Document	Document Title
US07938902B2	Cationically stabilized aqueous silica dispersion, method for its production and its use Cationically stablished aqueous silica dispersion, method for its production and its use. A method is described for the production of cationically stabilised silica in which silica is cationically stabilised in the form of an aqueous dispersion or a powder by mixing with an acid aminosilane solution. A cationically stabilised silica powder may be obtained by removing the solvent. The cationically stabilised silica dispersion obtained is highly storage stable. Mixing with organic binding agents such as PVA is possible without a significant increase in viscosity. The dispersions are particularly suitable for coating slips for printing media, such as inkjet paper, but also for the surface treatment of substrates, e.g. for the hard coating of plastics, or in parting compounds or abrasives and polishing agents.
US07938900B2	Water-based pigment preparation The invention relates to an aqueous pigment preparation comprising (A) at least one organic and/or inorganic pigment, (B) dispersants and/or surfactants, (C) a trihydric or higher polyhydric alkoxylated alcohol, (D) a polyglycol alkyl ether, (E) if desired, hydrotropic oligomers and/or polymers, (F) if desired, fats, oils or fatty acids, (G) if desired, further additives typical in the preparation of aqueous pigment dispersions, and (H) water.
US07938898B2	Ink composition, ink cartridge including the ink composition, and inkjet recording apparatus including the ink cartridge Provided is an ink composition including a colorant; a solvent; a surfactant; and an oxygen absorber of a hetero ring compound and a hydroxylamine-based compound. The oxygen absorber lowers a concentration of oxygen dissolved in the ink composition and maintains a low level even when the ink composition is in a high-temperature condition. Thus, gas is substantially not generated and bubbles are not formed. The ink composition can be stably ejected during high-speed printing.
US07938896B2	Air cleaner including touch points An air cleaner including touch points is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a chassis and one or more visually coded touch points on the chassis. The one or more visually coded touch points include indicia of user-contactable components of the air cleaner.
US07938894B2	Hybrid organic-inorganic gas separation membranes The invention discloses a composition comprising a hybrid composite organic-inorganic membrane. The hybrid organic-inorganic membrane according to the present invention may comprise an amorphous porous layer incorporating organic functionalities. The amorphous porous layer may be deposited on a porous alumina substrate by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The amorphous porous layer may comprise a single top-layer (STL), multiple top-layers (MTL) or mixed top-layers (XTL). The substrate may comprise a single layer or multiple graded layers of alumina.
US07938888B2	Systems and methods for dehumidification A liquid desiccant regenerator system, including a desiccant/air heat exchanger having a first desiccant inlet and a desiccant reservoir. The reservoir has a first desiccant outlet, a second desiccant outlet and a second desiccant inlet. The first desiccant inlet and the first desiccant outlet are connectable to a heat source, the second desiccant inlet conducts diluted desiccant of the reservoir and the second desiccant outlet conducts concentrated desiccant from the reservoir. The second desiccant inlet and the desiccant outlet are connected to a desiccant/desiccant heat exchanger for applying heat to the diluted desiccant flowing into the reservoir. A dehumidification method is also provided.
US07938885B2	Device for the removal of soot dust of fuel oil combustion A device designed for the removal of soot dust of fuel oil combustion. The device is based on the two-stage wet-electrostatic dust removal-desulfurization device, with different numbers of layers of the mesh screen being installed in the wet type dust removal-desulfurization device. This device not only has a relatively high efficiency in both of common dust removal and desulfurization, but also can remove the black smoke from fuel oil combustion efficiently with a removal efficiency ≧99%, and thus solves the present technical problem in the treatment of in the treatment of soot dust of fuel oil combustion. At the same time, with the advantages of cheaper construction cost and economy, the device of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the traditional bag filter process, which is expensive and cannot operate desulfurization simultaneously.
US07938878B2	Fine grained cemented carbide with refined structure The present invention relates to a fine grained WC-Co cemented carbide. By adding an extremely small amount of Ti, V, Zr, Ta or Nb alone or in combinations, a grain refined cemented carbide structure with less abnormal WC-grains has been obtained.
US07938872B2	Device for separating particles from a gas stream The invention concerns a separating device for separating particles (4) from a gas stream (2) in which the gas stream (2) by means of a guiding device is caused to rotate and the liquid or solid particles (4) to be separated are removable by a particle outlet. The separating device (1) is comprised of a cylindrical housing pipe (5) with a guiding device (3) and an immersion pipe (6) arranged in alignment with the flow direction of the gas stream (2) in the housing pipe (5) which immersion pipe is provided on the exterior with a spiral (7) for a directed removal of the particles (4) separated by rotation to a housing opening (8) and with a central outlet (9) for the purified gas stream (2).
US07938857B2	Spinal implant A spinal implant may be made of two or more implant members. In an embodiment, implant members may be joined together by a rotational connection that inhibits separation of the members as well as axial movement of the members relative to each other. Implant members may be coupled together by a pin or pins, adhesive, or other fasteners to inhibit separation and/or rotation of the members relative to each other.
US07938856B2	Heart valve annuloplasty prosthesis sewing cuffs and methods of making same An annuloplasty prosthesis for a heart valve has a sewing cuff added to the conventional structure. The sewing cuff is preferably an extension of the fabric cover that is provided around the core of the prosthesis. The sewing cuff preferably extends radially outwardly from cross sections of the remainder of the prosthesis. Methods of making such a sewing cuff are also disclosed.
US07938853B2	Braided endoluminal device having tapered filaments A stent comprising a plurality of continuous filaments braided together, at least one filament comprising a tapered filament having at least one first region having a first, relatively-larger cross-sectional area and at least one second region having a second, relatively-smaller cross-sectional area. The stent itself may have a tapered diameter, such as from one end to the other. A method for treating a lumen with the stent is also claimed.
US07938851B2	Devices and methods for operating and controlling interventional apparatus Devices and methods are provided for operating and controlling an interventional element on an interventional catheter. The interventional element may be a stent or series of stents, a balloon, or any other interventional element for which length control is necessary or desirable. A handle member includes an elongated body and an actuator knob that rotates around the longitudinal axis of the body. Rotational movement of the actuator knob is translated to rotational movement of one or more lead screws by a system of gears, rollers, or combinations of gears and rollers. Each of one or more axially moveable members is positioned on a lead screw and attached to a portion of the catheter shaft in order to provide the ability to advance or retract the portion of the catheter shaft.
US07938850B2	Nail plate A humeral fracture fixation system is provided and includes a nail-plate fixation device having a plate-like head portion, an intramedullary nail portion, and a bent neck portion therebetween which creates an angle between the plate and nail portions. The upper surface of the nail portion is substantially straight for contact with the endosteum and the nail portion includes threaded holes for machine screws. The head portion includes locking holes for receiving fixed-angle bone support elements, and K-wire alignment holes. The front of the head portion includes suture holes while presenting a smooth profile. A specific implantation jig and screw guide cannula are also provided.
US07938848B2	Spinal fixation system A spinal fixation system includes a pedicle screw having a passage extending along a longitudinal axis of the screw. The passage has a proximal opening at a proximal end of the screw and a distal opening at a distal end of the screw. A drill extends through the passage, a first end of the drill extending out the distal opening of the passage.
US07938835B2	Systems and methods for treating vertebral bodies A system for treating a vertebral body comprises a cannula leading into a vertebral body and a cavity creating device. The cavity creating device comprises a shaft having a distal end portion sized to extend through the cannula, an expandable body that undergoes expansion between a collapsed condition and an expanded condition to form a cavity in the vertebral body, and a tubular fluid transport member to convey fluid through the distal region of the expandable body and into the cavity. The system further comprises a device coupled to the shaft to change the expandable body between the collapsed condition to the expanded condition. The system further comprises a source of fluid coupled to the tubular fluid transport member to convey fluid through the distal region of the expandable body and into the cavity. The system further includes a device to convey a filling material into the cavity.
US07938831B2	Implant device An implant and sleeve combination for at least partial insertion into a bone and/or cartilage. The implant includes a lower portion and the sleeve includes a cavity designed to at least partially receive the lower portion of the implant.
US07938825B2	Multiple RF return pad contact detection system A multiple RF return pad contact detection system is provided which is adaptive to different physiological characteristics of patients without being susceptible to electrosurgical current interference (e.g., interference or measurement interaction between components of the detection system). The detection system can measure or sense the contact resistance or impedance between the patient and pairs of RF return pads or return electrodes where multiple pairs of RF return pads are utilized due to the high current frequently needed during electrosurgery while eliminating or minimizing the risk of measurement interaction between the RF return pad pairs. The system allows for the independent and simultaneous measurement of the pad contact impedance for each pair of RF return pads. If the impedance of any pad pair is above a predetermined limit, the system turns off or reduces the electrosurgical output of the electrosurgical generator to prevent excess heating. The system eliminates or minimizes interference or measurement interaction between the pad pairs by providing a different signal source frequency for each pad contact pair, but a frequency which matches an associated series resonant network frequency. The current that flows in the series resonant network is a direct reflection or function of the pad impedance of the corresponding pad pair.
US07938823B2	Surgical clamp having transmurality assessment capabilities A medical device is provided having a means for actuating a pair of opposing jaw members. The jaw members are movable relative to one another from a first position, wherein the jaw members are disposed in a spaced apart relation relative to one another, to a second position, wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. An ablation mechanism is connected to at least one of the jaws members, such that the jaw members are capable of conducting ablation energy through the tissue grasped therebetween.
US07938821B2	Apparatus and method for adjustable fractional optical dermatological treatment A fractional treatment system can be configured with a laser wavelength that is selected such that absorption of the laser wavelength within the tissue increases as the tissue is heated by the laser (e.g., 1390-1425 nm). Desirably, the laser wavelength is primarily absorbed within a treated region of skin by water and has a thermally adjusted absorption coefficient within the range of about 8 cm−1 to about 30 cm−1. An adjustable mechanism can be used to adjust the beam shape, beam numerical aperture, beam focus depth, and/or beam size to affect the treatment depth and or the character of the resulting lesions. The system may be designed to be switchable between a treatment mode that is semi-ablative and a treatment mode that is not semi-ablative. Adjustment of these parameters can improve the efficiency and efficacy of treatment. Illustrative examples of adjustable mechanisms include a set of spacers of different lengths, a rotatable turret with lens elements of different focal distances, an optical zoom lens, and a mechanical adjustment apparatus for adjusting the spacing between two optical lens elements.
US07938820B2	Thrombectomy catheter Thrombectomy catheters are presented that have curved tip portions. A suction lumen extends from at or near the proximal end of the catheter to a suction port at or near the tip portion of the catheter. The curves of the thrombectomy catheter can be selected to place a suction port at or near a vessel wall for the more effective removal of thrombus resulting from directing the suction in the direction of the thrombus. In some embodiments, the tip portion of the catheter can be transitioned from a first configuration for delivery of the catheter into the vessel to a second more curved configuration with a desired design for application of suction. The catheter can be moved in a circumferential and/or lateral direction to cover selected portions of the inner vessel wall. In some embodiments, a partially occlusive structure can be used to reduce and/or redirect flow within the vessel to improve performance of the thrombectomy.
