Document Document Title
US07675364B2 Circuit and method of establishing DC bias levels in an RF power amplifier
A method and apparatus is used to provide DC stabilization and noise reduction in a multistage power amplifier. The invention uses various feedback techniques to stabilize DC levels, which helps to reduce noise. The invention also uses other techniques to reduce noise, and to reduce the noise transfer function in a power amplifier.
US07675358B2 Semiconductor device
The invention provides a semiconductor device that generates a clock signal with a fixed pulse width from a carrier. The invention also provides a semiconductor device where data can be obtained accurately from a carrier using a clock signal with a fixed pulse width. Further, the invention provides a semiconductor device that has a simpler circuit configuration and a smaller scale, and consumes less power as compared to the PLL circuit. According to the invention, a signal obtained by dividing a carrier including 100% modulation is not used as a clock signal, and a correction circuit is used to generate a clock signal using a demodulated signal and a signal obtained by dividing the carrier including 100% modulation. According to the invention having such a configuration, a clock signal with a fixed pulse width can be generated.
US07675347B2 Semiconductor device operating in an active mode and a standby mode
A semiconductor device operates in an active mode or a standby mode, and includes a substrate-potential power source line supplying a substrate potential which is higher in a standby mode than in an active mode, and a source-potential power source line supplying a source potential which is lower in a standby mode than in an active mode. During a mode shift from the standby mode to the active mode, a potential equalizing transistor is turned ON to pass a current flowing from the substrate-potential power source line to the source-potential power source line, to reduce the time length needed for shifting from the standby mode to the active mode.
US07675345B2 Low-leakage level-shifters with supply detection
Low-leakage level-shifters with reduced leakage are disclosed. In one example, a level-shifter circuit to reduce leakage when there is an invalid supply voltage is described, including a level-shifter configured to shift a voltage of an digital input signal based on a first supply voltage to a digital output signal based on a second supply voltage, comprising a first transistor and a second transistor configured to set the digital output signal based on the digital input signal, a supply detector configured to generate a detection signal based on the first supply voltage, a disabler configured to, based on the detection signal, set the digital output signal of the level-shifter to a predetermined state, and a leakage reducer configured to, based on the detection signal, electrically disconnect the first and second transistors from the level-shifter.
US07675344B2 Level shifter
A level shifter that prevents through currents thereat, including a holding circuit having an inverter made up of transistors connected between an internal node and a ground potential and an inverter made up of transistors connected between an internal node and the ground potential. These inverters are connected in loop form thereby to hold signals of nodes. Thus, even when input signals complementary to each other originally are both brought to a level “L”, the signals of the nodes are held at the immediately preceding level, thus making it possible to prevent through currents from flowing through the transistors respectively.
US07675341B2 Method and device for generating a clock signal
A method and device for generating a clock signal, the method including measuring, using a first clock signal, a characteristic of a reference event in a received signal, determining, using the first clock signal, a variation of a characteristic of a second event in a received signal, correcting the measurement according to the variation of the characteristic of the second event, and generating a second clock signal using the first clock signal according to the corrected measurement.
US07675327B2 Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device of the present invention includes a bootstrap circuit, the bootstrap circuit including: a selection transistor composed of an n-channel MOS transistor; a booster transistor of which a gate is connected to a drain of the selection transistor; and a boosting circuit that is connected between the gate and a source of the booster transistor, and boosts gate voltage with respect to the source of the booster transistor, wherein gate dimensions of the selection transistor are smaller than gate dimensions of the booster transistor. According to this configuration, the semiconductor device can realize increasing an action of a circuit, decreasing a chip size and simplifying processes.
US07675321B1 Dual-slice architectures for programmable logic devices
In one embodiment of the invention, a programmable logic device includes a plurality of programmable logic blocks and a plurality of dual-slice logic blocks within a programmable logic block. A dual-slice logic block includes a first slice including at least two lookup tables (LUTs); a second slice including at least two LUTs; and a routing circuit coupled to each of the LUTs within the first and second slices. The routing circuit is adapted to share outputs of the dual-slice logic block among the LUTs. In another embodiment of the invention, the dual-slice logic block includes a second routing circuit coupled to each of the LUTs within the first and second slices. The second routing circuit is adapted to share inputs of the dual-slice logic block among the LUTs.
US07675318B2 Configuration setting circuit and configuration setting method thereof
A configuration setting circuit and the method thereof, in which the configuration setting circuit includes a clock generator, a plurality of terminals, and a frequency detector coupled to a terminal. The clock generator is used to generate multiple clock signals with different frequencies, and output through the terminals. One input signal is inputted to the frequency detector through the terminal coupled to the frequency detector, so that the frequency detector can output at least two-bit configuration signal corresponding to the frequency of the input signal to set the operation mode.
US07675317B2 Integrated circuits with adjustable body bias and power supply circuitry
An integrated circuit is provided with adjustable transistor body bias circuitry and adjustable power supply circuitry. The adjustable circuitry may be used to selectively apply body bias voltages and power supply voltages to blocks of programmable logic, memory blocks, and other circuit blocks on the integrated circuit. The body bias voltages and power supply voltages may be identified by computer aided design tools. The body bias voltages may be used to reduce leakage currents and power consumption when high speed circuit block operation is not required. Reduced power supply voltages may also be used to reduce power consumption when high speed circuit block operation is not required. To ensure optimum switching speeds, circuit blocks for which high-speed performance is critical can be provided with minimal body bias voltage or no body bias and can be provided with maximum power supply levels.
US07675316B2 Semiconductor memory device including on die termination circuit and on die termination method thereof
A semiconductor memory device is provided. The device includes an on die termination circuit controlling a termination resistance value by detecting a phase change of a signal inputted through a pad. Additionally, the on die termination circuit changes the termination resistance value when an identical phase signal is inputted during n (n is positive integer) periods of a clock signal.
US07675311B2 Wireless test system
One or more testers wirelessly communicate with one or more test stations. The wireless communication may include transmission of test commands and/or test vectors to a test station, resulting in testing of one or more electronic devices at the test station. The wireless communication may also include transmission of test results to a tester. Messages may also be wirelessly exchanged.
US07675309B2 Probing system for integrated circuit device
A probing system for integrated circuit device, which transmits testing data/signal between an automatic test equipment (ATE) and an integrated circuit device, is disclosed. The probing system comprising a test head having a first transceiving module; a test station having a test unit couple to the test head to perform test operation; a communication module having a second transceiving module configured to exchange data with the first transceiving module; an integrated circuit device having at least one core circuit being tested; and at least one test module having a self-test circuit couple to the core circuit and the communication module for performing the core circuit self-testing.
US07675302B2 Probe card assembly and method of attaching probes to the probe card assembly
A probe card assembly is provided. The probe card assembly includes a substrate layer defining a plurality of apertures and a plurality of probes. Each of the probes has a base and a tip. The base of each probe is configured to be at least partially inserted within one of the plurality of apertures.
US07675297B1 Methods for measuring bounding corrosion rates using coupled multielectrode sensors and eliminating the effects of bad electrodes
The bounding corrosion rate is measured with a coupled multielectrode array sensor by decoupling a select number of anodic electrodes on the sensor from the coupling joint. In doing so, all or most of the electrons produced on the anodic electrode that remains connected to the coupling joint are forced to flow to the coupling joint and are thus measured. Because of the large number of electrodes on a multielectrode array sensor, one of them may become contaminated by foreign materials during the measurements or polishing process. The effect of such an electrode on the performance of the sensor can be eliminated by automatically disconnecting it from the coupling joint.
US07675279B2 Switching regulator soft start circuitry using a D/A converter
A switching regulator which does not require a capacitor having large time constant as a soft start circuit, reduces variation of the soft start time and the time until a start of a power source voltage stabilizing controlThe output voltage signal of the soft start circuit is set to a step voltage signal which increases or decreases stepwise at a predetermined rate. A changing period of the step voltage signal is set to a predetermined period after a power source is turned ON. The changing period of the step voltage of the output signal of the soft start circuit is made larger than the predetermined period according to a timing of changing of the PWM pulse output from “H” to “L” or “L” to “H” after an initial period, and after the power source is turned ON by monitoring the PWM pulse output by a detection circuit.
US07675277B2 Multiphase DC chopper and method for operating a multiphase DC chopper
A multiphase DC chopper converts an input voltage of an input capacitor into an output voltage of an output capacitor. The multiphase DC chopper has a plurality N of DC choppers connected in parallel between the input capacitor and the output capacitor in which case the nth DC chopper, with nε[1, . . . , N], providing on its output side an nth charge current for charging the output capacitor. A regulation device, which in each case regulates a phase difference signal of two charge currents, which sequentially charge the output capacitor to a value of 360°/N.
US07675276B2 DC/DC converter
A DC/DC converter includes a main switching element and a subordinate switching element, and is arranged to supply power to load via a coil. The ON-time of a subordinate switching element in a succeeding cycle is controlled based on a period of time tdif from the time when the subordinate switching element is turned off until the time when voltage at the point of connection of the two switching elements reaches a predetermined threshold value.
US07675271B2 System for generating electrical power
Described is a system for generating electrical power, which system includes a turbine that is mechanically connected to a generator, which in turn is connected via a multiphase transformer to a load. In at least one embodiment, at least two counter-connected switching devices of the converter are assigned to each phase of the transformer. The transformer is provided on the side facing the converter with two winding arrangements in a star connection. Each of the windings of the first winding arrangement is connected to the switching devices belonging to one phase and switched in one direction. Each of the windings of the second winding arrangement is connected to the switching devices belonging to one phase and switched in the opposite direction. The star points of the two winding arrangements are connected via a direct current choke.
US07675267B2 Control circuit of power supply and control method of the power supply
This invention aims at providing a control circuit of power supply in which a secondary battery and a device are connected in parallel, to output capable of preventing over-charging of the secondary battery and supplying power from the secondary battery to the device, and a control method of the power supply. A device 5G and a secondary battery 2G are connected to a DC-DC converter 1G in parallel. The device 5G is supplied with both a power from the DC-DC converter 1G and a power from the secondary battery 2G. When the secondary battery 2G is in non-charging state, an offset circuit 15G supplies a positive offset for reducing a difference of voltage between a detection signal Vx1G and reference voltage e1G to a reference voltage e1G corresponding to a charging inhibit signal CAS. An error amplifier ERA1G reduces an actually flowing charging current CCG by an amount corresponding to the offset value as a result of recognizing that the charging current CCG flows more by the amount corresponding to the offset value.
US07675248B2 Dual mode searchlight dimming controller systems and methods
A solid state microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP) for dual mode illumination and dimming into modern aerospace searchlights. The system is a universal dimming platform with “smart functions” that include and are not limited to multiple light intensity linearization curves, analog and/or digital input dimming interface, built-in tests and health monitoring, synchronized dual mode light output with canopy position, light driver redundancy, lamp life reporting, and controlled switching with improved EMI. With real-time monitoring of the system parameters it monitors the lights proper operation and failures which can be a concern for flight-critical lighting.
US07675227B2 Image display device and light emission device
An image display device including a light emission section which emits light to an intensity adjusting section and a wavelength conversion section which change the intensity and wavelength of the emitted light. Phosphors and phosphor like materials are employed in wavelength conversion and a liquid crystal is employed for the light adjustment. The light emission device may include plural semiconductor light emitting elements having a different wavelength ranges such as diodes stacked in a compact and predetermined order such that wavelengths of light from each diode are emitted from the light emitting elements.
US07675221B2 Ultrasonic transducer and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed is an improved construction of an ultrasonic transducer, wherein a charge is not easily injected into an insulating film even when the bottom of a membrane comes in contact with a lower electrode, and a manufacturing method thereof without using the wafer laminating technique. The ultrasonic transducer includes a lower electrode; a cavity layer formed on the first electrode; an insulating film covering the cavity layer; and an upper electrode formed on the insulating film, wherein, the cavity layer includes projections formed into an insulating film protruded from the cavity layer. In addition, an opening is formed into the upper electrode, and this upper electrode having the opening formed therein is deposited at a position not being superposed with the projections of the insulating film when seen from the top.
US07675219B2 Method for controlling an ultrasonic unit of an ultrasonic cleaning system
The invention relates to a method for controlling an ultrasonic unit f an ultrasonic cleaning system with at least one control unit, one generator unit and one hand-held unit containing the ultrasonic unit and one switching module provided for starting the ultrasonic unit, wherein mechanical oscillations can be generated via the ultrasonic unit and transmitted to an instrument that is mechanically connected to the ultrasonic unit. In a preferred embodiment, the resonant frequency required for operation of the ultrasonic unit in resonance is determined by a control routine executed in the control unit, and a control signal (ss) based on the determined resonant frequency is generated in the generator unit and is sent to the ultrasonic unit for operation of the ultrasonic unit in resonance.
US07675217B2 Mechanical oscillator formed by a network of basic oscillators
A mechanical oscillator including: at least two deformable linking beams connected to a stationary substrate at a plurality of anchoring points which are distributed along the deformable linking beams, the deformable linking beams facing each other; and a plurality of vibrating cells each connected to and disposed between the at least two deformable linking beams, the plurality of vibrating cells being distributed along the deformable linking beams and a length between two of the plurality of anchoring points being greater or equal to a length of a number of cells greater or equal to 1, wherein each of the plurality of vibrating cells includes a deformable beam having a closed contour, the deformable beam being connected to the at least two deformable linking beams at a first pair of parts which are opposite to each other in the deformable beam.
US07675216B1 Brush spring retainers
Brush spring assemblies for heavy-duty use are addressed. Such assemblies may include constant-force springs used to bias carbon brushes into contact with commutator surfaces. They additionally may include temporary capture mechanisms for the springs, allowing the springs to be retracted—and retained in a retracted position—while brackets containing the springs are inserted into brush holders. Post insertion, the capture mechanisms may be manipulated so as to release the springs, permitting the springs thereafter to bias brushes toward the commutator surfaces.
US07675208B2 Global pointing actuator
A pointing actuator comprises a spherical base; a plurality of coils wound around an outside surface of the spherical base, wherein at least one coil is wound along latitudinal lines around at least a portion of the spherical base, and at least one coil is wound along longitudinal lines around at least a portion of the spherical base; at least two magnets positioned such that at least a portion of a magnetic field produced by the at least two magnets passes through at least a section of the plurality of coils, wherein current is selectively provided to one or more of the plurality of coils such that a force is generated which causes the at least two magnets to move; and at least one data sensor coupled to at least one of the at least two magnets.
US07675205B2 Driving apparatus
A driving apparatus that can be made compact, without increasing the number of component parts and decreasing diameters of a rotating shaft and bearings. When a first unit assembled from a first stator and a first bobbin is coupled to a second unit assembled from a second stator and a second bobbin, engaging portions of the first bobbin are caused by a first switching member to shift from a disengaged state from the first stator to an engaged state with the first stator, and a second switching member, and engaging portions of the second bobbin are caused by a second switching member to shift from a disengaged state from the second stator to an engaged state with the second stator.
US07675204B2 Motor for controlling inverse rotation of rotor
Disclosed related to provide a motor reliable as capable of controlling the backward rotation of the rotor R for certain. The motor according to the present invention comprises a stator 2; a rotor R rotated by the interaction with between the stator 2 for generating the rotary force of the first rotation direction; a first interference element 32 equipped at the rotor R for rotating in one structure with the rotor R; a second interference element 34 equipped to be engaged with the first interference element 32 as rotated toward the first interference element 32 for controlling the second rotation direction different with the first rotating direction of the rotor R; and a second interference element 34 operating element deliver the rotary force of the rotor R to the second interference element 34 with the magnetism for the second interference element 34 to be rotated toward the first interference element 32 when the rotor R is rotated toward the second rotating direction.
US07675198B1 Inductive pulse forming network for high-current, high-power applications
An inductive pulse forming network stores electrical energy delivered from an outside prime power supply in the electric field of a low-voltage, high-energy density network capacitor. Through timed actuation of a series of one or more switches, the energy stored in the electric field of the network capacitor is subsequently converted to electrical energy stored in the magnetic field of a network inductor. The energy stored in the network inductor supplies high-current, high-power electrical energy to drive an electromagnetic launcher such as a railgun.
US07675187B2 Power generation systems and methods of generating power
A power generation system is provided that includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational mechanical energy. A generator is configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy and generate electrical power in response to the rotational mechanical energy. A fluid medium is provided to the internal combustion engine and to the generator for removing thermal energy from the internal combustion engine and from the generator.
US07675182B2 Die warpage control
A semiconductor package comprises a substrate; a semiconductor die that comprises a set of one or more interconnects on one side to couple to the substrate; and a shape memory alloy layer provided on another side of the semiconductor die to compensate warpage of the semiconductor die. The shape memory alloy layer deforms with warpage of the semiconductor die and changes from the deformed shape to an original shape to flatten the semiconductor die in response to rise of a temperature during coupling of the die to the substrate.
US07675181B2 Planar multi semiconductor chip package and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a planar multi semiconductor chip package in which a processor and a memory device are connected to each other via a through electrode and a method of manufacturing the planar multi semiconductor chip package. The planar multi semiconductor chip package includes: a substrate comprising a plurality of first circuit patterns on a first surface and a plurality of second circuit patterns on a second surface; a first semiconductor chip comprising a plurality of memory devices arranged on the substrate, wherein first memory devices surround at least a portion of second memory devices; a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip and corresponding to the second memory devices; and a plurality of through electrodes arranged on the second memory devices and connecting the first and second semiconductor chips to the second circuit pattern of the substrate.
US07675176B2 Semiconductor package and module printed circuit board for mounting the same
Provided are a semiconductor package and a module printed circuit board (PCB) for mounting the same. Each of the semiconductor package and the module PCB includes a substrate, a first-type pad structure disposed in a first region of the substrate, and a second-type pad structure disposed in a second region of the package substrate. The first-type pad includes a first conductive pad disposed on the package substrate and a first insulating layer coated on the package substrate. The first insulating layer has a first opening by which a portion of a sidewall of the first conductive pad is exposed, and partially covers the first conductive pad. The second-type pad includes a second insulating layer coated on the package substrate to have a second opening and a second conductive pad disposed on the package substrate in the second opening to have an exposed sidewall. In this structure, the semiconductor package and the module PCB can have an excellent resistance to physical and thermal stresses to enhance structural reliability.
US07675169B2 Apparatus and method for packaging circuits
Methods for forming an edge contact on a die and edge contact structures are described. The edge contacts on the die do not increase the height of the die. The edge contacts are positioned on the periphery of a die. The edge contacts are positioned in the saw streets. Each edge contact is connected to one bond pad of each die adjacent the saw street. The edge contact is divided into contacts for each adjacent die when the dies are separated. In an embodiment, a recess is formed in the saw street. In an embodiment, the recess is formed by scribing the saw street with a mechanical cutter. The recess is patterned and contact material is deposited to form the edge contacts.
US07675167B2 Electronic device package heat sink assembly
An electronic package includes a flat base having a notch formed at opposite ends of the base. A clamping mechanism has a boss adapted to the notch for matingly connecting to the base, and includes an aperture for receiving a fastener for securing the package to a substrate or heat sink.
US07675165B2 Mount for a programmable electronic processing device
A processing device embodied in an integrated circuit may be divided into first and second functional units. A mount for the integrated circuit may be assigned to the first functional unit, which may define the external electrical connections of the processing device. Processing may take place in a second functional unit of the processing device, whose essential connections may normally be accessible from the outside via the external connections of the first functional unit. The processor device having first and second functional units in a mount may be similar to a hybrid circuit but may serve a different purpose. The first functional unit, which may also comprise more than one monolithic integrated circuit, may define the external connections and may make available suitable matching circuits for the second functional unit. In this manner, the processing device, which may be contained in the second functional unit and may also comprise more than one monolithic integrated circuit, may be considered to be “masked” as viewed from the outside. In addition to the matching circuits, the first functional unit may contain subcircuits performing more general functions, such as oscillators, supply voltage regulator circuits, buffer circuits, protective circuits, etc.
US07675162B2 Interconnect structure using through wafer vias and method of fabrication
A device and a method are described which hermetically seals at least one microstructure within a cavity. Electrical access to the at least one microstructure is provided by through wafer vias formed through a via substrate which supports the at least one microstructure on its front side. The via substrate and a lid wafer may form a hermetic cavity which encloses the at least one microstructure. The through wafer vias are connected to bond pads located outside the cavity by an interconnect structure formed on the back side of the via substrate. Because they are outside the cavity, the bond pads may be placed inside the perimeter of the bond line forming the cavity, thereby greatly reducing the area occupied by the device. The through wafer vias also shorten the circuit length between the microstructure and the interconnect, thus improving heat transfer and signal loss in the device.
US07675159B2 Base substrate for chip scale packaging
A base substrate for chip scale package includes a carrier member made of electrical conductive metals with a first through opening; an active member laminated by a base layer made of electrical conductive metal and an intermediate layer made of electrical insulating or dielectric material, the active member having a through opening with a diameter larger that the diameter of the through opening of the base metal member; the active member being coupled with the carrier member in such a way that the intermediate layer is adhered to an upper surface of the carrier member, and these through openings are aligned to define a shoulder around the through opening of the base metal plate.
US07675151B1 Silicon-based packaging for electronic devices
An electronic device includes a first silicon-based circuit carrying substrate and a die carried by the first silicon-based circuit carrying substrate. The silicon-based circuit carrying substrate is configured to electrically connect the die to other die. The device may include a second silicon-based circuit carrying substrate. The second silicon circuit carrying substrate may be closely coupled to the first silicon-based circuit carrying substrate. The device may also include a second die carried by the second silicon-based circuit carrying substrate.
US07675143B2 Semiconductor element, semiconductor device and mounting board
A semiconductor element capable of reducing noises of a circuit propagating to another circuit through a seal ring is provided. A semiconductor element includes, on a surface of a semiconductor substrate: a plurality of circuits; a ring-shaped seal ring surrounding the plurality of circuits; and wiring connecting between the seal ring and an external low-impedance node.
US07675124B2 Memory array structure with strapping cells
A memory array with a row of strapping cells is provided. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, strapping cells are positioned between two rows of a memory array. The strapping cells provide a P+ strap between N+ active areas of two memory cells in a column and provide an N+ strap between P+ active areas of two memory cells in a column of the memory array. The strapping cells provide an insulating structure between the two rows of the memory array and create a more uniform operation of the memory cells regardless of the positions of the memory cells within the memory array. In an embodiment, a dummy N-well may be formed along the outer edge of the memory array in a direction perpendicular to the row of strapping cells. Furthermore, transistors may be formed in the strapping cells to provide additional insulation between the strapped memory cells.
US07675123B2 Printable non-volatile passive memory element and method of making thereof
Passive memory devices comprising a support having at least one conductive surface or surface layer and having on at least one side of the support a passive memory element, the passive memory element comprising a first electrode system, an insulating system and a second electrode system, wherein the first electrode system is insulated from the second electrode system, wherein the first electrode system is a conductive surface, or a conductive layer of a support, the second electrode system is a plurality of isolated conductive areas and/or a plurality of conducting pins isolated from one another; and conductive bridges are present between at least one of the isolated conductive area, or at least one of the conducting pins, and the first electrode system; wherein with the exception of the first electrode system being a conductive surface of a support, the systems and the conductive bridges are printable using conventional printing processes.
US07675121B2 SOI substrate contact with extended silicide area
A low resistance contact structure and method of making the structure. The structure includes a polysilicon contact through an upper silicon layer and buried oxide layer to a lower silicon layer of a silicon-on-insulation substrate. A region of the upper silicon layer surrounds the polysilicon contact and top surface of the polysilicon contact and surrounding region of upper silicon layer are metal silicided providing an extended contact area greater than the area of the top surface of polysilicon contact.
US07675104B2 Integrated circuit memory system employing silicon rich layers
An integrated circuit memory system that includes: providing a substrate; forming a silicon rich charge storage layer over the substrate; forming a first isolation trench through the silicon rich charge storage layer in a first direction; and forming a second isolation trench through the silicon rich charge storage layer in a second direction.
US07675097B2 Silicide strapping in imager transfer gate device
A CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) cell structure having dual workfunction transfer gate device and method of fabrication. The transfer gate device comprises a dielectric layer formed on a substrate and a dual workfunction gate conductor layer formed on the dielectric layer comprising a first conductivity type doped region and an abutting second conductivity type doped region. The transfer gate device defines a channel region where charge accumulated by a photosensing device is transferred to a diffusion region. A silicide structure is formed atop the dual workfunction gate conductor layer for electrically coupling the first and second conductivity type doped regions. In one embodiment, the silicide contact is smaller in area dimension than an area dimension of said dual workfunction gate conductor layer. Presence of the silicide strap prevents the diodic behavior from allowing one or the other side of the gate to float to an indeterminate voltage.
US07675096B2 Solid-state image pickup element and method of producing the same
A solid-state image pickup element comprises: a semiconductor substrate; an imaging section comprising a photoelectric converting portion, formed on the semiconductor substrate; an intralayer lens formed in an upper layer of the imaging section; and a peripheral circuit section that processes an output of the imaging section, formed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein at least part of the intralayer lens is formed in a lower layer of a wiring portion in the peripheral circuit section.
US07675088B2 Manufacturing method of thin film transistor array substrate
A thin film transistor array substrate and the manufacturing method thereof are disclosed herein. A first patterned metal layer, an insulating layer, a patterned layer, and a second patterned metal layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. Then, a number of scan lines and a number of source lines are disposed on the substrate and define a number of pixel regions. A number of the storage capacitance lines are disposed on the substrate in a direction extending along the scan lines and across the pixel regions, wherein each of the storage capacitance lines is essentially perpendicular to each of the source lines and to form a cross portion. A number of patterned thin films are disposed on the storage capacitance lines and above the cross portion.
US07675081B2 Surface mount optoelectronic component with lens having protruding structure
The invention relates to a surface mount optoelectronic component with a lens attachment, the method for precising the lens position and the method to manufacture the whole component.
US07675079B1 Diamond coating of silicon-carbide LEDs
In silicon-carbide based light emitting diodes (LEDs) and other similar applications, diamond crystals are used to provide an intermediate refractive index that permits more of the ultraviolet light generated in the diode to reach the phosphors, producing a brighter light with greater efficiency.
US07675074B2 Light emitting device including a lamination layer
A light emitting device having a plastic substrate is capable of preventing the substrate from deterioration with the transmission of oxygen or moisture content can be obtained. The light emitting device has light emitting elements formed between a lamination layer and an inorganic compound layer that transmits visual light, where the lamination layer is constructed of one unit or two or more units, and each unit is a laminated structure of a metal layer and an organic compound layer. Alternatively, the light emitting device has light emitting elements formed between a lamination layer and an inorganic compound layer that transmits visual light, where the lamination layer is constructed of one unit or two or more units, and each unit is a laminated structure of a metal layer and an organic compound layer, wherein the inorganic compound layer is formed so as to cover the end face of the lamination layer. In the present invention, the lamination layer is formed on the primary surface of the plastic substrate, so that a flexible substrate structure can be obtained while preventing the substrate from deterioration with the transmission of oxygen or moisture content.
US07675072B2 Light emitting diode
In a light emitting diode, a light-emitting region is including an active layer provided between a first conductivity type cladding layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and a second conductivity type cladding layer. A transparent conductive film made of a metal oxide is located over the light-emitting region. A layer for preventing exfoliation of the transparent conductive film, the preventing layer being made of a compound semiconductor contains at least aluminum and is located between the light-emitting region and the transparent conductive film. The layer for preventing exfoliation of the transparent conductive film contains a conductivity type determining impurity in a concentration of 1×1019 cm−3 or higher.
US07675070B2 LED having a reflector layer of improved contact ohmicity
An LED has a light-generating semiconductor region formed on a baseplate via an electroconductive reflector layer. The light-generating semiconductor region has an active layer sandwiched between a pair of claddings of opposite conductivity types for generating light. For good ohmic contact with the light-generating semiconductor region without any substantive diminution of reflectivity compared to that of unalloyed silver, the reflector layer is made from a silver-base alloy containing a major proportion of silver and at least either one of copper, gold, palladium, neodymium, silicon, iridium, nickel, tungsten, zinc, gallium, titanium, magnesium, yttrium, indium, and tin.
US07675068B2 Methods of treating a silicon carbide substrate for improved epitaxial deposition and resulting structures and devices
A silicon carbide structure is disclosed that is suitable for use as a substrate in the manufacture of electronic devices such as light emitting diodes. The structure includes a silicon carbide wafer having a first and second surface and having a predetermined conductivity type and an initial carrier concentration; a region of implanted dopant atoms extending from the first surface into the silicon carbide wafer to a predetermined depth, with the region having a higher carrier concentration than the initial carrier concentration in the remainder of the wafer; and an epitaxial layer on the first surface of the silicon carbide wafer.
US07675063B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of gate lines and data lines on a first substrate defining a plurality of pixel regions, a thin film transistor within the pixel regions, a pixel electrode within the pixel regions, and at least one TiOx layer provided with the thin film transistor.
US07675052B2 Nonvolatile memory device and fabrication method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device and its fabrication method of the present invention may ensure a margin of the threshold drive voltage during a design process of the device by forming a resistance layer determining phase of ReRAM along an upper edge of a lower electrode, and improve operating characteristics of the device.
US07675044B2 Method and device for 3D reconstruction of the distribution of fluorescent elements
A device and method for processing fluorescence signals emitted after excitation by radiation coming from a radiation source, by at least one fluorophore with a lifetime τ in a surrounding medium, which signals are detected by detection means, and which method includes the calculation, on the basis of detected fluorescence signals, of values of a variable, independent of τ, of the position or the distribution of fluorophore in said medium.
US07675038B2 Truncation compensation in transmission reconstructions for a small FOV cardiac gamma camera
A method and system for compensating truncated transmission projection data used for attenuation correction in a SPECT apparatus. The method and system include generating an initial estimate of a transmission reconstruction without modeling source geometry or detector collimator response and refining the transmission reconstruction by using the initial estimate with a modified model of the source geometry and the collimation geometry.
US07675036B2 Reducing scattering related features in terhertz time domain spectroscopy by averaging the impulse waveform over a plurality of sample points
A method of investigating an object, comprising the steps of: (a) irradiating the object with an optically-generated pulse of electromagnetic radiation, said pulse having a plurality of frequencies in the range from 100 GHz to 100 THz; (b) detecting radiation transmitted and/or reflected from the object to obtain a time domain waveform; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for a plurality of points on the object and (d) combining data from step (c) to produce a time domain waveform for the object which has been averaged over the plurality of points.
US07675033B2 Method of mass spectrometry and mass spectrometer
In a mass spectrometer introducing ions produced at an ion source, and including quadrupole rods which have an inlet and an outlet and to which a radio-frequency voltage is applied, the mass spectrometer, i.e., a mass spectrometry device implemented by a linear trap which exhibits high ejection efficiency, high mass resolution, and low ejection energy, executes the following steps: Trapping at least part of the ions by a trap potential generated on the central axis of a quadrupole field, oscillating part of the trapped ions in an intermediate direction between the mutually-adjacent quadrupole rods, ejecting the oscillated ions by an extraction field, and detecting the ejected ions or introducing the ejected ions into another detection process.
US07675026B2 Optical jog wheel with spiral coding element
A user navigational apparatus. The user navigational apparatus includes a dial, a coding element, and an encoder. The coding element is coupled to a dial. The coding element includes a track of alternating reflective and non-reflective sections, each having a substantially oblique leading edge relative to a direction of movement of the coding element. The encoder includes an emitter and a detector. The emitter generates a light signal incident on the track of the coding element. The detector detects a reflected light signal which corresponds to a portion of the incident light signal that is reflected off of the reflective sections of the track. The detector also generates a channel signal corresponding to the reflected light signal.
US07675025B2 Sensing absolute position of an encoded object
In one aspect of the present invention, a device for sensing an absolute position of an encoded object, comprising: a position tracking module comprising: a track illumination module configured to illuminate the encoded object with one more light beams, and to detect one or more light beams resulting from said illumination of said encoded object; and an absolute position determinator configured to determine the absolute position of the encoded object based on said one or more light beams resulting from said illumination of said encoded object.
US07675022B2 Reflecting optical trace detecting module having an optical path diverting element
An optical trace detecting module includes a light-pervious plate, a light source, an optical sensor, an imaging lens, and an optical path diverting element. The light-pervious plate contacts an object and allows the object to move on a surface thereof. The imaging lens is disposed between the light-pervious plate and the optical sensor. The optical path diverting element is disposed between the imaging lens and the optical sensor. A sensing light projected from the light source is refracted to the optical sensor under the guide of the optical path diverting element.
US07675021B2 Two dimensional contact image sensor with frontlighting
A two-dimensional image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor includes an array of photodetectors directed towards a first side. Emitters directed towards the first side are also provided, with the emitters emitting infrared light when illuminated by ultraviolet light. An ultraviolet light source is provided for illuminating the emitters, and a filter prevents ultraviolet light from illuminating the photodetectors.
US07675013B2 Image displaying apparatus with control over the output ratio of a plurality of light sources
An image displaying apparatus displays a color image with favorable quality on a predetermined surface. A light source unit emits light beams within different wavelength ranges optically modulated by image information. A light combining unit combines light beams from the light source unit into a light beam. A scanning unit scans a scanned surface with the light beam from the light combining unit and forms an image thereon. A controlling unit synchronously controls the scanning unit and the light source unit. A dividing unit divides a light beam into more than one light beam within an arbitrary optical path on light-incident side of the scanning unit. A receiving unit and adjustment unit adjust quantity of light emission of one or more light source units based on the light quantity received by the receiving unit on one of the optical paths divided by the dividing unit.
