Document	Document Title
US07674956B2	Chitinase encoding DNA molecules from cotton expressed preferentially in secondary walled cells during secondary wall deposition and a corresponding promoter The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding endogenous cotton chitinases and corresponding promoters, which are preferentially expressed in secondary walled cells during secondary wall deposition. The polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule, a DNA construct linking the isolated nucleic acid molecule with a promoter, the DNA construct incorporated in an expression system, a host cell, a plant, or a plant seed are also disclosed. The present invention also relates to a DNA construct linking the isolated promoters with a second DNA as well as expression systems, host cells, plants, or plant seeds containing the DNA construct. Methods of imparting resistance to insects and fungi, regulating the fiber cellulose content, and methods of expressing a gene preferentially in secondary walled cells during secondary wall deposition are also disclosed.
US07674949B2	Absorbent article comprising a liquid transfer layer absorbent article comprising a liquid transfer layer (5) positioned between a liquid pervious bodyside liner (6) and an absorbent core (2). The liner (6) comprises a plurality of perforations (7). The liner and the transfer layer are bonded together in a plurality of bonding sites (11) covering an area of between 0.5% and 11% of the area of the liner (6) that is circumscribed by the bonding sites and wherein each bonding site has an area of no more than 13 mm2. The combined perforated liner (6) and transfer layer (5) provides a quick inlet of liquid and a low rewet against the wearer. The liner (6) has a three-dimensional structure of alternating raised and depressed regions and the perforations (7) are present in the bottoms of the depressions (8) of said liner as seen from the body facing side of the liner.
US07674946B2	Method of remediating soil contaminated with polyhalogenated hydrocarbons Method of remediating a soil contaminated by polyhalogenated hydrocarbons, in particular PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs, comprising the steps of removing and sieving the soil to free it of stones and gravel; possibly regulating the moisture content of the sieved soil to a value of 10-30%; subjecting the sieved soil to thermal treatment while it flows in the form of a thin, turbulent, dynamic layer in contact with a wall heated to at least 250° C.; separating the thermally treated soil from the steam generated following such treatment, the soil being substantially free of the aforementioned polyhalogenated hydrocarbons.
US07674941B2	Processes for converting gaseous alkanes to liquid hydrocarbons A process for converting gaseous alkanes to olefins, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof wherein a gaseous feed containing alkanes is reacted with a dry bromine vapor to form alkyl bromides and hydrobromic acid vapor. The mixture of alkyl bromides and hydrobromic acid is then reacted over a suitable catalyst at a temperature sufficient to form olefins, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof and hydrobromic acid vapor. Various methods are disclosed to remove the hydrobromic acid vapor from the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, to generate bromine from the hydrobromic acid for use in the process, and to selectively form monobrominated alkanes in the bromination step.
US07674935B2	Crystal forms of O-desmethylvenlafaxine Methods for preparing crystalline forms of O-desmethylvenlafaxine are described.
US07674929B2	Method for the production of β-aminopropionic acid derivatives The invention relates to a process for preparing β-aminopropionic acid derivatives by reacting a primary or secondary amine with an acrylic acid derivative, wherein comprises (i) a first primary or secondary amine is provided as an amine of value and reacted with the acrylic acid derivative, to obtain a reaction mixture comprising a first β-aminopropionic acid derivative as a product of value and additionally unconverted acrylic acid derivative, (ii) the unconverted acrylic acid derivative present in the reaction mixture is reacted with a second secondary amine as a scavenger amine virtually fully to give a second β-aminopropionic acid derivative to obtain a reaction mixture comprising the first β-aminopropionic acid derivative as a product of value, the second β-aminopropionic acid derivative and unconverted secondary amine.
US07674928B2	Polyfluoroether-based phosphates A composition comprising one or more compounds of formula (I) or (II): wherein: Rf is a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, optionally interrupted by one to three oxygen atoms, r and q are each independently an integer of 1 to 3, j is 0 or 1, or a mixture thereof, x is from about 1 to about 2, Z is —O—, —S—, or —NR—, R is hydrogen or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms X is hydrogen or M, and M is an ammonium ion, an alkali metal ion, or an alkanolammonium ion, and its use in providing surface properties to substrates is disclosed.
US07674919B2	Process for the preparation of alkylene carbonate A process for the preparation of an alkylene carbonate, said process comprising contacting the corresponding alkylene oxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of water and in the presence of a catalytic composition comprising an organic base neutralized with a hydrogen halide, wherein the organic base comprises a carbon-based compound comprising one or more nitrogen atoms with at least one free electron pair and/or one or more phosphorous atoms with at least one free electron pair and wherein the organic base has a pKa greater than 8.
US07674915B2	Process for manufacturing a glutamic acid derivative and a pyroglutamic acid derivative and a novel intermediate in the manufacture thereof Glutamic acid derivatives, in particular monatin, may be conveniently prepared by alkylating a 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative with an alkylating agent to prepare a 4-protected hydroxyl-4-alkylglutamic acid derivative, followed by the steps of hydrolysis and deprotection. The 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative is easy to produce from hydroxyproline. The 4-protected hydroxyl pyroglutamic acid derivative is particularly suitable for use in the efficient manufacture of monatin of high optical purity, since it can be alkylated selectively at the 4-position and stereoselectively and after its alkylation, it can easily be converted to a glutamic acid derivative.
US07674914B2	Anthracene derivative, and light emitting element, light emitting device, electronic device using anthracene derivative A novel anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is provided, which enables the production of a light-emitting element with high luminous efficiency and a long lifetime. A high-performance light-emitting device and electronic device in which the anthracene derivative is employed are also disclosed. The anthracene derivative of the present invention is represented by General Formula (1), in which the unit A represents any one of substituents represented by General Formulae (1-1) to (1-3). The variables shown in Formulae (1) and (1-1) to (1-3) are defined in the specification.
US07674908B2	Indazole-carboxamide compounds as 5-HT4 receptor agonists The invention provides novel indazole-carboxamide 5-HT4 receptor agonist compounds. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, methods of using such compounds to treat diseases associated with 5-HT4 receptor activity, and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US07674907B2	Furanopyridine derivatives and methods of use The present invention relates to furanopyridine compounds having the general Formula I: and stereoisomers, tautomers, solvates, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives, and prodrugs thereof. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of Formula I, methods of modulating Lck and ACK-1 enzymes and of treating various related diseases and conditions, including inflammation, inhibition of T cell activation, proliferation, arthritis, organ transplant, ischemic or reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, stroke, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, lupus, hypersensitivity, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, dermatitis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Sjogren's syndrome, autoimmune hyperthyroidism, Addison's disease, autoimmune diseases, glomerulonephritis, allergic diseases, asthma, hayfever, eczema, cancer, colon carcinoma, thymoma, just to name a few, in a mammal, comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount a compound of Formula I, as described above, and methods of manufacturing medicaments comprising the compound of Formula I.
US07674902B2	Luminescent metal complexes for monitoring renal function Some embodiments of the present invention may be said to be directed to metal complexes of Formula I, wherein at least one of X1, X2, X3, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 is what may be characterized as an antenna capable of providing (e.g., absorbing and/or emitting) an appropriate electromagnetic signal. Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to ligands corresponding to metal complexes of Formula I. Some embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of determining renal function using at least one metal complex of Formula I.
US07674894B2	Actin regulatory elements for use in plants The present invention provides polynucleotide molecules isolated from Oryza sativa and Zea mays and useful for expressing transgenes in plants. The present invention also provides expression constructs containing the polynucleotide molecules useful for expressing transgenes in plants. The present invention also provides transgenic plants and seeds containing the polynucleotide molecules useful for expressing transgenes in plants.
US07674889B2	Human skeletal muscle-specific ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme The present invention provides novel human genes, for example a novel human gene comprising a nucleotide sequence coding for the amino acid sequence shown under SEQ ID NO:1. The use of the genes makes it possible to detect the expression of the same in various tissues, analyze their structures and functions, and produce the human proteins encoded by the genes by the technology of genetic engineering. Through these, it becomes possible to analyze the corresponding expression products, elucidate the pathology of diseases associated with the genes, for example hereditary diseases and cancer, and diagnose and treat such diseases.
US07674888B2	Viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis, for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic purposes The invention provides viral material and nucleotide fragments associated with multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis for use in method of diagnosis, prophylaxis, and therapy.
US07674883B2	Antibodies against cancer antigen TMEFF2 and uses thereof Described herein are methods and compositions that can be used for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
US07674876B2	Synthesis of novel monomers containing the trifluorovinylidene group and the cyanato group and polymers thereof Novel hybrid monomers containing both the aryltrifluorovyinyloxyether-group (TFVE-group) and the cyanato-group, their synthesis, and the synthesis of polymers made from these new hybrid monomers are disclosed.
US07674871B2	Fast curing polydiorganosiloxanes The present invention concerns α-silyl terminated polydiorganosiloxanes, a method of making the α-silyl terminated polydiorganosiloxanes, and sealant compositions containing said compounds and a method of using such sealant compositions.
US07674870B2	Triazinethiol and alkenyl-containing organopolysiloxane, making method, and primer composition comprising same An organopolysiloxane having triazinethiol and alkenyl radicals in a molecule and a primer composition comprising the same are provided. The primer composition assists in establishing a high bond strength between metal and silicone rubber by the mechanism that the triazinethiol moieties form strong chemical bonds with a difficult-to-bond metal such as gold, silver or copper, and the alkenyl moieties are involved in silicone rubber vulcanization.
US07674866B2	Method of producing polymer using iron complex as catalyst The object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a polymer wherein radical-polymerizable monomers can be polymerized in a quantitative manner in a relatively short time, and a polymer or a block copolymer having at its termini a functional group that can be chemically converted while the polymer or the block copolymer has a high molecular weight can be produced. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a polymer wherein the polymer is re-precipitated in a general solvent by an easy method, and the used iron complexes are recovered in the solvent, thereby recycling the iron complexes.
US07674865B2	Photosemiconductor encapsulant of epoxy resin, anhydride and aromatic silicone resin An epoxy resin composition for photosemiconductor element encapsulation, which is excellent in both light transmissibility and low stress property, as well as light resistance against short wavelength light (for example, 350 to 500 nm), is provided. The epoxy resin composition for photosemiconductor element encapsulation, which comprises the following components (A) to (C): (A) an epoxy resin, (B) an acid anhydride curing agent, and (C) a specific silicone resin.
US07674862B2	Partial solvent stripping process for recovering brominated butadiene polymers from solution Brominated butadiene polymers are recovered from a bromination reaction solution by partially stripping the solvent to form a concentrated solution or slurry, and then recovering the brominated butadiene polymer from the concentrated solution or slurry. The process allows for a simplified, effective an economical recovery of the brominated butadiene polymer. Brominated butadiene polymers recovered in this manner are often very thermally stable.
US07674858B2	Fluorine-containing graft or block polymer The present invention provides a graft or a block polymer in which a fluorine rubber and a silicone rubber are chemically bonded. The present invention is a graft or a block polymer comprising at least one kind of a silicone rubber segment and at least one kind of a fluorine elastomer segment. Furthermore, it is preferable that a fluorine containing elastomer segment is an elastomer segment comprising vinylidene fluoride or an elastomer segment comprising tetrafluoroethylene and that a silicone rubber segment has a unit of dimethylsiloxane and/or methyl-3,3,3-trifluoropropylsiloxane.
US07674857B2	Room temperature-cured siloxane sealant compositions of reduced gas permeability The present invention provides for a room temperature cured silicone thermoplastic resin sealant composition with reduced gas permeability useful in the manufacture of glazing such as windows and doors.
US07674852B2	Polyvinyl alcohol gels, especially in situ gelling gels The invention relates to polyvinlyl alcohol gels which are suitable for use in the organism and which are formed at the site of application (in situ) from a viscous liquid by partial crystallization and network formation.
US07674847B2	Vinyl addition polycyclic olefin polymers prepared with non-olefinic chain transfer agents and uses thereof A method of polymerizing poly(cyclic)olefin monomers encompassing (a) combining a monomer composition containing the poly(cyclic)olefin monomers, a non-olefinic chain transfer agent and an activator compound to form a mixture; (b) heating the mixture; and (c) adding a polymerization catalyst containing Ni and/or Pd. The non-olefinic chain transfer agent includes one or more compounds selected from H2, alkylsilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, alkylgermanes, alkylalkoxygermanes, alkylstannanes, and alkylalkoxystannanes. The activator is characterized as having an active hydrogen with a pKa of at least 5. The resulting poly(cyclic)olefin polymers can be used in photoresist compositions.
US07674841B2	Additive for printing ink, solvent dispersion for printing ink, and printing ink An additive for a printing ink comprising a wax of either an ethylene homopolymer or ethylene.C3-20 α-olefin copolymer each has an intrinsic viscosity, weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight ratio, z-average molecular weight/weight-average molecular weight ratio, density, penetration hardness, and acid value in specific ranges; a solvent dispersion obtained by dispersing the wax; and a printing ink containing the wax.
US07674835B2	Method of making macroporous anion exchange resins Methods of making macroporous anion exchange resins are described. The macroporous anion exchange resins are in the form of particles such as beads that contain a hydrophilic, crosslinked, (meth)acrylic-type polymeric material. Additionally, methods of purifying a negatively charged material using the macroporous anion exchange resins, methods of making chromatographic columns that contain the macroporous anion exchange resins, methods of making filter elements that contain the macroporous anion exchange resins, and methods of making porous composite materials that contain the macroporous anion exchange resins are described.
US07674833B2	Composition prepared from silica sol and mineral acid The present invention relates to a method of preparing a composition comprising mixing a silica sol having an S-value from about 5 to about 50% and a mineral acid. The invention also relates to a composition obtainable by the method and a composition comprising a network of silica particles and mineral acid, wherein the silica particles have a particle size of from about 2 to about 7 nm. The invention also relates to the use of the composition as a gelled electrolyte.
US07674824B2	Stable oxaliplatin formulation A storage stable pharmaceutical composition comprising a solution of Oxaliplatin in water and a catalytic amount of a carbohydrate. A process for forming such pharmaceutical composition comprising dissolving a known amount of Oxaliplatin in water; adding an amount of carbohydrate in the range of 0.0010% to 0.05% w/v with respect to such solution; agitating the mixture to get clear solution; filtering it through a filter membrane under aseptic conditions; and filling the solution resulting into glass vials sealed with elastomeric stoppers and aluminium flip-off seals.
US07674819B2	Androgen modulators The present invention is directed to a new class of benzonitriles and to their use as androgen receptor modulators. Other aspects of the invention are directed to the use of these compounds to decrease excess sebum secretions and to stimulate hair growth.
US07674798B2	Oxycodone hydrochloride having less than 25 ppm 14-hydroxycodeinone In certain embodiments the invention is directed to a process for preparing an oxycodone hydrochloride composition having less than 25 ppm of 14-hydroxycodeinone.
US07674795B2	Fluorene derivatives, composition containing said derivatives and the use thereof This invention relates to derivatives of 4-(benzimidazol-2-yl)fluorene and 4-(azabenzimidazol-2-yl)fluorene, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such derivatives, and to methods of treatment of disorders related to Hsp90 protein activity, comprising administering such derivatives.
US07674780B2	Iron sucrose complexes and method of manufacture thereof A process is provided for preparing an iron sucrose complex, substantially free of excipients, for providing an iron sucrose complex co-precipitated with sucrose, and for providing iron sucrose complexes in aqueous solution.
US07674774B2	Abuse-resistant amphetamine prodrugs The invention describes compounds, compositions, and methods of using the same comprising a chemical moiety covalently attached to amphetamine. These compounds and compositions are useful for reducing or preventing abuse and overdose of amphetamine. These compounds and compositions find particular use in providing an abuse-resistant alternative treatment for certain disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADD, narcolepsy, and obesity. Oral bioavailability of amphetamine is maintained at therapeutically useful doses. At higher doses bioavailability is substantially reduced, thereby providing a method of reducing oral abuse liability. Further, compounds and compositions of the invention decrease the bioavailability of amphetamine by parenteral routes, such as intravenous or intranasal administration, further limiting their abuse liability.
US07674769B2	Treatment of severe pneumonia by administration of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) Methods for prophylactically or therapeutically treating severe pneumonia involve administration of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) or a TFPI analog to patients suffering from or at risk of developing this condition. The methods involve the use of continuous intravenous infusion of TFPI or a TFPI analog, preferably at low doses to avoid adverse side effects.
US07674756B2	Solvent compositions containing chlorofluoroolefins or fluoroolefins Compositions and methods based on the use of fluoroalkene containing from 3 to 4 carbon atoms and at least one carbon-carbon double bond, such as HFO-1214, HFO-HFO-1233, or HFO-1354, having properties highly beneficial in solvent cleaning applications.
US07674752B2	Functional protein arrays The present invention relates to a method for producing a protein array starting from DNA (or mRNA) in which a number of native, functional proteins, domains or peptides are produced in parallel by in in vitro synthesis using a cell free system for transcription and translation. The products are immobilised in a gridded format on a surface, using an isolation sequence tag incorporated into the proteins.
US07674749B2	Donor substrate and fabrication method of organic light emitting display using the same A donor substrate for use in an organic light emitting display comprises a base substrate and a transfer layer disposed on the base substrate. A selective heat generation structure is interposed between the base substrate and the transfer layer. The selective heat generation structure has a heat generation region from which heat is generated by light-to-heat conversion and a heat non-generation region contacting the heat generation region. By employing the donor substrate, it is possible to form minute transfer layer patterns with high accuracy without the need to accurately control the width of a laser beam. A fabrication method of an organic light emitting display comprises disposing the donor substrate on an acceptor substrate, irradiating a laser beam onto the donor substrate, and forming a transfer layer pattern on a pixel electrode of the acceptor substrate.
US07674738B2	Translucent ceramic and electro-optical component A translucent ceramic contains a main component composed of a tungsten-bronze-type compound represented by a general formula {(Sr, Ba)NbvOw} (wherein v satisfies the relationship 1.8≦v≦2.2 and w represents a positive number for maintaining electrical neutrality), wherein some Nb atoms are replaced with atoms of at least one of Zn and Mg, and the replacement ratio is 0.004 or more in terms of the molar ratio. It is preferable that at least one of Sn and Bi is added in an amount of 0.15 parts by weight or more in terms of SnO2 and Bi2O3, respectively, to 100 parts by weight of the main component, and that the molar ratio of Ba in the (Sr, Ba) site is in the range of 0.25 to 0.50. It is also preferable that the translucent ceramic contains Na in an amount of less than 25 parts by mole relative to 100 parts by mole of the sum of Sr and Ba, or La in an amount of less than 11 moles relative to 100 parts by mole of the sum of Sr and Ba. Accordingly, a translucent ceramic which is inexpensive and which is useful as an electro-optical material and an electro-optical component, such as an optical switch or an optical shutter, including the translucent ceramic can be realized.
US07674706B2	System for modifying small structures using localized charge transfer mechanism to remove or deposit material A charge transfer mechanism is used to locally deposit or remove material for a small structure. A local electrochemical cell is created without having to immerse the entire work piece in a bath. The charge transfer mechanism can be used together with a charged particle beam or laser system to modify small structures, such as integrated circuits or micro-electromechanical system. The charge transfer process can be performed in air or, in some embodiments, in a vacuum chamber.
US07674704B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having an interconnect structure that increases in impurity concentration as width increases The present invention provides a semiconductor device capable of suppressing an increase in electrical resistance of a narrow interconnect, while keeping reliability of a wide interconnect from being degraded. A semiconductor device comprises a plurality of interconnect layers, and an interconnect in at least one interconnect layer among the plurality of interconnect layers contains an impurity, and the wider the interconnect in the at least one interconnect layer is, the higher concentration of the impurity the interconnect contains.
US07674700B2	Apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device using the same Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The apparatus comprises a transfer chamber for transferring a substrate, a first process chamber connected to the transfer chamber configured to form a TiSiN layer on the substrate, a second process chamber connected to the transfer chamber configured to form a tantalum layer on the TiSiN layer, and a third process chamber connected to the transfer chamber configured to form a copper seed layer on the tantalum layer. After forming the TiSiN layer, a portion of the TiSiN layer in contact with the lower metal interconnection is etched, the tantalum layer is formed on the TiSiN layer in contact with the exposed lower metal interconnection, the copper seed layer is formed on the tantalum layer, and then the copper interconnection is formed on the copper seed layer. In this way, the copper interconnection can be efficiently formed.
US07674698B2	Metal-substituted transistor gates One aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for forming an integrated circuit. According to various embodiments of the method, a plurality of transistors is formed. For each transistor, a gate dielectric is formed on a substrate, a substitutable structure is formed on the gate dielectric, and source/drain regions for the transistor are formed. At least two substitution processes are performed. Each substitution process includes substituting a desired gate material for the substitutable structure. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US07674689B2	Method of making an integrated circuit including singulating a semiconductor wafer A method of making an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor wafer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, at least one of the first surface and the second surface including a metallization layer deposited onto the surface. The method additionally includes forming a first trench in the semiconductor wafer extending from one of the first surface and the second surface toward an other of the first surface and the second surface. The method further includes sawing a second trench in the other surface until the second trench communicates with the first trench, thus singulating the integrated circuit from the semiconductor wafer.
US07674686B2	Transplanted magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices on thermally-sensitive substrates using laser transfer and method of making the same A method of forming a magnetic memory device (and a resulting structure) on a low-temperature substrate, includes forming the memory device on a transparent substrate coated with a decomposable material layer subject to rapid heating resulting in a predetermined high pressure, and transferring the memory device to the low-temperature substrate.
US07674683B2	Bulk-isolated PN diode and method of forming a bulk-isolated PN diode A technique for making a bulk isolated PN diode is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include providing a substrate having a doped region and disposing a dielectric material over the doped region. The method may also include forming first and second holes in the dielectric material exposing the doped region, and forming respective first and second polysilicon plugs within the first and second holes over the doped region. In one embodiment, the first and second polysilicon plugs are doped opposite one another such that a PN junction is formed between the first or second polysilicon plug and the doped region of the substrate, and has a cross-sectional area generally defined by the first or second hole adjacent the PN junction. Various devices, systems, and other methods are also disclosed.
US07674679B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device and semiconductor device A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device disclosed herein, comprises: forming a first member to be patterned on a semiconductor substrate; patterning the first member to form a plurality of parallel linear patterns and a connecting portion which connects the linear patterns on at least one end side of the linear patterns; and removing the connecting portion.
US07674673B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate having an active region, a memory transistor having a pair of source/drain regions and a gate electrode layer, a hard mask layer on the gate electrode layer having a plane pattern shape identical with that of the gate electrode layer, and plug conductive layers each electrically connected to each of the pair of source/drain regions. An extending direction of the active region is not perpendicular to that of the gate electrode layer, but is oblique. Upper surfaces of the hard mask layer and each of the plug conductive layers form substantially an identical plane. This can attain a semiconductor device allowing significant enlargement of a margin in a photolithographic process, suppression of an “aperture defect” as well as ensuring of a process tolerance of a “short” by decreasing a microloading effect, and decrease in a contact resistance, and a manufacturing method thereof.
US07674672B2	Fabricating process for substrate with embedded passive component A fabricating process for a substrate with an embedded passive component is provided. The fabricating process includes the following steps. First, a substrate including a top conductive layer, a bottom conductive layer, and at least a dielectric layer is provided. The top conductive layer and the bottom conductive layer are separately disposed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the dielectric layer. Next, a plurality of plating through holes is formed in the substrate. Then, the top and the bottom conductive layers are patterned to form a patterned top conductive layer and a patterned bottom conductive layer separately, and the dielectric layer is exposed in part. The patterned top conductive layer and the patterned bottom conductive layer have many traces and many trenches formed by the traces. Thereafter, the trenches are filled with a material, wherein the traces and the material are adapted for forming the passive component.
US07674666B2	Fabrication of semiconductor device having composite contact A method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a composite contact is provided. The fabrication includes forming the composite contact to a semiconductor layer in a semiconductor structure. The composite contact is formed by forming a DC conducting electrode attached to a semiconductor layer in a semiconductor structure and forming a capacitive electrode that is partially over the DC conducting electrode and extends beyond the DC conducting electrode. The composite contact provides a combined resistive-capacitive coupling to the semiconductor layer. As a result, a contact impedance is reduced when the corresponding semiconductor device is operated at high frequencies.
US07674654B2	Producing thin integrated semiconductor devices Thin integrated semiconductor devices are produced by being embedded in a molding compound matrix in such a way that a composite is formed. The semiconductor devices are first embedded in the matrix and then thinned after being embedded. The thin integrated semiconductor devices are singulated by forming separating cuts into the molding compound matrix between adjacent devices.
US07674653B2	Die offset die to bonding A semiconductor die is provided on a spacer, the die having first and second opposite edges which extend beyond respective first and second opposite edges of the spacer, the first edge of the die extending beyond the first edge of the spacer to a lesser extent than the second edge of the die extends beyond the second edge of the spacer. Furthermore, a first semiconductor die has a plurality of bond pads thereon, a second semiconductor die has a plurality of bond pads thereon, and a substrate has a plurality of bond pads thereon. Each of a first plurality of wires connects a bond pad on the first semiconductor die with a bond pad on the second semiconductor die, and each of a second plurality of wires connects a bond pad on the second semiconductor die with a bond pad on the substrate.
US07674649B2	Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag lamination process using liner A method of constructing an RFID unit can include using a protective layer to hold an integrated circuit chip module to a substrate layer with an antenna unit while a conductive adhesive has not yet fully set.
US07674645B2	Diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer An improved diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer is formed using nanostructures and includes identifiable regions associated with chemical reactions isolated chemically from other regions in the converter, a region associated with an area that forms energy barriers of the desired height, a region associated with tailoring the boundary between semiconductor material and metal materials so that the junction does not tear apart, and a region associated with removing heat from the semiconductor.
US07674629B2	Method for improving chemiluminescent signal The present invention is directed to compositions and methods for improving a chemiluminescent signal. In particular, a reaction buffer with an alkaline pH range of about 9 to 10 provides a maximal chemiluminescent intensity and longevity of luminol that is catalyzed by superoxide anions. The addition of carbonate to the reaction buffer provides an optimal signal to background ratio and stability of a chemiluminescent signal from luminol catalyzed by superoxide anions. The method includes preparing a buffer with an alkaline pH, combining the buffer with a working reagent to produce and detect a chemiluminescent signal. The working reagent includes luminol, a coumaric acid and a peroxide. The composition includes a buffer having a pH from about 9 to about 10, a stock reagent comprising luminol, a coumaric acid, a peroxide, and a second buffer having a pH of about 8.5.
US07674617B2	MiRNA molecules isolated from human embryonic stem cell The present invention relates to novel miRNA molecules, more particularly to novel miRNA molecules isolated from human embryonic stem cells. The miRNA molecules provided by the present invention can be usefully used as a molecular marker for early developmental stages of undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells. Also, the miRNA molecules of the present invention may play an important role in the regulation of mammalian embryonic stem cells. Therefore, the miRNA molecules can be usefully used for analyzing regulatory networks of human embryonic stem cells.
US07674613B2	Live bacterium preparation containing lactic acid bacterium as active ingredient and food containing lactic acid bacterium Disclosed is a live bacterium preparation or food containing a lactic acid bacterium comprising a lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus salivarius, as an active ingredient. There is provided a live bacterium preparation and food containing a lactic acid bacterium that can prevent onset, recurrence and exacerbation of periodontal disease and/or dental caries caused by periodontopathic bacteria and cariogenic bacteria and can prevent generation of halitosis and maintain pH of saliva at a physiologically normal level by normalizing intraoral microflora.
US07674603B2	Microorganism detector The invention relates to devices and methods for detecting and identifying microorganisms comprising a porous body having regions of differing pore size, said regions being associated with different chromogens specific to enzymes produced by microorganisms. Devices and methods according to the present invention may be useful in the detection and identification of food and water borne microorganisms as well as in the detection of bacteria that may be associated with infection, such as urinary tract infection.
US07674602B2	Method for detecting a plurality of catalase positive microorganisms This invention is directed to a method and kit for detecting microorganisms on a surface. The invention involves contacting a household surface with a cleaning composition comprising hydrogen peroxide and then placing an acoustic device in close proximity to the household surface to determine if the microorganisms are still present.
US07674592B2	Methods for testing for the development of Huntington's disease This invention relates to Huntington's disease and more specifically to methods for testing and inhibiting the development of Huntington's disease.
US07674590B2	Methods for diagnosing and for monitoring the treatment of recurrent spontaneous abortion The present invention discloses a method of diagnosis of immunological recurrent spontaneous abortion. The level of antinuclear antibody in a body fluid of a patient is determined and determined level is compared to the level of corresponding antinuclear antibody of a control. Particularly, isolated chromosome No. 2 or fragment thereof including fibronectin encoding gene derived from male(s) is used as antigen in the method of the present invention for determining the level of corresponding antinuclear antibody in a body fluid sample of the patient. The present invention also discloses a diagnostic kit for immunological recurrent spontaneous abortion, and method and kits for monitoring the therapeutic effect for immunological recurrent spontaneous abortion.
US07674587B2	Polymorphism detection The present invention generally provides a rapid efficient method for analyzing polymorphic or biallelic markers, and arrays for carrying out these analyses. In general, the methods of the present invention employ arrays of oligonucleotide probes that are complementary to target nucleic acids which correspond to the marker sequences of an individual. The probes are typically arranged in detection blocks, each block being capable of discriminating the three genotypes for a given marker, i.e., the heterozygote or either of the two homozygotes. The method allows for rapid, automatable analysis of genetic linkage to even complex polygenic traits.
US07674580B2	Compositions and methods for the modulation of sphingolipid metabolism and/or signaling Compositions, methods and kits for diagnosing and treating cancer and muscular disorders are provided. Therapeutic compositions may comprise agents that modulate sphingolipid metabolism and/or signaling pathways. Such compositions may be administered to a mammal afflicted with cancer. Diagnostic methods and kits may employ an agent suitable for detecting alterations in endogenous genes involved in sphingolipid metabolism. Such methods and kits may be used to detect the presence of a cancer or to evaluate the prognosis of a known disease. SPL polypeptides, polynucleotides and antibodies are also provided.
US07674572B2	Exposure mask pattern for LCD and exposure method using the same An exposure method for an LCD is provided. In the method, a sub-pixel region of an array substrate is divided into a first exposure region and a second exposure region, and the first exposure region and the second exposure region are sequentially exposed.
US07674571B2	Laser sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising specific acrylate monomer and initiator High speed violet or ultraviolet laser sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising on a substrate a specific photosensitive composition is described. The photosensitive layer comprises a multifunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, a hexaarylbiimidazole compound, and a sensitizing dye. Combination of both multifunctional urethane (meth)acrylate monomer and multifunctional non-urethane (meth)acrylate monomer can be advantageously used. The plate is imagewise exposed with a violet or ultraviolet laser at a dosage of less than 1000 μJ/cm2, and then developed either off press or on press.
US07674570B2	Mask pattern inspection method, exposure condition verification method, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device A mask pattern inspection method includes: transferring a mask pattern onto a conductor substrate or a semiconductor substrate; preparing a sample including a substrate surface pattern in an electrically conductive state to the substrate, the substrate surface pattern being constituted of a convex pattern or a concave pattern each having a shape in accordance with the transferred mask pattern, or a surface layer obtained by filling the concave pattern with a material; irradiating the sample with an electron beam to detect at least one of a secondary electron, a reflected electron and a backscattered electron generated from the surface of the sample, thereby acquiring an image of the sample surface; and inspecting the mask pattern on the basis of the image.
US07674568B2	Solvent compositions and process for manufacturing an optical recording medium using said composition and optical recording medium The present invention relates to a new solvent composition useful in the process of manufacturing an optical recording medium. The invention provides a new liquid composition comprising from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a dye having a solid state absorption band maximum in the spectral region from 300 to 800 nm, from 0.5 to 99.9% by weight of a compound of formula (I), wherein R1 to R8 are H, CH3 or C2H5, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in R1 to R8 is 0, 1 or 2, and optionally from 0 to 99.4% by weight of one or more further components, all based on the weight of the solution. The instant solvent composition enables to manufacture an optical recording medium of a single recording layer type capable of recording and playing a large volume of information using commercially available compact disc recorders and players and of superior performance in an amazing wide range of drive speeds. A further subject-matter is an optical recording disk with improved groove filling and preferably particular groove geometry.
US07674566B2	Positive photosensitive resin composition The present invention provides a positive photosensitive resin composition, characterized by comprising 1 to 50 parts by mass of a photo-acid generator and 0.01 to 70 parts by mass of a terpene compound in combination with 100 parts by mass of a hydroxypolyamide having repeating units. A terpene compound can be combined with a hydroxypolyamide having a particular structure to provide a positive photosensitive resin composition excellent in positive lithography performance such as sensitivity and resolution.