US07938817B2	Patient hydration system and method A patient hydration system and method wherein a urine collection system is connected to the patient. An infusion system is also connected to the patient. An infusion pump is connected to a source of hydration fluid. A control subsystem is responsive to the amount of urine output by the patient and configured to automatically adjust the infusion rate of the infusion pump based on the urine output by the patient.
US07938810B2	Safe trochar with guide for placement of surgical drains A method and apparatus for the safe surgical placement of trochars, is provided. The trochar has a sheath protecting the sharp point. The guide includes a receiver, into which the trochar with sheath is inserted, protecting personnel against sticks. The guide has a holder that grips the trochar in the X, Y, Z and Theta directions, providing position and direction of the point. The guide provides a handle for holding the trochar, reducing effort. The trochar point is exposed only after opening the guide. The receiver with sheath is a target, which provides an accurate reference for the position of the sharp point. The target also provides support as the trochar is being advanced through soft tissue. The trochar is locked into the safety guide until the guide is closed, and the point is safely in the sheath. Since the guide may not be reopened, the trochar point and body fluids are safely covered. Operating Room personnel are protected against hazardous sharps injuries.
US07938809B2	Quick release hemostasis valve A hemostasis valve apparatus having a quick release apparatus that allows for the exchange of guidewires and other medical instruments into a patient's vasculature while controlling the flow of blood during the exchange. The quick release capability allows tools and instruments to be introduced and removed from the patient's body in a quick and efficient manner without requiring undue attention or manipulation. The quick release capability comprises a lever mechanism which selectively seals or unseals a lumen of the hemostasis valve apparatus. The hemostasis valve apparatus can include a supplemental securement valve assembly which provides a secondary mechanism to secure an instrument positioned in the hemostasis valve and/or control the flow of blood from during the procedure. According to yet another aspect, the quick release mechanism allows for access to the lumen of the hemostasis valve apparatus when the quick release mechanism is in both a released and secured position.
US07938808B2	Injection device comprising a syringe The invention relates to an injection device, comprising an injection syringe (1) with a tubular syringe body, provided at a porximal end with a fixing collar (16), projecting radially outwards, an injection piston, arranged to slide within the body, a needle protection device (2), comprising a protector support (20) and a sliding needle protector (22). The device comprises a stop pin (25) for the piston stop (8), said pin (25) is mounted on the protector support (20) and defines, in the extension of the syringe body, a piston circulation passage of which the minimum section is larger than the section of the running part (10) of the piston and less than the section of a shoulder (15) of the piston.
US07938800B2	Needleshield assembly and methods of use A needleshield assembly including an extensible frame, an actuator, a needle and a dispensing device attachment member is disclosed. The extensible frame is capable of moving from a collapsed position to an extended position upon pressure applied to the actuator. In the extended position, the extensible frame both protects the distal end of a needle and renders the needle immobile.
US07938794B2	Airway suction spoon A suction catheter having an elongated flexible hollow member and a spoon-shaped distal end designated to assist manual removal of large airway occluding particles from the oropharynx and mouth opening to near the epiglottis of a patient by an emergency caregiver. The tip of the spoon-shaped distal end defines an ovular orifice of sufficient size to remove both viscous and non-viscous matter including matter from the airway of the patient for conveyance through the hollow member. The catheter includes a flexible stylet member therein to permit bending of the catheter and causing it to retain its bent shape with the proximal end thereof away from the patient. An opening is provided in the catheter and communicates with internal airway for use in controlling the amount of suction provided by the connection of the proximal end of the catheter to a vacuum source.
US07938785B2	Fusion-based spatio-temporal feature detection for robust classification of instantaneous changes in pupil response as a correlate of cognitive response A computationally efficient and robust approach for monitoring the instantaneous pupil response as a correlate to significant cognitive response to relevant stimuli derives data samples d(n) of the pupil diameter (area), v(n) of pupil velocity and a(n) of pupil acceleration from the pupillary response and segments the data samples into a sequence of time-shifted windows. A feature extractor extracts a plurality of spatio-temporal pupil features from the data samples from the response and baseline periods in each window. A classifier trained to detect patterns of the extracted spatio-temporal pupil features for relevant stimuli generates an output indicative of the occurrence of absence of a significant cognitive response in the subject to a relevant stimulus.
US07938782B2	Prediction of disordered breathing An approach for predicting disordered breathing involves detecting one or more conditions associated with disordered breathing. The detected conditions are compared to disordered breathing prediction criteria. A prediction of disordered breathing is performed based on the comparison of the detected conditions to the prediction criteria. At least one of comparing the detected conditions to the prediction criteria and predicting disordered breathing is performed at least in part implantably.
US07938778B2	Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus A surface point tracked by an echo tracking processor unit for each ultrasonic beam is a tracking point. A strain measurement unit measures an amount of strain of a bone based on the surface points. A delay time measurement unit measures a time for the amount of strain of the bone to reach a return reference value, corresponding to a state before a load is applied, after the load is first applied to the bone and then removed.
US07938777B2	Non-invasive tracking of bones for surgery There is described a device for use with a position sensing system for tracking a bone in a reference coordinate system, the device comprising a fabric removably and non-invasively attachable to a bone and having a plurality of reference markers distributed thereon, the reference markers being one of passive and active devices recognized by the position sensing system and positioned and oriented in the reference coordinate system with respect to a fixed reference.
US07938774B2	Endoscope apparatus having controlled heater An endoscope apparatus of the invention includes an endoscope, camera control unit (CCU), and a trocar. The endoscope includes a heater and a temperature sensor. The CCU is configured to include a resistance value-voltage value conversion section, an analog-digital conversion section, voltage value-temperature table conversion section, a control voltage calculation section, an digital-analog conversion section, a voltage amplification section, a switch control section, and a switch. The trocar 5 includes an insertion detection sensor.
US07938769B2	Compressive device for percutaneous treatment of obesity Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implantation into the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Deformable or inflatable anchors with a connector between are used to pull the walls of the organ together, or to implant devices in the wall of the organ. Also disclosed are surgical instruments useful in practicing the disclosed methods.
US07938768B2	Cardiac disease treatment and device A cardiac constraint device comprising a jacket of biological compatible material and an adjustment member. The jacket is adapted to be secured to the heart to snugly conform to an external geometry of the heart and assume a maximum adjusted volume to constrain circumferential expansion of the heart beyond the maximum adjusted volume during diastole and to permit unimpeded contraction of the heart during systole. The adjustment mechanism is configured to alter the internal volume defined by the jacket after the jacket is secured to the heart. The invention also provides a method for treating cardiac disease.
US07938758B2	Hopping ball A hopping play ball has one or more water reservoirs in fluid communication with one or more squirt nozzles. The squirt nozzles are activated by a user.
US07938757B1	Track—mobile This invention relates to an apparatus which supports a user who is building back and leg muscles. This invention includes at least a track, a truck designed to run along the track and a sling for suspending a user from the truck. The track is of a design adapted to be secured to a ceiling joist. The truck of a size which is capable of supporting the weight of a user and of withstanding any forces which a user may impose upon the truck.
US07938751B2	Interactive step-type gymnastics practice device The invention relates to an interactive gymnastics practice device which is used together with an image and sound system forming the gymnastics program to be followed by a user, comprising a first level of generally-pressure-sensitive surfaces, the surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane. The invention is characterized in that the device comprises at least one second level of surfaces which are pressure sensitive or which can control an action in response to a pressure, the second level surfaces extending essentially in a continuous manner and in substantially the same plane.
US07938741B2	Golf club head with adjustable weighting, customizable face-angle, and variable bulge and roll face A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a face component having a face and a flange, a crown-plate attached to the flange, a sole-plate attached to the flange, a skid-plate attached to the sole-plate, a swing-weight member, and a plurality of removable weight members with each of the plurality of weight members positioned within a pocket of the plurality of pockets.
US07938729B2	Frictional clutch with O-ring A frictional clutch for a hand-held device for transferring a film from a backing tape onto a substrate comprises a first main member having a cylindrical element coaxially protruding into a circular center opening of a second main member.The first and second main member are supported such that they can carry out a relative rotational movement. The second main member include coaxial tensioning elements for holding and pre-tensioning an elastic ring guided around the tensioning elements. The tensioning elements are geometrically arranged such that the ring is exposed in the form of at least one secant-shaped leg in the center opening.The secant-shaped leg of the ring is biased radially outwards when the cylindrical element of the first main member is inserted into the center opening of the second member in order to produce a frictional force between the ring and the circumferential wall of the cylindrical element.
US07938727B1	System and method for providing interactive content for multiple networked users in a shared venue A computer-implemented system and method for providing interactive content for multiple networked users in a shared venue. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a game server, a display system in data communication with the game server, the display system including a shared screen, and a plurality of game pads in data communication with the game server, each game pad including a local game pad display device and a plurality of input devices to convey command selections to the game server, each game pad including functionality to initiate a game, at least a portion of the game being displayed on both the shared screen and the local game pad display device.
US07938721B2	Game apparatus, game program, storage medium storing game program and game control method A game apparatus (10) includes an LCD (12) and an LCD (14), for example, and the LCD (14) is provided with a touch panel (22). On the LCD (12), a first game image is displayed, and on the LCD (14), a second game image is displayed. It is determined whether or not the first game image becomes an object to be operated on the basis of coordinates data detected in response to an operation of the touch panel (22) by a player, input data obtained from an operating switch (20), a microphone (34), or the like. When it is determined that the first game image becomes an object to be operated, the first game image and the second game image are switched and displayed, for example. Then, when it is determined that the first game image displayed on the LCD (14) does not become an object to be operated, the first game image is displayed on the LCD (12).
US07938719B2	Gaming method and apparatus with triggering of bonus events by the presence of a trigger symbol in particular locations A method of playing a card game, including dealing at least one hand of cards from at least one card deck to a player upon a wager by the player and providing the player a first draw from the at least one card deck. The method further includes, if one of the at least one hand of cards includes a triggering hand after the first draw, enabling the player to replace one or more cards in the one of the at least one hand of cards which includes the triggering hand through a free second draw, and providing the player an award for any winning hand occurring after the free second draw. A gaming device for carrying out the method is also provided.
US07938718B2	Game program, game device, and game method A control unit mainly includes game condition judging means, moving period determining means for determining a moving period T0 of a ball object, first operation response period determining means for determining a first operation response period T1 of a bat object, which begins at a first operation response start opportunity St1 preceding a pitching end opportunity E0 of the moving period T0, second operation response period determining means for determining a second operation response period T2 of the bat object, which begins at a second operation response start opportunity St2 succeeding the first operation response start opportunity St1, operation input opportunity receiving means for receiving a operation input opportunity HP of a controller, and operation opportunity response judging means for judging whether the operation input opportunity HP is included in either the first operation response period T1 or the second operation response period T2.
US07938715B2	Polishing machine comprising sliding means transverse to the front face A polishing machine for optical elements includes: —a spindle arranged to rotationally drive an optical element; —a polishing tool mobile relative to the spindle; —a front face provided with a door enabling the access to the spindle and to the polishing tool. The polishing tool is mounted on a body which is rotationally mounted on sliding members by way of a first axis, the sliding members being substantially perpendicular to the front face.