US07675006B2 Temperature sensing circuit in cooking appliance and controlling method of the same
A temperature sensing circuit and a method of automatically controlling the temperature sensing circuit in a cooking apparatus for more accuracy are provided. In the method, the low temperature table and the high temperature table are selectively used based on a current temperature of a cooking chamber, when cooking is ended. The low temperature table and the high temperature table are selectively used based on preset cooking temperatures for different types of cooking together with a current temperature of the cooking chamber, while cooking is performed.
US07675005B2 Ceramic igniter
New ceramic resistive igniter elements are provided that comprise a first conductive zone, a resistive hot zone, and a second conductive zone, all in electrical sequence. In preferred igniters, at least a substantial portion of the first conductive zone does not contact a ceramic insulator. Preferred igniters of the invention have a rounded cross-sectional shape for at least a portion of the igniter length.
US07675003B2 Laser irradiation device, patterning method and method of fabricating organic light emitting display (OLED) using the patterning method
In a laser irradiation device, a patterning method and a method of fabricating an Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) using the same. The laser irradiation device includes a light source, a mask, a projection lens, and a Fresnel lens formed at a predetermined portion of the mask to change an optical path. When an organic layer pattern is formed using the laser irradiation device, laser radiation is irradiated onto a region of an organic layer, which is to be cut, and the laser radiation is appropriately irradiated onto a region of the organic layer, which is to be separated from a donor substrate. The laser radiation irradiated onto an edge of the organic layer pattern has a laser energy density greater than that of the laser radiation irradiated onto other portions of the organic layer pattern. As a result, it is possible to form a uniform organic layer pattern and reduce damage of the organic layer.
US07675001B2 Method and a device for depositing a wipe-proof and rub-proof marking onto transparent glass
A device for depositing a wipe-proof and rub-proof marking or code marking, in particular a two-dimensional matrix or line coding onto glass receptacles such as glass ampoules, glass bottles, vials and likewise, comprises a transport means having a drive, with one or more accommodating devices for objects to be inscribed, a laser system arranged at a distance to the transport means with a laser source for producing a laser light beam of a wavelength <380 nm, said laser light beam in operation being directed onto the transport path and defining an impingement point in the region of at least one accommodating means moved along the transport path, means in order to deflect the laser light beam in a first and in a second direction continuously or in certain incremental intervals, and at least one control unit comprising a memory unit and a microprocessor which is in connection with the laser system and the deflection means, for controlling at least the deflection system and the laser system. The device further comprises a transport means designed for the transport of glass receptacles to be marked, along a transport path, a means for detecting or determining at least the position of at least one accommodating means or a glass receptacle accommodated therein at least one position along the transport path, said means being in connection with the control unit, and a program stored in the memory unit, which triggers the laser in dependence on the position of the glass receptacle to be inscribed, as well as at least one marking pattern, according to which the deflection means for writing the 2D marking is moved in a first and in a second direction. A read means is provided or arranged at a defined read position along the transport path after the laser system in the transport direction for detecting the marking previously written by the laser system, said read means being in connection with the control unit. In the control unit there is further present a program or a program procedure which compares the stored marking pattern to the marking detected by the read means and provides a control signal in dependence on the result of the comparison, at the output of the control unit.
US07675000B2 System method and apparatus for dry-in, dry-out, low defect laser dicing using proximity technology
A substrate processing system includes a first, movable surface tension gradient device, a dicing device and a system controller. The first, movable surface tension gradient device is capable of supporting a first process within a first meniscus. The first meniscus being supported between the first surface tension gradient device and a first surface of the substrate. The first movable surface tension gradient device capable of being moved relative to the first surface of the substrate. The dicing device is oriented to a desired dicing location. The desired dicing location being encompassed by the meniscus. The system controller is coupled to the dicing device and the surface tension gradient device. The system controller includes a process recipe. A method for dicing a substrate is also described.
US07674993B2 Operating element for a motor vehicle
The invention concerns an operating element, in particular a pushbutton, for a motor vehicle, having at least of a touch-sensitive pushbutton operating on a capacitive basis and a housing, wherein the pushbutton is movably mounted in the housing, wherein a capacitor that forms the capacitance is composed of a metallic area applied to an inner or outer side of a surface facing the user, and the metallic area forms an electrode of the capacitor that is electrically contacted in the housing.
US07674983B2 Wire holder
A wire holder includes a synthetic resin component that includes a clamp portion for holding at least one wire and a metal component that includes at least one lead portion mounted on a circuit board. The synthetic resin component includes a groove-shaped fitting groove portion. The metal component includes at least one fitting portion that fits the fitting groove portion and is connected to the lead portion. The fitting groove portion includes at least one first opening portion which allows the at least one lead portion to project in a predetermined direction when the at least one fitting portion fits the fitting groove portion. At least one of end portions in an extension direction of a groove of the fitting groove portion is opened as a second opening portion which allows one of the at least one lead portion to project along the extension direction of the groove of the fitting groove portion.
US07674982B2 Electric cable and insulator self-locking system, and method of installation thereof
The insulator, includes a lower bell shaped portion, an intermediate annular waist portion and an upper saddle portion for receiving and supporting an electric transmission overhead cable. An axial blind bore opens at its lower end for receiving an upstanding support pin. The saddle portion includes a transversely-curved groove, substantially normal to the axial bore, and jutting parts on each side of the cable receiving groove and laterally protruding from the waist portion. Each jutting part has an external face which is provide with a partly annular groove, generally coaxial with the bore and of greater radius than that of the waist portion. These annular grooves are adapted to positively retain the inturned flanges of a cable retaining clasp despite an upward force or a laterally upwardly directed force exerted by the cable on the clasp. The waist portion can still be used for attaching the electric wire by a tie-wire. The clasp includes male/female joints at each of its two downwardly curved arms that automatically interlock with each other when a sufficient biasing force is applied thereon by a pneumatic tool deforming the clasp arms, drawing the registering flanges of the latter toward one another to lock the insulator to the overhead electric cable.
US07674980B2 Tapered transition ramp for cable protector
An exemplary cable protection system is disclosed comprising a first cable protector structured to receive one or more cables, a first side ramp adjacent a side of the first cable protector, and a tapered structure adjacent an end of the first side ramp. The tapered structure may be tapered in both a first direction and a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction. The tapered structure may also comprise a substantially planar top surface and may be removably attached to, or integrally formed with, the first side ramp. The cable protection system may also comprise a second cable protector connected in series with the first cable protector and a second side ramp adjacent a side of the second cable protector. The tapered structure may be configured to overlap at least a portion of the second side ramp, which may have a steeper slope than the first side ramp.
US07674976B2 Paintable wall plate covering assembly and method
Disclosed embodiments relate to a wall plate assembly, such as for light switches and electrical outlets, that may be painted to coordinate with the color of a room's walls, trim, or décor. The wall plate assembly includes a transparent outer or cover plate and a concealed backing plate. A reverse side of the transparent outer plate can be painted and the backing plate attached to cover and protect the painted surface. Both the outer plate and the backing plate can be made of molded thermoplastic resin and will typically contain openings to provide access to switches, outlets, plugs, jacks, mounting posts, etc., as well as any holes requires by fasteners such as screws.
US07674971B2 Keyboard attachment for disabled persons
A key extender includes an elongated member, e.g., a deformable metal rod, having a first end portion secured to a contact member, e.g., a circular disc having a contact area greater than the available touch plate surface area of the key. An opposite second end portion of the elongated member is secured to a first part of a fastening arrangement, with the other part of the fastening arrangement on a key of a keyboard. Mounting an extender on each of the keys of a keyboard and shaping the metal rod to position the discs adjacent to and spaced from one another allows a disabled person to depress the closely adjacent keys of the keyboard, e.g. and not limited to, the keys of a piano or keys of a typewriter.
US07674966B1 System and method for realtime scoring of games and other applications
The invention provides a software framework that allows real-time computer-generated music to be used in interactive applications, particularly video games, by “modularizing” music-producing and music-modifying computer procedures into musically logical and programmatically convenient structures, as well as providing a communication mechanism between the application and the music-generating system which will allow the music to reflect the appropriate mood given the current application state.
US07674963B1 String instrument with variable openings
A removable insert for an opening in a wall board of a string instrument, includes a side wall having dimensions less than those of the opening for insertion in the opening, and a flange wall having dimensions greater than those of the opening so as to seat on the wall board. An arrangement is provided for releasably securing the removable insert to the wall board such that the side wall is positioned in the opening in the wall board, the arrangement including two wing brackets that are rotatably mounted to the side wall for movement between a first position within the confines of the insert in which the insert is removable from the opening and a second position in which the wing brackets are secured to an undersurface of the wall board to lock the insert in the opening.
US07674962B2 Harp with exposed soundboard and separate bridges and method of altering the pitch of the harp strings
A harp is disclosed. The harp that allows for more simplified pitch change. The harp allows for the creation of a pitch bend effect, similar to the sound of the twang of a guitar. The harp also allows for rising half tones in the strings, wherein the pitch of a string is raised by exactly one semitone. Because of the various ways to change the pitch, each string in the harp is capable of playing up to three different notes.
US07674945B2 Process for alkylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon or isoalkane with an olefin over the catalysis of a solid acid
The present invention discloses a process for alkylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon or isoalkane with an olefin over the catalysis of a solid acid, comprising contacting a reaction material containing an aromatic hydrocarbon or C4-C6 isoalkane, C2-C18 monoolefin and a compound containing a strongly electronegative element as promoter with a solid acid catalyst to carry out the alkylation, characterized in that the solid acid catalyst is contacted with a compound having a strongly electronegative element prior to its contact with the reaction material. Said process not only greatly increases the selectivity of the target product of the alkylation but also improves stability of the solid acid catalyst.
US07674939B2 Method for producing fluorinated organic compounds
Disclosed are methods for producing fluorinated organic compounds, including hydrofluoropropenes, which preferably comprises converting at least one compound of formula (I): CF3CHXCH2X  (I) to at least one compound of formula (II) CF3CZCHZ  (II). where X is independently Cl, Br, I or F, and Z independently is H or F. In certain preferred embodiments, each Z is different.
US07674937B2 Hydroformylation catalysts
This invention is directed to a class of compounds that can be both monodentate and bidentate in their association with a transition metal to form a catalyst for reactions such as the hydroformylation of olefins to produce aldehydes. The compounds contain two phosphorus atoms having different steric and/or electronic nature. In hydroformylation catalysts, the compounds advantageously can produce a variable n/iso product mixture of aldehyde products that can be varied by simply changing process variables such as [H2]/[CO] partial pressure gas ratio or temperature/inert gas partial pressure.
US07674936B2 Ortho-substituted aryl amides for controlling invertebrate pests
Disclosed are compounds of Formula I, their N-oxides and agriculturally suitable salts wherein J is a phenyl ring, a 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or an aromatic 8-, 9- or 10-membered fused carbobicyclic or heterobicyclic ring system wherein each ring or ring system is substituted with from one to four substituents independently selected from R5; K is —NR1C(=A)-, —N═C(GR6)— or —NR1SO2—; L is —C(═B)NR2—, —C(GR6)═N—, —SO2NR2—, —C(═B)O— or —C(═B)—; and A, B, G, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and n are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are methods for controlling invertebrate pests comprising contacting the pests or their environment with a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula I and compositions containing the compounds of Formula I. Intermediate compounds useful in preparing the compounds of Formula I are also disclosed.
US07674934B2 Stabilizers for use in NVP synthesis
A process for preparing N-alkenyl compounds by reacting the corresponding NH compounds with alkynes in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of at least one stabilizer, and the use of stabilizers for increasing the selectivity in a process for preparing N-alkenyl compounds by reacting the corresponding NH compounds with alkynes in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst.
US07674927B2 Fluorinated organic silicon coating material
Disclosed are perfluoropolyether silicon compounds, coatings containing the perfluoropolyether silicon compounds, methods of making the perfluoropolyether silicon compounds, and methods of making perfluoropolyether silicon coatings.
US07674925B2 Polyols from plant oils and methods of conversion
Methods of producing plant polyols from plant oils include reacting a plant oil with a designed reactant having one or more nucleophilic functional groups and one or more active hydrogen functional groups in the presence of an addition reaction catalyst in a single reaction step. The resultant polyols may be directly reacted with polyisocyanates to produce polyurethanes.
US07674924B2 Compositions, probes, and conjugates and uses thereof
The present invention relates to compositions useful as probes and in other applications and methods of their use. In some embodiments, nucleotides are prepared and functionalized with dyes. In some embodiments a first molecule is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a second molecule is functionalized with an azide group, and said first and second molecules are mixed under conditions to form a conjugate with a 1,2,3-triazol group. In further embodiments, a nucleotide is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a dye is functionalized with an azide group, and mixing the nucleotide and the dye forms a conjugate capable of emitting light.
US07674909B2 Tetrahydroquinoline derivatives and their use as FSH receptor modulators
The present invention relates to tetrahydroquinoline derivatives having general formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 and R2 are H, Me; R3 is (2-6C)heterocycloalkyl(1-4C)alkyl, (2-5C)heteroaryl(1-4C)alkyl, (6C)aryl (1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)(di)alkylaminocarbonylamino(2-4C)alkyl, (2-6C) heterocycloalkylcarbonylamino(2-4C)alkyl, R5-(2-4C)alkyl or R5-carbonyl(1-4C)alkyl; R4 is (2-5C)heteroaryl, (6C)aryl, (3-8C)cycloalkyl, (2-6C)heterocycloalkyl or (1-6C) alkyl and R5 is (di)(1-4C)alkylamino, (1-4C)alkoxy, amino, hydroxy, (6C)arylamino, (di)(3-4C)alkenylamino, (2-5C)heteroaryl(1-4C)alkylamino, (6C)aryl(1-4C) alkylamino, (di)[(1-4C)alkoxy(2-4C)alkyl]amino, (di)[(1-4C)alkylamino(2-4C) alkyl]amino, (di)[amino(2-4C)alkyl]amino or (di)[hydroxy(2-4C)alkyl]amino. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said derivatives and the use of these derivatives to regulate fertility.
US07674905B2 Fluoroquinolonoquinolones and inkjet ink compositions comprising the same
The present invention relates to modified yellow pigments comprising yellow pigments having attached at least one organic group. The yellow pigment is a fluoroquinolonoquinolone pigment. Also disclosed are inkjet ink compositions comprising these modified yellow pigments and inkjet ink sets comprising these inkjet ink compositions. Other applications are also disclosed.
US07674904B2 Synthesis of R-N-methylnaltrexone
This invention relates to stereoselective synthesis of R-MNTX and intermediates thereof, pharmaceutical preparations comprising R-MNTX or intermediates thereof and methods for their use.
US07674897B2 Production of crystalline short chain amylose
A process for producing a starch comprises treating a feed starch that comprises amylopectin with glucanotransferase to produce a chain-extended starch, and treating the chain-extended starch with a debranching enzyme to produce a starch product that comprises amylose fragments. At least about 38% by weight of the amylose fragments have a degree of polymerization (DP) of at least about 35.
US07674893B2 Promoters for regulation of gene expression in plant roots
The present invention is directed to promoters isolated from maize and functional equivalents thereto. The promoters of the present invention have particular utility in driving root-specific expression of heterologous genes that impart increased agronomic, horticultural and/or pesticidal characteristics to a given promoters of the invention and transformed plant tissues containing DNA molecules comprising a promoter of the invention operably linked to a heterologous gene or genes, and seeds thereof.
US07674890B2 Stem cell factor-like proteins and uses thereof
The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising gastrointestinal proliferative factor SCFA2, SCFA4 or SCFA4v polynucleotides and polypeptides. The invention further relates to the therapeutic use of SCFA2, SCFA4 or SCFA4v to prevent or treat conditions or disorders associated with the degeneration of the epithelial mucosa.
US07674882B2 Silk biomaterials and methods of use thereof
The present invention provides an all-aqueous process and composition for production of silk biomaterials, e.g., fibers, films, foams and mats. In the process, at least one biocompatible polymer, such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (a well-documented biocompatible material), was blended with the silk protein prior to processing e.g., electrospinning. We discovered that this step avoids problems associated with conformational transitions of fibroin during solubilization and reprocessing from aqueous solution which lead to embrittled materials. Moreover, the process avoids the use of organic solvents that can pose problems when the processed biomaterials are exposed to cells in vitro or in vivo.
US07674875B2 Phosphorus-containing compounds with polymeric chains, and methods of making and using the same
The present invention relates to novel phosphorus-containing compounds with polymeric chains, and methods of making and using the same. In part, subject compositions containing phosphorus-containing compounds with polymeric chains and a therapeutic agent, and methods of making and using the same, are described. Certain of the subject compositions exhibit reverse thermal gelation.
US07674863B2 Esterified copolymers of polyalkenes/unsaturated acidic reagents useful as lubricant and fuel additives
Esterified polyalkene/UAR copolymer reaction products useful as (1) a friction modifier for lubricating oils such as automatic transmission fluids to improve torque capacity and anti-shudder durability and for continuous variable transmissions (CVTs), (2) a friction modifier for fuels or (3) a cold flow improver for diesel fuels are provided. The esterified copolymer reaction product may be used as is or can be further derivatized (e.g., by post treatment of the esterified copolymer reaction product with, for example, ethylene carbonate or boric acid).
US07674854B2 Process for producing polyvinyl acetal resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, and process for producing esterified polyvinyl alcohol resin
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing a polyvinyl acetal resin by which a polyvinyl acetal resin having a high acetalization degree can be produced even in a solid catalyst system, a polyvinyl butyral resin produced by the above-mentioned production method of a polyvinyl acetal resin, and a method of producing an esterified polyvinyl alcohol resin by which the esterification can be performed at high efficiency even in a solid catalyst system.The present invention is a method of producing a polyvinyl acetal resin, wherein a solution or a suspension containing a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a carbonyl compound is pressurized in the presence of a solid catalyst.
US07674851B2 Polymer composition for peroxide bleaching of cellulosic fibre material and processes for peroxide bleaching
The present invention relates to a polymer composition for peroxide bleaching of a cellulosic fiber material, said composition being in the form of a stable aqueous polymer solution obtained by bringing in an aqueous medium a first polymer (A) comprising a partly or totally acidic homopolymer of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic acid, or a copolymer of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, into contact with a second polymer (B) comprising a polylactone of a poly-alfa-hydroxyacrylic acid in solid form or as a moist powder or as a slurry, said polymer solution having a pH of at most 8, The invention also relates to peroxide bleaching processes.
US07674850B2 Hardenable self-supporting structures and methods
Compositions, particularly for forming dental products, having a hardenable self-supporting structure with sufficient malleability to be subsequently customized into a second shape and then hardened, and methods.
US07674849B2 Process for the manufacture of a composite material, composite material and use thereof
Process for the manufacture of a composite material (M) comprising a stage (E) according to which a dispersion (D) comprising : (a) at least one polymer, (b) at least one lamellar compound, and (c) at least one dispersing liquid, is dried by atomization. Composite material (M′) comprising (a′) at least one polymer, (b′) at least one lamellar compound, and (d′) at least 0.02% by weight of at least one surface-active agent with respect to the weight of (a′) in the dry state; composed of particles having a weight-average diameter D50 of less than or equal to 200 μm. Method for processing this composite material.
US07674844B2 Labelled beads
A labeled polymeric bead wherein individual beads comprise a primary particle formed of a synthetic polymeric material, and at least one secondary particle entrapped within the primary particle of the bead and being comprised of a synthetic polymer material incorporating reporter moieties.
US07674840B2 Isocyanate-free expandable mixtures exhibiting a fast hardening rate
Isocyanate-free foamable mixtures suitable for filling construction voids and for other uses, comprise isocyanate-free, alkoxysilane-terminated prepolymers (A) which have a silane end group of the formula [1], where X and Y are each an oxygen atom, an N—R3 group or a sulfur atom, R1 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or aryl radical having 1-10 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl radical having 1-2 carbon atoms or an ω-oxyalkylalkyl radical having a total of 2-10 carbon atoms, R3 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, alkenyl or aryl radical having 1-10 carbon atoms or a —CH2—SiR1z(OR2)3-z group, and z is 0 or 1, with the proviso that at least one of the two groups X and Y is an NH function, and (B) blowing agents.
US07674831B2 Heterocyclic compounds as sweetener enhancers
The present invention is directed to the use of a compound of Formula I and physiologically acceptable salts thereof wherein G1, G2, G3, R1, R2, R7, R3, R4, and R5 are defined herein. Compounds according to Formula I can be used to enhance a sweet taste produced by a tastant. The invention is also directed to compositions comprising a compound according to the above formula. Other aspects of the invention provide methods, compounds, and compositions for improved food products wherein the food product comprises a compound according to Formula I and a reduced amount of a sweet tastant.
US07674822B2 PTP1b inhibitors
This invention relates to modulating (e.g., inhibiting) protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B).
US07674821B2 N-[(4,5-diphenyl-3-alkyl-2-thienyl)methyl]amine [amide, sulfonamide, carbamate and urea) derivatives as cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists
The invention concerns compounds of formula (I), wherein X, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein. The invention also concerns a method for preparing said compounds and their use as cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists.
US07674818B2 Aryl, aryloxy, alkyloxy substituted 1H-indol-3-yl glyoxylic acid derivatives as inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
Compounds of formula I are provided: wherein: R1, R2, and R3, are as defined herein, as well as pharmaceutical composition and methods using the compounds as inhibitors of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and as therapeutic composition for treating conditions resulting from fibrinolytic disorders, such as deep vein thrombosis, coronary heart disease and pulmonary fibrosis.
US07674817B2 Antimicrobial acid-catalyzed coating compositions
The antimicrobial acid-catalyzed coating composition of the invention is an acid-catalyzed coating composition formulated with at least one antimicrobial agent to provide antimicrobial activity to the coating composition and an article coated therewith.
US07674814B2 Process for the preparation of perindopril and salts thereof
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of the ACE inhibitor (2S,3aS,7aS)-1-((2S)-2-(((1S)-1-(ethoxycarbonyl)butyl)amino)-1-oxopropyl)octahydro-1H-indol-2-carboxylic acid and of pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as well as to intermediates useful in said process.
US07674808B2 Heterocyclic compounds
4-pyridone (4-pyridinone) derivatives of Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical formulations thereof and their use in chemotherapy of certain parasitic infections such as malaria, are provided.
US07674807B2 Heterocycle-substituted n-phenyl-phthalamide derivatives, related compounds and their use as insecticides
Novel benzenedicarboxamides of the formula (I) wherein X represents hydrogen, halogen atom, nitro, C1-6alkylsulfonyloxy, C1-6alkylsulfinyl, C1-6alkylsulfenyl or C1-6alkylsulfonyl, R1 represents C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylthio-C1-6alkyl, or C1-6alkyl, m represents 0 or 1, A represents O, S, SO, SO2, CH2 or CH(CH3), and Q represents a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group that contains at least one hetero atom selected from the group consisting of N, O and S and can be optionally substituted; processes for their preparation, their intermediates and their use as insecticides.
US07674806B2 Amidines and derivatives thereof and pharmaceutical compositions containing them
Amidines and derivatives thereof of formula (I) are described. The process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are also described. The amidines of the invention are useful in the inhibition of chemotaxis of neutrophils induced by IL-8. The compounds of the invention are used in the treatement of psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, melanoma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bullous pemphigo, rheumatoid arthritis, idiopathic fibrosis, glomerulonephritis and in the prevention and treatment of damages caused by ischemia and reperfusion.
US07674790B2 Processes of making and using pharmaceutical formulations of antineoplastic agents
In its several embodiments, this invention discloses a pharmaceutical formulation comprising at least one antineoplastic agent or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one dissolution enhancing agent sufficient to substantially dissolve said at least one antineoplastic agent in at least one aqueous diluent, wherein said dissolution enhancing agent is urea, L-histidine, L-threonine, L-asparagine, L-serine, L-glutamine or mixtures thereof; a lyophilized powder comprising said pharmaceutical formulation, and articles of manufacture thereof.
US07674789B2 Compounds
The present invention is directed to compounds of formula (I), (Ia),(Ic) and (Id), compositions, and uses thereof as an inhibitor of the p38 kinase, and wherein, inter alia R1 is C(Z)N(R10′)(CR10R20)vRb, C(Z)O(CR10R20)vRb, N(R10′)C(Z)(CR10R20)vRb; N(R10′)C(Z)N(R10′)(CR10R20)vRb; or N(R10′)OC(Z)(CR10R20)vRb; R3 is C1-10 alkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl C1-10 alkyl, aryl, arylC1-10 alkyl, heteroarylC1-10 alkyl, or a heterocyclylC1-10 alkyl moiety, and wherein each of these moieties may be optionally substituted; X is R2, OR2′, S(O)mR2′, (CH2)n′N(R10′)S(O)mR2′, (CH2)n′N(R10′)C(O)R2′, (CH2)n′NR4R14, (CH2)n′N(R2 ′)(R2″), or N(R10′)—Rh—NH—C(═N—CN)NRqRq′; and R2 is hydrogen, C1-10 alkyl, C3-7 cycloalkyl, C3-7 cycloalkylalkyl, aryl, arylC1-10 alkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylC1-10 alkyl, heterocyclic, or a heterocyclylC1-10 alkyl moiety, and wherein each of these moieties, excluding hydrogen, may be optionally substituted; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US07674786B2 Therapeutic β-lactams
Compounds comprising: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a prodrug thereof, are disclosed, wherein Y is a carboxylic acid functional group, sulfonic acid functional group, or phosphonic acid functional group; or an amide or ester thereof comprising from 0 to 12 carbon atoms; or Y is a hydroxymethyl, or tetrazolyl functional group; A is —(CH2)6—, cis —CH2CH═CH—(CH2)3—, or —CH2C≡C—(CH2)3—, wherein 1 or 2 carbon atoms may be substituted with S or O; or A is —(CH2)m—Ar—(CH2)o wherein Ar is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or monocyclic heteroaryl, the sum of m and o is from 1 to 4, and wherein one CH2 may be replaced by with S or O; R, D, and n are as described. Methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.
US07674776B2 Combination therapy for effecting weight loss and treating obesity
The present invention features a novel therapy for effecting weight loss which involves treating a subject with a sympathomimetic agent (e.g., phentermine or a phentermine-like drug) in combination with an anticonvulsant sulfamate derivative (e.g., topiramate) such that the subject experiences weight loss.The combination methods of the present invention also are effective against symptoms associated with Syndrome X. The invention also features pharmaceutical compositions and kits for use in the practice of these novel therapies.
US07674773B2 Diphenylazetidinones, process for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds and their use
Compounds of the formula I, in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 have the meanings given in the description, and their physiologically acceptable salts. The compounds are suitable for use, for example, as hypolipidemics.
US07674771B2 Antimicrobial peptides and utilization of the same
Antimicrobial peptide provided by present invention is an artificially designed antimicrobial peptide that does not occur naturally, and includes a sequence composed of at least 6 contiguous amino acid residues selected from an amino acid sequence constituting laminin binding site (LBS), or said sequence with one or a plurality of amino acid residue(s) conservatively replaced, and an amino acid sequence that can express antimicrobial activity against at least one kind of bacteria or fungi. It is desirable that the total number of amino acid residues is 100 or less.
US07674768B2 Processes for preparing eptifibatide
The present invention provides, inter alia, convergent processes for preparing eptifibatide that involve coupling a 2-6 eptifibatide fragment to an activated cysteinamide residue to form a 2-7 eptifibatide fragment, attaching a mercaptopropionic acid residue to the 2-7 eptifibatide fragment through disulfide bond formation, coupling the peptide intramolecularly, and removing the protecting group, to form eptifibatide. The invention further provides products produced by the described processes, novel compounds that can be used as synthetic intermediates for the preparation of eptifibatide, and novel compounds that are structurally similar to eptifibatide.
US07674765B2 Method for producing cyclohexadecanone
The invention relates to a method for producing cyclohexadecanone by hydrogenating cyclohexadecenone, to mixtures of aromatic substances, and to products containing the inventive cyclohexadecanone.
US07674764B2 Controlled release compositions
A composition for controlled release of an active material such as a fragrance, sunscreen, vitamin or biocide in a product such as a hair shampoo, shower gel, another personal product such as an antiperspirant or deodorant, a household cleaning product such as a laundry detergent, hard surface cleaner or polishes, or a fabric softener, air freshener or tumble drier sheet, comprises a blend of the active material and a waxy cyclopolysiloxane. The cyclopolysiloxane is preferably substituted by hydrocarbon substituents having 12 or more carbon atoms and may also contain an aryl or aralkyl substituent.
US07674763B2 Method for manufacturing a molded detergent composition
A method for manufacturing a molded detergent composition is provided. The method includes mixing a hydrated component and a hydratable component without heating to provide a mixture, molding the mixture to provide a molded detergent composition, and solidifying the molded detergent composition as a result of movement of the water of hydration from the hydrated component to the hydratable component to provide the molded detergent composition as a solid under conditions of room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The hydratable component includes water, if present at all, at a level of less than about 2 wt. % based on the weight of the hydratable component. The hydratable component is a component which successfully competes with the hydrated component for at least a portion of the water of hydration. Solidification of the mixture takes between about 1 minute and about 15 minutes.
US07674759B2 Stable liquid cleansing compositions containing high level of fatty acid isethionate surfactant products having more than 10 wt. % of fatty acid/fatty soap content
The invention provides liquid cleanser compositions which contains fatty acyl isethionate surfactant products having at least 10 wt % free fatty acid and/or fatty acid salt used as the primary surfactant at a level at least 60 wt % of total fatty acyl isethionate and synthetic cosurfactants in the liquid composition. The key is to insure a specific combination of surfactant crystal modifiers so that the fatty acyl isethionate-containing liquid composition will be stable at low and high temperatures.
US07674751B2 Fabrication of sealed high temperature superconductor wires
A method of making a laminated superconductor wire includes providing an assembly, where the assembly includes a substrate; a superconductor layer overlaying a surface of the substrate, the superconductor layer having a defined pattern; and a cap layer; and slitting the assembly in accordance with the defined pattern of the superconductor layer to form a sealed wire. Slitting the assembly in accordance with the defined pattern may form multiple sealed wires, and the substrate may be substantially wider than the sealed wires.
US07674745B2 Silver- and vanadium-containing multimetal oxide and its use
A multimetal oxide of the formula I Aga−bMbV2Ox*c H2O,  I where M is a metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Tl, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Au, Al, Fe, Co, Ni and/or Mo, a is from 0.3 to 1.9 and b is from 0 to 0.5, with the proviso that the difference (a−b)≧0.1 and c is from 0 to 20 and x is a number determined by the valence and amount of elements different from oxygen in the formula I, has a crystal structure giving an X-ray powder diffraction pattern which displays reflections at the lattice spacings d of 15.23±0.6, 12.16±0.4, 10.68±0.3, 3.41±0.04, 3.09±0.04, 3.02±0.04, 2.36±0.04 and 1.80±0.04 Å. Precatalysts and catalysts produced therefrom for the partial oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons are also provided.
US07674744B2 Catalyst powder, method of producing the catalyst powder, and exhaust gas purifying catalyst
A method of producing catalyst powder of the present invention has a step of precipitating a carrier in a reversed micelle, and a step of precipitating at least one of a noble metal particle and a transition metal particle in the reversed micelle in which the carrier is precipitated. By this method, it is possible to obtain catalyst powder excellent in heat resistance and high in the catalytic activity.
US07674737B2 Optical medium, an optical lens and a prism
An optical medium having a high refractive index without anisotropy and a wide transmission wavelength is obtained. The cubic crystal material is αβO3, where α is at least one of K, Ba, Sr, Ca, and β is at least one of Ta, Ti. Optimally, the cubic crystal material is KTa1-xNbxO3, where composition x is 0≦x≦0.35. This composition enables to raise refractive index while its phase transition temperature is below a room temperature.
US07674736B2 Glass for dental applications
The invention relates to a glass for dental applications which can be used as a glazing material of dental restorations and resists high temperatures, and thus does not tend to flow.
US07674721B2 Semiconductor device, semiconductor wafer, and methods of producing same device and wafer
A method of forming a multi-layered insulation film includes forming a first insulation layer using a first feed gas, the first insulation layer including methyl silsesquioxane (MSQ), forming a second insulation layer using a second feed gas, the second insulation layer including a polysiloxane compound having an Si—H group such that the second insulation layer is in contact with a top of the first insulation layer, and forming a third insulation layer including an inorganic material such that the third insulation layer is in contact with a top of the second insulation layer.
US07674720B2 Stacking fault reduction in epitaxially grown silicon
Methods are disclosed for providing stacking fault reduced epitaxially grown silicon for use in hybrid surface orientation structures. In one embodiment, a method includes depositing a silicon nitride liner over a silicon oxide liner in an opening, etching to remove the silicon oxide liner and silicon nitride liner on a lower surface of the opening, undercutting the silicon nitride liner adjacent to the lower surface, and epitaxially growing silicon in the opening. The silicon is substantially reduced of stacking faults because of the negative slope created by the undercut.
US07674719B2 Via hole machining for microwave monolithic integrated circuits
A method for forming a via in a sapphire substrate with a laser machining system that includes an ultrafast pulsed laser source. The sapphire substrate is provided. Pulses of laser light are substantially focused to a beam spot on the first surface of the sapphire substrate such that each focused pulse of laser light ablates a volume of the sapphire substrate having a depth less than the substrate thickness. The beam spot of the focused laser light pulses is scanned over a via portion of the first surface of the sapphire substrate. The sapphire substrate is moved in a direction substantially normal to the first surface to control the volume of the sapphire substrate ablated by each pulse of laser light to be substantially constant. The pulsing and scanning steps are repeated until the via is formed extending from the first surface to the second surface of the sapphire substrate.
