A regeneration method for a particulate filter includes estimating a quantity of particulate matter trapped within the particulate filter, comparing the quantity of particulate matter to a predetermined quantity, heating at least a portion of the particulate filter to a combustion temperature of the particulate matter, and introducing hydrocarbon fuel to the particulate filter. The hydrocarbon fuel facilitates combustion of the particulate matter to regenerate the particulate filter.
US07655062B2	Filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner A filter assembly for a vacuum cleaner including a filter cartridge a first substantially rigid pleated filter element having a plurality of pleats with pleated edge and a flexible pre-filter element positioned over the pleated edge of the filter cartridge. The pleats may be radial, longitudinal or conical with the pre-filter a disc, cylinder or frusto-conical in shape. In each case the pre-filter is positioned on the pleats so that dirt laden air is drawn through the pre-filter element and then through the pleated filter element before being drawn into a vacuum motor
US07655055B2	Biofuel A biofuel containing an estolide ester, an ether ester, or a combination thereof. The estolide ester and ether ester can be of formula A: R1—CH(O—X)R2CO2R3 wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 36 carbons, X is an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbons and preferably 1, 2, or 3 carbons or is an acyl group of formula COR5 where R5 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and preferably 1, 2, or 3 carbons, R2 is an alkylene group or alkenylene group having from 1 to 36 carbons, and R3 is alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons and preferably 1, 2, or 3 carbons.
US07655043B2	Expandable spinal implant and associated instrumentation An expandable spinal implant including an implant body transitionable between an initial configuration and an expanded configuration. The implant body includes first and second axial walls spaced apart along a transverse axis, with at least one of the walls including first and second axial wall portions laterally offset from one another. An expansion member co-acts with the first wall portion to outwardly displace the first wall portion relative to the second wall portion to transition the implant body to the expanded configuration. In another embodiment, the first wall portion defines a recessed region relative to the second wall portion when the implant body is in the initial configuration, and wherein the recessed region is outwardly expanded as the implant body is transitioned to the expanded configuration. In a further embodiment, the first wall portion is movable while the second wall portion remains substantially stationary.
US07655042B2	Expandable intervertebral spacers Laterally expanding vertebral spacer devices are provided for repairing damaged vertebral discs. The vertebral spacer devices maintain the height of a distracted vertebral disc space while providing stability to the spine. In one form of the invention, a vertebral spacer device is provided with a first arm movably coupled to a second arm. The first and second arms are laterally expandable from a first width for insertion into the disc space to a second width after insertion into the disc space. The first and second arms also define a cavity therebetween for placement of bone growth material.
US07655041B2	Extra-articular implantable mechanical energy absorbing systems and implantation method A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one aspect, the method involves identifying link pivot locations, fixing base components and minimally invasive insertion techniques. In one particular aspect, the system facilitates absorbing energy between members forming a joint such as between articulating bones.
US07655040B2	Cardiac valve annulus reduction system A catheter-based, annulus reduction device and system for cardiac valve repair and method of using the same. The system is usable for treating mitral valve regurgitation and comprises a catheter, a reduction ring carried within the catheter, the reduction ring including a plurality of exit ports formed in a side wall of the reduction ring and filament received in the reduction ring. The filament includes a plurality of radially extendible barbs corresponding to the sidewall openings. The reduction ring carrying the filament is deployed adjacent a mitral valve annulus and the filament is translated relative to the reduction ring to deploy the barbs through the exit ports and into the annulus and to further translate the reduction ring with deployed barbs to reshape the annulus.
US07655034B2	Stent-graft with anchoring pins A proximal anchor stent ring of an endoprosthesis includes proximal apexes, distal apexes, struts extending between the proximal apexes and the distal apexes, and anchor pins. The struts, the proximal apexes, and the distal apexes define an imaginary cylindrical surface. A pair of the anchor pins is located on the struts adjacent each of the proximal apexes, the anchor pins extending inwards from inside surfaces of the struts and protruding from the struts radially outward from the cylindrical surface. By locating the anchor pins inwards, the delivery profile of the proximal anchor stent ring is minimized.
US07655032B2	Stent cell configurations A generally cylindrical, radially expandable stent may be composed of a plurality of interconnected multibonate cell structures. The cells have three or more enlarged end portions radiating from a common center within the cell. The cells may be of tribonate or higher order multibonate configuration. Stents composed up of a series of generally multibonate cell elements are also disclosed.
US07655031B2	Stent delivery system with improved retraction member An expandable stent and delivery system is provided for treating body vessel defects, such as partially occluded blood vessels and aneurysms. The delivery system includes a core member having a non-cylindrical retraction member with extending portions configured to extend between struts of the stent. The stent includes enlarged anchor members that cooperate with the retraction member to secure the stent to the core member for movement within a delivery catheter and deployment to a body vessel defect. The extending portions provide a greater contact area than would be possible with a cylindrical retraction member, which is especially beneficial when retracting a partially deployed stent into the catheter.
US07655030B2	Catheter balloon systems and methods An apparatus for treatment of a bifurcation of a body lumen, the bifurcation having a main vessel and a branch vessel, the apparatus includes a bifurcated balloon with a first branch portion and a second branch portion, the second branch portion including an inflatable portion adapted to extend toward the branch vessel, the bifurcated balloon also having a proximal shaft portion and a distal shaft portion connected to the inflatable portion of the second branch portion, and wherein the first branch portion and the second branch portion each have a longitudinal axis, the axis of the first branch portion being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second branch portion.
US07655026B2	Expandable spinal rods and methods of use A spinal rod includes an elongated tubular member that is inflatable from a first insertion profile to a second enlarged profile. An expandable tubular reinforcement sleeve is concentrically positioned adjacent to the balloon. The balloon may be bonded to the sleeve. The spinal rod may also have longitudinal reinforcement members. A joining member may join two or more of the longitudinal reinforcing members at a discrete point along each. The spinal rod may further include end portions on either side of an inflatable portion.
US07655024B2	Surgical suture needle A surgical needle includes an elongated needle body defining a longitudinal axis. The surgical needle has a first end for attachment to a suture and a second needled end for penetrating tissue. The needled end includes lower and upper opposed surfaces and a pair of side surfaces extending between the lower and upper surfaces and being contiguous therewith. The upper surface and the side surfaces extend to a pointed tip. The lower surface extends to a cutting edge, which is defined at the intersection of the sides surfaces and proximal of the pointed tip. The cutting edge extends in oblique relation relative to the longitudinal axis and terminating at the pointed tip.
US07655023B2	Blood vessel locating and stabilizing device and method of using the same A blood vessel locating and stabilizing device including a transparent planar device that may be used to locate and stabilize a blood vessel so that the blood vessel is less likely to roll when it is punctured with a needle. The device is planar and includes a transparent region and a recess formed in a distal side surface that is configured to locate and stabilize a blood vessel. In a method of using the present device, the planar member is gripped along a first and second major surfaces of the device, the recess is positioned over the targeted blood vessel, and a force is applied to the device so that the blood vessel is located and stabilized.
US07655022B2	Compliant guiding catheter sheath system A guiding catheter system employs a compliant shaft with an inflatable balloon affixed to a distal portion of the shaft. The inflatable balloon includes channels that allow some amount of blood to flow past the balloon when inflated in a blood vessel. One or more inflation lumens is in fluid contact with the balloon and allows inflating the balloon from a proximal end of the catheter. A series of perfusion orifices may be included on the shaft proximal to the balloon.
US07655020B2	Surgical punching instrument A surgical punching instrument is provided with a fixed handle (14) attached to a punching bar (2) and with an actuating lever (16), which is mounted thereon in a pivotingly movable manner and which is connected via a short lever arm (17) to a punching slide (1), which is in turn under the action of a restoring spring (23). The punching slide (1) lies with its flat sliding surface (3) on a flat guiding surface (4) of the punching bar (2) over its entire length and is guided at same in an axially movable manner by means of guide elements (5 through 8), which have a T-shaped profile, engage one another in a positive-locking manner and are detachable by longitudinal displacement. To make it possible to remove the restoring spring, which is not arranged between the handle and the actuating lever, from the punching bar in a simple manner, for example, for cleaning purposes, and to bring it into connection with same again, the restoring spring (23), designed as a compression coil spring, is arranged and guided at least partially in a guide groove (24) of the sliding surface of the punching slide (1) by means of a guide shaft (22, 22/1), which passes axially through it. A distal stop face (27), which is rigidly connected to the punching slide (1), is provided as a step bearing for the rear spring end of the restoring spring (23), and the restoring spring (23) is in contact by its front end with a proximal stop face (30) of the punching slide (1) when the punching slide (1) is removed, and with a proximal stop face (26) of the punching bar (2) when the punching slide (1) is mounted ready for operation.
US07655019B2	Blood sampling device A sampling device (20) having a housing (24) with a lancet cartridge (22) mounted therein. The lancets (26) of the lancet cartridge (22) are interconnected by a flexible web (28). The lancet cartridge (22) is not positively engaged within the housing (24) and can be easily removed. The housing (24) has an opening (42) with an adjacent flexible or compressible fin (60) for dampening the motion of the lancet (26). The lancet cartridge (22) has at least one lancet (26) with an endcap, and the housing has a cap-removal mechanism (74) for separating the endcap from the housing (24). Anti-tampering features prevent opening of the device when the lancet cartridge (22) is oriented with a lancet (26) in a firing position.
US07655012B2	Methods and apparatuses for minimally invasive replacement of intervertebral discs In one embodiment, an access device is inserted through an incision in skin of a patient. The access device is expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second configuration having an enlarged cross-sectional area at a distal portion of said access device such that the distal portion extends across at least a portion of the interbody space. A prosthetic spinal disc implant is then delivered through the access device.
US07655010B2	Vertebral fusion device and method for using same An intervertebral fusion device includes a body having a proximal portion along a major axis of the body and a distal portion along the major axis, and supporting means at the distal portion. The supporting means supports vertebrae in a distracted position while the vertebrae fuse. At least one of the body and the supporting means has a height distinct from a width, whereby the body or supporting means can distract vertebrae, between which the body or the supporting means has been placed, by rotation of the body or the supporting means about the major axis. A method of fusing vertebrae includes the steps of inserting between two vertebrae an intervertebral fusion device and rotating the body or the supporting means, whereby the vertebrae are supported in a distracted position while the vertebrae fuse.
US07655004B2	Electroporation ablation apparatus, system, and method A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument, includes an ablation device. The ablation device includes an elongate flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end. A first working channel is formed within the flexible member. A first diagnostic probe having a proximal end and distal end is located within the first working channel and extends through the distal end of the flexible member. A first electrode is connected to the distal end of the first diagnostic probe electrode is adapted to be endoscopically located in a tissue treatment region. The first electrode is adapted to couple to an electrical waveform generator to receive an irreversible electroporation electrical waveform sufficient to ablate tissue located proximate to the first electrode. A system further includes an electrical waveform generator electrically coupled to the first electrode of the ablation device to generate an IRE waveform sufficient to ablate tissue located proximate to the first electrode.
US07655003B2	Electrosurgical power control A method and apparatus include determining a value of a parameter associated with operation of an electrosurgical probe having a particular probe design, and determining whether the value of the parameter is within a range of values that has been predetermined for the particular probe design to indicate that the probe is treating tissue in a desired manner. Power is delivered to the probe according to an algorithm based upon a determination that the value of the parameter is outside the range of values The algorithm delivers power in a pulsed profile including portions of low power and portions of high power. In one embodiment, the tissue treatment is ablation, the parameter is impedance, and the method limits tissue necrosis to less than 200 microns. In another embodiment, the tissue treatment is shrinkage, the parameter is temperature, and the method limits power delivery when the probe is not shrinking tissue.
US07654996B2	Catheter flushing fluid lock system and method A catheter-flushing extension tube for maintaining the patency and sterility of the lumen of an indwelling catheter. The system is comprised of an extension tube in fluid connection with an indwelling catheter; the extension tube defines an internal volume and at least one sealed proximal terminal for intermittent connection with an external fluid source. The extension tube is configured such that the internal volume of the tube can be progressively reduced at a plurality of different times so that the extension tube itself provides the source of catheter flush solution for intermittently flushing the catheter.
US07654993B2	Absorbent articles with comfortable elasticated laminates An absorbent article that includes a component with an elastic laminate portion, which provides y-direction elongation. The elastic laminate portion is a support sheet and an elastic material, together forming a laminate portion of the component. The elastic laminate portion has zones, each with a different degree of maximum elongation. The zones also have different wrinkle heights and/or densities, such that one or more zones are created that cause less or no pressure marks, whilst overall an excellent force profile is maintained, resulting in well performing, comfortable to wear absorbent articles.
US07654992B2	Interlabial pad An interlabial pad is provided which is capable of being precisely inserted into the recess between the wearer's labia minora, which does not have a linear shape. An interlabial pad 1 includes a highly-compressed rigid region 10, which is highly resistant to being compressed, at a central region along the center line X-X′ in the longitudinal direction. When the interlabial pad is worn, the highly-compressed rigid region 10 protrudes, thereby allowing the wearer to fit the protruding highly-compressed rigid region 10 in the recess between the labia.
US07654991B2	Product array having indicators An array of disposable absorbent articles having a first article and a second article. The first article has an outer surface wherein the outer surface has an outer surface area and a first identifier having a first surface area. The first identifier is disposed on the first article and corresponds to a first performance characteristic. The second article has an outer surface wherein the outer surface has an outer surface area and a second identifier having a second surface area. The second identifier is disposed on the second article and corresponds to a second performance characteristic. The first article is a different article than said second article.
US07654987B2	Administering device with a protective cap removing device and a needle protecting sleeve locking means A device for administering an injectable product including a casing, an injection mechanism including an injection needle pointing in an insertion direction, and a protective cap for the injection needle wherein, in one embodiment, the administering device includes a removing device for removing the protective cap from the injection needle and, in another embodiment, the administering device includes a needle protecting sleeve shiftable generally in alignment with the casing and generally between a front position, advanced relative to the casing, for protecting the injection needle and to a rear position, retracted relative to the casing, for inserting the injection needle into a tissue. In one embodiment, the needle protecting sleeve is prevented from moving completely into the rear position by a lock when the protective cap is protecting the injection needle.
US07654984B2	Bodily fluid sampling or transfusion device with protection means Sampling or transfusion device with protection means including a protective tube that slides longitudinally along the axis in an annular passage between the external body and the central body and has a proximal holding end for moving it selectively between a proximal retracted position in which the needle is not covered by the protective tube or not much covered thereby so that the latter can be used to draw a sample or to administer a transfusion and a distal protection position in which the protective tube covers the needle over the whole of its length.
US07654980B2	Method for percutaneously implanting a medical catheter and medical catheter implanting assembly A method for percutaneously implanting a medical catheter, such as a gastrostomy feeding tube, and a medical catheter implanting assembly. In one embodiment, the implanting assembly includes a gastrostomy feeding tube, an inner sheath and an outer sheath. The feeding tube has an internal bolster integrally formed at its distal end. The inner sheath includes a bore extending distally from its proximal end to a point prior to its distal end and a transverse window communicating with the bore. The outer sheath includes a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal bore. The outer sheath is inserted over the inner sheath, and the feeding tube is inserted into the inner sheath, with the internal bolster being folded and tucked into the window and retained therein by the outer sheath. Movement of the outer sheath relative to the inner sheath to expose the window allows the bolster to decompress.
US07654975B2	Mixed-gas insufflation system A mixed-gas insufflation system for mixing insufflation gases includes a gas supply providing at least two sources of insufflation gas and a mixer system. The mixer system includes a chamber having at least two inlets and at least one outlet. The at least two inlets of the chamber are in fluid communication with the gas supply. The mixer system mixes the at least two sources of insufflation gas.
US07654973B2	Orthotic bracing device There is provided a customizable orthotic bracing device, including an exoskeletal quasi-spinal column (12) extendable along the back of a patient and attachable to a body portion of the patient by means of a plurality of belt means (14, 14′) substantially surrounding the body portion at different points thereof, with the quasi-spinal column being comprised of a plurality of stackable and interlinkable segmental units (20), each unit consisting of a number of interlinkable sub-units (22, 24, 26, 28), characterized in that the position of the sub-units relative to one another can be adjusted in at least three degrees of freedom.
US07654970B2	Cervical dilation measurement apparatus The present invention provides a medical device for measuring cervical dilation, where the medical device is positionable about a hand having first and second fingers, with each finger having a tip and a side surface. The medical device may include a housing, a first extension element movably coupled to the housing, a second extension element movably coupled to the housing, and a dilation indication mechanism to measure a distance between the first and second extension elements. The medical device may also include a first lateral pressure sensor positionable about a side surface of the first finger, a second lateral pressure sensor positionable about a side surface of the second finger, a third pressure sensor positionable about a tip of the first finger, and a fourth pressure sensor positionable about a tip of the second finger.
US07654969B2	Integrated spot monitoring device with fluid sensor A bodily fluid sampling device is operable to breach the skin surface and allow bodily fluid to emerge from the breach location. The bodily fluid sampling device further evaluates the amount of bodily fluid emerged from breach location and determines whether the amount is sufficient or insufficient for a particular purpose, such as sampling and testing. The determination is accomplished automatically without moving the device. The user may also intervene to perform a variety of tasks following the determination of the amount of bodily fluid.
US07654965B2	Method and system for processing electrocardiograms In a method and system for processing an electrocardiogram (ECG), digital ECG data are received. The digital ECG data evinces a plurality of a patient's heartbeats detected during an ECG. Digital annotation data are generated representing marking to be shown on an ECG tracing of the plurality of heartbeats. An annotated ECG tracing image is produced using the digital ECG data and the digital annotation data.
US07654963B2	Device for visually indicating a blood pressure An indicator device for visually indicating a pressure of blood inside a blood vessel includes: a body, the body comprising a duct extending in the body and having a sealed proximal end; a distal end portion adapted to be positioned inside the blood vessel and including a liquid inlet opening in fluid communication with the duct; and a window including an at least semi-transparent section configured to enable visual observation of blood entering into the duct via the inlet opening when the inlet opening is located inside the blood vessel.
US07654960B2	Method and device for ultrasound measurement of blood flow A method and a device (1) for ultrasound measurement of the blood flow through a heart valve are proposed. To permit a simple, automated measurement, it is proposed that the measurement area (9) of a measurement beam (7) is moved three-dimensionally by means of a multi-array transducer (11) and continuously evaluated for characteristic Doppler signals. It is further proposed to evaluate several measurement beams (7) with offset spatial, partially overlapping measurement areas (9) and/or several reference beams (8) with offset spatial measurement areas (10) for determination of the opening surface area, the volumetric flow rate, the flow volume and/or a value proportional thereto.
US07654953B2	Universal vaginal speculum with disconnectable blades A vaginal speculum having a handle portion and a set of blade pairs some of which can be removably attached to the distal end of the handle and others can be slidingly inserted through the proximal end of the handle. Both pairs of the blades have snapping engagement with one and the same locking mechanism of the handle. The handle may constitute a permanent part, and the blades may be replaceable.
US07654947B1	Apparatus for adjusting a swing arc and centering of swinging director chute An apparatus for adjusting a swing arc and centering of a swinging director chute during separating, folding, stacking and transporting a continuous web that allows stacks of web that are relatively large (four-feet-high or more) to be generated at high speed directly beneath the folding mechanism and to be transferred as complete, discrete stacks to downstream locations and stack utilization devices without interrupting the ongoing, upstream stack-folding and stack-formation process. The apparatus includes a lever arm, interconnected with the swinging director chute, and a connecting rod having a first pivot end and a second pivot end. The first pivot end is adjustable movable along the lever arm. A drive arm connected to the second pivot end includes a lead screw. The lead screw can be operatively connected to an index wheel having a plurality of directed posts and a movable pawl that advances the index wheel.
US07654946B2	Machine for covering packaging boxes A machine for covering packaging boxes (S) with a sheet (F) comprises at least one presser (10) and one folding blade (11) that move horizontally to apply the edges (L) of a glued sheet (F) to corresponding outside walls (P) of a box (S). The presser (10) and/or the blade (11) are adjustable in angular position with respect to one or more axes of rotation.
US07654941B2	Exercise apparatus An improved exercise apparatus for martial arts is provided and includes a longitudinally extending platform, a support on which the platform rests or is otherwise supported and a plate unit slidably carried along the platform and movable between a first retracted position and a second extended position in response to a force being applied to the plate unit by the leg or arm of an individual during exercise.
US07654940B2	Arm exercise machine with self-aligning pivoting user support An arm exercise machine for performing isolation arm exercises has a self-aligning pivoting seat or user support on a main frame and an exercise arm for performing biceps curl and/or triceps extension exercises which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. The user support is pivotally mounted on the main frame so as to automatically align in order to maintain positioning of the user throughout the exercise motion.
US07654938B2	Exercise machine with pivoting user support having multiple pivot linkage An exercise machine has a main frame, a user support frame which supports a user in an exercise position, and a multiple pivot assembly pivotally mounting the user support frame for movement between a start position and an end position. The pivot assembly has multiple pivots which define a theoretical pivot axis of the user support pivotal movement and a vertical gravitational center line which extends through the theoretical pivot axis. The user support frame has at least a primary support and a secondary support for supporting spaced positions on a user's body throughout an exercise movement. A user engagement device is movably mounted relative to the frames for engagement by the user in performing exercises, and a multiple part connecting linkage translates movement of the user engagement device to rotational movement of the user support frame. A load resists movement of at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting linkage.
US07654918B2	Multi-layer core golf ball having thermoset rubber cover An all rubber golf ball with one or more thermosetting rubber core layers and one or more thermosetting rubber cover layer. At least one of the ball's layers has moisture vapor barrier property, and in one aspect the moisture vapor barrier layer is an intermediate layer. In one embodiment, the thermosetting rubber layers follow a cis- or a trans-polybutadiene gradient from the center of the ball to its cover.
US07654910B2	Maze device Disclosed is a multi-modular maze device comprising a plurality of maze modules interconnected using a plurality of adaptors to configure a plurality of interconnected pathways. The maze modules and the adaptors are removably engaged to each other using hook and loop fastening arrangements. The maze device is capable of being removably installed on a supporting surface (for example, floor), either outdoor or indoor.
US07654903B2	Online gaming cheating prevention system and method Technology is provided for preventing cheating during online gaming, including a first online gaming server computer system configured to gather information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming; a second online gaming server computer system configured to receive the information; and a central database configured for aggregating the received information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered by the first online gaming server computer system along with information stored on the central database regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered from a plurality of online gaming server computer systems. The aggregated information from the central database regarding cheaters detected is made available to the second online gaming server computer system, and cheaters identified in the aggregated information are prevented from online gaming on the second online gaming server computer system based on the aggregated information from the central database.
US07654902B2	User-name switching method on network game A terminal receives service provided by a server while using any one of a group of user-names stored in the server for each user and while using a character associated with the user-name. When a character currently in use is switched to another character according to a user instruction, the terminal compares a user-name associated with the switched character with a user-name currently in use. When the compared user-name is different from the user-name currently in use, the terminal switches the user-name on the terminal side to a user-name associated with the switched character, and transmits information, indicating the user-name associated with the switched character, to the server.
US07654896B2	Gaming system which provides multiple players multiple bonus awards A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.