US07938712B2	Methods and apparatus for decorative bra straps with multiple uses A decorative bra strap design—interchangeable bra strap/jewelry accessory is proposed. A semi-stretchable design is based on a non-stretchable beading core, that, attached at one or both end to a stretchable elastic section, that's in turn terminated into a jewelry-clasp type ending, that serves to attach to any kind of bras that have option of interchangeable bra straps, or to a “strapless” bra with hook loops. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07938705B2	Adjustable flex waterboard stringer A waterboard with externally adjustable stiffness includes a stringer assembly having a rotatable beam to modulate the stiffness of the beam in a selected direction to impart a desired stiffness to the waterboard.
US07938704B2	Outboard motor and hook assembly used for outboard motor A hook assembly is arranged to engage with an engaged member to fix a first housing to a second housing of an outboard motor. The hook assembly includes a rotation shaft, a hook member, a lever, and a weight. The rotation shaft is rotatably mounted on the first housing. A recessed portion is provided in the hook member. The recessed portion is arranged to open in first rotation direction. The recessed portion engages with the engaged member. The lever extends from the rotation shaft in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction of the recessed portion. The weight regulates the rotation of the hook member in the second rotation direction when the hook member and the engaged member are engaged together. The arrangement provides a highly-operable hook assembly for the outboard motor that prevents disengagement even when an obstacle collides with the outboard motor during traveling of a boat.
US07938703B2	Watercraft propulsion system and operating method A watercraft propulsion system has a control lever for giving instructions regarding the operating mode as well as the amount of output power from a source of driving force, and a controller for setting a propeller driving mode according to the instruction given by the control lever. When a reverse mode is instructed by the control lever, the controller sets the propeller driving mode depending on certain considerations such as user settings and battery charge. For instance, the controller may set the propeller driving mode to a mode in which the propeller is rotated in reverse by an electric motor or by the engine. Also, the controller may regulate electric power supply to the motor in light of battery charge. Other combinations are also contemplated.
US07938700B2	Intelligent inter-connect and cross-connect patching system An intelligent network patch field management system is provided that includes electronic hardware, firmware, mechanical assemblies, cables, and software that provide visible and audible cues for connecting and disconnecting patch cords in an interconnect or cross-connect patching environment. Systems of the present invention also monitor patch cord connections in a network.
US07938698B1	Electrical connector An electrical connector is mounted to a printed circuit board which has two buckling elements mounted thereon. The electrical connector includes an inner insulating housing, an outer insulating housing, a shell surrounding the inner insulating housing, and a plurality of conductive terminals. The outer insulating housing has an accommodating cavity for receiving the shell and the inner insulating housing. The outer insulating housing has a top wall. A top surface of the top wall defines a plurality of receiving passages. The outer insulating housing is mounted by the two buckling elements to make the electrical connector assembled under the printed circuit board with the top wall thereof abutting against the printed circuit board. Touching portions of the conductive terminals electrically contact the printed circuit board and are further pressed into the corresponding receiving passages by the printed circuit board.
US07938692B2	Quick-connection system for connecting electrical cables to a battery The present invention relates to a battery connection with an anti-locking system including a casing for connection of the electric cables furnished with a lever articulated between a locked position and an unlocked position. The connection has an anti-locking system preventing the lowering of the lever and hence the locking of the connection on the battery terminal, if the interlocking is not correctly achieved. The anti-locking system includes a detector that can be moved between two configurations which correspond to the locked position and to the unlocked position of the connection and is suitable, in the configuration corresponding to the locked position, for pressing against a surface of the battery containing the battery terminal.
US07938690B2	Mounting plate with fixing means for an electrical device A mounting plate includes a first fixing device for an electrical device and a second fixing device for a top-hat shaped mounting rail having a first offset support flange and a second offset support flange. The second fixing device includes a first holder and a second holder each having a contact portion and each being disposed mirror-symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the mounting plate on a rear surface of the mounting plate. The second fixing device further includes an abutment opposite the first and second holders, and a metal projection configured to clamp at least one of the first and second offset support flanges against the contact portions of the first and second holders. The projection is configured to deform upon clamping of the at least one of the offset support flanges.
US07938689B2	Rugged, polarized connector and adaptor This disclosure relates to a rugged, polarized connector or adaptor with interlocking end tabs and notches for polarizing a jack to a specific plug, and in one specific embodiment, a QMA-type RF connector where a rugged spanner nut and a rugged jack casing are used to reinforce the mating connector ends. The connector also includes tabs and mating notches on the spanner nut and the jack casing to polarize the connectors without creating a weakness in the rugged connection. A series of tab orientations is illustrated, a method for grounding the spanner nut to the connector, and a method of using the rugged and polarized interface on any type of connector or as part of a connector adaptor or add-on.
US07938688B2	Electric cable device and information reproduction system An electric cable device includes an electric cable, and a plug component. The plug component includes a terminal body with a plurality of plug terminals, a hood component, and a plug body. The hood component is disposed around the terminal body. The hood component has a width measured in a first direction of the plug component. The width of the hood component is greater than a height of the hood component that is measured in a second direction of the plug component. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The plug body is disposed around part of the hood component such that the hood component protrudes from the plug body in a third direction of the plug component with the third direction being perpendicular to the first and second direction. The plug body is asymmetrically formed relative to any of planes that are perpendicular to the second direction.
US07938687B2	Compact stacked card edge connector assembly A card edge connector assembly for connecting a pair of electrical cards to a printed circuit board includes an upper connector and a lower connector. The upper connector includes a first insulative housing with a plurality of first terminals mounted therein. The first insulative housing defines a recess thereunder and extending from a first front face of the first insulative housing thereof. The lower connector includes a second insulative housing with a plurality of second terminals mounted therein and received in said recess under the upper connector. The second insulative housing defines a second front face which is in alignment with the first front face in a vertical direction.
US07938676B1	Receptacle with antenna An electrical receptacle is disclosed. The electrical receptacle includes a housing and at least one socket at least partially disposed within the housing and having at least a pair of entry ports. The at least one socket is controllable by a radio frequency signal. The electrical receptacle also includes an antenna at least partially disposed within the housing configured to at least receive the radio frequency signal used to control the at least one socket. The electrical receptacle further includes at least one tamper resistant device at least partially disposed within the housing. The at least one tamper resistant device is configured to block the entry ports unless a mating electrical plug is inserted into the at least one socket.
US07938675B1	Electrical connector and electrical connector assembly having heat-radiating structures An electrical connector in accordance with the present invention includes an insulative housing defining a mating direction and at least one contact-receiving passage extending along the mating direction, and at lest one conductive contact received in the contact-receiving passage. Each conductive contact includes a mating section, a retaining section extending from the mating section and interferentially retained in the contact-receiving passage, and a mounting section extending from the retaining section. The insulative housing defines at least one heat-radiating passage penetrating through the insulative housing along the mating direction and communicating with the contact-receiving passage.
US07938672B2	Electrical connector having ramp arranged in passageway lifting downward-tilted contact tip An electrical connector includes a plurality of terminals and an insulating housing retained said plurality of terminals. Each terminal includes a retaining portion and a plane contacting portion. The contacting portion has a pre-folded line along which a front end of the contacting portion slants. The insulating housing includes a base portion, a tongue portion extending forward from the base portion and passageways extending in the base portion and the tongue portion to receive the terminals. Each passageway defines a first supporting surface to sustain the front end of the terminal and a second supporting surface to sustain the retained portion of the terminal. A room is defined between said two supporting surface along a rear-to-front direction to accommodate the front ends of the terminals during insertion of the terminal to the passageway.
US07938667B2	Connector retaining bracket A retainer may include a hollow portion for holding a connector, a path for conveying the connector from outside the retainer to the hollow portion, a surface that is adjacent to the connector when the connector is held in the hollow portion, a fastener for applying a force to couple the retainer to a device, and a member that causes the surface to press the connector against a connector receiver associated with the device and to prevent the connector from being disengaged from the connector receiver.
US07938666B2	Socket connector with a cam A socket connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, a cover (2) attached to the upper side of the insulative housing and a cam (3). The insulative housing defines an upper side and a lower side. The insulative housing has a first aperture (13) which extends through the upper and lower sides. The cover defines an upper surface and a lower surface and has a second aperture (23) extending through the upper and lower surfaces. The second aperture aligns with the first aperture in a vertical direction. The cam has a first cam portion (31) and a second cam portion (32) separately pre-formed and jointly combined and correspondingly received in the first and second apertures. The second cam portion is operable to urge the insulative cover relative to the insulative housing along a front-to-rear direction.
US07938657B2	Card edge connector with an ejector retained at a side wall thereof A card edge connector (100) includes an elongate insulative housing (1), a number of contacts (2) and an ejector (3) retained on the insulative housing (1). The insulative housing (1) defines a pair of opposed side walls (11) and a central slot (12) between the side walls (11). The side wall (11) has a fitting section (13) at one end thereof. The fitting section (13) defines a cavity (131) extending therethrough along a width direction, and a slit (134) spaced apart from the cavity (131) along a length direction. The ejector (3) has a base (31) retained on the fitting section (13) and a spring tab (32) sandwiched between the insulative housing (1) and the base (31). The spring tab (32) defines two ends one of which being retained in the slit (134) and another abutting against an inner side of the base (31).
US07938648B2	Board mounted electrical connector with reinforcing device The electrical connector (50) includes an insulative housing (51) defining a mounting face (501) for mounting onto a printed circuit board (10) and a mating face (502) opposite to the mounting face, a plurality of contacts (52) received in the insulative housing, an insulator (20) mounted to an underside of the printed circuit board, a back panel (30) attached to the insulator, and a plurality of fastening elements (40) mechanically interconnecting the back panel, the insulator and the insulative housing onto opposite sides of the printed circuit board. The insulator has a plurality of pairs of guiding posts (23) extending oppositely towards the back panel and the printed circuit board. The back panel defines a plurality of guiding holes (33) aligned with holes (14) on the printed circuit board for receiving corresponding guiding posts.
US07938644B2	Tongue retractor and fluid/particle barrier Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a tongue retractor and fluid/particle barrier for use in medical procedures performed in and around a patient's mouth. In one embodiment of the present invention, a kidney-shaped tongue retractor and fluid/particle barrier, with an insertion end and a handling end, is inserted into the mouth of a patient. The insertion end of the tongue retractor and fluid/particle barrier is specifically positioned to isolate and protect the patient's tongue from the medical procedure and to protect the patient from inhaling or swallowing fluids and scattered debris.
US07938643B2	Use of integrating sphere technology to provide uniform, high-intensity light, and wavelength mixing from light emitting diodes An illumination device including an integrating sphere and at least one light source. The integrating sphere is hollow and houses the at least one light source in it. The light source can be manipulated between a first configuration and a second configuration. The illumination device emits a first spectrum of light when the light source is in the first configuration, and a second spectrum of light when the light source is in the second configuration.