US07674712B2 Patterning method for light-emitting devices
A method of patterning a substrate by mechanically locating a first masking film over the substrate; removing one or more first opening portions in first locations in the first masking film to form one or more first masking portions in the first masking film. First materials are deposited over the substrate in the first locations to form first patterned areas before mechanically locating a second masking film over the substrate and first masking portions. One or more second opening portions are removed from second locations, different from the first locations, in both the second masking film and the first masking portions to form one or more second masking portions. Second materials are deposited over the substrate in the second locations to form second patterned areas.
US07674708B2 Method for forming fine patterns of a semiconductor device
A method for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device overcomes resolution limits of exposure equipment. The method includes forming a first photoresist pattern over an underlying layer formed over a semiconductor substrate. An amorphous carbon film and a second photoresist film are sequentially deposited over the first photoresist pattern. The second photoresist film and the amorphous carbon film are planarized to expose the first photoresist pattern. A thick portion and a thin portion of the amorphous carbon film is formed. The first photoresist pattern and the second photoresist film are removed. Etching is performed on the thin portion of the amorphous carbon film and the underlying layer using the thick portion of the amorphous carbon film as an etch mask. The thick portion of the amorphous carbon film is removed to expose a fine pattern of the underlying layer.
US07674684B2 Deposition methods for releasing stress buildup
A deposition method for releasing a stress buildup of a feature over a semiconductor substrate with dielectric material is provided. The feature includes lines separated by a gap. The method includes forming a liner layer over the feature on the semiconductor substrate in a chamber. A stress of the liner layer over the feature is released to substantially reduce bending of the lines of the feature. A dielectric film is deposited over the stress-released liner layer to substantially fill the gap of the feature.
US07674680B2 Transistor having high dielectric constant gate insulating layer and source and drain forming Schottky contact with substrate
The invention is directed to a device for regulating the flow of electric current with high dielectric constant gate insulating layer and a source and/or drain forming a Schottky contact or Schottky-like region with a substrate and its fabrication method. In one aspect, the gate insulating layer has a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of silicon. In another aspect, the current regulating device may be a MOSFET device, optionally a planar P-type or N-type MOSFET, having any orientation. In another aspect, the source and/or drain may consist partially or fully of a silicide.
US07674678B2 Method for producing a transistor component having a field plate
A method for producing a transistor component having a field plate. One embodiment includes providing a semiconductor body having a first side, and including a first trench extending into the semiconductor body. A field plate dielectric layer is produced on the first side and at uncovered areas of the first trench such that a residual trench remains. A field plate layer is produced in the residual trench. The first side of the semiconductor body is uncovered using a polishing method. The field plate dielectric layer is partially removed from the at least one first trench proceeding from the first side.
US07674669B2 FIN field effect transistor
Methods, devices and systems for a FinFET are provided. One method embodiment includes forming a FinFET by forming a relaxed silicon germanium (Si1-XGeX) body region for a fully depleted Fin field effect transistor (FinFET) having a body thickness of at least 10 nanometers (nm) for a process design rule of less than 25 nm. The method also includes forming a source and a drain on opposing ends of the body region, wherein the source and the drain are formed with halo ion implantation and forming a gate opposing the body region and separated therefrom by a gate dielectric.
US07674662B2 Process for making thin film field effect transistors using zinc oxide
The present invention comprises a method of forming a zinc oxide based thin film transistor by blanket depositing the zinc oxide layer and the source-drain metal layer and then wet etching through the zinc oxide while etching through the source-drain electrode layer. Thereafter, the active channel is formed by dry etching the source-drain electrode layer without effectively etching the zinc oxide layer.
US07674652B2 Methods of forming an integrated circuit package
A technique for making an integrated circuit package. Specifically, a stacked memory device is provided with minimal interconnects. Memory die are stacked on top of each other and electrically coupled to a substrate. Thru vias are provided in the substrate and/or memory die to facilitate the electrical connects without necessitating a complex interconnect technology between each of the interfaces. Wire bonds are used to complete the circuit package.
US07674647B2 Method for manufacturing photoelectric conversion device
A method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device typified by a solar cell, having an excellent photoelectric conversion characteristic with a silicon semiconductor material effectively utilized. The point is that the surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer bonded to a supporting substrate is irradiated with a pulsed laser beam to become rough. The single crystal semiconductor layer is irradiated with the pulsed laser beam in an atmosphere containing an inert gas and oxygen so that the surface thereof is made rough. With the roughness of surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer, light reflection is suppressed so that incident light can be trapped. Accordingly, even when the thickness of the single crystal semiconductor layer is equal to or greater than 0.1 μm and equal to or less than 10 μm, path length of incident light is substantially increased so that the amount of light absorption can be increased.
US07674646B2 Three dimensional integrated passive device and method of fabrication
An integrated passive device (20) includes a first wafer (22), a first integrated device (28) formed on a first surface (24) of the wafer (22), and a second integrated device (30) formed on a second surface (26) of the wafer (22), the second surface (26) opposing the first surface (24). A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device (72) includes a second wafer (74) having a MEMS component (76) formed thereon. The integrated passive device (20) and the MEMS device (72) are coupled to form an IPD/MEMS stacked device (70) in accordance with a fabrication process (90). The fabrication process (90) calls for forming (94) the second integrated device (30) on the second surface (26) of the wafer (22), constructing (100) the MEMS component (76) on the wafer (74), coupling (104) the wafers (22, 74), then creating the first integrated device (28) on the first surface (24) of the first wafer (22).
US07674644B2 Method for fabrication of group III nitride semiconductor
A method for the fabrication of a Group III nitride semiconductor includes the steps of installing a substrate in a reaction vessel, forming a Group III nitride semiconductor on the substrate, causing a solid nitrogen compound to exist in the reaction vessel as a nitrogen source for a Group III nitride semiconductor and supplying a raw material gas as a source for a Group III element into the reaction vessel to fabricate the Group III nitride semiconductor.
US07674642B2 Method of fabricating linear cascade high-speed green light emitting diode
Green light emitting diodes (LED) of gallium arsenide (GaAs) are series-connected. The series connection has a small transmission attenuation and a wide bandwidth. The GaAs LED has a big forward bias and so neither extra driving current nor complex resonant-cavity epitaxy layer is needed. Hence, the present invention has a high velocity, a high efficiency and a high power while an uneven current distribution is avoided.
US07674641B2 Method for fabricating white-light-emitting flip-chip diode having silicon quantum dots
The present invention is to fabricate a flip-chip diode which emits a white light. The diode has a film embedded with silicon quantum dots. And the white light is formed by mixing colorful lights through the film.
US07674640B2 Stacked die package system
A stacked die package system including forming a bottom package including a bottom substrate and a bottom die mounted and electrically connected under the bottom substrate and forming a top package including a top substrate and a top die mounted and electrically connected over the top substrate. Mounting the top package by the top substrate over the bottom substrate and electrically connecting the bottom and top substrates. Mounting system electrical connectors under the bottom substrate adjacent the bottom die.
US07674633B2 Biosensor
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique of conserving a functional group used for binding a physiologically active substance in the form of an inactive ester, and converting it to an activated ester by simple operations immediately before formation of an amide bond. The present invention provides a biosensor which comprises a substrate that has been modified with a phenyl ester group having a substituent whose electron-withdrawing ability is increased as a result of a chemical reaction.
US07674627B2 Compositions and methods for detecting nerve agents
The present invention provides methods and compositions for detecting, identifying and measuring the abundance of chemical nerve agents. Methods and compositions of the present invention are capable of providing selective detection of phosphorous based nerve agents, such as nerve agents that are esters of methyl phosphonic acid derivatives incorporating a moderately good leaving group at the phosphorus. Selectivity in the present invention is provided by a sensor composition having an alpha (α) effect nucleophile group that undergoes specific nucleophilic substitution and rearrangement reactions with phosphorus based nerve agents having a tetrahederal phosphorous bound to oxygen. The present invention includes embodiments employing a sensor composition further comprising a reporter group covalently linked to the alpha effect nucleophile group allowing rapid optical readout of nerve agent detection events, including direct visual readout and optical readout via spectroscopic analysis.
US07674626B2 Oxygen sensitive probe
An oxygen sensitive probe comprises a monofunctional derivative of an oxygen-sensitive photoluminescent dye covalently attached to a water soluble and/or hydrophilic macromolecular carrier. The probe may be a chemical conjugate of a monofunctional phosphorescent porphyrin dye and a poly(ethyleneglycol), polypeptide or polysaccharide.
US07674625B2 Method for determining improper manipulation of urine samples using marker compounds
The invention relates to a diagnostic method and to marker substances which enable manipulations in endogenic marking to be detected and thus prevented. According to the invention, a metabolizable substance is added to non-metabolizable marker substances, said metabolizable substance revealing a manipulation when detected in excreta.
US07674623B2 Method of stabilizing human natriuretic peptides
The present invention relates to methods for making stable test samples that can be used in ligand-binding assays for measuring natriuretic peptides.
US07674621B2 Plasmids and phages for homologous recombination and methods of use
Lambda phages that can be used to introduce recombineering functions into host cells are disclosed. Also disclosed are plasmids that can be used to confer recombineering functions to a variety of strains of E. coli and to other bacteria, including Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Cyanobacteria, Spirochaetes. These plasmids and phages can be isolated in vitro and can be used to transform bacterial cells, such as gram negative bacteria.
US07674619B2 ADAM-9 modulators
The invention provides the identification and characterization of a disease and cancer-associated antigen, KID24. The invention also provides modulators of KID24, including a family of monoclonal antibodies that bind to antigen KID24, and methods of diagnosing and treating various human cancers and diseases associated with KID24.
US07674618B2 Expression vector
This invention provides nucleic acids and expression vectors, and host cells transformed with the same, for providing high expression of a desired polypeptide. Also provided are methods of using the expression vectors, nucleic acids, and host cells which have been modified by these compositions, for increasing expression of a gene encoding a desired polypeptide.
US07674616B2 Device and method for measuring properties of a sample
Test strips designed to prevent or reduce false results when measuring the condition of a sample are provided. The test strips can be used for analysis of samples by methods including electrical and optical measurements. The reagent test strips and methods are particularly suited for use in the detection of blood coagulation.
US07674608B2 Saccharifying cellulose
Dissolution, partial dissolution or softening of cellulose in an ionic liquid (IL) and its subsequent contact with anti-solvent produces regenerated cellulose more amorphous in structure than native cellulose, which can be separated from the IL/anti-solvent mixture by mechanical means such as simple filtration or centrifugation. This altered morphology of IL-treated cellulose allows a greater number of sites for enzyme adsorption with a subsequent enhancement of its saccharification. The IL-treated cellulose exhibits significantly improved hydrolysis kinetics with optically transparent solutions formed after about two hours of reaction. This provides an opportunity for separation of products from the catalyst (enzyme) easing enzyme recovery. With an appropriate selection of enzymes, initial hydrolysis rates for IL-treated cellulose were up to two orders of magnitude greater than those of untreated cellulose. Due to the non-volatility of the IL, anti-solvent can be easily stripped from the IL/anti-solvent mixture for recovery and recycle of both the ionic liquid and anti-solvent.
US07674606B2 Protein isolation
A fusion protein containing a polyhedrin of a virus and a foreign polypeptide sequence. Also disclosed are a recombinant occlusion body containing the fusion protein, an isolated nucleic acid containing a sequence encoding the fusion protein, and a recombinant virus containing the nucleic acid. Within the scope of this invention are related expression vectors, host cells, compositions, and preparation methods.
US07674605B2 Antibodies recognizing a carbohydrate containing epitope on CD-43 and CEA expressed on cancer cells and methods using same
The present invention provides novel antibodies specifically bind to an epitope on CD43 and CEA expressed on nonhematopoietic cancer cells, but do not specifically bind to a CD43 expressed by a leukocyte or by a Jurkat cell, and is capable of inducing apoptosis of the nonhematopoietic cancer cell after binding to the epitope on cell surface of the nonhematopoietic cancer cell in the absence of cytotoxin conjugation and immune effector function, wherein the epitope comprises a carbohydrate structure and the binding of the antibody to the epitope is inhibited by a carbohydrate comprising a Lea structure, a Lea-lactose structure, a LNDFH II structure, or a LNT structure. In addition, the present invention also provides use of the antibodies described herein for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
US07674601B2 Fluorescence polarization assays for determining clostridial toxin activity
The present invention provides a method of determining the presence or activity of a clostridial toxin by (a) treating with a sample, under conditions suitable for clostridial toxin protease activity, a clostridial toxin substrate which includes a fluorophore; a bulking group; and a clostridial toxin recognition sequence containing a cleavage site that intervenes between the fluorophore and the bulking group; (b) exciting the fluorophore with plane polarized light; and (c) determining fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate relative to a control substrate, where a change in fluorescence polarization of the treated substrate as compared to fluorescence polarization of the control substrate is indicative of the presence or activity of the clostridial toxin.
US07674599B2 Methods of using antibodies to detect alpha-synuclein in fluid samples
The invention provides methods for detecting alpha-synuclein. The invention also identifies preferred epitopes of alpha synuclein for use in such detection, and provides antibodies specifically binding to such epitopes.
US07674597B2 Signaling intermediates in an in vitro model of Alzheimer's disease
The invention provides a novel human protein, FISH adaptor protein, involved in amyloid β-protein-mediated cell death. Also provided are methods for modulating amyloid β-protein-mediated cell death using agents that interfere with the activity of FISH adaptor protein.
US07674589B2 Methods for tissue analysis
This invention relates to methods of analyzing a tissue sample from a subject. In particular the invention combines morphological staining and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC) with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) within the same section of a tissue sample. The analysis can be automated or manual. The invention also relates to kits for use in the above methods.
US07674579B2 Apoptosis-based evaluation of chemosensitivity in cancer patients
Induction of apoptosis in target cells is a key mechanism by which chemotherapy induces cell killing. An in vitro system has been established for determining carboplatin and paclitaxel (Taxol) chemosensitivity of epithelial ovarian cancer cells, where measurements of caspase-3 activation are surrogate markers for activation of chemotherapy-induced programmed cell death. To validate the assay as a predictor of clinical chemotherapy-induced programmed cell death. To validate the assay as a predictor of clinical chemosensitivity in vitro apoptotic response were compared to the clinical response of the patients from whom the tumor cells were isolated. Caspase-3 activation in response to in vitro chemotherapy to both drugs was shown to have an 83% positive predictive value and a 71% negative predictive value. Markers of apoptosis such as caspase-3 activation can be quantitated and utilized to predict the clinical response to chemotherapy.
US07674578B2 Methods of using sIP-10 to assess HCV clearance and/or response to interferon therapy
The present invention relates to methods for evaluating and predicting clinical outcomes in patients by measuring levels of sIP-10 protein expression as well as therapies using sIP-10 and its fragments.
US07674573B2 Method for manufacturing layered periodic structures
A method of manufacturing a periodic grating structure for a component. The method includes forming first structured layer including a final periodic grating structure of a first material and a second material filling spaces between individual features of the final periodic grating structure, removing the second material using a first chemical process and annealing a portion of the first material into a third material using a second chemical process.
US07674559B2 Lithium secondary battery including a separator
A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having two electrodes and a separator interposed between the two electrodes, and a case for storing the electrode assembly, wherein the separator is formed by using a binder and a filler including a solid electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The lithium secondary battery has a separator and an electrolyte capable of increasing internal ion-conductivity. Also, a lithium secondary battery has a separator capable of safely preventing a short circuit between the electrodes in a possibly high temperature.
US07674555B2 Electrode material, and production method and use thereof
An electrode material comprising a particle containing at least one member selected from the particles containing silicon, tin, silicon compound and tin compound, and fibrous carbon. The particle includes: (1) a particle comprising at least one member of a silicon particle, tin particle, particle containing a lithium-ion-intercalatable/releasable silicon compound and particle containing a lithium-ion-intercalatable/releasable tin compound; or (2) a particle comprising a silicon and/or silicon compound-containing carbonaceous material deposited onto at least a portion of the surfaces of a carbon particle having a graphite structure. The lithium secondary battery using the electrode material as a negative electrode has high discharging capacity and is excellent in cycle characteristics and characteristics under a load of large current.
US07674553B2 Positive active material for lithium secondary battery and method of preparing same
Disclosed in a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery including a compound represented by formula 1 and having a 10% to 70% ratio of diffracted intensity of diffraction lines in 2θ=53° (104 plane) with respect to diffracted intensity of diffraction lines in the vicinity of 2θ=22° (003 plane) in X-ray diffraction patterns using a CoKα-ray, LixCoO2-yAy  (1) wherein, x is from 0.90 to 1.04, y is from 0 to 0.5, and A is selected from the group consisting of F, S and P.
US07674550B2 Fuel cell
A first seal member 50 is integrated with the surface 18a of a first metal separator 18, and is provided with a body base portion 58 having a trapezoidal-shaped cross-section and two protruded portions 60a and 60b integrated to the leading end of the body base portion 58, where said body base portion 58 is set to a height H1 for keeping a desired spring constant necessary for impact absorptions, and the protruded portions 60a and 60b are set to a height H2 for preventing the line pressure of the seal member from being abruptly changed and for keeping the strengths of the protruded portions 60a and 60b themselves.
US07674547B2 Fuel cell housing structure
In a fuel cell housing structure, an electrically insulated housing contains a fuel cell, and is arranged to provide a space within the housing surrounding the fuel cell. A vent gas intake port and a vent gas exhaust port are provided in the housing. At least one of the vent gas intake port or vent gas exhaust port connects to the space at a position either above or on the same level as the fuel cell. A blocking member, which is also electrically insulated from the fuel cell, blocks water, entering the housing from at least one of the ports, from contact with the fuel cell.
US07674540B2 Fuel cartridges for fuel cells and methods for making same
Fuel supplies for fuel cells are disclosed. The fuel supplies can be a pressurized or non-pressurized cartridge that can be used with any fuel cells, including but not limited to, direct methanol fuel cell or reformer fuel cell. In one aspect, a fuel supply may contain a reaction chamber to convert fuel to hydrogen. The fuel supplies may also contain a pump. The fuel supply may have a valve connecting the fuel to the fuel cell, and a vent to vent gas from the fuel supply. Methods for forming various fuel supplies are also disclosed.
US07674536B2 Fuel supply device and fuel supply system
A refueling system for an electronic device, comprising a fuel reservoir in a fuel supply device; a fuel cell having a refillable fuel store in a mobile electronic device; a first fuel interface to the fuel supply device for releasable connection with a second fuel interface to the mobile electronic device; and a transfer mechanism for transferring fuel from the fuel reservoir across the first and second fuel interfaces, when connected, into the refillable fuel store.
US07674529B2 Functional group-introduced polyamide solid phase
A functional group-introduced polyamide solid phase comprising: a polyamide solid phase having an amido group; and an isocyanate compound having an isocyanate group and a functional group, wherein the functional group of the isocyanate compound is introduced onto a surface of the polyamide solid phase by reacting the amido group of the polyamide solid phase with the isocyanate group of the isocyanate compound.
US07674527B2 Coated paper
A coated paper having the oil resistance and the marring resistance which cannot be obtained by the addition of the silica particles is provided. The coated paper 10 has a configuration with at least a surface protection layer 2 of a cross-linking cured material of an ionizing radiation curing resin laminated on a fiber substrate 1, wherein the ionizing radiation curing resin of the surface protection layer contains an ethylene oxide modified polymerizable compound, and preferably, the surface protection layer contains baked kaolin particle. By increasing the hydrophilic property with the ethylene oxide modified polymerizable compound, the oil resistance is provided for the surface protection layer itself, and with the baked kaolin particle, the marring resistance can be provided. Moreover, it is preferable to laminate successively a solid colored layer 3A and a primer layer 4 before laminating the surface protection layer on the fiber substrate in terms of the adhesion property and the design property. Moreover, it is preferable to form these layers as a cured material of an urethane resin resulting from a reaction of an acrylic polyol and an isocyanate in terms of the adhesion property and the oil resistance.
US07674518B2 Polyvinyl alcohol film and polarizing film and polarizing plate using the same
The present invention provides a polyvinyl alcohol film having a correlation length of 200 nm or less, the correlation length being derived from the result of light scattering measurement using a He—Ne laser having a wavelength of 633 nm as a light source.
US07674515B2 Fluorescent polycarbonate articles
Articles are provided that have fluorescent properties and that are suitable for use in making retroreflective articles such as safety and informational signage. The articles have at least one fluorescent film layer that exhibits excellent overall color durability while also providing chromaticity properties dictated by industry standards for a particular coloration. In a particular application, the articles embody retroreflective properties and are fluorescent yellow-green signs.
US07674492B2 Preconditioner having independently driven high-speed mixer shafts
An improved, dual-shaft preconditioner (10, 70, 102) is provided having independent drive mechanism (18, 20, 78, 80) operatively coupled with a corresponding preconditioner shaft (14, 16, 74, 76, 106, 108) and permitting selective rotation of the shafts (14, 16, 74, 76, 106, 108) at rotational speeds and directions independent of each other. Preferably, the speed differential between the shafts (14, 16, 74, 76, 106, 108) is at least about 5:1. The mechanisms (18, 20, 78, 80) are operatively coupled with a digital control device (60) to allow rotational speed and direction control. Preferably, the preconditioner (10, 70, 102) is supported on load cells (62, 100) also coupled with control device (60) to permit on-the-go changes in material retention time within the preconditioner (10, 70, 102). The preconditioner (10, 70, 102) is particularly useful for the preconditioning and partial gelatinization of starch-bearing feed or food materials, to an extent to achieve at least about 50% cook in the preconditioned feed or food materials.
US07674483B2 Medicinal herbal composition for treating infection
Herbal compositions derived from Kenyan plants are provided for the treatment of HIV and other infectious diseases. The herbal compositions can include the extracts of up to 14 plants, including the root of Dovyalis abyssinica and Clutia robusta. Also provided are methods for extracting alkaloids and other compounds from the plants. Also provided are methods of treating a subject having an infectious disease, particularly HIV.
US07674481B2 Micronized wood preservative formulations
The present invention provides wood preservative compositions comprising micronized particles. In one embodiment, the composition comprises dispersions of micronized metal or metal compounds. In another embodiment, the wood preservative composition comprises an inorganic component comprising a metal or metal compound and organic biocide. When the composition comprises an inorganic component and an organic biocide, the inorganic component or the organic biocide or both are present as micronized particles. When compositions of the present invention are used for preservation of wood, there is minimal leaching of the metal and biocide from the wood.
US07674472B2 Method for preparing a cosmetic composition and cosmetic composition prepared by this method
A base composition comprising a fatty acid and an organic base to form at least partially a fatty acid organic soap is suitable for preparing a skin care composition by addition of relatively cold water.
US07674471B2 Topical composition, topical composition precursor, and methods for manufacturing and using
A topical composition is provided. The topical composition can be prepared by diluting a topical composition precursor with water and adding additional components, if desired. The topical composition precursor can be prepared by melt processing a hydrophobic polymer composition that includes repeating pyrrolidone/alkylene groups wherein the alkylene groups contain at least 10 carbon atoms, and a hydrophilic polymer composition including repeating carboxylic groups and/or repeating hydroxyl groups. A topical composition precursor and methods for manufacturing and using a topical composition are provided by the invention.
US07674460B2 Compositions and methods for restoring sensitivity to treatment with HER2 antagonists
Methods and compositions for restoring growth inhibition sensitivity to a tumor cell resistant to growth inhibition by HER2 antagonists. The methods involve administering a PCDGF antagonist to the cell in an amount effective to stimulate or restore growth inhibition sensitivity to HER2 antagonists. The invention also provides treatment regimens, and therapeutic compositions comprising an HER2 antagonist and a PCDGF antagonist.
US07674455B2 Targeted retrograde gene delivery to motor neurons
Methods are disclosed for delivering a heterologous gene to a cell body of a neuron by contacting a muscle tissue innervated by the neuron with a viral vector comprising a heterologous gene, wherein the viral vector enters said neuron and is retrogradely moved to the cell body. Additionally, methods for expressing secreted proteins from a nerve cell body as well as methods for treating neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are described.
US07674452B2 Polymer coating of cells
Polymers and methods of making them are described. The polymers may be used to coat living cells. The polymer-coated cells are useful in cell therapy applications.
US07674451B2 Cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition comprising peptides, uses and treatment processes
The present invention relates to the use of at least one peptide, with the sequence (AA)n -Arg-Gly-Ser-(AA)n, where (AA) is any amino acid or one of its derivatives, and N is an integer between 0 and 3, as an active ingredient, in or for the preparation of a cosmetic and/or dermatological and/or pharmaceutical composition. The invention also relates to its use in order to treat, inter alia, the cutaneous manifestations of aging and/or its use in order to act against cellulite. The invention is, in the same way, related to a composition containing it as well as a process of cosmetic treatment of the skin using the said peptide or the said composition.
US07674449B2 Process and apparatus for the combustion of a sulfur-containing liquid
Apparatus and processes for the production of a sulfur dioxide-containing combustion gas are provided in which a sulfur-containing liquid is pneumatically atomized with a sulfur gun or lance that utilizes an atomizing gas to form an atomized combustion mixture for combustion in a sulfur furnace. The sulfur dioxide-containing combustion gas may be used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid by the contact process.
US07674445B2 Method for purifying hydrogen in a reformed gas
A hydrogen purifying apparatus and method are provided for oxidizing and removing carbon monoxide (CO) in a modified gas containing CO in addition to a main component hydrogen gas. The apparatus and method use comprises a catalyst reaction segment having a catalyst layer for oxidizing CO, a material gas supplying segment for supplying the modified gas to the reaction segment via a material gas supply pathway, and an oxidant gas supplying segment for supplying an oxidant gas on the path of the material gas supply pathway. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises means for cooling the catalyst layer at the upstream side and means for heating the catalyst layer at the downstream side.
US07674444B2 Configurations and methods for removal of mercaptans from feed gases
A sulfur species-containing feed gas is processed in a treatment plant in which COS is hydrolyzed, and in which so produced hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur species are absorbed in a lean hydrocarbon liquid. The sulfur species in the so formed rich hydrocarbon liquid are then subjected to catalytic conversion into disulfides, which are subsequently removed from the rich solvent. Most preferably, sulfur free lean solvent is regenerated in a distillation column and/or refinery unit, and light components are recycled from the rich hydrocarbon liquid to the absorber.
US07674441B2 Highly pure hafnium material, target and thin film comprising the same and method for producing highly pure hafnium
A method of manufacturing high purity hafnium is provided and includes the steps of making aqueous solution of chloride of hafnium, thereafter removing zirconium therefrom via solvent extraction, performing neutralization treatment to obtain hafnium oxide, further performing chlorination to obtain hafnium chloride, obtaining hafnium sponge via reducing said hafnium chloride, and performing electron beam melting to the hafnium sponge in order to obtain a hafnium ingot, as well as a high purity hafnium material obtained thereby and a target and thin film formed from such material. The present invention relates to a high purity hafnium material with reduced zirconium content contained in the hafnium, a target and thin film formed from such material, and the manufacturing method thereof, and provides efficient and stable manufacturing technology, a high purity hafnium material obtained according to such manufacturing technology, and a target and high purity hafnium thin film formed from such material.
US07674440B2 Apparatus for bio-decontamination of enclosures
An enclosure (23) for carrying out operations under sterile conditions having apparatus for sterilsing the enclosure and its content includes a gas generator (17,18) having a fan (18) for producing a stream of air and an evaporator (17) for evaporating hydrogen peroxide solution to be carried by the airstream throughout the enclosure to condense on surfaces in the enclosure to sertilise the surfaces. A pump (13) is provided to draw gas from the enclosure at a location remote from the gas generator to ensure that the sterile vapour reaches the most remote part of the enclosure from the generator and also to maintain the pressure in the generator below atmospheric pressure around the generator so that any leak path in the enclosure results in leakage from the atmosphere into the enclosure and not release of sterilant vapour to atmosphere outside the enclosure.
US07674429B2 Electrostatic disinfectant delivery
Glycolic disinfectant compositions and related methods and apparatus for electrostatic dispensation.
US07674421B2 Method of making a guide catheter
A guide catheter shaft is formed from an inner tube structure and a multilayer sheath around the inner tube structure. The multilayer sheath includes an intermediate sheath and a shrink tube layer. The intermediate sheath is disposed around the inner tube and realized from a melt-processible first polyether-block amide material. The shrink tube layer is disposed around the intermediate sheath and realized from a different second polyether-block amide (e.g. a cross-linked polyether-block amide material) having a shrink temperature range greater than a melt temperature range of the first polyether-block amide material. The resulting structure is heated at a temperature within the shrink temperature range such that the outer shrink tube layer shrinks and the intermediate layer melts to thereby bond the multilayer sheath to the inner tube.
US07674416B2 Hybrid intravascular stent
A hybrid stent is formed which exhibits both high flexibility and high radial strength. The expandable hybrid stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis and interconnected by one or more links. In one embodiment, a dip-coated covered stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer material. In other embodiments, at least some of the rings and links are formed of a polymer material which provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent. These polymer rings and links are alternated with metallic rings and links in various configurations to attain sufficient column strength along with the requisite flexibility in holding open the target site within the body lumen. Alternatively, a laminated, linkless hybrid stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer tube.
US07674412B2 Method and apparatus for forming resin film
The apparatus is for forming a resin film from a resin for a middle portion to form a resin film main body of the resin film and a resin for edge portions to form both side edge portions in a crosswise direction of the resin film. The apparatus comprises: a feed block which includes a joining part where the resin for the middle portion in a molten state and the resin for the edge portions in a molten state are joined in such a manner as to enclose both side edges in the crosswise direction of the resin film main body with the resin for the edge portions; and an extruding die through which the joined resins are extruded to form the resin film. Thus, a method and apparatus for forming the resin film can avoid the inclusion of the resin for the middle portion in the trimmed-off selvages while preventing the film separation of the resins for the middle portion and for the edge portions, and therefore, increase the recyclability and the productivity of the resin film.
US07674411B2 Guide catheter having selected flexural modulus segments
A guiding catheter for use in coronary angioplasty and other cardiovascular interventions which incorporates a plurality of segment of selected flexural modulus in the shaft of the device. The segments which have a different flexibility than the sections immediately proximal and distal to them, creating zones in the catheter shaft which are either more or less flexible than other zones of the shaft. The flexibility and length of the shaft in a given zone is then matched to its clinical function and role. A mid-shaft zone is significantly softer than a proximal shaft or distal secondary curve to better traverse the aortic arch shape without storing too much energy. A secondary zone section is designed to have maximum stiffness to provide optimum backup support and stability.
US07674407B2 Method for manufacturing microlens and method for manufacturing organic electroluminescence element
A method for manufacturing an organic thin film element that includes an organic thin film between a pair of thin film electrodes and at least one electrode being a transparent electrode includes forming a transparent electrode by spraying a material liquid containing a transparent electrode formation material on a base material, and forming an organic thin film on the transparent electrode. This method allows for the manufacture of the organic thin film element by which an organic thin film element with high light-extraction efficiency is simply provided. A method for manufacturing an electro-optic device and a method for manufacturing electronic equipment that utilize the method for manufacturing an organic thin film element are described.
US07674404B2 Gallium oxide/zinc oxide sputtering target, method of forming transparent conductive film and transparent conductive film
Provided is a high-density gallium oxide/zinc oxide sintered sputtering target containing 20 massppm or greater of each zirconium oxide and aluminum oxide, wherein the total content thereof is less than 250 ppm. This gallium oxide (Ga2O3)/zinc oxide (ZnO) sputtering target (GZO target) improves the conductivity and bulk density of the target by adding trace amounts of specific elements. In other words, it is possible to obtain a target capable of increasing the sintered density, inhibiting the formation of nodules, and preventing the generation of abnormal electrical discharge and particles by improving the component composition. Further, provided are a method of forming a transparent conductive film with the use of the target, and a transparent conductive film formed thereby.
US07674399B2 Electroluminescent material and electroluminescent element using the same
The present invention provides electroluminescent materials that emit very bright light with little energy consumption, little loss of energy converted into heat, etc., and suffers from little deterioration due to long-term use, in particular, inorganic electroluminescent materials that emit blue to green light having a wavelength shorter than yellow.Specifically, the present invention relates to the following three types of electroluminescent material: (1) An electroluminescent material including an oxide having a perovskite-type crystal structure represented by General Formula RMO3, wherein R is at least one rare-earth element, and M is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Al, Mn, and Cr; (2) an electroluminescent material including an oxide having a perovskite-type crystal structure represented by General Formula R2CuO4, wherein R is at least one rare-earth element; and (3) an electroluminescent material including an oxide having a perovskite-type crystal structure represented by General Formula RZ2Cu3O6, wherein R is at least one rare-earth element, and Z is at least one alkali-earth metal.
US07674398B2 Substituted cumarines, process for the production of said cumarines and composition containing said cumarines
Present invention refers to substituted cumarines that are capable to emit fluorescent light when illuminated by wave lengths within ultraviolet range. Present invention also refers to process of production of said substituted cumarines, well as provides compositions containing said substituted cumarines, especially compositions containing said cumarines and volatile solvents and/or adjuvants. Said compositions can be used in objects of great value for its owner, in view of facilitating the identification of such objects.
US07674395B2 Laser etching method and apparatus therefor
The invention provides a laser etching method for optical ablation working by irradiating a work article formed of an inorganic material with a laser light from a laser oscillator capable of emitting in succession light pulses of a large energy density in space and time with a pulse radiation time not exceeding 1 picosecond, wherein, in laser etching of the work article formed of the inorganic material by irradiation thereof with the laser light from the laser oscillator with a predetermined pattern and with a predetermined energy density, there is utilized means for preventing deposition of a work by-product around the etching position.