US07654894B2	Card game with fixed rules Some embodiments include a game of poker in which at least some player actions are fixed by game rules. For example, in some embodiments, a first set of cards displayed on a video screen is dealt to a first player of a poker game. The first player is a person. A second set of cards is dealt to a second player of the poker game. One first action is determined based on a set of game rules and based on the first set of cards. The one first action is automatically performed on behalf of the first player. One second action is determined based on the set of game rules and based on the second set of cards. An amount to be awarded to a winning player of the poker game is determined.
US07654890B2	Device for de-rinding trimming a piece of meat or a piece of slaughtered animal A device and a method are proposed for de-rinding or trimming a piece of meat or piece of a slaughtered animal, in which an arrangement device for the arrangement of the piece, an industrial robot with a manipulator arm and a sensor system, which detects the part that is to be separated, are provided. The sensor system comprises a camera and an image processing system as well as, if necessary, a distance measuring system, which determines the distance between a predefined zero point and a measuring point on the surface of the piece. Further, a cutting tool is provided, which separates the part from the piece.
US07654888B2	Carrier head with retaining ring and carrier ring A carrier head that has a housing, a base assembly, a retaining ring, a carrier ring, and a flexible membrane is described. The base assembly is vertically movable relative to the housing. The retaining ring is connected to and vertically movable relative to the base assembly and has a lower surface configured to contact a polishing pad and an inner surface configured to circumferentially surround the edge of a substrate to retain the substrate. The carrier ring is connected to and vertically fixed relative to the base assembly, circumferentially surrounds the retaining ring to prevent lateral motion of the retaining ring, and has a bottom surface configured to contact a polishing pad.
US07654882B2	Bra and body shaper garment A woman's garment comprising a tubular garment body having an integrated full support bra at the front portion thereof and a back portion. The back portion has a high cut neckline which the natural curve of the back of the neckline and is contoured around the back arm and underarm areas for evenly compressing and supporting the upper back and lower back and posterior auxiliary fat pads without visible bra lines or bulges on the back and underarm area.
US07654880B2	Flicker-type flying toy device A flying toy (10) includes a planar body defining an outer edge (16). A recess (18) extends inwardly from die outer edge and includes an undercut section (22). The body defines a hook section (24) adjacent the undercut section of the recess, and a finger engagement section (28) opposite the hook section that defines a pair of wings (32, 34). The wings are resilient, and include outer end areas that can be spread apart. The recess is configured to receive the tip of a user's finger. When the user's fingertip is positioned within the recess, the hook section engages one side of the user's finger and the finger engagement section engages an opposite side of the user's finger. The wings spread apart so as to stabilize the body on the user's finger. The user flicks his or her finger to dislodges the flying toy from the user's fingertip, and the flying toy is then propelled through the air.
US07654879B2	Jumping toy with disassembly action A toy vehicle. The toy vehicle includes a base, a plurality of wheels spinably connected to the base, and a pneumatic piston operatively connected to at least one of the wheels. The toy also includes a plurality of body pieces at least partially covering the base, and a pneumatic disassembly mechanism operatively connected to at least some of the plurality of body pieces. A pneumatic system is configured to deliver pressurized gas to the pneumatic piston to cause at least the base to jump by extending the at least one wheel away from the base. The pneumatic system is also configured to deliver pressurized gas to the pneumatic disassembly mechanism to separate at least some of the plurality of body pieces from the base.
US07654873B2	Electrical connector provided with alignment slot An electrical connector includes a mating portion including a first cavity (13) and a second cavity (11) divided by a partition (17). The first cavity (13) is structurally different from the second cavity (11), the first cavity (13) being of an L shape including a vertical alignment part (15) positioned proximate to the partition (17), while the second cavity (11) has no vertical alignment slot, which is removed to make the insulative housing (10) to have a greatly-reduced lateral dimension thereof so as to mount the insulative housing (10) onto a limited space of a printed circuit board.
US07654867B2	Receptacle connector assembly for IC card and IC card connector Disclosed is a receptacle connector assembly for an IC card, comprising: a connector housing (20) having a top surface (21), a bottom surface (22), and a peripheral wall (23) located between the top surface and bottom surface; a plurality of terminals (30) mounted in the connector housing and extending from the peripheral wall; a shielding member (40) removably attached to the top surface of the connector housing and having a portion extending over the terminals; and a supporting member (50) removably attached to the connector housing and covering the portion of the shielding member extending over the terminals.
US07654861B2	Connector and method thereof The invention discloses a connector, which includes a first connecting unit, a second connecting unit, a third connecting unit, and a determining unit. Moreover, the first connecting unit is capable of being electrically connected to a first power source and/or a first data source; and the second connecting unit is capable of being electrically connected to a second power source and/or a second data source. Additionally, the determining unit is electrically connected to the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit respectively, for selectively outputting a data signal and/or a power signal based on a connecting status. Furthermore, the third connecting unit is electrically connected to the determining unit and an electronic device, for transmitting the data signal and/or the power signal from the determining unit to the electronic device.
US07654858B2	Indicator light for connector An illuminated connector for a device output may be used as a status indicator, showing various states of the output, including output on, proper functioning, and improper functioning. The illumination may be provided through a face of the physical connector, around a periphery of the connector, or proximate to the connector. Various colors and sequence of illuminations may communicate various states. The illuminator may be used to indicate the status of a wireless version of the same type of output of the connector.
US07654850B2	Shielded locking electrical connector An electrical connector connects to a mating connector in a first direction. The electrical connector includes a housing, a plurality of terminals, a terminal arrangement board made of an electrical insulator for aligning and holding the terminals, and a metal plate attached to the housing at a position facing both surfaces of the terminal arrangement board for connecting to the mating connector. The metal plate has a lock portion at a position facing one surface of the terminal arrangement board. The lock portion engages a latch portion of the mating connector in the first direction when the electrical connector is connected to the mating connector. The metal plate has an elastic pressing portion at a position facing the other surface of the terminal arrangement board. The elastic pressing portion presses the mating connector in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction when the electrical connector is connected to the mating connector.
US07654836B2	Card connector A card connector adapted for receiving a card, includes an insulating housing (10) including a base portion (11), a pair of arms (12, 12′) extending from opposite ends of the base portion, one of the arms having a locking device (121) at an outer side thereof; a plurality of terminals (20) retained in the insulating housing; a shell (30) covering the insulating housing and defining a cavity for receiving the card, and defining an inserting/ejecting direction of the card; and an ejector for moving the card along the inserting/ejecting direction comprising a base (51) defining a heart-shaped slot therein, an ejecting member (53) protruding into the cavity to engage with the card, a pin member (54), and a resilient member (52). The base includes a vertical wall (510) abutting against the one arm of the insulating housing, and a locking portion is disposed on the vertical wall and fastening with the locking device of the arm.
US07654821B2	Flint ignited premixed lighter A lighter includes a butane fuel reservoir, a valve, a mixer with a choke, a movable combustion space and movable top door over the combustion space which interact to allow a wheel and flint igniter to initiate a post mix flame above the top of the combustion space followed by the opening of the top and migration of the flame into the combustion space to create a strong torch-like premixed flame thereafter.
US07654818B2	Hot runner nozzle system A hot runner nozzle system (500) comprising a nozzle tip (100) adjacent to a nozzle (405) in series, and a retainer (400) adjoining both the nozzle tip (100) and the nozzle (405) in parallel, the retainer (400) having a first retainer thread (435), for connection to a nozzle thread (420) to form a first seal (450) between the nozzle end (440) of the retainer (400) and a nozzle shoulder (430), a second retainer thread (460), for connection to a tip thread (455) to form a second seal (470) between the inlet end (475) of the nozzle tip (100) and the gate end (425) of the nozzle (405), a seal ring (115) for creating a gate seal (496) with a gate insert (120), and a plurality of flats (410) thereon to facilitate torquing of the retainer (400) to the nozzle (405), the torque value applied to the retainer (400) being about two to four times of that applied to the nozzle tip (100) to facilitate removal of the nozzle tip (100) independent of the retainer (400).
US07654814B2	Rotary press Rotary press comprising a rotor rotatably driven about a vertical axis, said rotor exhibiting a die plate and upper and lower punches which are vertically guided in guides of the rotor working together with die holes in a die plate, at least one press station which exhibits an upper and a lower pressure passed by the punches and through which the punches are moved towards the die hole in order to compress the material in the die hole, characterized in that the rotor is provided with means which act upon compacts or parts thereof which adhere to the pressing surface or which means eliminate or prevent an adherence of a compact or parts thereof to the pressing surface of the upper punch, respectively, during the return stroke.
US07654808B2	Air ring with circumferentially adjustable air flow An air ring for supplying cooling air to a hot extruded plastic film after extrusion from an annular extrusion die has an annular body surrounding the emerging tubular plastic film. The annular body has an annular plenum chamber receiving air from an external source. A circumferentially extending series of separate air passages receives air from the plenum chamber and extends radially inwardly to respective separate orifices adjacent to and surrounding the tubular film. Separate adjustors individually control the air flow from the plenum chamber to respective air passages and associated orifices, whereby air flow from each orifice impinges on a discrete circumferentially extending portion of the tubular film substantially independently of air flow from other orifices. Each adjustor controls air flow to only one orifice. The plenum chamber also supplies air through an annular passage in the annular body to an annular orifice adjacent to and surrounding the tubular film.
US07654806B2	External toothed wheel pump comprising a relieving pocket An external toothed wheel pump, comprising a delivery chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet for a fluid; a first feed wheel and a second feed wheel which can be rotationally driven for delivering the fluid and are in a toothed engagement with each other which separates the outlet from the inlet; and sealing surfaces which axially face the feed wheels and form axial sealing gaps with the feed wheels, wherein at least one of the sealing surfaces comprises a relieving pocket on a high-pressure side of the delivery chamber only and except for the relieving pocket, extends circumferentially up to at least the root circle and tip circle of the axially facing feed wheel.
US07654800B2	Mobile concrete pump and corresponding building frame A mobile concrete pump including a building frame (22) arranged on the structure (12) of a truck chassis (10). The building frame (22) includes two longitudinal side members (50) mutually spaced apart by a free space (52) and resting on the chassis structure (12). The mobile concrete pump further comprises a driving assembly (42) for actuating the functional units, which are arranged with the core pump (24) in the free space zone (52) located between the two longitudinal side members (50). At least the core pump can be easily mounted and dismounted from the building frame (22). For this, the building frame (22) is provided with a floating bearing (54) which links the side members across the free space, as well as a fixed bearing (56) arranged at the rear end of the building frame and serving to support releasably the core pump (24) which is pre-assembled in modular manner.
US07654799B2	Modular rotor blade for a wind turbine and method for assembling same A sectional wind turbine rotor blade is provided, the sectional wind turbine rotor blade having first and second blade sections, wherein the first and second blade sections are fixedly mountable to each other via a connector. Furthermore, a method for assembling a sectional wind turbine rotor blade is provided.
US07654792B2	Blower Blower made up of at least two axially stacked, interlocking fans. Each fan is enclosed in a housing the axially opposite ends of which are flanged. Opposing flats on immediately neighboring flanges are formed with complementary twist-locking features. The twist-locking features are configured in such a way that when the fans are stacked, the opposing flats will not be in contact with each other unless the housings are twisted out of axial alignment to bring the opposing flats flush together, and such that with the opposing flats flush in contact, twisting the housings back into axial alignment locks them together.
US07654786B2	Substrate carrying method thereof A shuttle is disclosed in which a large-sized substrate is prevented from sagging under its weight or from slipping. The shuttle includes a body, support pins supporting sides of the substrate, and shuttle arms provided to sides of the body to rotate in an axial direction and move in a right-to-left direction. The support pins are coupled with the shuttle arms, respectively. A pair of center supports support center parts of sides of the substrate not supported by the support pins. The center supports are movably coupled to a main frame in a front-to-rear direction. A driving unit moves and rotates the shuttle arms in the right-to-left direction. The driving unit moves the center supports in the front-to-rear direction using the main frame. A vacuum instrument assembly is provided to each of the support pins to securely hold the substrate by a vacuum force.
US07654783B2	Fastening element The invention relates to a fastening element comprising a clip part (4), which has a top plate (10), a base plate (3) and a joining section (9). A cutout (11) is made in the top plate (10), and a cutout (5) is made in the base plate (3), these cutouts facing one another. The fastening element also comprises an elongated shaft part (1), which is formed on the base plate (3), has a smooth-wall shaft cutout (2) that leads into the cutout (5) in the base plate and which provided for receiving a connection part. This connection part is provided with an external thread having a nominal diameter and can be guided through the cutout (11) in the top plate and through the cutout (5) in the base plate (3). The cutout (11) in the top plate has, at least in sections, a diameter that is less than the nominal diameter of the external thread but greater than the inside diameter of the shaft cutout (2). This prevents the component from tipping by establishing a pre-fixing in the area of the cutout (11) in the top plate before the external thread engages with the shaft part (1).
US07654782B2	Weld nut or stud, fastening system and method A threaded fastener such as a weld nut or a weld stud has a projection from a surface thereof, with the projection bearing a thread. A weld ring substantially surrounds the threaded projection. In a fastener system using the fastener, a mounting structure has a keyhole including a larger diameter hole and a narrower diameter slot. In the assembly, a portion of the weld ring projects into the slot to resist rotation of the fastener relative to the mounting structure.
US07654776B2	Retaining wall block A retaining wall block has parallel top and bottom faces, a front face, a rear face, first and second side wall faces and a vertical plane of symmetry extending between the front and rear faces. The block is formed as a body portion including the front face, a head portion including the rear face and a neck portion connecting the body portion and the head portion. The body, head and neck portions each extend between the top and bottom faces and between the first and second side wall faces. An opening extends through the neck portion from the top face to the bottom face, dividing the neck portion into first and second neck wall members extending rearwardly from the body portion to the head portion.
US07654768B1	Massive security barriers having tie-bars in tunnels Barrier elements provide security from terrorist threats by ability to withstand both vehicle collisions and explosive blasts. Each barrier element is prefabricated to include a massive block of durable material, preferably of high strength concrete, with at least one tunnel extending at least partially between respective cavities in two opposite sides of the block. Each barrier element also includes at least one beam that is preferably made of steel and extends through one such tunnel. Multiple blocks are positionable slidably on top of the ground side-against-side with their beams coupled longitudinally to one another at least approximately end-to-end. Retainer means can be used to block coupling means from entry into the tunnels. Forces from a vehicle collision or an explosive blast can cause barrier elements to rotate relative to one-another when the couplings between beams hinge or bend as the durable material that interferes with the rotation breaks away.
US07654765B2	Ring binder having a clip A ring binder has a substrate and a ring binder mechanism including a housing and at least one ring supported by the housing for mounting loose leaf paper. At least one clip is adapted to secure the clip to a substrate and thereby mount the ring binder mechanism on the substrate. The clip has a first portion, a second portion spaced from the first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions. The first portion has an attachment member for attaching the clip to the housing. At least one of the portions is a wire.
US07654757B2	Diaphragm A diaphragm comprising a single plate, the single plate comprising: a first plate portion having an aperture; and a second plate portion formed at an outer side of the first plate portion, wherein a first thickness of the first plate portion is thinner than a second thickness of the second plate portion.
US07654755B2	Folding hinge A folding hinge for camera stabilization equipment. The hinge includes support connectors having apertures through which cables may be passed to connect a camera with various auxiliary components. An indexing guide pivotally attaches the support connectors so the camera stabilization system can be folded and unfolded with little or no disruption of the cables pr system balance. Locking mechanisms secure the hinges to provide a desired angular relationship between support members connected by the hinge.
US07654753B2	Optical subassembly for an electro-optical assembly Various embodiments of optical subassemblies, and arrangements and methods for manufacturing same, for an electro-optical assembly are disclosed. One embodiment comprises an optical subassembly for an electro-optical assembly. The optical subassembly comprises a printed circuit board, an optical semiconductor device, and an optical element. The printed circuit board has a first surface, a second surface, and an aperture therethrough. The optical semiconductor device is attached to the first surface with an active region exposed to the aperture. The optical element is attached to the second surface with an optical axis exposed to the aperture and optically aligned with the active region.
US07654752B2	Z-axis alignment of an optoelectronic component using a composite adhesive An optoelectronic package that employs a spacer tool system to properly align an optical component within the device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the package includes a mounting surface, and an optical component positioned on the mounting surface at a predetermined distance from a reference point. The optical component is positioned at the predetermined distance by a spacer tool, wherein the spacer tool is interposed between the optical component and a spacer tool mount during optical component positioning. The spacer tool is of a length that corresponds with the predetermined distance between the optical component and the reference point.
US07654748B2	Reversible fiber optic connector A re-terminable, no-crimp ST-type optical connector assembly includes a spring-loaded ferrule holder assembly and a reusable activation system for termination of the assembly. The optical connector can be terminated by a suitable cam activation tool. The connector includes a housing, such as a bayonet, matable to a mating adapter, a backbone retained within a rear of the housing, a ferrule holder provided within the backbone, and a cam provided between the ferrule holder and the backbone. The ferrule holder includes an alignment key exposed to mate with a cam activation tool to lock rotation of the ferrule holder relative to other connector components. The cam includes a cam activation cutout at a front face thereof that mates with a cam activation tool interface to enable rotation of the cam between de-activated and activated positions, the cam activation cutout also receiving the alignment key of the ferrule holder therethrough. The cam further includes a first camming profile that actuates a field fiber clamp and a second camming profile that actuates a buffer clamp. The connector may further include alignment flats and features for preventing rotation and axial movement of various components. Because the cam is unexposed when mated, inadvertent de-activation is prevented.
US07654747B2	Multi-fiber fiber optic receptacle and plug assembly A multi-fiber fiber optic assembly comprising a receptacle and a plug that correspond and mate to optically connect a plurality of optical fibers. The receptacle comprises a receptacle housing, a receptacle multi-fiber ferrule and an excluding feature. The plug comprises a plug housing, a plug multi-fiber ferrule and a clearance opening for receiving the excluding feature therein. The receptacle and plug may further comprise at least one of a threaded coupling nut, a key for engaging a first key slot defined by the plug housing, a sleeve defining a second key slot for receiving the key therein, and a biasing spring.
US07654741B2	Rotatable supporting module and gantry apparatus having same An exemplary rotation module configured for a gantry apparatus includes a rotary plate, a base, and a bearing. The rotary plate has a through hole. The base is arranged in the through hole. The bearing is arranged between the rotary plate and the base. The bearing includes an inner race and an outer race rotatable relative to the inner race. The inner race is securely coupled to the base and the outer race is securely coupled to the rotary plate, whereby the rotary plate is rotatable relative to the base. A gantry apparatus are also provided.
US07654732B2	Timepiece incorporating wristband contact elements A wrist-worn timepiece may have a case, a timing element, a wristband, and a contact element. The timing element is located within the case. The wristband extends outward from the case and defines an aperture. The contact element is secured to the wristband and has an outer portion and a locking portion. The outer portion forms a portion of an exterior surface of the timepiece and is located to contact a wrist of a wearer. The outer portion is also formed of a first material. The locking portion is joined with the outer portion and positioned to contact an edge of the aperture. The locking portion is also formed of a second material.
US07654720B2	Dedicated LED airfield system architectures A system and method that contemplates operating an LED at its characterized current (e.g. 400 mA) for any luminous intensity. A Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is employed, wherein the pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal is used to control the luminous intensity of the LED. Optionally, the LED can be biased to reduce the intensity of the pulses used to operate the LED.
US07654713B2	Vehicular lamp A vehicular lamp includes a projection lens with an optical axis extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and a light source with a light emission portion. The light emission portion is directly incident to the projection lens. The projection lens has a plurality of lens areas with different focal points, with the lens areas centered on the optical axis and disposed on generally concentric circles. The focal points corresponding to the plurality of lens areas have respectively different positions on the optical axis.
US07654709B2	Compact fluorescent lamp high bay luminaire A compact fluorescent lamp luminaire with chambered structure to improve ventilation for controlling the temperature of ballasts and lamps in the luminaire. In such compact fluorescent lamp luminaires a plurality of compact fluorescent lamps is arranged inside a dome structure. The compact fluorescent lamps are powered through ballasts. Heat generated by the lamps is exhausted out of the luminaire without air heated by the lamps from passing through a chamber housing ballasts of the luminaire.
US07654708B2	Light source device and projection-type image display device A light source device (10) includes a lamp unit (1) and a lamp cartridge (2) in which the lamp unit (1) is housed. The lamp unit (1) includes a discharge lamp (11), a reflection mirror (12) and a transparent plate (13). The reflection mirror (12) has ventilation openings (121). The lamp cartridge (2) has ventilation openings (214, 215 and 231). Fragment-passage prevention members (30, 31 and 32) are provided on the ventilation openings (214, 215 and 231). The fragment-passage prevention members (30) allow the passage of the air but prevent the passage of the fragments of the discharge lamp (11). With such an arrangement, it is possible to prevent the fragments from being scattered out of the lamp cartridge (2), even when the breakage of the discharge lamp (11) occurs.
US07654705B2	Recessed fixture with hinged doors and rotatable lamp A recessed light fixture having a rotation ring allowing rotation of a lamp mounted over the fixture frame aperture, the rotation ring easily rotatable on the frame and held in place by a ring clamp. The recessed light fixture rotation ring has a mechanical brake for locking the ring in place after positioning of the lamp. The ring also has a slip disc positioned between the surface of the frame and the ring to allow easy rotation. The housing of the fixture has junction boxes mounted on side walls which are hinged to the sidewalls of the housing and which swivel into the interior of the housing for ready access after installation through the aperture of the frame. The lamp of the fixture movable about a horizontal adjustment and vertical adjustment axis while also maintaining position with respect to the reflector.
US07654701B2	Led lamp An LED lamp includes a lamp frame, a plurality of LED modules, an envelope and a heat sink made of metal. The envelope and the heat sink are mounted on top and bottom sides of the lamp frame. A frame body of the lamp frame is attached to a top face of a base of the heat sink. A heat absorbing member made of metal and provided with a plurality of heat absorbing portions is attached on the top face of the base. The LED modules are attached on top boards of the heat absorbing portions. The envelope engages with the lamp frame and receives the heat absorbing member and the LED modules therein. The top boards are inclined downwards from a middle toward an outside of the heat absorbing member.
US07654695B1	Pigmented collar for bi-color light emitting diodes The present invention is directed to a collar for a multi-color light source that is able to convey not only color but also spatial information to a user to permit the colorblind user to distinguish between the different settings of the light source.
US07654694B2	Lighting unit designed to maintain a T3 temperature inside its housing A lighting unit includes a housing, a lamp fixture configured to be coupled to the housing, an element extending from the lamp fixture and configured to be received in the housing, and a sealing member defining an aperture for receiving the element therethrough. A periphery of the aperture forms a fluid-tight seal around the element. In another aspect, a lighting unit includes a housing and an enclosure coupled to the housing and configured to define an interior space, wherein the interior space is sealed from an interior of the housing. In another aspect, a method for sealing a lighting unit includes providing a housing, an enclosure coupled to the housing, and an opening in the housing in communication with the enclosure, placing a seal between the housing and the enclosure, and applying a sealing member to the opening to seal the opening.