US07938639B2	Installation for the manufacture of containers comprising a secure enclosure provided with a system for the insufflation of filtered air The present invention relates to an installation (10) for the manufacture of containers, in particular bottles, by blow moulding or stretch blow moulding from a thermoplastic preform, characterized in that the installation (10) comprises a system (70) for the insufflation of filtered air inside the enclosure (52) thereof to create an excess pressure therein by projecting a flow (F) of air therein which is selectively introduced into at least one first zone (Z1) so as to avoid the risks of specific airborne contamination.
US07938632B2	Piston pump with cam follower arrangement A pump primarily for liquid paint includes first and second pistons reciprocable rectilinearly in respective first and second cylinders. The first and second pistons are moved relative to their respective pistons by operation of an A. C. electric motor the rotary output shaft of which is coupled to the first and second pistons by a constant velocity cam and a cam follower mechanism converting rotary motion of the output shaft into reciprocatory motion of the first and second pistons 180° out of phase with one another.
US07938631B2	Pump rotation adapter (360 degrees rotation) A method and apparatus are provided for coupling a pump to existing piping in a pump station such as a sewage or other suitable pump station. The adapter features a stand inlet adapter plate for coupling to one coupling of the existing piping; a pump adapter plate for coupling to a first port of the pump; and a clamp ring for coupling to the stand inlet adapter plate so as to allow the pump to be freely rotated a full 360° degrees if necessary in order to align another coupling of the existing piping to a second port of the pump, the stand inlet adapter plate being tightened and locked to the clamp ring after the pump is aligned for fastening the one coupling of the existing piping to the first port of the pump.
US07938627B2	Woven turbomachine impeller An impeller is provided that may be used in compressors or turbines. In another aspect of the present invention, a fiber or a bundle of fibers is woven to form at least two blades of an impeller. Yet another aspect of the present invention employs a peripheral component woven around impeller blades. An additional conductive fiber or bundle of fibers is woven into the impeller in a further aspect of the present invention. Moreover, an aspect of the present invention provides a chilling system that includes at least one compressor, at least one wave rotor, and a refrigerant.
US07938626B2	Shim for a turbojet blade A shim for a turbomachine blade is disclosed. The shim includes two branches which wrap around flanks of a blade root, and two tabs. Each of the tabs extend from one end of a respective one of the two branches. The tabs are folded towards each other and are interconnected in such a manner as to prevent them from unfolding. Advantageously, the shim includes a connection part which interconnects the tabs in such a manner as to prevent them from unfolding. The connection part is assembled to the tabs in such a manner as to allow the branches of the shim to spread apart. For example, the connection part can be suitable for stretching in the direction for spreading the branches apart.
US07938620B2	Turbomachine stator including a stage of stator vanes actuated by an automatically centered rotary ring The stator includes a casing and at least one stage of variable-pitch stator vanes. The vanes are moved by an actuator ring outside the casing and are carried thereby. The ring is connected by links to the vanes in order to actuate them simultaneously. The casing includes a stationary coaxial rail projecting from the outside surface of the casing and at least three circumferentially spaced-apart groups of wheels are constrained to move along the rail. Each group of wheels is coupled to the ring by a radial guidance arrangement. Each group of wheels includes at least two wheels engaged with the rail, and each wheel being mounted to rotate on a radially-oriented pin, said pin being mounted directly on said ring.
US07938618B2	Device for silencing a helicopter gas turbine engine and engine thus obtained In a helicopter gas turbine engine, lips (30, 32) defining a radial air intake (34) are connected along an opening (12a) of an engine compressor air supply passage (12). The air intake lips are at least partially formed by a sound attenuator (40, 42) calculated to attenuate sound frequencies produced by the compressor rotation.
US07938617B2	Pressure test method of double suction volute pump According to the present invention, along the right and left sides of a rotary shaft, flat faces that serve as sealing faces are formed at the circumferential edges, on the suction chamber side, of semicircular division plates, which define suction chambers and a discharge chamber of a volute casing that is divided into two segments. Two disc plates are prepared as pressure test tools, and are positioned on the right and left sides of the rotary shaft so that they contact the flat faces that are formed around the circumferential edges of the division plates near the suction chambers. The two disc plates are then securely connected to a member in the axial direction. In addition, a bolt fastening structure, which is axially tightened by the member that connects the disc plates axially, is provided in at least one axial direction.
US07938614B2	Grabber for automatically grabbing packing units A grabber for automatically grabbing and placing packing units of different dimensions and configurations includes a frame with a support, a hold-down device and a stripper attached to the frame. The support supports a bottom portion of a respective packing unit, and is generally horizontally movable with respect to the frame. The hold-down device is downwardly movable toward the support to clamp the respective packing unit between the support and the hold-down device. The stripper is disposed above the support and is generally horizontally movable. The respective packing unit is substantially immobilized by the hold-down device and the stripper as the support is retracted.
US07938611B2	Feeding apparatus of test equipment In the present invention, a feeding apparatus comprising a plurality of feeding mechanisms is provided. The feeding apparatus comprises a power source, a base, a rotating axle, a plurality of feeding mechanisms, a plurality of connecting units and a plurality of fixing units. The power source is driven to rotate the rotating axle, and then the feeding mechanisms are rotated by the rotating axle to proceed feeding process. In addition, the rotation of each of the feeding mechanisms is controlled by the connecting units and the fixing units. However, the feeding mechanisms can be rotated together or individually to proceed feeding process. Therefore, the production capacity is increased by the feeding apparatus, as well as the cost is reduced by decreasing power needed.
US07938601B2	Use of a distributor or diffuser in the form of a thin-walled, air-permeable heat-reactive layer for machining a workpiece In the use of a distributor or diffuser in the form of a thin-walled, completely or partially air-permeable, heat-reactive layer for drilling or milling machining of a workpiece with a tool, a vacuum, surface tension is produced, which is large enough to fix the position of the workpiece, by using a vacuum over the layer acting as a distributor or a diffuser on the surface of the workpiece to be machined. The workpiece is then machined, and a cutting speed and rate of feed is adjusted, such that a defined local heating takes place in a contact area between the tool and workpiece. The peak temperature at the contact area is greater or the same as a melting temperature of the surface of the distributor or diffuser.
US07938599B2	Pin mirror cutter, and throw-away tip mounted on the pin mirror cutter A throw-away tip is mounted on a first tip mounting seat of a pin mirror cutter. In the throw-away tip, cutting edges are formed at intersecting ridgeline parts between a pair of oppositely disposed long side faces of a substantially trapezoidal flat-plate-shaped tip body, and upper and lower faces of the tip body. A thickness direction of the tip body is approximately aligned with a radial direction of the cutter body to provide curved edges formed in acute corner parts of the tip body for cutting. The tip is mounted on a second tip mounting seat of the pin mirror cutter such that the thickness direction of the tip body is approximately aligned with an axial direction of the cutter body to provide curved edges formed in obtuse corner parts of the tip body for cutting.
US07938597B2	Subsurface drainage system and drain structure therefor A subsurface drainage assembly for directing fluid drainage from a surface is disclosed. The subsurface drainage assembly includes a plurality of drain structure panels linked together in a manner that permits movement of one drain structure panel relative to the adjacent drain structure panel. The drain structure panels have a laterally extensive backing grid and a plurality of spaced apart tubular support members projecting therefrom. The tubular support members are tapered so that the tubular support members are nestable with the tubular support members of an identical drain structure panel when the drain structure panels are stacked.
US07938589B2	Keyboard arrangement A handheld mobile communication device having a physical keyboard with a first set of keys having indicia associated with the letters A-Z arranged in a standard alphabetic keyboard arrangement and a second set of keys having indica for the numerals 0-9. The numerals are arranged in a numeric phone key arrangement which is at least partially overlaid on the standard alphabetic keyboard arrangement. The second set of keys is differentiated from the keys of the first set using color.
US07938588B2	Thermal printer having first and second ring-like conveyance paths A size-reduced printer that conveys a recording sheet in a circulating manner along a ring-like conveyance path while printing a plurality of images on the recording sheet in different colors sequentially in a superimposed manner, thereby forming a full color image. When a ribbon cassette that contains a multi-color ink ribbon is loaded at a predetermined position within a printer housing, a ring-like conveyance path is formed between the ribbon cassette and the printer housing. While the thermal head is driven and the recording sheet is conveyed once in a circulating manner along the conveyance path, a one-color image is printed on a previous printed one-color image in a superimposed manner in a corresponding one of the different color inks of the multi-color ink ribbon, thereby forming a full color image finally.
US07938586B2	Mobile terminal apparatus and sliding cover device A mobile terminal apparatus includes a camera unit and a sliding cover device. The sliding cover device includes a cover slidable with respect to the camera unit, a pair of arm members supporting the cover on both sides from a back surface of the cover and extending along the sides of the cover, a frame member supporting the arm members such that the arm members are slidable along respectively predetermined sliding paths, and a body surface member secured to the frame member and having a surface thereof flush with a surface of the cover at a closed position. The sliding paths are defined such that, when the cover is moved from the closed position to an open position, the arm members slide into a space below the body surface member and the cover rides onto the body surface member.
US07938580B2	Sterilizable package with a high barrier to oxygen A package (599) with three layers allows sterilization of the package contents, provides a separate area for a scavenger and minimizes the oxygen transmission rate for the package and has, in one embodiment, a third layer (330) with a first section (336) of breathable polymeric material, a second section (334) of substantially non-breathable polymeric material and a third section (332) of breathable polymeric material which is positioned between a first layer (512) of substantially non-breathable polymeric material and a second layer (514) of substantially non-breathable polymeric material. The first layer (512) and the second layer (514) are fixed together to define a non-breathable pouch (516); and the third layer (330) is fixed to the first layer (512) and the second layer (514) and divides the non-breathable pouch (516) into a first compartment (592) and a second compartment (594). The outer seal (518) fixing the first layer (512) to the second layer (514) does not include any interposing first section (336) of the third layer (330).
US07938571B1	Fly ash treatment system and method of use thereof The present invention provides a system for treating powder materials, such as fly ash, cement, slag, or the like, and a method of use thereof. The material treatment system facilitates the application of a desired chemical entity to the material passing through the system. The material treatment system disclosed herein is capable of performing this task while the material is moved at a high velocity. The system includes a fluidized bed chamber, discharge chamber, application chamber, and concentration chute. The result is the quick and consistent application of a chemical entity to the material so that the treated material has the desired characteristics.
US07938567B2	LED lighting system A lighting system is provided having a light source with a housing, an LED engine, a controller, a heat sink, a connection device, and a power cable opening. The LED engine, controller and heat sink can be enclosed by the housing and sealed from atmosphere. The heat sink can be in thermal communication with the LED engine. The controller can be connected to a power cable inserted through the power cable opening. The controller can control at least one of power to the LED engine and a light output generated by the LED engine. A fiber optic cable can be connected to the LED engine by the connection device. The LED engine can communicate the light output through the fiber optic cable.