US07674385B2 Silane substituted polyethylene oxide reagents and method of using for preventing or reducing aluminosilicate scale in industrial processes
Materials and a method are provided whereby polymers with least 0.5 mole % of the pendant group or end group containing —Si(OR″)3 (where R″ is H, an alkyl group, Na, K, or NH4) are used to control aluminosilicate scaling in an industrial process having an alkaline process stream such as a pulping mill process stream or a high level nuclear waste processing plant. When materials of the present invention are added to the alkaline process stream, they reduce and even completely prevent formation of aluminosilicate scale on equipment surfaces such as evaporator walls and heating surfaces. The present materials are effective at treatment concentrations that make them economically practical.
US07674382B2 Method of cleaning fouled and/or scaled membranes
A method of cleaning a fouled and/or scaled UF or MF membrane with a solution containing one or more thermo-responsive polymers is disclosed. More specifically, the method comprises: (a) treating the membrane in a membrane separation system with a solution containing one or more TRP, wherein said TRP is soluble in said solution and at least an effective amount of said TRP diffuses into a foulant layer that is present on the surface and/or in pores of said membrane; (b) making insoluble said TRP diffused into said foulant layer; (c) optionally rinsing the membrane; (d) optionally backwashing the membrane with air and/or liquid between the steps (b) and (c); and (e) optionally backwashing the membrane with air and/or liquid after the membrane is rinsed in step (c).
US07674378B2 Wetland water treatment system
A self-contained wetlands treatment system to remove pollutants from water and treat stormwater runoff or other grey water. This is system and method wherein the water is passed through a wetland filtering and treatment system. This invention removes solids, metals (dissolved/particulate), nutrients (dissolved/particulate), oils, and bacterial contaminants from the water. The system and system housing can be fabricated, built, and assembled in a broad range of sizes and materials to accommodate and treat a broad range of influent flow rates.
US07674375B2 Closed loop flow control of a HPLC constant flow pump to enable low-flow operation
A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling nano-scale flow rate of fluid in the operating flow path of a HPLC system provide fluid flow without relying on complex calibration routines to compensate for solvent compositions gradients typically used in HPLC. The apparatus and method are used to correct the flow output of a typical, analytical-scale (0.1-5 mL/min) HPLC pump to enable accurate anti precise flow delivery at capillary (<0.1 mL/min) and nano-scale (<μL/min) HPLC flow rates.
US07674372B2 Wastewater flow equalization system and method
A wastewater treatment mechanism includes an interior chamber having a peripheral wall preferably provided with two diametrically opposite openings in each of which is received a flow port member having a flow equalization port therein. Depending upon wastewater levels and surges, the flow port members can be removed and replaced by other flow port members of an identical construction, except for different sizes of design flow equalization ports thereof. Therefore, should a wastewater treatment mechanism be installed initially in a wastewater treatment plant with accurately sized flow equalization ports to achieve desired flow characteristics and efficiency, should such flow characteristics change over time because of inefficient flow-through of wastewater, the originally installed flow port members can be readily removed and replaced with identical flow port members except for larger flow equalization ports thereof thereby returning the overall wastewater treatment mechanism to acceptable design flow equalization and efficiency.
US07674363B2 Process to prepare a haze free base oil
Process to prepare a haze free base oil having a cloud point of below 0° C. and a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of greater than 10 cSt by performing the following steps: (a) hydroisomerisation of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis product, (b) isolating one or more fuel products and a distillation residue, (c) reducing the wax content of the residue by contacting the feed with a hydroisomerization catalyst under hydroisomerization conditions, and (d) solvent dewaxing the product of step (c) to obtain the haze free base oil.
US07674358B2 Method and apparatus for hydrogen generation
A method for configuring a solar hydrogen generation system and the system optimization are disclosed. The system utilizes photovoltaic modules and an electrolyte solution to efficiently split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The efficiency of solar powered electrolysis of water is optimized by matching the most efficient voltage generated by photovoltaic cells to the most efficient input voltage required by the electrolysis cell(s). Optimizing PV-electrolysis systems makes solar powered hydrogen generation cheaper and more practical for use as an environmentally clean alternative fuel.
US07674354B2 Starch derivatives for use in paper sizing and/or coating compositions
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a starch-based composition, characterized in that it comprises: (a) mixing a starch substrate with sodium perborate; (b) adding water to the mix of step (a) to form a slurry; and (c) pasting the slurry of step (b), provided that the method does not include, between steps (b) and (c), the step of adding an effective amount of hydrolytic enzyme to the slurry. The invention further relates to starch-based compositions prepared in accordance with said method, paper sizing and/or coating compositions comprising said starch-based compositions and paper products treated with said sizing and/or coating compositions.
US07674351B2 Plasma processing apparatus
A vacuum processing apparatus that includes an inner wall member disposed inside of an outer side wall member of a vacuum container, the inner wall member surrounding a side of a sample stand on which a sample to be processed is placed and facing to a plasma generated in a chamber inside of the inner wall member. The apparatus also includes an upper member arranged in the vacuum chamber above a flange portion of the inner wall member, contacting with an upper surface of the flange portion and transmitting a force pressing downwardly in a state where the inside of the vacuum container is reduced in pressure. The inner wall member is thermally connected with a temperature adjusting device which controls a temperature of the inner wall member through the upper surface of the flange portion and the upper member.
US07674346B2 Multi-well plate and method of manufacture
A method of manufacture and assembly of multiwell plates employing targeted radiation at an interface in order to achieve bonding is disclosed. The method accommodates glass and polymer attachment as well as polymer to polymer attachment. Resultant plates have unique flatness and optical properties.
US07674343B2 Method of manufacturing double-glazing, and spacer forming device used for the manufacturing method
A spacer forming device according to the present invention includes glass plate fixing means for fixing one glass plate, an applicator head for applying a spacer forming material, spacer forming material supply means having an extruding means that extrudes the spacer forming material while melting and mixing the material and a fixed displacement pump for supplying the spacer forming material extruded from the extruding means to the applicator head, and an articulated robot that moves the applicator head along the periphery of the one glass plate. By using the spacer forming device, the spacer forming material is applied from the applicator head along the periphery of the upper surface of the one glass plate thereon to form a spacer.
US07674329B2 Water-based ink set for ink-jet recording
According embodiments of the present disclosure, a water-based ink set for ink-jet recording is provided. The ink set may contain a black ink, a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink. Each ink may contain a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfonate.
US07674322B2 Gas absorption device, method of manufacturing the same, and liquid container
The present invention is a gas absorption device arranged in a liquid container storing a liquid fed to a liquid consumption apparatus. The device includes a decompressed container having an opening and a flexible film sealing the opening in the state that the decompressed container is internally decompressed. At least a part of a portion having an inner surface which receives the decompressed pressure in the decompressed container and an outer surface which is in contact with the liquid in the liquid container is formed by a gas permeable material through which gas dissolved in the liquid in the liquid container can permeate. According to the present invention, gas dissolved in the liquid stored in the liquid container can be absorbed using a decompressed space and the existence of a decompressed status necessary to absorb gas can be easily examined.
US07674312B2 Liquid fertilizing compositions
Liquid fertilizer compositions and methods of making liquid fertilizer compositions are set forth herein. In one embodiment, a liquid fertilizing composition includes an aqueous ammonium chloride solution having a pH between 6.5 and 8.5, a dispersant selected from anionic polyacrylamides, and a corrosion inhibitor. In another embodiment, a liquid fertilizing composition includes an aqueous solution having a pH between 6.5 and 8.5. The solution includes at least 16.5 percent by weight of ammonium chloride and between 0.5 and 1.0 percent by weight of dispersant. In yet another embodiment, a liquid fertilizing composition has a pH between 7.5 and 8.5. The composition consists essentially of at least 16.5 percent by weight ammonium chloride, between 0.5 and 1.0 percent by weight dispersant, an effective amount of corrosion inhibitor, and water.
US07674310B2 Biological fertilizer
The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a biological fertilizer comprising subjecting whey to a first fermentation step and the addition of a carrier material to the fermented whey and a biological fertilizer obtainable by the method. The biological fertilizer can be used as a replacement of the present artificial fertilizers thereby reducing many of the environmental problems associated with these artificial fertilizers. In addition, the biological fertilizer according to the present invention can be used in the field of biological agriculture for which, until the present biological fertilizer, no fertilizers were available.
US07674307B2 Self supported fluid filter
A self supported cylindrical corrugated filter. The corrugations of the filter define a first and second end. Two arcuate side walls join the first and second end. The filter has a substantially planar front surface and a substantially planar rear surface. The front and rear surfaces extend the length of the filter. The arcuate side walls have a plurality of overlapping folded flaps. Each one of the plurality of flaps is joined to at least one adjacent flap from the plurality of flaps to form the self supported filter.
US07674305B2 Air cleaning fan/fan blade
A fan blade having a hollow housing allowing air to enter into the front or rear opening of the fan blade and directed to exit out the side opening of the fan blade after having passed through a filter. Use of this fan blade is a method for removing particulates from the air.
US07674303B2 Methods for binding particulate solids
Provided are methods for binding particulate solids in a polymer fiber matrix utilizing composite waste products. A mixture of composite waste products and particulate solids is formed into solid products to create degradation resistant solid units which capture the particulate solids.
US07674300B2 Process for dyeing a textile web
In a process for dyeing a textile web, dye is applied directly to a first face of the textile web other than by saturating the web. The web is moved in an open configuration thereof over a contact surface of an ultrasonic vibration system with a second (opposite) face of the textile web in direct contact with the contact surface of the ultrasonic vibration system and the first face free from contact with the contact surface of the ultrasonic vibration system. The ultrasonic vibration system is operated to impart ultrasonic energy to the second face of the textile web to facilitate movement of the dye from the first face of the web into and through the web to the second face thereof. In another embodiment, dye is applied to the first face of the textile web without applying the dye to the second face of the web.
US07674288B2 Intraocular ring assembly and artificial lens kit
An intraocular ring assembly and an artificial lens kit, both of which are usable for implantation in a lens capsule or capsular bag of natural eye. The intraocular ring assembly includes a first ring element having recessions therein, a second ring element, and a biasing element provided between the first and second ring elements. The artificial lens kit comprises such intraocular ring assembly and an intraocular lens to be movably supported in the recessions of the ring assembly in a coaxial relation therewith. A guide element may be provided to assist in rectilinear coaxial movement of the first and second ring elements.
US07674287B2 Device and method for modifying the shape of a body organ
An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.
US07674279B2 Bone plate
A bone plate includes one or more locking devices which rotate to inhibit or prevent bone screws from backing out of the plate when installed on a patient. The locking devices can be in the shape of a bow tie or a capital letter I.
US07674277B2 Side-loading bone anchor
A side-loading bone anchor is provided, which may be used in cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral areas of the spine or other orthopedic locations. In one embodiment, the anchor includes an anchoring portion and a receiving portion. The anchoring portion is attached to a bone, and is connected to the receiving portion. A rod or other elongated support member is received in the receiving portion in contact with a crown member in the receiving portion and above the anchoring portion. The receiving portion, with or without the rod, may be rotated or pivoted with respect to the anchoring portion, and a set screw is threaded into the receiving portion to lock the rod within the receiving portion.
US07674270B2 Apparatus for positioning a medical instrument
The present device provides an apparatus for securely positioning a medical instrument relative to a patient. The apparatus comprises a drive assembly for moving the medical instrument along a first axis that is substantially parallel to the length of the instrument; an adapter comprising an elongated member and a pair of cooperating hubs for connecting the drive assembly to a positioning system. The cooperating hubs serving to allow separation of sterile from non sterile components. The positioning system comprises two motors each for moving the instrument about a different axis than the drive assembly. The apparatus moving the instrument about a point which is external to the patient. The device further comprises a sterile bag which encloses the positioning system, the bag having at least one opening for receiving an axel from a sterile adapter assembly, thereby rendering the entire apparatus sterile.
US07674267B2 Apparatus for cutting bone
An apparatus (10) for cutting bone includes a shaft member (12) having a central axis (14) and extending between a proximal end portion (16) and a distal end portion (18). The proximal end portion (16) has a first surface (32) adapted to receive repetitive impacts. The distal end portion (18) includes a cutting blade (40) extending in a first plane between a shield section (46) and a guide portion (60). The shield section (46) and the guide section (60) project axially beyond the cutting blade (40) to recess the cutting blade (40) in the distal end portion (18). The shield section (46) includes an inwardly facing shield surface (48) which extends in a second plane that is transverse to the first plane of the cutting blade (40). The apparatus (10) is a form of an osteotome that is particularly useful for certain spine-related surgical procedures.
US07674263B2 Surgical instrument and method
A surgical instrument comprises a hollow tube (18) having a cutting window (16) at the distal end portion. An inner tube (15) is disposed within the tube (18) and is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. A cutting tool (17) is located at the distal end of the tube (15), and is positioned adjacent to the cutting window (16). An outer tube (14) is provided over the tube (18). A motor (5) is provided for rotating the inner tube (15), and saline is fed to the cutting window (16) via a passageway (25) between the tubes (15) and (18). The inner tube (15) has a central lumen (24) through which tissue cut by the cutting tool (17) is removed under the action of a source of suction (12). The outer surface of the tube 18 is covered with an electrically insulating layer (22) and coagulating RF signals are supplied between the tube (18) and the outer tube (14) so as to coagulate tissue at the cutting window (16). Additional apertures (40, 42; 43, 45) in the outer tube (14) and the insulating layer (22) are aligned such that a portion of the hollow tube (18) is exposed other than in the area of the cutting window (16).
US07674256B2 Treating internal body tissue
Some embodiments of the invention relate to a system for treating tissue internal to a body, such as heart tissue. For example, the system may be used to ablate tissue as a treatment for atrial fibrillation. In certain embodiments, the system is capable of causing scar tissue to form in ostial areas of the atrium rather than inside the pulmonary vein. In such embodiments, the system may include a tissue treatment member that is operable to form an annular area of ablated tissue along the outer portion of the ostium in an area known as the antrum.
US07674252B2 Single operator sheath catheter
A sheath catheter used to compress and/or retrieve a filter from a body lumen. The sheath catheter includes an elongate proximal shaft and a distal recovery sheath. The proximal shaft includes a central lumen that accommodates a shaft portion of a solid core wire to provide the catheter with better pushability. The solid core wire further includes a coiled portion that extends within the recovery sheath from a distal end of the proximal shaft. The coiled portion of the core wire provides a transition in flexibility from the stiffer proximal shaft to the more flexible recovery sheath. The recovery sheath further includes a sheath lumen that is sized to receive the filter therein.
US07674251B2 Medical devices including aerated adhesive bonds and methods of forming the same
Medical devices can be formed from medical device components that are bonded together with an adhesive that resists stresses caused by adhesive curing. In particular, a medical device can include a first component and a second component. The second component can be configured to fit at least partially over the first component. An aerated adhesive layer can be formed or disposed between the first and second components.
US07674230B2 Sleep monitoring using a photoplethysmograph
A method for diagnosis includes receiving from a sensor coupled to a body of a sleeping patient a photoplethysmograph signal. The photoplethysmograph signal is processed independently of any other physiological measurements in order to identify sleep stages of the patient.
US07674218B2 Filter component cutting system
A filter component cutting system comprises a supply hopper of elongate filter rods and a cutting drum with spaced apart flutes on an exterior surface of the drum for receiving the elongate filler rods. A transfer mechanism receives the elongate filter rods from the supply hopper and delivers the rods to the flutes on the cutting drum. At least one cutter adjacent the cutting drum functions to cut the filter rods in to individual filter components as the cutting drum rotates.
US07674212B2 Drop foot device
The invention relates to assembly of an accessory and a shoe for providing support to a foot-drop affected foot relative to a lower leg belonging to the foot such that the foot is prevented from dropping downwards relative to the lower leg when the foot is raised by the lower from a supporting surface, the accessory being provided with a first attachment member for attachment of the accessory to the lower leg, a second attachment member for attachment of the accessory to an upper side of the shoe and a connecting body joining together the first attachment member and the second attachment member, wherein the second attachment member is provided with an attachment plate which, in use, is positioned under an upper part of the shoe. The invention also relates to the accessory of the assembly.
US07674211B2 Exercise apparatus with a pull cord central pulley attached to a carriage and a pulley locking mechanism
An exercise apparatus including a frame, a carriage, a central pulley, first and second frame pulleys, a pull cord, and a locking mechanism. The frame defines a longitudinal axis. The carriage is mounted on the frame and movable along the longitudinal axis. The central pulley is attached to the carriage. The first and second frame pulleys are attached to the frame. The pull cord has first and second handle portions. The pull cord is looped about the pulleys. The central pulley is between the first and second frame pulleys along the pull cord. The first frame pulley is between the first handle portion and the central pulley along the pull cord. The second frame pulley is between the second handle portion and the central pulley along the pull cord. The locking mechanism is configured to engage the central pulley.
US07674201B2 Wide ratio transmissions having multiple gear ratios
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes three planetary gear sets having six or seven torque-transmitting mechanisms and three fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six or seven torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members and with the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US07674198B2 Bicycle rear derailleur
A main derailleur body includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the main derailleur body is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. A chain cage is pivotally coupled to the second end of the main derailleur body between at least a first orientation and a second orientation. A first pulley is rotatably mounted relative to the main derailleur body. A second pulley is rotatably mounted to the chain cage to move therewith relative to the main derailleur body. A third pulley is rotatably mounted to the main derailleur body such that the third pulley engages a chain extending between the first and second pulleys when the chain cage is in the first orientation and disengages the chain upon movement of the chain cage from the first orientation to the second orientation.
US07674196B2 Robot for collecting table tennis balls
A robot for collecting table tennis balls on the ground includes a body, a rotor mounted at a front of the body, a driving module mounted on the body, and a control device. The body is configured for receiving the picked table tennis balls therein. The driving module drives the body to travel and drives the rotor to rotate for picking up the table tennis balls. The control device is configured for controlling the driving module to drive the robot to travel on the ground along a predetermined route.
US07674195B2 Motivational baseball glove
A baseball glove with integrated illumination means and circuitry that can control the pattern and timing of the illumination means to produce a lightshow. The lightshow may be triggered by the glove catching a ball, or by a separate switch. Optionally, the lightshow may be accompanied by audio signals.
US07674191B2 Multi-layer golf ball
Disclosed herein is a multi-layer golf ball having a soft outer cover. The golf ball has an inner cover layer with a Shore D hardness of 60 or more, and an outer cover with a Shore D hardness of 55 or less, and more preferably 50 or less. In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the outer cover comprises one or more polyurethane materials. The golf ball of the invention has exceptionally soft feel and high spin rates on short shots of 80 yards or less, and particularly, 40 yards or less, while maintaining good distance and average spin on full shots.
US07674186B2 Direction and distance correcting golf putter
A golf putter has a putter head with an actively compliant beam which is parallel to the face of the putter. The beam connects to a shaft along its length and is separated from the head except for its ends. The force of impact between the face of the putter and the ball on the putter face sweet spot causes a stress to develop in the beam, resulting in a deflection in the beam proportional to the force of the impact, while maintaining the putter face orientation with respect to the putting line. Impacts which miss the sweet spot will cause the putter face to skew to an angle with respect to the putting line, also introducing a proportional flexure of the beam, depending on the distance between the sweet spot and the point of impact. The beam has a characteristic time such that as the force between the ball and the putter face decreases to zero after impact, the beam flexure simultaneously recovers causing the putter face to return to its original putting line orientation at almost the same instant the ball leaves the putter face, thereby providing distance and directional correction for mishit putts. Additionally, when a putter head with a suitable moment of inertia is coupled with an actively compliant beam, feel and alignment are substantially enhanced. The putter also uses a unique visual alignment sight line groove on the top surface of the putter head, extending from the face to the back of the putter. The groove is perpendicular to the face of the putter and may have tapered side walls. It is positioned directly above and parallel to the center of mass and the sweet spot, so that it can be positioned directly over the intended putting line when the putter is properly located on the putting surface. The base of the groove has contrasting stripes, so that when the golfer's dominant eye is properly located over the groove, the entire stripped base of the groove is visible to the golfer.
US07674176B2 Gaming using display elements activated by direction indicators
Gaming systems/processes employing display elements activated by direction-indicating symbols from adjacent display elements. A slot game event provides a display grid having deactivated grid positions and at least one activated grid position. A direction-indicating symbol is randomly presented in the activated grid position, indicating the direction of a deactivated grid position, and the deactivated grid position is activated in response. Distinguishing non-selected grid positions from selected grid positions may involve visually de-emphasizing the non-selected grid positions, such as by dimming or obscuring, or highlighting the selected grid positions. An activated grid position may be deactivated if a stop symbol is randomly presented in the grid position. Game play may be repeated until all activated grid positions are deactivated grid positions and/or de-emphasized grid positions. A currently deactivated and/or de-emphasized grid position may be re-activated in response to the direction-indicating symbol being presented in an adjacent grid position.
US07674175B2 Video slot machine
A video slot machine is disclosed in which a plurality of reel images comprising at least two types of arranged symbols are displayed on a monitor. The video slot machine includes a game controller configured to control a game including a unit game in response to a BET operation; a display controller configured to control the monitor such that the symbols of the reel images are successively changed and then stopped for display during the unit game; a change time determination unit configured to determine whether or not it is time to change the reel images; and a reel image changing unit configured to change at least one of the reel images to a different reel image having a different symbol arrangement when the change timing determination unit determines that it is time to change the reel images.
US07674173B2 Gaming machine with special symbol
A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14).The game controller is arranged to play a game (16) wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display (14). If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine (10) awards a prize. When a special symbol is carried by a symbol-carrying element into a display position on the display (14), the special symbol substitutes as more than one occurrence of a standard symbol of the game (16).
US07674169B2 Random animated lottery system
A lottery system graphically portraying a lottery result in animation is provided. The lottery system includes a game generator which comprises a random number generator and an animation drawing subsystem. The random number generator randomly selects a lottery result at a predetermined time. The animation drawing subsystem selects one or more game events associated with the randomly selected lottery result, and compiles into an animated lottery game video one or more animation sequences corresponding to the selected game events.
US07674155B2 Process and apparatus for artificially ageing blocks
A process for artificially ageing blocks, in particular concrete blocks, vitrified bricks and natural stones, provides that the blocks are applied to an underlying surface. Essentially freely movable distressing bodies are applied to the surface to be worked of the blocks. The blocks and the distressing bodies are brought into movement in relation to one another by a vibrating motion of the underlying surface in such a way that the distressing bodies act on the surface and the adjoining, exposed edges of the blocks.
US07674154B2 Apparatus and method for polishing objects using object cleaners
An apparatus and method for polishing objects, such as semiconductor wafers, uses at least one object cleaner, which may be a movable object cleaner. The movable object cleaner allows access to different parts of the apparatus for maintenance.
US07674142B2 Latching structure and a method of making an electrical interconnect
An electrical interconnect device attaches electrical devices with a cantilever spring with out the use of solder or adhesive. The cantilever spring latches to a contact structure such that there are a plurality of contact points between the spring and the contact structure. The cantilever spring has two tines at a tip end that define an opening in the spring. The contact structure is received by the opening between the two tines so that the spring and the contact structure mate. The spring may engage the contact structure by latching to the contact structure or by a post that urges the tip end of the spring against the contact structure.
US07674141B2 Terminal for a connector and a connector
A connector includes a pair of terminals. Each of the terminals includes a housing and a connecting portion. The connecting portion is arranged in the housing. The connecting portion has a first end provided with a connecting member for connection of an electrical cable and a second end provided with a first blade and second blade arranged side by side. The first blade has a fitting arrangement and the second blade having a spring arrangement. The fitting arrangements of the first blades of the terminals are engaged to mate the terminals.
US07674129B1 Clamping device for DIN rail
A clamping device for a DIN rail is provided, in which a positioning blade spring is fixed on a base, a first positioning component and a second positioning component are disposed on a sliding element, and the sliding element moves relative to the base, so that the positioning blade spring is enabled to move from the second positioning component to the first positioning component for being fixed and positioned, so as to solve the problems of the prior art that the clamping device cannot be easily detached from the DIN rail and is easily damaged, thereby achieving the technique efficacies of simplifying the process of detaching the clamping device from the DIN rail and facilitating detaching the clamping device.
US07674126B2 Contacts for use in monitoring connection patterns in data ports
A telecommunications connection system including a plug; an outlet; the plug including: a plug body; transmission contacts supported in the plug body, the transmission contacts transmitting signals when the plug is mated with the outlet; a plug contact mounted on the plug body, the plug contact deflecting towards the plug body upon mating the plug with the outlet, the plug contact carrying a connectivity signal for monitoring port-to-port connectivity; a conductor in electrical connection with the plug contact; an outlet contact for making contact with the plug contact for transmission of the connectivity signal; outlet transmission contacts in the outlet making electrical contact with the transmission contacts.
US07674121B2 Protective boot and universal cap
A protective endcap for use with a triaxial cable connector. The endcap is sized to fit about a mating end of the triaxial connector. A pair of protective boots for use with coaxial cable connectors. Each protective boot includes an interior space for receiving a triaxial cable connector. Each interior space includes ridges for engaging grooves about the connector. Each boot includes a mating circumferential lip about a connector end. Each boot includes a tapered cable end with an opening for a cable from a connector to extend through from the interior space. A triaxial cable connector assembly including a connector, a protective boot and an endcap. The connector is positioned within an interior opening of the boot with ridges of an inner wall of the opening engaging grooves of the connector. A cable extending from the connector extends through a cable end of the boot. A mating end of the connector is adjacent a connector end of the boot. The endcap is mounted about the mating end of the connector and includes a circumferential lip which engages a mating circumferential lip of boot.
US07674118B2 Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes an insulating body and a plurality of signal terminals and ground terminals contained therein. Each terminal includes a contact portion, a foot portion and a connection portion therebetween. The contact portions are arranged in two lines on the insulating body, and the foot portions are arranged in two lines. The locations of the free ends of the foot portions included in one line correspond with the location arrangement of their contact portions. Compared with the free ends of the foot portions of each signal terminal pair in the line, the distance between the free ends of the foot portions of two corresponding adjacent terminals in the other line is increased.
US07674115B2 Electrical connector
An electrical connector for a circuit board has a housing and a receiving recess portion for receiving a mating connector. A plurality of terminals is arranged in a terminal groove. The terminal has an attachment portion fitted to the housing and an elastic portion extending along the receiving recess portion. The elastic portion has a suspended arm portion, a bottom arm portion, and a rising arm portion. The rising arm portion has a contact portion on an upper edge position and an abutting portion below the contact portion.
US07674106B2 Molding apparatus
An exemplary molding apparatus includes a first and a second mold core, a mold core receiving member, at least three positioning members and pushing members. The first and second mold core respectively have a first and a second molding portion, the first and second molding portion are configured for cooperatively defining a mold cavity. The mold core receiving member defines a through hole for receiving the second molding portion, at least three spaced receptacles in an inner wall thereof, and at least three spaced receiving holes in communication with the respective at least three receptacles. The at least three positioning members are received in the at least three receptacles. The at least three pushing members are movably received lengthwise in the at least three receiving holes, and being configured for urging the at least three positioning members to move toward the second molding portion thus hold the second molding portion.
US07674101B2 Sliding vane of rotors
The present invention provides a sliding vane, which is provided through a rotor in a cylinder and reciprocates in a diametrical direction and rotates together with the rotor. The sliding vane of the present invention includes a vane body (10), which has plate seating slots (23a) and (23b) formed in the respective diametrical opposite ends of the vane body. The sliding vane further includes two pairs of compression plates (3a) and (3b), (3c) and (3d), which are provided in the plate seating slots. First springs (15) are provided in a diametrically inner end of each compression plate. A sealing rod insertion slot (7a), (7b), (7c), (7d) is formed in a diametrically outer end of each compression plate, and a second spring (19) is provided between axially inner ends of the adjacent compression plates. The sliding vane further includes a sealing rod (5a), (5b) which is inserted into and occupies the entire length of the sealing rod insertion slots of adjacent compression plates placed in each plate seating slot.
US07674094B2 Electric fan with sealing lid
An electric fan includes a fan base (10), a bearing (40) and a rotor assembly (20). The fan base forms a central tube (11) receiving the bearing therein. The rotor assembly includes a fan hub (22), and a pivot axle (23) joined to the fan hub. The pivot axle pivotably extends into the bearing. A sealing lid (60) is screwedly mounted on a bottom opening of the central tube to prevent lubricant oil contained in the central tube from leaking. The sealing lid abuts against a bottom of the bearing to prevent the bearing from deflection.
US07674093B2 Cluster bridged casting core
A casting core for a turbine blade includes a plurality of rods extending above a shank. The rods define internal cooling channels in the airfoil of the blade, and the shank defines an inlet channel in the dovetail of the blade. A plurality of stubs are clustered together at a bulb joined to the shank and radiate outwardly to integrally join different ones of the rods for increasing strength of the core.
US07674092B2 Blade or vane for a turbomachine
A component defines a blade or a vane for a rotor rotatable about a rotary axis. An inner space of the component is limited by first and second walls, and forms a passage for a cooling fluid. First and second ribs project form the first and second walls, respectively, and form first and second channels for the fluid from a leading end to a trailing end of the ribs. The first and second ribs intersect and are directly connected to each other at said intersections. The first and second ribs intersect at an intersection joint in the proximity of the trailing end in such a way that the first channel and the second channel form a common outlet channel with a flow area.
US07674091B2 Rotor blade pitch control
A mechanical independent blade control (MIBC) mechanism for controlling the pitch of each of the blades of a rotor blade system or a main rotor of a rotor aircraft independently of the other blades includes a plurality of actuators disposed in the fuselage below the hub of the rotor, each being operable to selectively control the pitch of an associated one of the blades independently of the other blades, and a plurality of mechanical linkages disposed within the annulus of the rotor mast, each coupled between a blade and an actuator and operable to transmit a force output by the actuator to a pitch horn fixed to an inner end of the associated blade. The mechanism enables the direction of pitch of each blade to be changed more than twice during one revolution of the rotor.
US07674088B2 Vane arrangement of a turbo machine
A vane arrangement (1) of a turbo machine (4), in particular of a gas turbine, includes at least one vane carrier (2) attached to a housing (5) of a turbo machine (4), and several vanes (3) attached to the vane carrier (2) and circumferentially arranged side by side, wherein the attachment between the vane carrier (2) and respective vane (3) is adapted for being axially pluggable. In order to simplify dismounting of a single vane (3) at least one of the vanes (3) is provided with an extraction device (35) having at least one axially extending extraction through-hole (36). The respective extraction through hole (36) is provided with an inner thread (37), and the vane carrier (2) is provided with an abutment zone (38) axially opposing the extraction through hole (36). The extraction device (35) is adapted for inducing axially oriented extraction forces into the respective vane (3) by an extraction tool, which is provided with an outer thread and which is in order to extract the respective vane (3) from the vane carrier (2) inserted into the extraction through-hole (36) and axially pressing against the abutment zone (28).
US07674087B2 Method for loading of container used to ship semi-trailer chassis
A method used for loading semi-trailer chassis into a container, wherein the container includes a base frame and four frame structures attached to corner posts of the base frame. Four semi-trailer chassis are stacked into the container from bottom to top, where the first semi-trailer chassis is placed upside down, the second semi-trailer chassis is placed right-side up and turned horizontally at a 180 degree angle, the third semi-trailer chassis is placed upside down, and the fourth semi-trailer chassis is placed right-side up and turned horizontally at a 180 degree angle.
US07674086B2 Method and apparatus for handling rolls from paper or tissue making machine without touching the roll surface
In an apparatus for handling rolls of web material, a shaft bearing one or more fully wound rolls of web material thereon are supported from one end in a cantilever support. An external mandrel is aligned with a free end of the shaft. A roll-moving device is positioned to shift the rolls axially along the shaft away from the supported end of the shaft. The roll-moving device shifts the rolls of web material off the shaft and onto the aligned external mandrel, shaft or other support device. The weight of the roll of web material is borne by the shaft and external mandrel throughout the transfer. Once the shaft is removed, the rolls of web material can be handled during further processing from the core.
US07674083B2 Clean device with clean box-opening/closing device
In a load port portion of a conventional clean device, it can happen that cleanliness is reduced by dust caused by wear of bellows and a lid is not separated by its weight from a main body. In order to solve such problems, a clean device is structured as follows: a lid of a clean box has a non-circular reception hole, a load port portion of the clean device has an opening/closing mechanism with a projection fittable in the receiving hole and has a buffer chamber, one end of bellows of the buffer chamber is connected to the bottom surface of the buffer chamber, and the other end of the bellows is fixed, on the outside of the buffer chamber, to raising/lowering means of a port door.
US07674080B2 Retaining washer for threaded fasteners
The present invention provides a retaining washer for retaining threaded fasteners, such as bolts, that have been inadvertently loosened, in use. The invention finds particular application in gas turbine engines and in aircraft in general where wire locking of threaded fasteners has traditionally been employed. The washer (10) comprises a base member (14) having a plurality of apertures (18) each for receiving the shank of a respective bolt (20) or stud part of a threaded fastener, and engagement means (16) extending from the base member for engagement with respective bolt head or nut parts of the fasteners to retain the said head or nut parts with respect to the washer in the event of inadvertent loosening. The said engagement means is deformable between an open configuration which enables access to the bolt head or nut parts of the fasteners for tightening and/or removal thereof and a closed configuration in which the bolt head or nut part are captively retained with the washer.
US07674075B2 Assembly and method for installation of an underwater structure
The invention concerns an assembly for installation of an underwater structure on the sea floor, said sea floor being covered with particles capable of being driven in suspension in the water above said sea floor, the mounting of said underwater installation capable of being implemented by an underwater robot driven by propulsion means, said propulsion means being capable of displacing the sea floor water and said suspended particles around said installation; said assembly comprising means (22, 26) for covering said sea floor surrounding said installation with a protective blanket (10) adapted to confine said particles on said sea floor.