US07654693B2	Absolute fixture positioning A lighting fixture having at least one internal processor and at least one fixed element to which controllable moving elements are rotatably fastened, one moving element having at least one light source that generates a beam of light. Information concerning positions of moving components in a lighting fixture is automatically achieved. Correct position indication at start up is obtained without moving the components to their end stops for finding set points for step motors by the provision of at least one absolute encoding device, which encoding device indicates the angular movement of a first input axel in relation to the encoding device, which absolute encoding device has a gearbox with a second internal axel, which first input axle drives a first toothed timing wheel, intermeshing with a second toothed timing wheel that rotates the second axel with a angular velocity different from the angular velocity of the first input axle.
US07654691B2	Light-guiding modules and LED lamp using the same An LED lamp includes a heat sink, a plurality of LED modules mounted on the heat sink and a plurality of light-guiding modules respectively fixed on the LED modules. Each light-guiding module comprises a frame having a bottom panel placed on the LED module and two side panels extending upwardly from two opposite edges of the bottom panel and a plurality of guiding units each having two engaging flanges extending outwardly from two opposite lateral sides thereof. Each guiding unit receives an LED of a corresponding LED module therein. The two side panels respectively define two runners in inner sides thereof. The two engaging flanges of each guiding unit are respectively received in the two runners of the frame and movable therealong to adjust a position of the guiding unit in the frame.
US07654688B2	LED lamp with an improved heat sink A recessed LED lamp for being mounted in a wall or a ceiling, includes a housing (10), a printed circuit board (20) received in the housing, a plurality of LEDs (22) mounted on the printed circuit board, a casing (40) surrounding the housing, a pair of arms (50) resiliently and pivotably attached on the casing, and a heat sink (30) secured below the housing. The heat sink includes a base (32) contacting the printed circuit board and thermally connecting therewith, a plate (34) extending outwardly from the base and a plurality of fins (36) extending downwardly from the plate (34).
US07654686B2	Luminaire having an aperature light path A luminaire comprising an output aperture having an input port and an output port, a radiation guide having an input port and an output port and an array of LEDs located at the input port of the guide. Light emitted by the LEDs is transmitted into the guide. The input port of the aperture operatively connects to the output port of guide and is positioned adjacent thereto so that a central plane of the output aperture is asymmetric relative to a central plane of the radiation guide.
US07654681B2	Surface light source device using light emitting diodes A surface light source device using light emitting diodes, the device including: a housing having a top opening to emit light; a light emitting diode board disposed on an inner bottom surface of the housing, the board on which a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged; and a color conversion laminate formed by depositing a plurality of phosphor-mixed resin layers containing phosphors, the layers disposed at a top of the opening of the housing and providing light having different wavelengths.
US07654679B2	Illumination system The present invention relates to illumination of an instrument for displaying information. In particular the invention relates to illumination for an instrument suitable for use in a vehicle. The invention provides an illumination system suitable for illuminating an instrument, comprising an information bearing surface, a substantially transparent protective cover, and a first light source coupled to the protective cover, wherein a surface of the protective cover is treated at a peripheral portion such that light escapes from substantially the peripheral portion to illuminate a portion of the information bearing surface.
US07654676B2	Pupil mismatch in a collimated display system An image projection system has a first lens with a defined entrance pupil. An image source has an image field and a defined exit pupil. The exit pupil of the image source is configured such that the exit pupil of the image source underfills the entrance pupil of the lens for portions of the image source that are not in the center portion of the image field.
US07654672B2	Systems and software for wavefront data processing, vision correction, and other applications A system for providing vision contains an aberrometer, a wavefront sensor, and a transfer optical system. The aberrometer is configured to measure a received wavefront. The aberrometer includes a wavefront sensor and a transfer optical system for transferring an input wavefront so as to the provide the received wavefront at or near the wavefront sensor. The system also includes a processor in communication with the aberrometer, a readable memory, and instructions located within the memory. The readable memory contains one or more system error parameters and instructions available to the processor. The instructions are for determining at least one aberration of the received wavefront and calculating the input wavefront based on the received wavefront and the one or more system error parameters.
US07654667B2	Progressive addition lens operating in combination with a multi-order diffractive optic A multi-focal spectacle lens is presented having far distance, intermediate distance, and near distance vision correction, in which the lens includes a progressive addition surface with a progression of optical power. The lens further includes a multi-order diffractive surface relief structure with an optical add power. The multi-order diffractive structure reduces chromatic aberration as compared to a conventional diffractive structure of equivalent optical power. The lens may also include a wavefront splitting device diffractive structure for generating multiple optical powers simultaneously. When the progressive addition surface and the multi-order diffractive surface relief structure are in optical communication an overall progression of optical add power may be provided by the combination of the progressive addition surface with the multi-order surface relief diffractive structure.
US07654655B2	Labyrinth seal structure Techniques are disclosed for improving pressure sensor shock robustness in fluid containment devices by providing a mechanical filter configured to prevent high-frequency pressure shocks from damaging the pressure sensor. One approach includes a body of elastomeric material disposed on an external surface of the sensor. Another approach is a porous plug in a fluid pathway leading to the sensor. Yet another approach is to provide a seal structure with a labyrinth fluid path.
US07654654B2	Ink jet printer head An ink jet printer head including a cavity unit; an piezoelectric actuator; and a wiring substrate. The piezoelectric actuator includes pairs of first common electrode connection pads and pairs of first individual electrode connection pads which are provided on an outer surface thereof such that the two first common electrode connection pads of each of the pairs are located at respective positions symmetric with each other with respect to a first reference point on the outer surface and the two first individual electrode connection pads of each of the pairs are located at respective positions symmetric with each other with respect to the first reference point. The wiring substrate further includes a second common electrode connection pad and a plurality of second individual electrode connection pads which are provided at respective positions assuring that when the wiring substrate takes a first angular phase about a second reference point corresponding to the first reference point, and when the wiring substrate takes a second angular phase differing from the first angular phase by 180 degrees about the second reference point, the second common electrode connection pad is electrically connected to at least one of the first common electrode connection pads and the second individual electrode connection pads are electrically connected to the first individual electrode connection pads, respectively.
US07654653B2	Ink-jet head An ink-jet head according to the present invention includes a wire member and a heat sink. The wire member has a substrate on a surface of which a driver IC chip is mounted. The heat sink is made of a metal material, in contact with the driver IC chip, and dissipates heat generated in the driver IC chip to outside. A first wire and a second wire are formed on the surface of the substrate of the wire member. The first and second wires are electrically connected to an individual electrode and a common electrode of a piezoelectric actuator, respectively. The second wire is formed along an outer edge of the substrate, and electrically connected and thermally coupled to the heat sink.
US07654652B2	Ink jet head An ink jet head having: a common ink chamber for storing an ink supplied from an ink supply part; an ink supply path for supplying the ink stored in the common ink chamber; a pressure chamber to which the ink is supplied via the ink supply path; and a nozzle for discharging the ink in the pressure chamber in accordance with a pressure change in the pressure chamber. The components being constructed by stacking a plurality of thin plate members, wherein a plurality of the ink supply paths are arranged in parallel.
US07654650B2	Ink-jet head An ink-jet head includes a passage unit in which a common ink chamber and individual ink passages are formed, and an actuator unit fixed to the passage unit. A closed passage having a shape of the individual ink passage being partially closed is formed in the passage unit.
US07654647B2	Method of ejecting drops from printhead with planar bubble nucleating heater elements A method of ejecting drops of an ejectable liquid from a printhead is provided. The printhead has nozzles with bubble forming chambers, a heater element(s) disposed in the chambers configured for thermal contact with a bubble forming liquid and having bubble nucleation sections of smaller cross section than the rest of the heater element, and drive circuitry for controlling operation of the heater elements via electrodes, with parts of the drive circuitry disposed on opposing sides of the chambers. The method includes heating the heater elements by applying actuation energy of less than 500 nJ to form a gas bubble in the liquid that causes drop ejection from the nozzles and supplying the nozzle with a replacement volume of the liquid equivalent to the ejected drop. The bubble nucleation sections and the rest of the heater elements are co-planar and remain co-planar when heater elements are heated.
US07654644B2	Printhead nozzle arrangement having variable volume nozzle chamber Provided is a printhead having a plurality of nozzle arrangements. Each arrangement includes a substrate which defines an ink inlet aperture with a wall portion bounding the ink inlet aperture and a crown portion defining a nozzle opening. Each arrangement also includes a skirt portion depending from the crown portion to form part of a peripheral wall of the nozzle assembly. The crown and skirt portions are displaceable with respect to the wall portion towards the substrate to alter a volume of a nozzle chamber defined by the wall, crown and skirt portions such that when the volume is altered, ink is ejected from the nozzle opening. Each arrangement also includes a thermal actuator that interconnects the crown and skirt portions with the substrate, the actuator for displacing the crown and skirt portions. The wall portion and skirt portion are configured to define a fluidic seal to inhibit the egress of ink during such displacement.
US07654636B2	Inkjet printhead having optimal number of printhead modules and nozzle rows for out-of-phase printing An inkjet printhead comprising a plurality of transversely aligned color channels is provided. Each color channel comprises at least one nozzle row extending longitudinally along said printhead. Each nozzle in a row ejects the same colored ink. The printhead is comprised of a plurality of printhead modules, and the number of color channels is equal to the number of printhead modules.
US07654633B2	Dissolving complexes of anionic dye/cationic polymeric fixer The invention relates to dissolving an anionic dye/cationic polymer complex including the step of applying to the complex a water-soluble solvent having a dielectric constant from 20 to 43 at standard temperature and pressure.
US07654626B2	Camera device incorporating a color printer with ink validation apparatus A camera device includes a replaceable print roll. The print roll includes an ink reservoir section storing respective types of ink. A validation apparatus is configured to validate the replaceable print roll. A printer is configured to print an image on print media upon validation of the print roll. The printer includes an ink supply unit defining a channel from which ink supply passages extend. The printer is configured to receive the ink within the ink supply passages. An ink ejection printhead is located in the channel and includes sets of ink inlets with each set being configured to receive a respective type of ink from the ink supply passages. A roller assembly is arranged to transport the print media in register with the printhead during printing of the image.
US07654619B2	Method for braking a vehicle by means of a fluidically triggered vehicle brake system, and vehicle brake system In a method for braking a vehicle by means of a fluidically triggerable vehicle brake system, wherein the vehicle brake system comprises a respective fluidically triggerable brake unit that is assigned to a vehicle wheel and is fluidically coupled to a brake force generator via at least one fluid circuit, wherein a pumping mechanism by means of which at least one of the brake units can be fed with brake fluid regardless of whether the brake force generator is activated, is provided in the at least one fluid circuit in order to convey brake fluid, and wherein control valves by means of which the brake force generator can be fluidically coupled to and disconnected from the brake units and the pumping mechanism are provided in the fluid circuit, it is provided that in order to comfortably create a parking brake condition, the following steps are carried out: A) a fluid pressure is built up in the at least one fluid circuit via the brake force generator such that at least two of the brake units are fluidically triggered; B) the brake force generator is disconnected from the brake units and the pumping mechanism by closing the control valves; C) the pumping mechanism is activated (in two) and brake fluid is conveyed from one of the at least two brake units to the other one of the at least two brake units, respectively.
US07654615B2	Seat assembly having a seat cushion rocker mechanism A seat assembly (10) for supporting an occupant above a floor in a vehicle includes a seat cushion (12) coupled to a pair of spaced apart risers (20, 22) extending between forward (24) and rearward (26) ends and a seat back (16) pivotally coupled thereto. A rocker mechanism (58) selectively angularly adjusts the seat cushion (12) relative to the floor. A first pivot (70) pivotally connects the rearward ends (26) of the risers (20, 22) to the floor. A sector gear (92) is pivotally coupled to the riser adjacent the forward end and includes a mounting pin (94) offset from the pivotal connection. A rocker link (96) extends from a first end pivotally coupled to the floor and a second end pivotally coupled to the mounting pin (94) for guiding the forward ends (24) of the risers (20, 22) during pivotal movement about the first pivot (70). A pawl (102) is pivotally coupled to the rocker link (96) for selectively engaging the sector gear (92) to maintain the angular position of the seat assembly (10).
US07654609B1	Motorcycle trailer system A motorcycle trailer includes a base having an upper surface and a lower surface. The base is configured to receive a payload on the upper surface and further configured to support the payload on the upper surface. A first support is attached to the base and configured to support the lower surface of the base above the ground. A cylinder is configured to retract the first support such that the lower surface of the base is lowered to the ground.
US07654603B2	Raisable truck box cover A raisable truck bed cover protects the contents of the truck bed from the elements and theft, while allowing access to the contents when materials are placed on the cover. The raisable cover maintains the storage capability of the original truck design while allowing additional material hauling capacity by way of the cover and an optional ladder rack system.
US07654594B2	Shackle The present invention provides an improved shackle having particular utility in underwater salvage operations. The present invention discloses a shackle that has a generally U shaped body that is comprised of a bow portion and first and second spaced apart arms. Each arm has an end portion with an opening for receiving a shackle pin. The shackle pin is sized and shaped to simultaneously fit through the shackle pin openings, and end portion of the pin having external pin threads. A nut provides an internally threaded opening for engaging external threads of a shackle pin. The nut is rotatably mounted to a second end portion of the shackle body. The external pin threads of the shackle pin and the internal threads of the nut are engaged when the pin is connected to the nut by rotating the nut. The pin does not rotate relative to the shackle body, due to an elongated groove in the pin that travels on a key portion of the shackle body that is in one of the openings.
US07654590B2	Magnetic appliance latch An electrically operable door latch employs a permanent magnet for retaining an appliance door closed against the force of a resilient seal. An electromagnet bucks the magnetic attraction of the permanent magnet allowing the latch to be electronically releasable. A simple mechanism and inherent force limits are obtained by a direct magnetic attraction between a strike plate and the latch, one on the door and one on the housing.
US07654582B2	Directional control of an automatic pool cleaner A direction control means for apparatuses for cleaning submerged surfaces in the form of an elbow joint with swivel connections at each end. The connections may include anti-friction surfaces.
US07654577B2	Notepad system for holding and dispensing various sized notepads A notepad system includes a piece of generally flat backing material, and a plurality of generally rectangular notepads removably mounted to the piece of backing material. The plurality of notepads are located immediately adjacent to each other and define a recognizable shape.
US07654571B2	Joining structure for side members and cross members in chassis frames A structure for joining a cross member (2) to a side member (1) of a chassis frame, wherein a flange (4) is formed integrally at an end of the cross member via a flare (3), an extension member (5) inserted into the end of the cross member (2) to project from the afore-mentioned flange (4) is welded to the flare (3), the extension member (5) is passed through an inside hole (9i) formed in an inside part (8i) in the width direction of the vehicle in the closed-section part of the side member (1) and welded to an outside hole (9o) formed in an outside part (8o) in the width direction of the vehicle, and the outer periphery of the flange (4) is welded to the inside part (8i) in the width direction of the vehicle. The closed-section part (8) is formed in a rectangular shape, and the top and bottom parts of the periphery of the flange (4) are located near top and bottom bends (12) of the closed-section part (8).
US07654569B2	Rollover protection system for a motor vehicle and related method A reinforced frame having a roof member and a pillar includes a brace interconnected to the frame. The brace is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The deployed position is defined by the brace extending diagonally between the pillar and the roof member.
US07654565B2	Gas generating system A gas generating system for use in an inflatable vehicle occupant protection system is provided wherein an end closure is coupled to an outer housing at a first end, in a metal-to-metal seal. The gas generating system may also include a baffle system having a plurality of flow orifices defining a flow path for generated gases through an interior of the gas generating system, and a plurality of particulate aggregation surfaces positioned along the flow path of the gases for changing a flow direction of gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces. Each aggregation surface of the plurality of aggregation surfaces is oriented such that a difference between a flow direction of the gases prior to impinging on the aggregation surface and a flow direction of the gases after impinging on the aggregation surface is at least approximately 90°, wherein particulates in gases impinging on the aggregation surfaces aggregate on the surfaces.
US07654558B2	A-pillar structure of curtain airbag The present invention relates to an A-pillar mounting structure of a curtain airbag. In particular, an A-pillar mounting structure in which an upper mounting member of a boss of an A-pillar trim is separated from the during deployment of an airbag and the trim separated from the A-pillar is prevented from going far away by a cap that is prevented from being scattered by a cap scattering preventing means connected to a mounting member or a trim connecting means. The present invention relates to an A-pillar mounting structure in which a curtain airbag is installed and to which an A-pillar trim is coupled. The A-pillar trim includes an A-pillar trim boss for connecting the A-pillar trim to an A-pillar, and an upper mounting member provided to an upper end of the A-pillar trim boss and formed to be separable from the A-pillar trim boss during deployment of the curtain airbag.
US07654557B2	Blow molded knee airbag with integrated reaction plate A knee airbag system for a vehicle is disclosed. The knee airbag system may include a reaction plate having a plurality of apertures. The knee airbag system may include an airbag. The airbag may have a plurality of locations that are disposed to correspond to the plurality of apertures if the airbag is positioned for attachment to the reaction plate. The knee airbag system may also include a plurality of protrusions. The plurality of protrusions may extend through the plurality of apertures for securing the reaction plate to the airbag.
US07654554B1	Sports board with an interlocking structure A sports board, such as a snow board, has a board core structure that provides desired structural characteristics localized to select regions of the board while maintaining predictable produceability and optimum operating qualities of the board. In an embodiment, the sports board includes a plurality of layered elements or segments, of which certain elements or segments are joined using interlocking elements.
US07654541B2	Cart for discretely securely transporting audiovisual and other equipment A cart for securing an transporting audiovisual equipment comprises two pairs of leg assemblies wherein each leg assembly is parallel and faces the other leg assembly. Each pair of legs further comprises individual legs secured to one another. Each leg has a bottom end, a top end, and an outer wall. In one embodiment, at least one of the legs has a hollow channel extending through at least on hollow leg. The hollow leg also comprises at least one aperture extending through the outer wall of the leg and communicating with the hollow channel. A top shelf is removably mounted at the top end of the legs and may also comprise at least one aperture near a corner of the shelf which communicates with the channel in the hollow leg. In an embodiment, the cart further comprises a utility shelf having a first and second portion, each portion pivotally connected to a connecting member at the bottom end of the legs and having a first open position and a second closed position to provide a flat lower storage space in the second closed position.
US07654535B2	Non-contacting face seals and thrust bearings The apparatus, which can be used in aspirating face seals or thrust bearings, spaces two relatively rotatable facing surfaces in use by entraining gas between the surfaces. The apparatus includes a first portion (1) defining a generally frusto-conical surface (3); a second portion (2) defining at least one flat surface disposed adjacent the first portion so that the two surfaces face each other and define at least one point of closest engagement between the surfaces, with diverging gaps extending between the surfaces on either side of a plane which contains the point or points of closest engagement and which extends generally orthogonal to the direction of relative rotation, and a device (4) for biasing the flat surface towards the frusto-conical surface to maintain the gaps within a predetermined dimensional range.
US07654532B2	Method of playing a poker-type bonus A method of playing a poker-type bonus to another game that is triggered by an event in the game. After being triggered, a plurality of revealed, two-card starter hands and five unrevealed community cards are displayed. The unrevealed cards are then revealed. Each starter hand is combined with the community cards to form complete hands. The player is paid a predetermined amount if any of the complete hands is found in a pay table.
US07654525B2	Reflective sheet detector A reflective sheet detector includes first and second guide plates constituting a sheet travelling path, an emitter, a receiver and a reflecting portion. The emitter is disposed on a first side of the sheet travelling path and close to a first input opening of the first guide plate. The receiver is disposed on the first side and close to a first output opening of the first guide plate. The reflecting portion is disposed on a second side of the sheet travelling path opposite the first side and is close to the second guide plate. The emitter outputs a signal to the reflecting portion through the first input opening and a second input opening of the second guide plate, and the reflecting portion reflects the signal to the receiver through a second output opening of the second guide plate and the first output opening.
US07654524B2	Multi-feed detection independent of number of sheets or type of sheets This is a simple and effective multi-feed system for use in marking apparatus where the transport of paper or other media is vital. The system is independent of the weight or type of paper used as was not the case in the prior art. The present system employs the natural strength and thickness of the paper to separate one sheet from the other. This separation is used to trigger a detector alerting the system of a multi-feed of paper.
US07654520B2	Sheet-handling apparatus with a detecting device A sheet-handling apparatus with a detecting device includes a casing, a plurality of entrance rollers located in the casing, an image collector arranged at one side of the casing, a plurality of middle reflectors and side reflectors. A paper path is formed between the entrance rollers, the paper path includes a middle path and two side paths arranged in the sides of the middle path. The image collector includes an illuminant and an image sensor. The middle reflectors are fixed in the casing and at the other side of the paper path and face to the middle path. The side reflectors are arranged at the side of the middle reflectors. The invention can monitor a paper when it is stuck in the paper path, and the manufacture cost of the invention is reduced.
US07654517B2	Image scanning apparatus and image scanner In an image scanning apparatus, when documents on a document tray are sequentially transferred, different control steps are performed according to a scanning speed when an upper surface height of the documents is lowered thereby turning off a height detection sensor. In a low scanning speed, the document tray is elevated one time until the upper surface height becomes a target height which is higher by a predetermined distance since a height detection sensor is turned on at an inter-transfer time between completion of document transfer and start of a subsequent document transfer. In an intermediate scanning speed, the document tray is elevated little by little in each transfer of one document at the inter-transfer time until the upper surface height reaches the target height. In a fast scanning speed, the transfer of the document is tentatively interrupted, the document tray is elevated one time until the upper surface height reaches the target height, and the transfer of the document is resumed.
US07654516B2	Paper sheet running-out mechanism Feed rollers, stopper rollers situated on both outer sides with respect to the feed rollers, each of the stopper rollers having part of the periphery being a highly frictional portion compared with other peripheral portions, and a flexible, radial member in a position on an inner side with respect to the stopper rollers are disposed on a feed roller shaft; and the highly frictional portions of the stopper rollers are in positions at which phases of the highly frictional portions are the same as phases of highly frictional portions of the feed rollers in a rotational direction respectively. On a pick roller shaft, pick rollers, which have highly frictional portions for passing a paper sheet to a paper sheet running-out section, and have flexible, radial members in positions at a side opposite to the highly frictional portions, are disposed in the same or inside positions in an axial direction with respect to both the outside stopper rollers disposed on the feed roller shaft.
US07654493B2	Dual opening refuse gathering apparatus A dual opening refuse gathering apparatus and method for gathering debris and particulate matter is disclosed. The apparatus can be used to clean debris from a variety of surfaces, including but not limited to tables, floors, and streets. The invention disclosed includes a structure with an entrance opening and exit opening to collect then dispose of debris. The invention may be used with an attached gripping unit and/or an attached container. The method of use disclosed involves the collection of debris into the entrance opening and disposal of the debris through the exit opening into an attached container.
US07654486B2	VTOL personal aircraft A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft comprises (1) a fuselage having a front end, a rear end and two lateral sides, the fuselage defining a substantially horizontal central longitudinal axis of the aircraft; (2) an aircraft tail arranged at the rear end of the fuselage and including a rudder and an elevator on each side of the fuselage with movable surfaces for controlling the aircraft; and (3) a wing on each side of the fuselage having a front edge, a trailing edge and an upper surface extending from the front edge to the trailing edge. Means are provided for increasing the speed of an airstream flowing over the upper surface of each wing.