US07938557B2	Color management system A light source and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The light source includes a light emitter and a controller. The light emitter generates light in response to a control signal coupled thereto. The light emitter is characterized by an age related to the amount of light that has been cumulatively generated by the light emitter, the generated light for a given control signal changing with the age. The controller measures the age of the light emitter and generates the control signal based on the desired light intensity and the measured age of the light emitter. In one embodiment, the controller stores an age value for the light emitter, and the controller determines the control signal in response to an input signal specifying a desired light intensity from the light emitter, the controller updating the age value each time the control signal is determined.
US07938556B2	Torch The present invention provides a compact portable light source capable of providing powerful light as well as effect light and is especially suitable for professional use, i.e. for security, police and military use. The invention relates to a portable torch having a plurality of light emitting diodes and a heat sink, namely a portable torch (1) comprising a case (2) having a first and a second open ends, a first cap (3) covering the first open end and a second cap (4) covering the second open end, said first cap having a transparent area (6), illumination means having a diode area (11) comprising a plurality of light emitting devices (LEDs) arranged to emit light out of the first open end and through the transparent area (6) of the first cap (3), a heat sink (14) arranged to transport heat from the light emitting devices, a power source comprising a battery holder and means (7) for activating said power source operatively associated with said case (2).
US07938552B2	Reflecting device and application thereof in backlight unit for enhancing light directivity The present invention discloses a backlight unit having a reflecting device to enhance light directivity. The backlight unit comprises a light source module, comprising at least one light source, and a reflecting device. The reflecting device is provided to surround the light source or light source module and comprises a first surface. Besides, the first surface comprises at least two planes where every two planes are connected with an included angle more than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.
US07938539B2	Method of developing a visual processing profile based on a retino-geniculo-cortical pathway A method of developing a visual processing profile for a person including displaying a filtered visual stimuli to portions of the person's field of view; allowing the person to respond to the filtered visual stimuli; measuring the person's response to the filtered visual stimuli in the portions of the person's field of view; determining a level of retinal ganglion function of a first retinal ganglion subtype for the person based on at least the person's measured response to the filtered visual stimuli; determining a level of retinal ganglion function for at least a second retinal ganglion subtype; and determining the visual processing profile for the person based on at least the determined levels of retinal ganglion function for at least the first and second retinal ganglion subtypes.
US07938535B2	Eyewear and case display apparatus An eyewear point-of-sale assembly for reading glasses, sunglasses or the like packaged with a carrying case such that a consumer may try on the eyewear without removing the eyewear from the packaging and without separating the carrying case from the eyewear. In one embodiment the packaging is formed from a planar template having a display panel that engages a conventional hanging-type display, a middle panel hingedly attached to the display panel, and defining a tab that engages an upper end of the case, and a lower panel that wraps around a bottom end of the case. The middle panel includes a lower portion that wraps around one temple portion of the eyewear. In another embodiment the packaging is formed from a planar template including a display panel, and a main panel that wraps about the case, and includes means for retaining one temple portion of the eyewear.
US07938528B2	System and method of adjusting blade loads for blades engaging image forming machine moving surfaces Systems and methods of providing controlled blade engagement with an image forming machine moving surface are provided for metering a release agent onto the surface, cleaning the surface, or both. A blade engagement apparatus is provided having a controller controlling an actuator connected to a blade positioning mechanism for providing controlled engagement of the blade with the moving surface. The minimum blade load applied by the blade to the moving surface needed to prevent defects is determined and maintained for increasing the useful life of the blade. Control systems and methods utilizing single and separately operable dual blade positioning mechanisms are provided.
US07938521B2	Ink cartridge for a computer system having an integral printer An ink cartridge for a computer system having an integral printer includes a media housing portion having top and bottom moldings mated to form a housing for storing sheets of paper therebetween, the housing portion having a print media transport mechanism; an ink storage portion having an ink storage base molding defining a plurality of distinct ink chambers, the ink storage base molding attached to an underside of the bottom molding and sealed therewith; and an ink manifold having ink outlet nozzles adapted to facilitate fluid communication with the printer, the ink outlet nozzles provided on a surface attached to and extending beyond an edge of the bottom molding. Each of the distinct ink chambers include a portion extending beyond the edge of the bottom molding, which portions form part of the ink manifold.
US07938512B2	Methods and systems for laser processing The described embodiments relate to slotted substrates. One exemplary method forms a feature into a substrate, at least in part, by directing a laser beam at the substrate. During at least a portion of said directing, the method supplies a conductive material proximate the substrate.
US07938508B2	Low profile printhead An inkjet printhead having a housing having a top face and a bottom face, an ink ejection device and a contact circuit. The contact circuit is affixed to the housing in a substantially horizontal orientation and is in communication with the ink ejection device. The contact circuit is configured to connect the ink ejection device to an external device.
US07938497B2	Ink jet printer An ink jet printer is provided with an ink jet head, an elastically deformable sub-ink tank, an actuator, an ink quantity detection device, controller, and a main ink tank which communicates with the sub-ink tank. The actuator performs a predetermined action, such that the actuator applies a pushing force to the sub-ink tank and then releases the pushing force. The ink quantity detection device detects whether an ink quantity within the sub-ink tank is less than a first value. The controller controls the actuator to perform the predetermined action in a first case where the ink quantity within the sub-ink tank is less than the first value. The controller controls the actuator such that the actuator performs the predetermined action in a second case where the ink quantity within the sub-ink tank is more than the first value and a predetermined condition is satisfied.
US07938494B2	Antilock braking systems and methods Improved anti-lock brake systems (ABS) employed on aircraft and land vehicles and methods of operating same employing a sliding mode observer (SMO) incorporated into an ABS algorithm requiring only measurement of wheel speed to regulate the application of braking torque are disclosed. Braking is optimized simply by maintaining an SMO estimate of differential wheel torque (road/tire torque minus applied brake torque) derived from wheel speed at an extremum via applying or releasing the brakes as the extremum is passed through.
US07938493B2	Brake control system and brake control method A brake control system includes a wheel cylinder, a brake pedal, a master cylinder in which communication between it and an external master cylinder reservoir is cut off when the operating amount of the brake pedal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, an internal reservoir, and a pump which selectively discharges hydraulic fluid in two directions, one being a direction that increases the hydraulic pressure in the wheel cylinder by drawing up hydraulic fluid from the internal reservoir, and the other being a direction that stores hydraulic fluid in the internal reservoir. The pump is driven to discharge hydraulic fluid in the direction that stores hydraulic fluid when communication is open between the master cylinder and the master cylinder reservoir, and driven to discharge hydraulic fluid in the direction that increases the hydraulic pressure when communication is cut off between the master cylinder and the master cylinder reservoir. A further invention is directed to a brake control method.
US07938492B2	Toothbrush having pressure relief unit and method of producing same Disclosed are a toothbrush and a method of producing the same. The toothbrush of the present invention includes a pressure relief unit installed in a head part of the toothbrush. The unit has a plate shape and a predetermined size sufficient to cover bristles set in the head part. In the present invention, the head part is thin, and the bristles are set in the head part without using a wire. Furthermore, the present invention is easily adapted for mass production using inexpensive equipment. Also, the pressure relief unit serves as a reinforcing unit. Therefore, the head part is prevented from breaking during use despite having a reduced thickness.
US07938490B2	Seat A seat may be obtained with improved operability of plural adjustable units.A vehicle seat 10 is provided with: a seat lifter 22 provided to a seat body for sitting on, adjustable by transmitted operation force; a reclining mechanism 20 provided to the seat body, adjustable by transmitted operation force; and an operation lever 30, to which operation force from operation by a seat occupant is input; and a switching mechanism 50 that is able to selectively switch between a first state in which operation force of the operation lever 30 is able to be transmitted to the seat lifter 22, and a second state in which operation force of the operation lever 30 is able to be transmitted to the reclining mechanism 20.
US07938485B1	Variable displacement seating assembly A variable displacement seating assembly incorporates at least first and second pivotable seat frames. The first seat frame includes a male seat connector. The second seat frame is arranged adjacent the first seat frame, and includes a female seat connector receiving the male seat connector of the first seat frame. The first and second seat frames are operatively interconnected for simultaneous pivoting movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position of the first and second seat frames, the male and female seat connectors are disposed for sliding vertical movement of one seat connector relative to the other, such that the first and second seat frames are independently vertically displaceable upon an impact force acting against the seat assembly.
US07938475B2	Aerodynamic skirt wheel interface An aerodynamic skirt adapted to be installed on a trailer for managing airflow is provided, the aerodynamic skirt comprising a skirt panel defining a substantially curved shape adapted to be positioned adjacent to a rear wheel of the trailer, the curved shape substantially mirroring the shape of the wheel to reduce the gap between the skirt panel and the wheel. A method of installing an aerodynamic skirt on a trailer to manage airflow around the trailer is also provided, the method comprising providing a skirt panel defining a curved shape adapted to cooperate with an exterior circumference of a wheel of the trailer; and positioning the curved shape of the skirt panel adjacent to the rear wheel of the trailer to reduce the air gap therebetween. An aerodynamic skirt kit comprising a skirt panel having a curved shape adapted to cooperate with an exterior circumference of a wheel of the trailer; and a plurality of struts adapted to secure the skirt panel to a trailer is equally provided.
US07938472B2	Door module and a method for connecting an operating device for a closing and opening mechanism in a vehicle door and a handle A door module for forming a vehicle door, the door module including a frame and, arranged on the frame, a mechanism for closing and opening a vehicle door formed by the door module. The closing and opening mechanism exhibits an operating device that is so arranged as to be capable of displacement between two positions for the adjustment of the closed and open condition respectively. The operating device is provided with the first of two interacting snap-in connection parts, both of which snap-in connection parts together form a snap-in connection for the automatic, connection of the operating device and a handle provided with the second snap-in connection part that is intended respectively for closing and opening a vehicle door formed by the door module.
US07938467B2	Load weighting control apparatus A load weighting control apparatus that suppresses deterioration of a controlled object due to impacts or the like during control, and for which energy usage costs required for control are markedly reduced, and that has a simple structure and therefore inexpensive manufacturing costs and running costs. The apparatus includes a main vacuum cylinder provided with a cylinder tube, end walls, an air vent that passes through one end wall, a valve that is provided in the air vent and serves to open/tightly close the atmosphere inside of the cylinder tube to the outside, a piston that slides back and forth within the cylinder tube, and a piston rod that is linked to the piston and passes through the other end wall and an auxiliary vacuum cylinder that includes a slacking portion where a piston rod produces slackness in the main vacuum cylinder.
US07938463B2	Bumper apparatus with multistage energy absorbing structure A bumper apparatus with a multistage energy absorbing structure mounted to the front and rear ends of a vehicle. The bumper apparatus includes a back beam, a rear shock absorber, a front shock absorber, and a bumper cover. The back beam is mounted to a car body. The rear shock absorber is mounted to the front surface of the back beam and has a plurality of rear shock absorbing units on a middle portion thereof. The front shock absorber is mounted to the front surface of the rear shock absorber and has an arcuate cross-sectional structure. The bumper cover is mounted to the front surface of the front shock absorber.
US07938461B2	Door stop device A door stop device including a handle provided with a pivoting leg. The door stop device according to the present invention is configured to preferably minimize a user bending over to install or remove the door stop device, or more preferably eliminate the user bending over to install or remove the door stop device.