US07674068B2 Cement heating and finishing machine
The cement finishing machine (10) has adjustable heat generating assemblies (22, 24), affixed to each side of the finishing machine (10). Each of the heat generating assemblies (22, 24) includes a propane burner that extends into an elongate heating tube. The heat generating assemblies (22, 24) also include a vertical adjustment assembly and detachable heat guards. The heat generated by the propane burner is directed through an opening in the bottom of each of the heating tubes and onto the surface of an unfinished cement slab during the cement finishing process. The heat facilitates the evaporation of excess water generated during the cement finishing process.
US07674067B2 Irregular tessellated building units
An irregular, tessellated building unit comprises x primary elements, wherein x is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The primary element is a rotational tessellation having a plural pairs of sides extending in a generally radial direction from plural vertices, respectively. In each pair, the two sides are rotationally spaced by an angle that is divided evenly into 360 degrees. Preferably, all of the sides are irregularly shaped, but one or more sides could be wholly or partially straight. Optionally, spacers are provided on the sides of each unit. A wide variety of units may be constructed having different numbers and arrangements of primary elements. As all the units are combinations of primary elements, they readily mate with each other. A surface covering comprises a multiplicity of units assembled to form a continuous surface without overlap between units and without substantial gaps between units. A structure, such as a wall or column can be formed of building units of the invention. Because of the irregular side configurations, and different sizes and shapes of individual units, the resulting surface or structure has a natural, non-repeating pattern appearance. Optionally, minor surface and edges variations are made from unit to unit to further enhance the natural appearance of the surface covering or structure.
US07674063B2 Rotatable joint having a resilient module
An exemplary rotatable joint (100) used for a mechanical device includes a socket (10), a rotatable arm (20), a supporting shaft (13), a fastening member (15), an adjusting member (16), and a resilient module (18). A pivot hole (212) is defined in the rotatable arm. The supporting shaft includes a first shaft portion (130) and a second shaft portion (132). A threaded hole (131) is defined in the first shaft portion and the first shaft portion extends through the pivot hole. The second shaft portion is fixed to the socket. The fastening member includes a threaded portion (152) for engaging in the threaded hole of the supporting shaft. The adjusting member is disposed at the threaded portion of the fastening member. The resilient module is disposed between the rotatable arm and the adjusting member for providing an axial resilient force. The axial resilient force is fine tuned by moving the adjusting member.
US07674059B2 Combined joint compound dispenser and applicator for corners
A combined joint compound dispenser and applicator for corners comprises a cylinder mechanically attached to a tube extending therefrom. The cylinder pushes a compound by way of a piston. A ball joint provides an articulated connection between the tube and an applicator by way of an insertion shoe. The applicator has two flaps cojoined at an apex so as to form a <> shape. The compound passes from the tube through the applicator by way of a slit, and that slit is formed by an arrow shaped element placed in front of a hole. The hole is at the apex. Wheels located on wedges allow the applicator to roll on walls. The wedges extend integrally from the flaps.
US07674056B2 Paper path powered jam/lock systems and methods
An image output device includes a marking engine and a media path adjacent the marking engine. The media path has a media transportation direction and a media transport element (e.g., a nip drive, a belt drive, a suction drive, an air pressure drive, etc.) within the media path that moves the media along the media path in the media transportation direction. A drive motor is operatively connected to the media transport element. The drive motor provides drive force in a forward direction that causes the media transport element to move media along the media path in the media transportation direction. The drive motor can also provide the drive force in a reverse direction opposite the forward direction. A one-way drive transfer device (e.g., a one-way clutch, a one-way swing arm mechanism, etc.) is operatively connected to the drive motor. The one-way drive transfer device only transfers drive force from the drive motor when the drive motor operates in the reverse direction. The reverse direction drive of the motor, in conjunction with a one-way drive transfer device, can be used to perform the lock/unlock or the open/close of a jam clearance mechanism, baffle, or shield.
US07674055B2 Label printer with a label peeling mechanism and a control method for the same
A label printing apparatus having a label peeling mechanism determines the appropriate time to run a process for setting the paper. Paper having a plurality of labels continuously affixed to a web liner is loaded inside the label printing apparatus when a main cover is open. A peeling mechanism cover is attached and openable from the main cover. When opened, the paper is routed through one path or another to exit the printer from one or another exit depending on whether or not the peeling mechanism is used. A control method for this printer has a step of waiting for a switch to be pressed by an operator after the operator puts the paper inside the label printer and closes the main cover, and a step of executing a paper setup process when the switch is pressed.
US07674054B2 System and method for indicating receipt paper supply in a receipt printer
Disclosed is a system for indicating paper supply in receipt printers, the system including a paper roll including a core and length of paper that forms a paper portion, the core including a core diameter and the paper portion including a decreasing paper diameter, wherein the core contrasts in color to the paper portion to create a contrast, a scanner configured to sense data pertaining to areas occupied by the core and the paper portion via the contrast, wherein the computing resource is configured to convert the data into measurements of the core diameter and paper diameter, the computing resource being programmable to create alerts when remaining lengths of paper are left on the paper roll, the remaining lengths corresponding to low paper conditions of the paper roll, and being calculated by measurements pertaining to the core diameter, decreasing paper diameter, and a thickness of the paper.
US07674053B1 Dual key pod data entry device
A data entry device includes a pair of key pods adapted for use with left and right hands of a user. Each key pod includes a base housing, a carrier housing mounted on and rotate about the longitudinal pivot of the base housing. The carrier housing has at least a center position, a first rotational position in the clockwise direction, and a second rotational position in the counter-clockwise direction. Each key pod further includes a set of data input keys correspond to the fingers of the user's hand and a thumb key. The set of data input keys provides first, second and third sets of input signals corresponding to the carrier housing being in the center position, the first and the second rotational positions, respectively. The carrier housing may further include overtravel rotational positions in the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction to implement further control or keyboard functions.
US07674046B2 Fibre optic connector keying system
A keying system for providing selective interconnection between a receptacle socket and a connector plug terminating an optic fibre, the connector plug adapted for insertion into the receptacle socket. The keying system comprises a raised boss configured to one of a plurality of predefined boss keying geometries and a cavity configured to one of a plurality of predefined cavity keying geometries. The boss is either in one of the receptacle socket or on a forward end of the connector plug and the cavity is formed in the other of the receptacle socket or the forward end of the connector plug. At least one of the predefined boss keying geometries matches at least one of the predefined cavity keying geometries. When the boss keying geometry matches the cavity keying geometry, the boss can be inserted into the cavity thereby interconnecting the connector plug with the receptacle socket. In this manner correct interconnections between connectors and other connectors or sockets can be insured thereby providing an enhanced level of security.
US07674036B2 Thermal icing conditions detector
A sensor for detecting icing conditions in an airstream includes a flow housing mounted on an aircraft and in which one or more probes are mounted. At least one of the probes subjected to impingement of the airstream and liquid moisture droplets in such airstream. The heat removal, or cooling effect on the probe in the airstream carrying liquid droplets is determined. A temperature signal indicating the airstream temperature is combined with signals from the at least one probe for determining whether or not icing conditions are present.
US07674031B2 Optical film and backlight system using the same
An optical film with a plurality of micro structures which are capable of collecting incident light to the frontal and normalized view angle of the optical film for reducing the chance of incident light returning to light guild plate so as to enhance light collecting efficiency is provided in the present invention. In an embodiment, the optical film is combined with a flat light source so as to form a backlight system. By means of the merit of the optical film, the quantities of the optical film can be reduced so that the backlight system can have characteristics of thin thickness and low production cost.
US07674027B2 Vehicle interior lamp
A light source has a unit structure including a main body, a light-radiating unit that is provided in the main body to radiate light, and a heat sink member that is provided in the main body. A lamp housing has a heat discharge opening at a position corresponding to the light source.
US07674024B2 Interior illumination lamp
A bulb 37 and a reflecting plate 40 are disposed in offset relation to a lens 54 so that an optical axis LB1 of a beam, emitted from the bulb 37, and an optical axis LB2 of reflection light, reflected by the reflecting plate 40, can intersect an axis CL of the lens 54 in a forward-rearward direction of a vehicle. Therefore, the beam can be radiated forwardly without directing the lens 54 forwardly. In the case where two reflecting surfaces 41a and 41b of an identical shape are provided symmetrically on the reflecting plate 40, and are arranged in the forward-rearward direction of the vehicle, and there are provided a pair of bulbs 37, a pair of reflecting plates 40 and a pair of lens 54 each pair of which are provided respectively for left and right (two) directions, the pair of reflecting plates, having an identical construction, are used. Therefore, the cost can be reduced, and this also prevents an erroneous operation in which the two reflecting plates are mounted in a reversed manner.
US07674023B2 Headlight assembly for a straddle-type vehicle
A headlight assembly for a straddle-type vehicle (e.g., a motor scooter) is provided that is positioned lower to the ground and farther forward than typical headlights to provide enhanced illumination from a front end of the vehicle. The assembly comprises a front portion of a vehicle body cover that extends over a portion of the front wheel of the vehicle. A headlight assembly is disposed at least partially on a front end of the front portion of the vehicle body cover. The headlight assembly comprises an upper light for generating a low beam of light and a lower light for generating a high beam of light. In addition, the headlight comprises position lights disposed on the right side and the left side of the upper and lower lights. Preferably, at least a portion of the headlight assembly is positioned farther forward than a leading end of the front wheel of the vehicle.
US07674022B2 Motorcycle headlight device
To provide a headlight device, in which a change of the region of illumination afforded by the headlamp can be initiated substantially punctual to the start of cornering of the motorcycle, the headlight device includes a headlamp for illuminating forwardly of the motorcycle, a light-distribution adjusting mechanism for changing a region of illumination, a bank angle detecting unit for detecting a bank angle δ of the motorcycle in reference to an angular velocity ωy about a vertical axis of the motorcycle, an angular velocity ωr about a longitudinal axis of the motorcycle and a motorcycle velocity v, and a light-distribution controller for controlling the light-distribution adjusting mechanism based on the detected bank angle δ to change the region of illumination into an area further away from and at least inwardly of a direction of turn of the motorcycle during a cornering.
US07674018B2 LED device for wide beam generation
An apparatus and method is characterized by providing an optical transfer function between a predetermined illuminated surface pattern, such as a street light pattern, and a predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source, such as that from an LED. A lens is formed having a shape defined by the optical transfer function. The optical transfer function is derived by generating an energy distribution pattern using the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. Then the projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is generated. The projection is then compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern to determine if it acceptably matches. The process continues reiteratively until an acceptable match is achieved. Alternatively, the lens shape is numerically or analytically determined by a functional relationship between the shape and the predetermined illuminated surface pattern and predetermined energy distribution pattern of a light source as inputs.
US07674016B2 LED lamp with a heat dissipation device
An LED lamp includes a heat sink (10) and a plurality of LED modules (20) mounted on a periphery of the heat sink. The heat sink defines a through hole (122) from a lateral side to an opposite lateral side thereof to define a cylindrical inner face. A plurality of fins (16) are attached to the heat sink in a manner such that the fins have spaced external portions (160) extending outwardly from the periphery of the heat sink, and opposite internal portions (162) extending inwardly from the inner face of the heat sink. The internal portions connect with each other to form a joint (164) in the through hole, thus increasing a heat dissipating area of the heat sink and reinforcing the heat sink.
US07674014B2 Lighting installation
A lighting installation has two light fixtures which each have an illuminant in a horizontal burning position and a box reflector surrounding the illuminant. The box reflectors of the two light fixtures are each designed to produce half bat wing light distributions. The two light fixtures are positioned parallel to one another such that they together produce bat wing distribution and the two light fixtures can be adjusted in relation to one another.
US07674013B2 Utility light
A light assembly, comprising: a translucent housing; an inner wall disposed in the translucent housing, the inner wall and the translucent housing defining an inner cavity; a plurality of light emitting diodes electrically coupled to a power source; a switch for electrically connecting and disconnecting the plurality of light emitting diodes to the power source and activating an operating mode including sequential flashing of the plurality of light emitting diodes, the plurality of light emitting diodes and the power source being disposed in the inner cavity; and a removable base configured to be secured to the inner wall, the removable base defining a bottom portion of the housing, the switch being located in the removable base.
US07674010B2 Light fixture having light emitting diode (LED) and resilient member
A housing for a light fixture, and the light itself, is disclosed. The housing comprises an elongate body and a resilient member mountable in the body to retain at least one light emitting diode (LED) between the resilient member and the housing such that the or each LED is repositionable within the housing. The light includes at least one LED mounted in the housing.
US07674009B2 LED lamp assembly
An exemplary LED lamp assembly includes a housing (21), a printed circuit board (22), one or more LEDs (23), a light reflective module (24) and a lamp cover (25). The housing includes a top cover (211), a base sheet (213), a plurality of sidewalls (215), and an opening (218). LEDs are electrically connected to the printed circuit board on the base sheet includes a light-emitting side surface (233) and a top surface (235), a portion of the light-emitting side surface facing the opening, and the top surface facing the top cover. The reflective module defines a through hole (247) for allowing the LED passing therethrough. The first-light-distributing member (26) is located in the housing between the LED and the opening. The lamp cover covers the opening.
US07674008B2 Light emitting device and panel
A back-light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting devices, each light-emitting device having a light-emitting package and a lens surface. In at least some of the light emitting devices, the radius of curvature in one direction of the lens surface is different from the radius of curvature in another direction such that one of the radii of curvature of the lens is greater than the other radius of curvature. In particular, one radius of curvature is equal to or smaller than half the length of the device. The other radius of curvature is equal to or greater than half the length of the device. As such, the lens has different focal lengths in different directions. The light-emitting package can have a plurality of light-emitting sources of a single color or of different colors.
US07674007B2 Backlight assembly, liquid crystal display apparatus having the same and method of manufacturing lamp-fixing member
A backlight assembly includes a receiving container, lamps, a diffusion plate and a lamp-fixing member. The receiving container includes a bottom plate and sidewalls together providing a receiving space. The lamps are arranged substantially parallel to each other on the bottom plate. The diffusion plate is disposed over the lamps. The lamp-fixing member includes a body portion extending substantially perpendicular to the lamps, a buffer protruding upwardly from the body portion, a diffusion plate supporting portion protruding from the buffer to support the diffusion plate and a lamp-fixing portion formed at the body portion to fix the lamps. Therefore, the buffer having elasticity is formed at an area at which the diffusion plate supporting portion is formed, so that rubbing between the diffusion plate and the diffusion plate supporting portion may be reduced.
US07674006B2 Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device having same
A backlight unit includes a receiving member, a lamp socket disposed in the receiving, member, a lamp coupled to the lamp socket and an inverter unit coupled to the lamp socket to supply electric power to the lamp. The receiving member further includes a guide portion for guiding the inverter unit The lamp socket includes a body, a first connector formed in a first end of the body, and a second connector formed in a second end of the body, wherein the first connector connects to the lamp and the second connector connects to the inverter unit.
US07673994B2 Image display apparatus and control method for the same
An image display apparatus that displays an image through scanning by a plurality of beam lights, includes: a light source section that supplies the beam lights; and a scanning section that subjects to scanning the beam lights coming from the light source section. In the image display apparatus, the light source section is driven for a tone representation using the beam lights each having a light amount that is assigned a weight depending on how many bits are allocated in a range from minimum to maximum, and allocates at least two of the beam lights to at least one higher-order bit in the range.
US07673991B2 Method and device for measuring retinal stray light
The present invention provides a method and device of measuring the retinal stray light in the eye of a subject, comprising presenting to the subject a flickering stray light from a stray light source; presenting to the subject compensation light so as to undercompensate said part of the flickering stray; presenting to the subject compensation light, the compensation light flickering with a modulation depth so as to eventually overcompensate the flickering light being imaged on the retina; and determining from the results of a sequence of comparisons using different parameter values between the resulting retinal light flickering as perceived by the subject for the undercompensated test area and the eventually overcompensated test area a stray light parameter.
US07673989B2 Telemicroscopic loupes with removable, replaceable lens cap to adjust for working distance
An improvement upon telemicroscopic loupes of the type which are adjustably mounted to an eyeglass frame, headmount or through-lens designs. The preferred embodiment includes a cap including an optical element to adjust for the working distance of a loupe. The cap may be frictionally fit onto the loupe or threadably attached to the loupe body. According to an alternative embodiment, one or more eyepiece components may be used alone or in combination with the end cap for adjusting prescription and/or working distance.
US07673980B2 Ink-jet recording apparatus, ink-jet copier and recording medium
A containing member contains a recording medium which has a base member and granular material coated on both sides of the base member, and roughness of the surfaces of the coated granular material is smaller than the roughness of the base member. A printing unit includes an ink-jet recording head which jets recording liquid onto the recording medium. A conveyance unit and a conveyance path convey the recording medium, one side of which has been already printed, into the printing unit again in order to print image onto the other side thereof. A unit is provided for enabling the printing unit to print image on the recording medium such that the vertical orientations of the images printed both sides of the recording medium are coincide with each other.
US07673976B2 Continuous ink jet apparatus and method using a plurality of break-off times
A continuous liquid drop emission apparatus is disclosed comprising a liquid drop emitter containing a positively pressurized liquid in flow communication with a plurality of nozzles formed in a common nozzle member for emitting a plurality of continuous streams of liquid. A jet stimulation apparatus is provided comprising a plurality of transducers corresponding to the plurality of nozzles and adapted to transfer energy to the liquid in corresponding flow communication with the plurality of nozzles sufficient to cause the break-off of the plurality of continuous streams of liquid at a plurality of predetermined break-off times into a plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes. Sensing apparatus is provided adapted to measure a characteristic value for each of the plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes; and control apparatus is adapted to provide a plurality of break-off time setting signals to the jet stimulation apparatus to cause the plurality of predetermined break-off times determined, at least, by the characteristic value of each of the plurality of streams of drops of predetermined volumes. Alternately, a sensing apparatus is used in an off-line calibration set-up and characteristic values are measured for the plurality of streams and stored in a stream memory that is included in the continuous liquid drop apparatus. The present inventions are also configured to provide a plurality of the break-off times for a plurality of liquid streams in a continuous liquid drop emission apparatus that is further adapted to inductively charge at least one drop in a each of a plurality of streams and having electric field deflection apparatus adapted to generate a Coulomb force on an inductively charged drop. Methods of operating a continuous liquid drop emission apparatus utilizing a plurality of predetermined break-off times are disclosed.
US07673971B2 Fluid ejection device and manufacturing method
An ink cartridge for an ink jet printer includes a substratum and a cover attached to the substratum and having an aperture provided therein. A printhead is attached to the substratum and provided at least partially within the aperture. At least one connector extends from the printhead into the aperture, and an adhesive material covers at least a portion of the at least one connector. At least one barrier is provided for preventing the adhesive material from flowing to locations away from the at least one connector.
US07673963B2 Ink unit including ink and ink-wetted member
An ink unit having: an ink utilized for an inkjet recorder; and a wetted member that contacts with the ink, wherein the ink includes a pigment dispersedly held in a medium, and the pigment contains particles having a size of 200 nm or larger in 2 volume percent or less, and wherein a principal component of the ink-wetted member is [1] a compound of specific hydrotalcite; [2] a fatty acid and/or a fatty acid derivative; [3 ] a phenolic antioxidant having an isocyanurate skeleton; or [4] a polyolefin including an alkyl-substituted benzylidene sorbitol.
US07673962B2 Driving module utilized for driving a print head maintenance station
A driving module utilized for driving a print head maintenance station. The print head maintenance station includes a capper and a wiper. The driving module includes: a first rotation unit having a first surface corresponding to a first profile; a second rotation unit having a second surface corresponding to a second profile; a first connection module for moving the capper according to the first profile of the first rotation unit; a second connection module for moving the wiper according to the second profile of the second rotation unit; a transfer module coupled to the first connection module and the second connection module; and a motor coupled to the transfer module for driving the first and second rotation units to rotate simultaneously according to the transfer module.
US07673955B2 Inkjet printer correction device and method
An inkjet printer correction device and method. A correction device having a first circuit generating a first processing signal composed of a first and second pulse signal according to a first and second phase signal produced by an encoder, a second circuit generating a second processing signal based on the position change variation of either the first or second phase signal, a third circuit generating a third processing signal based on the position change variation of either the first or second phase signal, a selector selecting one of the first, second, or third circuits according to the first processing signal. The present invention provides one of the first, second, or third processing signals to control the speed and position of motor of the inkjet printer.
US07673952B2 Medical treatment cart
A medical treatment cart includes two compartments, each housing five individually slidable drawers which can be closed and locked by vertically pivoted doors in turn carrying individual and distinct locking mechanisms, such as different keys for associated locks or different combinations for combination locks. At least some of the drawers include patient baskets containing appropriate treatment supplies and medications with each patient basket being identified by name and room number with all odd numbered patient rooms being located on one side of the medical treatment cart and all even numbered patient rooms being located on another side of the medical treatment cart. Preferably, two nurses or like care-givers utilize opposite sides of the medical treatment cart to treat patients on opposite sides of the corridor in a typical medical facility.
US07673950B2 Vehicle autonomous brake-apply system and method
A first vehicle autonomous brake-apply system includes a vehicle hydraulic brake assembly, a vacuum booster assembly operatively connected to the vehicle hydraulic brake assembly, a solenoid valve operatively connected to the vacuum booster assembly, and an automatic controller including an output signal operatively connected to the solenoid valve. A second system uses a lateral-acceleration-sensor assembly in place of the automatic controller. A third system includes a braking controller, an electrical braking device, and at least one distance sensor. A method for assisting driving of a vehicle includes applying a braking force to stop the vehicle before the vehicle strikes an obstacle whose distance to the vehicle is measured using at least one distance sensor.
US07673948B2 Hydraulic brake apparatus
A hydraulic brake apparatus for use in a vehicle having wheels and a brake operating member manually operable by a driver, the apparatus including a manual pressure source including (a) a hydraulic booster which boosts an operating source applied by the driver to the brake operating member and produces a first hydraulic pressure corresponding to the boosted operating force, and (b) a master cylinder which produces a second hydraulic pressure corresponding to the boosted operating force as an output of the hydraulic booster; a power pressure source which produces, by utilizing a power, a third hydraulic pressure irrespective of whether the brake operating member is operated; hydraulic brakes which are provided in association with the wheels, respectively, and include respective brake cylinders, and each of which, upon supplying of a hydraulic pressure to a corresponding one of the brake cylinders, applies a hydraulic braking force to a corresponding one of the wheels; a hub portion which is connected to each of the brake cylinders and to which the hydraulic booster, the master cylinder, and the power pressure source are connected in parallel; and a pressure source communication control device which selectively allows at least one of the hydraulic booster, the master cylinder, and the power pressure source to communicate with the hub portion.
US07673947B2 Quick release device with biasing unit
A quick release device includes a cam portion and a lever connected to the cam portion, a cooperation unit with which the cam portion is pivotably engaged, a rod having a first threaded section at a first end thereof and the threaded section extending through the cooperation unit and into the cam portion and threadedly connected with a pin which transversely extends through the cam portion, a second end of the rod including a second threaded section which extends through a biasing unit and is connected with an adjustment member in the biasing unit. The biasing unit pulls rod in a direction away from the operation member. The biasing unit is a tubular member which accommodates the spring and the adjustment member therein.
US07673942B2 High chair with swivel feature and height adjustment
A high chair incorporates a swivel feature and a height adjustment feature that permits the seat member to be positioned to the convenience of the caregiver. The high chair includes an H-shaped base member having a vertical pedestal member that houses a gas cylinder that provides height adjustment for the seat member and that supports the seat member for rotational movement relative to the pedestal. The H-shaped base allows the high chair to be positioned close to the caregiver. A swivel lock includes an actuation lever that has handles positioned on opposing sides of the seat member for actuation from either side of the high chair. The pivoted actuation lever also includes a spring-loaded stop member that is engagable with a toothed gear plate affixed to the pedestal to secure the rotated position of the seat member by positioning the stop member between teeth on the gear plate.
US07673940B2 Height-adjustment mechanism for juvenile seat
A juvenile seat includes a seat base mounted for up-and-down movement on an underlying foundation. A lock is provided to set the elevation of the seat base relative to the foundation.
US07673937B2 Side airbag for reclining seats
The present invention relates to a side airbag module intended for holding back, in the event of an impact, the occupant (13) of the seat (15) of an automotive vehicle with a reclining backrest (19) by means of suitable means including an adjustment knob (31), comprising a cushion (11) configured for being vertically deployed between the protection area required for the occupant (13) and the body of the vehicle when inflated with the gas provided by a gas generator and a distance piece (21) joined at one of its ends (23) to the cushion (11) and at the other end (25) to the reclining means of the backrest (19) such that its length is reduced when the inclination of the backrest (19) is increased so that the deployed cushion (11) can be properly positioned no matter what the required inclination of the backrest (19) of the seat (15) may be.
US07673934B2 Dual purpose high chair
A high chair is convertible into multiple operative configurations to provide flexibility in utilization. The high chair includes a youth chair having a seat member affixed to a Z-shaped frame. A booster seat including a reclining seat back is mountable on the seat member such that the seat member is nested within the booster seat. A latch mechanism carried by the booster seat secures the booster seat to the seat member. A separate base member can also be nested into the bottom of the booster seat so that the booster seat can be utilized on a standard chair. The tray is mountable into the booster seat so that the tray can be utilized therewith irrespective of whether the booster seat is used in a high chair configuration or a booster seat configuration. The Z-frame incorporates telescopic support legs to define height adjustment for the high chair.
US07673929B2 Hinge with a viscous rotary damper
An assembly to pivotally connect an external vehicle closure panel to a vehicle body includes a first hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to one of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a second hinge member that is constructed to be mounted to the other of the external vehicle closure panel and the vehicle body, a shaft that is constructed to pivotally connect the first hinge member to the second hinge member, and a viscous rotary damper. The damper includes a cover, a rotor, and a viscous material. The shaft connects to the rotor such that rotation of the external vehicle closure panel between a closing position and an opening position causes relative motion between the rotor and the cover of the viscous damper to provide a resistance for controlling the velocity of the external vehicle closure member.
US07673918B2 Self-opening tong lifting device
A tong device for lifting various types and sizes of objects is disclosed. The tong lifting device includes tongs pivotally mounted on a slide rod which is extendable from a lift sleeve. Each tong has an attachment engaging end and an arm extending away from the attachment engaging end. Linkages are pivotally attached to the arms of the tongs, and are pivotally attached to a sliding lobe which travels along the length of the lift sleeve. The design of the lifting device provides a self-opening mode of operation and can be reconfigured in the field for optimum performance.
US07673907B2 Musical ice skates
An electronic music device for skaters is boot mounted and includes a sensor sensing skate states capturing forward backward direction of motion and inside outside lean. A sensory signal conditioning and calibration circuit converts mapped signals into audible tones. An audio amplifier powers wired or wireless headphones. The skater plays music with skates like a musician plays music on a musical instrument. The device tuned as different musical instruments, in a synchronized precision skating team allows musical composition performance. The skaters play the music with their skates creating musical and choreographic dance.
US07673902B2 Deployable running board to provide rollover resistance
A deployable running board mounted on an automotive vehicle to be laterally extendable so as to engage the ground during a rollover event to increase the rollover resistance of the vehicle. The running boards are connected to a pair of deployment members spaced longitudinally on the vehicle to provide a rapid extension of the running board. Each deployment member includes a telescopic piston that is slidably mounted within a cylinder and that compresses a spring between the piston and the cylinder. A latching mechanism secures the piston in a retracted stated until a rollover event is detected. Releasing the latching mechanism allows the piston to telescope laterally to move the attached running board outwardly of the vehicle to provide a pivot point that increases the static stability factor of the vehicle. The engagement of the extended running board also provides a resistance to the continued motion of the vehicle.
US07673900B2 Airbag device
An airbag device includes an airbag, first and second inflators, a gas-supply mechanism and a release member for connecting between a holding structure and the airbag. Gas generated by the second inflator is supplied into the airbag when the release member is pulled by the airbag while gas generated by the first inflator inflates the airbag. According to the airbag device, a gas amount supplied into an airbag can be switched according to an occupant's seating position without equipping a sensor for measuring a distance between an occupant and the airbag or a control device for computing the gas amount supplied.
US07673899B2 Airbag and airbag apparatus
An airbag has a first inner panel and a second inner panel arranged substantially in a concentric relation with a front panel and a rear panel in an interior of an airbag, and outer peripheral edge portions are stitched to each other by a high-strength seam. A center portion of the first inner panel is stitched to a center portion of the front panel by a seam. A center portion of the second inner panel is connected to a center portion of the rear panel by a retaining ring. The second inner panel is formed with a communication port between a first chamber and a second chamber. Midsections of the inner panels between the outer peripheral edge portions and the center portions are connected by a tear seam. The tear seam is adapted to be broken when the pressure in the first chamber reaches a predetermined pressure.
US07673896B2 Vehicle interior panel
A vehicle interior panel, which functions as an airbag cover for covering an airbag expanding direction of an airbag apparatus, is comprised of a base member layer having a tearing portion which defines a door portion opened by the expanding of an airbag of the airbag apparatus, a cushion layer laminated on the base member layer, and a skin member laminated on the cushion layer. The skin member having a weak portion functioning as a tearing portion of the skin member. The weak portion being formed outside of a position just above the tearing portion of the base member layer.
US07673891B2 Suspension system shackle link with shock absorber
A shackle of a suspension system that connects a leaf spring to a vehicle frame. The shackle pivots, allowing the leaf spring to swing. The shackle is configured so that its effective length changes in response to shock. An elastic member is included in the shackle to resist this change in length and absorb shock.
US07673885B2 Board control grip step for snowboards
This invention would significantly improve the ease of riding a snowboard on ski lifts where typically one foot must remain unbound to push off with. The invention allows for control of the board specifically through the diversion of the gravitational force of weight of the rider through forces of tension, elasticity, and leverage. The diversion of these forces allows the rider to steer roughly in the same manner as if their foot was bound.
US07673878B2 Method and apparatus for playing a wagering game based upon the arrival of an elevator car
A gaming method allows players to predict and place a wager about the future arrival of an elevator car at the floor of a building. If the player's prediction is correct, the player receives a payoff. The method can be played in buildings having one or more elevators. In an embodiment of the invention, a self-service automated gaming machine accommodates making the prediction, placing the wager, and receiving the payoff.
US07673871B2 Sheet feeder
A sheet feeder has a tray for receiving one or more media sheets. An arm is configured to pivot relative to the tray. A roller is rotatably coupled to the arm. A biasing device is coupled to the arm. The biasing device biases the arm to pivot toward the tray.
US07673869B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method, and program
An image forming apparatus includes a sheet mounting part for mounting plural sheets thereon, a sheet feeding part having a sheet feeding roller for feeding one of the plural sheets mounted on the sheet mounting part to a sheet conveying path by rotating the sheet feeding roller, a sheet detecting part for detecting the sheet fed by the sheet feeding part on the sheet conveying path, and a control part for controlling the rotation of the sheet feeding roller. The sheet feeding roller repeats an operation of rotating and stopping in a predetermined interval in accordance with the control of the control part during a period which begins when starting the feeding of the sheet and ends when detecting the sheet on the sheet conveying path.
US07673868B2 Sheet processing system
A sheet processing system comprises a plurality of sheet processing devices, a primary sheet conveyance path, a secondary sheet conveyance path, and a controller which controls the sheet processing devices. The controller uses the primary sheet conveyance path to execute one job, and uses the secondary sheet conveyance path to execute another job in parallel with that one job.
US07673856B2 Vaporizer and various devices using the same and an associated vaporizing method
A vaporizer has gas passage formed inside of main body of a dispersion part, a gas inlet opening to introduce pressurized carrier gas into gas passage, a part to supply raw materials solution to carrier gas passing gas passage, a gas outlet to send carrier gas including dispersed raw material solution to vaporization part, a dispersion part to flow through gas passage having a part to cool, a vaporization pipe connected with a reaction part and gas outlet of dispersion part of the device, and a heater to heat vaporization pipe is provided, a vaporization part to heat and vaporizes the carrier gas where raw materials solution is dispersed is provided, and a radiation prevention portion having small hole for the outside of gas outlet is provided.
US07673844B2 Pivotable support shaft for display
A pivotable support shaft for connecting a display with a base member and supporting the display is disclosed. The support is designed to enable the display to have different postures in working condition and package and transporting condition. For example, in the working condition, the screen of the display may be pivotable between a pitch-up angle of about 20° and a pitch-down angle of about −20°, and in the package and transporting condition, the screen of the display may be pivoted down to a pitch-down angle of about −90° where the screen faces downwardly to reduce the package size and improve the transportation stability.
US07673842B2 Captive retaining spring
A captive retaining spring for a recessed mounting assembly has a retaining spring which is adjustable to compensate for multiple ceiling thicknesses, does not require the use of tools for installation, and may be assembled by the manufacturer and shipped ready for installation.
US07673840B2 Supporting arm for a projection apparatus and presentation apparatus having a supporting arm
A supporting arm for a projection apparatus has first and second arm sections and an articulation apparatus therebetween for interconnecting the arm sections. The projection apparatus can be fastened on a free end of the second arm section. The articulation apparatus permits the second arm section to rotate relative to the first arm section between a first position, in which the longitudinal axes of the arm sections run substantially mutually parallel, and a second position, in which the longitudinal axes of the arm sections run substantially mutually at right angles. A spring apparatus is coupled to the arm sections and has a spring force selected to compensate for a weight force of the second arm section and of the projection apparatus fastened thereon over substantially an entire rotational excursion of the second arm section relative to the first arm section. A presentation apparatus having the supporting arm is also provided.