US07674554B2	Anode active material, method of preparing the same, and anode and lithium battery containing the anode active material An anode active material including a titanium-based (Ti-based) oxide core and a coating of a titanium oxynitride formed on the Ti-based oxide core, and an anode and lithium battery including the anode active material.
US07674552B2	Battery having lithium fluoride/lithium hydroxide coating on anode A battery capable of improving battery characteristics such as cycle characteristics is provided. A coating containing lithium fluoride and lithium hydroxide is provided on the surface of an anode active material layer. The ratio between lithium fluoride and lithium hydroxide is in the range, in which the Li2F+/Li2OH+ peak intensity ratio obtained in positive ion analysis by a Time of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry is 1 or more. The anode active material layer contains a substance containing Si or Sn as an element as an anode active material. By the coating, oxidation of the anode active material layer is inhibited, and decomposition reaction of the electrolytic solution is inhibited.
US07674544B2	Fullerene based proton conductive materials A fullerene-based proton conductor including a proton conductive functional group connected to the fullerene by an at least partially fluorinated spacer molecule. Also, a polymer including at least two of the proton conductors that are connected by a linking molecule. Further, an electrochemical device employing the polymer as a proton exchange membrane, whereby the device is able to achieve a self-humidifying characteristic.
US07674539B2	Systems and processes for providing hydrogen to fuel cells A process and system for providing a hydrogen-containing gas stream to a fuel cell anode that includes providing a hydrogen-containing gas stream that includes carbon monoxide, introducing the hydrogen-containing gas stream into a pressure swing adsorption module that includes at least one carbon monoxide-selective adsorbent to produce a purified hydrogen-containing gas stream, and introducing the purified hydrogen-containing gas stream to the fuel cell anode. The pressure swing adsorption module can also include a second adsorbent and/or catalyst. Also disclosed is a fuel cell system coupled to an internal combustion engine and a fuel cell system that utilizes fuel cell waste heat for vaporizing a hydrocarbon/water mixture.
US07674537B2	Direct methanol type fuel cell and method of preventing elution of its fuel pole, quality control method and operation method Elution of a fuel electrode material into a fuel in a direct methanol fuel cell is monitored. The elution arises resulting from elution of a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer in the fuel electrode into the fuel in a high-concentration fuel equal to or more than 2 M or at an operating temperature equal to or more than 80° C. The electrode catalyst elutes into the fuel and the characteristic degrades. Operating conditions of the fuel cell, i.e., the fuel concentration and the operating temperature are limited to be less than 2 M and 80° C. or less, respectively. In addition, the elution characteristic is evaluated at the time of manufacture of the fuel cell and quality control is conducted. Further, existence of the elution is detected by a color of the fuel etc., and when the elution is detected, the upper limits of the operating temperature and the fuel concentration are decreased, so that further elution is prevented.
US07674531B2	Phosphorescent organic light emitting devices The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device structure having an organic light emitting device (OLED) over a substrate, where the OLED has, for example, an anode, a hole transporting layer (HTL), a first electron transporting layer (ETL) that is doped with a phosphorescent material, a second electron transporting layer (ETL), and a cathode. The OLEDs of the present invention are directed, in particular, to devices that include an emissive layer comprised of an electron transporting host material having a triplet excited state energy level that is higher than the emissive triplet excited state energy level of the phosphorescent dopant material.
US07674528B1	Paint for silver film protection A paint and method are divulged for protecting the silver film of mirrors. The paint in its preferred embodiment includes a metal carboxylate which will contribute metal ions, namely stannous octoate for the contribution of stannous(II) ions in an amount of 0.5% or greater by weight. Alternate methods of the invention utilize an additional coating over the paint, such as an acrylic, epoxy or blend thereof which is UV curable. In another form of the paint, copper octoate is utilized in a minimum amount of 0.5% by weight for contribution of copper(II) ions.
US07674523B2	Zirconia particles Zirconia particles, methods of making zirconia particles, composite materials that contain the zirconia particles, methods of making the composite materials, and zirconia sols that contain the zirconia particles are described. The zirconia particles are substantially non-associated and have an average size no greater than 50 nanometers and may contain yttrium. The zirconia particles are prepared by a method that includes two separate hydrothermal treatments.
US07674517B2	Composite porous materials and methods of making and using the same The invention provides composite porous materials in which a second material is fused to and/or is in the pores and/or is fused directly to some of the pore walls of a porous first material. The invention also provides methods of filtering a fluid using these composite porous materials and methods of manufacturing the composite porous materials.
US07674516B2	Geotechnical articles A multiphase polymeric material comprises a first rigid continuous phase and a second elastic phase dispersed in the first phase. The multiphase polymeric material may be formed into polymeric strips and used to make a cellular confinement system which is suitable for use in cold areas.
US07674513B2	Crack-resistant ceramic honeycomb structures A ceramic honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb body having an array of interconnecting webs bounded by a skin. The interconnecting webs define an array of longitudinal cells having diagonal corners. Fillets are formed only in diagonally opposed corners traversed by lines perpendicular and/or substantially perpendicular to the skin.
US07674510B2	Fiber fabric and composite material A fiber fabric includes a first fiber layer formed of a plurality of first fiber bundles, a second fiber layer formed of a plurality of second fiber bundles, a retaining thread group formed of a plurality of retaining threads, and a constraint thread group formed of a plurality of constraint threads. The first fiber layer is laminated in adjacent to the second fiber layer. The first fiber bundles diagonally intersect the second fiber bundles at an angle of 45 degrees. Accordingly, it is possible to improve a production efficiency of an overlapped sheet which gives excellent moldability and a strength, and has an increased thickness by overlapping the fiber fabrics.
US07674505B2	Composites and composite membranes The invention relates to a composite or a composite membrane consisting of an ionomer and of an inorganic optionally functionalized phyllosilicate. The isomer can be: (a) a cation exchange polymer; (b) an anion exchange polymer; (c) a polymer containing both anion exchanger groupings as well as cation exchanger groupings on the polymer chain; or (d) a blend consisting of (a) and (b), whereby the mixture ratio can range from 100% (a) to 100% (b). The blend can be ionically and even covalently cross-linked. The inorganic constituents can be selected from the group consisting of phyllosilicates or tectosilicates.
US07674504B2	Article with lubricated surface and method A method for preparing one or more lubricated surfaces of an article to reduce the break-out force and sliding frictional force. A lubricant is applied to one or more surfaces, and the lubricant-coated surface is treated by exposing the surface to an energy source, wherein the energy source is an ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure, gamma radiation, or electron beam radiation. One or more of the surfaces may be exposed to the ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure prior to application of the lubricant. Another aspect of the invention is articles produced using one or more methods of the invention.
US07674499B2	Durable coating compositions containing novel aspartic amine compounds A coating composition comprising a binder of a. polyisocyanate crosslinking agent; b. an isocyanate-reactive component having at least one compound having the following formula: wherein X, R1, R2, p, m and n are described in the specification, or isomer or mixture of isomers thereof, two component compositions, articles coated with the novel composition and novel hydroxy amines are also part of the invention.
US07674494B2	Printing device and method of manufacturing a light emitting device A first pressure generating chamber, which is sealed by a first elastic plate mounted with a first piezoelectric element at one surface, and a second pressure generating chamber, which is sealed by a second elastic plate mounted with a second piezoelectric element at one surface are formed in a casing. The second pressure generating chamber is formed with an opening which is a discharge port. A mixture is discharged from the discharge port. A nozzle formed with an opening jets gas toward a substrate surface, and is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port of the ink head.
US07674493B2	Method of making a variable surface area stent A stent of variable surface area as determined by stent struts. The stent can have a variable surface area per unit length which accommodates a therapeutic agent. A patterned distribution of therapeutic agent can be provided throughout the stent. The stent can have an increased level of therapeutic agent near an end of the stent. A decreased level of therapeutic agent can be provided near an end of one embodiment of a stent. Indentations can be provided at the surface of the stent with therapeutic agent disposed therein. The stent can be cut with struts of variable thickness to provide the variable stent surface area.
US07674491B2	Method for evacuating air from flexible packages A method of manufacture comprising the following steps: (a) making a vent hole in a package; (b) loading product into a receptacle of the package via an opening; (c) closing the opening; (d) placing an air-permeable layer of material over the vent hole; (e) squeezing the receptacle after steps (a) through (d) have been performed to force air out the vent hole; and (f) after step (e) has been performed, sealing the package so that air cannot enter the receptacle via the vent hole. In accordance with some embodiments, the vent hole is formed in the receptacle and sealed by means of an air-impermeable patch or by joining two walls of the receptacle together. In accordance with other embodiments, the vent hole is formed in a zipper tape attached to the receptacle and various means can be used to seal the vent hole after air removal.
US07674489B2	Fresh cheese products containing biogenerated flavor components and methods for producing The invention provides for the manufacture of cheese products enhanced with a natural, biogenerated flavoring system. The natural flavoring system described herein may be used with various types of cheese and dairy products. In one embodiment, the system may be used in the production of flavor enhanced fresh cheese or cream cheese. In another embodiment, the system may be used in the production of low-fat cheese products, such as low-fat cream cheese.
US07674487B2	Herbal composition for treating CD33+ acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and a method thereof A method of treating CD33+ acute and chronic myeloid leukemia in animals including humans, using fraction nos. 1 and 9 obtained from water:methanol fraction by column chromatography, with ratio of water and methanol ranging between 1:5 to 5:1, wherein said water:methanol fraction is obtained from the polar extract of Piper betel by HPLC, with retention time of 3.6 and 24.0 minutes respectively, with said fractions used both individually, and in combination.
US07674485B2	Synergistic composition for the treatment of diabetes mellitus A composition for the treatment of diabetes in a subject in need thereof, said composition—comprising Trigonelline of concentration ranging between 20 to 30%, amino acids of concentration ranging between 20 to 60%, and soluble fiber of concentration ranging between 10 to 60%, optionally along with pharmaceutically acceptable additives, a process thereof and also, a method of treating diabetes.
US07674479B2	Sustained-release bupropion and bupropion/mecamylamine tablets Sustained-release bupropion hydrochloride pharmaceutical tablets and combination sustained-release bupropion hydrochloride/mecamylamine hydrochloride pharmaceutical tablets are obtained by granulating the bupropion hydrochloride with a hydroxyalkylcelluose, and blending the resulting granules within an extragranular phase composed of a particulate material that provides a sustained-release matrix, and compressing the blend into a tablet form, which then is coated, with a means to provide delayed release, such as with an enteric coating composition. The mecamylamine hydrochloride can be contained in a second granule comprising a hydroxyalkylcellulose.
US07674477B1	Bone and tissue scaffolding for delivery of therapeutic agents The present invention provides a bone in-growth surface for implants which has a structure for delivering therapeutic agents to surrounding bone and tissue. The bone in-growth surface may comprise scaffolding and a controlled-permeability layer which contains the therapeutic agents in a variety of reservoirs. The porosity of the scaffolding may be controllable from zero porosity to essentially a fully porous material.
US07674474B2	Pesticidal agents on the basis of 1-aryl-aminopyrrol Pesticidal Compounds The invention relates to 1-aryl-5-disubstituted-aminopyrrole derivatives of formula (I) or salts thereof: wherein the various symbols are as defined in the description, to processes for their preparation, to compositions thereof, and to their use for the control of pests (including arthropods and helminths).
US07674464B2	Intracellular interleukin-1 receptor antagonists Matrix metalloproteinases are major mediators of tissue destruction in various chronic inflammatory disorders. The present invention demonstrates that over-expression of intracellular isoform of IL-1 receptor antagonist confers to recipient cells resistance to signaling pathways of proinflammatory cytokines (such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-1 beta) that induce matrix metalloproteinase and subsequent tissue degradation. Hence, over-expression of intracellular IL-1 receptor antagonist may inhibit tissue destruction in various inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, other arthritides, degenerative intervertebral disc disease and chronic skin ulcers that occurs in diabetes mellitus and bed-ridden patients.
US07674456B2	Breast cancer cell lines and uses thereof The invention provides, in part, novel SV-BR cancer cell lines. The invention provides a novel cell line SV-BR-1 deposited under ATCC PTA-1712 and SV-BR-1-GM cells deposited under ATCC PTA-1713. The invention further relates to therapeutic and non-therapeutic uses of the novel cell lines. Therapeutic uses include the use of SV-BR cell lines as cancer vaccines, and in particular, or the treatment of cancer.
US07674454B2	Enzyme-prodrug therapy for prosthetic joint repair The invention relates to the use of gene therapy in the treatment of aseptic loosening of orthopaedic prostheses and discloses methods of refixing such prostheses without open revision surgery. In particular, it provides adenoviral vectors and prodrugs for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in the destruction of interface tissue allowing subsequent recementing of loose prostheses in a minimally invasive manner.
US07674453B2	Tumor necrosis factor combined with interferon in demyelinating diseases The invention relates to the use of an agent having, stimulating or maintaining tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity, together with an interferon (IFN) for treating and/or preventing demyelinating diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis (MS). The use of a combination of a TNF or a tumor necrosis factor binding protein in combination with an interferon for treating and/or preventing demyelinating diseases is preferred.
US07674448B2	Method for manufacturing isotope-doped carbon nanotubes A method for manufacturing isotope-doped carbon nanotubes (10) includes the steps of: (a) providing a carbon rod (209), the carbon rod including at least two kinds of carbon isotope segments (202, 203) arranged therealong according to need; (b) providing a laser beam source positioned opposite to the carbon rod; and (c) irradiating the carbon rod with a laser beam (214), wherein the carbon isotope segments of the carbon rod are consumed sequentially to form the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes. Growth mechanisms of the isotope-doped carbon nanotubes manufactured by this method can be readily studied.
US07674446B2	Hafnium silicide target for forming gate oxide film, and method for preparation thereof A hafnium silicide target is provided. The target is used for forming a gate oxide film composed of HfSi1.02-2.00. The target material is superior in workability and embrittlement resistance and is suitable for forming a HfSiO film and HfSiON film that may be used as a high dielectric gate insulation film in substitute for a SiO2 film. A method of manufacturing the above referenced hafnium silicide target is also provided.
US07674433B2	Tube for storing fluid A tube for storing micro-liter volumes is provided. The tube is open at one end and comprises a body portion of substantially square cross section; a shoulder portion at one end of the body portion and providing the open end of the tube, the cross section of the shoulder portion being greater than that of the body portion; and a formation providing a snap fit connector portion at the other end.
US07674432B2	Pipetting device Pipetting device with an upper part of the casing, a driving element, arranged in the upper part of the casing, with a movable drive element, a spigot receiver, arranged in the upper part of the casing, at least one claw receiver inside the spigot receiver, a lower part of the casing, at least one displacement equipment, arranged in the lower part of the casing, with a displacement chamber, at least one seat for detachably holding a pipette point, arranged on the lower part of the casing and being connected with the displacement chamber via a channel, a spigot, arranged on the lower part of the casing, to be inserted into the spigot receiver, at least one snap hook, arranged on the spigot, with a claw for engaging into the claw receiver when the spigot is inserted into the spigot receiver, and a springy shaft, which is deflectable transversely to the axis of the spigot in order to lift off the claw out of the claw receiver, a lock release ring, movable on the spigot, a wedge gear on the shaft and the lock release ring, effecting deflection of the snap hook towards the axis upon displacement of the lock release ring in a certain direction, and away from the axis upon displacement of the lock release ring in the direction opposite thereto, and a coupling equipment for coupling the drive element and the displacement equipment when the spigot is inserted into the spigot receiver.
US07674431B2	Microfluidic devices having a reduced number of input and output connections A system and method for reducing the number of input/output connections required to connect a microfluidic substrate to an external controller for controlling the substrate. In one example, a microfluidic processing device is fabricated on a substrate having a plurality of N independently controllable components, (e.g., a resistive heating elements) each having at least two terminals. The substrate includes a plurality of input/output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller, and a plurality of leads for connecting the contacts to the terminals of the components. The leads are arranged to allow the external controller to supply control signals to the terminals of the components via the contacts using substantially fewer contacts than the total number of component terminals. For example, in one embodiment, each lead connects a corresponding contact to a plurality of terminals to allow the controller to supply to signals to the terminals without requiring a separate contact for each terminal. However, to assure that the components can each be controlled independently of the others, the leads are also arranged so that each component's terminals are connected to a unique combination of contacts. Thus, the external controller can activate a selected component by supplying control signals to the combination of contacts uniquely associated with that component.
US07674430B2	Automated analyzer The performance of an analyzer is checked on by use of a performance check cartridge which has the same external shape as a reagent cartridge for analyzing samples has; the performance check cartridge holds reagents for checking on the performance of the analyzer, and concurrently holds process conditions and determination conditions for checking on the performance of the analyzer in the form of two-dimensional dot codes; in accordance with the process conditions recorded in the performance check cartridge, the automated analyzer determines the absorbance by use of the reagents filled in the performance check cartridge, and compares a result of the determination with the determination conditions recorded in the performance check cartridge, thereby checking on the performance of the analyzer.
US07674428B2	Mercury dispensing compositions and manufacturing process thereof Compositions are disclosed comprising mercury, titanium, copper and one or more of tin, chromium and silicon, useful for the release of mercury in applications requiring the same, in particular in fluorescent lamps. A process for the preparation of these compositions is also disclosed.
US07674426B2	Porous metal articles having a predetermined pore character A porous metal article having a predetermined pore structure. The porosity is provided by the use of an extractable particulate in a powder forming route to create a desired porosity. Extraction of the pore forming particulate prior to sintering of the powder minimizes contamination of the sintered article and allows for the processing of material sensitive to contamination such as titanium. Added functionality can be gained by co-forming the porous material with non-porous material to create an article with layers of differing characteristics. The article is suitable for use as an implant body is porous enough to facilitate tissue in-growth and bony fusion.
US07674418B2	Method and apparatus for forming a hollow FRP article by internal pressure molding A method for forming a hollow FRP article by internal pressure molding includes positioning a FRP prepreg on a periphery of an airtight internal-pressure holding tube, inserting a composite body including the internal-pressure holding tube and the prepreg into a vacuum chamber containing a forming die, evacuating the vacuum chamber in an isolation state where the composite body and the forming die do not contact each other, and clamping the forming die to bring the forming die and the composite body into contact with each other and heating the forming die with an application of pressure to an inside of the internal-pressure holding tube after completion of the evacuating step.
US07674414B2	In mold lamination of decorative products A method of manufacturing decorative plastic composites having a decorative layer, a backing layer and a clear outer layer which provides exceptional “depth of image” is disclosed. Decorative or protective appliqués' having a wide range of decorative patterns may be formed by injection molding a backing layer behind and a clear outer layer on the top surface of a thin foil, film, fabric or veneer.
US07674408B2	Channeled biomedical foams an method for producing same The present invention provides a biomedical, biocompatible, polymeric foam scaffold suitable for use in the repair and regeneration of tissue and which contains located therein a network of, branched channels that are effective to encourage and facilitate vascularization and tissue growth within the scaffold and to methods for making such biomedical scaffolds.
US07674406B2	Chemiluminescent compositions and methods of making and using thereof Described herein are chemiluminescent compositions that can be applied to a variety of substrates that are generally sensitive to existing chemiluminescent compositions. Methods for producing the chemiluminescent compositions are also provided.
US07674402B2	Electroconductive resin composition and molded product thereof An electroconductive resin composition, comprising at least: a multi-component polymer-type resin binder (A) comprising a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, and having a number-average particle size of dispersed phase of 0.001-2 μm, and an electroconductive material (B) in the form of powder and/or fiber. The electroconductive resin composition may preferably be used for a fuel cell separator.
US07674401B2	Method of producing a thin conductive metal film The present invention relates to a metal oxide dispersion, which can form a metal thin film onto a substrate by heat treatment at a low temperature, wherein a metal oxide having a particle diameter of less than 200 nm is dispersed in the dispersion medium. By heat treating the dispersion after applying it onto a substrate, a metal thin film is formed.
US07674396B2	Method and system for treatment of eating disorders The invention comprises a gastric device having an outer region and a gas producing material. The gastric device hydrates within a patient's stomach and the gas producing material expands the device to a greater volume. Accordingly, the volume of the hydrated, expanded gastric devices occupy space in the stomach cavity and reduce the amount of food the patient will ingest before reaching the feeling of fullness. Preferably, the gastric device is made from food grade materials. The gastric device is configured to expand to a desired volume and then degrade after a residence time, allowing the device to be passed by the patient's normal digestive process.
US07674391B2	Manufacturing method of optical semiconductor device It is an objective to control the occurrence of the disorder of a far-field pattern and of an optical axial shift. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor laser device has the step for preparing a semiconductor substrate which has growth of a multi-layer including an active layer, the step for forming a mask over the growth of a multi-layer, and a step for forming a stripe-shaped ridge by dry etching and wet etching. A structure stacking a p-type AlGaInP layer, an etch-stop layer, a p-type Alx=0.7GaInP layer, a p-type Alx=0.6GaInP layer, a p-type GaAs layer, in order, over the active layer is taken in order to make the tailing part created in the dry etching process smaller by wet etching. The tailing part is composed of a p-type Alx=0.7GaInP layer including a high mixed crystal ratio of aluminum. Therefore, the p-type Alx=0.7GaInP layer is etched faster than the p-type Alx=0.6GaInP layer during wet etching, so that the tailing part becomes smaller, the far-field pattern of the semiconductor laser device is not disordered, and the optical axis shift does not occur.
US07674388B2	Photopolymer serum separator Contemplated whole blood separators tubes include a curable composition with a density intermediate to the density of serum and the cell-containing fraction. After centrifugation, the curable composition is located between the serum and the cell-containing fraction and preferably irradiated with UV light to initiate a curing reaction in which the curable composition solidifies to a barrier that is immobilized and resistant to breakdown at freezing temperatures and extended storage.
US07674381B2	Method for preparing L-iditol Method for preparing highly pure L-iditol, consisting in subjecting a mixture of L-iditol and of L-sorbose to a chromatographic treatment, in such a way as to obtain at least two fractions, one of which is highly enriched in L-iditol and the other of which is highly enriched in L-sorbose.
US07674373B2	Environmentally-neutral processing with condensed phase cryogenic fluids Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for utilizing a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid for the purpose of remediation and retrieval of, e.g., spilled crude oil and other “oil spill”-related products from marine/aquatic and terrestrial environments. In some implementations, systems and apparatus are provided for applying a substantially condensed phase cryogenic fluid to a volume of spilled oil, and further having structure for collecting the spilled oil. Some implementations are environmentally-neutral. Substances other than oil may be remediated as well.
US07674371B2	Waste water installation with purification device In waste water installations, the amount of falling rainwater which increases as a result of heavy precipitations is diverted into lakes and waterways in order to relieve the sewage treatment plant. In order to remove the impurities carried along with the rainwater, the water is purified using a purification device. A retaining element is disposed behind the purification device in the direction of flow. This element is at least partially detachable connected to a base surface and can be used to release the through-flow in the region of the base surface of the purification device in an intermittent manner. The retaining element is pivotable around an axis.
US07674368B2	Systems, methods, and catalysts for producing a crude product Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. Contacting conditions are controlled such that the crude feed, during contact, uptakes hydrogen at a selected rate to inhibit phase separation of the crude feed during contact. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed.
US07674366B2	Method for processing hydrocarbon pyrolysis effluent A method is disclosed for treating the effluent from a hydrocarbon pyrolysis unit without employing a primary fractionator. The method comprises cooling the gaseous effluent, e.g., by direct quench and/or at least one primary heat exchanger, thereby generating high pressure steam, and then cooling the gaseous effluent to a temperature at which tar, formed by reactions among constituents of the effluent, condenses. The resulting mixed gaseous and liquid effluent is passed through a quench oil knock-out drum, to separate quench oil from the gaseous effluent which is then cooled to condense a liquid effluent comprising pyrolysis gasoline and water condensed from steam, which fractions are separated in a distillate drum. The cooled gaseous effluent is directed to a recovery train, to recover light olefins. The pyrolysis gasoline-containing fraction passes to a tailing tower which provides an overhead stream rich in pyrolysis gasoline and a bottoms stream rich in gas oil.
US07674355B2	Method of measuring macro and micro stickies in a recycled sample containing pulp fibers A method of measuring macro and micro stickies in a recycled sample containing pulp fibers is disclosed. The method includes forming a slurry of the recycled macro stickies and a liquid and using a first separation device to separate out the macro stickies and the pulp fiber while collecting the screenate. The macro stickies and the pulp fibers are then washed with additional liquid to further separate out any macro stickies while again collecting the screenate. The macro stickies are then removed from the first separation device and are measured. The method also includes agglomerating the micro stickies in the screenate to form agglomerated micro stickies. The screenate is routed through a second separation device to separate out the agglomerated micro stickies. The agglomerated micro stickies are then removed from the separation device and are measured.
US07674353B2	Apparatus to confine plasma and to enhance flow conductance The embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a plasma reactor. In one embodiment, a plasma reactor includes a substrate support is disposed in a vacuum chamber body and coupled to bias power generator. An RF electrode is disposed above the substrate support and coupled to a very high frequency power generator. A conductive annular ring is disposed on the substrate support and has a lower outer wall, an upper outer wall and an inner wall. A step is extends upward and outward from a lower outer wall and inward and downward from the upper outer wall. The inner wall disposed opposite the upper and lower outer wall. In other embodiments, the annular ring may be fabricated from a conductive material, such as silicon carbide and aluminum.
US07674350B2	Feature dimension control in a manufacturing process A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed including determining a dimension or other physical characteristic of a pattern in a layer of material that is disposed on a workpiece, and etching the layer of material using information that is related to the dimension. A system is also disclosed for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a first etch system configured to etch a layer to define a pattern in the layer, and a second etch system configured to measure a physical characteristic of the pattern, determine an etch control parameter based on the physical characteristic, and etch the layer in accordance with the etch control parameter.
US07674347B2	Method for the production of a combined piezo/luminescent film and actuating element with such a piezo/luminescent film The present invention relates to a method for the production of a combined piezo/luminescent film for use as actuating element, especially in vehicles, comprising the steps: provision of a film-type base material (1); application of a piezoelectric varnish (2) onto the base material at least in a first partial area (A1, A2) so as to form a piezoelectric switch surface in the first partial area; application of a luminescent varnish (3) onto the base material in at least a second partial area (B1, B2) so as to be able to illuminate the switch surface in the second partial area; covering at least of the first and second partial area with a top layer (4) that is bonded to the base material. In addition, the present invention describes an actuating element with a combined piezo/luminescent film produced in such a manner.
US07674344B2	Pneumatic tire with depolymerized butyl rubber-based built-in sealant prepared with activated organoperoxide The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire with a built-in sealant layer comprised of a depolymerized butyl rubber based sealant precursor. The butyl rubber of the built-in sealant precursor composition is depolymerized in situ within the tire with an activated free radical generating organoperoxide. The organoperoxide is activated with a 2,2,6,6-tetra alkyl piperidine hindered amine. Representative of such hindered amines are, for example, a poly[[6-[1,1,3,3,-tetramethylbutyl)amino]-s-triazine-2,4-diyl][2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino]hexamethylene[(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl)imino]] compound. The sealant layer, if desired, may be of a color which contrasts with black. For such purpose the sealant layer may contain a colorant of a non-black color to a substantial exclusion of carbon black. The butyl rubber-based sealant precursor is built into the tire as a layer to form a tire assembly wherein the butyl rubber-based composite portion of the sealant precursor layer is at least partially depolymerized by a said activated organoperoxide during a subsequent curing of the tire at an elevated temperature in a suitable mold to form the tire having the resultant built-in sealant layer. The sealant composition may additionally contain conventional clay, exfoliated intercalated clay platelets and/or calcium carbonate.
US07674342B2	Method of producing soft magnetic material, soft magnetic powder, and dust core A method of producing a soft magnetic material includes the steps of preparing soft magnetic powder containing a plurality of soft magnetic particles etching the soft magnetic powder to remove surfaces of the soft magnetic particles and, after the etching step, heat-treating the soft magnetic powder in a finely divided state at a temperature of not less than 400° C. and not more than 900° C. By this method configured as above, desired magnetic characteristics can be obtained.
US07674336B2	Processing apparatus A thermal processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a processing container having an opening part at a lower end thereof. The processing container can contain an object to be processed therein. The opening part can be opened and closed by a lid. A flange is provided at a periphery of the opening part. A gas-introducing part for introducing a gas into the processing container is provided in the flange. The object to be processed contained in the processing container is heated by a heating mechanism.
US07674333B2	Light weight phosphate cements A sealant having a specific gravity in the range of from about 0.7 to about 1.6 for heavy oil and/or coal bed methane fields is disclosed. The sealant has a binder including an oxide or hydroxide of Al or of Fe and a phosphoric acid solution. The binder may have MgO or an oxide of Fe and/or an acid phosphate. The binder is present from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the sealant with a lightweight additive present in the range of from about 1 to about 10% by weight of said sealant, a filler, and water sufficient to provide chemically bound water present in the range of from about 9 to about 36% by weight of the sealant when set. A porous ceramic is also disclosed.
US07674301B2	Yarn and fabric with zones of variable heat set character Yarns and fabrics formed from such yarns incorporating an arrangement of discrete zones of variable heat treat history thereby imparting differential dye affinity and structural character at discrete zones along the yarn length are described. The differential dye affinity permits variable shading along the yarn length when the yarn is subjected to a dye bath. Processes and equipment for manufacturing such yarns are also provided.
US07674298B1	Method and apparatus for implementing a handheld security system Methods and apparatus for providing security to Bluetooth-enabled handheld or portable devices are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a handheld security system includes a control unit and a device. The control unit is Bluetooth-enabled, and has an associated communications range. The device, which is also Bluetooth-enabled, is registered with the control unit such that the device cooperates with the control unit using Bluetooth communications to determine when the device is within the range of communications of the control unit. When it is determined that the device is within the range of communications of the control unit, the device is allowed to remain functional. Alternatively, when it is determined that the device is not within the range of communications of the control unit, the device is rendered to be substantially non-functional.
US07674291B2	Human skin equivalents expressing exogenous polypeptides The present invention relates generally to compositions for wound closure. More specifically, the present invention provides human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides (e.g., antimicrobial polypeptides and keratinocyte growth factor 2) and compositions and methods for making human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides. In addition, the present invention provides methods for treatment of wounds with human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides.
US07674286B2	Annular prosthesis for a mitral valve An annular prosthesis for a mitral valve that may include a posterior half-ring and an anterior half-ring coupled to each other on a first transverse plane which defines a maximum width section of the prosthesis. The ratio between the distance between the anterior half-ring and the posterior half-ring, as measured along a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane and equidistant to the couplings, and the maximum width of the prosthesis is lower than 3/4.
US07674283B2	Radially expandable stents An expandable, elongate flexible conduit is provided for placement in a tubular body structure. An exemplary conduit includes a plurality of flexible longitudinal members defining in an unexpanded state a lumen, the members being radially expandable at preselected intervals to define a longitudinally oriented array of open-sided cages separated by less-expanded tubular segments, at least one of the open-sided cages having a diameter varying along its length and each of the open-sided cages having a maximum diameter larger than a diameter of the less-expanded tubular segments.
US07674282B2	Delivery system for medical devices The invention is directed a delivery system for implantation a self-expanding medical device in a body which includes a control handle and a catheter portion. The catheter portion includes an outer restraining member which covers the collapsed, medical device, an inner catheter member having a distal end including a region upon which the medical device is mounted, and an outer sheath which is removably attached to the control handle. The outer sheath creates a conduit for the catheter portion to prevent the inner catheter member from moving axially when the outer restraining member is retracted. The control handle has a rotatable thumbwheel to actuate a retraction mechanism attached to the proximal end of the outer restraining member which moves the restraining member in a proximal direction to deploy the medical device.
US07674280B2	Implant for fixing adjacent bone plates In order to provide an implant for fixing adjacent bone plates, in particular cranial bone plates, which has an inner abutment element by means of which a separation gap between the bone plates can be overlapped at a bone plate inner side and has an outer abutment element for overlapping the separation gap at a bone plate outer side lying opposite the bone plate inner side and which is easy for a surgeon to use and by means of which the bone plates may be securely fixed, it is proposed that at least one tension band is guided displaceably through the outer abutment element, by means of which, when a tensile stress is exerted, the inner abutment element and the outer abutment element are mutually braceable, and that the at least one tension band is fixable on the outer abutment element.