US07938459B2	Bolt-type seal lock having locking body and separate mounting housing with electronics for wireless communications The system described here is a bolt-type seal lock which includes a bolt, having a shaft with proximal and distal portions and a head that is wider than the distal portion of the shaft and located at the proximal portion of the shaft; a locking body having a passageway with an open end for receiving and retaining the distal portion of the shaft of the bolt in locking engagement after the shaft has been inserted a predetermined extent into the open end of the passageway, at which point the shaft cannot be withdrawn from the open end of the passageway; and a housing connected to, and rotatable relative to, the locking body, configured to be removably mounted to a door of a shipping container, thereby preventing swinging motion of the locking body. The housing contains electronics, including memory, a wireless communication component, and a power source.
US07938457B2	Fitting connection for high-pressure hoses A connection assembly for a hose end. The assembly includes a fitting, a connector, and a shell formed of a pair of closable halves. The a fitting includes a nipple having a first end insertable in the hose end and a second end, a flange surrounding the nipple, and a sleeve disposed over the nipple first end. With the hose end being inserted between the sleeve and the nipple, the second nipple end being slidably received coaxially in the connector, and the shell halves being closed over the fitting with the flange being received in a first cavity portion thereof, and with the connector being received in a second cavity of the shell, the fitting is slidably movable in the shell responsive to fluid pressure from a release position to a locked position wherein the flange interferingly engages the first cavity portion preventing the shell halves from being opened.
US07938456B2	Safety quick-connect coupling for assembling two pipes A quick connect and quick release coupling for connecting two pipes, including a male element and a female element that are axially fitted and interlocked one inside the other and wherein a locking mechanism retains the male element in a coupled position and a temporarily retaining mechanism immobilizes the male element, after its release by the locking mechanism, in a position for flushing a pipe connected to the male element. The locking mechanism is controlled by a sleeve that slides relative to a body of the female element. When the temporarily retaining mechanism retains the male element in flushing position, it is subjected to a first force (E1) derived from a pressure (P) of the fluid flowing (F) from the male element outwards and to a second force (E2), opposite to the first, exerted by elastic return means which, when the pressure (P) drops to a safety threshold, moves the temporarily retaining mechanism into a position for releasing the male element from the female element.
US07938455B2	Device for axially connecting an external pipe section to a coaxial peg or an internal pipe section that engages in said section The invention relates to a device for axially connecting an external pipe section to a coaxial peg or internal pipe section that engages in the external pipe section, in particular for connecting the drain connecting piece of an injector for injecting fuel into internal combustion engines to a fuel return connector. The external pipe section has two diametrically opposed retaining slots that penetrate the wall of the external pipe section and which correspond to grooves on the periphery of the peg or internal pipe section. Two opposing sprung retaining arms of a clamp-type retaining clip pass through the retaining slots of the external pipe section from the exterior and snap into the grooves of the peg or internal pipe section in a sprung manner. One essential feature of the invention is that the parallel retaining slots of the external pipe section are offset in height in relation to one another, while the whole of the retaining clip, when not fitted onto the pipe sections, lies on one plane.
US07938453B2	Stabilized connector Tap mounting assemblies for reducing loads on the threaded end portions of a tap. Some exemplary embodiments employ a spring such as Belleville washers to bias apart the tap and a mounting plate, and some embodiments provide visual indication of proper tightening. Some exemplary embodiments allow angular adjustment of a portion of the tap assembly without disturbing the tapered thread engagement of the tap on the mounting surface. Exemplary embodiments may employ a base plate between a jack screw and a mounting surface.
US07938450B2	Integral universal coupling assembly for a fluid distribution system and method of using the same A universal coupling assembly is provided including a housing having an inner bore that extends along an axis through a fluid port and a flange formed integral with the housing and the inner bore. The flange extends radially outward from the axis and has a mating surface. A nipple extends from the flange along the axis toward the fluid port. The nipple has a mating interface at an end thereof, and the nipple has a junction portion extending at least partially about the nipple and located between the mating interface and the flange. The junction portion and the mating interface are configured to receive at least two different types of interchangeable fittings based on a type of mating joint, and the junction portion is matable with one of a flange fitting, a threaded union fitting, a sweat fitting, an NPT fitting, and a barb fitting.
US07938444B2	Mounting bracket for tether release mechanism An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a release device and a release device mounting bracket. The release device is in electronic communication with at least one sensor in a vehicle and is configured to release one or more active vent tethers or airbag restraining tethers.
US07938443B1	Shipping-safe inflator for an airbag module An inflator capable of directing inflation gas into the cushion of an airbag module is thrust neutral during shipping, handling and installation. The inflator's thrust-neutral feature can be rendered inoperable for use with the airbag module. A thrust-balancing portion of the inflator has a circumferentially continuous sidewall that encloses an elongated passageway and has a proximal end configured to receive inflation gas from the inflator and a distal end configured to release a primary portion of the inflation gas into the cushion. In the event of unintended discharge during shipping or handling, an elongated secondary discharge aperture formed through the sidewall releases to the exterior of the thrust-balancing portion a secondary portion of the inflation gas that imposes thrust on the inflator directed oppositely from thrust imposed by release of the primary portion of the inflation gas stabilizing the inflator during shipping, handling and installation. The secondary discharge aperture includes a nonlinear slot formed through the sidewall partially circumscribing a deflection vane that tends to pivot outwardly of the sidewall in response to inflation gas inside the passageway, directing the secondary portion of the inflation gas away from the distal end of the sidewall.
US07938438B2	Three-chamber adaptive side airbag The invention relates to a side airbag module for an automotive vehicle which includes an inflatable bag (11) configured to be deployed between an occupant and the vehicle body upon being filled with the gas produced by a generator, which bag comprises a front panel (21) intended to make contact with the occupant, a rear panel (23) and at least one inner panel (25) forming a first chamber (13) with the rear panel (23) and a second chamber (15) with the front panel (21), having a vent hole (19), the inner panel (25) including a duct (39) allowing the passage of gas from the first chamber (13) to the second chamber (15) and which is located in a position allowing it to be blocked upon the front panel (21) moving closer to the inner panel (25) during the contact of the bag (11) with the occupant.
US07938433B2	Stroller soft goods attachment Disclosed herein are soft goods attachment designs and techniques for a stroller. The stroller includes a frame having a section, and further includes a soft goods component with an edge having a loop that forms a tunnel running along the edge. The soft goods component is attached to the section of the frame at the edge. A support strip is inserted in the tunnel and shaped to extend along the edge of the soft goods component and follow the section of the frame to facilitate attachment of the soft goods component to the frame. In some cases, a set of fasteners extends through the support strip to secure the soft goods component to the frame.
US07938432B2	Device used as a climbing aid A device comprising a supporting device as climbing aid for a ski. The supporting device has at least two supporting positions, in which it prevents a boot held in a ski binding from being lowered below a climbing angle between the boot and the ski associated with the respective supporting position. The device comprises an adjusting device, which is actively connected to the supporting device and can be directly or indirectly actuated by a user and which can move the supporting device from a first into a second supporting position. The adjusting device includes an operating element for actuation of the adjusting device and an intermediate store for storing the actuation, wherein, in an adjusting process, the adjusting device moves the supporting device from said first into said second supporting position after a time delay, the adjusting process being initiated with the time delay in relation to the actuation.
US07938426B2	Vehicle stabilization apparatus and vehicle formed therewith A vehicle assembly includes a two-wheeled vehicle including a frame having opposed sides, opposed front and rear ends, and a front wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the front end of the frame positioned in front of an opposed rear wheel mounted for rotation to the frame proximate to the rear end of the frame and that is substantially in-line with respect to the front wheel. A member is carried by the frame of the vehicle between the front and rear wheels and has end portions disposed adjacent to the respective sides of the frame. A wheeled stabilizer assembly is carried by each of the end portions of the member to wheelingly interact with the ground over which the vehicle is driven along the sides of the frame proximate to the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.
US07938425B2	Bicycle assembly with rear shock A bicycle frame can have a main frame, a sub-frame and a shock. The sub-frame can move in relation to the main frame and the shock can be used to regulate that relationship. A linkage can also be used to regulate the relationships and control the rotation. The shock can further have a pair of extension arms to span a seat tube which is part of the main frame.
US07938421B2	Collapsible axle for velocipede A supporting member that carries at least 1 wheel and either rotates with the wheel to transmit mechanical power to and from it, and allows the wheel to rotate freely on it. The axle is an invention by itself and there is no prior art which has the axle attached to the housing. The axle and wheels can be removed and is therefore easier to ship. The axle can be used in a tricycle, trailer, caboose or any human or mechanical powered vehicle.
US07938420B1	Bicycle drive mechanism with pedal leverage arm A drive mechanism for a bicycle is provided including a pedal leverage arm, a drive sprocket spindle, a drive sprocket, a drive gear, and a vertical gear on each side of the bicycle. The vertical gear is attached to the pedal leverage arm so that the vertical gear can mesh with the drive sprocket. A chain on each side of the bicycle extends around the drive gear and a wheel sprocket. Downward movement of a pedal leverage arm causes the attached vertical gear to move downward, causing the meshed drive gear to turn, which causes the drive sprocket spindle on that side of the bicycle to turn, which causes the chain that goes around the drive sprocket on that side of the bicycle to turn, which causes the wheel sprocket and a rear wheel to turn, due to permanent attachment of both the drive sprocket and drive gear to the drive sprocket spindle.
US07938414B2	Auxiliary frame, particularly for motor vehicles The invention relates to an auxiliary frame (1) for multi-link rear axles of motor vehicles, comprising two lateral auxiliary frame parts (B) which are embodied at least approximately in a V-shaped manner in such an arrangement that the vertexes (6, 7) thereof face each other and are joined to each other via a central auxiliary frame part (C) that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The lateral auxiliary frame parts and the central auxiliary frame part are configured as hollow profiled members while the lateral auxiliary frame parts are provided with at least three of the following receptacles or recesses: the top transverse link; the bottom transverse link; the stabilizer; the longitudinal links; the fixture of the auxiliary frame to the vehicle body.
US07938413B2	Knee scooter A knee scooter includes a substantially V-shaped chassis formed by a pair of extensions joined together at a vertex. At the vertex, the extensions form an angle of about sixty degrees. Further, the extensions establish a foot-space in the interior of the angle and define a chassis centerline that bisects the angle. An adjustment tube is selectively engageable with the first extension of the chassis to orient the adjustment tube substantially perpendicular to the plane of the chassis. Further, engagement with the first extension off-sets the adjustment tube from the centerline of the chassis. In use, a user rests one knee on the seat while propelling the knee scooter with his/her other leg in the foot-space.
US07938412B2	Transportable containers A container assembly is provided that includes a base container that has an upper opening and an upper container mounted in covering relation over the upper opening of the base container. A linkage connects the upper container to the base container in a manner that allows the upper container to be displaced from the covering relation over the upper opening of the base container, so as to permit access into the base container through the upper opening. A support assembly is spaced from the base container when the upper container is displaced from the covering relation over the upper opening of the base container and wheels are disposed toward a lower portion of the container assembly. A handle is provided for rollingly transporting the container assembly on the wheels in a tilted configuration.