US07673838B2 Quick release assembly for an electronic device
A quick release assembly is provided to enable a user to easily attach and detach electronic equipment such as a flat panel monitor to an extension arm or other mounting device. One embodiment of the quick release assembly includes an adapter plate for connecting to the electronic equipment, a connecting plate for securing to the mounting device, and a release plate disposed between the adapter plate and the connecting plate. When fully assembled, the user can press a release mechanism on the release plate to disengage the release plate and the connecting plate from the adapter unit. After the release mechanism is pressed, the connecting plate can be slid off of the adapter plate. Unlike conventional devices, it is not necessary to remove or loosen hard to reach fasteners in order to disconnect the electronic device from the mounting device.
US07673835B2 Telescoping cover for cable trough system
Systems and methods for covering a trough member. A cover system can include a static portion coupled to a side wall of the trough member and defining a pocket. A sliding portion is selectively received in the pocket and is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. Opposite side walls of the trough member each include a static portion, and a sliding portion which telescopes to provide access to an interior of the trough member.
US07673832B2 Aircraft component exposed to streaming surrounding air
An aircraft component, such as a wing, has perforations through an outer wall for boundary layer suction. In the space between the outer wall and an inner wall partition walls form pressure channels and suction channels that are adjacent to each other and alternate, which channels communicate with the perforations. For example, alternating channels may be formed by a corrugated structure having trapezoidal corrugations providing a larger area for the suction channels than for the pressure channels. The pressure channels may be coupled to a hot-air reservoir by a control device, lines and valves, and the suction channels may be coupled to a vacuum reservoir, unless a short-circuit valve is used to cross connect the lines.
US07673829B2 Hand-held food processor and blade assembly
A blade assembly for use with a food processor includes a hub configured to be coupled to a drive shaft of the food processor, a first blade rotatably coupled to the hub and configured to rotate with respect to the hub at least up to a predetermined angle with respect to a second blade, which is fixedly coupled to the hub. The first blade is rotatable between a first position in which it is in phase with the second blade for receiving a blade guard protecting both blades, and a second position, in which the first blade is out of phase with the second blade for optimally processing a food item in the food processor, the blade assembly also including a biasing member for returning the first blade to the first position after use.
US07673828B1 Pepper mill
A peppermill includes a receiving unit that surrounds an axis and that defines a receiving space for receiving peppercorns, a grinding unit that includes a coupling shaft disposed rotatably in the receiving space and having a shaft hole extending therethrough along the axis, and that is operable for grinding the peppercorns to result in ground pepper, and a closure unit that includes a connecting rod extending movably through the shaft hole along the axis, and a closure member secured to the connecting rod and disposed under the grinding unit. Movement of the connecting rod results in corresponding movement of the closure member between a closed position for blocking discharge of the ground pepper through a discharge end of the receiving unit, and an opened position for permitting discharge of the ground pepper through the discharge end.
US07673827B2 Bowl mill for a coal pulverizer with an air mill for primary entry of air
A bowl mill for a coal pulverizer with an air mill for primary entry of air, comprising a substantially closed separator body (2) having a central axis; and a bowl-like grinding table (3) mounted on a shaft (4) rotatable about said central axis, cooperating with a plurality of grinding rolls (6). The airmill is provided with multiple entry openings (17′, 17″; 18′, 18″; 21, 25) on the outer wall of the air mill for multiple entry of hot primary air from the inlets, resulting in better uniformity in air flow around the air mil section and for minimizing formation of eddies and vortices. As a variation of the multiple entry double entry openings can be arranged for entry of hot primary air.
US07673826B2 Mobile shredder
A mobile shredder comprises a truck having a truck body defining an enclosure and including a partition in the enclosure that divides a storage volume from the remainder of the enclosure for storage of shredded material in the storage volume, a single-shaft rotary shredder mounted in the enclosure outside the storage volume, the rotary shredder comprising a rotor having cutters rigidly mounted thereon, a bin lift and dump mechanism operable to transport material to be shredded from outside to inside the enclosure so as to deliver material to the rotary shredder, and a discharge conveyor operable to transport shredded material from the rotary shredder through the partition to the storage volume. The floor of the storage volume can comprise a walking floor, and the enclosure can have rear doors that are openable to allow shredded material to be discharged through the open rear doors when the walking floor is operated.
US07673819B2 Handheld sprayer with removable cartridge and method of using same
A cartridge for a handheld electrohydrodynamic (EHD) spraying device and a spraying device incorporating the cartridge. The cartridge is disposable, and can contain therapeutic products. The device includes a wetted lead screw with a compliant seal, where the placement of the seal relative to the screw inhibits leakage during both cartridge use and storage. A frame disposed within the cartridge acts as a load-transferring mechanism for the weight of the cartridge to a handle of the spraying device.
US07673817B2 Fuel injector comprising a filter unit
A fuel injector (1), in particular a pump-nozzle injector for a diesel engine has an injector body (50), which is held in place with a nozzle body (40) and/or a lower body (60) by a clamping nut (10, 30). The fuel supply conduit of the injector body (50) is provided with a fuel filter (20), which is offset in the longitudinal direction of the fuel injector (1) in relation to the clamping nut (10, 30) and is configured independently of said clamping nut (10, 30) on the fuel injector (1).
US07673815B2 Line striper
A line striper (10) is provided with a relatively small engine (16) operating a reciprocating piston pump (20) and having a centrifugal clutch (18) which actuates when a predetermined engine speed has been reached. A pressure bypass device (22) which opens at either a fixed or adjustable pressure is provided to bleed off excess pressure and maintain a consistent spraying pressure. A double acting trigger (30) is provided for the operator to actuate the spray gun (40) and raise the engine speed simultaneously.
US07673814B2 Vehicle windshield cleaning system
Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.
US07673810B2 Rail clip
A rail fastening clip is used with a rail clip support having a rail clip slot of the kind used in K plates. The rail clip is formed from a U shaped member made of metal plate having a base and two arms tapered from the base to their tips, with the arms being bent inwardly beyond the base in a large arc and the tips are bent back toward the base and oriented for contact with the foot of the rail. The base is adapted to fit in the K plate slot of the rail clip support. The base of the clip has a leading edge remote from the arms that contacts the upper interior surface of the support slot to form at least a line of contact with the upper interior surface of the slot. The line of contact is about 6 mm. The design overcomes the problem of rotation of the clip within the support slot and is a more cost effective clip than that currently used with K plates.
US07673807B2 Multiple resolution readable color array
A multiple resolution readable color array printed for labeling or displayed electronically achieves readable data at multiple optical resolutions. The array has a hierarchy of cells, where cells at a lower level of resolution include spatially adjacent smaller cells at a higher level of resolution. Colors are encoded in redundant cells within the hierarchy so that overall color assigned to a lower resolution cell depends on the colors encoded in the included data cells at a higher resolution.
US07673802B2 Automatic POS-based digital image capturing and processing system employing a plurality of area-type illumination and imaging zones intersecting within the 3D imaging volume of the system
An automatic digital image capturing and processing system for use in a POS environment, comprising a system housing having vertical housing section provided with an imaging window, and containing at least two area-type illumination and imaging stations for generating and projecting area-type illumination and imaging zones through the imaging window, so that the area-type illumination and imaging zones intersect within a 3D imaging volume definable relative to the imaging window. An object motion detection subsystem automatically detects the motion of objects passing through the 3D imaging volume, and generates motion data representative of detected object motion within the 3D imaging volume. And a control subsystem, responsive to the object motion detection subsystem, automatically controls operations within the area-type illumination and imaging stations during system operation. The area-type illumination and imaging zones intersect within the 3D imaging volume, and support automated illumination and imaging of objects passing therethrough, so that digital area-type images of the objects are automatically generated as objects pass through the area-type illumination and imaging zones within the 3D imaging volume during system operation.
US07673801B2 Apparatus and method for controlling microwave oven using bar code
An apparatus and method for controlling a microwave oven using a bar code. The apparatus includes an operating panel provided on the front surface of the microwave oven, a bar code scanner installed in the operating panel and projecting light to the bar code attached to a package of food to obtain data of the bar code, and a main controller for controlling a cooking operation for cooking the food according to the data of the bar code obtained by the bar code scanner. The apparatus simply and rapidly performs the cooking of food using the bar code, increases the bar code recognition distance thereof, and is easily and economically operated.
US07673800B2 Remotely-alterable radio-frequency (RF) powered electronic display label employing an electronic ink layer integrated within a stacked-layer architecture
A remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display label employing an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink which includes a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The display label includes an integrated circuit layer having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in electrical communication with the addressable display assembly and a data antenna layer. A signal transmitting layer transmits signals from the data antenna layer to a remote activator module. A signal receiving layer receives electromagnetic signals from the remote activator module, using the data antenna layer. A power antenna layer, operably connected to a power converter, supplies electrical power to the integrated circuit layer, for converting received RF-power signals into electrical power signals and storing electrical charge for solely powering the programmed processor to process instructions and data to determine the graphical indicia to be displayed by the addressable display assembly and to activate the addressable display assembly to display the determined graphical indicia. The data antenna layer, power antenna layer, integrated circuit layer, signal transmitting layer, and signal receiving layer are arranged and stacked together behind and within the spatial extent of the addressable display assembly so as to form the remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display label having a stacked-layer construction.
US07673785B2 Method for manufacturing a cutting pick and the resulting pick
A cutting pick comprising a cutting tip 10 formed such as from SiC-D and a metal pick body 11. The pick body 11 has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the cutting tip 10. The pick body 11 includes a generally cylindrical cavity 14 within which is received a generally cylindrical anchor portion 13. The tip 10 includes a coating 17 bonded to the outer surface of the anchor portion 13. An annulus 24 is left between the coating 17 and the cavity 14 within which is a solder or braze material which bonds to each of the coating 17 and the cavity 14. The pick body 11 employs the difference in thermal expansion to exert pressure on the anchor portion 13 to fix the tip 10 to the pick body 11.
US07673774B2 Transitions for containers
A transition for dispensing a composition from a container comprises a collar; a spout comprises an opening, said spout being capable of directing the flow of the composition out of the container; a drip concentrating member having at least one drain hole functionally connecting the collar and the spout; wherein the drip concentrating member is at least partially non-planar.
US07673773B1 Beverage lid dispenser including easy loading lid packaging
The current invention is a lid dispensing device and method of use comprising a base unit, a lid holder operatively connected to the base unit, a blade operatively mounted to the base unit which moves between a first position and a second position, a docking ring secured to the base unit to accept a cartridge of stacked lids, the blade supporting a stack of lids by engaging a first lid in the stack of lids while the blade is in the first position, and the blade allowing the first lid to fall through an aperture in the blade away from the stack of lids, and still support the remaining stack of lids as the blade moves to the second position. The lid cartridge may be capped.
US07673769B2 Storage bin with moveable lid and attached scoop
A storage bin comprises a cover panel and a scoop. The cover panel may be slidably or rotatably moved to expose the interior of the storage bin. The scoop is stored internally in the storage bin and is exposed when the cover panel is open. The design of the cover panel provides advantages to consumers by providing a durable and versatile method of access to the contents of the storage bin. The storage of the scoop within the storage bin limits contamination of the scoop during storage and provides easy access to the scoop when the cover panel is open. A reusable labeling surface allows the consumer to conveniently identify a variety of stored items over the storage bin's lifetime.
US07673766B1 Receptacle with offset foci of well and perimeter
A receptacle for containing fluids constructed of a single wall wherein the foci of the well is offset from the foci of the perimeter, such that the resulting wall is of purposely differential thickness, to a point of maximal width. This may be of unitary construction from commonly used materials, utilizing the inherent insulating properties of the material selected, lowering manufacturing complexity and cost. In an application as a thermal container for beverages, the thickest aspect of the receptacle provides thermal insulation without interior or exterior insulating materials or internal air or vacuum chambers, and shifts the balance or center of gravity toward the holder, allowing more ease of lift. The specially shaped handle of the preferred embodiment, the present invention further enhances comfort and safety by reducing the potential for hand-burning, providing an ergonomic lifting grip which is beneficial to individuals with hand or wrist impairments.
US07673761B2 Wine refrigerator with shelf having elastic support members
A shelf of a wine refrigerator includes a frame disposed in a horizontal direction inside a chill room. A plurality of support wires extend in the forward and backward directions of the frame at predetermined intervals in the right and left directions of the frame. A plurality of elastic support members inserted onto each support wire elastically support items, such as wine bottles.
US07673749B2 Folding photo case
A folding photo case includes a pair of exterior case members coupled to each other by a first hinge and a pair of interior frame members coupled to respective exterior case members by respective second and third hinges. The first, second and third hinges are preferably torsion bar hinges with the first hinge biasing the exterior case members to an open position and the second and third springs biasing the interior frame members toward interior surfaces of the exterior case members. One or both of the exterior case members are preferably provided with a latch structure which allows the folding case to be latched in a closed position. The dimensions of the folding case are preferably such that the case can be carried in a pocket or purse when it is folded into the closed position.
US07673744B1 Jewelry travel case
A jewelry travel case has two halves connected by a hinge and closure mechanism. A first half has an inner compartment with a first pair of straps positioned toward its top side for releaseably engaging and holding one or more necklaces, including Omega-style necklaces, and a second pair of straps positioned between the first pair of straps and a pocket for releaseably engaging and holding one or more bracelets so that necklaces and bracelets will hang in the inner compartment when the case is vertical. A second half has an inner compartment with an earring bar releaseably secured to its upper portion and a ring bar releaseably secured to its lower portion. The earring bar can be detached at both of its ends so that it can be removed and has openings for holding earrings. The ring bar's substantially circular cross section provides tension to the pocket.
US07673736B2 Conveyor system with gate reader assembly
A gate reader assembly for positioning and identifying articles carried by conveyor systems. The gate reader assembly including a main housing for attachment to said conveyor adjacent a conveyor line of the conveyor; a sprocket rotatably mounted on said housing and having a plurality of gullets formed thereon, each gullet configured for receiving one of said articles. In addition, said sprocket is configured to rotate about an axis normal to said conveyor line via a horizontal force from said articles such that said rotating sprocket is configured to receive and move said articles along said conveyor line. The gate reader assembly additionally includes a detent mechanism disposed on the housing and slidably coupled to the sprocket for releasably restraining said sprocket from rotation thereby inhibiting said article against further movement along said conveyor line. The gate reader assembly further includes a reader subassembly for mounting on said housing and for identifying said articles when restrained by said detent mechanism.
US07673732B2 Transfer plate and method of interfacing to a belt
An apparatus according to the present invention is a transfer plate used in conveying manufactured product or raw materials onto or off from a conveyor belt. Generally, the transfer plate includes a support member and a transfer extension depending from the support member to interface to a predetermined conveyor belt. The support member may be coupled to a support structure to allow multidirectional flotation, or acceptable operational movement, of the plate due to incidental movement of the conveyor belt. The support member is preferably manually couplable to the support structure, thereby preventing the need for tools during repair or replacement. The transfer interface may include fingers or a modular interface plate.
US07673727B2 Automatic shift control device and vehicle
In a clutch engaging and disengaging operation at the time of a shift change, a state in which the clutch position of the clutch is at a specific value between a first clutch position at which a half clutch state finishes and a second clutch position at which the clutch is in a mechanical maximum disengaged state is maintained until completion of a gear change is detected by a gear position sensor. Therefore, even if a dog abutment state occurs between first gears with engaging projections and second gears with engaging recesses, the dog abutment can be resolved properly.
US07673726B2 Bicycle damping enhancement system
A bicycle shock absorber and methods for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces includes a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein, a piston for compressing the fluid within the fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber coupled to the first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose, and an inertial valve disposed within the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve opens in response to terrain-induced forces and provides communication of fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve does not open in response to rider-induced forces.
US07673724B2 Brake mechanism
A brake mechanism includes a connecting element that is fixed to a wheel axle of a motor vehicle or is embodied monolithically therewith, and a fastening flange of a disk brake caliper. The fastening flange is fixed to the connecting element. The brake mechanism is configured in such a way that the fastening flange is retained in a positive manner on the connecting element in the circumferential direction of the wheel axle.
US07673722B2 Disc brake for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle
A disk brake for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, including an application device, which is used to apply a brake lining to a brake disk by at least one or two actuating spindles running parallel and at a distance from one another in a bridge. The application device has an anti-friction roller, which is supported on a pivotable lever of the application device. The disk brake is configured in such a way that the anti-friction roller is fixed as a separate component radially and axially on the lever and is held by an anti-friction roller holder that is fixed to the lever. The anti-friction roller holder is provided with cage return guides, which, when the lever is pivoted back into an initial position, likewise press the journal bearings into an initial position.
US07673718B2 Leg-wheeled-traveling mechanism
A leg-wheeled traveling mechanism is provided with a seat portion, two follow-up legs, each having an end portion that is freely rotatably connected to the seat portion, with a distance between the end portion and a tip portion having a foot-rest portion being retractable, two or more support legs, each having an end portion that is freely rotatably connected to the seat portion, with a distance between the end portion and a tip portion having a wheel portion being retractable, a foot-position measuring unit that measures relative positional changes of the foot-rest portions and foot portions of a rider, and a control device that controls operations of the follow-up legs and the support legs, based upon the relative positional changes measured by the foot-position measuring unit so as to allow the foot-rest portions to move virtually in the same directions as those of the foot portions.
US07673716B2 Drive unit enclosure assembly
An enclosure assembly configured to enhance accessibility to a drive unit of a vehicular agricultural applicator is provided. The enclosure assembly generally includes a housing, and a hinged panel pivotal about an axis defined by a hinge assembly between an open and a closed position with respect to the housing. The axis is generally aligned in a fore and aft direction. The enclosure assembly further includes an arm pivotally coupled at the hinged panel and movable between a stowed position and an extended position. In the folded position, the arm is retained in a slot at the hinged panel. In the extended position, the arm is in general vertical alignment engaged at the housing so as to hold the hinged panel in the open position.
US07673714B2 System and method of torque converter lockup state adjustment using an electric energy conversion device
A hybrid vehicle propulsion system including, an internal combustion engine, a torque converter including a lockup clutch the torque converter having an input and an output, the input coupled to the internal combustion engine, an electric energy conversion device coupled downstream of the torque converter output, and a control system for adjusting torque output of the hybrid propulsion system, the control system adjusting the torque output of the electric energy conversion device during a torque converter lockup clutch engagement transition event.
US07673706B2 Down-the-hole hammer with pilot and method of enlarging a hole
A down-the-hole hammer includes a piston movably disposed in a casing and a percussion bit at an end of the casing. The percussion bit includes an integral bit and shank and a pilot removably fastened at a forward end of the bit. A method of enlarging a preexisting hole is also provided.
US07673693B2 Hydraulic coiled tubing retrievable bridge plug
A zonal isolation device comprises a packer assembly and an internal setting mechanism operable to actuate the packer assembly from an unset position to a set position, wherein the zonal isolation device is resettable and retrievable. Another zonal isolation device comprises a packer assembly, a setting mechanism operable to actuate the packer assembly from an unset position to a set position in response to hydraulic pressure alone, and a locking mechanism operable to lock and unlock the packer assembly from the set position in response to hydraulic pressure alone. A method for setting a zonal isolation device within a well bore comprises running the zonal isolation device in an unset position within the well bore on a work string, applying a differential pressure between the work string and the well bore, and actuating the zonal isolation device to a set position in response to the differential pressure alone.
US07673691B2 Apparatus for retaining two strings of tubulars
An apparatus for retaining two strings of tubulars characterized in that said apparatus comprises body parts of a device for retaining a single string of tubulars and a converting member. A device for retaining a string of tubulars, said device comprising at least one body part having a curved tapered surface upon which inserts are located for engagement with said string of tubulars characterized in that said curved tapered surface comprises a recess for the passage of cables.
US07673690B2 Method and apparatus for dynamic application management in sub-sea well installations
A method for updating a software of a sub-sea controller (31) located under the sea level. The sub-sea controller manages a plurality of tools in a sub-sea well. An application module (35) is downloaded into the sub-sea controller. The application module is executed using a virtual machine (36) implemented within the sub-sea controller.
US07673684B2 ESP/separator assembly and method
An ESP/separator assembly (10) is positioned downhole in a well on a tubular string (18) to pump downhole fluids to the surface. The assembly includes an electric submersible pump (12) and an electrically powered motor (20) positioned below the pump. An electrical cable (22) extends downhole past the motor and to the pump. A generally cylindrical shroud (26) is positioned circumferentially about the pump, the motor, and a portion (24) of the cable extending past the pump and to the motor. A separator (60) is provided at the lower end of the shroud, such that the shroud supports substantially the weight of the separator.
US07673682B2 Well casing-based geophysical sensor apparatus, system and method
A geophysical sensor apparatus, system, and method for use in, for example, oil well operations, and in particular using a network of sensors emplaced along and outside oil well casings to monitor critical parameters in an oil reservoir and provide geophysical data remote from the wells. Centralizers are affixed to the well casings and the sensors are located in the protective spheres afforded by the centralizers to keep from being damaged during casing emplacement. In this manner, geophysical data may be detected of a sub-surface volume, e.g. an oil reservoir, and transmitted for analysis. Preferably, data from multiple sensor types, such as ERT and seismic data are combined to provide real time knowledge of the reservoir and processes such as primary and secondary oil recovery.
US07673679B2 Protective barriers for small devices
Protective barriers for small devices, such as sensors, actuators, flow control devices, among others, protect the devices from erosive and/or corrosive fluids, for example, formation fluids under harsh downhole conditions. The protective barriers include protective coatings and fluid diverting structures in the fluid flow which facilitate use of the small devices in high temperature-high pressure applications with erosive and/or corrosive fluids that are often found in downhole environments.
US07673678B2 Flow control device with a permeable membrane
A system for use in a well includes plural flow control devices to control fluid flow in respective zones of the well, where each of at least some of the flow control devices includes a membrane having a permeable material to provide a flow restriction. The membranes of the at least some flow control devices have different permeabilities to provide corresponding different flow restrictions.
US07673675B2 Pipe handling device and safety mechanism
A pipe handling assembly includes: a pipe engaging apparatus including a pipe gripping mechanism connectable to a top drive such that the top drive transmits rotational movement and axial movement to the pipe gripping mechanism; a pipe handling device for mounting onto the pipe engaging apparatus, the pipe handling device including a link hanger mounted on the pipe engaging apparatus, a link arm having a first end pivotally connectable to the link hanger and an outboard end selected to carry a pipe into a position to be gripped by the pipe engaging apparatus; a bearing for isolating rotational movement to the pipe gripping mechanism from the link hanger; and a connection for rigidly connecting the link hanger to the pipe engaging apparatus during operation of the pipe handling assembly, the connection selected to substantially prevent the link hanger from rotating with the pipe gripping mechanism should the bearing seize.
US07673673B2 Apparatus for isolating a jet forming aperture in a well bore servicing tool
An embodiment of a well bore servicing apparatus includes a housing having a through bore and at least one high pressure fluid aperture in the housing, the fluid aperture being in fluid communication with the through bore to provide a high pressure fluid stream to the well bore, and a removable member coupled to the housing and disposed adjacent the fluid jet forming aperture and isolating the fluid jet forming aperture from an exterior of the housing. An embodiment of a method of servicing a well bore includes applying a removable member to an exterior of a well bore servicing tool, wherein the removable member covers at least one high pressure fluid aperture disposed in the tool, lowering the tool into a well bore, exposing the tool to a well bore material, wherein the removable cover prevents the well bore material from entering the fluid aperture, removing the removable member to expose a fluid flow path adjacent an outlet of the high pressure fluid aperture, and flowing a well bore servicing fluid through the fluid aperture outlet and flow path.
US07673670B2 Semifinished joint plate, joint plate, process for fabricating joint plate and heat exchanger
A semifinished joint plate 60 has a refrigerant inlet portion 45 and a refrigerant outlet portion 46 spaced apart in the front-rear direction. The semifinished plate 60 has an upwardly or downwardly extending slit 61 formed between the inlet portion 45 and the outlet portion 46, and slit width adjusting portions 62, 63 extending through the thickness of the plate 60, having a larger width than the slit 61 and communicating respectively with the upper and lower ends of the slit 61. A portion of the semifinished plate 60 above the upper adjusting portion 62 and a portion thereof below the lower adjusting portion 63 are bent to shorten the plate.
US07673666B2 Modular window blind assembly
A modular window blind assembly includes a blind-mounting frame adapted to be mounted on a window/door frame and including two vertical frame members and two horizontal frame members, a pleated blind having top and bottom ends connected detachably and respectively to the horizontal frame members, and a slide mounted detachably between and slidable relative to the horizontal frame members. First and second positioning plates are provided respectively at two opposite ends of the pleated blind between the top and bottom ends of the same. The first positioning plate is connected detachably to one of the vertical frame members. The slide is connected detachably to the second positioning plate, and has a receiving space to receive substantially entirely the pleated blind when the pleated blind is folded.
US07673660B2 Filling tubes with catalyst and/or other particulate
Particulate filling devices and methods are disclosed that utilize a swivel connector, a mounting surface connected to the swiveling connector, and several obstacles mounted on the mounting surface. The obstacles are positioned consecutively to form a helix-pattern.
US07673654B2 System and method for pipe repair
A system and method of repairing a pipe including securing a reinforcing material, such as a dry fiber structure (e.g., a carbon fibers) to the surface of the pipe. A polymeric material is placed on top of the reinforcing material, self-penetrating the dry fiber structure. The polymeric material substantially saturates the reinforcing material and cures to form a reinforced polymeric composite which may increase or restore the pressure rating or operating pressure capacity of the pipe. Optionally, an outer containment component, such as a sleeve, shell, box, wall, outer pipe, and so on, may be installed around the reinforcing material prior to introduction of the polymeric material. In this case, the polymeric material may be placed (i.e., poured) into the interior of the containment component on top of the reinforcing material.
US07673647B2 Inflation valve with pneumatic assist
A pneumatically assisted inflator for gas cylinders comprises an inline configuration such that gas contained within the gas cylinder flows axially through the inflator to be exhausted therefrom and inflate an inflatable article. The inline configuration of the inflator reduces the stress otherwise imparted to the component parts thereof and thereby allows most of the component parts to be manufactured from an injection molded high-strength plastic or the like. The inflator comprises an inflator piston positioned within a piston cylinder that moves against a rotatable cam surface, such as a rotatable collar connected to a pull lanyard, to force a pierce pin to make at least a small pin hole in a frangible seal and allow high pressure gas from the gas cylinder to flow into the piston cylinder, whereupon the high pressure gas in the piston cylinder further moves the inflator piston to more fully force the pierce pin into the frangible seal to fully open the frangible seal.
US07673644B2 Corner brace
The corner brace of a framework of a quickly erectable canopy shelter is connected between portions of a perimeter truss assembly connected to a leg of the framework of the canopy shelter. The corner brace includes a corner brace mounting pin on a first link member of an outer truss of the perimeter truss assembly, and a support truss tube member pivotally and rotatably connected at one end to an outer truss on one side of the leg. The other end of the support truss tube member is removably connected to an outer truss on the other side of the leg. The support truss tube member of the corner brace may include a support truss clip that fits to a link member of the framework. The framework may also include a canopy framework support assembly for supporting a canopy.
US07673638B1 System and method to monitor particles removed from a component
Disclosed is a system and method to monitor and count particles removed from a component. The particle monitoring system includes a jet spray device, a snow generator, a particle collection device, and a particle counter. The jet spray device includes an outlet that is disposed locally relative to the component. The snow generator is operable to generate cleaning snow comprising a stream of ice particles, wherein the cleaning snow is emitted from the outlet of the jet spray device onto the component to cause the ejection of particles from the component. The particle collection device includes a collector that is disposed locally around the component to collect particles ejected from the component. The particle counter is coupled to, and in fluid communication with, the particle collection device. The particle counter is operable to detect and count particles ejected from the component.
US07673635B2 Soft palate implant
An airway condition of a patient is treated by selecting an implant sized to be implanted within a soft palate of the patient. The implant has a tissue-engaging member sized to be implanted within the soft palate near a trailing end of the soft palate to oppose relative movement between the tissue-engaging member and surrounding tissue of the soft palate. The implant further has an elongated tether member with a first end secured to the tissue-engaging member. The implant is placed within the soft palate with the tissue-engaging member implanted within tissue of the soft palate near the trailing end and with the tether member extending from the first end to a second end near a hard palate of the patient. The second end of the tether is secured to the hard palate.
US07673632B1 Condom
A condom having an indicia disposed on the lower side of the roll when the condom is in the rolled configuration. Preferably, the indicia is a fluorescent marking disposed on the inner side of the condom disposed at a location so that, when the condom is in the rolled configuration, the indicia is visible from the lower side only. More preferably, the indicia is a ring-shaped marking extending about the inner side of the tubular body. In this configuration, a user holding a rolled condom can easily determine which is the upper side of the roll and which is the lower side of the roll. The user may then quickly orient the condom with the lower side facing toward the penis and unroll the condom in the proper direction.
US07673631B2 Adjustable vaginal splint for pelvic floor support
Vaginal splint assemblies and methods for their use for treating various pelvic floor conditions are provided. One embodiment of a vaginal splint assembly includes a base portion having a connecting portion and first and second sides extending outwardly from first and seconds ends of the connecting portion to first and second free ends respectively. It further includes a plurality of apical sections each of a different size and each having a connecting portion and first and second sides extending outwardly from first and second ends of the connecting portion to first and second free ends respectively, and at least first and second coupling elements. The first coupling element is capable of securing the first free end of the base portion to the first free end of any one of the plurality of apical sections, and the second coupling element is capable of securing the second free end of the base portion to the second free end of the one apical section.
US07673624B2 Disk shooting toy
The disclosure is directed to a disk shooting toy comprising a body, a port extending into the body and configured to permit a disk to be inserted into the body, a slot extending into the body, and a firing mechanism configured to shoot the disk out of the body through the slot. In some examples, the disk shooting toy may include a handle mechanism configured to selectively detach from the body and a trigger mechanism attached to the handle mechanism and configured to selectively engage the firing mechanism when the handle mechanism is attached to the body. In some examples, a trigger mechanism operatively connected to the body and including a trigger configured to selectively engage the firing mechanism and selectively cover the port. In some examples, the disk shooting toy may include structure configured to selectively attach a trigger mechanism to the body for selectively engaging the firing mechanism.
US07673622B2 Air filter, secondary air charging system and seal arrangement for a secondary air charging system
A seal arrangement for a secondary air charging system includes a seal sealing a gap between an intake opening of the secondary air charging system and a downstream surface of an air intake filter.
US07673611B2 Leisure vehicle
A leisure vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine as a power unit to drive the leisure vehicle, including a drive wheel, a slip sensor unit configured to detect a slip of the drive wheel, a throttle device mounted to the internal combustion engine, a throttle valve position changing device configured to change a position of a throttle valve of the throttle device, a throttle close operation sensor unit configured to detect that a rider has performed a throttle close operation to close a throttle of the throttle device, and a controller configured to control an operation of the throttle valve position changing device.
US07673610B2 Intake device for vehicle engine
A cylinder head of an engine body is provided with intake ports and exhaust ports, which are connected with and opened to a combustion chamber. The intake ports are disposed in one of right and left sides of the cylinder head with respect to a vehicle driving direction, and the exhaust ports are disposed in the other of the right and left sides of the cylinder head. An intake pipe 61 passes around the cylinder head 31 at a side of the engine body, therefore, a curved portion 63 is formed in the intake pipe. A larger amount of fresh air enters the combustion chamber from one intake port than the other intake port, thus swirl occurs in the combustion chamber. An injector that injects fuel into the intake pipe is positioned at a side of the intake pipe.
US07673606B2 Rocker arm assembly
A two step rocker assembly is provided having a lever body, a first roller assembly mounted to the lever body, and a center shaft extending through the first roller assembly. A second shaft extends through the lever body and defines a first pivot point. A coupling lever is pivotally connected to the second shaft and has an opening for receiving the center shaft. The coupling lever is rotatable about the first pivot point. A latch pin is mounted to the lever body. A second roller assembly is mounted on the center shaft. A spring lever is pivotally connected to the second shaft and is connected to the center shaft. The spring lever is rotatable about the first pivot point. A spring member is mounted on the lever body and engages the spring lever to bias the spring lever and the center shaft into the first position.
US07673602B2 Variable valve mechanism
A variable valve mechanism includes a low-speed cam, a high-speed cam, a low-speed rocker arm driven by the low-speed cam, a high-speed rocker arm driven by the high-speed cam, and a switching mechanism. A cam profile of the high-speed cam is set such that it does not exceed a cam profile of the low-speed cam. During low-speed operation, the switching mechanism links the low-speed and the high-speed rocker arms such that the low-speed cam causes the high-speed rocker arm to rock together with the low-speed rocker arm and to open and close a valve. During high-speed operation, the switching mechanism de-links the low-speed rocker arm and the high-speed rocker arm such that the low-speed cam causes the low-speed rocker arm to rock idly and the high-speed cam causes the high-speed rocker arm to rock independently and to open and close the valve. The cam profile of the low-speed cam is set such that the valve closes later than it does with the cam profile of the high-speed cam.
US07673600B2 Method and system for partial cycle bleeder brake
Systems and methods for providing partial bleeder braking engine valve actuation are disclosed. In an embodiment of the present invention, a cam may be provided with a main exhaust lobe, a partial bleeder lobe and an inner base circle portion between the two lobes. A rocker arm including an internal rocker passage may be operatively connected to the cam. The rocker arm may contact a valve bridge at a central portion. The valve bridge may be operatively connected to first and second engine valves at its first and second ends, respectively. A slave piston incorporated into the first end of the valve bridge and a master piston may be incorporated into the central portion of the valve bridge. A hydraulic circuit may be provided between the master and slave pistons. A bleed hole may be provided above the slave piston. The master and slave pistons may be selectively actuated and the bleed hole may be selectively blocked and unblocked to provide partial bleeder braking as a result of the valve actuation motion imparted from the cam to the valve bridge through the rocker arm.