US07674275B2	Suture anchor A suture anchor comprises an elongate body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends. The first end may have a flared geometry. A lateral suture relief is in the elongate body extending from the first end to an longitudinal position intermediate the first and second ends. A hollow tubular portion in the elongate body is longitudinally spaced from the lateral suture relief. A suture is positioned in the hollow tubular portion. The suture has a delivery position parallel the longitudinal axis and a deployed position transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US07674269B2	Bone anchor implantation device Bone anchor implantation devices and methods for their use are disclosed. The bone anchor implantation devices have an ergonometric and/or rotatable handle. The bone anchor implantation devices and methods find particular application for implanting a bone anchor for maintaining or improving urinary continence by suspending or stabilizing the bladder neck.
US07674268B2	Bone cutting apparatus A guide for cutting a bone comprising an anterior portion and a distal portion orientated at about a right angle to the anterior portion. The distal portion includes a guiding side, a distal surface at the guiding side, a box-cut shaped opening defined by the guiding side, a plurality of first cutting surfaces disposed at the guiding side at an acute angle relative to the distal surface of the guiding side operable to guide a cutting device to the bone to form chamfer cuts in the bone, and a second cutting surface disposed at the guiding side at at least about a right angle to the distal surface operable to guide a cutting device to the bone to form a posterior cut in the bone.
US07674266B2	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.
US07674264B2	Percutaneous scaphoid fixation method and device A surgical appliance for assisting in the repair of a fractured bone, such as a scaphoid bone, is disclosed. The device includes first and second adjustably interconnected and spaced apart limb clamping jaws that are transparent to x-ray radiation and are relatively movable toward and away from one another and a rotatable disk carried by the first jaw, said disk having a plurality of bores angularly disposed in the disk for selectively aligning a guide wire to be drilled percutaneously into the fractured bone. Each of the bores are in communication with the space between the first and second jaws and the longitudinal axes of said bores are directed to a common point intermediate the first and second jaws.
US07674248B2	Medical suction apparatus and methods for draining same A drainage device and a method for draining a liner-type suction canister. The drainage device includes a swingarm, a drainhead, and a suction source. The drainhead is positioned to be in fluid communication with the liner-type suction canister. The swingarm rotates to activate the suction source and invert the liner-type suction canister. The contents of the liner-type suction canister drain to a sewer system. The method includes the acts of placing the liner-type suction canister on the swingarm, coupling the drainhead to the liner-type suction canister, rotating the swingarm, and activating the suction source.
US07674247B2	Double barrel syringe and handles for use with double barrel syringes An apparatus that includes two syringes, or a “double barrel syringe,” includes one syringe that injects or infuses while the other syringe aspirates. The double barrel syringe is a hand-held, hand-operated device with which injection and aspiration may be effected by a single action. The double barrel syringe may include a handle with two member. A first member includes one arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of a first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of a second syringe. A second member of the handle includes one arm that pivotally couples to a barrel of the first syringe and another arm that pivotally couples to a plunger of the second syringe. Methods for injecting or infusing simultaneously with aspirating are also disclosed.
US07674242B2	Intradermal needle An intradermal needle comprising a needle cannula assembly having a limiter portion, a hub portion and a needle cannula, a protective cap having a forward and rearward cap to protect and shield a needle cannula prior to and after use, and means for engaging the needle cannula assembly and the rearward cap after use. The mated forward and rearward cap provide a sterile enclosure for the needle cannula assembly prior to use. Removing the rearward cap permits the needle cannula assembly to be coupled to a drug delivery device, while the forward cap removably shields the needle cannula. Removing the forward cap then exposes the needle cannula for use. After use, the distal end of the needle cannula assembly is placed into the rearward cap and lockingly engaged therewith.
US07674238B2	Methods and apparatus for emboli removal Improved methods and apparatus for capturing emboli and subsequently removing or immobilizing the captured emboli are described. Emboli can be captured within a blood vessel and can be withdrawn to a position exterior to the blood vessel. Some filters can remain within a blood vessel yet direct emboli to a position exterior to the blood vessel.
US07674226B2	Method for enhanced performance training A method for enhanced exercise training or performance utilizing intentional controlled tachypnea and somatic sensory alkalosis biofeedback training to maintain an essentially non-acidic state during exercise. A trainee is instructed to decrease measured transcutaneous CO2 levels by increased ventilation and to correlate measured transcutaneous CO2 levels with subjective somatic symptoms. Studies under exercise conditions measure the intensity of exercise correlating to an onset in blood acid accumulation in the trainee and such level of intensity is in turn correlated with a predetermined heart rate. The trainee is then instructed to use heart rate and somatic sensory changes as a guide to the need for increased ventilation to lower blood CO2. In another embodiment, the method of the instant invention utilizes intentional controlled tachypnea to increase maximum breath holding time.
US07674225B2	Anatomic device An anatomical device comprising an unclosed curvilinear frame with distal ends, forming an aperture for receiving a penis. The unclosed curvilinear frame is made of a material with shape memory effect, thus forming a compressing element set to memorize the shape of the curvilinear figure repeating the external contour of a penis base in erected state. The area of the setting shape is by 30-50% less than that of the cross-section of penis base at maximum erection. An anatomical device built as a closed curvilinear frame, containing an unclosed curvilinear frame with connected distal ends, forming an aperture for receiving a penis. The unclosed curvilinear frame is made of a material with shape memory effect, thus forming a compressing element that is set to memorize the shape of the curvilinear figure repeating the external contour of a penis base in erected state. The area of the setting shape is by 30-50% less than that of the cross-section of penis base at maximum erection. In active working state, the closed curvilinear frame forms a loop behind the distal ends, for releasing a urethra.
US07674210B2	Exercise device An exercise device, in particular an exercise device that can be attached to a conventional walker so that the user can operate it while supporting himself with the walker. The device features a base bar that can be attached to at least two legs of a walker and also attached to a second cross bar fit with support rollers, such as pulleys. A cable extends substantially the length of the cross bar, hangs down near the ends of the cross bar, and is disposed on the rollers. On one hanging end of the cable is attached a weight or similar resistance mechanism and on the other end is attached a stirrup or the like suitable for insertion of the user's limb. The height of the stirrup can be adjusted for various exercises and the user can exercise by moving his inserted limb against the resistance.
US07674202B2	Eight speed transmission An eight speed automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include three clutches and three brakes.
US07674193B2	Golf ball The golf ball of the present invention comprises a cover wherein the cover is made from a cover material including a cured product of the thermosetting resin composition; and the stiffness modulus and shore D hardness of the cover material satisfy a following equation. 2.0≦A/B≦5.0, 40≦B≦60 A: Stiffness modulus (MPa) B: Shore D hardness.
US07674188B2	Golf club head A golf club head of this invention includes a face, a plurality of score line grooves formed on the face, and traces formed in the face by milling. Edges of the score line grooves are rounded with a radius of not more than 0.2 mm. A width W (mm) of the score line groove measured with the rounded edge being included, a width Ws (mm) between the score line grooves adjacent to one another, a width Wr (mm) of the score line groove measured based on the 30 degrees measurement rule and a cross section area S (mm2) of the score line grooves satisfy the flowing expressions; W/Ws×100≧35(%) and S/(Wr×0.5)×100≧70(%). The face in which the traces are formed has the arithmetic mean deviation of the profile (Ra) of not less than 4.00 μm.
US07674187B2	Golf club with high moment of inertia A golf club (40) has a golf club head with a large mass, relatively short club length and a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 5000 grams-centimeters squared. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 400 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared. The golf club (40) preferably has an inertia ratio greater than 0.0019.
US07674183B2	Telescopic drive joint The invention relates to a drive joint for permitting a rotationally and axially fixed connection between a first and second shaft sub-section, the connection allowing a limited angular displacement.
US07674182B2	Progressive jackpot gaming system A progressive jackpot system for a gaming network is described wherein the accumulation of the jackpot is based upon any of a number of factors, and the winning of the jackpot is based on any of a number of factors. In one embodiment, the winning of the jackpot may be by any player using a player ID card or a cash-less card to play a gaming machine. The determination of a winner of the jackpot may be based on a random selection of a player's ID code (or cash-less card code) by a network computer.
US07674167B2	Storage medium storing traveling time calculation program and game apparatus A traveling time calculation program causes a computer to function as the following: position determination programmed logic circuitry which determines a position of a movable object using a velocity vector with every update of a game screen, virtual position setting programmed logic circuitry which sets a virtual position between positions immediately before and after the movable object passes through a second position, and shifts the virtual position using an infinitesimal unit vector obtained by dividing a velocity vector at the position immediately before the movable object passes through the second position into predetermined numbers, and traveling time calculation programmed logic circuitry which calculates a traveling time from the first position to a position immediately before or after the virtual position crosses the second position.
US07674165B2	Electronic device and heat dissipation module thereof An electronic device. The electronic device comprises a heat source, a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a fan disposed in the housing and selectively rotating at a first speed and a second speed higher than the first speed to generate air flow in the housing to cool the heat source, and a plurality of louvers disposed on the housing, having adjustable angles and selectively positioned at a first angle and a second angle. When the louvers are positioned at the first angle, the fan rotates at the first speed, and when the louvers are at the second angle, the fan rotates at the second speed.
US07674149B2	Method for fabricating field emitters by using laser-induced re-crystallization Methods are provided for fabricating field emitters by using laser-induced re-crystallization. A substrate is first provided on which a silicon-containing layer is formed. A plurality of extrusive tips are thereafter formed to be extruded from the surface of the silicon-containing layer by using laser-induced re-crystallization. The methods of the laser-induced re-crystallization include a step of subjecting the overall or partial silicon-containing layer to an energy source, either unpatterned or patterned.
US07674148B2	Shadow mask tensioning method A method for tensioning a shadow mask includes positioning a first side of a shadow mask into contact with the lower half of a tensioning frame, positioning an upper half of the tensioning frame into contact with a second side of the shadow mask, and clamping the upper half of the tensioning frame to the lower half of the tensioning frame to form a tensioning frame, and rigidly clamping the shadow mask between the two tensioning frame halves. The method also includes elevating the temperature of the tensioning frame to tension the shadow mask.
US07674144B2	Reverse gate for jet propelled watercraft A watercraft has a hull, a deck, an engine, a steering assembly, a jet pump, a venturi, a steering nozzle, and a reverse gate pivotable between a fully stowed position and a fully lowered position. The reverse gate includes a reverse gate body having inner and outer arcuate surfaces, and reverse gate upper and lower edges. First and second side walls are connected to the sides of the reverse gate body. At least one deflector is connected to at least one of the outer arcuate surface, the first side wall, and the second side wall. The at least one deflector is spaced from the outer arcuate surface. A deflector trailing edge is disposed upwardly and rearwardly from a deflector leading edge at least when the reverse gate is in the fully lowered position. Water deflecting surfaces and turning deflectors connected to a reverse gate are also disclosed.
US07674143B2	Sensor and method of producing sensor The present invention provides a sensor and a method of producing the same, which makes an electrical connection condition between an electrode terminal section of a detection element and a metallic terminal member good. The sensor includes a lead frame (metallic terminal member) that changes a support condition of supporting an element abutment section for contact with a detection element on a frame main body section, into a one-point support or a two-point support. At a first-half stage of a work for assembly of the lead frame and the detection element, the element abutment section is put in a one-point support condition relative to the frame main body section and the lead frame produces a relatively smaller resilient force, such that it becomes possible to prevent an excessively large pressure from being applied to the detection element. After the assembly work is completed, the element abutment section is put in a two-point support condition relative to the frame main body section and the lead frame produces a larger resilient force as compared with that in the one-point support condition, such that the electrical connection condition between the lead frame and the detection element can be good.
US07674139B2	Electrical connector with improved retention structures An electrical connector (100) for electrically connecting with a chip module and a printed circuit board comprises a plurality of insulative housings (1), a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, and a frame (2) defining an accommodating space (26) to accommodate the insulative housings. The frame defines continuous lateral walls (23) and a plurality of enhancing ribs (24) extending from the lateral walls into the accommodating space. A plurality of first rivet sections (231) are disposed on at least one of the lateral walls of the frame and the insulative housings and a plurality of first mounting holes (16) are defined in at least one of the insulative housings and the lateral walls of the frame to receive the first rivet sections. A plurality of second rivet sections (243) are disposed on at least one of the enhancing ribs of the frame and the insulative housings and a plurality of second mounting holes (17) are defined in at least one of the insulative housings and the enhancing ribs to receive the rivet sections.
US07674133B2	Electrical connector with ground contact modules A connector assembly includes a housing and a contact module assembly including first and second contact modules loaded into the housing. The first contact module has a plurality of ground leads extending between mating contacts and mounting contacts. The ground leads extend along separate paths within a first plane. The second contact module has a plurality of signal leads extending between mating contacts and mounting contacts. The signal leads extend along separate paths within a second plane. The ground leads are aligned with the signal leads in a direction transverse to the first plane, and the ground leads have a width and a thickness defining a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross sectional area of the signal leads.
US07674132B1	Electrical connector ensuring effective grounding contact An electric connector ensuring effective grounding contact includes coaxially arranged inner sleeve and outer sleeve and a conductive grounding element. The inner sleeve is adapted to receive a central conductor and an insulating spacer of a cable therein, and can be axially rearward moved from a first position to a second position, and the outer sleeve is adapted to receive a braided conductive grounding sheath and an insulating sheath of the cable therein. The conductive grounding element is externally immovably fitted around the inner sleeve. When a stripped free end of the cable is inserted into the connector and the cable is rearward pulled, the inner sleeve is simultaneously rearward moved from the first position to the second position, forcing the inner sleeve, the conductive grounding element, and a connecting ring coaxially mounted around the inner sleeve to electrically contact with one another.
US07674127B2	Electrical contact-making element An electrical contact-making element for electrical carrier components in an electronic housing is particularly suited for automotive applications. The electrical contact-making element is in the form of a U-shaped plug pin having a base limb and two side limbs. There is provided a robust, reliable electrical contact connection between a plurality of electrical carrier components, such as printed circuit boards, for example, which ensures secure contact is made even in the case of external influences such as vibrations, for example, and can be fitted, by way of a simple press-in mechanism, at the end of the fitting process.
US07674123B1	Floating cable connector retention module Method and apparatus for securely positioning a cable connector plug for blind docking an electronic device or module with an electrical connector, for example within a rack for a computer system. A bracket includes a chip that is selectively securable to open and close the bracket. A cable connector plug collar is laterally receivable in the bracket when the bracket is open. The bracket retains the collar in a circumferential tongue and groove relationship when the bracket is closed. When the bracket is properly positioned and secured within a rack bay, the bracket positions the connector plug for blind docking without restricting operative access to the connector plug. A preferred bracket is sufficiently flexible to allow lateral movement of the connector plug when the bracket is closed about the collar.
US07674119B1	Retractable receptacle for furniture A receptacle for coupling electrical equipment and communications equipment to electrical and communications transmission lines is retractably mounted in an opening in a furniture unit, and in particular, the top surface of an office conference table. The receptacle is vertically displaceable so that it is elevated above the top surface of the furniture unit in which it is mounted to provide access for coupling electrical equipment such as lap top computers, or communications equipment such as telephones and fax machines, which are supported on the top surface of the furniture unit. When the equipment is coupled to the elevated receptacle unit, the unit is then displaced downwardly into the furniture such that the top surface of the receptacle unit is planar with the top surface of the furniture unit in its fully retracted position. A gap defined between the outer surface of the top surface of the receptacle unit and the inner surface of the opening in the furniture unit permits wires and cables to extend through the gap and remain connected to the receptacle unit when the receptacle unit is in its fully retracted position in the furniture unit. The receptacle unit may be displaced into its elevated position to disconnect lines coupled to it or to connect additional lines. In this manner, portable electrical and communications equipment can be supported or stored on furniture units, such as conference tables, and actuated when needed by coupling the equipment to the receptacle in the furniture unit.
US07674109B2	Guidance system for pusher plate for use in pusher furnaces A pusher plate for use in a pusher furnace includes a shaped guidance groove in its lower surface which preferably has a bow-tie shape with a narrower central section and wider ends proximate the leading and trailing faces of the plate. The groove receives therein a guide rail which is disposed intermediate a pair of slide rails upon which the plate slides. The shape of the groove allows the plate a small amount of lateral rotation to minimize jamming during travel. Adjacent plates pivot upon contact with each other to automatically adjust their orientation during travel through the furnace. The leading and trailing faces of the plates thus contact one another over a larger surface area to reduce damage to the plates by reducing the pressure therebetween.
US07674099B2	Compressor with oil bypass An oil lubricated compressor which includes a bypass oil line connecting respective oil paths upstream and downstream of the motor. The bypass oil path permits oil to be detoured around the motor in a tube that is external to the compressor shell and flows back into the shell near the scroll inlet. The oil bypass line returns “excess” oil directly to sump 28, rather than having it flow from sump 27 to sump 28 through an air-gap, thereby reducing both the drag on the motor and the input power.
US07674098B2	Scroll compressor with vapor injection and unloader port A scroll compressor is provided with a passage for providing both an unloader function and an economizer injection function. This common passage communicates with separate ports. The ports that are exclusively used for by-pass unloading operation are open only during by-pass unloading operation, but blocked off by a check valve during vapor injection operation. The other, normally smaller vapor injection ports are open for both vapor injection and by-pass unloading operation. By utilizing these two sets of ports, a smaller total port area is provided for vapor injection operation and a much larger total open port area for by-pass operation. The different open port areas for by-pass unloading operation and vapor injection operation allows optimization of compressor operation at both of those regimes of operation.
US07674097B2	Rotary expander Two rotary mechanism parts (70, 80) are provided in a rotary expander (60). The first rotary mechanism part (70) is smaller in displacement volume than the second rotary mechanism part (80). A first low-pressure chamber (74) of the first rotary mechanism part (70) and a second high-pressure chamber (83) of the second rotary mechanism part (80) are fluidly connected together by a communicating passageway (64), thereby forming a single expansion chamber (66). High-pressure refrigerant introduced into the first rotary mechanism part (70) expands in the expansion chamber (66). An injection passageway (37) is fluidly connected to the communicating passageway (64). When an motor-operated valve (90) is placed in the open state, high-pressure refrigerant is introduced into the expansion chamber (66) also from the injection passageway (37). This makes it possible to inhibit the drop in power recovery efficiency, even in the condition that causes the actual expansion ratio to fall below the design expansion ratio.
US07674090B2	Steam turbine rotors A steam turbine rotor has at least a first stage and a last stage. The rotor is optimised for operation in a wet steam environment at steam temperatures of less than 300° C. by being made more resistant to stress corrosion cracking (SCC). The yield strength of the rotor varies along its axial length such that the yield strength of the rotor in the region of the last turbine stage is more than the yield strength of the rotor in the region of at least one earlier turbine stage.
US07674082B2	Wall mountable printer with a glue applicator assembly and a binder assembly Provided is a wall mountable printer with a glue applicator assembly operatively applying adhesive to a vertical edge of a sheet of printed paper. The printer has a binder assembly including an enclosure chassis, and a powered spike wheel assembly configured to receive the sheet of paper from a print engine of the printer. Also included is an angled platen within the chassis on which the sheet is received from the spike wheel assembly, and a binding platen operatively actuated to bind the sheet onto a preceding sheet positioned on the angled platen. The binder assembly includes a paper sensor to sense a position of bound sheets on the angled platen to facilitate accurate binding of successive sheets.
US07674081B2	Hopper fed tee-nut having counterbore with nylon lock A tee-nut fastener which includes a nylon locking ring located distally from the entrance to a passageway ensures proper fastening upon coupling with a threaded stud. The tee-nut is used use in combination with a track for efficient delivery. The track comprises an upper guide spaced apart relatively farther than a lower guide. The process for making the tee nut uses a cold heading process. The tee-nut includes a flange having an upper portion and a lower portion. A shank extends perpendicularly from the upper portion and a head extends oppositely from the shank and perpendicularly from the lower portion. The flange includes at least two teeth extending in the direction of the shank and a passageway through the shank, flange and head. The passageway includes a bore countersunk at both ends thereof, a cavity, and threads therein. A locking ring resides in the cavity and is relatively thin compared to the length of the teeth to ensure that the tee-nut is not extricated from a substrate in which the prongs or teeth are embedded upon coupling with a threaded stud.
US07674070B2	Vibratory system for compactor vehicles The present invention is directed to a control system for sensing the vibration amplitude on a vibration compacting machine. In addition, the control system modifies the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly based on the vibration amplitude of the eccentric assembly. In one embodiment, the control system modifies the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly to match the optimum speed for the adjusted vibration amplitude when the eccentric assembly is adjusted to increase or decrease the vibration amplitude. Reducing the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly at high vibration amplitudes minimizes wear to each of the load bearing components in the vibration compacting machine resulting in an extended service life for the vibration compacting machine. Similarly, increasing the rotational speed of the eccentric assembly at low vibration amplitudes increases the effectiveness of the vibration compacting machine.
US07674069B2	Concrete finishing trowel A concrete finishing trowel comprising at least one rotor which is mounted on a frame and is provided with a rotatably driven shaft and several blades that are mounted on the driven shaft. A blade deflection mechanism moves the blades on a path that deviates from a circular path relative to the drive shaft.
US07674064B2	Coupling apparatus for structural members The coupling apparatus for structural members includes a paired couplers for coupling structural members with each other, and each coupler includes a cylindrical main body, engaging projections spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction at an end of the body and projecting along the center line of the body, and engaging hooks projecting in one circumferential direction at the projecting end portions of the projections. At least one coupler further includes a coupling direction changing mechanism which couples the at least one coupler with a predetermined position of a structural member corresponding thereto so that the center line of the body of the at least one coupler can be orientated in a desired direction.
US07674061B2	Fluid cosmetic dispenser In cosmetic dispensers for fluids, such as for example deodorants or antiperspirants comprising a bottle, a flow regulator in a housing mounted on the bottle and a cap rotatably mounted on the bottle or particularly onto the flow regulator housing, there is a risk that the housing can part from the bottle or be moved out of alignment by fitting or removal of the cap. This problem can be ameliorated or eliminated by employing a plurality of sets of anti-rotation elements at or adjacent to the mouth of the bottle around its periphery, each set comprising a peg and a socket. Preferably, the housing is bifurcated inward of the flow regulator, one wall extending within the bottle and the other wall extending out side the wall, and desirably the bottle wall is of reduced wall thickness in the overlap so that the exterior of the bottle surface and housing surface can be flush at their line of contact.
US07674049B2	Optical module, method of manufacturing the optical module, and data communication system including the optical module An optical module includes a fiber array, a laser diode array and a photodiode array. The fiber array has optical fibers which are divided to a transmitter group and a receiver group. The laser diode array has laser diodes which are grouped in a transmitter group. The photodiode array has photodiodes which are divided to a monitor group and a receiver group. The laser diode array is provided between the fiber array and the photodiode array. Each optical fiber of the transmitter group, each laser diode of the transmitter group and each photodiode of the monitor group are optically aligned, respectively. Each optical fiber of the receiver group is optically aligned with each photodiode of the receiver group, respectively.
US07674039B2	Reclosable vacuum storage bag having flat resealable means A reclosable vacuum storage bag that can be hermetically sealed by flat resealable means that extend across the full width of the bag. The flat resealable means are designed to provide a barrier to prevent ambient air from leaking into the evacuated interior volume of the bag. The storage bag is also provided with a plastic zipper. The flat resealable means can be arranged on the product side of the zipper, on the user side of the zipper, or in between two zippers installed in the storage bag.
US07674037B2	Performance testing apparatus for heat pipes A performance testing apparatus for a heat pipe includes an immovable portion having a cooling structure defined therein for cooling a heat pipe to be tested. A movable portion is capable of moving relative to the immovable portion and has a cooling structure defined therein for cooling the heat pipe. A receiving structure is located between the immovable portion and the movable portion for receiving the heat pipe therein. At least a temperature sensor is attached to at least one of the immovable portion and the movable portion for thermally contacting the heat pipe in the receiving structure for detecting temperature of the heat pipe. An enclosure encloses the immovable portion and the movable portion therein and has sidewalls thereof slidably contacting at least one of the immovable portion and the movable portion.
US07674035B2	Digital temperature sensors and calibration thereof A method for calibrating a digital temperature sensor circuit, the circuit comprising an analogue temperature sensing means, an internal reference voltage source and an analogue-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC is arranged to receive respective signals from the analogue temperature sensing means and the reference voltage source and output a digital signal indicative of the ambient temperature. The method comprises the steps of determining the value of the internal reference voltage outputted by the reference voltage source, comparing it with the desired reference voltage value, and adjusting the reference voltage source in response to the result of the comparison step. Such an electrical voltage mode calibration can significantly reduce production costs, as it can be performed much faster than a traditional thermal calibration. The method can be applied to a sensor that produces a PTAT voltage that has to be compared to a temperature-independent bandgap reference voltage.
US07674030B2	Light source for even illumination of a light guide A lighting system is described. One embodiment of the lighting system includes a light guide, a first lighting device, and a second lighting device. The light guide receives light along a transmission interface. The first lighting device has a first plurality of lighting elements coupled to a first substrate between a first pair of reflector walls. The first substrate and the first pair of reflector walls define a first exposed side of the first lighting device. The second lighting device has a second plurality of lighting elements coupled to a second substrate between a second pair of reflector walls. The second substrate and the second pair of reflector walls define a second exposed side of the second lighting device configured to match the first exposed side of the first lighting device. Using lighting devices without sidewalls illuminates a diffusion panel so that there are no dark spots.
US07674028B2	Light enhancing structures with multiple arrays of elongate features of varying characteristics Various embodiments comprise light recycling films comprising an array of parallel ridges and grooves that form prisms that selectively reflect or transmit light. In some embodiments, the light recycling film may be used in displays that include spatial light modulators comprising a plurality of pixels. The light recycling film can limit the field-of-view of the display and enhance the luminance within that field-of-view. Various embodiments comprising multiple arrays of ridges and/or grooves can enhance uniformity of illumination of the pixels in the spatial light modulator and reduce Moiré effects.
US07674025B2	Exterior rearview mirror for vehicles, preferably for motor vehicles The exterior rearview mirror has a mirror head, which is provided with a mirror glass and with at least one illuminant, which radiates light through at least one light permeable section to the exterior. Furthermore, the exterior rearview mirror has a mirror base. In order to provide the exterior rearview mirror, so that the light function is performed in an optimum manner through the simple provision of the mirror, at least part of the housing of the mirror head and/or of the mirror base is comprised of at least two plastic layers, having different light permeability. In the light permeable section, the plastic layer with the lower light permeability is missing, or it only has such thickness, that the light emitted by the illuminant radiates to the exterior with sufficient light intensity. The plastic layer with higher light permeability can be used as a light pane for the illuminant disposed behind it. The plastic layer with lower light permeability can be provided to provide the transparent section with a proper color.
US07674011B2	LED lamp having a vapor chamber for dissipating heat generated by LEDS of the LED lamp An LED lamp includes a heat dissipation device and a plurality of LED modules. The heat dissipation device includes a heat conductive member and a fin unit. The LED modules are attached to a top surface of a first plate of the heat conductive member. The heat conductive member comprises a plurality of posts embedded in the top surface of the first plate. Peripheries of the first and second plates are in a hermetical conjunction with each other to form a chamber containing phase-changeable working fluid therein. The first plate has a plurality of receiving recessions which are depressed downwardly from the top surface thereof and respectively receive the posts. Screws are used to extend through the LED modules to threadedly engage in the posts thereby to intimately mount the LED modules on the top surface of the first plate of the heat conductive member.
US07674005B2	Recessed sealed lighting fixture In an embodiment, a recessed light fixture includes a structural reflector and two end caps that form a light fixture housing. A first, second and third optics areas are provided. At least one first light source type is mounted near the first optics area. A second light source type is mounted near the second optics area and the second light source type is mounted near the third optics areas, the second light source type having a light output level substantially lower than the light output level of the first light source type. A diffuser is configured to sealably mount to the light fixture housing so as to substantially seal an interior portion of the light fixture. In operation, the light fixture can be switch between an ambient mode and an examination mode while providing a cost effective and attractive design.
US07673999B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal display module including the same A backlight unit for a display device includes a frame; a first circuit board extending along one end of and on a first surface of the frame; lamps over the frame, one end of each of the lamps disposed on the first circuit board; a first line on the first circuit board and connected to the one end of each of the lamps; and a first inverter on a second surface of the frame and connected to the first line via a first hole through the frame.
US07673996B2	Image projection apparatus and image projection system An image projection apparatus includes: an imaging portion that takes an image of an object; an optical element that is disposed halfway on an optical path between the object and the imaging portion, and that branches the optical path; a projection portion that projects image light onto the object through the optical element; a dust prevention cover that includes an opening on an optical axis between the object and the optical element, and that covers at least the optical element to protect the optical element from dust; and a transparent dust prevention member that is provided in the dust prevention cover to close the opening, and that has a reflection surface preventing reflection light, which is obtained by receiving the image light from the projection portion and reflecting the image light, from being incident on an entrance pupil of the imaging portion.
US07673988B2	Micro-miniature fluid jetting device A micro-fluid jetting device and a method of ejecting fluid mixtures onto a substrate. The micro-fluid jetting device includes a housing containing a logic circuit and fluid reservoirs for at least two different fluids. A micro-fluid ejection head is attached to a first end of the housing. The ejection head is in electrical communication with the logic circuit and the fluid reservoirs. At least two channel members are provided for directing fluid from the reservoirs to a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles in a nozzle plate member. The ejection nozzles for each of the at least two different fluids are arranged in the nozzle plate member so that adjacent ejection nozzles are in flow communication with different fluids. A power source in electrical connection with the micro-fluid ejection head is provided in the housing for activating the micro-fluid ejection head for jetting the fluids therefrom.
US07673974B2	Droplet discharging head and droplet discharging apparatus A droplet discharging head includes a first drive unit and a base coupled to the first drive unit. The base includes a portion defining a first cavity, a portion defining a first discharging port, and a portion defining a first through hole through which the portion defining a first cavity and the portion defining a first discharging port communicate with each other. The droplet discharging head also includes a plurality of first electrode branches and a plurality of second electrode branches. The plurality of first electrode branches and the plurality of second electrode branches are disposed alternately apart from each other on a periphery of the portion defining a first discharging port, and extend on a surface of the portion defining a first through hole.
US07673969B2	Droplet ejection apparatus alignment In one aspect, the invention features assemblies for depositing droplets on a substrate during relative motion of the assembly and the substrate along a process direction. The assemblies include a first printhead module and a second printhead module contacting the first printhead module, each of the printhead modules including a surface that includes an array of nozzles through which the printhead modules can eject fluid droplets, wherein each nozzle in the first printhead module's nozzle array is offset with respect to a corresponding nozzle in the second printhead module's nozzle array in a direction orthogonal to the process direction.
US07673960B2	Calibration of a print head having multiple dies A method, apparatus, and computer program for calibration of a printer having a printed head with multiple dies creates linearization tables that compensate for different drop weight uniformities printed by die-to-die boundaries. The linearization tables are provided to a calibration routine to create an actual linearization table for ink printed by a die-to-die boundary of the print head. The calibration routine creates an actual linearization table by determining a measurement related to drop weight uniformity when the die-to-die boundary of the print head prints the ink. Based on this measurement, a pre-built linearization table is selected for compensating output drop weight and for allowing printing with a substantially uniform drop weight across the die-to-die boundary of the print head.
US07673959B2	Inkjet printing apparatus, method for setting recovery operation in inkjet printing apparatus, and ink tank There is provided an inkjet printing apparatus which executes a proper recovery operation in accordance with the demounting time period of an ink tank and information of the ink tank. In the inkjet printing apparatus of this invention, the demounting time period and information of the ink tank are used as parameters for determining the condition of a recovery operation after the ink tank is once demounted and thereafter mounted again. Since recovery is done in consideration of the degrees of ink evaporation and an increase in viscosity, wasteful ink consumption can be suppressed while a necessary recovery operation is performed.
US07673958B2	Defective imaging element compensation A method for forming an image with at least one linear array of imaging elements. Defective ones of the imaging elements associated with a particular color are detected. A first defective imaging element compensation operation is performed for portions of the image data that are associated with a first predetermined number or fewer adjacent defective imaging elements. A different second defective imaging element compensation operation is performed for portions of the image data that are associated a second predetermined number or more adjacent defective imaging elements.
US07673951B2	Track shoe for caterpillar vehicle A track shoe fastened on a chain of the caterpillar vehicle includes a body and a buffer block. The body includes an first surface adjacent to the chain, a second surface opposite to the first surface, a third surface, a fourth surface opposite to the third surface, a groove defined on the second surface and through the third surface and the fourth surface, and the holes defined through the first surface and the second surface to communicate with the groove. The buffer block includes an embedded portion capable of being embedded within the groove of the body, and multiple lock holes defined through the buffer block to respectively communicate with the holes of the body. The buffer block is secured on the body through the embedment between the embedded portion and the groove, and secured on the chain by the fastening members within the holes and the lock holes.