US07938411B2	Axle air dump for multiple axle vehicles A system and process for controlling vehicle loading on a multi-axle vehicle and improving maneuverability is disclosed. The system includes a reservoir of pressurized air and associated leveling valve that uses a relay valve to improve refill times when the vehicle returns from a dump mode operation to normal operation. The process reduces pressure in one or more of the axles when maneuvering the vehicle at predetermined slow speeds and maintaining that first predetermined pressure while the other axle(s) is at a greater pressure than the first axle. By preventing complete exhaustion of pressure from the suspension system, restoring air pressure is attained more quickly. Also, use of a relay valve enables higher flow rates to improve the refill time of the pneumatic suspension system after the dump operation.
US07938399B2	Sheet conveying apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image reading apparatus A curved conveying guiding portion which guides a sheet toward a skew correcting unit is provided on a sheet conveying direction upstream of the skew correcting unit which corrects a skew of the sheet by rotating the sheet while conveying it. By narrowing an interval in the vertical direction in a center portion in the lateral direction of the conveying guiding portion, when a sheet S is rotated and corrected by the skew correcting unit, a load which the sheet to be corrected receives from the conveying guiding portion is reduced.
US07938396B2	Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus including sheet feeding device with a sheet feeding preparation period A sheet feeding device has a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack, a sheet carrying plate for carrying the sheet stack and a pickup roller that dispatches the uppermost sheet of the stack. An elevator displaces the sheet carrying plate between a sheet feeding position where an upper face of the sheet stack contacts the pickup roller and a separating position where the upper face of the sheet stack is separated from the pickup roller. A first warm air mechanism blows warm air toward a side face of the sheet stack. A controller causes the first warm air mechanism to blow warm air to the side face of the sheet stack and causes the elevator to displace the sheet carrying plate between the sheet feeding position and the separating position.
US07938392B2	Medium feed control in an image forming apparatus A method of controlling medium feeding in an image forming apparatus includes an image forming step of forming an image on a medium in response to an image forming request, and a feed control step of selecting one of a plurality of first medium feed units that feeds a medium corresponding to attribute information that matches medium attribute information included in the image forming request, and of selecting a second medium feed unit upon finding matching between attribute information indicative of a medium fed by the second medium feed unit and the medium attribute information included in the image forming request if none of the first medium feed units feeds a medium corresponding to the attribute information that matches the medium attribute information included in the image forming request.
US07938389B2	Method and installation for processing printed products during conveyance Printed products produced by assembling on saddle-shaped supports are conveyed onwards lying on the supports and during this conveyance are processed in the area of their fold line between a tool acting from outside and a counter-tool acting from inside, i.e., from the supported side. For being processed, the printed products are lifted off from the saddle line of the supports by the counter-tools, such that a relative movement between the saddle-shaped support and the counter-tool does not deform or damage the printed products. Through this measure it becomes possible to design the circuit of the supports and the circuit of the counter-tools largely independent of one another. The supports or their saddle lines respectively, for example, are able to move through the processing zone in a straight line, while the distal ends of the counter tools circulate on a round circuit.
US07938380B2	Column hung overhang bracket for concrete forming systems A vertically adjustable overhang bracket uses an elongate base component adapted to be supported from a support column. A frame member is slidably secured to the base component to allow movement of the frame along the length of the elongate base component. The frame is of a shape to provide an outwardly extending support member for supporting concrete formwork members to one side of the base component. An actuator controls the position of the frame, relative to the elongate base component. With this arrangement, concrete formwork can be more easily supported in a cantilevered manner from support columns and vertically adjusted quickly to the proper position. Removal of the formwork is simplified as the frame can be lowered, relative to the base component providing clearance for removal of the bracket and the formwork.
US07938369B2	Method and apparatus for aerial fuel transfer A method and apparatus for transferring fuel onto or off of an aircraft. A refueling transfer duct is deployed from an aft station of the aircraft being serviced while the aircraft is flying, wherein the transfer apparatus comprises a hose with a controllable drogue attached to its free end. The refueling duct is positioned through control signals sent by a tanker aircraft to the controllable drogue to form a favorably positioned refueling duct capable of a finite final docking maneuver. The positioned refueling duct is connected to the tanker aircraft positioned behind the aircraft to form a connection. The fuel is transferred through the connection to a fuel tank or fuel storage system located within the aircraft.
US07938364B2	Apparatus and method for making optimal use of a photovoltaic array on an airborne power system A system for generating power from sunlight collected substantially above the earth's surface comprises an airborne platform which supports solar power generation system to collect sunlight, convert the sunlight to electricity, and to transmit the electricity to a selected location on the earth's surface. The solar power generation system is coupled to the airborne platform by a support which can be manipulated by a control system to move the solar power generation system away from a shadow that might be cast by the airborne platform.
US07938362B2	Airplane floor assembly The invention relates to airplane floor assemblies and to methods for their assembly. In one embodiment, an airplane comprises at least one fuselage section and at least one floor section. At least one system component is installed to the floor section prior to installation of the floor section in the fuselage of the airplane. In another embodiment, a floor section adapted to be installed in an airplane includes at least one system component installed to the floor section while it is outside of the airplane. In yet another embodiment, a method is disclosed for assembling an airplane. The method comprises installing at least one system component to a floor section, and installing the floor section into a fuselage section of the airplane.
US07938351B2	Filament guide mechanism for filament spool container A container comprising a housing that is configured to rotatably mount a filament supply spool, and a filament guide mechanism mountable within a channel of the housing, where the filament guide mechanism comprises a filament pathway configured to guide the filament from the filament supply spool rotatably mounted in the interior chamber, and a sensor configured to detect the presence of the filament through at least a portion of the filament pathway.
US07938344B2	Microparticles, microparticle production method, and microparticle production apparatus A to-be-treated body, which contains raw material particles 5 of a substance and with which a solvent 4 of a to-be-treated liquid 2 is made solid, is used, and a laser light source 10, which supplies a laser light of a predetermined wavelength to a treatment chamber 3 that contains the to-be-treated body, is provided to arrange a production apparatus 1A. The laser light from the laser light source 10 is illuminated onto the to-be-treated body to microparticulate the substance in solvent 4. As the to-be-treated body of solid form, a solidified body 6, with which water 4 is solidified by a cooling device 50 and the solidified state is maintained by a thermally insulating layer 30, may be used. Or, as the to-be-treated body, a gel body, with which the solvent is gelled, may be used. The substance can thereby microparticulated efficiently by photo-pulverization.
US07938340B2	Spraying device A spraying device for spraying fragrance, pest control composition and/or a sanitizing composition held within a pressurized container, the spraying device comprising a container receiving section (13) and a switching section (10) wherein the switching section (10) incorporates a solenoid switch.
US07938336B2	Apparatus and method for isolating a temperature sensing device in a thermostat An improved thermostat is provided that comprises a first wall disposed within the thermostat, which partitions off a portion of the interior space to form a compartment along a side wall of the thermostat that is separated from the rest of the thermostat's interior space. The thermostat includes a second wall that is adjacent to and spaced from the first wall, so as to define an insulating space between the compartment and the rest of the interior space. The thermostat further includes a first aperture that permits communication of airflow in a lower portion of the compartment, and a second aperture that permits communication of airflow at an upper portion of the compartment. A temperature sensing element is disposed within the compartment defined by the first wall. The temperature sensing device is thermally insulated from heat generated in the interior of the thermostat by the insulating space between the compartment and interior space.
US07938335B2	Radio frequency identification functionality coupled to electrically conductive signage The present disclosure relates to multiple embodiments of a signage having radio-frequency responsive features, methods of making and using the signage, and the performance characteristics of the signage. These embodiments include a cutout, aperture, or opening in an electrically conductive sign into which or adjacent to which is placed an RFID tag or chip.
US07938332B2	Pushmatic smart card connector The invention relates to a pushmatic smart card connector comprising a housing into which a smart card or card having two longitudinal edges, a front edge, and a rear edge can be inserted into a reading position in which the smart card contacts located on the smart card are in contact with contact elements disposed directly or indirectly in the housing, a card ejection slide that is movably disposed in the housing and is moved or can be displaced from a neutral position into a locked position counter to the force of a card ejection spring when the smart card is inserted, said card ejection spring gripping the card ejection slide, means for locking the card ejection slide in the locked position thereof and releasing the card ejection slide so as to move the card ejection slide into the neutral position thereof in order for the smart card to be ejected, and a card locking slide which engages with the rear edge of the card and locks the smart card in the reading position when the card is inserted into the reading position thereof. The inventive pushmatic smart card connector is characterized in that the card locking slide initially is not made to move when the smart card is inserted in order to move the card ejection slide from the neutral position thereof into the reading position thereof such that the card ejection slide is provided with greater lift than the card locking slide.
US07938328B2	Secure magnetic stripe reader Magnetic stripe readers are disclosed that are configured to extract information from magnetic media and encrypt part of the extracted information. Embodiments of magnetic stripe readers include measures to resist tampering and inputs to receive unencrypted information from input devices. One embodiment includes a housing containing a magnetic reading head connected to a decoder circuit that is connected to an encryption engine. The magnetic reading head generates a signal indicative of a magnetic field. The decoder circuit is configured to extract data from the output of the magnetic reading head and the encryption engine is configured to encrypt a portion of the extracted data and the encryption engine is configured to pass a portion of the extracted data unencrypted.
US07938324B2	Hierarchical counting of inventory A computer-implemented method for counting stock stored in hierarchical levels at a facility is described. The method includes receiving count initiation information at a counting module. The count initiation information includes at least one parameter associated with stock to be counted and one or more hierarchical levels for the stock to be counted. The method also includes receiving quantity information associated with the one or more hierarchical levels, and generating count results based on the received quantity information. In certain embodiments, the quantity information can be received by multiple count activity objects associated with the counting module. Each count activity object can independently track separate portions of the quantity information.
US07938316B2	Online purchasing system supporting sellers with affordability screening An online system uses, in various embodiments of the invention, credit report information, loan affordability screening and credit approval and management functionality to facilitate the purchase and finance of products online. The online system may include both sellers of products and lenders that offer financing to buyers seeking to purchase the products. The system may automatically obtain a buyer's credit report information and use that information to determine if the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to obtain financing for a particular product or products. The system also enables use of buyer credit information to identify only those of a seller's products for which the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to finance using one or more loans. The system then enables selection of an identified product or products for purchase, and selection of a loan, for example, for financing of the selected product or products. Credit approval (or pre-approval) may be performed automatically, and along with credit processing, may be performed completely online.
US07938315B2	Integrated database for tracking shipping information Systems and methods of the present invention for using an integrated database for shipping information are provided. Information gathered or entered during shipping label generation may be stored in a database. The label information may concern shipping labels associated with multiple shipping vendors. Information concerning shipping invoices may be received from the multiple shipping vendors are received, and a report may be generated based on the stored label information and the invoice information. The invoice information may also be stored in the database. Further, the invoice information may include electronic data interchange files received through vendor-specific interfaces.