US07673595B2 Rotor-piston internal combustion engine
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a rotor which is mounted in such a way that it can be rotated about a central axis in a housing, and in which cylinders are arranged in the same plane, pistons being introduced into said cylinders, the inner end of said pistons being connected to an eccentrically arranged axis in an articulated manner. The cylinders are rotatably mounted in the outer edge of the rotor respectively with the outer ends thereof, and end in the outer envelope of the rotor. At least one combustion chamber is arranged in the housing, the inner end of the chamber ending in the inner housing wall that surrounds the outer envelope of the rotor. The combustion chamber is arranged at an angle of between 45 and 90 degrees, especially between 70 and 85 degrees, to the radius of the rotor.
US07673583B2 Locally-efficient inductive plasma coupling for plasma processing system
An inductively coupled plasma source is provided with a peripheral ionization source for producing a high-density plasma in a vacuum chamber for semiconductor wafer coating or etching. The source has a segmented configuration with high and low radiation segments and produces a generally ring-shaped array of energy concentrations in the plasma around the periphery of the chamber. Energy is coupled from a segmented low inductance antenna through a dielectric window or array of windows and through a segmented shield or baffle. An antenna for the source is provided having concentrated conductor segments through which current flows in one or more high efficiency portions that produce high magnetic fields that couple through the high-transparency shield segments into the chamber, while alternating low efficiency conductor segments permit magnetic fields to pass through or between the conductors and deliver only weak fields, which are aligned with opaque shield sections and couple insignificant energy to the plasma. Conductor cross-sectional area or turn density differences may be used to distinguish high and low efficiency sections of the antenna conductor. Coil loops are provided in the high efficiency sections to locally increase inductance.
US07673582B2 Apparatus and method for removing an edge bead of a spin-coated layer
An edge bead removal device for a spin coater apparatus and methods of edge bead removal that overcome the deficiencies of conventional edge bead removal techniques. The edge bead removal device includes a coater cup and a head situated within the coater cup proximate to a peripheral edge of a substrate. The head is movable in a radial direction relative to an azimuthal axis of a rotatable substrate support inside the coater cup. The position of the head relative to a rim of the peripheral edge is mapped using an optical sensor. When the substrate support rotates the substrate and the head is used to dispense edge bead removal chemical, the radial position of the head is adjusted, as guided by the map, relative to the azimuthal axis to maintain a constant gap between the head and the substrate's peripheral rim.
US07673578B1 Mooring device for boats
A mooring device for mooring a boat at a selected nominal distance from a mooring point, with the boat being movable resiliently toward and away from the mooring point while biased into the selected nominal distance. First and second members are engaged with one another for movement relative to one another in longitudinal directions along the mooring device, and are resiliently biased, by a resilient biasing arrangement, into a nominal length which establishes the nominal distance. A band couples the first and second members for selected relative movement and enables ready adjustment of the length of the mooring device to any desired length within a range of length. A locking arrangement secures the band against movement to retain the first and second members at the selected length. Longitudinal forces exerted upon the mooring device are accommodated by the resilient biasing arrangement which militates against damage that might otherwise occur if the boat were held at a fixed distance from the mooring point or were permitted to collide with the mooring point.
US07673576B2 Aerodynamic lift enhancement gate valve
An aerodynamic lift enhancing gate valve assembly comprising an airfoil blade disposed at a leading edge of a sail, forming a gate between the trailing edge of the airfoil blade and the leading edge of the sail. The airfoil blade captures wind and redirects it over the cambered surface of the sail to enhance the aerodynamic lift of the sail. The pressure of the wind captured by the airfoil blade is regulated by springs or elastic bands. In operation, the chord of the airfoil blade remains substantially parallel to the chord of the sail.
US07673575B2 Soft goods slitter and feed system for quilting
An apparatus is provided for feeding and slitting mattress covers, quilts and other soft goods supported on a table. The apparatus has a first slitting wheel rotatable by a motor. A second slitting wheel is rotatable by the motor and contacts the first slitting wheel to provide a cutting action. The apparatus further includes a conveyor operable by the motor for conveying the soft goods past the slitting wheels, and a compression assembly having an actuator, a swing arm, and wheels for compressing the soft goods and holding the soft goods against the conveyor to preventing slippage or twisting.
US07673572B2 Custom planter and method of custom planting
A method of planting test plots of different seeds in a field includes loading a multi-row planter with a first seed, and traversing the field and planting a test plot of the test plot of the first seed in a portion of the test field; automatically removing the first seed from the multi-row planter and loading a second seed into the multi-row planter, and traversing the field and planting a test plot of the test plot of the second seed in the field.
US07673570B1 Row-clearing unit for agricultural implement
An agricultural row-clearing unit for use with an agricultural row unit attached to a towing frame hitched to a tractor comprises an attachment frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the towing frame, a support element having a leading end pivotally connected to the attachment frame for vertical pivoting movement relative to the attachment frame, at least one agricultural tool mounted on the trailing end of the support element, and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the attachment frame and the support element for pivoting the support element around the pivotal connection to the attachment frame. The hydraulic cylinder includes a movable rod coupling the cylinder to the support element, a cavity within the cylinder for receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid for advancing the rod in a direction that pivots the support element downwardly toward the soil, and an energy storage device coupled to the rod and the cylinder to apply a retracting force to the rod to bias the support element in a direction that urges the agricultural tool(s) upwardly away from the soil.
US07673542B2 Spanner with prevention of disengagement of fasteners
A spanner comprises a box end that has an inner periphery consisting of a number of wall faces to define a first polygonal receiving space. Each wall face includes a groove defined therein. The grooves of the wall faces together define a second polygonal receiving space. At least one of the grooves includes a closed first end and an open second end.
US07673535B2 Gearwheel set for a transmission
In a gearwheel set for a transmission, in particular for a transmission with a PTO (Power Take-Off) accessory, at least two gearwheels (6, 10) bearing against one another, and the gearwheels (6, 10) being rotatable in relation to one another, and both gearwheels (6, 10) having recesses (8.1-8.3; 11.1-11.3) which form with one another a reception space for an actuator (1), the actuator (1) is to be radially movable in the reception space, and the recesses (8.1-8.3; 11.1-11.3) are to have a different shape.
US07673533B2 Sampling head and sampling device for intact vehicle paint chips in forensic applications
The present invention discloses a sampling head and a sampling device for intact vehicle paint chips for forensic applications, and the sampling head includes: a body being a non-metal cylindrical body and having a circular groove at the external periphery of the body, and an installing groove disposed axially at a front end of the body; at least one O-ring sheathed onto the circular groove and protruded slightly from the surface of the body; a metal head, embedded and fixed axially into the installing groove, and having a small portion protruded from the front distal surface of the body, and the metal head front distal surface has a groove; and a plastic layer, installed in a groove of the metal head, and an external lateral surface of the plastic layer is protruded from the front distal surface of the metal head to form a gluing surface for collecting a sample. In a sampling process, the sampling head is placed into a pneumatic sample pushing device, and the gun muzzle is attached onto the sampling paint position, and the internal compressed air in the air chamber injects the sampling head at the surface of a vehicle, and uses an instant dynamic force to touch and destroy the paint at the surface of a steel plate, plastic steel or plastic substrate of a car body to separate the substrate, and thus the sampling head will contain the removed sample containing the intact paint chip.
US07673522B2 Force-reduced measuring method for traction drives, particularly friction pulley drives for elevators
The invention relates to a test lever system (1) for monitoring the traction behavior of a transport system (2), particularly an elevator system, comprising a test lever (8) which consists of a load arm (14) and a force arm (13). A discharge in the form of a monitoring force is introduced by means of the test lever (8), via a carrier cable securing device, into a cable which is to be tested.
US07673516B2 Ultrasonic liquid treatment system
An ultrasonic treatment chamber and a process for ultrasonically treating a liquid in an ultrasonic treatment chamber include an elongate, generally tubular housing having an inlet and an outlet spaced longitudinally from the inlet. Liquid is directed into the housing at the housing inlet for longitudinal flow within the housing to the housing outlet. Mechanical ultrasonic vibration is generated within the housing in direct contact with the liquid flowing within the housing, with the direct contact being upstream of the housing outlet. A standing acoustic wave is produced within the housing with the standing acoustic wave having a node spaced longitudinally from the housing outlet.
US07673515B2 Vibration sensor
A method for measuring a vibration from four or more equidistant points in a chamber, comprising centering a chamber surface around a center point, containing a fluid within the chamber surface, measuring a fluid vibration from at least four measuring points in juxtaposition with the chamber surface, wherein at least two measuring points are located along a first axis passing through the center point and at least two measuring points are located along a second axis passing through the center point.
US07673513B2 Non-contact shock sensor
The invention relates to a sensor device for monitoring accelerations to which an object is subjected. In order to detect whether a value has exceeded or is below a threshold for the acceleration to which objects have been subjected in the past, i.e. without having visual contact with the sensor, the inventive sensor device includes an acceleration sensor, which is permanently linked to the object to be monitored, so that a relative movement between the acceleration sensor and the object is prevented, and an RFID transceiver for non-contact coupling of electrical energy into the acceleration sensor and for sending out radio signals as a function of the physical state of the acceleration sensor.
US07673500B2 Fluid monitoring apparatus and method
A fluid monitoring apparatus for monitoring a fluid in a fluid mains supply, the apparatus comprising means for connecting the apparatus to the mains supply, a testing chamber, a fluid tester, testing a variable of a fluid in the testing chamber and a purger for purging a volume of fluid from the testing chamber which volume of fluid is substantially larger than the volume of the testing chamber, thereby replacing the fluid in the testing chamber with a new fluid volume.
US07673498B2 Sealing process inspection device
In a first object the present invention provides a method for the inspection of the quality of the sealing of a packages and more specifically the method of the present invention allows the on-line inspection of the air-tightness of a package. Said method comprising the following steps of (i) acquiring the noise signal generated by the sealing equipment during the sealing of the package, (ii) analyzing the signal in order to determine the values of at least one physical parameter characterizing the noise signal and (iii) deciding on the quality of the sealing by comparing the determined value to a reference value for said physical parameter.
US07673493B2 Inspection device for humidity sensor and method for adjusting sensor characteristics of humidity sensor
An inspection device inspects a humidity sensor having a sensor portion and a circuit portion, which are integrated into one chip. The inspection device includes: an inspection chamber for accommodating a wafer, in which a plurality of humidity sensors are disposed as a sensor chip in a wafer state; a probe for contacting an electrode pad of the circuit portion; a tester electrically connected to the probe for inspecting electric properties of the humidity sensor; and a temperature-humidity control portion for controlling a temperature and a humidity in the inspection chamber.
US07673490B2 Method of making an easy open can end with high pressure venting
An improved convenience closure that is adapted for sealing an end of a can includes an end panel having a peripheral score, a rivet formation, a mustache score and a flex line score defined therein. The mustache score may include a central portion that is positioned radially inwardly on the end panel relative to the rivet formation. The central portion is preferably curved, with a concave side of the curvature facing the rivet formation. The mustache score also may include first and second preferably symmetrical end portions, each of which is continuous with the central portion. Most of the total length of each of the end portions may be curved away from a nearest portion of the peripheral score, with a convex side of curvature facing the nearest portion of the peripheral score. Tooling for making the convenience closure and a method of making such a convenience disclosure are also disclosed.
US07673482B2 Wheel lock
A wheel lock mounted for preventing removal of the wheel from the axle includes a cup shaped base portion with an opening to receive a wheel stud for threaded engagement with a lug nut to clamp the base portion to the wheel. A cup shaped cover portion nests within the base portion to enclose the stud and lug nut. A key actuated locking member extends simultaneously through the base and cover portions to prevent separation. The cover portion interlocks with the locking portion to prevent forced rotation of the cover portion relative the base portion. The contour of the base portion or the positioning of the locking member may be configured to prevent rotating the device about the stud. The cover portion may include a flange that bears against the rim of the base portion giving the wheel lock a contiguous exterior surface that is difficult to pry apart.
US07673481B2 Key safe apparatus and method
A remotely activated and monitored key safe to allow storage and retrieval of at least one key including: a housing having a generally elongated shape and having a longitudinally extending cavity open through a first axial end of the housing, in fixed relation to a structure: a key holding tray adapted to be slideably loaded into the housing, the tray having a front cover fitted to cover the first axial end of the housing, and the tray having a locking/unlocking mechanism; a communications and command subsystem powered by a power source, the communications and command subsystem adapted to receive remote commands to activate the locking/unlocking mechanism; and a backup power subsystem adapted to allow backup power to be applied to contacts presentable on an accessible surface of the key safe in case of a failure of the power source.
US07673475B2 Absorption cooling system for a motor vehicle
The invention concerns an absorption cooling system for a motor vehicle using water as coolant and an absorbent. Said system comprises a circuit designed to ensure circulation of the coolant, when the engine is stopped, from the evaporator (3) to the absorber (4) passing through the electromagnetic valve (10) through the continued operation of the evaporator pump (7) for a predetermined duration and through maintaining the electromagnetic valve (10) in open position after the engine has stopped for another predetermined duration before it is closed. The evaporator pump (7) is kept in operation upon closure of the electromagnetic valve (10) so as to allow the coolant to circulate in the circuit from the evaporator (3) to the boiler (1) passing through the exchanger (6). Said system enables, when the engine is stopped, the zones containing residual deposits of absorbent to be diluted thereby preventing crystallization of said residual deposits.
US07673473B2 Dehumidification cooling apparatus for an indoor sports facility
A dehumidification cooling apparatus for an indoor sports facility is provided which is capable of realizing dehumidification and cooling at a low operating cost in the indoor sports facility. This apparatus includes: an ice chamber for turning water into ice and storing it; an air supply-and-exhaust pipe which is disposed from the ice chamber to the indoor sports facility, leads to the ice chamber and leads to the upper space of the indoor sports facility; a fan which is disposed in a supply pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe; and a heater which is disposed in the supply pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe. The fan supplies air cooled with the melting heat of ice made in the ice chamber, from the ice chamber through the supply pipe to the upper space of the indoor sports facility; the heater heats the air inside of the supply pipe, to reduce its humidity to a predetermined level; and through an exhaust pipe of the air supply-and-exhaust pipe, the air of the upper space of the indoor sports facility is returned for circulation to the ice chamber, so that dehumidification and cooling are conducted in the space of the indoor sports facility.
US07673465B2 Air-conditioning system and apparatus for protecting the same
An air conditioning system and an apparatus for protecting the same. The air conditioning system comprise an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by each refrigerant line, and a refrigerant line closing unit installed at the refrigerant line of the indoor unit for preventing a refrigerant flowing on the refrigerant line of the indoor unit from being introduced into the outdoor unit when power supply to one or more indoor units is cut off.
US07673464B2 Method and apparatus for temperature based placement of an item within a storage unit
A method, apparatus, and computer usable program product for identifying an optimal placement of an item within a storage unit. The process identifies an item for placement in the storage unit. The process determines a preferred storage temperature range for the identified item. The process then selects an optimal placement location within the storage unit for the identified item based on the preferred storage temperature range and a set of temperature readings for the storage unit.
US07673460B2 System of attaching an injection system to a turbojet combustion chamber base
A system of attaching an injection system to a turbojet combustion chamber base. It comprises a deflector welded onto the chamber base. The deflector comprises an annular portion having an edge forming a retaining shoulder directed toward the front of the turbojet and the injection system comprises a collar on which is formed a retaining shoulder directed toward the rear of the turbojet and pressing against the retaining shoulder of the deflector.
US07673453B2 Hydrodynamic coupling
A hydrodynamic coupling that has a primary impeller and a secondary impeller. A drive shaft drives the primary impeller. The drive shaft has a first end, a second end, a central axis, and a prespecified segment between the first and second ends. There is at least one supply channel for introducing a working medium to the toroidal working chamber. The at least one supply channel is formed in the drive shaft at the central axis along the prespecified segment. The plurality of evacuation channels evacuates the working medium from the toroidal working chamber, and the plurality of evacuation channels is formed in the drive shaft radially about the at least one supply channel. The plurality of evacuation channels is formed from the first end up to at least the second end with the first end being located a predetermined distance from the toroidal working chamber.
US07673452B2 Motor-driven supercharger
A motor-driven supercharger of the invention is provided with a cooling fluid flow rate adjusting device (a flow rate adjuster (37) and a controller (40)) capable of adjusting a flow rate of a cooling fluid. On the basis of the flow rate adjuster (37) and the controller (40), a flow rate of a cooling fluid (41) is set to a first flow rate (a large flow rate) for cooling an electric motor (20) in a state where a temperature difference obtained by subtracting a temperature of the cooling fluid (41) from a temperature of the electric motor (20) is equal to or more than a predetermined temperature equal to or more than zero, and the flow rate of the cooling fluid (41) is set to a second flow rate (a small flow rate) which is smaller than the first flow rate and is for suppressing a heating effect to the electric motor (20) in a state where the temperature difference is lower than a predetermined temperature equal to or more than zero.
US07673451B2 Hydraulic drive system with neutral drift compensation
A hydraulic drive system for storing and releasing hydraulic fluid includes a high pressure storage device, a low pressure storage device, and a pump-motor operating at a range of pump-motor speeds for converting between hydraulic energy and mechanical energy. The pump-motor is disposed between the high pressure device and the low pressure device. In normal operation, the hydraulic drive system enters a motoring mode where hydraulic energy is released from the high pressure storage device and converted to mechanical energy using the pump-motor. It also enters a pumping mode where mechanical energy is converted into hydraulic energy. A neutral state exists where hydraulic energy is neither stored nor released from the high pressure storage device. When the pump-motor includes a swash-plate or similar structure, compensating for drift during normal operation helps to promote efficient operation of the hydraulic drive system.
US07673450B2 Integrated torque converters and assemblies
More efficient, economic vehicular torque converters comprising novel integrated one-piece turbine/impeller blade-core assemblies with innovative fluid coupling means for greater torque capacities.
US07673443B2 Method and a device for providing lambda control in an internal combustion engine
Method for lambda control in an internal combustion engine with a catalytic converter in an exhaust tract and at least one lambda probe mounted inside the catalytic converter. With this arrangement of the upstream probe there are signal delays which slow down the lambda control. To compensate, the measurement signals from the first lambda probe are applied to a lambda analysis unit which corrects measurement signal delays, and the corrected lambda probe signal is applied to a unit for lambda control. Both lambda probes are connected to a unit for lambda control.
US07673434B2 Filling machine and filling monitoring method
A filling machine and a filling monitoring method monitor the condition of a pressure roller and do not harm the quality of fluid food. The filling machine includes a first rotary member inside of the joining surface of a longitudinally sealed portion of a packaging material being fed; a second rotary member disposed in opposition to the first rotary member with the packaging material pinched therebetween; a rotation detection signal generator for generating a rotation detection signal in association with rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members; and a monitoring processor for reading the rotation detection signal and detecting abnormality of rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members. Damage to the inner surfaces of the packaging material or to the strip tape, and dropping of a sticking resin piece into fluid food contained in the packaging material are prevented.
US07673429B2 Suspended ceiling grid network utilizing seismic separation joint clips
A ceiling system having a primary grid network which includes a plurality of grid members that are in generally perpendicular relation and form points of intersection. The ceiling system includes one or more joint clips, each of which is attached to the grid network at a point of intersection. Each joint clip partitions the primary grid network into smaller networks, which move independently of one another. At the same time, the appearance of an overall primary grid network is preserved.
US07673424B2 Mobile structure
The invention relates to a mobile structure which is intended for various different uses and purposes and which is of the type that comprises a flat floor chassis with wheels, towing means such that it can be towed by a vehicle and floor support means. The invention is characterized in that the structure comprises: an upper structural shell consisting of two outer frames and at least one intermediate frame, which are connected at the top by lateral and central longitudinal joists, and crossbars forming a plurality of upper cavities which are covered either by laminar sections or skylight elements; and a plurality of independent panels forming the walls of the structure, which are disposed around the structural shell and which can take the form of solid panels or panels comprising a window, a door or an air-conditioning system. The panels are disposed peripherally around the structural shell such that adjacent panels are joined as well as being connected at the bottom to peripheral assembly means belonging to the floor of th chassis and fixed in place using coupling means. The panels are made from frames comprising a pair of hollow lateral posts which are equipped with a plurality of longitudinal grooves on the inner face thereof (racks) and which are connected by a plurality of crossbars and external, internal and lateral cover sheets. The aforementioned racks are designed to receive hooks, supports or brackets or similar furnishings and interior fittings.
US07673412B2 Collapsible firearm stock assembly
A collapsible firearm stock system is generally provided and preferably includes a shoulder stock system adapted to receive a buttstock thereon, and a locking linkage having a first linkage portion, a second linkage portion, and a hinge pin operatively uniting the first and said second linkage portions. One of the linkage portions is carried by the shoulder stock assembly so as to define a terminal end therefore, the other of the linkage portions being adapted to be carried by a firearm. Each of the linkage portions are adapted so as to automatically unite in locking engagement upon axial alignment of the shoulder stock assembly with the firearm about the hinge pin.
US07673410B1 Portable shopping aid
This disclosure provides a portable shopping aid used to mount a shopping list, coupons, or other documents. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the aid is configured to sacrifice a writing surface in favor of portability, by providing a small body that may be easily inserted into a pocket or handbag. The body includes a clamp for mounting the aid onto a push bar of a shopping cart, for hands free viewing during shopping, as well as a document clip mechanism that clips documents by their ends closest to the push bar. In order to provide structural rigidity to retained documents, and notwithstanding the absence of a writing surface or clipboard, the clip mechanism is configured to crease documents. The shopping aid also includes feet for standing the aid upright, on a flat surface, and means for mounting the aid magnetically on a refrigerator wall, in all cases such that retained documents are presented in a convenient reading orientation. The aid is further designed so that it can be made in a single mold, thereby lowering design costs.
US07673407B2 Document and engineering drawing holder/protector
A carrier and protective case are particularly useful for storing and viewing large format documents, which can be spooled together or inserted in a series of spooled transparent sleeves. The web like spools is stored on two spaced apart rollers that are in rotary engagement with opposing halves of the case, and nested within the case or a frame when the opposing halves are folded together.
US07673403B2 Method and apparatus for unassisted implement connection
The present invention discloses an earth moving or similar machine having an operator positionable primary implement having symmetrically aligned and horizontally opposite connecting bosses for connecting to a secondary implement having upwardly extending hook members, each with an open face, and ramp portions leading from the open face to seat portion and a recurved point, extending toward the ramp portion, so that the machine operator can connect the hook members to the connecting bosses by maneuvering the machine and positioning the primary implement.
US07673399B2 Self-ventilated, ergonomic footwear and sole
The invention relates to a self-ventilated, ergonomic footwear item and elastomeric sole. According to the invention, both sides of the sole comprise a plurality of longitudinal grooves, in the area corresponding to the sole of the foot, which are essentially parallel to the edge of the sole closest thereto and which have a depth equal to half of the height of the sole. Moreover, the grooves are disposed in an alternating manner in relation to one another on either side of the sole in the form of a bellows-type structure. The upper comprises a perforated elastic laminar body which is disposed beneath the insole in the area corresponding to the sole and the foot and which, together with the sole, forms a chamber having a volume that varies upon walking. In addition, three thick bands are solidly connected to the body and the upper in order to stiffen said elastic laminar body, namely: one longitudinal band and two transverse end bands. In this way the footwear item and the sole adapt perfectly to the anatomy of the foot, enabling same to be automatically ventilated upon walking.
US07673397B2 Article of footwear with support assembly having plate and indentations formed therein
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly includes a top plate and a bottom plate spaced from the top plate. A central member is positioned between the top plate and bottom plate and includes a plurality of elastomeric support columns. A plurality of indentations is formed in a lower surface and along a periphery of the central member, with each indentation extending upwardly into an elastomeric support column. A plurality of raised portions is positioned along a periphery of the bottom plate, with each raised portion being nested in an indentation in the central member.
US07673396B2 Protective foot covering and dance shoes incorporating same
A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot.
US07673395B2 Dryer bar apparatus of a dryer
A dryer bar apparatus of a dryer for drying a web in a papermaking machine includes a number of turbulence bars circumferentially spaced equidistantly around the inner surface of the dryer shell for generating turbulence within a layer of condensate. The arrangement is such that uniformity of the transfer of thermal energy in the cross machine direction is maximized while the transfer of thermal energy through the dryer shell from the inner to the outer surface is minimized. Also, the number of turbulence bars is determined by the equation: N=int{2πRi/[4π(Ri/d)½+W]} in which: N=the number of turbulence bars in the dryer shell; int=an integer number of a value in { } brackets; π=3.1415; Ri=the inside radius of the inner surface of the dryer shell in inches; d=an average depth of the layer in inches; W=a width of each of the turbulence bars in inches.
US07673394B2 Template for cutting wall board to fit fluted deck ceilings
It is extremely important that wall board form a tight seal between the top of wall board and when fluted deck is the roof that meets the wall board. The present invention relates to a template useful for preparing wall board or related building material to match the fluting pattern of fluted deck panels to form a seal between the decking panels and walls of a building.
US07673383B2 Apparatus for manufacturing a complete wire harness from a plurality of partial harnesses
An apparatus for manufacturing a complete wire harness from a plurality of wire harnesses have a first transferring unit, an inserting unit and a removing unit. The first transferring unit transfers a wire clamping bar, which holds a partial harness having a plurality of electric wires, to a wire-harness fabricating station. The inserting unit inserts terminals disposed at ends of the plurality of electric wires into predetermined terminal accommodating chambers of predetermined connectors set on a connector receiving jig. The removing unit removes the emptied wire clamping bar.
US07673378B1 Method of manufacturing decorative carpet tile
A method of producing a decorative carpet tile may include providing a carpet tile in accordance with the prior art techniques and then treating the carpet tile in one of various manners to provide a separation internal to side edges of the carpet tile. The treatment can include tip shearing side portions relative to an internal portion to provide at least one discontinuity, dripping colors to provide a frame, carving, burning, or otherwise providing a separation internal to the side edges of the carpet tile in various disclosed embodiments.
US07673374B2 Apparatus at a spinning room machine, especially a flat card, roller card, cleaner or the like, for drawing a clothing onto a roller
In an apparatus at a spinning room machine, especially a flat card, roller card, cleaner or the like, for drawing a clothing onto a roller using a drawing-on device, the spinning room machine has an electronic control and regulation device. In order to provide an apparatus that is simple in terms of equipment and that makes possible checking of the drawing-on procedure and/or of the measurement data, a measurement device for registering data ascertained during drawing-on is associated with the drawing-on device, and the measurement device co-operates with the electronic control and regulation device of the spinning room machine for permitting passage of data between the drawing-on device and the control and regulation device.
US07673373B2 Frameless glass door clamp
A frameless glass door clamp has a clamping member, a base cover and a cap cover. The clamp member has a base side surface and a cap side surface. The base cover is mounted on the base side surface and has a panel, multiple flanges, a tapered face and multiple rounded outer edges. The cap cover is mounted on the cap side surface and has a panel, a multiple flanges, a tapered face and multiple rounded outer edges. Because the outer edges of the base and cap covers are rounded, the frameless glass door clamp is much less likely to injure people or damage objects and is easier to manufacture.
US07673372B2 Block and tackle balance assembly with brake shoe
A sash balance brake shoe assembly (2) is disclosed for counterbalancing a sash window (3) slidably supported within a master frame (5). The assembly generally includes a balance assembly preferably in the form of a block and tackle balance assembly (7) and a brake shoe (28). The balance assembly has a balance channel (6). The brake shoe (28) has an extension member (36) that is received by the balance channel (6). A fastener (42) directly connects the brake shoe (28) to the balance channel (6).
US07673370B2 Mode control arrangement for a floor
The invention is a bare floor cleaning appliance provided with a foot pedal for raising and lowering the suction nozzle while simultaneously energizing and de-energizing the independent drive motor powering a horizontal axis rotary agitator. The foot pedal is depressed once to lower the suction nozzle to a position closest to the floor surface and the horizontal rotary agitator is energized to clean the floor surface. Suction from the motor-fan assembly is used to pick up dirt and used cleaning solution. The foot pedal is depressed one more time to raise the suction nozzle from the floor surface and de-energize the horizontal rotary agitator. In this mode, suction from the motor-fan assembly is used to pick up dry objects including dirt. The foot pedal operates the switch for energizing and de-energizing the independent electric motor by rotating a mode indicator operably connected to the foot pedal. Depressing the foot pedal once rotates the mode indicator to a first position which toggles the switch from the off position to the on position. When rotated into this position, an first indicating portion on the mode indicator is rotated underneath a first viewing window formed in the hood of the cleaner foot. Depressing the foot pedal another time rotates the mode indicator to a second position which toggles the switch from the on position to the off position. A second indicating portion on the mode indicator rotates underneath a second viewing window formed in the hood of the foot. At the same time the first indicating portion is rotated out of sight of the first viewing window.
US07673367B2 Cleaning robot
A cleaning robot to prevent a suction member from moving upwards when the suction member is rotated during a collision with an obstacle, and which completely unfolds the suction member when a lower surface of the suction member travels on an uneven floor. The cleaning robot includes a main body to travel on a floor to be cleaned, a dust collecting unit, and a corner cleaning unit. The corner cleaning unit includes a suction member having a suction arm with a rotatable cylinder, a movable member rotatably coupled around the rotatable cylinder by a torsion spring such that the movable member can move upwards and downwards together with the suction member, a driving unit, supporting brackets, at least one elevation guide face to allow the movable member to move upwards and downwards along the elevation guide face as the movable member rotates, and at least one guide knob.
US07673362B2 Wheel cleaning apparatus for a wheelchair or the like
A tire-cleaning device for a wheelchair or other wheeled device, such as a scooter, which includes a pair of rotatably-mounted rollers positioned to support at least one wheel of the wheelchair. A rotatably-mounted cleaning brush is positioned between the rollers. The rollers are activated in a direction opposite that to the brush such that the rollers and brush rotate in opposite directions causing the brush to rotate in a direction opposite the tire of the rotating wheel of the wheelchair in order to effect the best cleaning mode. Cleaning fluid is drawn to the tire of the wheelchair by the rotating brush.
US07673358B2 Method of controlling the revolutions of the drum of a program controlled laundry machine
A laundry treatment method consisting of controlling the rotational speed a program-controlled laundry machine drum between lower and upper limits as a function of at least one predetermined parameter of the laundry within the drum.
US07673352B2 Flush valve for water closets
A flush mechanism for a water closet include a housing fixable to a toilet flush tank outlet and a float body removable within the housing for controlling water discharge through the tank outlet. A hydraulic assist valve is disposed within the float body and moveable therein for causing upward opening movement of the float body in order to reduce exterior operational force required to operate the float body.
US07673351B2 Shock absorbing structure
There is provided a shock absorbing structure comprising a generally planar surface made of a flexible plastic material. A plurality of upstanding, hollow support members extends from the planar surface. The support members are made of flexible plastic material. There is also a plurality of openings in each of the support members, the openings define air passages within the shock absorbing structure to allow air to flow through the support members. The shock absorbing structure may be used in helmets, shin pads, kneepads, elbow pads, shoulder pads, chest protectors, gloves, pants and footwear.
US07676846B2 Binding content to an entity
The present invention enforces digital rights within the confines of a content license by validating an entity certificate. Cryptographic information within a entity certificate is utilized to unlock protected content and authenticate the entity certificate. The entity certificate includes personal credentials, which have information that the entity is unwilling or uncomfortable to share publicly. For example, the personal credentials may include private information, or information associated with a personal object that cannot consume the protected content, or both.
US07676844B2 Signal reproducing system
Based on user identification data transmitted together with a compressed data from a portable reproducing apparatus, if an apparatus recognizes that a user who purchased and downloaded the compressed data is the same as a user who owns the apparatus, the audio apparatus stores and holds the compressed data after reproducing the signal from the compressed data by the decoder unit and the data processing unit. Alternatively, if it recognizes that the user who purchased and downloaded the compressed data is not the same as the user who owns the apparatus, it removes the compressed data after reproducing the signal from the compressed data by the decoder unit and the data processing unit.
US07676843B1 Executing applications at appropriate trust levels
Systems and methods that enable execution of applications at appropriate trust levels are described. These systems and methods can determine appropriate trust levels by comparing applications' permitted trust levels with their requested trust levels. These systems and method can determine applications' permitted trust levels by comparing applications' execution locations with their published locations. Applications can also be executed at a restricted trust level at which potentially dangerous operations are prohibited.
US07676841B2 Network intrusion mitigation
Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for mitigating against a cyber attack on a network. An indication is received from an intrusion detection system that an event has occurred representing a threat to the network. Upon receiving the event from the intrusion detection system, automated processes determine a port associated with the threat and automatically block the port.
US07676838B2 Secure communication methods and systems
Methods and systems for secure communications are provided. Secure end-to-end connections are established as separate multiple secure connections, illustratively between a first system and an intermediate system and between a second system and an intermediate system. The multiple secure connections may be bound, by binding Internet Protocol Security Protocol (IPSec) Security Associations (SAs) for the multiple connections, for example, to establish the end-to-end connection. In the event of a change in operating conditions which would normally require the entire secure connection to be re-established, only one of the multiple secure connections which form the end-to-end connection is re-established. Separation of end-to-end connections in this manner may reduce processing resource requirements and latency normally associated with re-establishing secure connections.
US07676823B2 User interface methods and apparatus for roaming access to subscription services
A subscriber or other user is provided with access to a subscription service of a signal distribution system at a roaming location remote from a home location of the user. The subscription service comprises a plurality of selectable channels available to the user at the home location. In one aspect of the invention, a request for initiation of a roaming session is received, and responsive to initiation of the roaming session, at least one user interface is generated for presentation on a device at the remote location. The generated user interface is configured to provide access at the remote location to one or more of the channels available to the user at the home location, and represents an at least partial alteration of a normal user interface that would otherwise be presented on the device at the remote location in the absence of the roaming session.