US07654484B2	Apparatus for and a method of adjusting the length of an infusion tube The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for adjusting the length of an infusion tube (2) comprising a first wall (3) and a second wall (4) and at least one connecting element (5) connecting the first wall (3) to the second wall (4), said connecting element (5) being situated at a distance to the peripheral circumference of the walls (6), and wherein the distance between the walls in radial distance to said connecting element provides an inlet opening extending around the connecting element having a width (M) measured between the walls (3, 4); and wherein the apparatus comprises at least one attachment device (8) for securing the infusion tube (2). Hereby a winding of an infusion tube is enabled for adjusting the connection length between pump and the site of infusion anywhere on the infusion tube and on any kind of infusion tube, said apparatus being independent of the infusion unit. Thus, the apparatus enables reuse due to its independence of the pump. The system also enables the user to position the winding unit on any suitable place in his/her body with regard to physiology and to clothing.
US07654476B2	Broadcast spreader with movable deflector A broadcast spreader with a movable deflector is disclosed. The spreader distributes particulate material by a rotating plate which when operating, always impacts material on the deflector. The deflector and a mounting track prevent dispensing material impacting on a user of the spreader, and when the deflector is extended, also prevent dispensing material distributing to the right side of the spreader. In this way, lawns which abut a driveway or a flowerbed may have material distributed on them without also depositing material on the driveway or flowerbed. Further, the deflector is integral with a port closure panel which automatically reduces, in a proportional manner, the flow of particulate material as the deflector is extended.
US07654475B2	Fuel injection valve A fuel injection valve has a first groove cut in a peripheral surface of a needle valve and second grooves cut in a seat surface of a nozzle tip. The first groove is provided so that the needle valve is rotated by flow of the fuel in the first groove caused by a reciprocating motion of the needle valve, and upper and lower ends of the first groove are opened to the outside so that the fuel can be introduced into the groove. The second grooves are twisted or tilted in the same direction as the rotating direction of the needle valve and are cut along the circumferential direction of the nozzle tip. The second grooves have an edge part for scraping off solid matters into the second grooves in cooperation with the tip seat surface of the needle valve by the rotation of the needle valve.
US07654474B2	Rotating sprinkler head valve The rotating sprinkler head valve includes an upper assembly with a stationary rigid cone received in a conical interior chamber of a rotor, and a cylindrical shaft extending through the stationary rigid cone and rotor. A lower assembly includes a bottom helix member, a strainer adapter having an internal transverse slotted plate and a rotatable slotted flow plate to permit flow when the flow plate slots are aligned with slots in the internal transverse slotted plate. A base top member includes a downwardly extending inner tubular portion and a lower interior edge surface with a helical lower surface forming an adjustable helical aperture in cooperation with the bottom helix member, and a recessed inner helical lip is configured to receive the upper helical surface of the bottom helix member for adjusting a helical aperture.
US07654473B2	Flexible watering system and method for using same A watering system that has first and second upright supports, a plurality of bendable water conduits and substantially rigid water channels and a first spray head is disclosed. Each of the first and second upright supports have substantially laterally oriented brackets dimensioned to releasably hold objects having a first outer diameter, including the bendable water conduits and substantially rigid water channels. The substantially rigid water channels each have a central body and left and right hose barbs in fluid relationship to one another through the central body. The central body has an aperture dimensioned to receive and mechanically engage the insertion end of the first spray head. The first spray head has a spray jet with a first water flow rate. The system may further include second and third spray heads with second and third water flow rates each different from each other and the first water flow rate. The bendable water conduits are preferrably formed from material capable of bending to an acute internal angle without breaking and without substantial kinking. Preferrably, the first upright supports are ornamentally camouflaged and may appear to be a picket fence with each first upright support being formed to allow interconnection of the upright supports one to another to allow flexibility.
US07654472B2	Rotary atomizer with a spraying body The bell shaped plate of a rotary sprayer is attached to its drive shaft by means of a detachable device. An accidental self-release of the mounting device that would cause the rotating bell shaped plate to be flung off is avoided by measures that prevent at least accidental movements of the bell shaped plate radial to the axis of rotation.
US07654466B2	Semiconductor memory card, semiconductor memory control apparatus, and semiconductor memory control method A host information memory is provided in a semiconductor memory card and a data write start address and a data size supplied by an access unit are stored. A free physical area generation section determines whether or not to perform erasing of an invalid block of a nonvolatile memory when writing of data based on the data write start address and data size, and determines the number of blocks to be erased. When erasing, writing of data and erasing of invalid blocks are simultaneously performed with respect to different memory chips. Erase process of data, herewith, can be optimized and high speed access from the access unit to a semiconductor memory card can be realized.
US07654462B2	Mobile device base station for enhanced signal strength for on-demand media services Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for capturing on-demand media content for use with portable media devices, including wireless phones, using a based station to provide for enhanced signal strength capture. These embodiments provide for the reception/distribution of on-demand media content, which can include, among other things, video content (such as television programming, movies, etc.), audio content (such as radio programming, audio recordings, etc.), data content (such as Internet data—web pages, electronic mail, etc.), voice transmissions (such as telephone transmissions, etc.) and/or the like.
US07654461B2	Automatically-triggered digital video imaging based code symbol reading system employing illumination and imaging subsystems controlled in response to real-time image quality analysis An automatic automatically-triggered digital video imaging based code symbol reading system for use in point of sale (POS) environments, employing an adaptive control process involving the real-time analysis of the exposure quality of captured frames of digital image data and the real-time reconfiguration of system control parameters (SCPs) based on the results of such exposure quality analysis. By virtue of the present invention, the system enables the reliable reading of code symbols graphically represented in digital images, under demanding point-of-sale lighting conditions and other challenging environments.
US07654451B2	Method, system and portable consumer device using wildcard values A portable consumer device is disclosed. The portable consumer device includes a body and a computer readable medium coupled to the body. The computer readable medium comprises a data string including one or more wildcard values. The data string is specifically associated with the consumer. For example, the data string may represent one or more products that the consumer prefers to use.
US07654445B2	System and method for revenue and expense realignment A system and method for revenue and expense realignment is provided. A revenue and expense realignment application (RECAST) comprising of a rules engine executing on a computer receives revenue and/or expense transactions. At predetermined time intervals, the RECAST executes a series of steps, each of which has one or more user defined rules associated therewith to transform inbound transactions. The transformed transactions are then posted to other applications including, for example, a general ledger.
US07654442B2	Device for the intake and output of paper currencies A device for the intake and output of paper currencies comprises an arrangement for examining the value and authenticity of the currency, which thereafter is fed to a transport system of a currency stacking bank via a currency storage module, wherein the storage module, which is exchangeable located below the currency stacking bank is constructed as a revolving magazine and comprises a series of roller magazines, whereby the intake and output opening of each of the roller magazines is pivoted by means of an actuator into a d position of the transport system.
US07654434B2	Method, device and system for bonding a semiconductor element The invention relates to a method and also a device and a system for bonding a semiconductor element (4), in which various contact areas (8) of the semiconductor element (4) are successively connected to terminal areas (2, 3, 7) by means of bonding wire elements (6) and in which an electrical variable influenced by the semiconductor element (4) is acquired during the bonding operation.
US07654429B2	Enhanced fuel passageway and adapter combustion tool fuel cell A combustion nailer is configured for use with a fuel cell having an internal metering valve and a reciprocating, biased main stem. The nailer includes a tool housing defining a fuel cell chamber constructed and arranged for receiving the fuel cell, a fuel cell actuator assembly configured for actuating the fuel cell in the chamber to emit a measured dose of fuel during tool operation, and a fuel delivery apparatus associated with the actuator assembly for receiving the emitted dose of fuel and providing it to a combustion chamber. The fuel delivery apparatus is configured for preventing actuation of the main stem by the actuator assembly upon the fuel cell being adapter-free.
US07654419B2	Dispenser having elastomer discharge valve A manual pump dispenser includes a plunger head reciprocable between pressure and return strokes, and a pump body having an inlet valve for inletting of liquid product during each of the return strokes. A discharge valve assembly is fitted to a spout for permitting selective outletting of liquid product through the spout during each of the pressure strokes. The spout includes a bore having a predetermined diameter, with a unitary valve disposed substantially within the bore. The unitary valve is made of a material for permitting predetermined axial, or axial and radial expansion thereof under pressure from liquid product during each of the pressure strokes for thereby allowing liquid product to be discharged through a slitted opening in the unitary valve, and enabling rapid contraction thereof against a valve seat to prevent liquid product from being discharged through the slitted opening.
US07654416B2	Fluid and hair-dye dispensers In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispenser apparatus for dispensing fluids. The dispenser apparatus includes a centrally located vertically mounted column assembly. A plurality of canisters is cantilever mounted to the column assembly. Each canister has a receptacle for holding a fluid and each receptacle includes a corresponding pump for dispensing fluid held therein. The dispenser apparatus also includes a stationary dispensing station having a mechanism for selectively actuating the pump for dispensing fluid held in the receptacle. A mechanism is also provided for engaging a portion of a canister to align a pump corresponding to a receptacle to the stationary dispensing station, wherein the fluid held in the receptacle may be dispensed.
US07654407B1	Garbage can holder A garbage can holder including a tubular member which is embedded in the ground and has a garbage can holder mechanism vertically movably mounted therein between a lowered position and a raised position. When the garbage can holder mechanism is in its lowered position, the garbage can holder of this invention is not visible. When it is necessary to place garbage cans at curbside or the like, the garbage can holder mechanism is raised from its lower position to its upper position and the garbage cans are attached thereto and supported thereby.
US07654406B2	Slide cover and electronic device having slide cover A sliding cover includes an outside plate, a structural member fixed to the rear face of the outside plate, a movable holding member disposed between the outside plate and the structural member, and a toggle disposed between the holding member and the outside plate or the structural member. The holding member includes two parallel racks and guiding portions disposed at both end portions and extending in the same direction as the racks. The holding member includes a holding plate; an even number of pinions meshed with each other and supported by the holding plate so as to be rotatable; and guiding components supported by the holding plate. The pinions, disposed between the guiding components, are meshed with the racks, and the guiding components are engaged with the guiding portions so as to be slidable. The biasing direction in which the toggle biases the holding member is reversed substantially at the midpoint of the movable range of the holding member.
US07654397B2	Gravity separator for a multi-phase effluent A gravity separator S separates a liquid phase O and a gas phase G from a multiphase fluid mixture E. The gravity separator comprises a collector 1 for collecting the liquid phase O, an outlet 8 for extracting the gas phase G and a draining circuit 3 coupled to the collector 1 for draining the liquid phase O out of the separator. The gravity separator S further comprises a floating assembly 2 coupled to the collector 1. The floating assembly is arranged to float at an interface GLI between the liquid phase and the gas phase so that the collector is positioned in the multiphase fluid mixture present in the gravity separator S for collecting substantially the liquid phase O.
US07654394B2	Flexible mat screening or conveying apparatus Mechanical separators and screening machines, and methods for flexible sieve mat screening and flexible mat conveying are disclosed. In an example configuration, a flexible mat screening apparatus is provided with geometrically optimized guiding edge seals at lateral sides. One preferred configuration includes an assembly wherein a sieve mat has upwardly curved lateral sides forming a non-vertical, gradually curved shape. In another configuration, a movable support section is supported on a main frame section via a plurality of shear blocks, each arranged with its compression axis disposed horizontally. In yet another configuration, the movable support section is further connected to the main frame section via vertical stabilizers or leaf springs, the vertical stabilizers permitting longitudinal movement between the movable support section and the main frame section, but inhibiting vertical and/or lateral movement therebetween. Yet another configuration includes a boltless mat section attachment assembly.
US07654380B2	Handling system, work system, and program A handling system able to efficiently process information relating to a plurality of conveyed articles, the handling system provided with a conveyer for conveying workpieces, a visual sensor for detecting positions of workpieces by acquiring images of a plurality of tracking ranges obtained by dividing a belt into sections, an encoder for detecting an amount of movement of the belt, a tracking manager for monitoring amounts of movement of the plurality of tracking ranges based on the amount of movement detected by the encoder and specifying the tracking range passing through a workpiece detection area, a workpiece manager for selecting the article in the tracking range specified by the tracking manager, and a controller for controlling operations of robots so as to hold the workpiece selected by the workpiece manager.
US07654371B1	Hold open rod with rotatably mounted pawls as locking members and a snubber In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus, including; telescoping inner and outer members; a release collar circumferentially encircling the outer member; at least one rotatably mounted pawl disposed in the outer member; the at least one rotatably mounted pawl being depressed into at least a first depression formed circumferentially in the inner member by the release collar; and the at least one rotatably mounted pawl being movable between unlocked and locked positions. A vibration damper for the hold open rod is also provided.
US07654366B2	Hydraulic disc brake lever assembly A brake lever assembly for actuating a hydraulic system is shown and described. The brake lever assembly comprises a housing, a master cylinder disposed in the housing, and a master piston disposed in the master cylinder. The master piston has an adjustable dead band. A lever is connected to the housing and has an adjustable reach. The lever is pivotable about a first axis to adjust the reach and is pivotable about a second axis to actuate the master piston.
US07654364B2	Sound absorbing structure A sound absorbing structure having excellent in sound absorbing performance, which is capable of achieving 0.4 or higher in the sound absorbing coefficient even in the case where a perforated panel is a thin plate such as aluminum foil within a range where a reduction in the weight of a vehicle body is not impaired and through holes have a large hole diameter in order to make the processing of providing a large number of through holes in the perforated panel. The sound absorbing structure 1 is the sound absorbing structure 1 for suppressing noise generated on a sound source side, which is equipped with: a perforated panel 2 having a large number of through holes 3 and a fiber material 4, which are provided so as to face the sound source side and provided so as to overlap with each other; and an air layer 5 provided behind the perforated panel 2, in which the density and the thickness of the fiber material 4 and the hole diameter and the aperture rate of the through holes 3 of the perforated panel 2 severally have a specific relationship.
US07654358B2	Motorcycle gear shift control A foot operated gear-shift assembly, gear shift conversion kit, and method for converting the shifting gears of a conventional motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and like vehicle wherein the heel and toe shift elements of the conventional rocker-arm gear shift assembly are separated and pivot about separate pivot axes.
US07654354B1	System and method for providing a launch assist system A system, method and computer readable media are disclosed for providing a hydraulic system for a vehicle. The system includes at least one accumulator for storing hydraulic fluid and may also include a flywheel or other storage mechanism for storing energy. Energy may be stored either in one of the accumulators or the flywheel. A control system controls fluid flow to and from the at least one accumulator and, if included, the flow of energy to and from the flywheel such that: in a steady state mode, a first hydraulic pump/motor is energized by an engine to cause hydraulic fluid to flow and actuate a drive line attached to a second hydraulic pump/motor; in a deceleration mode, the second pump/motor is operates as a pump to transfer energy to the at least one flywheel and/or accumulator; and in an acceleration mode, energy is transferred from the at least one flywheel and/or accumulator to the second hydraulic pump/motor to actuate the driveline and accelerate the vehicle.
US07654350B2	Drive and steering unit for a wheel of a floor conveyor Drive and steering unit for a wheel of a floor conveyor, in which a driving motor and a steering motor are disposed coaxially one below the other and are each one coupled via a drive gear or a steering gear, respectively, with a shaft of the wheel or the bearing equipment of the wheel, respectively, wherein one shaft extends as a hollow shaft and the other shaft extends through the hollow shaft, and an electronic control for the driving motor and the steering motor, which is connected with desired value transmitters for the rotational speed and the steering angle, characterised in that the electronic control has at least one circuit board which is coaxially arranged between the driving motor and the steering motor and/or the steering motor and the steering gear.
US07654339B2	Impact drill with swivel device An impact drill that includes a drive motor located in a motor housing, an impact mechanism, and a tool fitting. The tool fitting and the impact mechanism are components of a swivel device that is located such that the swivel device may swivel relative to the motor housing.
US07654331B2	Method and apparatus for reduction of control lines to operate a multi-zone completion A control system for a plurality of devices including a plurality of devices in at least one group. A first control line is in operable communication with the plurality of devices. A second control line in operable communication with the at least one group. A step-advance mechanism is in operable communication with each of the plurality of the devices, each mechanism being distinct from each other mechanism within the group of devices. Further disclosed herein is a method for reducing the number of control lines needed to control a plurality of downhole devices including supplying a first control line in operable communication with a plurality of devices including at least one group of devices and supplying a second control line in operable communication with the at least one group.
US07654325B2	Methods and apparatus for handling and drilling with tubulars or casing The present invention provides a method and apparatus for handling tubulars and drilling with tubulars such as casing into a formation. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a circulating head and a cementing head operatively connectible to a gripping member. The circulating head is used to circulate drilling fluid while drilling with casing, and the cementing head is used to cement the casing string within the formation at a desired depth. The present invention also relates to methods and apparatus for isolating a tensile load from a drilling apparatus rotated by a top drive. In one aspect, the present invention provides a load isolator apparatus having an isolator body operatively connected to the top drive and a torque body at least partially disposed in the isolator body. In operation, the bearing assembly transfers the tensile load from the torque body to the isolator body.
US07654317B2	Drill hole measuring device and rock drilling unit A drill hole measuring device and a rock drilling unit equipped with the measuring device. The measuring device (1) comprises a protective element (3), inside which a sensor (6) can be transferred by means of a transfer device (4).
US07654313B2	Method and assembly for casing handling using a kelly rig A method for converting a kelly rig for handling casing includes the formation of a torque reaction guide with elongate members available at a drill site including for example, any of drill collar stands, casing strings, drill pipe stands and cables held in tension. A method for converting a kelly rig for handling casing may include the step of installing a torque reaction guide in a simple way, such as by securing the track to the monkey board. In one embodiment a torque reaction frame is used for securing between a torque generating device and a torque reaction guide that operates in a float mode to allow for misalignment of the torque reaction guide relative to the well hole center.
US07654303B2	Method and apparatus for molding an upper and a lower mold having no flask A method and apparatus for molding molds having no flask wherein a match plate having a pattern is put between a pair of an upper and a lower flask having intakes for foundry sand. An upper and a lower molding space are defined by inserting an upper and a lower squeeze device into openings of the pair of the upper and the lower flask having no match plate, and the pair of the upper and the lower flask and the match plate are rotated and moved so that they become perpendicular and then the intakes of the flasks move upward. The upper and the lower molding space are then filled with the foundry sand. The foundry sand in the molding space is squeezed by the squeezing device. The pair of the flasks and the match plate are rotated so that they become horizontal. Then the match plate is removed, the flasks are matched to each other, and the molds are removed from the pair of flasks.
US07654297B2	Correction tape dispenser A correction tape dispenser has a front cover, a core assembly, an extending-and-retracting mechanism and a rear cover. The core assembly is mounted slidably in the front cover and has a convex portion extending out of the front cover. The extending-and-retracting mechanism selectively drives the core assembly to hold forward or backward. The rear cover is mounted on the front cover. A user pushes the core assembly with the extending-and-retracting mechanism forward to extend the head out of or retract the head into the front cover. Retracting the head prevents dust from accumulating on a correction tape on the head.
US07654293B2	Tree pruners A tree pruner includes a rod and a fixed part is fixed to the rod and an arm has a first end pivotably connected to the fixed part. A spring is connected between the fixed part and a second end of the arm. A movable part has an end fixed to the arm and a mediate portion of the movable part is pivotably connected to the fixed part. A positioning seat is movably positioned on the rod and a stationary pulley is connected to the positioning seat. A movable pulley is connected to the arm and a rope reeves through the stationary pulley and the movable pulley. When pulling the rope, the arm is pivoted to move the movable part toward the fixed part to prune branches when the arm is pivoted.
US07654283B2	Check valve and pump including check valve A check valve includes a tubular valve seat frame, a valve seat that is fixedly secured to the inside of the valve seat frame and has a communication hole through which a working fluid flows, and a valve body that is on the working fluid outflow side of the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat. The valve seat frame, the valve seat, and the valve body are put into one unit so that the check valve has a simple structure and a good assembly property, and can be manufactured at low cost. The check valve is included, whereby a small, durable, and high-performance pump can be provided.
US07654282B2	Easy-type water pressure reducing apparatus An easy-type water pressure reducing apparatus comprises a connecting tube having a bore extending through an inlet end and an outlet end. The bore has an annular seat with a smaller-diameter inlet chamber integrally extending at both sides to which a movable element with an inlet port to receive a spring element is mounted. The movable element also includes positioning guide blocks to fit to water-guiding vents of the inlet chamber, and a ringed groove with a sealing ring to abut tight against the inlet chamber, forming a back-and-forth movable positioning space there-between. Therefore, when water pressure at the outlet end is larger than that at the inlet end, water flow blocked by a water plug of the movable element will push the movable element towards the inlet end, compressing the spring element and closing the water-guiding vents gradually to reduce the water flow and stabilize the water pressure thereby.
US07654274B1	Umbrella An umbrella includes a shaft, a notch, a runner, a plurality of ribs, a plurality of stretchers, a plurality of tips and an umbrella cloth. The notch is fixed with the shaft, the runner slides on the shaft, the ribs are connected with the notch pivotally, the stretchers are pivotally connected between the runner and the ribs, the tips are fixed to the ribs, two ribs are inserted into each tip, and there is a clearance between the two ribs inserted into the same tip, umbrella cloth is fixed with ribs, ribs are covered with umbrella cloth, and umbrella cloth has a plurality of folded parts passing through the clearances respectively. Accordingly, the umbrella cloth of the invention is different from a conventional umbrella cloth which is made by sewing together many small panels of waterproof cloth with each other, so that the umbrella cloth has higher waterproof ability.
US07654273B2	Dental flosser dispenser A Refillable dental flosser dispenser stores and sequentially dispenses a plurality of dental flossers each of which flossers has first and second sides and an edge extending between the first and second sides. The dispenser includes a housing having a refill end, a dispensing end and a housing side wall extending between the refill and dispensing ends. The housing side wall defines an internal storage cavity within which plural flossers are stored in a side-by-side serial arrangement. A dispensing-end wall combines with a housing side wall to define a side-emitting dispensing slot dimensioned so as to permit the edgewise withdrawal from within the storage cavity of only a single flosser at a time. Flossers within the storage cavity are positionally biased toward the dispensing wall for edgewise alignment with the dispensing slot such that, as each successive flosser is extracted from the storage cavity through the dispensing slot, each remaining flosser is incrementally advanced toward the dispensing-end wall by a distance corresponding to a single flosser width. A replaceable refill cartridge capable of containing plural flossers includes an open end through which flossers are sequentially fed into edgewise alignment with the dispensing slot.
US07654271B2	Cosmetic applicator An apparatus for applying a cosmetic, such as mascara to eyelashes, includes a handle, a stem, and an applicator head coupled to the stem and supported for movement relative to the handle in a direction substantially parallel to the stem axis. An actuator moves the applicator head in an axial motion comprising a forward stroke and a reverse stroke. Additionally or alternatively, the actuator may move the applicator head in a composite motion including an axial component substantially parallel to the stem axis and having a forward stroke and a reverse stroke, and a rotational oscillating component. The actuator may be a motor having a rotating motor shaft, and the applicator may further include a transmission coupling disposed between the motor shaft and the applicator head for automatically converting rotation of the motor shaft in one direction into axially reciprocating movement of the applicator head.