US07673946B1	Hub apparatus for bicycle wheel and method A hub apparatus for a bicycle wheel with improved aerodynamic mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a hub body having a parabolic shape. The hub body is disclosed approximately about a center plane of the bicycle wheel and has a plurality of retaining holes for retaining one end of bicycle spokes.
US07673943B2	Seat reclining apparatus for vehicle A seat reclining apparatus for a vehicle, including a stationary bracket and a movable bracket provided integral with a seat cushion and seat back, respectively. The movable bracket is equipped with a driving device. A speed-reduction unit is provided including an input shaft, a stationary member and a movable member. A forward-inclination mechanism is provided including a lock plate, an engaging-disengaging device and a restrictive device. The engaging-disengaging device is adapted to bring the lock plate and the movable bracket into one of an engagement state and a disengagement state. The movable bracket is connected to the stationary bracket through the speed-reduction unit and the forward-inclination mechanism. The seat reclining apparatus is further provided with a limit switch for powering off the driving device when the movable bracket and the lock plate are brought into the disengagement state.
US07673933B2	Recliner lift chair with dual motors A seating unit comprises: a base; a seat; a backrest; at least one ottoman; a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat, backrest and ottoman; an ottoman power unit attached to the base and to the reclining mechanism; and a backrest power unit attached to the base and to the reclining mechanism. The reclining mechanism is configured to move the seating unit from the upright position to a TV position, in which the ottoman is generally horizontally disposed in front of the seat, and from the TV position to a fully reclined position, in which the backrest is reclined relative to the seat. The ottoman power unit is configured to drive the seating unit between the upright and TV positions. The backrest power unit is configured to drive the seating unit between the TV and fully reclined positions.
US07673932B2	System to establish a trim edge for a vehicle roof window A headliner and bracket cooperate to define a trim edge around a vehicle sunroof. The bracket may include a lip the wraps around an edge of the headliner and trim associated with the headliner.
US07673931B2	Working vehicle The invention relates to a working vehicle which can improve a workability of a maintenance, inspection and the like with respect to a portion around an engine, and can tilt up a rear hood together with a tilt-up floor. An upper side of an engine (not shown) can be covered in a rear end portion side of a floor (35). A hinge mechanism (38) is arranged between a front end portion of the floor (35) and a rev-frame (25), and the floor (35) can be tilted up via the hinge mechanism (38). A rear hood (32) is coupled by hinge to a first support column (15) of a mounting bracket (4) supporting the floor (35), and is structured so as to be freely opened and closed. It is possible to tilt up the floor (35) in a state of attaching the rear hood (32), by canceling a fixed state of the mounting bracket (4) to a supporting and fixing member such as a counter weight (2) or the like.
US07673928B2	Tailgate spoiler with integrated rotating hinge cover An integrated rear spoiler and hinge cover that covers a flip-glass window hinge that is not attached to the flip glass window hinge and rotates from a fully closed position to a fully open position substantially simultaneously with the flip-glass window hinge.
US07673921B2	Tonneau cover device of vehicle A tonneau cover device comprises a front tonneau cover that is comprised of boards and provided on a front side of a vehicle body, a rear tonneau cover that is comprised of a rollable type of member and provided on a rear side of the vehicle body, and a slide mechanism that moves a rear end of the front tonneau cover and a front end of the rear tonneau cover substantially vertically. Accordingly, there can be provided the tonneau cover device of a vehicle, which is provided so as to extend substantially horizontally above the baggage compartment at the vehicle-body rear portion, which can pull the tonneau cover upward according to the opening-closing movement of the back door, facilitate loading of baggage when the back door is opened, and improve appearances of the back door.
US07673919B2	Wrap for bundling objects An apparatus may include an elongate piece of first material having flexible qualities with a flexible strip of second, more rigid, and bendable material enclosed within the first material. The apparatus may be twist-tied around equipment for relatively easy transport or may also be used to secure items in place.
US07673913B2	Tool for picking up a golf ball A golf ball retrieval tool including an elongated handle which carries at one end a cage. The cage has a first section located near the elongated section and a second section located distally from the handle and connected to the first section. The first cage section has a first opening opened in a first tool orientation to freely receive a golf ball. The second section includes a downwardly open second opening which forms a ball seating. When the tool is in the first cage orientation, the handle extends obliquely downwards beneath the horizontal plane of the cage. The cage further includes a roof structure which in response to pressing the cage generally vertically against a ball generates on the ball a wedging action such as to drive the ball into the second section where the ball can be received in the ball seating.
US07673911B2	Safety type quick connector A safety type quick connector has a body, a socket base, a moving base, a pushing assembly, an outer sleeve, multiple springs, multiple first balls and second balls. The socket base is connected to the tubular body and has an inserting end, a connecting end, multiple ball slots and ball bores. The moving base is movably mounted in the socket chamber and has a closed end, an open end, a sealing flange, multiple ball holes and at least one vent. The sealing flange is formed around the closed end and abuts against and closes the connecting end of the socket base. The pushing assembly is movably mounted in the moving base. Accordingly, the moving base can be kept stationary when a plug is inserted into the connector and pushes the pushing assembly to move, and this can keep air from leaking.
US07673910B2	Extendable fluid transport apparatus An extendable fluid transport apparatus for conveyance of a fluid to a remote surface. A rigid fluid tube (300) receives fluid and is in fluid communication and interconnection with a flexible flex tube (400) which is in fluid communication and interconnection with a connection means proximal a telescoping tube (200) second end for conveyance of a fluid, including paint, to a distant surface. The telescoping tube (200) is slidably received into a casing (100). The flex tube is received through a casing slot (120) and a telescoping tube slot (240) into the telescoping tube.
US07673895B1	Universal gooseneck to fifth wheel hitch converter A converter apparatus for connecting a fifth wheel-type trailer to a towing vehicle having a ball hitch extending above a bed thereof, the apparatus including a horizontal first body member; a clamping mechanism releasably securing the first body member to the ball hitch; a mounting member having a horizontal second body member fixedly secured perpendicularly to and above the first body member, a pair of horizontal arm members perpendicular to and extending adjustably outwardly from opposing ends of the second body member, and a pair of horizontal arm extension members extending adjustably outwardly from opposing ends of each of the arm members; a fifth wheel hitch mechanism; and securing mechanisms releasably securing the fifth wheel hitch mechanism to the arm extension members of the arm members.
US07673894B2	Dual trailer hitch A trailer hitch includes multiple hitch connectors for connecting the trailer to a towing vehicle in different ways. The trailer hitch includes multiple connectors at distal ends of the hitch body. The trailer hitch can be position such that either end is facing the towing vehicle. Mounting plates secure the trailer hitch to the trailer frame and may be adjustable vertically to raise or lower the height of the trailer hitch with respect to the trailer frame.
US07673889B2	Direct loading apparatus for pallet related systems An apparatus for transporting and handling a cargo platform is provided. The apparatus includes a frame having a cradle beam that receives the cargo platform. The cradle beam supports a lower surface of the cargo platform. The apparatus further includes a locking mechanism operably associated with the cradle beam and actuates to securely fasten the cargo platform to the frame when the cargo platform is rested upon the cradle beam. The apparatus also includes a plurality of wheel assemblies for wheeling the frame along a ground surface.
US07673887B2	Self-loading tow dolly A self-loading tow dolly is described. The inventive tow dolly permits components of the dolly to be easily removed and replaced. The inventive tow dolly also reduces overall weight by using aluminum slotted hubs mated with 8-inch aluminum slotted wheels and by employing dissimilar materials that do not require welding and improves lubrication by providing strategically placed lubricant ports and lubricant reservoirs for rotating components.
US07673883B2	Method and device for wheel camber adjustment The invention concerns a method and a device for the adjustment of wheel camber in commercial vehicles, particularly wheeled construction vehicles used for earthworks, particularly on uneven ground. The camber angle is set inventively and automatically by means of a camber cylinder and a wheel pivot unit, as a function of at least one of the driving parameters. For this purpose, the driving parameters, e.g. the axle swing angle, the steering lock angle, the lateral force on the vehicle wheels on the front axle and the absolute inclination of the construction vehicle are detected by sensors, the output signals of which are fed to an electronic control unit as input parameters. The camber angle sets itself as a function of the setting signal from the electronic control unit by means of a camber cylinder and a wheel pivot unit, in accordance with specified control strategies. As well as the self-setting wheel camber adjustment system, the camber cylinder is embodied so that it can still be operated manually.
US07673879B2	Arm support for a gaming machine An arm support mountable onto a video machine housing has a first portion configured for resting on a console of the video game machine without blocking the machine's interactive controls. An optional second portion is unitary connected to the first portion and extends downwardly therefrom, partially extending along the front of the machine. The contact surfaces of the support are soft and pliant, allowing reduction of stress on the user's hands, wrists and arms. An optional food support tray is secured to the first portion and provides support for auxiliary items within easy reach of the user.
US07673875B2	Sheet carrying unit, image forming apparatus and sheet carrying control method for double feed detecting of accepted sheets Based on the type of sheet and the detection result of double feed, carrying a sheet is stopped. Carrying of a predetermined type of sheet is not stopped even when double feed is detected. The predetermined type of sheet is a sheet having air space inside thereof (an envelope, an OHP sheet, Kent paper, or the like).
US07673855B2	Steam humidifier quick liquid connection In one aspect, a steam humidifier is disclosed. The steam humidifier includes a tank for containing water to be heated to generate steam and a water connection manifold that has a manifold chamber in fluid communication with a water supply passage and a water drain passage. The steam humidifier further includes a rotary valve that is configured to control a fluid passage between the tank and the manifold chamber and that is further configured to control the position of one or more locking features. The rotary valve is rotatable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position. In the first locked position, the fluid passage between the tank and the manifold chamber is open and the one or more locking features are engaged with a structure of the steam humidifier. In the second unlocked position, the fluid passage between the tank and the manifold chamber is closed and the one or more locking features are disengaged from the structure of the steam humidifier. Other aspects are disclosed.
US07673854B2	Foam forming unit A foam-forming unit is disclosed. The foam-forming unit includes a mixing chamber communicating with the outlet of a pump for the purpose of mixing liquid and air, and includes a dispensing part provided with an outflow channel with a foam opening for dispensing foam, wherein the outflow channel is in communication with the mixing chamber. Further, a first foam-forming element is included, arranged in the outflow channel such that the foam flowing through the outflow channel passes through the foam-forming element at least twice. The dispensing part is further provided with a spout element in which is located the final part of the outflow channel and the foam opening. Finally, the outflow channel includes a cavity after the first passage through the first foam-forming element, which cavity lies before the spout element as seen in flow direction.
US07673846B2	Tube configured pressure regulating valve A pressure regulating valve includes a body having an outer surface, the interior of the body defining an inlet chamber adapted to receive a fluid at a process pressure, and an outlet chamber. The body includes at least one inlet passage communicating with the inlet chamber and the outer surface, and at least one outlet passage communicating with the outer surface and the outlet chamber. A reference housing is adapted to be disposed in fluid communication with a fluid at a predetermined reference pressure. An annular membrane is disposed between the body and the reference housing, so as to circumscribe the inlet and outlet passages. The membrane is arranged such that, when the reference pressure is higher than the process pressure the membrane engages at least one outlet passage, and when the process pressure is higher than the reference pressure, the membrane is not engaged with the outlet passage.
US07673845B2	Leveling assembly Embodiments of the present invention provide a leveling assembly configured to be secured to an appliance. The leveling assembly supports the appliance on a floor, and includes a base having a column integrally connected to a ledge, which is integrally connected to a stem. The assembly also includes a spring positioned around the stem, and a sleeve secured to the stem and positioned around the spring. The spring exerts equal and opposite forces into the sleeve and the ledge, respectively.
US07673834B2	Vortex ring generator A vortex ring generator adapted to be associated with a body subjected to fluid flow, the vortex ring generator being adapted to produce a fluid flow in the form of a vortex ring with the fluid flow moving over the body from the vortex ring generator.
US07673830B2	Tape cartridge A tape cartridge is provided having an improved fit between a reel hole and a drive shaft of a drive. A reel hole that fits with a drive shaft provided in a drive for rotationally driving a reel is formed in the reel. The drive shaft includes a fitting shaft that fits with the reel hole and a guide shaft that enters the reel hole before the fitting shaft and has an outer dimension increasing toward the fitting shaft. A chamfered portion is formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the reel hole. The chamfered portion is constituted by an inclined face joining an inner peripheral face of the reel hole to the surface in which the reel hole is formed. When the reel hole is viewed from a side facing an opening portion of the reel hole, a portion of the reel hole that fits with the fitting shaft has a polygonal shape, and the inclined face contains a portion in which the width of the inclined face varies along an edge of the polygonal shape.
US07673821B2	Bearing for a shaft of a gyratory crusher and method of adjusting the gap width of the crusher A gyratory crusher includes a crushing head on which a first crushing shell is mounted, and a frame on which a second crushing shell is mounted. The second crushing shell defines, together with the first crushing shell, a crushing gap. The gyratory crusher includes a space adapted to hold a liquid. The space is defined by a piston and a cylinder, any one of the piston and the cylinder being formed at least partly of a substantially vertical shaft around which the crushing head is arranged. The space is adapted to form, together with the liquid, a cushion, thereby enabling the cushion to serve as a thrust bearing and transmit vertical forces from the crushing head to the frame.
US07673813B2	Portable spray apparatus A portable spray apparatus (1) is provided to selectively discharge liquid spray medium and solid dust medium with a blower airflow (7) generated by a blower (6). An adaptor (8) is provided which has at least a channel section (9) of a liquids channel (10) for the liquid spray medium and a channel section (11) of a solids channel (12) for the solid dust medium. The adaptor (8) is releasably connected to a supply vessel (4). The liquids channel (10) and the solids channel (12) open into the blower airflow (7). Various built-in positions of the supply vessel (4) and of the adaptor (8) are freely selectable relative to each other and to the blower unit (3) by the operator. In one built-in position, the liquids channel (10) is connected via its channel section (9) to an interior space (13) of the supply vessel (4) and, in another built-in position, the solids channel (12) is connected to this interior space (13) via the channel section (11) thereof.
US07673808B2	Thermostatic cartridge for regulating hot and cold fluids to be mixed, and a mixer tap provided with such a cartridge A thermostatic cartridge regulates hot and cold fluids to be mixed, and a mixer tap one such cartridge. The cartridge includes two disks which are used to adjust the flow of hot and cold fluids and which each include a passage for hot fluid, a passage for cold fluid, and a passage for a mixture of both. The disks are movably joined to one another. One of the disks is connected in rotation to a member for controlling the flow of the mixture, while the other is fixed. In order to do without a turbulator in the cartridge, the flow section for the mixture through the disks, which is defined by stacking passages for the mixture in the joining plane of the disks, varies according to the configuration of the control member. The majority of the thermo sensitive part of a thermostatic regulation element is positioned upstream of the disk joining plane in the direction of flow of the mixture.
US07673795B2	Manipulation of unified messaging pins Generating a series of digits corresponding to a personal identification number (PIN) of a user for unified messaging access to personal information management (PIM) data. Data involved in the generation of the series of digits along with the series of digits are stored for subsequent use during authentication of the user and PIN updates.
US07673792B2	Method and system for performing money transfer transactions A system for performing a money transfer receive transaction includes a receive transaction staging device which provides a recipient with access to a financial services institution in order to receive transaction details from the recipient. The system also includes a data base for storing transaction details and a receive control code, wherein the transaction details include a receive amount, and wherein the receive control code corresponds to the transaction details stored on the data base. The system further includes a receive transaction fulfillment device in communication with the data base to retrieve the receive control code and the transaction details from the data base based on the receive control code. The data base verifies the receive control code and authorizes the receive transaction fulfillment device to issue cash or another negotiable instrument corresponding to at least a portion of the receive amount.
US07673787B2	Storage container Featured is a case storage container formed from cardboard material. The case storage container includes a rectangular base unit having a base length and a base width with a front wall folded upwardly along a folded front edge of the base length, a back wall folded upwardly along a folded back edge of the base length having a pair of holes running lengthwise and centered upon the back wall forming a handle for one hand to carry the storage container and wherein the back wall includes at least one cover slot and integral cover secure flap extending from within the at least one cover slot, an outer cover panel extension to the front wall having a pair of cover widths and a pair of cover lengths folded in a spaced and parallel relationship to the rectangular base along a folded top edge of the front wall and having at least one cover tuck flap with an integral cover secure slot both cooperating with the at least one cover slot and integral cover secure flap respectively, an inner cover panel extension to the back wall having a pair of widths and a pair of lengths folded along a folded top edge of the back wall and directly under the back wall also having a pair of holes running lengthwise and centered therewith forming a reinforcement for the handle for the storage container, a pair of front side panels each extending laterally and inwardly along a scored side edge of the front wall and having side panel tab on the top edge of each front side panel, a pair of back side panels each extending laterally and inwardly along a scored side edge of the back wall and having side panel tab on the top edge of each front side panel and a pair of end walls each extending upwardly along the base widths.
US07673783B2	Surgical stapling instruments structured for delivery of medical agents A medical agent dispensing system can be provided that may be structured for use with a surgical severing/stapling instrument that is designed for severing and stapling tissue. The dispensing system may include at least one storage reservoir structured for storing at least a component of a medical agent; a gear pump casing in communication with the storage reservoir; a screw pump auger positioned within the gear pump casing capable of rotational manipulation to move the medical agent through the gear pump casing; and, at least one agent tube in communication with the gear pump casing. The agent tube may be structured for communication with a least one agent port formed in a staple cartridge of the surgical instrument for dispensing the medical agent therethrough.
US07673782B2	Surgical stapling instrument having a releasable buttress material A surgical stapler including an anvil, a staple cartridge, and a buttress material removably retained to the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the staple cartridge can include at least one staple removably stored therein which can, when deployed, or fired, therefrom, contact the buttress material and remove the buttress material from the anvil and/or staple cartridge. In at least one embodiment, the anvil can include at least one lip and/or groove configured to removably retain the buttress material to the anvil until deformable members extending from the surgical staple are bent by the anvil and are directed toward and contact the buttress material.
US07673781B2	Surgical stapling device with staple driver that supports multiple wire diameter staples A staple cartridge for use with a surgical stapling device. The stapling device has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil that is moveable between open and closed positions. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples and a first plurality of staple drivers. Each staple driver has an upper staple supporting surface for supporting one of the staples such that, when actuated, each staple driver drives the staple into the anvil. The upper staple supporting surface supports staples of different wire diameters in an upright position.
US07673780B2	Articulation joint with improved moment arm extension for articulating an end effector of a surgical instrument An articulation joint for use in connection with a surgical instrument that has a portion that must be passed through a trocar or similar structure and then articulated relative to another portion of the instrument received within the trocar. Various embodiments of the articulation joint provide structures for increasing the moment arm between the actuator and the pivot point between the proximal and distal tube segments interconnecting a handle assembly of the surgical instrument to a surgical implement such as an end effector of an endocutter.
US07673778B2	Tablet cutter The invention is directed to a pill cutter that has a protected cutting edge. The pill cutter includes a guard, a base, and a cover. The components are arranged such that the guard slides over the cutting edge when the pill cutter is in an open position and the guard exposes the cutting edge when the pill cutter is in a closed position. The invention is also directed at a method for assembling the pill cutter and a method of using the pill cutter to cut a pill or tablet.
US07673775B2	Apparatus for mixing and dispensing fluids An apparatus for dispensing and mixing fluids from multiple cartridges into a removable container, based on the user input through the provided interface. The user interface allows viewing and adjusting of the mix to be dispensed prior to the actual dispensing. The apparatus is capable of dispensing fluids that have a wide range of viscosities, and that are sticky or that solidify quickly due to the evaporation of the volatile substances they contain.
US07673768B2	Can lid closure A preferred embodiment of the disclosed can lid has a center panel having a central axis that is perpendicular to a diameter of the outer rim, or peripheral curl portion, of the can lid, an annular countersink surrounding the center panel, an arcuate portion extending radially outward from the annular countersink, a step portion extending radially upward and outward from the arcuate portion, a first transitional portion extending radially outward from the step portion, a second transitional portion extending radially outward and upward from the first transitional portion, and a peripheral curl portion extending outwardly from the second transitional portion.
US07673763B1	Child resistant container and cap A locking cap and container is provided for a container having an opening surrounded by a neck with container threads thereon that are sized and located to threadingly engage cap threads formed on a skirt of the cap. A shaped distal end is formed on a distal end of the container threads and a barb is formed on the distal end of the cap threads. A resilient locking tab extends from the container, and is located below the shaped distal end and spaced apart from the shaped distal end a distance sufficient to allow passage of the barb beyond the shaped distal end but sufficiently close to resiliently urge the barb into overlapping rotational alignment with the shaped end. The shaped end is configured to lockingly engage the barb when the tab holds them in alignment. Pushing down on the cap pushes the thread against the locking tab and allows disengagement of the barb from the shaped distal end and movement of the barb past the shaped distal end to unlock the cap.
US07673756B2	Modular fluid purification system and components thereof This invention relates to a modular purification system having a disposable sump assembly and an improved flow distribution plate. The system is readily adaptable to a variety of configurations without the need for repiping or replumbing of the installation, and lends itself to the use of multiple purification techniques.
US07673738B2	Steerable/retractable cargo power drive unit A steerable, retractable power drive unit (SRPDU) is provided for installation into a transport vehicle for moving cargo in mutually perpendicular directions, such as a doorway area where containers need to move both laterally and longitudinally in a cargo vehicle. The SRPDU rotates upon application of an external command, to orient the drive unit in the required direction and to drive the cargo containers. Embodiments include an SRPDU comprising a stationary support for fixedly attaching to a vehicle structure, and a rotating support rotatably mounted to the stationary support. A drive assembly is movably mounted to the rotating support, the drive assembly comprising a roller and a first electronically controlled electric motor for rotating the roller. A lift assembly mounted to the drive assembly has a second electronically controlled electric motor for moving the drive assembly relative to the rotating support from a retracted position substantially within the rotating support to an extended position with the roller in driving abutment against the cargo. A rotation drive assembly has a third electronically controlled electric motor on the rotating support for rotating the rotating support relative to the stationary support. An electronic controller controls the first, second and third motors.
US07673735B2	System for transporting substrate carriers In a semiconductor fabrication facility, a conveyor transports substrate carriers. The substrate carriers are unloaded from the conveyor and loaded onto the conveyor without stopping the conveyor. A load and/or unload mechanism lifts the substrate carriers from the conveyor during unloading operations, while matching the horizontal speed of the conveyor. Similarly, during loading operations, the load/unload mechanism lowers a substrate carrier into engagement with the conveyor while matching the horizontal speed of the conveyor. Individual substrates, without carriers, may be similarly loaded and/or unloaded from a conveyor.
US07673717B2	Anti-theft device for a vehicle An anti-theft device includes a first steering column, a second steering column, a clutch and an actuating unit. The first steering column is connected to a steering wheel. The second steering column is connected to a universal joint. The actuating unit moves the clutch between a first position for connecting the first steering column to the second steering column and a second position for disconnecting the first steering column from the second steering column.
US07673713B2	Multi-purpose mobile power generating machine A dual purpose mobile machine is disclosed. The mobile machine may have a power source configured to propel the mobile machine and generate electrical power for use offboard the mobile machine. The machine may also have a work tool driven by the power source.
US07673712B2	Power transmission system for working vehicle A power transmission system for a working vehicle comprises: a vehicle frame; a prime mover mounted on the vehicle frame; a pair of left and right drive wheels; a pair of left and right transaxles juxtaposed on the vehicle frame, wherein each of the left and right transaxles includes a single axle for individually driving each of the left and right drive wheels in forward and rearward directions; a working device; and a working power clutch unit disposed between the left and right transaxles so as to clutch on/off power transmitted from the prime mover to the working device. The working power clutch unit includes: a driving side rotary mechanism for receiving power from the prime mover; the driving side rotary mechanism having one or more first rotors interlocking with each other; a driven side rotary mechanism for outputting power to the working device, the driven side rotary mechanism having one or more second rotors interlocking with each other; and a hydraulic clutch drivingly interposed between the driving side rotary mechanism and the driven side rotary mechanism, and incorporated in the working power clutch unit.
US07673708B2	Ball-activated mechanism for controlling the operation of a downhole tool A ball-activated mechanism adapted to be incorporated in a drillstring and to control the activation, and de-activation of a downhole tool. The mechanism includes a ball seat that receives surface launched activation balls and moves to activate or deactivate the downhole tool, an indexable latching device, and a linearly displaceable actuator co-operable with the indexable latching device, the actuator allowing pressure fluid communication to activate the tool when the actuator is in its activating position. Upon launch of a first activation ball, the ball seat moves so that the latching device carries out indexing movement to a latched position and moves the actuator moves to its activating position so that the downhole tool can be activated. Upon launch of a second activation ball, the latching device undergoes return movement and returns the ball seat to its first position and the actuator moves to deactivate the downhole tool.
US07673704B2	Variable positioning deep cutting rotary coring tool with expandable bit A coring device includes a primary and a secondary bit that drill a first and second depth into a formation, respectively. The first and second bits are positioned on telescopically arranged mandrels that are rotated by a suitable rotary drive. The coring tool also includes a drive device that extends the first bit and the second bit a first depth into the formation and extends only the second bit a second depth into the formation. In arrangements, the actuating device can include a first hydraulic actuator applying pressure to extend the second bit into the formation and a second hydraulic actuator applying pressure to retract the second bit from the formation. The advancement and retraction of the first and second bits can be controlled by a control unit that uses sensor signals, timers, preprogrammed instruction and any other suitable arrangement.
US07673698B2	Perfect planting tool A gardening hand tool for digging holes is provided. The tool further comprises a pair of shovel blades aligned parallel to each other and are pivotally attached to the bottom of a shaft member. A handle is attached to the upper end of a shaft member and is pivotally connected to the shovel blades.
US07673697B2	Sod laying machine A sod-laying machine having a low center of gravity and a seated operator position adjacent the roll of sod being placed. The superior visibility available to the operator makes it possible to place the sod more accurately and with less need for subsequent adjustment than has been possible previously. The machine has sod roll lifting arms that can be spaced apart to lift and place rolls having any of the common large sod roll widths. The machine can be configured to lay sod that is rolled with either the grass side or the dirt side outermost. Propulsion, roll lifting and roll width adjustment is hydraulic with continuously variable speed drive. Turf scuffing is minimized by trailing caster wheels and independently controllable drive wheels mounted close to the location of the sod roll.
US07673694B2	Inertization device with nitrogen generator The invention relates to an inertization device for establishing and maintaining an inertization level in a protective room. The inertization device has a controllable inert gas system for providing inert gas, a first supply pipe system connected to the inert gas system and the protective room to supply the inert gas to the protective room, and a control unit to control the inert gas system such that a presettable inertization level is established and maintained inside the protective room. In order to raise the inertization level inside the protective room rapidly to an accessibility level without requiring major structural measures, a valve controlled by the control unit is connected to the inert gas system and the first supply pipe system to supply the exhaust air prepared by the inert gas system as fresh air to the protective room.
US07673683B2	Well tool having magnetically coupled position sensor A well tool having a magnetically coupled position sensor. In operation of a well tool, relative displacement is produced between members of the well tool. A magnetically coupled position sensor includes one magnet assembly attached to a member for displacement therewith and another magnet assembly movably attached to the other member and magnetically coupled to the first magnet assembly for displacement therewith. The position sensor further includes a magnetically permeable material which increases a magnetic flux density between the magnet assemblies. In another position sensor, one magnet assembly includes a magnet having a pole axis, the other magnet assembly includes another magnet having another pole axis, and the pole axes are aligned with each other.
US07673681B2	Treating tar sands formations with karsted zones Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. The tar sands formation may have one or more karsted zones. Methods may include providing heat from one or more heaters to one or more karsted zones of the tar sands formation to mobilize fluids in the formation. At least some of the mobilized fluids may be produced from the formation.
US07673661B2	Sensor system for a refrigerator dispenser A sensing system for a refrigerator dispensing system is used to sense the presence, positioning, height and shape of a container placed in a dispensing well. When the presence of the container is sensed in the dispensing well and the container is properly positioned relative to a dispensing nozzle of the well, a dispensing operation can be performed. The actual dispensing operation is regulated based on the height and shape of the container. In this manner, dispensing operations can only be performed when a container is appropriately arranged in the dispensing well and the dispensing operation will be timely terminated based the size and shape of particular container employed.
US07673655B1	Composite wrap repair of internal defects A system and method for repairing and reinforcing a pipeline includes a pair of opposing composite wrap bands that are located on the external surface of the pipeline and positioned a predetermined horizontal distance from a defect area. A composite wrap is then applied over the bands to create a bridge that spans the bands and forms a cavity above the defect area. The bridge eliminates the need to clean the surface of the pipeline directly over the defect area. A second pair of bands located on the external surface of the bridge provides structural support. An actuator within the bridge monitors the pressure within the cavity and activates upon the presence of internal pressure, indicating a through-wall defect has occurred. A fitting may also be inserted into the bridge in order to pressurize the cavity and test the repair.
US07673653B2	Check valve A check valve is provided, including a first hose connector housing defining an entry passage extending into an entry space at least partially defined by an annular valve seat, a second hose connector housing coupled with the first hose connector housing and defining an exit passage, and a generally flexible perforated membrane disk positioned between the first and second hose connector housings such that the membrane disk selectively engages the valve seat.
US07673652B2	Hydraulic pressure control device for automatic transmission There is provided a circuit configuration which does not require an additional fail-safe mechanism caused by the addition of a changeover valve in a hydraulic pressure control device for an automatic transmission having a function to directly supply a line pressure and hold (lock) an engaging pressure by combinations of electromagnetic valves and changeover valves.A changeover valve 20 is disposed between an output port 12 and a feedback port 13 of a linear solenoid valve 10 of the hydraulic pressure control device for an automatic transmission. The changeover valve 20 operates depending on at least an output pressure from the output port, and is switched between (1) a first state (control mode) in which a pressure Pc corresponding to an indicator current is outputted through the linear solenoid valve 10 by bringing the output port into communication with the feedback port, and (2) a second state (lock mode) in which a line pressure PL is outputted through the linear solenoid valve 10 by bringing the feedback port 13 into communication with a drain passage EX and discharging oil from the feedback port.
US07673651B2	Flow regulating device The device comprises a stationary body which has, defined inside it, a passage for a flow of liquid with at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening for the flow and in which at least one valve seat directed towards the outlet opening is defined in the vicinity of the inlet opening and in a middle portion of which a shaped transverse annular surface is formed. A movable body is arranged in the passage and co-operates in the manner of a flow throttling member with the transverse annular surface so as to define for the liquid flowing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening a flow cross section variable depending on the pressure of the liquid at the inlet of the support body. The movable body co-operates moreover in the manner of a obturator with the seat and a return spring tends to push it against this seat away from said shaped annular surface.
US07673643B2	Collapsible canopy having wheels A collapsible canopy frame is provided that includes elongated side poles each having a side and an end; and a plurality of wheel assemblies each having a mounting post and a wheel. The mounting post of each wheel assembly is supported on and extends transverse to a corresponding one of the elongated side poles.
US07673640B2	Tiltable underarm support mechanism and crutch-like mobility assist device using same A crutch-like mobility assist device includes a vertical support assembly, a footer assembly attached to a lower connection member of the vertical support assembly, and a tiltable underarm support mechanism connected to an upper connection member of the vertical support assembly, the tiltable underarm support mechanism including a base plate which is rotatable relative to the vertical support assembly, a saddle, and two damper devices between the base plate and the saddle which enable the saddle to tilt forwardly and rearwardly, as well as laterally relative to the vertical support assembly. The tiltable underarm support mechanism is itself usable on crutches of conventional construction.
US07673639B2	Washing arm and dishwasher having the same A washing arm and a dishwasher having the washing nozzle are provided. The washing arm includes a first arm capable of rotating by wash liquid flowing therethrough, and a second arm rotating with respect to the first arm through wash liquid supplied from the first arm.
US07673636B2	Powder container A loose powder container is provided. The powder container includes a cap and a receptacle for storing the loose powder. The cap includes a brush integrated into the cap. The cap also comprises two sections, such that, in an initial position an upper section is aligned with respect to a lower section of the cap. Clockwise rotation of the upper section in order to misalign it with the lower section of the cap, results in the brush protruding from the cap. The brush is completely protruded when the upper section of the cap is re-aligned with the lower section of the cap upon a 180 degree rotation in the clockwise direction. The fully protruded brush is twirled around to pick loose powder through a perforated layer comprised in the receptacle. The brush is retracted upon anti-clockwise rotation of the upper section, to align it in the initial position with the lower section.