US07676818B2 Disk unit
A disk unit comprising a limit switch, the limit switch being adapted to operate when a tip of a guide arm pivots to excess in a centripetal direction relative to a predetermined position at which it should stop while supporting a side portion of a small-diameter disk, the guide arm functioning to conduct a large- or small-diameter disk being conveyed to a predetermined position while supporting a side portion of the disk, a disk unloading operation being started upon operation of the limit switch to permit discharge of a disk of a deformed shape. The disk unit is a slot-in type disk unit permitting automatic loading and drive of two types of disks different in diameter, wherein a disk of a deformed shape inserted by mistake is discharged automatically to prevent damage of a recording surface of the disk and a mechanical damage of the disk unit.
US07676800B2 Method and apparatus for reducing the storage overhead of portable executable (PE) images
A method and related apparatuses facilitate the compression of firmware modules that follow a portable executable (PE) format. An example method includes an operation of storing a firmware module in memory, wherein the firmware module follows a PE format, thus having subdivisions that include an MS-DOS header. The method also includes an operation of flattening the firmware module by replacing existing content within at least one field within the MS-DOS header with fill data that is more compressible than the existing content. For example, fill data may be loaded into an MS-DOS stub field within the MS-DOS header. Alternatively, the method may flatten the firmware module by ensuring that fill data occupies all fields within the MS-DOS header except for an lfanew field and an e-magic field. In some embodiments, additional or alternative operations to flatten the firmware module may be performed, such as loading fill data into one or more fields within an optional file header of the firmware module.
US07676797B2 System and method for managing long names in an application programming interface
Software managing long names in an application programming interface receives a request to perform a requested operation on one or more fields, the application comprising a first operation operable to perform the requested operation on at least one field type. The software determines whether the field type of any of the fields is incompatible with the first operation. If the field types of the one or more fields are compatible with the first operation, then the software performs the requested operation on the one or more fields using the first operation. If the software determines that the field type of at least one of the fields is incompatible with the first operation, then it converts the request into a call for a second operation operable to perform the requested operation on the one or more fields and performs the requested operation using the second operation.
US07676785B2 Hosted application as a designer in an integrated development environment
Architecture that integrates an unmanaged application as a hosted application into a design environment in a coherent yet usable manner such that the developer can use the hosted application's native functionality yet leverage rich productivity features provided by the IDE. The IDE includes a hosting component that comprises an application adaptor for providing an interface from the unmanaged application to the IDE. The IDE further includes a designer framework that provides user access to designer capabilities of the IDE. The host adaptor interfaces to the designer framework either directly and/or through an integration interface. Thus, the developer/user can then access the native functionality of the unmanaged application as well as the IDE functionality. This provides rich integration between the development environment and the hosted application, the end result of which is the designer interacting with the IDE.
US07676782B2 Efficient method for mapping a logic design on field programmable gate arrays
An efficient method for mapping a logic design on Field Programmable Gate Arrays involves a determination of the minimum required square grid of FPGA logic blocks for mapping the design, providing a compensation factor on the minimum square grids, selecting the maximum value among the compensated square grids for reducing the mapping time; and implementing a legalization adjustment to ensure mapping of said compensated design.
US07676779B2 Logic block timing estimation using conesize
A system for logic block timing analysis may include a controller, and storage in communication with the controller. The storage may provide delay-versus-conesize values of a logic block. The system may further include a fitting module to provide a delay-cone based upon the delay-versus-conesize values of the logic block. The system may also include a conesize parser that uses the delay-cone to provide delay values through the logic block. The conesize parser may be used to validate the design of the logic block by comparing the delay-cone with a desired cycle time.
US07676774B2 System LSI verification system and system LSI verification method
According to one embodiment, a system LSI verification system that verifies a processor module included in a system LSI, the system comprising: a circuit description storage that stores description data that describes a design of the processor module; a verification task generator that generates a verification task file based on the description data and a verification environment specification file in which specifications of a verification environment are described; a test program storage that stores a test program including an environment command function for starting the verification task; and a logical simulator that performs a logical simulation according to the test program.
US07676768B1 Automatic asynchronous signal pipelining
An electronic design automation (EDA) tool alters a user's netlist to provide timing success for distribution of asynchronous signals. Distribution networks are used with the addition of pipeline registers before and/or after the distribution buffer. Or, a tree of pipeline registers is inserted between the asynchronous source and the destination registers. Or, any number of distribution networks are stitched together and pipeline stages may be inserted before and/or after each distribution buffer. Or, beneficial skew is utilized by introducing a delay component that skews a clock signal. The skewed clock signal drives a pipeline register that is inserted before a distribution buffer in order to improve timing margin. Any of various compilation techniques may be used within the EDA tool to solve the problem of distributing high-speed, high-fanout asynchronous signals. The technique has utility for high-performance FPGAs and structured ASIC families, as well as for low-cost FPGAs and other types of logic devices.
US07676760B1 Methods and apparatus for analysis of access logs
An access log analyzer processes an access log to identify file access information associated with accessed regions of one or more files. Based on information in the access log as well as information potentially retrieved from the other sources such as a file system or disk on which the files are stored, the access log analyzer initiates display of a respective graphical representation for each of the one or more files. In addition to displaying the graphical representations themselves, the access log analyzer displays visual renderings at relative locations in association with the graphical representations to identify accessed regions of the one or more file as indicated by the file access information in the access log. Accordingly, a user can view a visual depiction of the contents of a disk access log and easily identify respective access patterns associated with the one or more files.
US07676757B2 User customization of language of menu items
Mechanisms are disclosed that enable a user to customize selection elements of a GUI. For example, menu entries in a GUI can be customized so that the user can specify the font, the language, character sets, color, and other attributes of the text of one menu item (or less than all menu items); to have the ability to selectively activate multimedia options associated with selected menu items (e.g., to play a sound whenever the cursor/pointer passes over a particular menu item); and/or to assign an animation sequence that is unique to selected menu items. The menu item properties are defined by the user, using, for example, a dialog box that allows specification of the attributes. When the application is installed, a default set of menu item properties is defined by the software manufacturer, which can be further customized by the user.
US07676742B2 System and method for processing of markup language information
A system and method for processing of markup language information, such as extensible markup language (XML) based control information is disclosed. The system comprises a compression sender entity and a decompression receiver entity. The sender entity uses its internal, binary representation derived from textual XML-based protocol header and encodes the binary representation as a tag-length-value (TLV) binary value. The TLV binary value is embedded as encoded data in a specifically marked comment, which may be detected by the receiver entity. The receiver entity builds up an internal, binary data structure based on the encoded data representing the original XML data. The system avoids the usage of string data to represent a small set of well known strings and uses a more compact binary encoding which reduces space and time to process the data.
US07676740B2 XML serialization and deserialization
An object instance is serialized to a serial format, such as an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) document, based on a mapping between an arbitrary annotated source code file and a schema. The arbitrary annotated source code contains at least one programming type that describes a shape of an object instance and the schema describes a format of a document having a serial format. The mapping defines a correspondence between the shape of the object instance and the format of the document having the serial format. Subsequently, an object instance is converted to the serial format by converting public properties, public fields and method parameters of the object instance to a document having the serial format based on the mapping. Once the mapping is defined, an XML document can also be converted to an object instance based on the mapping.
US07676738B2 Scenario-dependent evaluation formula
Software is disclosed that creates a way of controlling alterations to cell contents of a data flow network so they can easily be turned on and off as separate layers. These layers can then be grouped as scenarios. Scenarios allow different layers of formula changes to be easily added and removed from the model.
US07676737B2 Synchronization mechanism and the implementation for multimedia captioning and audio descriptions
A system for outputting a media stream and supplemental media streams is provided. A media stream manager outputs the media stream and associated supplemental media streams on a media stream output device. A timing module generates triggering events in conjunction with the output of the media streams according to event data. The media stream manager monitors for and detects the triggering events during the output of the media streams. Upon detecting a triggering event, the media stream manager determines which supplemental media streams are associated with the triggering event and iteratively outputs each associated supplemental media stream to the media stream output device. Supplemental media streams are output either synchronously or asynchronously according to previously determined information. A supplemental media stream that is output asynchronously to the media stream suspends the media stream and the timing of the media stream while the supplemental media stream is output.
US07676736B2 Programmable continuous phase modulation (CPM) decoder and associated methods
The programmable decoder, such as a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) decoder (e.g. a Viterbi decoder) may include a programming input for a plurality of programmable trellis parameters, and a programmable device, such as an FPGA, connected to the programming input and implementing a continuous phase modulation (CPM) decoder including at least one trellis structure defined based upon the plurality of programmable trellis parameters. The plurality of programmable trellis parameters may include a number of trellis structures, a number of trellis states for each trellis structure, and a number of branches for each trellis state. Also, the trellis structure may include a reverse-state trellis structure.
US07676732B2 Transceiver apparatus and method for efficient retransmission of high-speed packet data
A method for retransmitting coded bits by a transmitter in response to a retransmission request from a receiver in a mobile communication system. The method comprises determining a modulation technique to be used at retransmission as a modulation technique having a lower modulation order than a modulation technique used at initial transmission; determining a puncturing pattern according to an HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) type, and selecting as many coded bits as the number of coded bits that can be symbol-mapped by the determined modulation technique, among the coded bits punctured by the determined puncturing pattern; and symbol-mapping the selected coded bits by the determined modulation technique, and transmitting the symbol-mapped coded bits to the receiver.
US07676717B2 Electronic circuit comprising a test mode secured by the breaking of a test chain, and associated electronic circuit
An electronic circuit includes configurable cells with a test input and an output. The configurable cells are capable of being connected to one another in a chain in a predefined order via the test inputs and the outputs to form a test shift register if they receive a chaining command signal. A connection control module disconnects the test input from at least one configurable cell if the connection control module receives an invalid identification key. The connection control module leaves disconnected the test input from the at least one configurable cell, or applies a constant potential on the test input of the at least one configurable cell, or connects the test input of the at least one configurable cell at an output of a random-data generator.
US07676710B2 Error detection, documentation, and correction in a flash memory device
A memory device has an error documentation memory array that is separate from the primary memory array. The error documentation memory array stores data relating to over-programmed bits in the primary array. When the over-programmed bits in the primary array are erased, the error documentation memory array is erased as well, deleting the documentation data relating to the over-programmed bits.
US07676706B2 Baselining backend component response time to determine application performance
Deviation of expected response times is used to characterize the health of one or more backend machines invoked by an application to process a request. Performance data generated in response to monitoring application execution is processed to select backend response time data. The selected data is processed to predict future values of a time series associated with backend response time. The predicted response time values are compared to actual response time values in the time series to determine a deviation from the predicted value. Deviation information for the time series data of response times is then reported to a user through an interface in a simple manner.
US07676703B2 Failure diagnosis system, image forming apparatus, computer readable medium and data signal
A failure diagnosis system includes a first database, a second database, an observation-information acquiring unit, a determination-probability calculating unit and an occurrence-probability calculating unit. A first cause-and-effect network stored in the first database stochastically represents a relationship between failure-type candidates and first observation information, which have cause-and-effect relationships with the failure-type candidates. Each second cause-and-effect network stored in the second database stochastically represents relationships between second observation information and failure-cause candidates. The observation-information acquiring unit acquires the first and second observation information from a diagnosed system. The determination-probability calculating unit calculates a determination probability of each failure-type candidate based on the first observation information and the first cause-and-effect network. The occurrence-probability calculating unit calculates occurrence probabilities of the failure-cause candidates for each failure-type candidate based on the second observation information and the second cause-and-effect networks.
US07676699B2 Event trace conditional logging
Use of configuration information to specify particular conditions under which trace events are to be logged. When accessing trace events generated by various modules, configuration data is referred to specifying condition(s) under which the trace events should be logged. If the log condition(s) are satisfied, the trace events are logged. Otherwise, they may be discarded. Thus, the number of trace events in the log may be significantly reduced to those trace events that satisfy conditions of interest to an evaluator.
US07676697B2 Using a delay line to cancel clock insertion delays
A programmable delay is added to the data and clock data paths in order to cancel the effect of the clock insertion delays. This programmable delay is adjusted dynamically at runtime to optimize the performance of the interface.
US07676695B2 Resolution of computer operations problems using fault trend analysis
A set of fault records representing faults previously detected in an enterprise computer system is received and analyzed. The analysis comprises a variety of analytical operations and results in a report provided to a user, the report particularly including a set of fault sources identified as highly important to address, with respect both to the system as a whole and to particular categories of faults.
US07676690B2 Mirroring of activity between electronic devices
Two or more electronic devices each include an output engine and an output device for presenting data, including mirrored data. A consumer electronic device receives a request from a mirroring device for mirrored data or transmits a request for customer service to the mirroring device. Thereafter, the consumer electronic device provides the mirrored data to the mirroring device. The mirroring device may be similar or different from the consumer electronic device. The mirroring device presents the mirrored data to a user of the mirroring device. Alternately or additionally, the mirroring device analyzes the mirrored data to identify problems with the consumer electronic device. The consumer electronic device and/or the mirroring device can transmit identifiers associated with the other device over a network connection to determine whether the other device is online.
US07676675B2 Architecture for connecting a remote client to a local client desktop
Architecture for generating and maintaining a terminal services connection from an external client to an internal intranet client behind a firewall and/or router. The external user is first authenticated after which the external client is passed to a remote user portal. A listing of available internal computers is presented to the external client user, the selection of one that initiates an intranet server to create a listening socket thereon, and a socket on the selected internal client. The server creates a thread that manages the terminal services connection between the external client and the internal client by listening for traffic and forwarding the traffic between the ports.
US07676673B2 Multi-level secure (MLS) information network
A method of enforcing a network security policy including mandatory access control (MAC), discretionary access control (DAC) and integrity control for a secure information network, includes operating a transport guard within a memory partition logically between a protected application running in the partition and a networking stack, and defining ports for the transport guard including (i) an application port for forwarding data to and receiving data from the application, (ii) a data port for receiving data addressed to the application from the networking stack, and for sending data originating from the application to the stack, and (iii) a control port for supplying configuration data to the transport guard. The configuration data corresponds to MAC, DAC and integrity control policies specified by the network for the protected application. The transport guard limits data flow between its protected application and the data ports accordingly.
US07676666B2 Virtual BIOS firmware hub
A baseboard management controller (BMC) of a blade server module in an information handling system may operate as a virtual system BIOS firmware hub that may have automatic firmware updating through a TFTP transfer from a chassis management controller (CMC) or for rack/tower servers from a remote assistant card (RMC). The system BIOS may be stored in a RAM drive or a ROM of the BMC. Valuable printed circuit board real estate and hardware for a firmware hub is no longer necessary since the BMC may have the capacity to act as a virtual system BIOS firmware hub in addition to its other functions.
US07676652B2 Executing variable length instructions stored within a plurality of discrete memory address regions
Within a system supporting execution of variable length instructions a program is stored within discrete memory regions with a variable length instruction spanning a gap between two such discrete memory regions. When execution is attempted of such a variable length instruction spanning a gap, an abort handler is initiated which serves to copy the end portion of one of the memory regions together with the start portion of the other memory region into a separate fix-up memory region where these may be concatenated such that the whole of the variable length instruction will appear in one place. Execution of that variable length instruction from out of the fix-up memory region can then be triggered. This execution is constrained by the setting of a single step flag which causes the hardware to only execute the single instruction which span the gap before returning control to a single step exception handler which can then restore program flow to the point in the following memory region after the variable length instruction which spanned the gap.
US07676647B2 System and method of processing data using scalar/vector instructions
A processor device is disclosed that includes a register file with a combined condition code register for scalar and vector operations. The processor device utilizes the combined condition code register for scalar and vector operations. Further, a compare operation can store resulting bits in the combined condition code register and a conditional operation can utilize the combined condition code register bits for evaluating a condition.
US07676646B2 Packet processor with wide register set architecture
A Wide Register Set (WRS) is used in a packet processor to increase performance for certain packet processing operations. The registers in the WRS have wider bit lengths than the main registers used for primary packet processing operations. A wide logic unit is configured to conduct logic operations on the wide register set and in one implementation includes hardware primitives specifically configured for packet scheduling operations. A special interlocking mechanism is additionally used to coordinate accesses among multiple processors or threads to the same wide register address locations.The WRS produces a scheduling engine that is much cheaper than previous hardware solutions with higher performance than previous software solutions. The WRS provides a small, compact, flexible, and scalable scheduling sub-system and can tolerate long memory latencies by using cheaper memory while sharing memory with other uses. The result is a new packet processing architecture that has a wide range of cost/performance points, based on desired scheduling requirements.
US07676643B2 Data interface device for accessing memory
The data interface device accesses a memory operating in synchronization with a clock. A board clock and selective data capturing improve the operating rate of a memory interface and time-synchronize data flow from memory to memory controller with a internal clock produced by the memory controller; or time-synchronize data flow from the memory controller with the board clock. The internal clock is passed through a sequential path of an output pad of the memory controller, the memory, and an input pad of the memory controller and then re-inputted into the memory controller thereby the feedback clock is generated. The selective data capturing uses a register part for storing data inputted into the memory controller. The register part for storing the data is configured by double registers that are operated in an alternative manner according to a correlation between the inputted data and the feedback clock.
US07676642B2 Method for initializing a memory
A method for initializing a control device of a memory, the control device executing commands for accessing the memory transmitted to the memory by a control signal, the method comprising steps of detecting the switching on of the memory and of at least partially initializing the control device following the switching on of the memory. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises steps of detecting a specific event in the control signal, and of at least partially initializing the control device following the detection of the specific event.
US07676625B2 Cross-coupled peripheral component interconnect express switch
A plurality of PCIe switch complexes are interposed between a plurality of I/O devices and a plurality of microprocessor complexes. Each PCIe switching complex comprises a plurality of PCIe switches wherein each switch possesses at least one non-transparent port. The non-transparent port is used to cross-couple each PCIe switch creating an active matrix of paths between the HBAs associated with each I/O device and each microprocessor. The paths between each HBA (I/O device) and each microprocessor are mapped using a recursive algorithm providing each I/O device with direct memory access to each microprocessor.
US07676621B2 Communications bus transceiver
A computer system is disclosed that includes: a communications bus implemented in accordance with an Inter-IC bus specification; a bus controller coupled to the communications bus; a send machine coupled between a host processor and the bus controller; and a first-in first-out (FIFO) buffer coupled to the send machine and coupled between the host processor and the bus controller.
US07676618B2 Controlling resource transfers in a logically partitioned computer system
A resource and partition manager of the preferred embodiments includes a lock mechanism that operates on a plurality of locks that control access to individual I/O slots. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to obtain a lock on an I/O slot when transferring control of the I/O slot to a logical partition that is powering on and when removing the I/O slot from a logical partition that is powering off. The resource and partition manager uses the lock mechanism to remove control of an I/O slot from, or return control to, an operating logical partition in order to facilitate hardware service operations on that I/O slot or on the physical enclosure in which it is contained.
US07676602B2 Systems and methods for alleviating client over-subscription in ring networks
Systems, methods, devices and techniques can be used in networks including resilient packet ring networks and other types of ring topology networks to adjust the flow of data traffic to MAC clients associated with stations on the network. In one example, adjusted fairness rates and/or messages associated with a network communication protocol are used to reduce traffic destined for a particular station and/or a MAC client associated with that station. In another example, station MAC clients or other components implement virtual destination queues and transmit information associated with the rate at which they receive data. The information and queues are used to reduce traffic destined for a particular station and/or a MAC client associated with that station.
US07676601B2 Method and system for processing financial data objects carried on broadcast data streams and delivering information to subscribing clients
A system for delivering data objects containing data subject to periodic updates to a plurality of clients is disclosed and which is configured to connect to at least one input data stream which carries a specific type of data objects, such as objects related to financial product offerings, and also establish a communication session with various clients. Each client has an associated profile which indicates data stream to which the client has subscribed and further contains rules related to how data in the streams should be treated. When an object is received on a data stream, a local data cache is updated and the rules specified by clients subscribing to that data stream are executed to determine whether information about the object should be forward to the various subscribing client. In a particular configuration, the data channels are provided by one or more information managers which pre-process raw data from source data providers, format and type the data, and broadcast it on appropriate channels in substantially real time.
US07676595B2 Anycast addressing for internet protocol version six
A protocol associated with an Internet protocol version six (IPv6) network address included within a network packet provides both unicast and anycast addressing, while having the same bit locations and bit functions associated with a top-level aggregation identifier, a next-level aggregation identifier, and a site-level aggregation identifier. A prefix associated with the three most significant bits of the network address identifies the network address as being a unicast address, an anycast address, or both a unicast and an anycast address. The prefix that identifies the network address as being both a unicast and an anycast address allows routers to have smaller routing tables.
US07676593B2 Method of bandwidth control by rewriting ACK number
A network relay apparatus installed with a TCP shaper has a packet converter that changes an ACK number of a confirmation reply packet in response to downstream data transmitted from a WAN side host to a lower value while transferring the packet.
US07676575B2 Method and device for managing access to network
When downloading a Java™ application AP from a server 40, a scheme and a transmission port number used by server 40 when downloading Java™ application AP are stored in addition to a host name of server 40. Then, when the Java™ application AP accesses a resource on the Internet, the host name of a resource to be accessed, and a scheme and a destination port number are compared with the stored host name, scheme, and transmission port number. The network access is permitted only when the compared items agree with each other.
US07676573B2 Node monitor client cache synchronization for mobile device management
A stateful cache layer is created at a mobile device client that tracks the state on both the mobile device and management service. The states are synchronized between the mobile device and the management service on every management session. Through the statefulness of the cache layer, unauthorized changes on the mobile device are detected and accordingly handled such as internal correction or reporting to the management service for actionable instructions. A cache layer on the management server is configured to identify organizational policy changes that affect specific devices and initiate unsolicited immediate management sessions to update the configuration to the specific devices.
US07676568B2 Centrally-controlled distributed marking of content
Presently disclosed is a method and apparatus for monitoring and diagnosing a content delivery network (CDN) by examining received content elements that have been marked with one or more identifiers. Diagnosing is accomplished by using all or part of one or more of the identifiers associated with errored or corrupted content elements to determine which network elements or connection paths are faulty. The identifiers may contain content-, server-, or receiver-specific data that denotes, respectively, the source of the content, the links associated with one or more of the servers utilized in the network, and/or data associated with the receiving computer system. Both marking and diagnosing may be performed at any location within the CDN or at any host computer connected to the CDN or receiver. The marking may also be dynamically reconfigured in order to facilitate diagnosis.
US07676561B1 Method and apparatus for adaptive load balancing
Determining server capabilities during a discrete time period, or interval, allows for more efficient processing of client requests. Updating a proportional server capability load balancing information encoding at intervals allows a load balancer to handle client requests without the overhead of determining current server capabilities. Decision-making can be reduced to quick selection of one of a group of servers without considering the server's capability, since the server's capability has previously been considered when collecting the load balancing information.
US07676557B1 Dynamically adaptive portlet palette having user/context customized and auto-populated content
An event to initialize a portlet palette within a user interface having an open portal to which the portlet palette is associated can be detected. The portlet palette can be a user interface control that includes a portlet set of at least one portlet. The portlet palette can be configured so that a selection of a portlet from the portlet set causes the portlet to be added to the open portal. A set of portlets can be automatically determined from a set of stored portlets that are relevant to the open portal based upon previously defined programmatic rules and contextual information associated with the open portlet. The portlet palette can be dynamically populated with the determined set of portlets. The populated portlet palette can be presented within the user interface.
US07676555B2 System and method for efficient control and capture of dynamic database content
A system and method for efficient control and capture of dynamic database content for rapidly providing a user with a highly relevant collection of documents related to a query. The system and method for efficient control and capture of dynamic database content includes a computer system with a storage means for facilitating the retention and recall of dynamic database content and a communications means for facilitating bi-directional communication of the computer system with local or distributed networks; an executory module operationally coupled to the computer system for controlling the storage means and the communications means as well as directing the system for the efficient control and capture of dynamic database content to a plurality of pre-selected Internet sites; and a capture module which is in communication with the executory module and facilitates selection of the plurality of Internet sites associated with a query submitted by a user of the system.
US07676553B1 Incremental web crawler using chunks
A system and method facilitating incremental web crawl(s) using chunk(s) is provided. The system can be employed, for example, to facilitate a web-crawling system that crawls (e.g., continuously) the Internet for information (e.g., data) and indexes the information so that it can be used as part of a web search engine.The system facilitates incremental re-crawls and/or selective updating of information (e.g., documents) using a structure called a chunk to simplify the process of an incremental crawl. A chunk is a set of documents that can be manipulated as a set (e.g., of up to 65,536 (64K) documents). “Document” refers to a corpus of data that is stored at a particular URL (e.g., HTML, PDF, PS, PPT, XLS, and/or DOC Files etc.)A chunk is created by an indexer. The indexer can place into a chunk documents that have similar property(ies). These property(ies) include but are not limited to: average time between change and average importance. These property(ies) can be stored at the chunk level in a chunk map. The chunk map can then be employed (e.g., on a daily basis) to determine which chunk(s) should be re-crawled.
US07676550B1 Multiple access presence agent
A multiple access presence agent that collects and stores presence information on a presentity from presence contributors is configured to define access rules for each of the presence contributors, in which the access rules define respective rights and privileges of the presence contributors to the presence information of the presentity. The multiple access presence agent is further capable of authenticating one of the presence contributors to determine the access rules associated with that presence contributor, and in response to a valid authentication, enabling access to the presence information of the presentity by that presence contributor based on the access rules associated with that presence contributor.
US07676544B2 File sharing system, file sharing method, and recording medium storing file sharing program
A file sharing system connected to both a telephone network and a data communication network includes a telephone conversation state monitoring part for recording information for identifying speakers having a telephone conversation for each telephone conversation in a recording part as telephone conversation state data, a sharing space generating part for generating a file sharing space to a file sharing server for each telephone conversation, and recording information for identifying a file sharing space and information for identifying a speaker in a recording part in such a manner that they are associated with each other, and an access control part enabling access from a communication terminal by the speaker associated in the association data, among accesses from the communication terminals with respect to the file sharing Space. Because of this, the file sharing system allows a file to be shared with a party on the other side during a telephone conversation even without using a terminal with a particular function added thereto.
US07676539B2 Methods, apparatus and computer programs for automated problem solving in a distributed, collaborative environment
Provided are methods, apparatus or computer programs for collaborative problem solving and/or automated discovery and dynamic integration of capabilities in a distributed, multidisciplinary work environment. A set of software-implemented agents distributed across a network are used to identify agents and resources on the network that are capable of performing required tasks. The agents collaborate to generate a plan comprising a task allocation and task execution sequence in which tasks are allocated to selected ones of the agents and identified resources, and then the selected agents and resources execute the allocated tasks in accordance with the generated plan. Services (such as processing functions and knowledge) provided by hardware and software resources in a network are represented as ‘capabilities’ of an associated agent. The functions implemented by each agent are also represented as ‘capabilities’. The abstract ‘capabilities’ can be published and then discovered and dynamically integrated to solve domain specific problems.
US07676533B2 System for executing SIMD instruction for real/complex FFT conversion
An FFT conversion instruction based on a single instruction multiple data (“SIMD”) technique is executed to reduce the number of cycles for software to perform conversion processing used in an FFT computation. In an embodiment, the FFT conversion instruction implements two instances of a conversion operation, i.e., 2-way SIMD, over two sets of complex points at once. A control register or variant opcode controls an inverse flag to control the behavior of the conversion process. In an embodiment, the control register contains a control bit to select between forward and inverse FFT context.
US07676516B2 System and method for the optimization of database access in data base networks
A database network router (DNR) in a database network includes a client access module and a database resource manager that communicate with each other using a common software interface. The client access module communicates with clients including application servers and external database servers; and the database resource manager communicates with the database servers. The DNR also includes a protocol manager for handling multiple database protocols. The database network router also includes local data cache storage to store commonly used data objects, results of parsed query statement, non-optimized query statements, and optimized alternatives and assigns a priority to each client on log-in. The DNR provides a method for connections pooling, a method for balancing the load in a database networks and a method for synchronizing the data stored in cache memory with the database network and method for synchronizing the data stored in cache memory with the database to insure data reliability. The DNR also provides a method for monitoring and optimizing data queries to improve the performance of the database network. The DNR also provides a method to migrate from an old to a new version of the database.
US07676512B2 Document management server, information terminal apparatus, image forming apparatus, document managing method, and program
When a certain file is updated, a document management server determines whether a “registration state information mail” is set for that file, and after that, performs “self information mail” setting processing. Computer requests the document management server to transmit an electronic file, and prints and displays the electronic file according to an operation definition corresponding to the file format of the received electronic file. MFP inquires whether the document to be displayed is an electronic file stored in the document management server or an electronic file recorded on an external storage medium. Further, in response to an operation of a touch panel, MFP changes a magnifying power of display data, and rotates an image to change the direction by setting the central position of the rotation to a display center of an image being currently displayed.
US07676508B2 Method and system for recording and replaying input-output requests issued by a user-mode program
I/O request data for user-mode programs is recorded into a log, which later allows the I/O requests to be replayed. By substantially exact replay, tests are performed with different versions/combinations of kernel components using the same I/Os as when recorded. A user-mode record/replay program and kernel-mode filter driver record a program's I/O requests, such as data I/O request packet (IRP) data received by the filter driver. While recording, tests exclude IRPs not directly resulting from program requests. Recorded I/O request data is maintained in log file records. At replay time, the records are read and corresponding I/O requests sent towards the storage volume as if requested by the original program. Tables are maintained for information relevant to the replay context, such as file handles, file IDs, and short names that vary from the record context. Substitution from the tables allows I/O requests to be replayed as originally issued.
US07676502B2 Recovery point data view shift through a direction-agnostic roll algorithm
A method and system of recovery point data view shift through a direction-agnostic roll algorithm is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a data view around a recovery point, and shifting the data view around the recovery point through a direction-agnostic roll algorithm that uses at least one of a roll-forward algorithm to shift the data view to a time before the recovery point and a roll-backward algorithm to shift the data view to a time before the recovery point. A data integrity may be determined to be consistent at the recover point by examining data and meta-data associated with the recovery point. The recovery point may be associated with at least one of an automatically generated event, a user definable event, and a prepackaged event. A marker data may be generated at the recovery point to enable the direction-agnostic roll algorithm to reduce a recovery time objective when an algorithm is applied.
US07676501B2 Document integrity verification
A system and method enable reliable tamper detection for printed documents. Embodiments determine whether tampering has occurred and, if detected, isolate it to a specific section, such as a single page of a multi-page document. Embodiments render classes of documents tamper evident with cryptographic level security, where such security was previously unavailable, for example, documents printed using common printers without special paper or ink. Embodiments enable proving the date of document content without the need for expensive third party archival, including documents held, since their creation, entirely in secrecy or in untrustworthy environments, such as on easily-altered, publicly-accessible internet sites. Embodiments can extend, by many years, the useful life of currently-trusted integrity verification algorithms, such as hash functions, even when applied to binary executable files. Embodiments can efficiently identify whether multiple document versions are substantially similar, even if they are not identical, thus potentially reducing storage space requirements.
US07676498B2 Method and data processing system for managing user roles
The illustrative embodiment provides a computer implemented method, a data processing system, and a computer program product for managing user roles. A customization application receives a request to modify a user role for an application. In response to the request, the customization application allows a user to modify a set of features associated with the user role to form a set of customized features. A role database stores the set of customized features for the user role. The user roles in the role database are available for use by a plurality of users of the application.
US07676497B2 Apparatus and method for report publication in a federated cluster
A report publication system includes a first set of report management servers defining a first cluster supporting a common report management architecture. A first set of client machines operate in accordance with the common report management architecture. The first client machines are configured to access the first cluster. A second set of report management servers defines a second cluster supporting the common report management architecture. A second set of client machines operate in accordance with the common report management architecture. The second client machines are configured to access the second cluster. A first client machine of the first set of client machines invokes a report on the first cluster to form a published report with a designated destination address. The published report is exchanged between the first cluster and the second cluster via the Internet in accordance with the destination address. A second client machine of the second set of client machines accesses the published report through the second cluster.
US07676494B2 System and method of matching vehicle ratings using a central database
A computer reservation system matches vehicle ratings using a central database. Vehicle information and rental equipment information are stored in the central database. A user specifies a vehicle description including make, model, and year of the vehicle on a website. The central database is searched based on the vehicle description to find related vehicle information including physical characteristics of the vehicle. The rental equipment in the central database is identified which is compatible with the vehicle as determined by a comparison of the rental equipment information to the vehicle information. The physical characteristics of the vehicle are compared to physical characteristics of the rental equipment to determine compatibility between the vehicle and the rental equipment. The compatible rental equipment is displayed on the website for the user.
US07676492B2 Migration of database using serialized objects
Methods, systems, and apparatus for migrating a database of a workflow processing system from a current version to a new version by serializing the data into serialized objects and then deserializing the objects into the new version of the database. The current version of the database may include elements of data associated with base features and extension features of the workflow processing system. The new version of the database is initially generated to include only base features associated with a new version of the programmed instructions of the system. Deserializing the serialized objects into the new version of the database is effective to merge the object types of the information in the current version of the database into the object type of the new version of the database.
US07676491B2 Method and system for accessing a file system
A method for accessing a file system and for subsequently presenting to a user a list of files in store, where files in the list are identified by names derived from the contents of the files. the method is suitable for use in a reprographic apparatus, for access to a file system on a removable storage device and for displaying on the operator screen of the apparatus, the list of files on the storage device, the files being available for selection for printing by the operator.