US07654269B1	Hairbrush with dual removable handles and associated method A dual-handle hairbrush having first and second detachable handles provided on opposite ends of the brush in an axial manner. The second handle provides the ability to use either hand to style one's hair without flipping the brush, or it allows one to use both hands for greater control. Additionally, the two handles allow the consumer to use both hands for greater control. The hairbrush also includes a vented bristle canister to reduce drying time when used for blow-drying. The hairbrush provides removable handles which when removed, enables easy storage of the hairbrush in purses, drawers and suitcases while traveling.
US07654267B2	Intraoral discluder and method for relieving migraine and tension headaches and temporomandibular disorders An intraoral discluder for preventing chronic tension headaches, common migraine headaches, and temporomandibular disorders that are caused or perpetuated by chronic activity of the temporalis muscle. The discluder includes a trough, contoured to encompass at least one maxillary or mandibular incisor, from which extends a protruding platform, for engagement by the opposing incisors. The trough can be retained on the teeth by any adaptable material than can flow around the teeth and then maintain its shape. Once in place in the wearer's mouth, one or two opposing incisors will come into contact with the platform prior to the upper and lower posterior and/or canine teeth coming into contact, regardless of the position of the mandible, thereby reducing the intensity of the activity of the temporalis muscle. In addition, a special post on the discluder's platform is engageable directly with one or more opposing incisors, to act as a stop and thereby inhibit excessive retrusive movement of the mandible and urge the mandible toward a more protrusive position. This can reduce the intensity of undesired clenching, and it can enhance the size of the wearer's pharyngeal airspace, thereby reducing the incidence and severity of snoring.
US07654263B2	Breathing mask arrangement and a forehead support device for same A breathing mask arrangement for feeding a respiratory gas to a patient includes a forehead support device, an arch body, a sealing lip means for bearing against the surface of the patient's face, a respiratory gas conduit means for feeding respiratory gas to a mask internal space defined by the arch body and in communication with the nose and/or mouth opening of the patient. The breathing mask arrangement includes an application structure for application of the sealing lip means jointly with the arch body, wherein the application structure has a carrier portion on which a respiratory gas conduit member in the form of a docking port is releasably mounted. The forehead support device includes a contact element provided in the application position of the breathing mask for bearing against the forehead region of the patient, and a holding device for holding the contact element in tiltably movable manner.
US07654259B1	Keystone-shaped fireplace door apparatus A fireplace comprised of a burning chamber having an opening to a room and a vertically lifting door having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing side edges. The door narrows in width from the top edge to the bottom edge to provide a keystone-shaped door. A frame is fitted in front of the burning chamber. The frame includes guide tracks configured to accept the edges of the door. A drive mechanism is provided to raise and lower the door within the guide tracks. The guide tracks may further incorporate a high temperature gasket to prevent airflow and promote energy efficiency when the door is closed.
US07654256B2	Apparatus for rapid loading and firing paintballs A paintball gun firing structure includes a moving structure at one end of a firing chamber of a paintball gun and a valve control structure at one end of the moving structure. An air source can be channeled by the moving structure to position a paintball, and the valve control structure can discharge the air source.
US07654249B2	Fuel pump for a fuel system of an internal combustion engine The invention relates to a fuel pump for a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, having a housing and a housing cap joined to the housing. In order to create a fuel pump which in its operation generates little airborne sound, structure-borne sound (vibration amplitudes) and pulsations in a low-pressure region of the fuel pump, it is proposed that the housing cap has at least one damping element, which is embodied as a sandwich construction having at least a first cover layer, a second cover layer, and a damping connection layer disposed between them. The damping connection layer has a markedly higher elasticity and/or higher material damping than the two cover layers, which may be constructed of sheet metal or the housing cap itself.
US07654248B2	Cylinder torque balancing for internal combustion engines An engine torque control module comprises a derivative module and a cylinder torque module. The derivative module determines a derivative term for a first cylinder of an internal combustion engine based on rotation of a crankshaft and determines an average derivative term for the first cylinder based upon the derivative term. The cylinder torque module determines an operating condition of the first cylinder based on the average derivative term, adjusts a torque output of the first cylinder based on the operating condition, and adjusts a torque output of a second cylinder based on the operating condition.
US07654240B2	Engine piston having an insulating air gap A piston for an internal combustion engine has an upper crown with a top and a bottom surface, and a lower crown with a top and a bottom surface. The upper crown and the lower crown are fixedly attached to each other using welds, with the bottom surface of the upper crown and the top surface of the lower crown forming a mating surface. The piston also has at least one centrally located air gap formed on the mating surface. The air gap is sealed to prevent substantial airflow into or out of the air gap.
US07654239B2	Fuel saving combustion engine insulation method and system A method and apparatus for reducing fuel consumption in an internal combustion engine including gasoline, petrol and diesel engines used in trucks, cars and for pumps including the steps of providing a thermal insulation shield that includes reflective fabric over the exhaust manifold, around the intake plenum for intake air and intake air box, covering the turbo charger compressor with a heat insulating material that includes a reflective fabric layer and the turbo charger drive turbine housing except for the bearing area to greatly reduce heat build up in the engine compartment thereby reducing intake air temperature for increased engine efficiency. The invention has been found to increase fuel efficiency in large trucks by ten to fifteen percent. The materials are light weight and do not significantly increase engine weight or truck loan weight.
US07654238B2	Systems and methods for controlled shutdown and direct start for internal combustion engine Systems and methods for controlling shut down of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine include a mechanical energy storage device to decelerate an engine crankshaft to a stopping position desirable for restarting of the engine. Energy stored during shut down may be used to adjust or reposition the crankshaft to one of a plurality of angular orientations advantageous for restarting, and/or used to rotate the crankshaft during restarting of the engine. A flywheel having a variable mass, such as provided by two or more segments, which may be fixedly or selectively coupled to one or more springs may be used to selectively store and release energy.
US07654234B2	Barrel engine block assembly A barrel internal combustion engine includes a drive shaft assembly, a monoblock, a plurality of piston assemblies, and a valvetrain. The driveshaft assembly has a central drive shaft and a cam plate extending therefrom. The one piece monoblock has a longitudinal central axis with a central longitudinal opening receiving the drive shaft, the one piece monoblock further defines a plurality of combustion chambers, a coolant system, a plurality of intake passages and a plurality of exhaust passages. The combustion chambers each have an axis parallel to the central axis and are defined in a circle concentric with the longitudinal axis. Each chamber has a generally cylindrical side wall, a first closed end and a second open end, an intake valve opening and an exhaust valve opening being defined in the first closed end of each combustion chamber. The coolant system includes a plurality of coolant passages.
US07654229B2	Bovine treadmill A treadmill-like device for exercising large animals such as dairy cows. The large animal exercising device includes a hoof abrasion system and treadmill cleaning or flushing system. The exercise device of the invention can also include a cow identification reader for recovering information off of a data storage or identification device attached to the cow, with such information potentially including exercise pace and duration as well as animal routing information after an exercise session is completed.
US07654226B2	Artificial nipple for experimental animals An artificial nipple for an experimental animal can include a replaceable duct in a nipple and a structure that prevents liquid from accumulating in the nipple except in the nipple tip and the duct. The artificial nipple can be configured to prevent liquid from accumulating by filling the nipple with an elastic member or by forming the nipple with an elastic member integrally with an outer wall of the nipple.
US07654214B2	Hydraulic operated locking and release actuator for use with fishing outriggers An outrigger securing assembly for use on a fishing vessel. The securing assembling includes an automatic locking member that is secured to a structural member of the vessel and is capable of latching or releasing a latch member that is secured to an outrigger mast. The automatic locking member is equipped with a latching actuator that can release the latch member. The latching actuator can be operated either manually or hydraulically from a control device removed from the automatic locking member.
US07654209B2	Embroidery machine An embroidery machine includes a sewing arm having an upper shaft for providing a driving force, a needle bar support case, which is assembled to a front portion of the sewing arm so as to be laterally movable, a needle bar provided in a needle bar support case, the needle bar having a needle at a lower end thereof and vertically carrying the needle using a rotation driving force of the upper shaft, and a presser foot, which is provided in the needle bar support case so as to be vertically movable, characterized in that each of the needle bar and the presser foot is operated by an individual drive mechanism. The presser foot is separately driven by its own drive source, independent of the drive source of the needle bar.
US07654208B2	Multi-positionable work surface An adjustable work surface comprises first and second decks that are pivotally connected by pivot arms. The pivot arms are located and configured so that the second deck can pivot relative to the first deck between a storage position and an extended position where the two decks are in substantially the same plane. The pivot arms are located and configured so that the upper surfaces of both decks are substantially parallel both in the storage position and the extended position. Preferably the forward wall of the first deck and the rear wall of the second deck are configured so the first deck supports the second deck in the extended position.
US07654202B2	Frangible slug Methods and articles are provided for frangible slugs. A method of manufacturing a frangible slug includes heating substantially spherical metallic powdered particles, wherein substantially all of the powdered particles have diameters larger than 125 microns and smaller than 250 microns, to form heated powdered particles. The method includes heating a microcrystalline wax, to form a melted wax. The method also includes combining the heated powdered particles with the melted wax, to form a liquid mixture. The method further includes filling a payload cavity of a frangible slug container with the liquid mixture to form a liquid mixture payload.
US07654201B2	Hinge strips for printer paper The present invention provides a page for binding in an album. The page includes a blank, printer paper sheet and a hinge strip mounted along an edge of the printer paper sheet, the hinge strip including a flexible line for allowing the hinge strip to bend along the flexible line and a portion for binding to an album. The paper sheet and the hinge strip are adapted to go through a printer together to provide a ready-to-bind printed page.
US07654187B2	Firearm fire control selector An automatic firearm capable of automatic or semiautomatic fire. The firearm has a receiver having a moveable hammer. A selector is rotatably mounted in the receiver. A first sear is rotatably mounted in the receiver to engage the hammer where the first sear contacts a first camming surface of the selector. A second sear is rotatably mounted in the receiver to engage the hammer where the second sear contacts a second camming surface of the selector. A disconnect is rotatably mounted in the receiver where the disconnect contacts a third camming surface of the selector. The selector has a number of selectable positions disposed so that rotation of the selector between a first and last selectable position of the number of selectable positions is less than 180 degrees.
US07654183B2	Compact heavy duty hole punch A compact hole punch device includes a generally vertical entry paper slot with an elongated handle hinged at one end of the punch device extending toward the opposite end of the device along side the paper slot. A chip chamber extends along the punch device opposite the slot from the handle. A roller cam mechanism concentrates forces in a small area of the device to provide a very compact, rigid action. An elongated chip tray is pivotably attached to the chip chamber including a lowered position where chips are easily emptied out an open distal end of the tray.
US07654182B2	Coated sheet cutting method and apparatus A discoid lower blade and a discoid upper blade, having a sharper knife angle compared with that of the lower blade, are arranged such that rotational axes thereof are parallel to each other, and portions of the blades overlap one another in the direction that the rotational axes extend. A sheet with a coating layer on one side is fed through and shear-cut between the upper and lower blades in the direction perpendicular to the rotational axes, with the surface of the sheet opposite the coating layer in contact with a periphery of the lower blade while the blades are rotated. When the sheet is shear-cut, a contact start position, where contact between the sheet and the upper blade starts, is positioned upstream in the feed direction of the sheet but outside a contacting area of the sheet, where the sheet contacts the periphery of the lower cutting blade.
US07654174B2	Tappet clearance adjustment device An adjustment unit has a driver for turning an adjustment screw, a sleeve having a hexagonal hole connected to a rotating shaft, an insertion member connected to the upper end of the driver and of which a part is inserted in the sleeve, a pipe concentrically provided around the driver and having at its forward end a socket for rotating an adjustment nut, and a gear body provided concentric with the pipe and rotating the pipe. The sleeve has a short tiltable support section in contact with the hexagonal hole. A gap is provided between the hexagonal hole of the gear body and a hexagonal column section of the pipe. The driver and the pipe tilt about the tilting support section as the fulcrum.
US07654160B2	Sampling probe enabling the measurement of gaseous species in particle-laden flue gas A sampling probe for enabling the analysis of gaseous species in a particle-laden flue gas. The sampling probe includes a tube for being inserted into a fluid stream of a particle-laden flue gas substantially perpendicular thereto to cause the fluid stream to separate and flow around the tube. The tube includes a first opening extending along a first axially extending face of the tube downstream relative to the fluid stream such that a portion of the gas enters the tube through the first opening for analysis within the tube, and a second opening extending along a second axially extending face of the tube such that the gas that enters the tube through the first opening exits the tube after analysis into the fluid stream through the second opening to allow analysis of the gas.
US07654159B2	MEMS nanoindenter A force sensor (200) and nanoidenation system (300) using such force sensor (200), wherein the force sensor (200) comprise a movable membrane (207) attached to a fixed bulk structure (210) with springs (201, 202, 203, 204) formed between the membrane (207) and bulk structure (210); the springs (201, 202, 203, 204) may be provided two on each side of a rectangular membrane(207) and each in the form of a U-shape with displacing elements (801) formed perpendicular to each open end of each U-shaped spring (800). The force sensor further comprises electrodes (206) for detecting capacitive changes between the movable membrane (207) and the electrodes (206) in order to measure a movement in relation to an applied force. The membrane (207) further comprises a probe holding structure (214) for providing a solution for interchangeable probes (211).
US07654153B2	Vibratory transducer To conduct a fluid, the transducer has a flow tube which in operation is vibrated by an excitation assembly and whose inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations are sensed by means of a sensor arrangement. To produce shear forces in the fluid, the flow tube is at least intermittently excited into torsional vibrations about a longitudinal flow-tube axis. The transducer further comprises a torsional vibration absorber which is fixed to the flow tube and which in operation covibrates with the torsionally vibrating flow tube, thus producing reactive torques which at least partially balance torques developed in the vibrating flow tube. One of the advantages of the transducer disclosed is that it is dynamically balanced to a large extent even in the face of variations in fluid density or viscosity.
US07654148B2	Ultrasound communication system for metal structure and related methods Embodiments of the present invention beneficially provide an ultrasound communication system and methods of ultrasound communication for diagnostics and prognostics of structures. For example, ultrasound transmitters are connected to a metal or composite structure and modulated to produce Lamb waves that travel to an ultrasound receiver. The ultrasound transmitters can use frequency-hopped signals to digitally encode transducer information among different transmitters. The transmitters can be operated asynchronously. The receiver can use a channel equalizer to reduce the effects of signal multipath and a decoder to decode the transducer information from the ultrasound transmitters.
US07654147B2	Sensor arrangement for a motor-vehicle locking device and an associated method A method for detecting the application of an operator's body part to an operating point of a locking device for a motor vehicle is performed by first detecting the proximity of the operator's body part to the operating point via a proximity sensor. A change in the pressure exerted on the operating point by the operator's body part is detected using a mechanical sensor which is arranged on the operating point. An output signal, which indicates the application of the operator's body part, is generated by an evaluation circuit as a function of the sensor output signals from the proximity sensor and the mechanical sensor. When the evaluation circuit detects the beginning of the application of the operator's body part on the basis of the sensor output signal from the mechanical sensor, a sensor output signal value which is output at approximately the same time by the proximity sensor is detected. This is used to evaluate the subsequent changes in the sensor output signal in order to be able to detect in a more reliable manner that the operator's body part has been withdrawn from the operating point. Also disclosed is an associated sensor arrangement.
US07654131B2	Instrument for accurately measuring mass flow rate of a fluid pumped from a hermetically sealed container An instrument for accurately measuring mass flow rate of a fluid pumped from a hermetically sealed container, through attainment of a steady state mass flow rate, having a check valve positioned between a vacuum pump and a mass flow rate sensor.
US07654130B2	Gas chromatography system architecture incorporating integrated thermal management A self-contained micro-scale gas chromatography system that includes a plurality of gas chromatography components arranged on a micro-fluidic platform with nearly zero dead volume “tubeless” fluidic connections for the gas chromatography components. The micro-fluidic platform includes a plurality of flow channels that provide fluid flow paths for a sample, carrier gas and waste gas through and among the micro-fluidic platform and the plurality of gas chromatography components. The gas chromatography components may include a micro-scale gas chromatography column that is implemented as a MEMS device and includes embedded heating and cooling elements. The system may also include an on-board supply of carrier gas and on-board waste management, as well as a thermal management scheme making the system suitable for use in oil and gas wells and also other remote environments.
US07654126B2	Method for establishing a correlation between a first state of a piezoelectric component and a second state of the component and use of said correlation A method for producing a correlation between a first state of a piezoelectric component (1, 20) comprising a piezoceramic element and a second state of the component comprises the following steps: a) a first group of components respectively in the first state is prepared (101), b) at least one defined characteristic of each component of the first group is determined (102), c) the piezoceramic element of the components of the first group is polarised, and a corresponding component of a second group in the second state is thus created from each component of the first group (103), d) at least one defined characteristic of each component of the second group is determined (104), and e) the correlation is produced by comparing the defined characteristics of each component of the first group with the defined characteristic of the corresponding component of the second group (105).
US07654125B2	Metal forming apparatus Metal forming apparatuses provide enhanced thermal efficiency by reducing thermal conduction from a forming tool to a shield. In one embodiment, a shield extends between a tool and a mounting plate, and is in conductive heat transfer relationship with the tool via a plurality of protuberances. In another embodiment, a shield extends between a tool and a mounting plate, and thermally insulating material separates the tool and the shield.
US07654123B2	Automated manufacturing machine The present invention provides a method and machine for producing a slotted wound core (50). The machine includes a punch arrangement (16) arranged to punch apertures in a length of material (12a), a mandrel (22) for receiving the punched material, a control means and a mandrel indexing means. The positioning of the punch arrangement (16) and the mandrel (22) is fixed and the mandrel (22) is arranged to be rotated by the mandrel indexing means after each operation of the punch arrangement so that a roll of punched material is formed on the mandrel (22). The mandrel (22) is rotated by an amount (&ggr;) determined by the control means. The control means determines the indexed amount so that selected apertures punched in the length of material align with one another when the material (12a) is rolled onto the mandrel (22) so that the aligned apertures form respective slots (52) of a desired configuration in the core (50).
US07654119B2	Detergent supplying apparatus of washing machine Disclosed herein is a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine comprising a drawer partitioned so that either of a bleach supplying part and a softener supplying part is positioned at a side and a front of the other. The present invention enables the drawer to be made compact, and softener and bleach to be injected with the drawn width of the drawer minimized.
US07654117B2	Sheer hosiery Sheer hosiery (200) is provided that maintains the appearance of conventional sheer hosiery while eliminating the foot discomfort that is typically encountered when wearing conventional sheer hosiery. Embodiments of the sheer hosiery (200) include a sheer leg portion (260) and a foot portion (210) that is affixed to the sheer leg portion (260) and at least partially made of a comfort fabric. The foot portion (210) contacts one or more portions of a wearer's foot, such as, for example, a ball portion and a toe portion, and is hidden from view when the wearer's foot is inserted in footwear. The foot portion (210) may be somewhat thicker than the sheer leg portion (260) but is not so thick as to interfere with the fit of the footwear.
US07654113B2	Apparatus for cooling a filament forming area of a filament forming apparatus A cooling apparatus includes a manifold defining a fluid channel, and also includes a plurality of cooling fins connected to the manifold, wherein at least a portion of a surface of the fins includes porous material.
US07654111B2	Ring protector Ring protector made from an elastic material and including a safety mesh. Ring protectors made according to principles of this invention protect rings from damage while at the same time keeping them on the wearers finger and avoiding slippage during active endeavors such as swimming.
US07654107B2	Low-temperature storage A low-temperature storage cooled/maintained in an ultra low temperature range, in which door lowering is automatically modified by an opening/closing operation of a thermal insulating door, and a concave/convex portion which is a contact portion with respect to a door switch disposed on the door can be secured. The low-temperature storage includes a thermal insulation box main body having an opening in a front surface thereof; a thermal insulating door openably/closably attached to the thermal insulation box main body by a plurality of hinges to close the opening; and a cooling device which cools a storage chamber formed by the door and the main body, wherein a spacer having a guide surface to forcibly correct door lowering by a closing operation of the thermal insulating door is disposed on a side on which any hinge is not disposed.
US07654099B2	Air conditioner and air conditioner duct An air conditioner has an air conditioning unit for conditioning air to be introduced into a passenger compartment. The air conditioning unit has an air passage, an air conditioning case defining at least a part of the air passage and a noise absorbing member having a multi-layer structure. The noise absorbing member defines at least a part of the air passage. The noise absorbing member has an unbreathable middle layer, a first noise absorbing layer on an inner side of the middle layer and a second noise absorbing layer on an outer side of the middle layer. The second noise absorbing layer has a hardness greater than that of the first noise absorbing layer to maintain the shape of the noise absorbing member. Also, an air conditioner duct is formed of the multi-layer structure.
US07654097B2	Ice distribution device for an ice retaining unit with optional sensor control therefor An ice distribution device for delivering ice to an ice retaining unit is provided, whereby a nozzle of the distribution device is adapted to be rotated in an eccentric rotation when installed at an upper end of an ice retaining unit, such that, when it is rotated about its axis, forces acting inside an eccentrically mounted nozzle will produce both axial and lateral components, with the lateral components of force providing a controlled “wobble”, that will deliver a substantially uniform distribution of ice within the retaining unit. A sensing device, which may be ultrasonic, mechanical or some other means, may be used to sense the level of build-up of ice within a retaining unit, for discontinuing the flow of ice to the distribution device, or diverting it to another ice retaining unit, as may be desired. The distribution and sensing devices are mounted on a top wall of the ice retaining unit and are adapted to accommodate top walls of such units of various thicknesses.
US07654092B2	System for modulating fuel supply to individual fuel nozzles in a can-annular gas turbine A fuel modulation system usable in can-annular combustor systems of turbine engines for more efficiently managing fuel flow to reduce the amount of NOx while maintaining appropriate combustor flame temperatures. The fuel modulation system controls individual inline modulation valves in cooperation with a overall stage control valve to bring a turbine engine through the startup phase and to maintain operating conditions at a load set point while reducing NOx variability between baskets by using individual combustor dynamic pressure measurements. The fuel modulation system may be managed such that individual inline modulation valves remain within a predetermined range of positions relative to a nominal position to reduce NOx variability.
US07654091B2	Method and apparatus for cooling gas turbine engine combustors A method for operating a gas turbine engine includes channeling fluid from a cooling fluid source to a combustor that includes at least one deflector and flare cone. The deflector and flare cone are coupled together and are configured to define a cooling fluid channel therebetween. The flare cone has a plurality of cooling injectors extending therethrough. The plurality of injectors are spaced circumferentially about a centerline axis of the flare cone and are coupled in flow communication with the fluid source. The plurality of injectors has a plurality of first injectors and a plurality of second injectors. The method also includes directing a portion of the fluid through the plurality of first injectors. The method further includes directing a portion of the fluid through the plurality of second injectors, wherein the first plurality of injectors facilitates cooling a portion of the deflector more than the second plurality of injectors.