US07673625B2	Toy projectile launching device A toy projectile launching device for launching toy projectiles includes a spring shaped as a hollow hemisphere that is capable of being at least partially inverted from a primary normally convex position to a secondary at least partially inverted loaded position. Upon release, the spring snaps back to the primary position, thereby launching the toy projectile.
US07673620B2	Internal combustion engine with breather chamber A cylinder head cover, on which a breather chamber wall and control valve device are mounted is not enlarged while the capacity of a breather chamber is increased. For an internal combustion engine, control valve devices, which control the operation of a hydraulic valve stop mechanism that serves as a cylinder stop mechanism, and an outer chamber wall of a breather chamber wall that forms a breather chamber into which a blow-by gas flows, project in a predetermined direction and are mounted on the outer surface of a top wall of a cylinder head cover. When viewed in the predetermined direction, the outer chamber wall has an overlap section that overlaps with a part of the control valve device. Therefore, the overlap section is covered in the particular direction by the control valve device.
US07673618B2	Control system for internal combustion engine A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of estimating a property of fuel accurately even when the engine is in an operating condition other than idling. An in-cylinder pressure sensor detects an amount of change in pressure in a cylinder #1 of the engine as a pressure change amount. An ECU calculates an amount of heat released in the cylinder #1 as a heat release amount, according to the pressure change amount. A vehicle speed sensor, a crank angle sensor, and an accelerator pedal opening sensor detect load on the engine. The ECU estimates a cetane number of fuel based on the calculated heat release amount and the detected load on the engine.
US07673617B2	Indirect-injection internal-combustion engine, notably spark-ignition supercharged engine, with two intake means for carrying out a burnt gas scavenging stage The invention relates to an internal-combustion engine, notably an indirect-injection supercharged engine, that can run with a burnt gas scavenging stage, comprising at least a cylinder (10) including a combustion chamber (12), non-carbureted air intake passage (16) with an air intake valve (24), carbureted air intake passage (14) with a carbureted air intake valve (22), burnt gas exhaust passage (28) with an exhaust valve (32), an exhaust camshaft (36) for controlling the exhaust passage (28), an intake camshaft (44) for controlling the air intake passage (16) and the carbureted air intake passage (14).
US07673609B2	Internal combustion engine In an internal combustion engine in which air-intake valves reciprocate in parallel to the direction of reciprocal motion of pistons, an air-intake structure of an internal combustion engine includes an outward projection of the air-intake port that is reduced to achieve a downsizing of a cylinder head. An air-intake structure includes air-intake valves that are supported by a cylinder head having integrally formed air-intake ports so as to reciprocate in parallel with the direction of reciprocal motion of the pistons. Fuel injection devices are formed integrally with a throttle body on intake manifolds to be connected to the air-intake ports. The air-intake ports extend toward the cylinder head cover along a recess formed on the outer surface of the cylinder head that is connected to the intake manifolds at positions just before reaching the identical plane to a mating surface between the cylinder head and the cylinder head cover.
US07673603B2	Valve timing control device and engine device and vehicle including the same When an engine operates at low engine speed, the tip end of a cam nose of an intake cam is at a second position. As the engine speed increases and exceeds a first engine speed, the tip end of the cam nose of the intake cam moves to a first position. When the engine operates at high engine speed, the tip end of the cam nose of the intake cam is at the first position. As the engine speed decreases and becomes lower than a second engine speed smaller than the first engine speed, the tip end of the cam nose of the intake cam moves to the second position different from the first position.
US07673601B2	Valve lifter assembly for selectively deactivating a cylinder A valve lifter assembly for deactivating a cylinder in an internal combustion engine. The valve lifter assembly is provided with a plunger movably disposed within a bore of a main body member to controllably isolate the cam lift from the rocker arm and valve of the engine. The plunger is normally locked in an extended position to transmit cam lift to reciprocatingly operate the valve. At least one locking pin is moveably disposed within the plunger to engage an inner annular groove of the main body member. Pressurized oil is provided to dislodge the locking pins from the annular groove and allow the plunger to move within the main body member, thereby isolating the cam lift from the rocker arm and valve. The deactivating lifter is preferably disposed within the recess conventionally provided for hydraulic valve lifters.
US07673598B2	Electric camshaft adjuster The invention relates to an electric camshaft adjuster for adjusting and securing the phase angle of a camshaft of an internal combustion engine with respect to its crankshaft, having a three shaft gearing which is embodied as a harmonic drive (19, 19′) of sleeve design, and a drive wheel (1) which is fixed to the crankshaft and has a first ring gear (2) as well as an output component (4) which is fixed to the camshaft and has a second ring gear (5) arranged next to the first ring gear (2) and an adjustment shaft (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″) which can be driven by an electric adjustment motor, with a wave generator (17, 17′, 17″) which has means for elliptically deforming a flexurally elastic, externally toothed sleeve (18).A way of improving a harmonic drive of sleeve design is for the expenditure on the construction of the harmonic drive (19, 19′) to be lowered by changes to the wave generator (17, 17′, 17″), and for the axial installation space thereof to be lowered by integrating the ring gears (2, 5) into the drive wheel (1) and output component (4) which are pushed axially one into the other.
US07673585B1	Decorative cat litter box enclosure A decorative cat litter box enclosure having a furniture like appearance with a pivotal ramp having a lip on three side and a mesh-like material extending between the sides so that when the ramp is closed the interior ramp edge arcs over the litter box depositing any captive litter from the cat's paws back into the litter box. Also provided is a based positioned hinged door to access the litter box which has a plastic liner and drawstring that work in conjunction with an extendable retractable latch located on the exterior front that when extended prevents removal of the litter box while the drawstring is used to close the plastic liner bag. The latch is then retracted and the litter bag is removed for disposal. Also provided on the exterior surface are a plurality of hooks for attaching accessory items as desired by the user which may include dust pan, brush and rubber gloves along with attachable removable food and water dishes. Other decorative elements may be included such as interior scenic landscapes in bright colors and a plant placed on the exterior top of the housing.
US07673571B2	Drill disc opener The present planter unit, and planter implements using the present planter unit, include first and second discs and first and second pathways. The first and second discs may be generally planar and in a non-overlapping relation. As the planter unit is towed through a field, the first disc creates a first trench in the seedbed and the first pathway deposits a first material in the first trench. Subsequently, the second disc creates a second trench which is continuous with the first trench and partially fills the first trench. A second material is deposited in the second trench by the second pathway.
US07673563B2	Sheet-transporting apparatus In the case of a sheet-transporting gripper configuration in a sheet-processing machine, e.g. printing machine, it is provided that a low-mass gripper housing contains thin side walls enclosing a gripper shaft such that imaginary extensions of leaf springs provided intersect at a point on a straight line which passes through gripper tips and a gripper-shaft axis. The point of intersection is located on the far side of the gripper-shaft axis, as seen from the gripper tips.
US07673562B2	Method of forming a reconfigurable relief surface using microvalves A structure and method of using a reusable master printing plate is described. In one embodiment, the method uses an electric field to control a series of microvalves. The microvalves control a fluid flow that raises or lowers selected regions on a flexible printing surface to create a desired relief pattern. After creating the relief pattern, the pattern is fixed and used for printing. After completion of printing, the relief pattern is removed from the master printing plate and the printing plate may be reused by applying a new pattern.
US07673553B2	Barrel link for a semiautomatic weapon An improved barrel link for consistently and reliably placing a barrel of a semi-automatic pistol into battery is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention extends the width of the barrel link beyond that of the receiving channel of the barrel lug legs so as to substantially equal the exterior dimension of the barrel lug. In addition, the portions of the barrel link extending beyond the width of the channel of the barrel lug are designed to provide multiple points of contact with the front face of the barrel lug in both vertical and horizontal positions so as to reliably and consistently place the barrel into battery. The additional width of the barrel link and additional contact between the link and barrel lug aids in stabilizing lateral and rotational forces prolonging the life of the weapon.
US07673552B2	Countermeasure system and method of using the same The present invention relates to a countermeasure system having a substantially vertical launch tube that is at least generally rotatable about a vertical reference axis that extends through and along a length of the launch tube. This rotation capability of the launch tube may be used to affect an aiming of an associated countermeasure cartridge at least generally disposed therein. One or both the launch tube and countermeasure cartridge of this countermeasure system are generally equipped with a rotation inhibitor for substantially preventing independent rotation of the countermeasure cartridge relative to the launch tube at least when the countermeasure cartridge is disposed within the launch tube. The present invention is also designed to enable the associated countermeasure cartridge to be pitched over to a predetermined pitch angle (relative to the reference axis of the launch tube) to affect a desired flight path after launch of the countermeasure cartridge.
US07673550B2	Fiber-reinforced composites for dental materials A formable fiber-reinforced composite having an inner core of fiber-reinforced composite surrounded by a sheath of fiber-reinforced composite material. The inner core of fiber-reinforced composite has a plurality of longitudinally extending fibers disposed in a resin matrix material and formed in the shape of a rod. The sheath has woven or braided fibers impregnated with a resin matrix material in the form of a sleeve. A method of manufacturing the formable fiber-reinforced composite material is provided. The longitudinally extending fibers in resin matrix material is cured to provide a solid rod. A sheath is placed around the rod. The rod with sheath is treated (e.g., heat, chemical solution, or both) to remove the resin matrix material. Thereafter, the rod and sheath are impregnated with a resin matrix material. The resin is left uncured or partially cured to provide a formable fiber-reinforced composite material. The formable material may be flattened.
US07673549B2	Friction linear guide rail assembly for boiler tube cutting apparatus The present invention relates to a guide rail assembly for securement of a tube cutting apparatus for cutting of boiler tube walls to a fixed point on a tube wall, while allowing lateral repositioning of a cutting tool relative to the tube wall. The assembly includes a guide rail having a convex surface along which a carriage having a cutting device may be fixedly positioned by mating friction engagement of a concave surface of pairs of linear guide blocks secured to the carriage with the convex surface of the guide rail.
US07673541B2	Colored razor blades Colored razor blades are provided. Methods for manufacturing such blades are also provided, including methods involving depositing an oxide coating prior to heat treatment of the blade material and heat treating under conditions selected to enhance the color of the coating.
US07673540B2	Debris apparatus and method for collecting debris from a drive shaft channel in a transmission apparatus A debris apparatus and method are provided for collecting small particle debris such as dust and dirt from a transmission apparatus. The transmission apparatus can include a housing having a drive shaft channel for receiving a drive shaft. The debris pocket can include one or more radial ribs, which can be spaced apart when there are two or more, disposed peripherally along an inner wall of the drive shaft channel. The debris pocket can collect small particle debris so that at least a portion of the debris is prevented from further movement along the drive shaft channel where it could potentially interfere with desirable rotational movement of the drive shaft.
US07673538B2	Adjustable pedal system Provided is a pedal system that can adjust control pedals on the basis of driver's physical conditions. The adjustable pedal system includes a support bracket that includes a guide groove formed in a substantially vertical direction and a predetermined hole, and is connected to a vehicle; a linear actuator that includes a drive arm linearly movable in a substantially vertical direction and applies a driving force to the drive arm; and a pedal arm. The pedal arm has a hinge hole that is connected to the drive arm by a first pin, a sliding slot that is connected to the predetermined hole by a second pin and is formed to be inclined with respect to the guide groove, and a pedal. The hinge hole is connected to the drive arm by a first pin, and the sliding slot is connected to the predetermined hole by a second pin and is formed to be inclined with respect to the guide groove. In this case, the portion of the pedal arm near the sliding slot slides with respect to the second pin, so that the position of the pedal arm can change.
US07673534B2	Power take-off for industrial vehicles The power take-off (10) applied on industrial vehicles eliminates noisiness generated by play between cogs of transmission cogwheels (14,19) when the p.t.o. is functioning non-operatively. Thanks to a special geometry of the cog directions of the cogwheels (19, 14) in the transmission gearings, play between cogs is eliminated when there is no power transmission. The play is re-established when the p.t.o. is functioning operatively, by overcoming elastic (21) means acting axially on the gearings (14), and by thus returning the gearings (14) into a normal operative position.
US07673532B2	Pipetting device Pipetting device for metering liquids comprising a piston actuating rod, at least one receiver for a piston head arranged on one end of the piston actuating rod and which is defined by an abutment surface for the piston head in the axial direction of the piston actuating rod, and comprises a through-opening for a piston rod opposing said piston head and a base for supporting the piston head surrounding the through-opening, at least one cylinder with a hollow space, at least one seat for holding a pipette tip, at least one through-channel connecting the hollow space of a cylinder to a through-hole in a seat and at least one piston arranged longitudinally displaceably in a cylinder with a piston rod extending through the through-opening of a receiver and a piston head at the end of the piston rod arranged in the receiver, which is positioned on the base with a lower face facing the piston rod and comprises a resilient body projecting beyond the upper face facing away from the piston rod, which does not bear against the abutment surface in an elastically compressed manner or bears against the abutment surface in a partially elastically compressed manner.
US07673530B2	Capacitive sensor based structure and method with tilt compensation capability A method and system of a capacitive sensor based structure and method with tilt compensation capability is disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor includes, a series of nested cantilever beams (e.g., may face each other in alternating form such that each subsequent cantilever beam is inside and oppositely facing a respective outer cantilever beam) in an upper surface of a tilt correction assembly, a spacer coupled to a contact zone of a lower surface of the tilt correction assembly, and a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface substantially parallel to the first conductive surface, wherein the spacer to cause at least one of the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface to deflect when a force is applied to a force measuring assembly above the sensor.
US07673519B1	Pressure sensor featuring offset cancellation and method of making A pressure sensor includes a first set of electrodes, a second set of electrodes, and a common electrode. The first and second sets of electrodes overlie an insulative surface, wherein the first set of electrodes represent sense capacitor bottom electrodes and the second set of electrodes represent reference capacitor bottom electrodes. The second set of electrodes is configured in an interleaved arrangement with the first set of electrodes, wherein the geometry of individual electrodes of the first set of electrodes substantially matches the geometry of individual electrodes of the second set of electrodes. In addition, the common electrode represents a sense and reference capacitor top electrode that is (i) overlying, (ii) spaced from, and (iii) configured in connection with the first and second sets of electrodes to form a common pressure cavity, wherein the common electrode includes first portions corresponding to sense membrane portions and second portions corresponding to reference membrane portions, further wherein an area of a sense membrane portion is greater than an area of a reference membrane portion.
US07673518B2	Compact absolute and gage pressure transducer having a mounting apparatus for accurately positioning and aligning a leadless semiconductor chip on an associated header A compact absolute and gage pressure transducer consists of two sensors made from the same silicon wafer and adjacent each other on the wafer. The transducer contains a common header with a first and a second input port for receiving a first and a second pressure, respectively. The second port is directed through a reference tube into the hollow of a housing to apply pressure from the reference tube to the common sensor arrangement. The first port is directed from another surface of the housing to direct pressure to both sensor devices. One sensor operates as a gage sensor producing an output proportional to the difference between input pressures and the other sensor produces an absolute output. The sensor chip is associated with a sensor header which includes an alignment pin extending therefrom, and a guide plate with an aperture for accommodating an alignment pin.
US07673517B2	System and method for optical interrogation of micro-mechanical sensors using microcavity interferometry A sensor and a method for sensing a change in mass of a reflective microbeam in a sensor, the sensor having a reflective layer disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from the reflective microbeam. The microbeam receives amplitude modulated laser energy at a first wavelength and is photothermally excited into resonance at the frequency of amplitude modulation, the reflective microbridge and the reflective layer receive optical energy at a second wavelength and reflect the optical energy toward a receiver. A change in reflectivity of the microbeam at different frequencies is determined. A change in reflectivity indicates a change in resonant frequency of the microbeam. Mass of the microbeam changes when a chemoselective material on the microbeam sorbs a target chemical.
US07673512B2	Angular velocity sensor and electronic device An angular velocity sensor includes a base portion, three arm portions that extend as one piece from the base portion to an approximately same direction, a piezoelectric film formed on one surface of each of the arm portions, drive electrodes for excitation formed on the piezoelectric films of at least two outer arm portions, and detection electrodes for angular velocity detection formed on the piezoelectric film of at least a center arm portion. Among the three arm portions, the two outer arm portions are excited in phase, and the center arm portion is excited in opposite phase with the two outer arm portions. The drive electrodes excite the arm portions in a first direction vertical to surfaces on which the piezoelectric films are formed. The detection electrodes detect a vibration in a second direction parallel to the surfaces on which the piezoelectric films of the arm portions are formed.
US07673508B2	Thermal type fluid flow sensor A thermal-type fluid flow sensor technology for measuring more precisely the temperature of the heater for an improved sensibility of detecting flow measurements. The thermal-type fluid flow sensor for measuring the air flow rate includes a heating resistive element formed on the semiconductor substrate through a first insulating layer, temperature-measuring resistive elements for heating resistive element for measuring the temperature of the heating resistive element, upstream and downstream temperature-measuring resistive elements for detecting the temperature of air on the upstream side and the downstream side of the air heated by the heating resistive element, and an air temperature measuring resistive element for measuring the temperature of the air heated by the heating resistive element, and at least the temperature-measuring resistive element for the heating resistive element is disposed in the upper layer or lower layer of the heating resistive element.
US07673502B2	Inspection of a continuously variable transmission belt member A belt (3) of a continuously variable transmission comprises a pair of endless rings (2a) and plural elements (1) held between the pair of endless rings (2a). The endless rings (2) are formed of plural laminated thin plates (2a). A prestress in a compression direction is applied beforehand to the surfaces of the thin plates (2a) by a nitriding treatment. In this process, a defect part (2b) is formed as a hollow in the thin plate (2a) due to scatter in the nitriding treatment. This invention measures the depth of the defect part (2b), and if the measured depth exceeds a predetermined tolerance value, it is determined that the prestress is insufficient. Due to this determination method, a highly precise inspection of the thin plates (2a) forming the endless rings (2) can be performed in a short time.
US07673499B2	Rheometer A rheometer comprises a container for receiving a material sample to be investigated, and a rotary driven rotor which can be immersed at least partially into the material sample. At least sections of an inner wall of the container are provided with a profile in order to prevent formation of a sliding layer between the material to be investigated and the inner wall. The profile is thereby formed by at least one, in particular, several profiling elements which are exchangeably held on the container.
US07673496B2	Device for measuring back pressure in chemical reactor tubes A device and method for measuring the back pressure in chemical reactor tubes includes many automated features. Inflatable tube seals may be automatically inflated. The device may measure several tubes at once. It may transmit data electronically to a remote computer for analysis and graphic display.
US07673492B2	Tool to aide in the bending of rebar (reinforced steel bars) on construction site The invention is a rebar bender that is installed in the trailer hitch of a vehicle and used to bend rebar (up to #5) at any angle and length. The rebar is bent using this tool and the strength of the person bending the rebar.
US07673487B2	Method for forming hollow shaft with a flange and product with hollow shaft formed by the same There is provided a method for forming a hollow shaft with a flange directly in sheet metal. This method is a method for forming a hollow shaft having a flange portion 17 at the end thereof based on stamping performed on sheet metal 20. The method includes forming an upright portion 14 which is upright with respect to the surface of the sheet metal 20 by using a burring punch 320 and a burring die 310, and bending outward the free end portion of the upright portion 14 radially with respect to the central axis of the cylindrical portion by using a bending punch and a bending die. Here, the formed hollow shaft has the upright portion 14 protruding upright with respect to the surface and the flange portion 17 radially extending from the end of the upright portion.
US07673480B2	Mounting and method for mounting a water vacuum break A washing machine including a water tub, a housing and a water vacuum break. The water tub is mounted in the housing. The housing includes an outer wall having a plurality of slots therein. The water vacuum break partially extends over a portion of the water tub. The vacuum break includes at least one retaining protrusion and at least one retaining snap associated with the at least one retaining protrusion. The at least one retaining protrusion extends over a portion of the outer wall and the at least one retaining snap has an edge that engages a portion of one of the plurality of slots.
US07673479B2	Seal seat ring component with locking and venting features A seal assembly includes a ring component for coupling a seat component to a shaft. The ring component includes a first portion having an annular shape and configured to have a sealed engagement with the shaft. The ring component also includes a second portion having a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom. The ring component is configured to receive the seat component between the flange and the first portion and thus form a seal seat assembly. The flange is configured to mechanically lock the seat component relative to the ring component when the seal seat assembly is disposed on the shaft.
US07673469B2	Ice dispenser for a refrigerator with a delay mechanism having a foldable catch A refrigerator with an ice dispenser includes a spiral type time delay unit for controlling the opening and closing of an ice duct. A duct cap opens and closes an ice duct formed in the refrigerator. A rotating shaft of the time delay unit is operably connected to the duct cap. Foldaway catching members on a rotating shaft intersect with a threaded cylindrical body. The catching members fold back to allow a quick opening of the ice duct. The catching members then interact with the threaded cylindrical body as the ice duct closes to delay the closing process.
US07673462B2	Method and apparatus controlling dual heat transfers for internal thermal zone of a hard disk drive Method and apparatus (thermal controller) for controlling a thermoelectric device to affect the temperature of an internal thermal zone in a hard disk drive to enable a first heat transfer from an internal heat transfer interface included in a thermal interface to an exterior heat transfer interface thermally coupling to the exterior of said hard disk drive, and applying to enable a second heat transfer from the exterior heat transfer interface to the internal heat transfer interface. The thermoelectric device may include the thermal controller. An external cover may include the thermal controller. The hard disk drive includes the thermal controller directing the thermoelectric device. Systems including at least one of the hard disk drives. Manufacturing these apparatus and these apparatus as products of these processes are part of the invention.
US07673439B2	Agricultural machine for swathing products lying on the ground An agricultural machine for grouping windrows together or for windrowing products lying on the ground includes a main frame supporting a central gathering and windrowing device and two side gathering and windrowing devices connected to support arms that extend laterally during work. Each of the side support arms is articulated relative to the main frame on a substantially vertical axis about which it is foldable at an angle of approximately 90° for transport and each of the side gathering and windrowing devices is articulated on its support arm around a substantially horizontal axis about which it is foldable upwards at an angle of approximately 90° to obtain a reduced machine width for transport.
US07673438B2	Flexible pouch and method of forming a flexible pouch A method of forming, filling, and sealing a flexible pouch with a guide pocket includes the steps of forming the pouch, and forming a first crease and second crease in the pouch that each projects outwardly and extends longitudinally from the upper edge, tapering in the direction of the lower edge. The method further includes the steps of opening and filling the pouch with the product and closing the pouch by sealing the upper edge transversely through the guide pocket, such that the first and second crease is eliminated as the upper edge is sealed.
US07673433B2	Damage-tolerant monolithic structures A variety of a damage-tolerant monolithic structures are disclosed, such structures having a substantially-planar element integral with or welded to one or more stiffening elements. Each stiffening element can includes a first stiffening flange having a generally rail-like structure running along the length of the planar element and one or more webbings connected to the planar element and extending away from the planar element to the stiffening flange, wherein each webbing includes a row of integral holes running along the length of the webbing, the holes being in a shape designed to hinder the propagation of a crack in the monolithic structure.
US07673432B2	Double-skin tubular structural members This invention provides double-skin tubular structural members having fiber-reinforced polymer outer tubes, steel or otherwise generally metallic inner tubes and generally a bound aggregate such as concrete in between the tubes.
US07673425B2	Covers, systems, and methods for covering outdoor deck components According to various aspects of the present disclosure, there are provided various exemplary embodiments of covers, systems and methods for covering boards and deck components. In one exemplary embodiment, a cover generally includes an upper portion and generally downwardly extending side portions. The cover's upper and side portions are configured to generally cover at least the top and sides of the outdoor deck component. The cover's side portions may include through-holes to allow venting of moisture from an area between the cover and the outdoor deck component when the cover is positioned on the outdoor deck component.
US07673422B2	Modular buildings A building module has an open-ended box structure and comprises a plurality of interconnected coaxial module segments. Each segment is moulded as an open-ended box structure from a composite material. The segments are held together by elongate tie bars that form part of a lifting frame and extend substantially along the length of the module. The lifting frame comprises end frames that are embedded in end segments of the modules and that are connected to each other by the tie bars.
US07673418B2	Irrigation system A horticultural irrigation system comprising a plant growth container. The plant growth container comprises a receptacle for a plant growth medium, a reservoir, a container inlet, a float valve and an outlet means. The container inlet supplies water to the reservoir. The float valve is adapted to close the container inlet when the water in the reservoir reaches a pre-determined level. An outlet means allows the passage of water from the reservoir to the receptacle.
US07673416B2	Planting pots and multi-compartment tray having self-orienting configuration Planting pots and a multi-compartment tray are provided, the pots and tray having a self-orienting configuration for urging the pots into proper alignment when same are placed within compartments of the tray. The pots include angled recesses disposed radially about the bottom portion of the pots. The compartments of the tray include angled protrusions disposed radially about the bottom portion of the compartment. The angled recesses of the pot engage with the angled protrusions of the compartment when the pot is placed in the compartment to urge the pot into proper alignment. A plurality of slots are included along an upper portion of each pot for allowing optional identification tags to be inserted thereinto. The identification tags, in addition to logos, artwork, or other indicia, if included, are positioned by the self-orienting configuration of the pots and tray to face in a desired direction.
US07673409B2	Sign support arrangement A sign holder arrangement for the support of a sign from an overhead support. The holder arrangement comprises an upper sign holder assembly clamped upon an upper edge of the sign and a lower sign holder assembly clamped upon a lower edge of the sign. At least one outer support clip is disposed peripherally around the upper sign holder. The clip has a cable attached thereto and to the overhead support to hold the sign therefrom.
US07673408B2	Flame simulating assembly An assembly including a substantially transparent front panel and a partially translucent screen with a partially reflective front surface positioned to face a rear side of the front panel and spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined distance. A first image is defined on the rear side for reflection by the front surface to provide a virtual image thereof. A back wall is positioned behind the screen and displays a second image on an exposed surface thereof facing the rear surface of the screen. The exposed surface is spaced apart from the front surface of the screen by the predetermined distance. The virtual image is located substantially in the plane of the exposed surface so that the virtual image appears to be positioned behind the screen.
US07673404B2	Electric steam iron An electric steam iron includes a housing, a water tank within the housing, a bottom plate to which the housing is secured, a heating device in the bottom plate for heating the bottom plate, a boiling chamber inside the bottom plate, and a further independent steam boiler above the bottom plate, and having an inlet in fluid communication with the water tank and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the boiling chamber, such that steam from the steam boiler will be supplied to the boiling chamber in the bottom plate and further heated by the high temperature of the bottom plate, so that little drops in the steam will be fully boiled, thereby providing a high purity of the steam sprayed out of the bottom plate.
US07673398B2	Shoe for sports A shoe for sports that includes a shoe upper portion that is adapted to cover a user's foot, a ground friction device that is adapted to increase friction on a ground and an outer sole that is adapted to surround the user's foot together with the shoe upper portion. The outer sole includes one or more through holes, a top surface that supports the user's foot and a bottom surface. The ground friction device is assembled to the outer sole by being inserted into the through holes. The through hole includes a hole threaded portion, a lower end that is adjacent to the bottom surface of the outer sole and an upper end that is adjacent to the top surface of the outer sole.
US07673389B2	Cold plate apparatus and method of fabrication thereof with a controlled heat transfer characteristic between a metallurgically bonded tube and heat sink for facilitating cooling of an electronics component Cold plate apparatuses and methods of fabrication are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronics component. The fabrication approach includes: forming a tube with a first metal and having first and second ends with a heat transfer region disposed therebetween; positioning the heat transfer region of the tube within a mold and casting a heat sink member around the tube by contacting a second metal in molten form over the tube, wherein the first and second metals react peritectically to form an alloy layer between the tube and the heat sink member, and a metallurgical bond is formed between the tube and heat sink member with cooling of the molten second metal; and controlling casting of the heat sink member to minimize a thickness of the alloy layer to enhance a heat transfer characteristic of the metallurgical bond formed between the tube and the heat sink member.
US07673388B2	Method of forming fracture start portion of ductile metal part and fracture start portion forming device This is a method of forming a fracture start portion of a ductile metal part on an inner circumferential face of a through hole by irradiating laser to an opposing position of the inner circumferential face of the thorough hole of the ductile metal part having a predetermined through hole and by forming a large number of recess portions separated with a predetermined distance at a predetermined interval from one opening to the other opening of the through hole, in which a recess part is formed, instead of by focusing the laser exactly onto the inner circumferential face of the through hole, by irradiating it onto the inner circumferential face of the through hole while defocusing from the inner circumferential face of the through hole by a predetermined amount as well as by supplying an assist gas to a position of the laser irradiation, and the laser is moved linearly at a predetermined speed from one side opening to the other side opening on the inner circumferential face of the through hole while irradiating the laser onto the inner circumferential face of the through hole at a predetermined pulse.
US07673382B2	External electrode forming method A method of forming an external electrode of an electronic component involving: a paste preparation step, a removal step, an element preparation step, a contact step, and a formation step. A jig with a groove into which an element forming the electronic component can be inserted is prepared. A conductive paste is filled in the groove, and then removed, so as to leave the conductive paste along a first wall surface of the groove and remove the rest. Then, element immediately above the groove is located, and inserted into the groove and moved toward the first wall surface. Finally, the element is moved along the first wall surface and toward the aperture in a state in which the ridgeline of the element is kept in contact with the first wall surface, and moved away from the first wall surface so as to separate the ridgeline from the first wall surface.
US07673380B2	Methods for making rotors for permanent magnet motors A method for making a rotor for a permanent magnet motor, the method, in at least certain aspects, including connecting a series of a plurality of guides to a hollow rotor body, the guides spaced-apart and extending longitudinally of the rotor body, the rotor body being generally cylindrical with an interior surface, applying a plurality of magnets to the interior surface of the rotor body, and emplacing a shunt structure over the plurality of magnets to inhibit inter-magnet action during rotor assembly.
US07673379B1	Method of producing a stent-balloon assembly A method of producing a stent-balloon assembly is disclosed which includes providing a stent having a polymeric component; exposing the stent to a relative humidity of 20% to 100%; and crimping the stent on a balloon of a catheter assembly. The polymeric component could be at least part of the material from which the stent is made or could be a constituent of a coating for the stent, such as a drug delivery coating. In lieu of or in addition to the application of humidity, a plasticizing agent can be applied to the polymeric component. A crimping device is also disclosed which allows the stent to be exposed to humidity during the crimping process.
US07673368B2	Dust bag arrangement and filling indicator for floor care apparatus A floor care apparatus has a housing, including a wall, for storing a dust bag. The dust bag is angled relative to the wall and pressure sensors fill the space between the wall and dust bag. During use, as dust fills the bag, the bag expands and impinges upon a first of the pressure sensors and subsequently upon a second of the pressure sensors thereby indicating a filling of the bag with dust. A processor, connected to each of the pressure sensors, sorts a relative difference between signals of the sensors during dust filling. A visual indicator displays to users the relative fullness of the dust bag. To achieve angular disposition between the wall and dust bag, tapers, angular walls, ribs or combinations thereof are contemplated.
US07673366B2	Motor apparatus An input disk and a clutch disk are supported by an output shaft in such a manner that the input disk is rotatable relative to the output shaft, and the clutch disk is non-rotatable relative to and is axially movable relative to the output shaft. When a large load torque is exerted about the output shaft, relative rotation between the input disk and the clutch disk occurs. A connecting rod has one end connected to a worm wheel, and is reciprocally swung through rotation of the worm wheel. A rotatable lever has one end, which is connected to the other end of the connecting rod, and has the other end, which is engaged with and is secured integrally with the gear teeth of the input disk.
US07673353B1	Super bed A bed enclosure comprises a frame having a pair of end frame members. Each of the end frame members includes an arched top portion and straight vertical portions extending downwardly from the arched top portion. The frame includes longitudinal frame members on front and back sides of the frame that are coupled to end frame members wherein the frame includes a bottom frame used to receive a mattress. A pair of roll-up sidewalls each having a handle for rolling up or rolling down the sidewalls to gain access to an interior of the bed enclosure, each sidewall includes plurality of longitudinal rails that is coupled to the frame. The end of each rail is received in respective slots formed in the frame members and each of the sidewall resembles accordion walls which permits a user to enter or exit the bed enclosure.
US07676835B2	System and method for regulating access to objects in a content repository A content management system integrated with a web caching proxy that delivers content according to access control rules. An access control token is generated using a secret key when a user selects a desired object (to be provided only upon token validation, thus the object retrieval and delivery task can be delegated). However, tokens for other content and/or for other users could be generated by a rogue resource manager. If the desired object is already cached, the proxy asks the resource manager to validate the token and then selectively provides the desired object without contacting a library server. Alternately, the proxy itself performs the token validation, but must coordinate with the library server to ensure it has the latest secret key. Finally, the tokens may contain digital signatures generated with a private key and validated with a corresponding public key, so that private keys need not be distributed.