US07654090B2	Burner and method for operating a gas turbine The invention relates to a burner having an annular premixing channel in which fuel can be discharged in a radially distributed manner. The radial distribution of the fuel can be regulated during operation of the burner in that fuel can be supplied, independently of one another, into a first and a second part of admission devices having admission holes varying radially in opposite direction by means of fuel supply lines. The invention also relates to a method for operating a gas turbine in which radial distribution of the fuel is regulated in a premixing channel of a burner.
US07654087B2	Compact compound engine package A compound cycle engine (10) comprises a compressor (19) and a turbine section (16 & 20), and at least one cycle topping device (12) cooperating with the turbine section (16 & 20) to provide power. The cycle topping device (12) has an output shaft (26) extending at an angle to the turbine shaft (28). Angled gearing (34) is provided for connecting the gas turbine shaft (28) and the cycle topping device (12).
US07654085B2	System of an induced flow machine A system of an internal combustion engine which is induced by an air flow amplifier via a turbine and centrifugal compressor, one side of which is mechanically and pneumatically connected to the turbine and the other side with an air intake of the internal combustion engine. The operation of the engine induction system can be enhanced by using an intercooler that supplies a cooled primary flow of compressed air to the air amplifier. The use of the engine induction system without a turbocharger and, hence, without hot exhaust gases, makes it possible to utilize light magnesium alloys for parts of the turbine and compressor and thus to reduce the weight of the system as a whole.
US07654064B2	Packaging machine Methods for forming packages from a web of preformed bags. In one exemplary method of forming packages from a web of preformed bags, a first bag is held open with air. A product is loaded into the first bag that is held open with air. An opening of the first bag is sealed. A next bag is indexed such that an opening of the next bag is proximate to an engagement member. The web is engaged with the engagement member. The web may be reverse indexed to pre-open the next bag. The web is disengaged by the engagement member. The next bag is opened with air for loading.
US07654056B2	Rotor-disc connecting member for a glass curtain wall or roofing The present invention relates to a rotor-disc connecting member for a glass curtain wall or roofing, comprising: a support abutment, one end connecting with a truss frame, and the other end connecting with an interconnecting part; and the interconnecting part connecting with one end of at least two support arms. The support abutment connects with the interconnecting part via a ball pivot, and the support arms hinge with the interconnecting part. The present invention is a simple structure and conveniently assembled during the construction phase of a glass curtain wall or roofing.
US07654054B2	Floor panels with edge connectors Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07654052B2	Bridging member for concrete form walls A building component having first and second high density foam panels and improved bridging members for connecting the panels that extend between and may be molded into the panels. The bridging members include a pair of elongated end plates oriented in a top to bottom direction of the panels, a pair of substantially identical web members joining the end plates and being substantially symmetrically disposed above and below a central horizontal axis of the bridging member, and a pair of strip members oriented in the top to bottom direction of the panels intersecting the web members. The web members have a unique configuration that maximizes load bearing capacity with a minimum amount of material. The strip members may abut against and be substantially flush with respective inner surfaces of the foam panels to assist in positioning and forming the panels during molding. Seating areas for positioning horizontally and/or vertically disposed rebar in predetermined positions are also provided.
US07654050B2	Corner trim piece for siding A corner trim member for mounting on a wall surface in combination with decorative siding panels. The corner trim member includes a plurality of integrally formed decorative elements. The decorative elements define a front face of the corner trim member. The corner trim member may also include a top edge disposed above the decorative elements; a bottom end; a pair of side edges; and a longitudinally extending channel located adjacent each side edge for receiving a laterally disposed decorative siding panel. The longitudinally extending channels may be defined by a back surface of the side edges, an angled end wall extending from the back surfaces, and a mounting flange extending from the end walls. The angle between respective end walls and back surfaces may be an acute angle. The front face and the decorative elements may be mounted in alignment with a corner of the wall surface.
US07654049B2	Crown molding member having planar portion, intermediate portion, and mounting flange As used to trim a corner where a wall and a ceiling meet, a crown molding member has a planar portion, an intermediate portion, and a mounting flange. The planar portion is attached to the ceiling, in a first mode, or to the wall, in a second mode. The intermediate portion may have a coved, stepped, or curved profile. When applied to the mounting flange, drywall-finishing material, so-called “mud” in trade parlance, is pressed through apertures in the mounting flange, against the wall, in the first mode, or against the ceiling, in the second mode.
US07654043B2	Retrofit attachment yoke The invention relates to a retrofit connector for fast attachment to an existing system that supports a suspended load below a ceiling, beam or floor without the need to disassemble or disconnect any components of the system. Advantageously, the connector is easy to install and inexpensive to manufacture. The connector is removably or permanently attachable to a sway brace clamp or attachment to form a pivotable connector-clamp assembly. The assembly is capable of reliably supporting heavy loads against adverse sway and seismic disturbances.
US07654040B2	Unlock mechanism for a rotary door operator An unlock mechanism for a rotary door operator of a transit vehicle includes a pivotally disposed lock member adapted for rotating into an unlock position and activating a valve for discharging the fluid pressure from a drive cylinder to enable a manual opening of the door. A spring is provided for biasing the lock member into a lock position. The lock member may be moved into the unlock position either with a cable or a lever handle.
US07654039B2	Method of controlling a closure drive system of a motor vehicle A method for controlling a closure drive system of a motor vehicle utilizes a control device that includes a pinch protection circuit. A supply voltage across the control device is measured, and depending on the supply voltage, a differentiation is made as to whether the pinch protection circuit is operated with pinch protection parameters for a stationary vehicle or a moving vehicle.
US07654038B2	Garden planter having integrated irrigation and illumination systems A garden planter with integrated irrigation and lighting systems (100) includes a container (101) for holding plants and an irrigation tube (107) for supplying water to the interior of the container (101). A light (213) is positioned above the container (101) for providing illumination. One or more fastening tubes (105) are used for supporting the container (101) and supplying irrigation directly to the container or concealing the irrigating tube (107).
US07654035B2	Device for the creation of containment barriers for cold air in atmospheric conditions corresponding to radiation frosts A method for generating a pneumatic barrier with a device that operates in a stratified atmosphere associated with the occurrence of radiation frost. This device takes cold and dense air found close to the ground by means of an axial fan with a vertical axle that propels the air upward to an elbow that forces the airflow to make a 90° turn. The airflow discharged from the device through the outlet section forms a jet with a horizontal axis. The jet's vertical cross-section, perpendicular to its axis, has a rectangular shape and sides that grow with the distance to the outlet. The momentum transported by the jet is able to create at a certain distance from the outlet a pneumatic barrier that fits the jet's section. This pneumatic barrier faces an air mass that is colder and denser than the air transported by the jet and prevents such colder and denser air from advancing toward the device.
US07654034B2	Apparatus for capturing and entrapping an insect A device for entrapping an insect includes a hollow cylinder, a piston located in the cylinder and sealed at an inner surface of the cylinder, a spring for urging the piston to move axially in the cylinder; and a releasable latch for securing the piston in an armed state, wherein the spring applies a force tending to move the piston axially and for releasing the piston from the armed state to produce a partial vacuum. A disposable cartridge containing an adherent able to entrap an insect pneumatically communicates with the suction side of the cylinder.
US07654015B2	Bowling shoes with interchangeable heels A shoe with a removable and interchangeable heel that may be removably secured to a heel region of a shoe sole, thus, allowing a user to adjust a way the shoe engages a ground surface. The shoe includes an attachment system for removably securing the removable and interchangeable heel to the heel region of the shoe sole, the attachment system comprising a magnetic fastener between the removable and interchangeable heel and the heel region of the shoe sole.
US07654009B2	Absolute value scale and absolute value calculating method A rotary absolute value scale includes a rotor in which two rotor side coil patterns provided with different pitches are laminated, and a stator in which two stator side coil patterns provided with different pitches are also laminated. A linear absolute value scale includes a slider in which two slider side coil patterns provided with different pitches are laminated, and a scale in which two scale side coil patterns provided with different pitches are also laminated.
US07654006B1	Method and device for elevator rail alignment A method and device for elevator rail point alignment. A device body has a rear rail clamp and a front, angle alignable laser device. The laser mount provides for inversion alignment. In use, the device can be simply brought into true aim by focusing on an opposite target and marking the beam spot, inverting the tool on a aim and marking a second beam spot, and reaiming the laser to an intermediate spot.
US07653998B1	Wound process element and method of production A wound process element and method of assembly wherein at least one dimpling element is positioned between the outer perimeter of a wound element strip and an outer holding band.
US07653979B2	Method for forming ballistic joints A bullet trap is disclosed which is formed without intervening sidewalls to enable cross-shooting and the like with reduced risk or ricochet or damage to the bullet trap. Furthermore, the bullet trap can be configured in a variety of ways to eliminate the need for facing plates while providing a removable attachment mechanism, to enable repair on the trap, to reduce bullet adhesion to the trap and to provide improved containment of lead and improved access to the trap.
US07653975B2	Clamping apparatus of a puller A clamping apparatus of a puller includes a first clamping element, two second clamping elements, four pivoting elements and three adjusting rod modules. Each pivoting element is pivotally coupled to both ends of the first clamping element and an end of each second clamping element corresponding to the first clamping element. Another end of each second clamping element has a transverse penetrating hole. One of the adjusting rod modules is passed through a penetrating hole of each second clamping element, and the other two adjusting rod modules are passed through the penetrating hole of each pivoting element, so that the adjusting rod modules are arranged substantially in a triangular shape. The pivoting element is installed between the clamping elements for pivotally turning each adjusting rod module and automatically guiding to the central position and increasing the range between the clamping elements for mounting and installing a bearing easily.
US07653974B2	Pallet handling system for a machine tool A machine tool has pass-through pallet loading allowing pallets to be loaded or discharged from either side of the machine. The pallet receiver is mounted on the X-axis of the machine, and the pallet is loaded onto the pallet receiver with the pallet in a vertical orientation. Cross axis rollers on the pallet receiver support the pallet and spacing rollers maintain the pallet spaced from Z-axis locating pads as it moves to a centered position on the pallet receiver. The Z-axis pads present a relatively large surface area to the rear face of the pallet, and are configured to provide vacuum clamping to lock the pallet in all three axes once it is centered on the pallet receiver. A rotating key is provided to center and lock the pallet relative to the pallet receiver before the vacuum clamping is applied.
US07653973B2	Production method of multilayer electronic device A production method of a multilayer electronic device, comprising the steps of forming an electrode layer 12a on a first support sheet 20; forming a green sheet 10a on a surface of the electrode layer 12a to obtain a green sheet 10a having an electrode layer 12a; stacking the green sheets 10a, each having the electrode layer 12a, to form a green chip; and firing the green chip: wherein before stacking the green sheet 10a having the electrode layer 12a, an adhesive layer 28 is formed on a surface on the opposite side of the electrode layer side of the green sheet 10a having the electrode layer 12a; and the green sheet 10a having the electrode layer 12a formed thereon is stacked via the adhesive layer 28.
US07653969B2	Three-piece hinge A three-piece hinge supports a two-panel window assembly in a frame. The hinge includes a base member securable to the frame, a first pivot member pivotably coupled with the base member at a first pivot joint, and a second pivot member pivotably coupled with the base member at a second pivot joint spaced from the first pivot joint. The first and second pivot members each have a glass channel for supporting a panel of the two-panel window assembly. In one arrangement, an insert is secured in a pivoting path of the second pivot member to thereby limit a pivot range of the second pivot member. The hinge eliminates the significant machining time required for prior hinge designs, thereby resulting in a simpler less expensive hinge.
US07653968B2	Hinge device and electronic instrument using the hinge device The present invention provides as an object a novel hinge device which is extremely valuable as a commercial product and an electronic instrument using the hinge device. A hinge device for pivoting a first member (1) and a second member (2) to be rotatably opened and closed is characterized in that when the second member (2) kept under a coupled and closed condition is opened to the first member (1), in a rotational range A1 from the coupled and closed position P1 to a predetermined open angle position P2 rotated in an open direction, a closing rotational biasing effect is generated for automatically closing the second member (2) to the coupled and closed position P1 relative to the first member (1), and when the second member (2) is manually rotated in the open direction exceeding the predetermined open angle position P2 to the first member (1), an open rotational biasing effect is generated for automatically opening the second member (2) to a predetermined open angle position P3 relative to the first member (1).
US07653966B2	Sliding rail assembly for a sliding panel movable along a track A sliding rail assembly (20) for a sliding panel (22), movable along a track (24) between open and closed positions, includes a runner (26) and a glide (28) for sliding engagement along the runner (26). The runner (26) is adapted to extend from the track (24). The glide (28) has an interior surface (64) disposed about the runner (26) and an exterior surface (62) adapted to extend from the sliding panel (22). A layer of polymeric material (48) is secured by an adhesive (90) to either one of the interior surface (64) of the glide (28), the runner (26), or both for facilitating sliding movement of the glide (28) along the runner (26).
US07653964B2	Apparatus for adjusting height of suction brush An apparatus for adjusting a height of a suction brush for use in a vacuum cleaner includes a height adjusting knob rotatably disposed in an inserting recess formed in the suction brush, and having an inclined part formed thereon, so that a height of the suction brush from a surface to be cleaned is varied as a position of the height adjusting knob rotated, a supporting member to support the suction brush in contact with the inclined part thus to allow the suction brush to be ascended and descended by the inclined part, and a passage disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the inserting recess and an outer circumferential surface of the height adjusting knob to pass fine dirt therethrough. With the passage, the fine dirt is not tied up between the inner circumferential surface of the inserting recess and the outer circumferential surface of the height adjusting knob. Accordingly, the rotation of the height adjusting knob is not restricted or obstructed due to the fine dirt.
US07653963B2	AC/DC hand portable wet/dry vacuum having improved portability and convenience A wet/dry utility vacuum with a canister, a powerhead assembly with a fan, a shut-off device that prevents the fan from drawing liquids into the fan inlet when a volume of the liquid in the canister exceeds a predetermined volume. The powerhead assembly includes a controller that permits the utility vacuum to be operated in a desired power mode so that the user may employ either an AC power source or a DC power source, such as a battery pack, for example. In some applications, the battery pack may be interchangeable with the battery packs of various cordless tools, including drill/drivers and saws. A tool set and a method for operating a battery-powered tool set are also provided.
US07653952B2	Bed with movable mattress A bed including a support frame, a foundation configured to support the support frame, means for displacing the support frame in a longitudinal direction with respect to the foundation, and means for displacing the support frame in a transverse direction with respect to the foundation. In addition, a method for inducing sleep by providing the proper stimulation to the vestibular organs is also provided. The method includes providing a support member configured to support an individual, controlling the displacement of the support member in a longitudinal direction of the support member, and controlling the displacement of the support member in a transverse direction of the support member. The combined motion of the support member in both the longitudinal direction and the transverse is configured to induce sleep.
US07653948B2	Massaging clothing A massaging garment worn in close proximity to a wearer's skin is made from a stretchable fabric having a plurality of fibers. Pushing elements for pushing the wearer's skin away from the stretchable fabric and pulling elements for pulling the wearer's skin toward the stretchable fabric are secured thereto. The pushing and pulling elements produce a massaging effect on the wearer's skin.
US07657940B2	System for SSL re-encryption after load balance A data center provides secure handling of HTTPS traffic using backend SSL decryption and encryption in combination with a load balancer such as a content switch. The load balancer detects HTTPS traffic and redirects it to an SSL offloading device for decryption and return to the load balancer. The load balancer then uses the clear text traffic for load balancing purposes before it redirects the traffic back to the SSL offloading device for re-encryption. Thereafter, the re-encrypted traffic is sent to the destination servers in the data center. In one embodiment, the combination with the back-end SSL with an intrusion detection system improves security by performing intrusion detection on the decrypted HTTPS traffic.
US07657936B2	Method for preventing time of check to time of use exploits A method for preventing time of check to time of use exploits includes receiving a system call from a user space at a system call intercept and copying user space parameters from the user space to a kernel space responsive to the system call. The method also includes copying the user space parameters from the kernel space to a secure location in the user space, receiving the user space parameters from the secure location at the system call intercept, and executing the system call based on the received user space parameters. A computer readable medium including computer readable code and a system for executing the method steps are also disclosed.
US07657931B2	Data repository and method for promoting network storage of data A method for quantifying the relative degree of uniqueness of an indicated data item in a repository of data items stored at locations associated with their digital fingerprints.
US07657924B2	Method and system for implementing authorization policies for web services A method, system and computer program product for implementing authorization policies for web services may include defining an authorization policy for access to a web service. The method, system and computer program product may also include attaching the authorization policy to a service definition for the web service.
US07657920B2	System and methods for enhancing the experience of spectators attending a live sporting event, with gaming capability A handheld electronic device for use at a venue hosting a live sporting event, having a receiver for receiving a wireless RF transmission conveying a plurality of video streams derived from video cameras filming the live sporting event, a display and a user interface for selecting a video stream among the plurality of video streams to be displayed on the display. The handheld electronic device is capable to acquire a locked mode of operation and an unlocked mode of operation, in the locked mode of operation the handheld electronic device being precluded from displaying the video streams to a spectator, in the unlocked mode of operation the handheld electronic device being enabled to display the video streams to the spectator, the handheld electronic device capable to acquire the unlocked mode of operation in response to reception of authentication data wirelessly transmitted to the handheld electronic device.
US07657911B2	Content processing apparatus and content processing method for digest information based on input of a content user Value-added information is created based on favorite information of a content user. The content is processed according to the generated value-added information. Favorite data indicating operations, such as fast-forward, pause, and rewind operations, performed while the content is being played back, and personal user information, such as the age group, the gender, and the life-style, of the content user are transferred to a server via a network. The server performs statistical processing on the user favorite data to generate value-added information according to the attributes of the user, such as the age group, the gender, and the life-style. Accordingly, the user is able to search for popular titles, play back only popular scenes, and skip uninteresting scenes by using a content playback apparatus.
US07657907B2	Automatic user profiling A user profiling system preferably includes a set of fuzzy logic operators. Based upon the fuzzy logic operators the user profile may be updated.
US07657903B2	Disc cartridge A disc cartridge is provided. The disc cartridge includes: a lower housing having a window for allowing a recorder or reader to access to a read-out surface of a disc; and an upper housing coupled to the lower housing to ejectably receive the disc between the lower housing and the upper housing, and having at least a portion rotatable up and down with respect to one side of the lower housing until the disc can be ejected.
US07657902B2	Disk holding device and disk recording/reproduction apparatus This invention provides a disk holding device which may include a plurality of disk holding members and a disk receiving part. The disk holding members may each be provided with a holding projection part projected from the inner periphery side toward the outer periphery side of the disk-formed recording medium; the holding projection part may be provided with an inclined surface displaced so as to be spaced away from the disk-formed recording medium as one goes from the inner periphery side toward the outer periphery side of the disk-formed recording medium in the condition where the disk holding members are inserted in the center hole.
US07657901B2	Scanning device for optical storage media The invention relates to a scanning device for optical storage media, having an optical housing with sliding bearings, which are arranged at a distance from one another, for linear movement on a guide rod, and with optical components in order to form an optical path. It achieves the object of designing a scanning device such as this in such a way that its adjustment, associated with a setting of the optical path, is simplified and can be carried out precisely. For this purpose, each of the sliding bearings is formed from a sliding bearing bush which is held on a guide block, that is fixed to the housing, in such a way that it can be adjusted in a radial direction with respect to this guide block, and is self-aligning in a direction at right angles to this.
US07657898B2	System and method for customizing infrastructure services for use in network services A system and method for system services customization using configured infrastructure properties through a system of property sheets. When a virtual container is configured with an infrastructure service, the preferred embodiment loads the plug of the infrastructure service and invokes the plug, providing it the empty collection of property sheets. The plug responds by populating this collection with corresponding property sheets. A user can then provide unique values for those properties, which are then saved with the other metadata. Each collection contains one or more property sheets and each property sheet contains one or more properties.
US07657896B2	Method and system for exposing nested data in a computer-generated document in a transparent manner Methods and systems are provided for exposing nested data in computer-generated documents in a transparent manner. A mechanism is provided for a client application to query a server application for a list of available file formats after an object is requested from a server application document for embedding into a client application document. Another mechanism is provided for the client application to request a particular format associated with the embedded object from the server application document. Once the client application obtains file format information available to the server application or associated with the particular object, the client application may utilize the obtained file formats for utilizing or operating on the embedded object according to the native file formats associated with the embedded object.
US07657889B2	Method, system, and storage medium for searching multiple queues for prioritized work elements A method of searching for work elements for processing in a computing system having a primary queue of work elements and at least one secondary queue of work elements. A numerical priority value is associated with each of the work elements. The method includes setting an initial priority bar and processing work elements from the primary queue until reaching a work element having a priority less than the initial priority bar. A priority bar is set equal to a minimum of a priority limit and a priority on the at least one secondary queue. If the primary queue contains a work element having a priority greater than or equal to the priority bar, then the work element is processed. If the primary queue contains a work element having a priority less than the priority bar, then a work element from the at least one secondary queue is processed.
US07657875B2	System and method for collecting a plurality of metrics in a single profiling run of computer code A system and method for collecting a plurality of metrics during a single run of a computer program. The mechanism of the present invention initializes a plurality of counters to count events associated with metrics of interest. The mechanism of the present invention then counts the occurrence of events associated with metrics of interest during a single execution of a computer program. When a branch has been taken, a trace record is generated for the branch taken, wherein the generated trace record contains a count of events associated with the metrics of interest for the branch taken.
US07657868B2	System and method for applying development patterns for component based applications A computing device and method for coordinating the development of a client application including application components comprising one or more of at least one of a data component, a message component or a screen component, having corresponding component definitions, or a workflow component comprising a series of instructions. A first development pattern module configured for interaction with a development environment is provided by a computer user interface, the first development pattern module configured for selecting a first pattern from a plurality of patterns based on an application component type central to the client application, the developing definitions of at least one of the application components through interaction with a data model of the development environment providing a persistent state of the application components . . . the first pattern is selected from the group consisting of: a pattern for generating a suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description; a pattern for developing the suitable application based on an available backend data source messaging description such that the entire application is developed including data components and screen components; a pattern for developing the application based on an existing database schema; a pattern for developing a standard set of data components that model a particular business domain for the application, a screen pattern for coordinating the development of a screen component as the first component; a message pattern for coordinating a development of a message component as the first component; and a script pattern for coordinating a development of a workflow component as a second component as recited in a manner in the independent claims 1 and 21.Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
US07657866B2	Providing documentation for assembling, installing, and supporting of software stacks A tool is provided for addressing a number of issues related to providing support for software stacks including multiple uncoordinated components such as open source projects. The tool receives information about a stack, obtains support information specific to that stack and outputs the information to a user. A parsing functionality is also provided for selectively combining support information from the constituent projects of the stack.
US07657860B1	Method and system for implementing routing refinement and timing convergence Disclosed is an improved method, system, and article of manufacture for implementing routing for an electrical circuit and chip design. A routing architecture can be represented as a spectrum of different granular routing levels. Instead of routing based upon area, routing can be performed for specific routes or portions of routes. Different types of representation or levels of abstraction for the routing can be used for the same net or route. Partial topological reconfiguration, refinement, or rip-up can be performed for a portion of the integrated circuit design, where the portion is smaller than an entire route or net. Non-uniform levels of routing activities or resources may be applied to route the design. Prioritization may be used to route certain portions of the design with greater levels of detail, abstraction, or resources than other portions of the design.