US07676826B2	Technique for communicating relatively high and low priority data between a terminal and a remote location In a cable network providing, among others, interactive video services, data cells carrying real-time data concerning, e.g., trick mode commands (pause, rewind and fast-forward) initiated by a user are instantly transmitted to a headend facility for immediate processing. The invention is premised upon a recognition that such real-time data typically does not fully utilize the transport capacity of the data cells. In accordance with the invention, non-real-time (NRT) data to be transmitted to the headend facility, although accorded a lower priority than the real-time data, is inserted into those underutilized data cells before their transmission, thereby fully exploiting the transport capacity of the data cells.
US07676824B2	Method for the processing of remote control signals within a home audiovisual network, corresponding signal, devices and computer program Processing signals from a remote control device within a home audiovisual network comprising a plurality of nodes for interconnecting a plurality of terminals, wherein, within the network, at least two types of remote-control signals are used, including first type remote-control signals specific to the nodes and sent by at least one first remote control device associated with the nodes, and second type remote-control signals specific to the terminals and sent by at least one second remote control device associated with at least one of said terminals. Each node of the network, called a local node, when receiving a first remote-control signal, performs analysis of the type of the received first remote-control signal, if the type of the received first remote-control signal is determined to be one of the first type remote-control signals, processing the signal and performing at least one function in response to the received first remote-control signal, if the type of the received first remote-control signal is determined to be one of the second type remote-control signals, transparently sending said received second type remote-control signal to a target node if the target node, to which a target terminal is connected, has been determined beforehand, said target terminal being connected with said target node, through at least one predetermined link between the target node and the target terminal, and if no target node has been determined beforehand, ignoring said received second type remote-control signal.
US07676820B2	Method and apparatus for similar video content hopping An apparatus for playing video content includes a play means (100) for playing video content. The video content includes overlapping scenes (621, 622, 641, 642, 661, 662, 681, 682), with each scene having an associated scene signature. A scene hopping selector (44) is operative while the play means (100) is playing video content for selecting a hop. The selecting defines a current scene (102) which the play means (100) is playing at a time of the selection, and a current scene signature corresponding to the current scene (102). A similar scene hopping processor (104) operates responsive to a defining of a current scene (102). The similar scene hopping processor (104) compares the current scene signature with other scene signatures of the video content to identify a similar scene (106). The similar scene hopping processor (104) causes the play means (100) to transfer the playing to the similar scene (106).
US07676815B2	System and related methods for accessing management functionality through a command line utility A command line utility is described that overlays the management infrastructure of an enterprise to provide easier command options for administrators to effectively manage the enterprise. The primary intent of the command line utility is to facilitate management of the environment without requiring administrators to write scripts or navigate a vast schematized enterprise exposed through the management infrastructure. The command line utility provides command options through class aliases that enable the mapping of management queries and operations to a common term or friendly name that can be extended both in an alias file or at run time in the command line.
US07676813B2	Method and system for accessing resources In a method for accessing resources provided by an operating system, a request for a resource is received by an application program executing inside a first environment. A first identifier associated with the resource is acquired. A second identifier referring to the requested resource and to a launch environment on which to launch the resource is determined. The request for the resource is redirected to the identified instance of the resource, responsive to the second identifier. The request for the resource is responded to using the instance of the resource located inside an environment on which the resource resides.
US07676810B2	Identification of execution context A system and method for identification of the execution context of a thread is disclosed. Under an embodiment of the invention, a method comprises associating a program object with a program thread; storing information concerning the program thread in the program object; and retrieving the information concerning the program thread upon request.
US07676808B2	System and method for CPI load balancing in SMT processors A system and method for scheduling threads in a Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) processor environment utilizing multiple SMT processors is provided. Poor performing threads that are being run on each of the SMT processors are identified. After being identified, the poor performing threads are moved to a different SMT processor. Data is captured regarding the performance of threads. In one embodiment, this data includes each threads' CPI value. When a thread is moved, data regarding the thread and its performance at the time it was moved is recorded along with a timestamp. The data regarding previous moves is used to determine whether a thread's performance is improved following the move.
US07676806B2	Deployment, maintenance and configuration of complex hardware and software systems Techniques for deploying, maintaining and configuring complex hardware and software systems are provided. An abstract configuration of the system describes the system's desired state. Each component of the system declares the general form of the resources it requires and an abstract representation of the versions of the services it both requires and provides. A configuration process uses the abstract configuration of the system and the descriptions of each of the components in the system to validate that the system can operate effectively, ensures that each component is in the correct state and at the right version, and generates the necessary interconnections for the application components to interoperate with each other.
US07676802B2	System, and associated method, for downloading an application A method for facilitating the downloading of an application from a server computer to a client device, whereby the client device generates to the server computer an initiation request for information describing available applications. In response to receipt of the initiation request, the server computer retrieves, for each available application, information describing the respective application, and a link to an application descriptor for the respective application. The server computer transmits the information and link to the client device, which in turn displays the information and stores the link. When the user selects an application, the link for the selected application is recalled and is reached on the server computer for retrieval of the application descriptor. From the application descriptor, the client device may determine whether the application fits the device profile and, hence, whether to download the application.
US07676801B1	Scanning of evacuated objects in a generation managed by the train algorithm In computer systems including memory which execute programs of instructions, vtables associated with objects contain pointers which invoke operations to be performed by the program which are related to the objects. The operation invoked may include the step of modifying the pointer such that upon a subsequent reference to the vtable a different operation is invoked. In one embodiment, such vtables are utilized in conjunction with garbage collection methodologies such as those that invoke the train algorithm, such that operations such as reference processing, insertion and scanning during garbage collection may be invoked by pointers in vtables associated with cars or objects in the cars, and the vtables may invoke differing versions of the said operations depending on the characteristics and past history of the car or object, and upon an operation being executed the operation may change the pointer so that a different version of the operation is performed upon a subsequent reference to the vtable associated with the car or object.
US07676799B1	Address simplification by binary transformation A method for optimizing executable code includes identifying a plurality of instructions in the executable code matching a predetermined instruction pattern, assessing whether the binary number conforms to a predetermined bit pattern, and transforming the plurality of instructions into transformed instructions when the binary number conforms to the bit pattern.
US07676794B2	Testing scenarios that sequentially execute a plurality of application program interfaces To efficiently decide input data of an API to be executed and indicate a candidate for an API to be executed, a tool for testing a scenario which sequentially executes a plurality of APIs includes an API test control unit that stores, with the execution of the API, sequence data indicating an execution sequence of the APIs and input and output data in a test information database via an API sequence registering unit. Association data indicating association of input and output data between the APIs is also stored in the test information database via an association registering unit. Responsively, the API test control unit displays a candidate API list indicating one or more candidates for an API to be executed next based on the sequence data, and decides the input data of the API to be executed next based on the association data.
US07676793B2	Determination of dependent objects by a source control system and a method to automatically include those objects with the parent object when changes are enabled This software invention requires that information be saved with each object that is placed in a source control system. This information includes the name, type, status, version number, and references to parent objects. When the object is checked-out, this information is used to determine the legality of checking-out any dependent objects. A method is used to generate the information that is saved and another method is used to determine which objects need to be checked-out. The dependent objects that need to be checked-out are then automatically checked-out.
US07676791B2	Implementation of concurrent programs in object-oriented languages The present invention adds support for concurrency to a mainstream object-oriented language. Language extensions are provided that can enable programs to be developed that can either be run in one address space, distributed across several process on a single computer, or distributed across a local-area or wide-area network, without recoding the program. Central to this aspect is the notion of a service, which can execute its own algorithmic (logical) thread. Services do not share memory or synchronize using explicit synchronization primitives. Rather, both data sharing and synchronization is accomplished via message-passing, e.g., a set of explicitly declared messages are sent between services. Messages can contain data that is shared, and the pattern of message exchange provide the necessary synchronization.
US07676788B1	Architecture and method for executing program builds A method is described comprising: scheduling jobs for a program build to execute in parallel across a plurality of nodes; predicting the files required to complete each of the jobs; and preloading the files to each node prior to the execution of each job.
US07676786B2	System and method and apparatus for using UML tools for defining web service bound component applications A system and method is provided for generating a software application including a plurality of components, a first set of the components having metadata descriptors expressed in a structured definition language for defining configuration information of the software application and a second set of the components being expressed as a series of scripted instructions coupled to the metadata descriptors for defining a workflow of the software application. The software application is used for facilitating interaction with a schema-defined service by a terminal device over a network. The system and method comprise a workflow extractor for identifying a workflow sequence generated by a modeling tool in an output of the modeling tool. The workflow sequence is associated with at least one of a flow diagram or a relational diagram of the modeling tool for describing interactions between a pair of components of the first set of components. The system and method also include a workflow generator for generating a workflow mechanism based on the identified workflow sequence, the workflow mechanism for associating processing of the metadata descriptors of one component of the pair of components with the other component of the pair of components during execution of the software application. The workflow mechanism can be a component mapping expressed in the metadata descriptors of the first set of components or expressed as the series of scripted instructions.
US07676759B2	Method and apparatus for searching data A method and apparatus is disclosed which provide a scroll bar for use with a display device. The scroll bar has an index and the data displayed on the display device is presented according to the index. In response to user commands the method and apparatus provide additional nested indexes for the displayed data.
US07676754B2	Method and program product for resolving ambiguities through fading marks in a user interface Resolving an ambiguous input. When an ambiguous user input is received, the user input is displayed, for example, in a way that either the ambiguity is resolved or the ambiguity is indicated to the user by unique and distinctive graphical indications. Then, after waiting either for a time to receive a corrective input from the user or for a predetermined time, the display of the user input is faded.
US07676744B2	Automated markup language layout Methods and computer programs for automatically creating a text layout in a markup language design for a product to be printed. A number of defined text elements are available for user text. The layout is based on the text elements having user text content. Text elements without text content are disregarded. Positioning of the text elements is determined based on the height of the text elements, defined text element spacing distances, and a defined positioning order. Creating a layout may include positioning design elements relative to the text elements. Font sizes and spacing distances are automatically reduced if necessary to create a suitable layout.
US07676735B2	Forward error-correcting (FEC) coding and streaming In a data decoder for decoding data from received symbols received over a channel from an encoder, a method for decoding data wherein the received data includes erasures and includes source symbols and repair symbols organized into one or more source blocks. The decoder uses a generator matrix, any square submatrix of which is invertible, such that the decoder performs decoding operations concurrently with the arrival of the source symbols and repair symbols that are a part of a source block. Novel methods for interleaving and specifying encoding structure for a large class of FEC codes, scheduling the sending of packets and the like, are also applied in conjunction with the method for decoding data.
US07676726B2	Stabilization for random chip identifier circuit A method of stabilizing an identification series of bits by iteratively reading the identification series and logical OR'ing the identification series with a mask string after each read of the identification series. This produces a mask string having a first value in all positions of the mask string where bits in the identification series have never changed value during all of the readings of the identification series, representing stable bits, and a second value in all positions of the mask string where bits in the identification series have changed value during at least one of the readings of the identification series, representing unstable bits. The number of the unstable bits in the mask string having the second value is counted, and a method failure code is selectively reported when the number of unstable bits exceeds a maximum allowable number of unstable bits. An identification string is produced from the stable bits, and an identification code is calculated from the identification string. The identification code does not disclose the identification string, but is able to confirm the accuracy of the identification string and selectively correct a given number of bits within a corrupted identification string. At least one of the identification string, the identification code, and the mask string are stored.
US07676716B2	Testable tristate bus keeper A method of testing a tristate element by applying a given value to the tristate, applying an opposite value to a keeper element connected at an output of the tristate, capturing a first value at a downstream position of the tristate, evaluating a second value at the output of the tristate using the first value, comparing the second value to the opposite value, and producing a failure code for the tristate when the second value is not equal to the opposite value. Then, applying the opposite value to the tristate, applying the given value to the keeper element, capturing the first value, evaluating the second value using the first value, comparing the second value to the given value, and producing a failure code for the tristate when the second value is not equal to the given value. A passing code for the tristate is produced when a failure code has not been produced.
US07676713B2	Automated device testing using intertwined stimulus-generation and response validation specifications for managing DUT's that generate out-of-order responses An intertwined test specification (ITTS) is used for controlling Automated Test Equipment (ATE) to apply a sequence of stimulus signals to a device under test (DUT) during a stimulus run and to validate returned response signals during a validation run. The ITTS has response validation scripts intertwined with stimulus invoking scripts where the response validation scripts are conditionally executed during the validation run but not during the stimulus invoking run. Response signals are logically associated with unique stimulus identification codes so that appropriate response signals can be matched with corresponding validation scripts even if the response signals are returned out-of-order to the ATE or to a response logging unit interposed between the ATE and the DUT.
US07676712B2	System and method of clocking an IP core during a debugging operation According to the invention, an IP core is clocked during a debugging operation by switching from the clock used for testing the device under test to a clock oscillator or any other free-running clock source.
US07676701B2	Computer readable medium storing an error recovery program, error recovery method, error recovery apparatus, and computer system A computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute a process for error recovery. The process includes: when an error is detected during transfer of dummy data for maintaining a link, executing device reset to recover from the error, and monitoring whether or not another error occurs during an error monitoring period starting from the device reset; when the other error occurs during the error monitoring period, executing the device reset to recover from the other error, monitoring whether or not still another error occurs during the error monitoring period starting from the device reset; counting number of the successive error monitoring periods in each of which the error occurs; and judging an error occurrence state based on a result of the counting.
US07676700B2	System for testing hard disks A system for testing hard disks includes a hard disk testing device and a computer. The computer has a mainboard and a key-press controller. The hard disk testing device connects with the mainboard and includes: a hard disk interface configured for connecting one or more hard disks to be tested to a south bridge of the mainboard; a key-press panel configured for connecting the key-press controller of the computer, and providing a hard disk testing control interface for users; and a hard disk testing unit configured for testing the one or more hard disks.
US07676693B2	Method and apparatus for monitoring power failure A status notification register storing a state of a function executing section is arranged for each function executing section. The function executing section includes at least one circuit for performing a predetermined function. By determining one of two values set in the status notification register, a power failure occurring in a functional unit is identified and an initial setting process is performed to an identified location when power is restored.
US07676687B2	Method, computer program product, and system for limiting access by a failed node In a multi-node computer system, file access by a failed node is limited. Upon receipt on an indication of a node failure, a fencing command is sent to disks in a disk subsystem to which the failed node has access. If the fencing command sent to a disk fails, the fencing command is sent to a server having access to at least one disk in a disk subsystem to which the failed node has access to limit access by the failed node to the disk in the disk subsystem. If the fencing command sent to the server does not result in limiting access by the failed node to all the disks in the disk subsystem, sending the command to another server having access to at least one disk in the disk subsystem to limit access by the failed node to the disks in the disk subsystem. The fencing command may be sent to various servers until access by the failed node to all the disks in the disk subsystem is limited or until the fencing command has been sent to all the servers. The fencing command may be sent one at a time to servers having access to the disks in the disk subsystem, may be sent concurrently to all the servers having access to the disks in the disk subsystem, or may be forwarded from one server to another.
US07676683B2	Method and system for rebooting a processor in a multi-processor system Processors arranged in a multi-processor configuration for substantially parallel operations receive their initialization data in order to start operations, such as graphics computations, real-time multimedia streaming, etc. Due to a change in the processing load, one or more processors might be deactivated. Subsequently, the load increases to such a level that requires all or some of the deactivated processors to be active again. In this case, the boot-up process of the entire system is not carried out as it would be time-consuming and wasteful; instead, responsive to a control signal only those processors that were previously in inactive mode are re-initialized by selecting a configuration data supplied by another processor, controller or any other intelligent programmable device. Alternatively, the configuration data may be accessed and retrieved from a local storage medium individually located in each processor, thereby re-booting only those inactive processors and without re-initializing the entire system.
US07676681B2	Method, system, and apparatus for identification number authentication A computer based method, system and apparatus of authentication which compares a first number associated with a user with a second number, wherein the second number is a mathematical function of at least two predetermined digits within the user's identification number, preferably a Social Security Number. A computer based method, system and apparatus for authenticating a user's identification number, which compares a first code associated with a user with a second code, wherein said second code is an alphabetic translation of at least two predetermined digits within the user's identification number.
US07676674B2	Method for authenticating electronic documents A secure method for sending register, authenticated electronic documents is disclosed. The sender sends a first set of data, not including the plaintext message, encrypted with the public key of the recipient, and a second set of data, including the plaintext message, encrypted with a session key which was included in the encrypted first set of data. The recipient is first asked if he wants to receive the message, and then, upon seeing an abstract, asked if he wants to receive the full message. Confirmatory data regarding the decryption of the message and the presentation of the data to the recipient is recorded and sent to an authentication agent.
US07676671B2	System for multi-profile boot selection of an embedded device A system for multi-profile boot selection of an embedded device and method therefor are described. The system comprises a storage device reader, a processing device, and a memory. The processing device communicates with the storage device reader and the memory stores instructions including a boot controller which, when executed by the processing device, interacts with the storage device reader and automatically generates a default boot configuration file based on determining a failure from interaction with the storage device reader.
US07676670B2	Power supply control device and method, program, and recording/playback apparatus A power supply control device includes a first signal output unit that outputs a re-power signal and an off-ready signal, the re-power signal being a signal for turning off the power supply of an apparatus for a predetermined period of time and then turning on the power supply of the apparatus, the off-ready signal indicating that the power supply of the apparatus is ready to be turned off; a second signal output unit that outputs a power-off enable signal for turning off the power supply of the apparatus to a power supply unit when the re-power signal and the off-ready signal are supplied to the second signal output unit; and a holding unit that holds the power-off enable signal for the predetermined period of time.
US07676663B2	Method, system and program product for pipelined processor having a branch target buffer (BTB) table with a recent entry queue in parallel with the BTB table A method and apparatus enable supplementing a Branch Target Buffer (BTB) table with a recent entry queue that prevents unnecessary removal of valuable BTB table data of multiple entries for another entry. The recent entry queue detects when the startup latency of the BTB table prevents it from asynchronously aiding the microprocessor pipeline as designed for and thereby can delay the pipeline in the required situations such that the BTB table latency on startup can be overcome. The recent entry queue provides a quick access to BTB table entries that are accessed in a tight loop pattern where the throughput of the standalone BTB table cannot track the throughput of the microprocessor execution pipeline. By using the recent entry queue, the modified BTB table processes information at the rate of the execution pipeline which provides acceleration thereof.
US07676659B2	System, method and software to preload instructions from a variable-length instruction set with proper pre-decoding In a processor executing instructions from a variable-length instruction set, a preload instruction is operative to retrieve from memory a data block corresponding to an instruction cache line, pre-decode instructions from a variable-length instruction set in the data block, and load the instructions and pre-decode information into the instruction cache. An instruction execution unit indicates to a pre-decoder the position within the data block of a first valid instruction. The pre-decoder successively determines the length of each instruction and hence the instruction boundaries. An instruction cache line offset indicator that identifies the position of the first valid instruction may be generated and provided to the pre-decoder in a variety of ways.
US07676657B2	Across-thread out-of-order instruction dispatch in a multithreaded microprocessor Instruction dispatch in a multithreaded microprocessor such as a graphics processor is not constrained by an order among the threads. Instructions for each thread are fetched, and a dispatch circuit determines which instructions in the buffer are ready to execute. The dispatch circuit may issue any ready instruction for execution, and an instruction from one thread may be issued prior to an instruction from another thread regardless of which instruction was fetched first. If multiple functional units are available, multiple instructions can be dispatched in parallel.
US07676655B2	Single bit control of threads in a multithreaded multicore processor A method and mechanism for controlling threads in a multithreaded multicore processor. A processor includes multiple cores, each of which are capable of executing multiple threads. A control register which is shared by each of the cores is utilized to control the status of the threads in the processing system. In one embodiment, the shared register includes a single bit for each thread in the processor. Depending upon the value written to a bit of the shared register, one of three results may occur with respect to a thread which corresponds to the bit. In one embodiment, writing a “0” to a bit of the shared register will cause a corresponding thread to be Parked. Writing a “1” to a bit of the shared register will cause a corresponding thread to either be UnParked or be Reset. Whether writing a “1” to a bit of the register causes the corresponding thread to be UnParked or Reset depends upon a state of the processor.
US07676650B2	Apparatus for controlling instruction fetch reusing fetched instruction When an instruction stored in a specific instruction buffer is the same as another instruction stored in another instruction buffer and logically subsequent to the instruction in the specific instruction buffer, a connection is made from the instruction buffer storing a logically and immediately preceding instruction, not the instruction in the other instruction buffer, to the specific instruction buffer without the instruction in the other instruction buffer, and a loop is generated by instruction buffers, thereby performing a short loop in an instruction buffer system capable of arbitrarily connecting a plurality of instruction buffers.
US07676648B2	Method for manipulating data in a group of processing elements to perform a reflection of the data A method for generating a reflection of data in a plurality of processing elements comprises shifting the data along, for example, each row in the array until each processing element in the row has received all the data held by every other processing element in that row. Each processing element stores and outputs final data as a function of its position in the row. A similar reflection along a horizontal line can be achieved by shifting data along columns instead of rows. Also disclosed is a method for reflecting data in a matrix of processing elements about a vertical line comprising shifting data between processing elements arranged in rows. An initial count is set in each processing element according to the expression (2×Col_Index) MOD (array size). In one embodiment, a counter counts down from the initial count in each processing element as a function of the number of shifts that have peen performed. Output is selected as a function of the current count. A similar reflection about a horizontal line can be achieved by shifting data between processing elements arranged in columns and setting the initial count according to the expression (2×Row_Index) MOD (array size). The present invention represents an efficient method for obtaining the reflection of data.
US07676644B2	Data processing system, storage apparatus and management console In a data processing system having a storage system and a management computer for managing the storage system, the management computer has an access right setting request unit for transmitting, to the storage system, a request to set a right to access a designated logical volume in response to a predetermined external input. The storage system also has: a control unit for dynamically expanding, as necessary based on an access request from the host computer, the capacity of a first type logical volume by dynamically assigning storage areas in units of segments of predetermined size thereto; and an access right setting unit for setting, in response to a request to set a right to access the first type logical volume from the management computer, a designated access right for each segment assigned to the first type logical volume.
US07676637B2	Location-aware cache-to-cache transfers In shared-memory multiprocessor systems, cache interventions from different sourcing caches can result in different cache intervention costs. With location-aware cache coherence, when a cache receives a data request, the cache can determine whether sourcing the data from the cache will result in less cache intervention cost than sourcing the data from another cache. The decision can be made based on appropriate information maintained in the cache or collected from snoop responses from other caches. If the requested data is found in more than one cache, the cache that has or likely has the lowest cache intervention cost is generally responsible for supplying the data. The intervention cost can be measured by performance metrics that include, but are not limited to, communication latency, bandwidth consumption, load balance, and power consumption.
US07676624B2	Multiple module computer system and method including differential signal channel comprising undirectional serial bit channels A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.
US07676622B2	System and method for improved bus communication A system for bus communication includes a first port coupled to a bus, comprising a first engine configured to respond to bus signals on the bus, according to a predetermined protocol. A second port couples to the bus, comprising a second engine configured to respond to bus signals according to the predetermined protocol. A control module couples to the second port and is configured to receive a port state signal, and to disable the second port based on the received port state signal.
US07676619B2	Portable computer apparatus with thermal enhancements and multiple modes of operation A portable computer adapted for electrical connection to a docking station having multiple power modes of operation is described. The portable computer has one or more CPU chips which have at least two power modes of operation, a low power mode and a high power mode. When the portable computer is operated as a stand-alone computer, it operates in the low power mode. When the portable computer is operated while electrically connected to the docking station, it operates in a high power mode. The docking station has greater cooling capacity than the portable computer alone to provide enhanced cooling of the high power mode of operation.
US07676613B2	Methods and structure for assuring correct data order in SATA transmissions over a SAS wide port Methods and associated structure to assure correct order in delivery of SATA frames over a SAS wide port. In one aspect hereof, new connection requests from a SATA device are rejected until prior frames residing in receive buffers of the SAS/SATA controller are properly processed. In another aspect, when a device is already connected to the controller, the SAS/SATA controller may prevent return of a receiver ready primitive in response to a transmitter ready primitive until previously received frames are removed from the receive buffers.
US07676612B2	Video camera device and control method thereof A device determines whether a speed mode between the device and an external device is a first speed mode or a second speed mode, communicates with the external device at first speed if the speed mode is the first speed mode, and communicates with the external device at second speed slower than the first speed if the speed mode is the second speed mode. The device enables transfer of image data and displays the image data being transferred to the external device, if the speed mode is the first speed mode. The device disables the transfer of the image data and stops displaying the image data, if the speed mode is the second speed mode.
US07676610B2	Device and method for optimization of target host device process handling according to the status and the priority of the target host device process An input/output device stores host status information about the status of a host, and controls the input/output of data. By referring to the input/output information and the host status information, the device performs optimization control of selecting notification either by an interrupt process or a non-interrupt process. When a notification by the interrupt process is selected, data transfer control is performed to the host, and the data is transferred to the host by an interrupt. When a notification by the non-interrupt process is selected, data transfer control is performed to the host, and notification control is performed to transfer the data to the host by polling.
US07676609B2	Method and apparatus for non-disruptively unassigning an active address in a fabric A non-disruptive unassignment of an address from a fabric responsive to a request from a channel adapter. A logout command requests the fabric to unassign an address. The status of the address is thereby changed from active to unassigned and an acknowledgment sent back to the channel adapter.
US07676596B1	Method and system for broadcasting live data over a network Method and system for broadcasting live data over a network are described. In one embodiment, live data is accessed. Next, a first client is authenticated. The live data is then broadcast to a first client, wherein the first client is capable of buffering and re-transmitting the live data. Next, a second client is authenticated. A list of clients receiving the live data is then sent to the second client. The second client then selects the first client from the list, contacts the first client, and then receives the live data from the first client.
US07676591B2	System and method for transferring multiple data channels A system and a method transfer multiple data channels between a server and a terminal via a stream session over a network. The system and the method utilize a bitstream switching, a fast buffer filling and/or a fast playback start to facilitate a switch from a first data channel and a second data channel. The first data channel and/or the second data channel is delivered to and/or is transferred to the terminal from the server over the network via a streaming session. The server transfers second data of the second data channel to the terminal via one or more tracks which are encoded at more than one bitrate and/or are configured in one or more configurations. The terminal requests a change between the first track and/or the second track without terminating the stream session for the first data channel between the terminal and the server. As a result, the system and/or the method minimizes the delay period of time between requesting the switch to the second data channel and displaying the second data channel.
US07676578B1	Resource entitlement control system controlling resource entitlement based on automatic determination of a target utilization and controller gain A control system for controlling resource entitlement for a resource compartment in a resource-on-demand system includes nested loops. An inner loop includes an adaptive feedback control system including an adaptive controller operable to automatically determining a gain for the control system. The gain varies depending on a demand of the resource compartment in a previous interval, and the adaptive controller is operable to determine a resource entitlement for the resource compartment for a current interval based on the gain and a target utilization for the current interval. An outer loop includes a feedback control system operable to automatically determine the target utilization for the current interval, wherein the target utilization varies based on at least one QoS metric measured for the previous interval and a QoS metric target.
US07676576B1	Method and system to clear counters used for statistical tracking for global server load balancing Server load-balancing operation-related data, such as data associated with a system configured for global server load balancing (GSLB) that orders IP addresses into a list based on a set of performance metrics, is tracked. Such operation-related data includes inbound source IP addresses (e.g., the address of the originator of a DNS request), the requested host and zone, identification of the selected “best” IP addresses resulting from application of a GSLB algorithm, and the selection metric used to decide on an IP address as the “best” one. The data includes a count of the selected “best” IP addresses selected via application of the GSLB algorithm, and for each of these IP addresses, the list of deciding performance metrics, along with a count of the number of times each of these metrics in the list was used as a deciding factor in selection of this IP address as the best one. This tracking feature allows better understanding of GSLB policy decisions (such as those associated with performance, maintenance, and troubleshooting) and intelligent deployment of large-scale resilient GSLB networks. The counters can be cleared as needed and without having to reload the system.
US07676574B2	Internet website traffic flow analysis An Internet-based analysis tool follows, in real-time, the flow of traffic through a website. For every website page requested by a website visitor, the state of the visitor's browser is recorded and data relating to the path visitors take through the website is collected and studied. The state of the visitor's browser path is maintained in a traffic analysis cookie that is passed between a website file server and the visitor browser with every page requested for viewing. The cookie is maintained in a size that can be passed from server to browser and back again without negatively impacting server performance and without negatively impacting browser performance. The data in the cookie can follow the visitor browser through independent file servers, regardless of how the pages of a website might be distributed in storage.
US07676566B2	Source reputation information system for filtering electronic messages using a network-connected computer Disclosed herein are filtering systems and methods that employ an electronic message source reputation system. The source reputation system maintains a pool of source Internet Protocol (IP) address information, in the form of a Real-Time Threat Identification Network (“RTIN”) database, which can provide the reputation of source IP addresses, which can be used by customers for filtering network traffic. The source reputation system provides for multiple avenues of access to the source reputation information. Examples of such avenues can include Domain Name Server (DNS)-type queries, servicing routers with router-table data, or other avenues.
US07676564B2	Managing stored data on a computer network A method and system for managing stored data on a computer network organizes data into logical volumes, and each logical volume has a friendly name associated with it. A domain controller keeps track of the friendly names of the logical volumes and associates those friendly names with the actual physical paths of the logical volumes. When a client computer on the network wishes to access a logical volume, it sends a look-up request having the friendly name to the domain controller. The domain controller may fulfill the request by sending the path of the logical volume to the client computer.
US07676562B2	Computer system for accessing instrumentation information To maintain and manage a computer network, a system administrator may monitor a large number and variety of components, each component comprising a variety of resources. The instrumentation of a resource may be monitored and/or manipulated by receiving a Simple Object Accessing Protocol (SOAP) message comprising an operation identifier for accessing instrumentation information and a resource identifier associated with a computer system resource. The management system may resolve the resource identifier into an address for a local handler associated with the resource, and may send a local request to the local handler at the resolved address.
US07676560B2	Using URI's to identify multiple instances with a common schema A system that uses a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) to uniquely identify a class of resources. The schema uses a URI with a placeholder substituted for the resource name, effectively creating a URI template. Processing of the URI template facilitates retrieval of resource class information. If specificity is required, the URI template can be converted to a specific URI by replacing the placeholder with the name of a given resource or instance to get information about that particular instance. URI templates allow probes to be identified and the probe characteristics to be understood without actually retrieving the probe for a particular instance.
US07676554B1	Network acceleration device having persistent in-memory cache A network acceleration device includes a persistent, in-memory cache of network content. For example, the cache may store content in a manner that allows a software process to map virtual memory to specific, known regions of an underlying physical memory. Upon detecting a failure of a process executing within the network device, the network acceleration device may restart the software process and remap data structures of the cache to the known regions of the physical memory without necessarily requiring that the cache content be reloaded from a non-volatile memory, such as a hard drive. In this manner, the network acceleration device may accelerate download speeds by avoiding timely cache content restoration in the event of a software process failure.
US07676547B2	System for processing information including a mail subject of an e-mail not including all contents of the e-mail for controlling delivery of the mail subject requested by a host and method thereof A system for processing an e-mail is disclosed. The system includes: a host, for issuing a first request to get a mail subject of the e-mail; a first server, for sending a first information associated with the e-mail, wherein the first information includes at least the mail subject and does not include all mail contents of the requested e-mail; a second server, for analyzing a second information to determine whether or not the mail subject is delivered to the host and then outputting an analysis result; and a parser, for receiving the information, outputting the second information to the second server, and directing the mail subject to the host if the analysis result indicates the parser should deliver the mail subject to the host.
US07676543B2	Associating presence information with a digital image The present invention provides a computer-implemented method and system for associating presence information with a digital image. Aspects of the preferred embodiment include allowing an identifier associated with at least one object depicted in the image to be stored as image metadata; using the identifier to associate presence information with the at least one object; and performing an action related to the object using the associated presence information.
US07676542B2	Establishing a collaboration environment Establishing an electronic collaboration area includes receiving from an application a collaboration area request that identifies a collaboration area template structure, receiving one or more collaboration area parameters relating to the collaboration area template structure, and establishing a collaboration area having content that is a function of the collaboration area template structure and the received one or more collaboration area parameters, the collaboration area being accessible to a plurality of collaboration area participants.
US07676540B2	Scoped referral statements Methods, systems, and data structures for communicating object metadata are provided. A generic metadata container is presented that allows object metadata to be described in an extensible manner using protocol-neutral and platform-independent methodologies. A metadata scope refers to a dynamic universe of targets to which the included metadata statements correspond. Metadata properties provide a mechanism to describe the metadata itself, and metadata security can be used to ensure authentic metadata is sent and received. Mechanisms are also provided to allow refinement and replacement of metadata statements. The metadata container may be used to convey referral data to update routing tables in network nodes, and may also be used register referral statements and query a node for referral information.
US07676538B2	Systems and methods for application view transactions Local transactions are supported by an application view instance that can switch from a stateless session bean to a stateful session bean in order to open a connection for a local transaction. The state that the stateful session bean holds is ten the connection. The stateful session bean can hold the connection open across multiple requests in the local transaction interface allows a user to manage the transaction in the application view, and to switch the application view between a stateless session bean and a stateful session bean. A local transaction interface can contain a local transaction management contract, which enables an application server to provide an infrastructure and run-time environment for management of the transaction.
US07676535B2	Enhanced floating-point unit for extended functions An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to perform floating-point operations. A floating-point (FP) squarer squares a first argument to produce an intermediate argument. The first and intermediate arguments have first and intermediate mantissas and exponents. A FP multiply-add (MAD) unit performs a multiply-and-add operation on the intermediate argument, a second argument, and a third argument to produce a result having a result mantissa and a result exponent. The second and third arguments have second and third mantissas and exponents, respectively.
US07676534B2	Coordinate mutual converting module A coordinate mutual conversion module is provided which is capable of readily utilizing a global mesh code. A zone number (I-VI) and an east-west number within a block are derived from the longitude of a requested position (S1). A block number and a south-north number are derived from the latitude of the requested position (S2). A unit number is derived from the east-west number and south-north number (S3). The value of the western end longitude of the derived unit is subtracted from the value the longitude of the position to derive the difference which is divided by 2160 seconds (S4), the resulting value is multiplied by 10 raised to n, and an integer part of the resulting value is defined to be an east-west number of a mesh (S5). The latitude of the position is subtracted from the northern end latitude of the derived unit to derive the difference which is divided by a value in seconds converted from difference A of the unit (S6), the resulting value is multiplied by 10 raised to n, and an integer part of the resulting value is defined to be a south-north number of the mesh (S7). The block number, unit number, east-west number, and south-north number are arranged in this order to create an N-code (S8).
US07676532B1	Processing system and method for transform A system includes M memories, wherein a first mapping assigns each point of an N-point input sequence to one of the M memories. A pipelined data path receives an input from each of the M memories, stores an output to each of the M memories, and iteratively processes pairs of points of the N-point input sequence. A control module designates the pairs of points from the M memories for processing by the data path, wherein only one point of each of the pairs is designated at one time.
US07676531B2	Methods and apparatus for random number generation Methods and apparatus provide for powering up a static random access memory (SRAM); interrogating at least some contents of the SRAM resulting from power up; and using the contents as at least a basis of a random number.
US07676530B2	Duration minimum and maximum circuit for performance counter A circuit for tracking the minimum and maximum duration of an event of interest is described. The circuit is connected to a counter for counting a number of clock cycles that the event of interest is active and comprises logic for detecting deactivation of the event of interest and generating a duration end signal; logic responsive to the duration end signal for comparing a count value with a shadow value; and logic for updating the shadow value based on results of the comparing.
US07676527B2	Processor The present invention provides an arithmetic unit comprising an input register for storing externally input digital data as a P-bit digital data, an output register for storing a Q-bit digital data, and an output bit selecting means. The output bit selecting means is operable to receive the P-bit digital data which is output from the input register as a first input data, and the Q-bit digital data which is output from the output register as a second input data. The output big selecting means is further operable to select bits, values of which bits are to be output, among bits of the first input data and bits of the second input data, in accordance with a control data which is input from outside. The output bit selecting means is still further operable to output Q-bit digital data comprising the values of the selected bits to the output register. This arithmetic unit is suitable for being employed in an image processing system to perform the multiplexing processing or the demultiplexing processing for codes at high speeds.
US07676525B2	Efficient query processing of merge statement Disclosed are systems and methods for optimization and efficient processing of MERGE statements. MERGE allows performing a mix of inserts, updates, and deletes in a single statement, and introduces new challenges compared to legacy DML statements, where the kind of action to be performed is hard-coded and known at compile time. Such optimizations may include Halloween Protection detection for MERGE statements, optimized prevention of non-deterministic MERGE statements, in-place inserts for MERGE statements scanning the “Read Instance” of the target table, and optimized execution of MERGE statements seeking the “Read Instance” of the target table. Such optimizations may be fundamental in order to ensure proper performance and reliable processing times.
US07676522B2	Method and system for including data quality in data streams A method and system are described for including data quality in data streams. An example method may include obtaining a first group of data items, each data item including one or more data attribute values. A first group of data quality items may be determined, each data quality item including one or more data quality attribute values associated with one of the data items of the first group. A first aggregated data quality value may be determined based on the first group of data quality items. A first data stream interval including the first group of data items and the first aggregated data quality value may be output.
US07676509B2	Methods and apparatus for modifying a backup data stream including a set of validation bytes for each data block to be provided to a fixed position delta reduction backup application Methods and apparatus for modifying a data stream of backup data to be provided to a fixed position delta reduction backup method are disclosed. When the data stream is received, at least a portion of the data stream is parsed into a plurality of data blocks and a plurality of sets of validation bytes, wherein each of the plurality of data blocks corresponds to one of the plurality of sets of validation bytes. One or more modified data streams are then generated such that the plurality of data blocks are separate from the plurality of sets of validation bytes.
US07676505B2	System, method and computer program product for shared user tailoring of websites Users create, share, and build collaboration communities around tailored versions of the functional pages of a web site, such as the pages used to select and purchase products, or the pages used to present course materials in an online-learning site. The tailored versions of the web site are stored at the common web site development web site or at another server side location. Users access the tailored versions to select a tailored version for their own use and/or modification.
US07676504B2	Device and method for processing content and an information file related to the content It is possible for an information processing device to read or write a large amount of contents-related information more quickly if the device has a relatively small processing capacity. The file format identifier information and the block identifier information that correspond to contents-related information are identified in Step S11 and it is determined in Step S17 if the file format version information read out from the file identified by the file format identifier information and the predefined file format version information agree with each other or not. If it is determined that the two pieces of file format version information agree with each other, the related information is read out from the block identified by the block identifier information of the identified file according to the block position information of the identified file in Step S22.
US07676493B2	Incremental approach to an object-relational solution The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate an incremental approach to an Object-Relational mapping solution. The architecture can provide a rich data model that is defined at the value layer. The rich data model can expose an interface that conforms with the interfaces exposed by common storage-specific data providers. The architecture can extend common storage-specific data provider to support common command representations, and provide entity services that work in terms of the rich data model as well as object services such as identity management, updating and change tracking.
US07676482B2	Method and apparatus for providing data from a data source to a data consumer, and for rendering data from a data provider to an interface An apparatus and methodology are provided for obtaining data from a data source and providing the data to a data consumer, as well as for providing data from a data provider to an interface. The method provides for sending an origin request message to a data provider, receiving an origin response message having a presentation schema and data, and rendering the data to an interface by providing a presentation language representation of the data according to the presentation schema.
US07676472B2	Method and apparatus for accessing web services Methods, apparatuses and computer programs for making information relating to web services available to applications hosted by a client platform and/or using such information to invoke web services for use by an application hosted by a client platform are disclosed. The information is preferably obtained from a local repository or otherwise from a remote repository via the internet. The information may relate to web services previously used by the applications such as particular invocation instances of those web services. The information may comprise statistical Quality of Service (QoS) information relating to particular invocation instances of web services.
US07676471B2	Graphical, matrixed method for SAS fabric management In an embodiment of the present invention, in a matrixed method for serial attached SCSI (SAS) fabric management, a user is provided with a graphical dynamic matrix table, which illustrates a plurality of matrixed cells corresponding to a plurality of zone groups in a one-to-one relationship. The matrixed cells are organized as a graphical dynamic table on an X-axis and a Y-axis. The table is a packed table, meaning the X and Y axes only display populated (or active) zone groups. To modify the zoning configuration the user uses a pointing device such as a mouse to left click the appropriate matrixed cell to toggle between states. There are four states ‘mutual access’, ‘previous mutual access’, ‘proposed mutual access’, and ‘no access’.
US07676466B2	System and method for providing enhanced questions for matching in a network environment An apparatus for providing a feature in a network environment is provided that includes a central web site operable to interface with one or more end users and to manage information related to one or more of the end users. The central web site includes a set of questions for one or more of the end users to complete, whereby the central web site is operable to display a comparison of answers for the questions that are submitted by a first end user and a second end user.
US07676465B2	Techniques for clustering structurally similar web pages based on page features Web page clustering techniques described herein are URL Clustering and Page Clustering, whereby clustering algorithms cluster together pages that are structurally similar. Regarding URL clustering, because similarly structured pages have similar patterns in their URLs, grouping similar URL patterns will group structurally similar pages. Embodiments of URL clustering may involve: (a) URL normalization and (b) URL variation computation. Regarding page clustering, page feature-based techniques further cluster any given set of homogenous clusters, reducing the number of clusters based on the underlying page code. Embodiments of page clustering may reduce the number of clusters based on the tag probabilities and the tag sequence, utilizing an Approximate Nearest Neighborhood (ANN) graph along with evaluation of intra-cluster and inter-cluster compactness.
US07676460B2	Techniques for providing suggestions for creating a search query Provided are techniques for providing suggestions for a search query. As input of a search query is received, it is determined that the input corresponds to a stem. It is determined whether the stem resolves to a predetermined term. In response to determining that the input resolves to a predetermined term, a new query is generated based on the predetermined term and zero or more previously resolved terms. In response to executing the new query, results are received and suggestions for completing the search query are provided based on the received results.
US07676458B2	System and method for historical diagnosis of sensor networks A method of querying a hierarchically organized sensor network, said network being sensor network with a global coordinator node at a top level which receives data from lower level intermediate nodes which are either leader nodes for lower level nodes or sensor nodes, wherein a sensor node i at a lowest level receives a signal Y(i,t) at time t, said method including constructing a sketch Swkt=(Swkt1, . . . , Swktn) for an internal node k from S wkt j = ∑ i ∈ LeafDescendents ⁡ ( k ) ⁢ ∑ q = 1 i ⁢ b wiq · r iq j , wherein component Swktj is a sketch of a descendent of node k, ritj is a random variable associated with each sensor node i and time instant t wherein index j refers to independently drawn instantiations of the random variable, bit bwit represents a state of sensor node i for signal value w=Y(i,t) at time t, and LeafDescendents(k) are the lowest level sensor nodes under node k, wherein said sketch is adapted for responding to queries regarding a state of said network.
US07676453B2	Partial query caching When a query is performed an execution plan is formed, which is made up of a plurality of plan operators. Before executing any given plan operator, a storage area is checked. If a results set has been stored corresponding to the plan operator, then the cached results set is used instead of the executing the plan operator. If no results set exists that corresponds to the particular plan operator, the plan operator is executed, and the results set that is output may be stored for use by another plan operator of another execution plan.
US07676450B2	Null aware anti-join Techniques for performing a “null-aware” anti-join operation are described. Unnesting using anti-join of NOT IN/ALL subquery uses null-aware anti-join operation, resulting in a rewritten query that, when computed, produces results consistent with the NULL semantics of NOT IN/ALL subquery. The semantics of the “null-aware” anti-join operation allow the query having the NOT IN/ALL subquery to be rewritten even though a no-NULL restriction requirement, for the operands of the anti-join condition in the query, may not be met.
US07676447B2	Control system and method for controlling execution of scientific experiments by laboratory instruments A scientific experiment control system includes a main controller for high-level control, an experimental manager for lower-level control of scientific experiments, and a roll-up engine for automatically propagating modifications (or “changes”) within the system to ensure consistency across the system and instruments which are linked to it in an automatic and dynamic manner. When any of experiment control objects automatically detects a change event as defined by any of the metrics inherited from the metric objects it transmits a notification to an interface. The latter automatically instantiates a change event object, which is managed in a queue by an input interface of the roll-up engine. The roll-up engine automatically interrogates the network of objects contained in the program object to determine the identity of every object in the hierarchy down to the notifying object which is involved in performance of the current experiment run. It then automatically transmits a notification to each of these identified objects.
US07676444B1	Iterative compare operations using next success size bitmap A search engine for selectively perform iterative compare operations between a searchable pattern and S overlapping substrings of an input string of characters includes a memory for storing a bitmap having S next success size (NSS) bits, wherein each NSS bit indicates whether an associated substring including a corresponding unique number of the input characters is to be compared with the searchable pattern in successive compare operations, and includes a compare circuit for selectively performing the successive compare operations in response to the NSS bits.
US07676440B2	Neuromorphic motion controller for controlling a joint using winner take all An intrinsically stable neuromorphic motion controller comprising of two an agonistic actuators coupled with paired torque and position sensors. Each mechanical linkage having at least one degree of freedom is actuated by two motors via two flexible tendons with built-in stretch (torque) sensors.
US07676433B1	Secure, confidential authentication with private data Risk of personal identity theft, especially in connection with on-line commerce, is mitigated by maintaining private data in a secure database maintained by a trusted third party verification service. To authenticate the identity of a user or customer, in one embodiment, a knowledge-based challenge is issued to the user, and the response is compared to stored data by the verification service. The verification service reports to the vendor, to authenticate the user identity, capability and or authorization for the proposed transaction without disclosing private data to the vendor.
US07676432B2	Methods and apparatus for transacting electronic commerce using account hierarchy and locking of accounts Apparatus and methods are provided for facilitating electronic commerce in an environment in which a service provider handles business transactions between registered users and participating vendors and shipping companies, wherein users may establish and manage primary accounts and sub-accounts to purchase goods and services from participating vendors' web sites.
US07676431B2	Method and system for processing internet payments using the electronic funds transfer network Embodiments of the invention include a method and system for effectuating an electronic payment between a payor and a payee using an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) network. The method is implemented by a system having multiple processors. The payor may hold a payor account at a payor institution and the payee may have a payee account at a payee institution. The method includes generating a payment authorization identifying the payee institution, the payee account, and an amount of the payment and transmitting the payment authorization to the payor institution. The method further includes debiting the payor account by the amount of the payment; transmitting from the payor institution to the payee institution though the EFT network an EFT credit message representing a credit in the amount of the payment; and crediting the payee account in the amount of the payment in response to the receipt of the EFT credit message.
US07676428B2	System and method for aiding commercial property assessment A computer system and method is disclosed that aids assessors in valuing commercial real estate. To support their cost-based value, assessors use the system to generate an income-based value. The user inputs ranking criteria. The system has a database of rents, vacancy rates, expenses, and cap rates that are derived from the market and are specific for application to properties within the assessor's district. The system calculates an income value based on recommended or custom indicators. The system also aids assessors in accurately calculating obsolescence. After the user inputs requested data, the system brings up the trended income value, calculates a percent difference between the cost and income values, and offers an obsolescence analyzer test to determine if there is obsolescence. If there is obsolescence, the system instructs the user on the correct way to apply it, and if not, additional questions are offered to help identify the discrepancy.
US07676425B1	Method and system for providing flexible financing Methods and systems for providing flexible financing are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a business card product with a customer activated credit line extension for accommodating large ticket purchases where the credit line extension may be linked to other business loan/lease products so that balances may be transferred to a customer's preferred financing product (or products). The purchases may be considered secured or unsecured loans/leases that may be capitalized as well as appreciate and depreciate in value. The purchases may include various types of revenue producing property, such as computer, office equipment, office furniture, copiers, farm equipment, and other types of revenue producing property.
US07676419B2	Caching mechanism to optimize a bidding process used to select resources and services A caching mechanism is provided for use by a Bid Manager in a multi-agent resource allocation bidding system. The caching mechanism stores the most recent bids issued by one or more Bidders for a given bidding context. The cache is updated using a notification mechanism.
US07676411B2	Click based trading with intuitive grid display of market depth A method and system for reducing the time it takes for a trader to place a trade when electronically trading on an exchange, thus increasing the likelihood that the trader will have orders filled at desirable prices and quantities. The “Mercury” display and trading method of the present invention ensure fast and accurate execution of trades by displaying market depth on a vertical or horizontal plane, which fluctuates logically up or down, left or right across the plane as the market prices fluctuates. This allows the trader to trade quickly and efficiently.
US07676403B2	System and method of image capture simulation Systems and methods for demonstrating displays and image capture devices are presented. Such systems and methods are typically provided in a retail environment. Customers may efficiently and easily compare disparate displays and image capture devices at a single location using the systems and methods disclosed herein.
US07676402B2	Customized security tint system and method A customized envelope security tint design is generated based on user-supplied information. When ordering envelopes online, a user is provided with the option of entering characters for use as a custom security tint. A preview image of a custom tint design is displayed to the user for review. The user can place an order for production of envelopes having the custom design printed as the envelope security tint.
US07676399B2	Method, apparatus and program for quantitative competition and recording medium having recorded thereon the program Numbers 1, 2, . . . , M are assigned to bidding prices from the minimum to maximum values V1 to VN. For a bidding value Vvi each user 11-i generates two sequences of information si={si,1, si,2, . . . , si,M} and ti={ti,1, ti,2, . . . , ti,M} such that si,1=ti,1, . . . , si,vi−1=ti,vi−1, si,vi≠ti,vi, . . . , si,M≠ti,M, then secretly sends the two sequences of information si and ti to quantitative competition apparatuses 15A and 15B, respectively, and sends hash values H1i=h(si) and H2i=h(ti) of the two sequences of information si and ti and a hash value h(Vvi∥ri) containing an intended value Vvi to a bulletin board apparatus 21. The quantitative competition apparatuses 15A and 15B extract w-th elements si,w from respective sequences s1 to sN and w-th elements ti,w from respective sequences t1 to tN, then create a concatenation Seqs,w of N elements si,w and a concatenation Seqt,w of N elements ti,w, then compare them using a one-way function without revealing their values, and, if they differ, deciding that the intended value Vvi equal to or smaller than a value Vw is present, and determines the minimum value by changing w.
US07676396B1	Selective omission of transaction data in a digital receipt A digital receipt (e-receipt) having various transaction data that is generated after a consumer transaction by a retail terminal or via a public or private electronic network may be forwarded to the consumer or third party with selective transaction data omitted from the digital receipt. The digital receipt is forwarded to the consumer either directly from the point of the transaction or indirectly via a data warehouse, clearing center or the like.
US07676393B2	Method and system for rewards accumulation and redemption A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards.
US07676391B1	Resource-based capacity scheduling system The present invention describes the scheduling requirements if a business to an automatic scheduling system in a way which allows efficient automatic scheduling of appointments for resources of the business. In one embodiment, the scheduling system schedules the resources based not only on total capacity, but based on how many appointments can be initiated at a given time.
US07676390B2	Techniques for performing business analysis based on incomplete and/or stage-based data Electrical data processing techniques are described for performing business analysis based on datasets that are incomplete (e.g., contain censored data) and/or based on datasets that are derived from a stage-based business operation. A first technique offsets the effects of error caused by the incomplete dataset by performing a trending operation followed by a de-trending operation. A second technique provides a model containing multiple sub-models, where the output of one sub-model serves as the input to another sub-model in recursive fashion. A third technique determines when a specified event is likely to occur with respect to a given asset by first discriminating whether the event is very unlikely to occur; if the asset does not meet this initial test, it is further processed by a second sub-model, which determines the probability that the specified event will occur for each of a specified series of time intervals.
US07676388B2	Survival risk insurance Survival risk insurance is a method of transferring the financial consequences associated with the risk that deaths occurring within a specified period of time in a selected group of insured lives will be less in number than the expected number of deaths or less in amount than the expected amount of death benefits paid. More particularly, one entity, the Coverage Recipient, can transfer a financial risk that the actual number of deaths or the actual amount of death benefits paid during a specified period relative to a selected group of insured lives will be less than the expected deaths or the expected amount of death benefits paid to another entity, the Coverage Provider, for the payment of an appropriate premium based on the method of this invention.
US07676379B2	System and method for automated extraction and display of past health care use to aid in predicting future health status The present invention relates to a system and method for automated extraction and display of past health care use to aid in predicting future health status. A system and method that converts raw medical and pharmacy claims data into Hierarchical Major Clinical Condition (HMCC) and Place of Treatment (POT) time-series data to facilitate the health assessment of a member's total clinical conditions and aid in predicting his or her future health status. The HMCC categories are organized in body systems and likely disease progression to permit both spatio-temporal digital signal processing and the development of a dynamical learning system. Each medical and pharmacy claim of the member is mapped onto one or more HMCC/POT-time cells. At the end of mapping, multiple entries in each HMCC-time cell are accumulated with the temporal resolution determined as a function of group size and temporal fidelity required for model building.
US07676372B1	Prosthetic hearing device that transforms a detected speech into a speech of a speech form assistive in understanding the semantic meaning in the detected speech A speech transformation apparatus comprises a microphone 21 for detecting speech and generating a speech signal; a signal processor 22 for performing a speech recognition process using the speech signal; a speech information generator for transforming the recognition result responsive to the physical state of the user, the operating conditions, and/or the purpose for using the apparatus; and a display unit 26 and loudspeaker 25 for generating a control signal for outputting a raw recognition result and/or a transformed recognition result. In a speech transformation apparatus thus constituted, speech enunciated by a spoken-language-impaired individual can be transformed and presented to the user, and sounds from outside sources can also be transformed and presented to the user.
US07676370B2	Command-inputting device having display panel A device for inputting voice commands into a system such as a car navigation system includes a microphone for inputting voice commands, a display panel for displaying a help frame when required, a memory for storing a list of the voice commands and their respective usage frequencies in the past, and a controller for controlling operation of an entire system. A user confirms a voice command before inputting it, referring to a command list displayed on the display panel as a help frame. The command list shows all of the voice commands in a reverse order of their usage frequencies in the past. The commands which have not been frequently used and are not familiar to the user are shown in an earlier part of the list. Therefore, the commands for which confirmation are necessary can be quickly found in the list. Those commands which have been used in excess of a predetermined frequency level in the past may be eliminated from the list.
US07676362B2	Method and apparatus for enhancing loudness of a speech signal A speech filter (108) enhances the loudness of a speech signal by expanding the formant regions of the speech signal beyond a natural bandwidth of the formant regions. The energy level of the speech signal is maintained so that the filtered speech signal contains the same energy as the pre-filtered signal. By expanding the formant regions of the speech signal on a critical band scale corresponding to human hearing, the listener of the speech signal perceives it to be louder even though the signal contains the same energy.
US07676360B2	Method for scale-factor estimation in an audio encoder A method, system and computer program product for computationally efficient estimation of the scale factors of one or more frequency bands in an encoder. These scale factors are dependant on a plurality of variables. One of the variables is approximated according to embodiments of the invention. This reduces the complexity of the estimation of scale factors, especially in digital signal processors.
US07676359B2	System and method for synchronizing languages and data elements Data languages, executable programs, and user interfaces are synchronized by a database for storing data enumerations in a first language, a configuration file for mapping language neutral tags to the data enumerations, a user interface operable responsive to the language neutral tags for presenting to a user interface view selected data enumerations in the second language; the user interface responsive to user selection at the user interface view of a data enumeration in the second language corresponding to a selected language neutral tag for accessing the configuration file to retrieve a corresponding data enumeration in the first language, and for returning the corresponding data enumeration to the database.
US07676356B2	System, method and data structure for simulated interaction with graphical objects Object simulation and interaction of and between computer-generated or graphical objects in a virtual space includes neutral scene graphs, data structures and procedures for using such graphs and data structures.
US07676355B1	Method and apparatus for providing protected intellectual property Various techniques permit more thorough development of digital systems and devices by designers while protecting the proprietary interests of the owners of the intellectual property incorporated in such systems and devices. More specifically, the present invention provides to an end customer IP hardware which is suitable for prototype testing, but unusable for production purposes. One method limits the physical or electrical mode of operation of a hardware platform used for prototype testing of intellectual property (such as limiting the number of electrical contacts between the hardware and an external electrical device or limiting the data format(s) usable in the hardware during prototype testing). Another method limits the temporal operation of a hardware platform using an internal counter within the software provided by the intellectual property owner. Once a clock count limit is reached, the software disables the hardware in one or more prescribed ways, such as a reset of one or more registers, a global tri-state of the hardware 10, or a random failure of some type. Suitable hardware fabrication and/or augmentation also may be used to differentiate between the prototype and production manners of operation.
US07676347B2	Systems and methods for accumulation of summaries of test data In one embodiment, there is disclosed a system for accumulation of summaries of test data. The system includes a data populator having code to: (1) generate data objects from the test data and store the data objects in a data model, (2) arrange the data objects in a tree structure, (3) generate summaries of the test data, (4) store the summaries of the test data in the tree structure, and (5) delete the data objects. The system also includes a number of clients in communication with the data model, the clients having code to: (1) selectively read the test data from the data objects stored in the data model, and (2) read the summaries of the test data stored in the tree structure. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07676346B2	System and a method for observing and predicting a physiological state of an animal A system for observing and predicting a physiological state of an animal has been provided. The system includes a computer including a processor and being operatively connected to a database, at least one sample providing device for repetitively providing at least one sample of a body fluid of the animal, an analysis apparatus for analyzing the at least one sample, so as to obtain at least one sample value of at least one parameter of the body fluid, a data interface for repetitively entering the sample value of the at least one parameter in the database, where the database is adapted to store multiple database entries representing the sample value of the at least one parameter at various points in time, and where the processor is programmed to: perform at least one mathematical analysis of the at least one sample value, and selecting, on the basis of the at least one mathematical analysis, the point in time for providing a subsequent sample and performing a subsequent analysis of the subsequent sample for at least one of the parameters.
US07676344B2	Apparatus and method for determining a characteristic ratio and a parameter affecting the characterisitic ratio of a multiphase fluid mixture An apparatus and method is presented for controlling the quality of a mass density measurement of a multiphase fluid mixture including a plurality of fluid fractions and a plurality of constituting elements. The method includes the steps of: submitting a measuring pipe to a flux of high energy photons and measuring count rates; determining a mass density of the multiphase fluid mixture based on count rate measurements in a first and second energy windows; determining an electronic density of the multiphase fluid mixture based on count rate measurements in a third energy window; and comparing the electronic density to the mass density of the multiphase fluid mixture.
US07676339B2	Apparatus and method of compensating a seat offset for a load applied to the seat A method of compensating a measurement. The method includes determining a zero-point, determining a rate of change of the zero-point, and compensating the measurement based on the rate of change of the zero-point and/or the zero-point. In one embodiment, the compensated measurement is used to control a safety device in a vehicle.
US07676337B2	Irreversible-reaction measurement method An irreversible-reaction measurement method comprising: a step in which a perturbation is applied to one of the divided portions of a measurement sample placed in a light path of a Fourier-transform spectrophotometer to cause an irreversible-reaction while a mirror of the spectrophotometer remains at a data point; a step in which interferogram is detected from the sample portion placed in the path at predetermined time intervals after the application of the perturbation; a step in which the mirror moves to and remains at the next data point after the reaction of the sample portion reaches an end point; a step in which the sample portion placed in the light path is changed to the next sample portion each time the mirror moves to the next data point; and a step in which the irreversible-reaction of the measurement sample is analyzed in accordance with the interferogram obtained by repeating the steps.
US07676328B2	Method for identifying cell-specific proteins The present invention relates to a method for identifying cell-specific proteins comprising the following steps: a) determining cell-specific protein combination patterns of n cells; b) comparing the protein combination patterns of healthy and pathologically or physiologically modified cells of one cell type or comparing the protein combination patterns of cells of a different cell type affected by the same disease; c1) subtracting the coincident parts of the protein combination patterns of healthy and pathologically or physiologically modified cells of one cell type compared in step b) and determining a cell-specific protein resulting therefrom; or c2) subtracting the non-coincident parts of the protein combination patterns of cells of a different cell type affected by the same disease compared in step b) and determining a cell-specific protein resulting therefrom; and d) identifying the resulting cell-specific protein in terms of molecules and spatial structure.
US07676322B1	Engine control using cylinder pressure differential A combustion control system for a vehicle comprises a pressure ratio (PR) module, a pressure ratio difference (PRD) module, and a pressure ratio difference rate (PRDR) module. The PR module determines fired PR values and measured motored PR values based on cylinder pressures measured by a cylinder pressure sensor when a cylinder of an engine is fired and motored, respectively. The PRD module determines PRD values for predetermined crankshaft angles, wherein each of the PRD values is determined based on one of the fired PR values and one of the measured motored PR values at one of the predetermined crankshaft angles. The PRDR module determines and outputs a PRDR value based on a rate of change of the PRD values over a range of the predetermined crankshaft angles.
US07676320B2	Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine In a lower partial load range of, a setpoint value of the mass flow of air into the combustion chambers is determined as a function of a predefined torque request such that it is greater than necessary for implementing the predefined torque request and large enough that individual exhaust packets can be differentiated from one another with the exhaust gas probe. Depending on the air/fuel ratio setpoint value, an actuator is actuated whose position affects the actual air mass flow. To implement the torque request, engine efficiency is simultaneously reduced by actuating another actuator. A measurement signal of the exhaust gas probe is detected. The air/fuel ratios of the exhaust packets are determined as a function of the measurement signal detected. At least one operating parameter affecting the air/fuel ratio in at least one of the cylinders is adapted as a function of the air/fuel ratios determined.
US07676311B2	Method for controlling a safety device in a motor vehicle In a method for controlling a safety device in a motor vehicle, wherein the safety device is controlled as a function of at least one preset characteristic of a vehicle seat in the motor vehicle, an electric adjusting mechanism, which is provided for adjusting the preset characteristic of the vehicle seat, detects the measured adjustments, which relate to the preset characteristic, and that the preset characteristic is determined with the aid of the measured adjustments.
US07676310B2	Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle steering system Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle steering system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a desired front road wheel angle signal at a controller. The desired front road wheel angle signal is indicative of a desired front road wheel angle of vehicle wheels. The method further includes receiving a parking assist request signal at the controller indicating a parking assist operational mode is desired. The method further includes generating a desired motor torque signal for controlling a power steering motor in the parking assist operational mode utilizing the controller, based on the desired front road wheel angle signal and the parking assist request signal.
US07676297B2	Spring-forming control system and its control method for a spring forming machine A spring-forming control system and its control method for a spring forming machine in which the spring-forming control system uses a host computer to provide graphical spring parameter setting, program modification, and dragline-method program modification graphical interfaces that are selectively switchable on a display monitor. After setting of spring processing parameters through the spring parameter setting interface, a trial production is done subject to a spring parameter auto-generation software built in the spring-forming control system, and then the production is started if the trial meets the requirements, or the spring processing parameters are modified through the spring parameter setting interface, program modification interface, or dragline-method program modification interface if the trial does not meet the requirements, and then a further trial production is performed till the shaped spring meets the requirements. A spring preview is available during running of the spring-forming control system. The graphic interface operation has the advantages of convenience, rapidness, and accuracy.
US07676288B2	Presenting continuous timestamped time-series data values for observed supervisory control and manufacturing/production parameters A process control and manufacturing information database client application is disclosed displaying received time-series data in an unambiguous manner when a displayed range of time-series data includes a DST transition for a designated time zone for displaying the data. A data acquisition interface obtains timestamped time-series data values for an observed parameter from the process control and manufacturing information database. The data values are requested/received/stored by the client application, for example, according to the UTC time standard. The client application renders the timestamped time-series data values as a series of points on a time-line graph. The time-line graph includes alphanumeric time labels specified in accordance with a designated time zone. The display function renders the time-line graph without disruptions over a time span containing a Daylight Savings Time (DST) transition for the designated time zone.
US07676284B2	Electrical motor drive and method for operating such electrical motor drive A compensation of cyclical interferences occurring during operation of motor controlled by an electrical motor drive comprising the controllable motor and a speed governor, wherein a position determiner is provided for continuously determining a position of said motor, responsive to a position signal indicative of said position of said motor and wherein a load observer responsive to a first output signal received from said position determiner and to a second output signal received from the speed governor is provided for generating a load signal indicative of an estimated load and continuously applying said load signal to an output of the speed governor.
US07676281B2	Distributed database in an industrial automation environment A distributed database system within an industrial automation environment comprises a plurality of associated programmable logic controllers, wherein each of the programmable logic controllers includes data relating to one of a process and a device. Furthermore, the data within the plurality of programmable logic controllers can conform to a hierarchically structured data model, which, for example, can be based upon ISA S95, ISA S88, OMAC, or any suitable combination thereof. A reception component receives and services a request for data that is located within at least one of the programmable logic controllers.