US07657859B2	Method for IC wiring yield optimization, including wire widening during and after routing Disclosed are embodiments of a method, service, and computer program product for performing yield-aware IC routing for a design. The method performs an initial global routing which satisfies wiring congestion constraints. Next, the method performs wire spreading and wire widening on the global route, layer by layer, based on, for example, a quadratic congestion optimization. Following this, timing closure is performed on the global route using results of the wire spreading and wire widening. Post-routing wiring width and wire spreading adjustments are made using the critical area yield model. In addition, the method allows for the optimization of already-routed data.
US07657858B2	Automated electrostatic discharge structure placement and routing in an integrated circuit A processor-implemented means of designing a power pad layout includes determining a location of at least one ESD structure so as to minimize a placement cost and determining a location of at least one connection between the at least one ESD structure and at least one power ring. The step of determining a location of at least one connection between the ESD structure and at least one power ring may include the steps of determining a minimum spanning tree of elements associated with a given power ring; and back-tracing through a minimum spanning tree of elements associated with a given power ring in order to determine a minimal list of routed paths among the elements.
US07657856B1	Method and system for parallel processing of IC design layouts Disclosed is a method and system for processing the tasks performed by an IC layout processing tool in parallel. In some approaches, the IC layout is divided into a plurality of layout portions and one or more of the layout portions are processed in parallel, where geometric select operations are performed in which data for different layout portions may be shared between different processing entities. One approach includes the following actions: select phase one operation for performing initial select actions within layout portions; distributed regioning action for local regioning; distributed regioning action for global regioning and binary select; count select aggregation for count-based select operations; and select phase two operations for combining results of selecting of internal shapes and interface shapes.
US07657849B2	Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.
US07657839B2	System for replying to related messages A system is provided which utilizes a threading service to offer enhanced features for a document management system including an email system. Various enhanced email features may be provided through one or more of the following components: a delete module, a reply module, a profile module, and a search module. The delete module enables a user to delete a selected message, a set of related messages, or the whole set except for the selected message. The reply module enables a user to send a reply message to all addresses associated and involved with an entire set of related messages. The profile module enables a dynamic interest profile to contain all relevant information from an outgoing message and a set of messages related to the outgoing message. The search module enables search results to include documents which match the user's query as well as documents related to the documents which match the user's query.
US07657829B2	Audio and video buffer synchronization based on actual output feedback A method and system for keeping endpoints such as speakers and displays synchronized via feedback based on the actual output of the endpoints. A source of audiovisual content transmits corresponding digital data to one or more endpoints, such as over a home network, where it may be buffered and/or decoded for playback. Microphones or the like sense actual (post-buffering/decoding) output from one or more endpoints and feed it back to a synchronization mechanism. The synchronization mechanism employs pattern matching or similar techniques to determine whether and how to adjust the timing of endpoints to synchronize their actual outputs. Synchronization may be accomplished by controllably delaying transmission and/or other processing, by controllably changing the rate of advancing in a buffer, and/or by jumping ahead in a buffer. The synchronization mechanism may adjust multiple endpoints, e.g., when limited buffer size limits the amount of adjustment a single device can provide.
US07657823B1	Efficient RAID ECC controller for RAID systems A Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) controller comprises a RAID error correction code (ECC) encoder module that receives data for storage and that generates code words stored by data drives and one or more parity drives, which have physical locations. The code words are generated based on the data and a cyclic code generator polynomial. Logical locations correspond to an index of the cyclic code generator polynomial. A mapping module maps the physical locations of the data and parity drives to the logical locations. A difference generating module generates a difference code word when data on one of the data drives is modified. The RAID ECC encoder module encodes the difference code word and adds the encoded difference code word to an original code word generated before the modification.
US07657822B2	True bit level decoding of TTCM (turbo trellis code modulation) of variable rates and signal constellations True bit level decoding of TTCM (Turbo Trellis Coded Modulation) of variable rates and signal constellations. A decoding approach is presented that allows for decoding on a bit level basis that allows for discrimination of the individual bits of a symbol. Whereas prior art approaches typically perform decoding on a symbol level basis, this decoding approach allows for an improved approach in which the hard decisions/best estimates may be made individually for each of the individual bits of an information symbol. In addition, the decoding approach allows for a reduction in the total number of calculations that need to be performed as well as the total number of values that need to be stored during the iterative decoding. The bit level decoding approach is also able to decode a signal whose code rate and/or signal constellation type (and mapping) may vary on a symbol by symbol basis.
US07657821B1	Error detecting code for multi-character, multi-lane, multi-level physical transmission A system (e.g., Fiber Channel Error Detecting Code (FC-EDC)) that maps the “standard” Hamming codes onto the bits of a 33-bit control block is provided. The system employs a “rotation” of the check positions in a two-dimensional parity-check matrix for the FC-EDC. The specification discloses a computer-implemented program to test further modifications and permutations of the “standard” distance-4 parity-check matrix to yield an FC-EDC with enhanced error-detecting properties, designed to detect the most likely errors in the known physical environment. By using a parity-check matrix with the “rotation” property, certain error-detecting properties of the parity-check matrix are ensured, and the computation time for searching for a matrix with enhanced error-detecting properties becomes much shorter.
US07657818B2	Dynamic minimum-memory interleaving Minimum-memory-implementation is available with any depth and period in DSL interleaving/deinterleaving, always allowing the minimum amount of memory to be used in both transmitter and receiver without loss of performance or of basic triangular structure, even if the interleaver/deinterleaver parameters change dynamically. A novel cell-scheduling process ensures availability of the minimum amount of memory (or any other desired memory usage) to implement an image of the perfect triangle and works for any co-prime depth and interleaver period. Minimal memory use may be further characterized by a simple off-line method that determines an addressing order for each of the memory cells in a minimum-memory (or other) implementation of an interleaver/deinterleaver according to the invention. Time variation of interleaver depth in operation can be accommodated easily with absolute minimum memory requirement at all time instants.
US07657815B2	Time monitoring of packet retransmissions during soft handover The present invention relates to a method for scheduling data retransmissions, a method for use in a data retransmission scheme and a method for updating a soft buffer of a base station in a mobile communication system during a soft-handover. The present invention relates to a base station executing the controlling and updating method, a communication terminal for executing the scheduling method and to a mobile communication system comprising at least one the base station and communication terminal. To prevent erroneous combining of data packets in a packet retransmission scheme at the receiver, the present invention provides a method that may flush the soft buffer region associated to a received data packet upon its correct reception. Further, a method is provided that monitors the time elapsed since the last storing of a data packet in a buffer region of a base station to be able to trigger the flush of the buffer region upon expiry of a threshold time period.
US07657803B2	Memory controller with a self-test function, and method of testing a memory controller A memory controller with a self-test function includes a test controlling unit configured to generate test data in a test mode, a data transmission unit configured to generate a data read timing signal to transmit the data read timing signal and the generated test data synchronized with the data read timing signal, and a data input/output (I/O) unit configured to feedback the transmitted test data and the transmitted data read timing signal to the data transmission unit, such that the data transmission unit receives fed-back test data and a fed-back data read timing signal. The data transmission unit reads the fed-back test data based on the fed-back data read timing signal, and the test controlling unit compares the fed-back test data with the generated test data. Therefore, the memory controller may perform a fast self-test.
US07657799B2	Method and apparatus for testing a dual mode interface Disclosed is a system and method for testing a dual mode interface. The dual mode interface includes a first strobe circuit and a second strobe circuit configured to be inoperable during a first operational mode of the interface and operable during a second operational mode of the interface. The dual mode interface also includes a first data circuit and a second data circuit configured to be operable during the first operational mode and the second operational mode. The dual mode interface also includes a signal line connecting an output of the second strobe circuit with an input of the first strobe circuit and a switch element configured to activate said signal line in response to receipt of a test signal.
US07657798B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit and the same checking method A semiconductor integrated circuit has a cell array, a redundancy cell capable of replacing a defective cell, a redundancy control circuit, a plurality of first fuses, a plurality of second fuses, a plurality of third fuses, a first shift register configured to hold states of the plurality of first fuses, a second shift register configured to be connected in cascade to the first shift register and to hold states of the plurality of second fuses, a third shift register configured to be connected to the first and second shift registers in cascade and to hold states of the plurality of third fuses, a CRC remainder calculator configured to sequentially input information held by the first to third shift registers to a CRC generating equation to calculate a remainder obtained by division, and a CRC determination part that outputs information indicative of whether the first to third fuses are correctly programmed.
US07657796B1	System and method for distributed storage verification A system, method, and computer-accessible medium for storage management are disclosed. A failure condition is detected in a storage stack comprising a first host and a storage device. Data from the storage device is exported to a plurality of additional hosts. The data is validated using the plurality of additional hosts.
US07657786B2	Storage switch system, storage switch method, management server, management method, and management program A switch control system including a storage unit, a switch which logically sets a network topology between the storage unit and a plurality of computers, and a management server which communicates with the switch and the storage unit, wherein the storage unit includes at least one disk; wherein the management server comprises a memory and a processor, wherein the memory holds the network topology which is set by the switch, wherein when a failure is detected in one of the computers currently being used, the processor of the management server refers to the memory to change the network topology for the computer where the failure is detected and another computer which substitutes the computer where the failure is detected, and instructs the switch with the changed network topology so as to cause the switch to logically set the changed network topology, and wherein the management server controls the disk of the computer where the failure is detected to be accessible.
US07657777B2	Common semantic model of management of a supply chain A method and apparatus of a supply module having a business object module to least one schema to describe the supply chain data, a XML-based language module to process the at least one schema and a SQL code generator module to sequence of SQL instructions to perform a query of a user where the user the query in the XML-based language.
US07657764B2	Method and apparatus for on-demand power management Embodiments of on-demand power management have been presented. In some embodiments, a set of processing events on a system bus within a processing system is detected. Further, a processing event pattern may be recognized, and the processing event pattern may be correlated with a processing demand in the processing system.
US07657761B2	Multiple trust modes for handling data A user is presented with multiple modes of operation, such that the multiple modes of operation define different trust options for handling data (such as login credentials or other sensitive data) associated with the user. A selection of one of the multiple modes of operation is received from the user. Data associated with the user is handled in accordance with the selected mode of operation.
US07657752B2	Digital signal watermaker Described herein is a technology for facilitating the watermarking of digital signals. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.
US07657750B2	Watermarking method with print-scan compensation A digital watermark may be applied to digital image data to produce watermarked digital image data. A transformation may be applied to the watermarked digital image data to produce transformed watermarked digital image data. The transformation may approximate the inverse of a transformation that represents distortion caused by transmission through a print-scan channel.
US07657749B2	Communication scheme using outside DTCP bridge for realizing copyright protection An outside DTCP bridge for relaying information between an outside communication device connected to an outside network and a home communication device connected to a home network, carries out a first authentication and key exchange processing for purpose of copyright protection between the outside DTCP bridge and the home communication device as well as a second authentication and key exchange processing for purpose of copyright protection between the outside DTCP bridge and the outside communication device, and stores an identification information of the outside communication device. Then, transmission/reception of information between the home network and the outside network is carried out only when the outside communication device which made the access request is stored and both the first authentication and key exchange processing and the second authentication and key exchange processing succeed.
US07657733B2	Hardware password accessing method The present invention is to provide a hardware password accessing method, which is capable of reading a password of at least one hardware (such as a hard disk) disposed on a computer and storing the password to a RAM before the computer entering a standby mode from a working status and also capable of retrieving the password of the hardware from the RAM to restart the hardware once the computer being restored to the working status from the standby mode, so as to resolve the conventional problems caused by storing the hardware password to a CMOS.
US07657729B2	Efficient multiple-table reference prediction mechanism A method and an apparatus for enabling a prefetch engine to detect and support hardware prefetching with different streams in received accesses. Multiple (simple) history tables are provided within (or associated with) the prefetch engine. Each of the multiple tables is utilized to detect different access patterns. The tables are indexed by different parts of the address and are accessed in a preset order to reduce the interference between different patterns. When an address does not fit the patterns of a first table, the address is passed to the next table to be checked for a match of different patterns. In this manner, different patterns may be detected at different tables within a single prefetch engine.
US07657728B2	Register file backup queue Systems and methods are disclosed for maintaining an accurate program-visible machine state of a computer. A backup system and method is provided in order to return the visual state of the computer to a previous state if an instruction generates an exception. In an embodiment, a first tag and a second tag are received from a tag queue concurrently. First data, which is associated with the first tag, is received and stored in a first register associated with the first tag. Second data, which is associated with the second tag, is sent from a second register associated with the second tag to a backup queue.
US07657723B2	System and method for processor with predictive memory retrieval assist A system and method are described for a memory management processor which, using a table of reference addresses embedded in the object code, can open the appropriate memory pages to expedite the retrieval of information from memory referenced by instructions in the execution pipeline. A suitable compiler parses the source code and collects references to branch addresses, calls to other routines, or data references, and creates reference tables listing the addresses for these references at the beginning of each routine. These tables are received by the memory management processor as the instructions of the routine are beginning to be loaded into the execution pipeline, so that the memory management processor can begin opening memory pages where the referenced information is stored. Opening the memory pages where the referenced information is located before the instructions reach the instruction processor helps lessen memory latency delays which can greatly impede processing performance.
US07657713B2	Memory using packet controller and memory A memory that includes a plurality of packet pins, a synchronous memory, and a packet controller. The synchronous memory receives address and control signals in synchronization with a clock signal. The packet controller sequentially receives packet data bits through the packet pins in synchronization with the clock signal when a packet enable signal is activated, and converts the inputted packet data into the address and control signals. Specifically, packet data bits that are first inputted through the packet pins represent an operation mode.
US07657709B2	Data processing system and method of cache replacement A data processing system is provided comprising at least one processing unit for processing data; a memory means for storing data; and a cache memory means for caching data stored in the memory means. Said cache memory means is associated to at least one processing unit. An interconnect means is provided for connecting the memory means and the cache memory means. The cache memory means is adapted for performing a cache replacement based on reduced logic level changes of the interconnect means as introduced by a data transfer between the memory means and the cache memory means.
US07657697B2	Method of controlling a semiconductor memory device applied to a memory card Plural second logic blocks are set to a first logic block, and when data is written to the second logic block, write waiting is given using an address next to the address of the current second logic block. In order to protect data of the written second logic block, the next address is skipped using another address as an expected value.
US07657696B2	Method to detect NAND-flash parameters by hardware automatically A method for automatically detecting a plurality of parameters for a NAND-Flash memory. A first step of the method may include generating a plurality of address cycles for the NAND-Flash memory. A second step may set an address number parameter of the parameters based on (i) a first number of the address cycles generated and (ii) a status signal generated by the NAND-Flash memory responsive to the address cycles. A third step generally includes generating at least one read cycle for the NAND-Flash memory after determining the address number parameter. A fourth step may set a page size parameter of the parameters based on (i) a second number of the read cycles generated and (ii) the status signal further responsive to the read cycles.
US07657690B1	Control of PCI memory read behavior using memory read alias and memory command reissue bits A method of controlling memory read behavior in PCI devices includes connecting a master PCI device to a PCI bus. The master PCI device is constructed and arranged to issue a Memory Read Line or a Memory Read Multiple initial command. A target PCI bridge device is connected to the PCI bus. The target PCI bridge device is constructed and arranged to prefetch data from host memory on behalf of the master PCI device and to store the prefetched data. A data transfer transaction is established between the master PCI device and the target PCI bridge device and prefetched data is stored at the target PCI bridge device. A bit is selectively preset in at least one of the PCI devices such that if a disconnect of the transaction occurs, the target PCI bridge device recognizes a subsequent request as a continuation of the initial request and sends prefetched data to the master PCI device.
US07657689B1	Methods and apparatus for handling reset events in a bus bridge Methods and apparatus are provided for handling reset events in a bus bridge. A system on a programmable chip includes master components and slave components supporting various bus protocols. Bus bridges allow components using different bus protocols to interact. Reset of a distinct subset of programmable chip components or the synchronization of reset signals across disparate clock domains is allowed by effectively handling reset related signals at a bus bridge.
US07657688B2	Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI express connectors Method, apparatus, and computer program products for dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors are disclosed that include identifying whether a PCI Express device is installed into each PCI Express connector, and assigning a portion of the lanes to each PCI Express connector having a PCI Express device installed into the PCI Express connector. Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors may also include identifying a device type for each PCI Express device installed into the plurality of PCI Express connectors. Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors may also include creating allocation rules that specify the allocation of lanes to the plurality of PCI Express connectors. Dynamically allocating lanes to a plurality of PCI Express connectors may also include receiving user allocation preferences that specify the allocation of lanes to the plurality of PCI Express connectors.
US07657682B2	Bus interconnect with flow control A method of operating a bus interconnect coupled to bus masters and bus slaves is provided. The method includes receiving a request from a bus master to perform a bus transaction associated with a transaction ID with a bus slave of the plurality of bus slaves, the bus transaction being a first type of bus transaction. The method further includes performing the transaction if a resource allocation parameter allocated to the bus master meets a first threshold. The method further includes if the resource allocation parameter does not meet the first threshold, performing the data transaction only if the transaction meets a condition of a set of at least one condition, wherein a condition of the set of at least one condition includes that the transaction ID of the transaction is not a transaction ID of any outstanding bus transaction of the first type requested by the bus master.
US07657675B1	Dynamic distribution of I/O resources in a partitioned computer system A method of dynamically allocating the amount of input/output (I/O) rate capacity to partitions in a computer system includes determining a total amount of I/O rate capacity and an economic value of each partition within the partitioned computer system. The economic value is defined as a performance-valued product established for each partition wherein the sum of all performance-value products for each partition defines a total economic value for the computer. The I/O rate to be allocated to each partition is calculated to be a portion of the total amount of I/O rate capacity where the portion allocated to each partition is proportional to the economic value of that respective partition. The calculated rate allocations are recorded in memory which is accessible to each partition. After recording, each partition regulates its I/O usage according to the recorded allocation.
US07657671B2	Adaptive resilvering I/O scheduling In general, the invention relates to a method for storing data. The method includes receiving an Input/Output (I/O) request to store data in a storage pool, determining whether the I/O request is a resilvering I/O request, if the I/O request is a resilvering I/O request: associating the I/O request with a first deadline, wherein the first deadline is associated with a low priority, and determining the quantized deadline for the I/O request using the first deadline. If the I/O request is not the resilvering I/O request: associating the I/O request with a second deadline, determining the quantized deadline for the I/O request using the second deadline, placing the I/O request in the I/O queue using the quantized deadline, and issuing the I/O request to the storage pool using the I/O queue.
US07657663B2	Migrating stateless virtual functions from one virtual plane to another Mechanisms for migration stateless virtual functions from one virtual plane to another are provided. When a migration of a source virtual function to a destination virtual function in another virtual plane is to be performed, a source single root PCI manager (SR-PCIM) is first interrupted by a multiple root PCI manager (MR-PCIM). Configuration information that defines the source virtual function is then redefined on the destination virtual function for this stateless migration. A function level reset may then be performed on the source virtual function. The destination SR-PCIM may be interrupted by the MR-PCIM with an interrupt for the destination virtual function. A function level reset may then be performed on the destination virtual function. The destination virtual function state may then be changed to an “active” state such that the migrated virtual function begins processing transactions.
US07657662B2	Processing user space operations directly between an application instance and an I/O adapter A mechanism is provided that enables user space middleware or applications to pass file name based storage requests directly to a physical I/O Adapter without run-time involvement from the local Operating System (OS). A mechanism is provided for using a file protection table (FPT) data structure, which may include a file name protection table (FNPT) and file extension protection table (FEPT), to control user space and out of user space Input/Output (I/O) operations. In addition, a mechanism is provided for managing the FPT based on user space operations to create, query, modify and delete entries in the FPT.
US07657654B2	Hashing assist for network processors A resource unit has a request interface to allow the unit to receive a request and associated data. The resource unit also has a hashing engine to create a hash of the associated data, a modulo engine to create a modulus result, a read engine to perform a memory read, and a results interface to allow the device to return results.
US07657648B2	Hybrid tree/mesh overlay for data delivery Hybrid tree/mesh overlays for data delivery involve using a tree overlay network and a mesh overlay network to delivery a data stream via a push mechanism and a pull mechanism, respectively. In an example embodiment, a network node enters a mesh overlay network and attaches to a tree overlay network. In operation, the network node receives data blocks of a data stream over the tree overlay network via a push mechanism. The network node ascertains if a data block is not received over the tree overlay network. If a data block is missing, the network node retrieves the missing data block over the mesh overlay network via a pull mechanism. In another example embodiment, the tree overlay network includes a subset of nodes forming a tree-based backbone. Network nodes that are identified as being stable may join the backbone and provide the data stream to other nodes.
US07657647B2	Client server system Disclosed is a client server system including: a server apparatus equipped with a reproduction section to reproduce accumulated video data in a predetermined reproduction mode including a normal reproduction mode, a fast-forward reproduction mode and a fast-rewind reproduction mode, and a transmission section; a client terminal apparatus equipped with a reception section, a storage section, and an output control section; a selection section to select the reproduction mode; a setting section to set a time lag; and a control section to shift a reproduction position of video data in the first reproduction mode by the time lag, when a second reproduction mode is selected.
US07657641B2	Megaco protocol management method using network adaptor The present invention manages media gateway control (megaco) protocols according to changes of lower layer network protocol by implementing the megaco package in the network adaptor. A method for managing the megaco protocols by using a network adaptor includes steps of: a) requesting an installation of a megaco protocol package to a network adaptor; b) determining whether the megaco protocol exists in a network protocol table; c) adding a new protocol in the network protocol table; d) searching a specific megaco protocol package in the megaco protocol package list by using the specific package ID and connecting the specific megaco protocol package; and e) installing the megaco protocol packages and the specific megaco protocols, and managing the megaco protocols.
US07657630B2	Contents providing device, contents providing method, receiving device, receiving method, communication system, and communication method At a server 2, a subject for updating an object registered in a database 3 and an event for obtaining the subject are generated, while a request for the subject from a receiving terminal 5 is received and totaled so that a resource necessary for providing the subject is allocated on the basis of the result of totaling. Then, the event is transmitted and the subject is provided on the basis of the resource allocated thereto. At the receiving terminal 5, the event is received and the necessity of the subject to be obtained on the basis of the event is evaluated so that request data requesting the subject is transmitted to the server 2 on the basis of the result of evaluation. Then, the subject provided by the server 2 in response to the request data is obtained on the basis of the event.
US07657629B1	Global server load balancing A global server load-balancing (GSLB) switch serves as a proxy to an authoritative DNS and communicates with numerous site switches that are coupled to host servers serving specific applications. The GSLB switch receives from site switches operational information regarding host servers within the site switches neighborhood. When a client program requests a resolution of a host name, the GSLB switch, acting as a proxy of an authoritative DNS, returns one or more ordered IP addresses for the host name. The IP addresses are ordered using metrics that include the information collected from the site switches or based on other metric information. Examples of metrics include weighted site, weighted IP, and active bindings metrics. The GSLB switch places the address that is deemed “best” at the top of the list.