US07676274B2	High-density array of micro-machined electrodes for neural stimulation The present invention is a micro-machined electrode for neural-electronic interfaces which can achieve a ten times lower impedance and higher charge injection limit for a given material and planar area.
US07676271B2	Neurostimulation site screening A process is described for non-invasively screening a patient to select a stimulation site for treatment of head, neck or facial pain and tension symptoms caused by disorders such as occipital neuralgia. The screening process involves application of a transcutaneous stimulation screening device, a percutaneous micro-electrode screening device, and a temporary implantable screening device to the patient to select a site for chronic implantation.
US07676269B2	Treatment of female fertility conditions through modulation of the autonomic nervous system Methods are provided for treating a subject for a fertility condition. In accordance with the subject methods, at least a portion of a subject's autonomic nervous system is modulated to increase the sympathetic activity/parasympathetic activity ratio in a manner that is effective to treat the subject for the condition. Embodiments of the subject invention include modulating a subject's autonomic nervous system using electrical energy and/or one or more pharmacological agents. The subject methods find use in the treatment of a variety of different fertility conditions. Also provided are kits for use in practicing the subject methods.
US07676266B1	Monitoring ventricular synchrony An exemplary method includes providing a maximum right ventricular systolic pressure value and corresponding time during a cardiac cycle, providing a left ventricular displacement value for the corresponding time, determining a product of the maximum right ventricular systolic pressure value and the magnitude of the left ventricular displacement value and assessing ventricular synchrony for the cardiac cycle based at least in part on the product. Such a method may include adjusting one or more cardiac pacing parameters based at least in part on the product. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US07676264B1	Systems and methods for use by an implantable medical device for evaluating ventricular dyssynchrony based on T-wave morphology Techniques are provided for detecting and evaluating ventricular dyssynchrony based on morphological features of the T-wave and for controlling therapy in response thereto. For example, the number of peaks in the T-wave, the area under the peaks, the number of points of inflection, and the slope of the T-wave can be used to detect ventricular dyssynchrony and evaluate its severity. As ventricular dyssynchrony often arises due to heart failure, the degree of dyssynchrony may also be used as a proxy for tracking the progression of heart failure. Pacing therapy is automatically and adaptively adjusted based on the degree of ventricular dyssynchrony so as to reduce the dyssynchrony and thereby improve cardiac function.
US07676263B2	Minimally invasive system for selecting patient-specific therapy parameters The present invention provides systems and methods for ambulatory, long term monitoring of a physiological signal from a patient. At least a portion of the systems of the present invention may be implanted within the patient in a minimally invasive manner. In preferred embodiments, brain activity signals are sampled from the patient and are transmitted to a handheld patient communication device for further processing.
US07676259B2	Dynamically optimized multisite cardiac resynchronization device A cardiac rhythm management device in which amplitudes of electrograms from one or more cardiac sites are measured in order to ascertain the extent of hypertrophy. The device may then pace the heart by delivering pacing therapy in a manner that unloads the hypertrophied myocardium to effect reversal of undesirable remodeling.
US07676258B2	System and method for enhancing microscopic images of tissue A system and method for enhancing images of ex-vivo or in-vivo tissue produced by confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, two-photon microscopy, or ultrasound, is provided by applying to the tissue a solution or gel having an effective concentration of citric or other alpha-hydroxy acid which enhances tissue structures, such as cellular nuclei, in such images. Such concentration may be 3-20% acid, and preferably 5% acid.
US07676230B2	System and method for allocating a channel quality information channel in a communication system A method for allocating a channel quality information channel (CQICH) in a communication system is disclosed. After fast switching from a serving anchor base station (BS) to a target anchor BS, a mobile station (MS) detects absence of a CQICH allocated from the target anchor BS. Upon detecting the absence of the allocated CQICH, the MS sends a request for allocating the CQICH to the target anchor BS. Upon receiving the CQICH allocation request, the target anchor BS detects a need to allocate a CQICH to the MS.
US07676227B2	Communication system and handover communication method When a downlink transmission is performed in the handover state in a mobile communication system having a mobile station, base stations and a base station controller, user data from the base station controller is transmitted from a first base station to the mobile station and error correction code for the user data from the base station controller is transmitted from a second base station to the mobile station. The mobile station subjects the received user data to error correction processing using the received error correction code and decodes the user data. Also, at the time of an uplink transmission in the handover state, user data and error correction code are transmitted from the mobile station to the base station controller via separate transmission paths.
US07676226B2	Fast handover method optimized for IEEE 802.11 networks A fast handover method optimized for IEEE 802.11 networks. In a wireless local area system including a mobile terminal and at least two wireless access points (APs) that communicate with the mobile terminal over a unique radio channel, the fast handover method includes receiving a beacon frame signal from the serving AP and the neighbor APs of the mobile terminal; generating a first signal to determine a state of each of the neighbor APs based on the beacon frame signal received from each of the neighbor APs; comparing the first signal with predefined thresholds, classifying the neighbor APs into a detected AP, a candidate AP, and a target AP according to a result of the comparison, and storing the classification result in a neighbor AP list; and selecting an AP for the handover based on the classification result in the neighbor AP list.
US07676222B1	Home and roaming provisioning method for mobile terminals A telecommunication terminal for accessing a data network via an access network using a set of provisioning data stores a current set of provisioning data and at least one set of protected provisioning data. The protected provisioning data cannot be updated without the intervention of the terminal user. This enables a mobile terminal to change access network without losing the provisioning data of the home access network. It avoids the need for further provisioning on returning to the home access network.
US07676221B2	Call intercept methods, such as for customer self-support on a mobile device A method for intercepting calls from a remote or mobile device for customer self-support detects when users or subscribers dial one or more predetermined numbers. If the number corresponds to one of the predetermined numbers (such as a customer support number), the phone may intercept the call and display a list of potential solutions to the subscriber's problems. Various other features and embodiments art disclosed.
US07676215B2	Emergency call back method An emergency routing number is assigned to each switch in a wireless network. When a switch of the wireless network routes an emergency call to a Public Service Answering Point (PSAP), the switch sends the emergency routing number as the calling party number and provides the PSAP with the identifier of the mobile station. If the emergency call drops, the PSAP performs a call back using the emergency routing number as the called party number. The switch that routed the emergency call from the mobile station to the PSAP receives the call back. The PSAP also sends the identifier of the mobile station to the switch. When a switch receives its emergency routing number as the called party number, the switch recognizes an emergency call back situation and pages the mobile station identified by the mobile station identifier received in association with the emergency routing number. The mobile station is then reconnected with the PSAP.
US07676205B2	Active receiver detection and ranging Method (500) and system (402) for actively detecting and determining a range of a remotely located radio receiver (100). The invention also provides a method and system to determine whether a remote receiver (100) is receiving a transmitted signal (418) and the minimum necessary transmitter power required to establish a communication link to the receiver (100). Finally, the invention also provides a method and system to resolve directional ambiguities due to multipath.
US07676202B2	Radio system A radio system for the reception of broadcast signals is provided that includes two antennas picking up radio signals and two signal receivers receiving the radio signals, the two antennas and the two receivers operating in diversity operating modes. The radio system further includes an antenna switching unit for creating a connection between the receivers and the antennas and a control unit for controlling the antenna switching unit and selecting the operating mode according to predetermined diversity control criterion.
US07676199B2	Impedance control for signal interface of a network node The terminating impedance of a networked device in a wired communication channel is controlled to avoid an impedance discontinuity when power is applied and removed from the node or other event occurs that would change the impedance of the signal interface. When the node transmits or receives signals using the communication channel, the transmit or receive device presents a matched termination to the channel. When power is removed or the device is reset, the transmit and receive circuitry is not operational and the matched impedance is therefore maintained by a separate device. The impedance may be varied slowly from a match to a high impedance to allow other devices in the network to adapt to the change in multipath environment that results from the impedance change. Alternatively, the signal interface can be switched to a passive static impedance that is maintained while power is off or the disrupting event occurs.
US07676190B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus comprising: a paper feeding cassette which selectively stores at least two kinds of paper sheets having different size with respect to a paper feeding direction, and includes a posterior end cursor which restricts a posterior end position of the stored paper sheets with respect to the paper feeding direction, wherein the height of the posterior end cursor is changeable. According to this construction, a smaller space is provided to stack large-sized paper sheets which are not frequently used while a larger space is provided to stack small-sized paper sheets which are frequently used can be reserved.
US07676185B2	Toner container and image forming apparatus including same A toner container of the present invention includes a cylindrical portion containing toner used in an electrophotographic type complex machine. When the cylindrical portion is driven to rotate, the toner gets out via an outlet thereof. The cylindrical portion of the toner container has an inner wall provided with a coat layer containing fluorine-containing silica fine particles, which are obtained by modifying a property of the surfaces of silica fine particles by using a fluorine-based silane coupling agent. This coat layer effectively prevents the toner from being adhered to the inner wall of the toner container.
US07676170B2	Toner density detection apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same A toner density detection apparatus has a sensor unit and a controller. The sensor unit irradiates a toner patch formed on an image carrier with light, splits the light reflected by the toner patch into first and second light components, receives the first and second light components, and outputs first and second light reception signals. The controller causes an analog/digital converter to convert, based on a reference voltage, the output first and second light reception signals into first and second digital data, and detects the density of the toner patch based on the first and second digital data. The toner density detection apparatus adjusts the toner density detection value based on a comparison between a first reference value stored in advance and the first digital data, and a comparison between a second reference value stored in advance and the second digital data.
US07676156B2	Method and system for multiplexed optical information transport Light carrying information for access terminals is carried via optical fibers. Information for terminals from groups is multiplexed over different time-slots and different communication wavelengths of the light in the fiber for a group. The information is passed between the fibers and the transport network via transceivers. The use of the transceivers is multiplexed between the optical fibers. Each transceiver passes information for selectable light guides at selectable communication wavelengths in different timeslots.
US07676145B2	Camera configurable for autonomous self-learning operation The present disclosure relates to an image capture device and a technique for capturing an image. The technique includes configuring an image capture device in a learning mode for sensing at least one variable in the device's surroundings and defining a normal state of the at least one variable. Further, the technique includes initiating image capture upon detecting a transition of the at least one variable from the normal state to a new condition, wherein the transition exceeds a predetermined threshold level, and redefining the normal state to the new condition.
US07676136B2	Fiber distribution hubs with patch and splice enclosures Fiber distribution hubs for distributing fiber optic networks are disclosed. The fiber distribution hub includes a mounting plate for supporting a termination of at least one fiber cable, a patch enclosure for protecting the termination, and a splice enclosure for protecting at least one splice connection to an optical fiber included in a feeder cable. The patch enclosure includes a first door and defining a patch chamber. The mounting plate is positioned within the patch chamber. The splice chamber includes a second door. The splice enclosure is releasably coupled to the patch enclosure.
US07676135B2	Fiber patch panel A system may include a housing and a patch panel located within the housing. The patch panel may include a connection plate, and a matrix of fiber connectors connected to the connection plate and arranged to receive optical fibers in a vertical direction.
US07676134B2	Field termination kit A field termination kit includes an optical fiber preparation device for preparing an end of an optical fiber, an optical inspection device for inspecting the end of the optical fiber, and a termination assembly for terminating the end of the optical fiber. A method of using a field termination kit includes rotating an end of a first optical fiber about a center of an abrasive portion of an optical fiber preparation tool. The end is pressed against an adhesive portion of the optical fiber preparation tool to clean contaminants from the end. The end is inserted into an inner passage of an optical fiber inspection device for viewing. The end is inserted into a termination assembly. The end is terminated to an end of a second optical fiber in a termination region of the termination assembly.
US07676129B1	Bend-insensitive fiber with two-segment core Optical waveguide fiber that is bend resistant and single mode at 1260 nm and at higher wavelengths. The optical fiber includes a core with a central core region and an annular core region or, alternatively, a high index core region and a low index core region. The optical fiber also includes a cladding with an annular ring region and an annular outer region.
US07676124B2	Monolithically integrated optoelectronic subassembly A monolithically integrated optoelectronic subassembly having a waveguide layer stack which is applied on a substrate and has a fiber light-receiving waveguide layer in which at least one photodiode is waveguide-integrated is proposed. A plurality of photodiodes is integrated in the waveguide which is structured laterally and/or vertically in such a manner that there is connected to a coupling waveguide an optical distribution network which in turn feeds the plurality of waveguide-integrated photodiodes in parallel via waveguide parts, which photodiodes are connected electrically in series. All the components are integrated on one chip and conversion of an optical input power into an electrical power is undertaken for current supply purposes. A photodiode can be configured as a signal diode which is supplied from the remaining of the plurality of diodes, as a result of which a self-supplied photodetector is formed. With an antenna which is integrated in addition on the chip, a monolithically integrated antenna circuit which radiates into free space is made available.
US07676119B2	Method and system for using an optical sensor array to control a labeling device A method for using an optical sensor array to control a labeling device includes scanning a surface texture of an imageable media with the optical sensor array, collecting surface data corresponding to the surface texture of the imageable media, and controlling the labeling device in response to the surface data.
US07676115B2	Image processing method, image processor and image processing program product An image processing method includes a step of obtaining an input image, and a transformation step of performing multiple image transformations including multiple geometric transformations. The transformation step includes calculating correspondences between image coordinates of the input image and image coordinates of the output image based on multiple coordinate transformation equations corresponding to geometric transformations, then defining pixel values of the corresponding output image based on pixel values of the input image, and interpolating space pixels of the output image that do not have corresponding pixels in the input image once for each space pixel.
US07676113B2	Generating and displaying spatially offset sub-frames using a sharpening factor A method of displaying an image with a display device is provided. The method includes generating a first sub-frame and a second sub-frame corresponding to image data for the image including calculating a first sub-frame pixel value in the first sub-frame using a first sharpening factor associated with a first plurality of gradients from the image data, and alternating between displaying the first sub-frame in a first position and displaying the second sub-frame in a second position spatially offset from the first position.
US07676111B2	Image processing device and image processing method to detect and remove image noises An inter-frame difference generation circuit generates, in every pixel unit, a difference level of an image between a present frame and a frame before one frame period. A histogram generation circuit generates a difference histogram indicating a frequency distribution of difference levels between the frames in a state in which a difference corresponding to a pixel including predetermined or more image changes is removed from generated difference levels. An erroneously detected histogram exclusion judging section excludes a histogram which is inappropriate as a histogram for use in deciding a noise amount among histograms generated by the histogram generation circuit from the histograms generated by the histogram generation circuit. A noise amount judging section decides the noise amount based on the histograms remaining without being excluded by the erroneously detected histogram exclusion judging section. Therefore, noises included in a dynamic image are detected with a good precision.
US07676109B2	Deblocking method according to computing mode determined from a first value and a second value, the second value determined according to precisely eight pixels A deblocking method, for removing blocking artifacts comprises selecting a plurality of first pixels according to a bandwidth of a memory device, wherein the first pixels are uniformly distributed at two sides of a block boundary; calculating a first value according to the first pixels stored in the memory device; determining a computing mode according to the first value and a first predetermined value; generating a plurality of second pixels according to the first pixels and the computing mode; and replacing the first pixels stored in the memory device with the second pixels.
US07676107B2	Method and system for video classification Described herein is a method and system for video classification. The method and system can use predetermined color ranges to classify a video block. On a relative basis, a greater number of bits can be allocated to perceptually important video data such as skin. The quantization is adjusted accordingly. Determining relative quantization shifts for macroblocks in a picture prior to video encoding enables a corresponding bit allocation that can improve the tradeoff between perceptual quality and bit rate.
US07676106B2	Methods and apparatus for video size conversion Methods and apparatus for performing 2:1 downscaling on video data are provided. At least one input matrix of N×N (e.g., N=16) Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) coefficients is formed from the video data by combining four N/2×N/2 field-mode DCT blocks. Vertical downsampling and de-interlacing are performed to the input matrix to obtain two N/2×N/2 frame-mode DCT blocks. An N×N/2 input matrix is formed from the two frame-mode DCT blocks. Horizontal downsampling is performed to the N×N/2 matrix to obtain one N/2×N/2 frame-mode DCT block.
US07676072B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method A superimposed image generation unit generates a two-dimensional superimposed image obtained by superimposing pieces of information of a plurality of volume data as corresponding objects along a predetermined direction (e.g., a direction crossing a body axis at right angles). A correspondence processing unit performs correspondence (positioning) between different volume data in accordance with a position of a characteristic portion on the superimposed image.
US07676070B2	Device for on-line data acquisition in three-dimensional positron emission tomography A device for improved on-line histogramming of data acquired in a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan. The device is a Smart DRAM (SD) PCI card, of which more than one can be used in combination within a PC-based architecture for on-line histogramming. The SD PCI card is applied as either of a Gating Buffer, a histogramming card, and a normalization buffer. The Gating Buffer card alternately stores an arriving PET data packet stream into two dedicated DRAM banks. The two DRAM banks store and retransmit the packet stream in the order of arrival for an entire physiological cycle. The histogramming SD RMW PCI cards provide a very high rate of histogramming. The extendible daisy-chain of SD RMW PCI cards supports large memory banks across potentially hundreds of SD RMW PCI cards. Under a single PC, a multiple PCI Expansion chassis is employed such that a large number of PCI cards are supported.
US07676069B2	Method and apparatus for rolling enrollment for signature verification Improved techniques are disclosed for adapting signature verification systems to natural signature variations. For example, a technique for adapting a signature verification system to variations in a signature of a user includes the following steps/operations. One or more signature samples are obtained from the user. The one or more obtained signature samples are submitted by the user as part of a regular authentication procedure associated with the signature verification system. A reference set of signature samples for the user is updated through selection of one or more signature samples from the obtained signature samples, such that the updated reference set is usable by the signature verification system for verifying subsequent signature samples attributed to the user. The selection of the one or more signature samples used to update the reference set is conditioned on a false rejection rate of the user when at least one obtained signature sample of the user is authenticated and on an identification check when no obtained signature sample is authenticated.
US07676044B2	Multi-speaker audio system and automatic control method A sound produced at the location of a listener is captured by a microphone in each of a plurality of speaker devices. A sever apparatus receives an audio signal of the captured sound from all speaker devices, and calculates a distance difference between the distance of the location of the listener to the speaker device closest to the listener and the distance of the listener to each of the plurality of speaker devices. When one of the speaker devices emits a sound, the server apparatus receives an audio signal of the sound captured by and transmitted from each of the other speaker devices. The server apparatus calculates a speaker-to-speaker distance between the speaker device that has emitted the sound and each of the other speaker devices. The server apparatus calculates a layout configuration of the plurality of speaker devices based on the distance difference and the speaker-to-speaker distance.
US07676041B2	Method for creating and distributing cryptographic keys in a mobile radio system and corresponding mobile radio system A first cryptographic key (318) and a second cryptographic key (322) are created by a mobile radio terminal (103) and by a computer of the home communications network (108, 109) by using authentication key materials (312). The first cryptographic key (318) is transmitted to the computer of the visited communications network (113), and the second cryptographic key (322) is transmitted to an application server computer (106, 107).
US07676039B2	Apparatus for controlling storage and playback of digital broadcasting contents Provided is an apparatus for controlling storage and playback of digital broadcasting contents. The apparatus can control a broadcasting content to be recorded and stored, temporarily stored, and played back while protecting and managing it securely. The apparatus of the present research includes: a control information providing unit for generating control information for recording storage, temporary storage, and playback of a broadcasting content, using the control information as watermarking information, multiplexing and scrambling the broadcasting content including the control information, and outputting a scrambled transport; and a storing and playback unit for storing the broadcasting content by using the control information, comparing the control information stored together with the broadcasting content with control information added as watermarks, and determining whether to play back the broadcasting content.
US07676037B2	Cryptographic method capable of protecting elliptic curve code from side channel attacks An elliptic curve cryptography method which generates a public key for use in a communication encryption using an elliptic curve, including: changing a number of a secret key (d) of (k) bits to an odd number; encoding the secret key to yield an encoded secret key (d) in which a most significant bit (MSB) is (1) and a rest positional number is (1) or (−1); and computing the public key (Q=Dp) by multiplying the encoded secret key (d) by a predetermined point (P) on the elliptic curve by a scalar multiplication.
US07676028B2	System and method for storing a voicemail message in a communication environment Storing a voicemail message in a communication environment includes receiving a voicemail message at a first endpoint. The voicemail message is separated into a plurality of segments. The segments of the voicemail message, which comprise media bits, are distributed to a plurality of second endpoints.
US07676020B2	Tomography system A measurement system is presented. The measurement system includes a source and a detector located a selected distance from the source with the source and the detector movable about a point, an axis or about a plane located proximate the detector.
US07676002B2	Blind detection method and apparatus, and mobile communication receiver having the same In a blind detection apparatus and method capable of determining a modulation mode by comparing the absolute values of the real and imaginary parts of a sequence of intersymbol phase differences between symbols separated from each other at an interval of four symbols (instead of comparing intersymbol phase differences of symbols at an interval of one symbol as in the related art), the symbols being included in a training sequence code of a received normal burst. Therefore, a number of calculations for the blind detection may be decreased e.g., by a factor of four, and as a result, the time for performing the blind detection may be decreased. In addition, the hardware design for the blind detection may be simplified.
US07676000B2	Systems and methods for an adaptive rake receiver A technique for signal distortion compensation using a filter that can support a higher delay spread distortion without substantially increasing hardware complexity. In one example embodiment, an adaptive receiver design compensates for signal distortions with the use of non-uniform tap delay filters. The non-uniform tap delay filters are used to output an adaptively channel matched signal for decoding.
US07675991B2	Wireless transmitting and receiving device and method A wireless device, method, and signal for use in communication of a wireless packet between transmitting device and a wireless receiving device via a plurality of antennas, wherein a signal generator generates wireless packet including a short-preamble sequence used for a first automatic gain control (AGC), a first long-preamble sequence, a signal field used for conveying a length of the wireless packet, an AGC preamble sequence used for a second AGC to be performed after the first AGC, a second long-preamble sequence, and a data field conveying data. The AGC preamble sequence is transmitted in parallel by the plurality of antennas.
US07675989B2	Method and apparatus for uplink carrier frequency synchronization and antenna weight vector estimation in OFDMA system having smart antenna An apparatus for estimating an antenna weight vector in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access System (OFDMA) having a smart antenna. The apparatus includes receiving and storing training symbols in the time domain transmitted to estimate an antenna weight vector during a training symbol transmission interval; estimating carrier frequency offsets using training symbols in the frequency domain that are obtained by performing a Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) algorithm with respect to the training symbols received during the training symbol transmission interval; compensating the stored training symbols in the time domain based on the estimated carrier frequency offsets; and estimating an antenna weight vector using training symbols in the frequency domain that are obtained by applying an FFT algorithm with respect to the training symbols in the time domain derived by compensating the carrier frequency offsets during the training symbol transmission interval.
US07675988B2	Apparatus and method for beamforming in a multi-antenna system An apparatus and method for performing beamforming or transmitting a plurality of bit streams output through Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) via a plurality of transmission antennas in a base station using a multi-antenna scheme. The apparatus and method include classifying the plurality of transmission antennas into a plurality of transmission antenna groups; selecting one of the transmission antenna groups depending on a group selection signal being fed back from a mobile station; and outputting each of the bit streams to its associated transmission antenna among the transmission antennas constituting the selected transmission antenna group.
US07675987B2	Trellis-based lock detector A trellis-based lock detector and method for digitally modulated signals are presented. A global survivor for consecutive time indexes is computed as a maximum cumulative branch metric corresponding to a given time index for consecutive branches of the trellis structure. The invention is based on a concept that for a noise signal entering the lock detector, in contrast to an informative signal, the probability of a long succession of true evaluations of a global survivor is very small. The latter allows for using data, representative of the number of consecutive true conditions for a global survivor over an averaging time, as an informative parameter for making a decision on the status of lock detection.
US07675983B2	Mitigation of DC distortion in OFDM receivers A baseband receiver and corresponding methods are arranged and configured to mitigate effects of direct current (DC) distortion and process an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal as provided from a direct conversion radio or receiver. The baseband receiver includes an OFDM demodulator configured to demodulate the OFDM signal, a post processor coupled to the OFDM demodulator and configured to provide symbols corresponding to the OFDM signal, and a compensator coupled to at least one of the OFDM demodulator and the post processor and configured to reduce error rates out of the baseband receiver that result from DC distortion in the direct conversion radio.
US07675963B2	Method and device for passing parameters to rake receiver A device and associated method for passing parameters to a finger in a rake receiver are disclosed. The finger is initially operated with a first parameter set which is held in a first memory area (PAR_RAM). To change the parameter set, a second parameter set is loaded into a second memory area (PAR_CHG_RAM1/2), a check is carried out to determine whether a switching condition (SCHED_RAM) is satisfied, and if it is an access for that finger is switched (MUX) from the first memory area (PAR_RAM) to the second memory area.
US07675962B2	Method and apparatus for deriving a channel impulse response estimate for a wireless channel Techniques for deriving a channel impulse response estimate (CIRE) having improved quality are described. A first CIRE with multiple channel taps is obtained based on (1) an initial CIRE derived from a received pilot or (2) a filtered CIRE derived from the initial CIRE. In one aspect, the channel taps in the first CIRE are scaled with multiple scaling factors to obtain a second CIRE. For point-wise LMMSE scaling, the energy of each channel tap is estimated. The noise energy for the channel taps is also estimated, e.g., based on energies of channel taps on one or both edges of the first CIRE. Each channel tap is scaled based on a scaling factor determined by the energy of that channel tap and the noise energy. Each channel tap with energy below a threshold may be set to zero. In another aspect, the second CIRE is obtained by zeroing out selected ones of the channel taps in the first CIRE.
US07675961B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving high speed data using code division multiple access channels The present invention describes a spread spectrum communication system wherein the frequency of carriers and the code channels of the carriers or both for transmission to a given remote station user vary in time. This provides for a direct sequence spectrum communications system which changes frequency or code channel according to a predetermined pattern. The code channels and frequencies can be determined in accordance with a deterministic function or based upon a subset of the data to be transmitted. A receiver structure is also described for receiving the same.
US07675958B2	Intra-cavity non-degenerate laguerre mode generator A lasing method including the steps of providing a laser resonator; utilizing birefringence compensation in said resonator whereby said resonator is induced to operate in a Laguerre-Gaussian higher order mode; and utilizing polarized outcoupling of lasing energy at said higher order mode from said resonator. In the illustrative application, the laser resonator is a high-power, solid-state laser resonator. In the specific embodiment, the inventive method further includes the step of changing an outcoupling preference for a non-degenerate high-order Laguerre-Gaussian mode. In one embodiment, the step of changing outcoupling preference includes the step of changing an outcoupling polarization. In another embodiment, the step of changing outcoupling preference includes the step of changing an orientation of a roof edge of a prism in the laser resonator. Lower order Laguerre modes are discouraged from appearing in an output of the resonator by adding loss at the center of the rod aperture of the resonator or detuning the orientation of a first or a second quarter-wave plate. In the illustrative embodiment, the gain lifetime of the resonator is longer than an interpulse period thereof.
US07675957B2	Laser and monitoring photodetector with polymer light guide A surface emitting laser (100) and a monitoring photodetector (MPD) 158 are mounted in a TO (transistor outline package) can (150) on the same plane as one another. Light from a rear facet (108) of the laser is directed to the MPD through a polymer light guide (164).
US07675955B2	Laser assembly for multi-laser applications A laser assembly comprises a substrate and two or more lasers. The substrate has a substantially planar surface region and a raised feature. The raised feature comprises two or more reflective surfaces. Each of the two or more lasers is mounted to the substantially planar surface region and is configured to emit a laser beam directed towards the raised feature at a nonzero tilt angle in relation to the substantially planar surface region.
US07675949B2	Dynamic reconfiguration of solid state memory device to replicate and time multiplex data over multiple data interfaces Multiple interfaces dedicated to individual logic circuits such as memory arrays are capable of being dynamically reconfigured from operating separately and in parallel to operating in a more collective manner to ensure that data associated with all of the logic circuits will be communicated irrespective of a failure in any of the interfaces. Specifically, a plurality of interfaces, each of which being ordinarily configured to communicate data associated with an associated logic circuit in parallel with the other interfaces, may be dynamically reconfigured, e.g., in response to a detected failure in one or more of the interfaces, to communicate data associated with each of the interfaces over each of at least a subset of the interfaces in a time multiplexed and replicated manner.
US07675946B2	System and method for managing playout time in packet communication network A system, method, and computer program product for dynamically managing packet delay of a received packet of data between multiple endpoints, including a delay estimator module adapted to calculate packet delay of the received packet of data. The system further includes a predictor module adapted for predicting a playout time for each received packet of data indicative of the calculated packet delay of the at least one received packet of data. Furthermore, the system includes a buffer module adapted for buffering the received packet of data for a variable amount of time and a player module adapted for playing only the received packet of data and to discard packets of data received after the predicted playout time. The delay estimator is adapted to calculate maximum delay of all the packets of data received in an interval within a predetermined threshold indicative of the calculated packet delay.
US07675945B2	Multi-component compatible data architecture A backbone network, comprising a first switch comprising a first port configured to communicate a data stream via an Ethernet interface, and a second port configured to communicate the data stream via a SONET/SDH interface, and a second switch comprising a third port configured to receive the data stream from the first switch via the Ethernet interface, wherein the first switch and the second switch are synchronized.
US07675944B2	Method and system for communicating content on a broadcast services communication system An outer decoder and an inner decoder encode a block of information to be transmitted, to improve protection by adding redundancy. The redundancy permits decoding of the information from less than a complete encoded block of information. Time re-alignment of two transmissions of the same content from two base stations can mitigate the problem of duplicated frames. The user of the subscriber station can experience seamless service without repetition of content, even when handing over to a new cell while receiving a buffer of broadcast content.
US07675942B2	Reducing overheads of a protocol data unit in a wireless communication system The present invention relates to transmitting data units of a radio protocol layer, wherein one logical channel identifier is added to one or more data units belonging to one logical channel. Because only one logical channel identifier is added to the data units belonging to one logical channel in constructing a MAC-e PDU, overheads of the MAC-e PDU are reduced. Such reduction of the PDU overheads increases data throughput, which is advantageous for a high-speed data communication system, such as the HSUPA.
US07675941B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving packet data using pre-defined length indicator in a mobile communication system A method and apparatus for enabling efficient use of radio resources by reducing an RLC PDU size in a mobile communication system supporting voice service over a packet network are provided. An RLC layer constructs an RLC PDU without inserting information indicating the start and end of an SDU or indicating the use or non-use of padding. The RLC layer sets an LI in a header to indicate inclusion of an intermediate SDU segment in the data field of the RLC PDU. Therefore, the resulting decrease of overhead arising from packet transmission facilitates the efficient use of limited radio resources.
US07675937B2	Virtual USB communications port A method and system for accessing a remote real communication port (“COM port”) from a server blade in a server blade chassis by creating a virtual COM port in the server blade. A basic input/output system (BIOS) controller monitors an internal COM port in the server blade for communication traffic. Upon detecting the communication traffic, the BIOS controller reroutes the traffic to a virtual USB COM port created by the BIOS controller chipset. The virtual USB COM port directs the communication traffic to an internal universal serial bus (USB) device in the server blade. The USB device then forwards the traffic to an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) input/output (I/O) on a sideband channel to a remote system, which passes the communication traffic to a real COM port in the remote system.
US07675929B1	Method and system for managing data flow in a data transmission system A data flow management system and method in which an application and its clients are made aware of the available credits for each type of transfer before the transfer is attempted. This enables the clients to transmit packets only when the RX side has issued a sufficient number of credits to insure that the transmission will not be stalled. The invention eliminates the need for FIFO buffers in the PCI-Express core, since the application will not transmit packets to the core until the required number of credits for the particular transfer type is available. Therefore, packet transmissions do not require buffering in the core, as they are only sent when they can be sent all the way through the core to the link. The efficient back-to-back transfer support enabled by this protocol increases the overall throughput and efficiency of the system as transfers through the application interface have fewer gaps therebetween, because the credit management protocol with its back-to-back feature reduces the idle times between packets traversing the application interface. An enhanced Quality of Service feature is also introduced by creating an environment where the low-latency packets can receive a highest attention and the lowest transmission wait time.
US07675928B2	Increasing cache hits in network processors using flow-based packet assignment to compute engines Methods and apparatus for improving cache hits in network processors using flow-based packet assignment to compute engines. Packet processing operations are performed on a network processor having multiple compute engines via execution of instruction threads on those compute engines. Via execution of the threads, a flow-based packet processing assignment mechanism is implemented that causes at least a portion of the packet processing operations for packets associated with common flows to be performed on compute engines assigned to perform packet processing operations for those flows. This results in the same compute engines performing packet processing on packets assigned to common sets of flows, thus increasing the cache hits on data that is stored locally on the compute engines pertaining to the flows.

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