US07657623B2	Method and apparatus for collecting management information on a communication network A method and apparatus for collecting management information on a communication network enables universal health indicators to be defined so that management information may be presented to a network operator on a management station. The universal health indicators may be defined in a top-down manner such that the definitions of the health indicators may be used across multiple network elements without changing the health indicator definitions. The health indicators may be organized in a tree-like hierarchical structure to enable additional information to be obtained about the health of the reporting network element in a predictable and organized fashion. Network element raw measurements and computed measurements are used to provide data to the health indicators, and are selected on a network technology type or MIB type basis to enable the same health indicators to be supported by multiple network technology types.
US07657622B1	Unified web hosting and content distribution system and method for assuring predetermined performance levels A service model, integrated system, and method for enabling a service provider to deliver an integrated web hosting and content distribution service offering, which affords assured operational performance service levels, regardless of whether the customer's web site is served by the service provider's hosting center, the service provider's content distribution network (CDN), by a third party web host, or by a third party CDN. A monitoring system of the primary service provider receives detailed capacity and health statistics from any CDN under the operational control of the primary service provider, receives aggregate capacity and health statistics from other CDNs not under the operational control of the primary service provider. A redirection system then decides to which web host, content distribution network, or combination thereof, user requests for content are directed in order that operational performance service levels are maintained.
US07657619B1	Method and system for maintaining a loop-free topology across multiple spanning trees in a virtual local area network A network includes a virtual local area network (VLAN) and multiple spanning tree protocol domains (STPDs). Switches in the network receive messages from other switches and select one path for continued transmission of data based on the content of the messages. The content of each message identifies the path through which the message was transmitted. After one path is selected, all other paths are blocked. Once paths are blocked, no messages are transmitted through those paths to the switch. This eliminates redundant paths and provides a loop-free inter-domain topology throughout the network.
US07657609B2	Data transfer in a multi-environment document management system access A system and method for accessing a document management system in a multi-environment processing system includes receiving a client call command from a web service proxy. The web service proxy, disposed on a client and running in conjunction with a client application. A web service end point, disposed in a web service framework receives the client call command. Through the web service end point and a class module, the client call command is converted for accessing the document management system. Retrieved data is temporarily stored in a memory location. The amount of data transfer allowed in a single data transfer is determined. Then, based on this information, multiple web services call are executed to incrementally transfer the data for the client application.
US07657608B2	Method and system for distributing a document to at least one destination This invention is related to a document distribution system, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a document distribution system that reduces network traffic. The present invention is directed to a method and system for distributing a document to at least one destination, comprising the steps of providing a document to be distributed; creating a job by associating the document with at least one printer job language command, wherein the printer job language command provides instructions for the distribution of the job; and distributing, on the basis of the printer job language command, the job to at least one destination.
US07657601B2	Methods and computer programs for formulating messaging platform capacity projections Computer-executable methods and programs for formulating a planning recommendation for a messaging platform. Mailbox data is received specifying a projected maximum number of mailboxes. Growth assumption data is received that specifies a change in average message size of messages. Traffic assumption data is received that identifies a portion of message traffic projected to occur during any recurring time interval for which message traffic has previously exceeded a threshold. Baseline data is received specifying maximum performance capabilities of the messaging platform. Messaging platform data is received specifying a quantity of messages accepted, stored, deleted, and/or retrieved. A planning recommendation is generated by applying an algorithm to the mailbox data, traffic and growth assumption data, baseline data, and messaging platform data. The planning recommendation is placed into a physically tangible, humanly discernible form by printing the recommendation, displaying the recommendation, or outputting the recommendation in audible form.
US07657590B2	Load balancing system and method A workflow is processed by plurality of activity servers, each of the plurality of activity servers performing at least one of a plurality of activities. In step a, a workflow packet requiring one of the plurality of activities to be executed is retrieved from a workflow queue. In step b, the activity is executed by the one of the plurality of activity servers. In step c, a next activity to be performed is determined based on workflow transition information. In step d, the next activity is executed if the one of the plurality of activity performs the next activity. In step e, the next activity is forwarded to the workflow queue if the one of the plurality of activities does not perform the activity. Steps a-e are repeated until all of the plurality of activities in the workflow are executed.
US07657589B2	System and method for generating a fixed point approximation to nonlinear functions A system and method are provided for use in an electronic device configured to process data to perform a method of generating a fixed point approximation of a number x by first locating the most significant bit of a given number, then retrieving predetermined values from electronic data storage, where the first value is based on a first index value generated from the most significant bit and contains fixed-point representation located in a table in storage. Then, output values are generated from look-up tables that correspond to index values generated from a number of bits that immediately following the most significant bit. Finally, the final mathematic result is computed using fixed-point arithmetic logic to generate a fixed point approximation.
US07657575B2	Sequencing updates to business objects A system and method for compensating for disruptions to update transmissions is disclosed. A first application component stores an instance of a business object. The first application component reconciles the instance with data stored on a second application component. The first application component receives a business object update from the second application component. The first application component checks a reconciliation value associated with the business object update. If the first reconciliation value indicates the first business object update was sent after the reconciliation, the first application component applies the business object update to the instance.
US07657569B1	System and method of removing duplicate leads A duplicate lead removal system comprises a matching engine, a vendor duplicates database, and a conflict engine. The matching engine is configured to determine at least one vendor to receive a lead. The vendor duplicates database is configured to store duplicate lead information that is at least partly created by and received from vendors outside of the duplicate lead removal system. The conflict engine is configured to compare information that is at least derived from the lead with information stored in the vendor duplicates database in order to determine if the lead is a duplicate lead for the vendor such that the system can prevent transmission of duplicate leads to the vendor.
US07657567B2	Method and system for rewriting a database query The invention relates to a method and database system for rewriting a SQL query having at least one null sensitive expression (NSE) in a select list of the query, the query comprising at least one outer join command to be performed on at least two tables and involving a view or a Derived Table (DT). The method comprising the steps of: identifying at least one unmatching row belonging to the view or DT using non-nullable fields that belong to the outermost table in the view or DT; converting the NSE(s) from the at least one identified rows into a SQL case construct; and performing the at least one outer join. The database system comprising means for rewriting a SQL query having at least one null sensitive expression (NSE) in a select list of the query, the query comprising at least one outer join command to be performed on at least two tables and involving a view or a Derived Table (DT). The system comprises a device configured to identify at least one unmatching row belonging to the view or DT using non-nullable fields that belong to the outermost table in the view or DT; a device configured to convert the NSE(s) from the at least one identified rows into a SQL case construct; and a device configured to perform the at least one outer join.
US07657562B2	Data processing apparatus and data processing method A data processing apparatus is capable of playing back contents stored in a specified area in a recording medium. The recording medium stores content data and management information for managing the content data. When playing back a content which is managed by the management information on the recording medium but of which entity data is not present in the specified area of the recording medium, the data processing apparatus, searches, for the content, the other area of the recording medium with a search section. When the corresponding content is found, the link information selling section sets the link information (symbolic link, shortcut, etc.) on the recording medium so that the content can be accessed with the management information.
US07657552B2	Declarative sequenced report parameterization User values and selections are collected and provided to a report server that customizes a generically defined report pursuant to the user values and selections. An ordered set of report parameters is declared in the definition of a report and then this parameter definition is used to drive user prompting and execution of the report. As parameter values are collected in sequence order, a value retrieved or specified by the user for one parameter may be used to generate the set of the allowed values or default value of a parameter later in the sequence. Parameters are dynamically presented to the user. After values for all parameters been retrieved or specified, a report is generated by the report server.
US07657543B1	Method and system for creating and using shadow roots A method for storing a first copy of an object, including obtaining the object including a globally unique identifier (GUID), generating a first derived GUID using the GUID of the object, storing the first copy of the object identified by the first derived GUID in a root node of the object, publishing possession of the first copy of the object identified by the first derived GUID by the root node of the object, associating a first shadow root with the first copy of the object, and storing the first copy of the object identified by the GUID in the first shadow root.
US07657538B2	Server apparatus, data processing method, program, and communication method A server apparatus for providing content data includes a generator configured to generate second management data based on first management data, the first management data managing first identification data for identifying the content data locally within the server apparatus, the second management data managing second identification data for identifying the content data globally outside the server apparatus, and an output unit configured to output the second management data generated by the generator to an external apparatus that uses the content data.
US07657531B2	Systems and methods for state-less authentication Systems and methods for providing user logon and state-less authentication are described in a distributed processing environment. Upon an attempted access by a user to an online resource, transaction, or record, a logon component asks the user to supply a logon ID and a password. The logon component verifies the provided information, and upon successful identification, a security context is constructed from information relevant to the user. The security context is sent to the user and is presented to the system each time the user attempts to invoke a new resource, such as a program object, transaction, record, or certified printer avoiding the need for repeated logon processing.
US07657530B2	System and method for file system content processing A system and method for file system content processing. In one embodiment, the system may include a storage device configured to store data and a file system configured to manage access to the storage device, to store file system content, to perform in-band detection of a file system content access event, and to responsively generate an event record. The system may further include a content processor configured to perform out-of-band detection of the event record and to responsively generate additional file system content.
US07657527B2	System and method for detecting termination of an application instance using locks A system and method for detecting termination of an application, such as a database instance, that uses locks is described. A holding child process is started from a parent process. The holding child process connects to a monitored application instance, acquires an exclusive lock on the monitored application instance and returns a ready signal upon successfully acquiring the exclusive lock. A waiting child process is started from the parent process subsequent to the holding child process. The holding child process connects to the monitored application instance, blocks on the exclusive lock on the monitored application instance and returns a result signal upon at least one of acquiring the exclusive lock and clearing the block on the exclusive lock. The return signal is processed at the parent process. Using locks provides immediate detection that the application has terminated. Methods for blocking against the application are also described.
US07657524B1	System and/or method for comment migration Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, devices and systems associated with comment migration are disclosed.
US07657523B2	Ranking search results presented to on-line users as a function of perspectives of relationships trusted by the users A method of ranking search results presented to a user of a social network site on the Internet. Each user of the social network site has a user profile with information regarding the user. The method includes obtaining content items satisfying a search of information on the Internet by a first user of the social network site. The content items are organized as a function of at least one of the user profiles for presentation of the content items in a list to the first user.
US07657521B2	System and method for parsing medical data Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for processing medical data. The method includes the steps of identifying text strings in medical data, associating the text strings with standardized identifiers from a library, and outputting the standardized identifiers associated with the text strings. In an embodiment, a report and/or an order including the standardized identifiers associated with the text strings may be printed and/or stored. In an embodiment, the library may be modified to accommodate the text strings. A user and/or software program may be used to review the text strings to associate the standardized identifiers with the text strings, for example. In an embodiment, the text strings may be deconstructed into a plurality of sub-strings. A standardized identifier is then associated with each sub-string. The standardized identifiers may be numeric values, for example.
US07657518B2	Chaining context-sensitive search results Methods and apparatus assessing, ranking, organizing, and presenting search results associated with a user's current work context are disclosed. The system disclosed assesses, ranks, organizes and presents search results against a user's current work context by comparing statistical and heuristic models of the search results to a statistical and heuristic model of the user's current work context. In this manner, search results are assessed, ranked, organized, and/or presented with the benefit of attributes of the user's current work context that are predictive of relevance, such as words in a user's document (e.g., web page or word processing document) that may not have been included in the search query. In addition, search results from multiple search engines are combined into an organization scheme that best reflects the user's current task. As a result, lists of search results from different search engines can be more usefully presented to the user.
US07657517B2	Server for synchronization of files A server stores files. Distributed clients access the server, to learn about changes made to the files on the server, and to push local changes of the files onto the server. A synchronization application is used to synchronize the clients and server, synchronizing metadata and selected files.
US07657511B2	Multi-layered data model for generating audience-specific documents One or more embodiments of invention are directed to a multi-layered data model for generating audience-specific documents will now be described. The invention is used in the context of generating a document such as a catalog or web page for publication across regions and cultures comprising multiple languages. It allows users to rapidly generate multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region documents since fields flagged as multi-lingual may utilize existing buckets that comprise pre-filled multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region values without requiring the user to specify every multi-value when creating a record.
US07657506B2	Methods and apparatus for automated matching and classification of data A computer-implemented method for processing data includes receiving an initial set of records including terms describing respective items in specified categories. Based on the initial set of records, respective term weights are calculated for at least some of the terms with respect to at least some of the categories. Each term weight indicates, for a given term and a given category, a likelihood that a record containing the given term belongs to the given category. Upon receiving a new record, not included in the initial set, respective assignment metrics are computed for two or more of the categories using the respective term weights of the particular terms in the new record with respect to the two or more of the categories. The new record is classified in one of the two or more of the categories responsively to the assignment metrics.
US07657499B2	Grouping of computers in a computer information database system A computer information database system manages computer profile data grouping the plurality of computers in groups that are nodes of a tree in accordance with user-specified grouping criteria that are respective values of computer profile data of interest, and manipulating the database data to produce summaries of attributes of the computers in a given group and in the groups in the subtree that has the given group as its root. The grouping criteria may be ranges of values for primary grouping criteria, particular values for primary and secondary grouping criteria, ranges of values for both primary and secondary grouping criteria, and so forth. The system uses a group mapping database table that includes profile value-to-match fields for the primary grouping criteria and, as appropriate, the secondary grouping criteria. To use ranges of values, the group mapping database table includes for each range an associated low limit profile value field and a high limit profile value field. If particular values are used as either or both of the primary and secondary criteria, the corresponding low and high limits may be set to the same values or respective value to match fields may be used instead of the high and low limit fields. If there are no secondary grouping criteria associated with a particular primary grouping range, the corresponding entries for the secondary low and high limit profile values or, as appropriate, the entry for the corresponding value to match field is/are set to NULL. Additional grouping criteria may also be used to further refine the selection of computers for the groups, with additional fields for associated values-to-match or ranges included in the group mapping database table. The values or ranges for any or all of the grouping criteria may be altered and/or the values or ranges for grouping criteria may be added to records in which the corresponding fields were set to NULL to change the way in which the computers are grouped.
US07657488B2	Validating apparatus having encryption integrated circuits An apparatus is provided for validating a device. The apparatus includes a first integrated circuit which stores a first key, is configured to generate a random number, and is configured to generate encrypted information using the generated random number and the first key. A control system is configured to: receive the encrypted information and random number from the first integrated circuit, send the encrypted information to a second integrated circuit positioned on the device, receive decrypted information from the second integrated circuit whereby the decrypted information is generated using the encrypted information and a second key, and compare the random number and decrypted information received from the respective integrated circuits to validate the device.
US07657487B2	Apparatus and method for providing data storage device security A data storage device includes a data storage mechanism within which is stored a computing program. The data storage device also includes a surface used for labeling. The labeling includes machine readable security information. The data program requires machine reading of the security information before at least a portion of the program is run.
US07657476B2	Method and system for valuing intangible assets The present invention provides a method and system for valuing patent assets based on statistical survival analysis. An estimated value probability distribution curve is calculated for an identified group of patent assets using statistical analysis of PTO maintenance fee records. Expected valuations for individual patent assets are calculated based on a the value distribution curve and a comparative ranking or rating of individual patent assets relative to other patents in the group of identified patents. Patents having the highest percentile rankings would be correlated to the high end of the value distribution curve. Conversely, patents having the lowest percentile rankings would be correlated to the low end of the value distribution curve. Advantageously, such approach brings an added level of discipline to the overall valuation process in that the sum of individual patent valuations for a given patent population cannot exceed the total aggregate estimated value of all such patents. In this manner, fair and informative valuations can be provided based on the relative quality of the patent asset in question without need for comparative market data of other patents or patent portfolios, and without need for a demonstrated (or hypothetical) income streams for the patent in question. Estimated valuations are based simply on the allocation of a corresponding portion of the overall patent value “pie” as represented by each patents' relative ranking or position along a value distribution curve.
US07657473B1	Automated banking machine that operates responsive to data bearing records A system controlled by a data bearing record includes a card reader that is operative to read data from user cards including identifying data and to authorize operation of an automated banking machine responsive to the identifying data. A bank host computer is operable to submit the receipt to a system address of record with the bank. The address of record corresponds to an e-mail address, phone number or other address associated with an account involved in the transaction. The receipt may include an image or images associated with the transaction. The system may also operate to image deposited checks deposited at an the banking machine. Copies of the imaged checks and other information can be electronically sent to a maker, payee, a clearinghouse or banks involved with the transaction. The automated banking machine may also operate to provide the user with blank checks for transactions.
US07657468B1	Method for continuous asset verification A method for continuous asset verification using at least one radio frequency identification tag for at least one piece of well equipment comprising: writing information about the well equipment into a transportable data storage device; engaging the transportable data storage device with a controller forming a smart controller; encoding the information onto at least one radio frequency identification tag; removably attaching the radio frequency identification tag to the well equipment; transporting the well equipment with the smart controller to a site and scanning the well equipment with the smart controller during at least one predefined interval during transport; and writing the stored scanned radio frequency identification tag information from the transportable data storage device to data storage in communication with a third processor.
US07657459B2	Techniques for acquiring a media season of digital media assets Techniques to facilitate acquiring a media season, or a related series, of digital media assets from an on-line media store are disclosed. A user can view various media seasons that have been listed as available for purchase from the on-line media store. A user can choose to purchase a particular media season, either before or during the season. Subsequent to the purchase of the particular media season, digital media assets of the particular media season can be delivered to the user once the digital media assets become available. Since the monitoring is computerized and the delivery is electronic, once a digital media asset becomes available, delivery can be automatically processed.
US07657456B2	Method and system for electronic voting using identity based encryption A voting method includes receiving identity-based information, vote data and a passphrase for a voter, encrypting the vote data using a symmetric key, generating second identity-based information for the voter, and generating an identity-based public key using at least the second identity-based information and a voting system parameter. The symmetric key is encrypted using the identity-based public key and an identity-based asymmetric encryption algorithm. The encrypted symmetric key may be decrypted using a private key corresponding to the identity-based public key and an identity-based asymmetric decryption algorithm, wherein the private key is generated from at least the identity-based public key and a secret master key. The voter is provided with information that includes at least the encrypted vote data and the encrypted symmetric key, and the system retains anonymous identity information, encrypted vote data and the encrypted symmetric key as a paper audit trail.
US07657454B2	Server-side project manager A server-side project manager utilizes a set of web service APIs to create, update, schedule and manage projects on a server. A user submits a project update request when the user creates a new project or modifies an existing project. The project update request is associated with an API that calls the server via a web service to update the project. Example APIs include a data retrieval call, an administrative call or a data update call. A processor compares the project update request to any existing project definition to identify update values. A set of calculations is performed using the update values and any existing project definition. The project is updated based on the calculation results and stored in a data store.
US07657448B2	Computer reservation and usage monitoring system and related methods A computer network may include a host computer and a plurality of computer workstations selectively connectable thereto at which user work sessions may be initiated. Each computer workstation when disconnected from the host computer (e.g., due to server outage, etc.) may advantageously initiate a user session responsive to a user request and store session information for updating the respective user account balance when reconnected with the host computer. Additionally, when the computer workstations are connected to the host computer they may copy respective user account balances from the host computer upon initiation of user sessions, and update the copied account balances based upon computer usage during the respective user sessions. The computer network may also include at least one reservation computer for cooperating with the host computer to schedule user session reservations and provide a requesting user an estimated time before a user session will be made available.
US07657439B2	System and method for shipping a mail piece having post office box recognition This application discloses a method and system for facilitating the delivery of a mail piece bearing a post office box identifier to a United States Postal Service Branch, for final delivery to a post office box. The system facilitates the delivery by scanning the mail piece and obtaining the mail piece's destination information. If the destination information includes a post office box identifier, e.g., P.O. Box #1234, the system determines a street address of the post office location containing P.O. Box #1234. The street address is determined using the zip code contained within the destination information. Once the street address is determined, a new label, bearing the street address of the USPS branch location is affixed to the mail piece so that the mail piece can be delivered to the consignee.
US07657405B2	Method for determining a model for an electrical network and use of the method An electrical network having a nonlinear transfer response is approximated with a system with memory. The system with memory being approximated in the frequency domain and subsequently being expanded in the time domain. A transfer response of the system being approximated to a transfer response of the electrical network in a range of a system bandwidth corresponding to an input signal bandwidth. The resulting model has adjustable parameters and can readily be implemented in the form of a dynamically linear filter and a static nonlinearity (B2) connected thereto.
US07657400B2	Sliding mode method for predictive diagnostics A diagnostics subsystem for performing predictive diagnostics on a machine such as a vacuum pump. The subsystem has one or more parameter sensors providing measurable data, a process model for modelling machine operation and generating at least one estimated operating parameter, a comparator for comparing the sensed operating parameter with the estimated operating parameter; discontinuous signal injection means for injecting a discontinuity into the model to maintain sliding mode operation in the model; and means for analyzing the discontinuous injection signal for trends indicative of a fault in the machine.
US07657397B2	Statistical method and system for taking performance measurements A method of determining a performance characteristic of a system is accomplished through the use of descriptive statistics and key ratios. A predetermined amount of measurements are taken to test a system performance characteristic. The measurements are compiled and descriptive statistics and key ratios are determined from the measurements. The descriptive statistics and key ratios are analyzed to determine if a satisfactory measurement of the system performance was determined. If a satisfactory measurement for the system performance was not determined, additional measurements are taken until the descriptive statistics and key ratios indicate a satisfactory measurement for the system performance was determined. Once a satisfactory measurement for the system performance is determined, the value is recorded and stored.
US07657391B2	Electromagnetically detecting thin resistive bodies in shallow water and terrestrial environments A technique includes performing first electromagnetic field measurements to obtain a first set of data and performing second electromagnetic field measurements to obtain a second set of data. The first set of data is relatively sensitive to an effect caused by an air layer boundary and is relatively insensitive to the presence of a resistive body. The second set of data is relatively insensitive to the effect and is relatively sensitive to the presence of the resistive body. The technique includes combining the first and second sets of data to generate a third set of data, which is relatively insensitive to the effect and is relatively sensitive to the presence of the resistive body.
US07657387B2	Method of processing and storing mass spectrometry data A data compression technique is disclosed for Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (FTMS). A statistical analysis is applied to the data in the frequency domain since most of this data is a result of randomly distributed electronic noise. A fit of the whole frequency dataset to the distribution is made to determine preliminary moments of the distribution. The data in the tail of that distribution (which is mainly the peak data) is then removed and the remaining data points are re-fitted to the distribution, to identify the moments of distribution of that remaining noise data. A noise threshold for the mass spectrum is then applied using the calculated moments. The data above the threshold is kept. The whole spectrum can be reconstituted by storing the moments of distribution along with the peak data and then regenerating the noise from those moments and adding it to the peak data.
US07657386B2	Integrated battery service system An integrated battery service system performs a plurality of services related to a battery, such as battery testing, battery charging, and the like. In addition, the integrated service system provides services to devices/components that are coupled to the battery, such as starters, alternators, etc. The integrated battery service system allows a user to abort a service and then resume the process from where the process was aborted. When conducting a service, the integrated battery service system determines a noise level caused by devices/components coupled to the battery. The integrated battery service system includes connectors configured to couple to a battery for receiving input signals, a processor coupled to the connectors, and a memory device coupled to the processor for storing control codes and operation history. The control codes, when executed by the processor, control the system to selectively abort a service in response to a user input. Since the memory stores operation histories, the processor may access the memory to retrieve data related to the aborted service and parameters obtained during the service before the process was aborted. The system reinstates the aborted service in response to another user input.

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