US07938307B2	Support structures and methods of using the same According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent intestinal sections of tissue is provided. The apparatus includes an anastomosis device having an anvil and a tubular body portion, wherein the anvil is selectively attachable to the tubular body portion by a shaft; and a support structure for deposition between the intestinal sections of tissue. The support structure includes a body defining an aperture therein for receiving the shaft. The body has an outer terminal edge. The support structure includes at least one layer of expandable material disposed at the outer terminal edge of the body.
US07938304B2	Electric stapler An electric stapler includes a staple sheet storage portion for storing a stack of staple sheets, a magazine storage portion disposed on a rear side of the staple sheet storage portion to store a staple magazine, a first staple feed mechanism operable to pull out a staple sheet from the staple magazine and to feed the staple sheet to the staple sheet storage portion, and a second staple feed mechanism operable to pull out the staple sheet from the staple sheet storage portion and to feed the staple sheet to a driver unit. According to this configuration, a continuous binding processing beyond a capacity of the staple magazine becomes possible by suitably replacing the staple magazine.
US07938299B2	Device for attaching a dip tube to a fluid container A device for that places a fluid container in fluid communication with a sprayer is disclosed. The device includes a container adapter that allows a dip tube to be attached to the fluid container rather than the sprayer. When the sprayer is removed from the fluid container, the dip tube stays in the fluid container. Refill fluid containers may come with the container adapter and dip tube installed. When the sprayer is attached to the fluid container, the adapter seals against the sprayer allowing fluid to be pumped from the fluid container by the sprayer. A sprayer connector with geometry that matches an inner or outer shape of the adapter is attached to and/or built into the sprayer. The sprayer connector is constructed to allow easy alignment of the sprayer to the fluid container. The sprayer connector and the container adapter also provide a unique attachment geometry to insure only containers with formulae compatible to the sprayer are pumped through the sprayer.
US07938295B2	Apparatus for producing material by a chemical reaction A chemical reaction between a first chemical reagent and a second chemical reagent occurs in a mixing chamber arrangement; a dispensing chamber; a dispensing piston configured to dispense reacting mixture from the dispensing chamber; and a control unit for controlling the movement of the dispensing piston and operation of the chemical mixing arrangement. The chemical mixing arrangement has a mixing chamber and injection apparatus configured to produce a jet of a first chemical reagent and a jet of a second chemical reagent such that the jets collide within the mixing chamber to produce reacting mixture. The dispensing chamber has an inlet for receiving the reacting mixture from the mixing chamber and an outlet for dispensing the reacting mixture. The control unit co-ordinates the chemical mixing arrangement to mix the chemical reagents while the dispensing piston is retracted at a controlled rate to enlarge the dispensing chamber.
US07938290B2	Container end closure having improved chuck wall with strengthening bead and countersink The present invention describes a beverage can end which utilizes less material and has an improved internal buckle strength based on the geometric configuration of a chuck wall, inner panel wall and central panel, and which, in one embodiment utilizes an arcuate shaped chuck wall with a radius of curvature between about 0.150 inches and 0.250 inches with at least one transition zone positioned between an upper and lower end of the chuck wall.
US07938283B2	System and method for hermetic storage of agricultural commodities during shipping Systems and methods for protected transportation of agricultural commodities are provided. The protected transportation is accomplished through the use of a thin, lightweight hermetic liner inside a shipping container. The liner is sealed at a first end and open at a second end, and the liner is positioned within the shipping container with the sealed first end at a back end of the shipping container and the second open end at a front, open end of the shipping container. A top portion of the liner is held to the ceiling of the shipping container via an attachment mechanism or via inflation of the liner and/or ribs in the liner. The bagged or bulk commodity is introduced through the open end and into the liner. The liner is then hermetically sealed, and the container is closed. After shipping, the agricultural commodity may be removed by unsealing the liner.
US07938273B2	Magnetic clamping assembly A vibratory separator including a screen having a filter element and a center screen disk. The vibratory separator also including a magnet disposed on top of the center pedestal support, wherein the center screen disk and the magnet are configured to magnetically interact. Additionally, a method for replacing a screen for a vibratory separator including actuating a vibratory separator decoupler and breaking a first magnetic interaction between a first magnetic interaction surface and a second magnetic interaction surface. The method further including removing a first screen from the vibratory separator, installing a second screen into the vibratory separator, and establishing a second magnetic interaction.
US07938271B2	Method for preparing powdered still slops, resulting material and facility for preparing such powdered still slops This consists of the preparation of powdered still slops from concentrated liquid still slops dried and converted into a powder in a conventional dryer (1) and then fed to a powder collecting cyclone (4), featuring at the lower outlet aperture of the collecting cyclone (4) a circular or snail-shaped or logarithmic spiral-shaped device (7) fed with a cool, dry air draught which generates a downward suction effect counter to the upward suction effect of the collecting cyclone (4), bringing about the falling and separation of the powder from the draught of hot air which carries the same. The cool, dry air carries the powder to the exterior for bagging, and the hot air exits upwards via the collecting cyclone (4) towards the flue (6), using a device for the recovery of the heat which it still bears as much as possible.
US07938267B2	Dispensing container device A triangular dispensing container device for dispensing small solids such as pills, tablets, or candy, or liquids such as emulsions, gels, solvents, or aqueous solutions, comprising a base, a cover, and an insert. The base has a bottom wall and a first, second, and third side walls. The cover has an upper wall and a first, second, and third side walls. The insert also has an upper wall and a first, second, and third side walls. The insert has an aperture which corresponds with at least some portion of the aperture in a base side wall when the insert is placed within the base. When the cover, base, and insert are assembled, placement of pressure on an area of the cover upper wall elevates the cover side wall, revealing the aperture in the base side wall and in the corresponding insert side wall, permitting the dispensing of the device's contents.
US07938265B2	Medicament dispenser and method A medicament dispenser can include a first side surface, a second side surface spaced from and substantially opposed to the first side surface, and a medicament packaging structure located between the first side surface and second side surface. A pivot structure can extend between the first side surface and the second side surface, and the medicament packaging structure can be rotatable about the pivot structure. Thus, the medicament packaging structure can be rotated from an enclosed state in which the medicament packaging structure is substantially enclosed by the first side surface and/or second side surface, to an exposed state in which the medicament packaging structure is substantially exposed from at least one of the first side surface and/or second side surface to provide user access to the medicament(s) stored in the medicament packaging structure. A lock structure can be located adjacent the first side surface and second side surface in order to selectively prevent movement and/or rotation of the medicament packaging structure. A method of using and making the medicament dispenser are also disclosed.
US07938259B2	Display container A structure configurable for holding and displaying a product (e.g., a game ball or sporting equipment) may include one or more sides having an aperture through which the contained product is visible. One or more sides of the structure may include flaps that are flexible inward toward an interior of the structure. The flaps may include a protrusion configured to contact and hold the product contained in the structure. A first flap may further include slits for receiving portions of a second flap to form a side of the structure. One or more sides of the structure may be void of an aperture to provide a surface on which information about the product may be displayed.
US07938253B2	Methods for mounting or removing belts from telescoping conveyor mechanisms that cooperate with packaging systems having clippers Methods for removing a belt from a telescoping conveyor having a plurality of spaced apart idler rollers in communication with the belt include: (a) translating an idler associated with a telescoping conveyor downward from an operative position to a belt removal and/or belt load configuration while one end portion thereof remains attached to the conveyor frame to thereby allow a conveyor belt to at least partially collapse from an operative configuration; and (b) removing the conveyor belt from the telescoping conveyor after the translating step.Methods of mounting a conveyor belt to a telescoping conveyor include: (a) providing a conveyor belt configured to mount to a telescoping conveyor mechanism; (b) pivoting a first idler roller to an operative fixed position; and (c) translating an idler residing below the first idler roller upward and rearward into its respective operative fixed position to thereby mount a telescoping conveyor belt.
US07938252B2	Unstacking conveyor with floating surface A conveyor system can includes a feed conveyor, a declined conveyor, and an inclined conveyor. A declined stationary surface is suspended above the declined conveyor and positioned to exert a counter-moment on the articles related to the weight of the stationary support surface and the coefficient of sliding friction of the stationary support surface that is sufficient to resist forward rotation of the articles down the declined conveyor. An inclined stationary support surface is suspended above the inclined conveyor and positioned to exert a forward-moment on the articles related to the weight of the stationary support surface and the coefficient of sliding friction of the stationary support surface that is sufficient to resist counter-rotation of the articles that results in movement of the articles down the inclined conveyor. The vertical height of the stationary surfaces can be adjusted. A related method is also described.
US07938242B2	Bicycle hub that will not drive the pedal and will not produce noise when the hub is rotated in the backward direction A hub for a bicycle includes a shaft, a hub body, a ratchet wheel, a damper, a drive seat, a plurality of pawl members, and a plurality of elastic plates. The ratchet wheel has a plurality of oneway ratchet teeth. The drive seat has a support base which has a plurality of receiving slots. Each of the pawl members has a locking detent. Thus, when the pedal is driven backward (and the drive seat is rotated backward), each of the pawl members is fully hidden in the respective receiving slot, and the locking detent of each of the pawl members is detached from the oneway ratchet teeth constantly, so that each of the pawl members will not touch the ratchet wheel when the pedal is driven backward to prevent from incurring a noise.
US07938240B2	Viscous clutch A viscous clutch assembly (100) includes a rotational input structure (110), a rotor (104) attached to the rotational input structure (110), a selectively rotatable member (102) surrounding the rotor (104) and rotatably supported by the rotational input structure (110), an electromagnetic coil (108) positioned relative to a driven side of the rotor (104), a valve assembly (106) supported by the rotor (104), and a magnetic flux circuit for controlling the valve assembly (106) with magnetic flux generated by the electromagnetic coil (108). The valve assembly (106) includes a cover plate (140) for regulating flow of a shear fluid. The rotational input structure (110) comprises a material capable of conducting magnetic flux. The magnetic flux circuit is configured to include no more than four air gaps (G1-G4).
US07938239B2	Clutch assembly with restraining plate and method for assembling a clutch assembly A clutch assembly for a torque converter including: a plurality of annular friction elements; a pressure plate; and a restraining plate engageable with a portion of the plurality of annular friction elements and arranged to limit axial movement of a portion of the annular friction elements to a maximum distance from the pressure plate. In some aspects, the restraining plate is rotationally connected to the pressure plate. In some aspects, the pressure plate includes an axial protrusion arranged to limit the axial movement of the plurality of annular friction elements away from the pressure plate. In some aspects, the clutch assembly includes a plate radially overlapping the restraining plate to limit the axial movement of the plurality of annular friction elements away from the pressure plate.
US07938228B2	Process for producing sound absorber and produced by the process, sound absorber and sound absorbing structure A process for producing a sound absorber having skin layers constituting front and back surfaces and, interposed between the skin layers, a void layer having a plurality of pin formed holes, each hole having a depth which is enough to penetrate one of the skin layers and is not enough to reach the other skin layer. The sound absorber is formed of a resin material containing 2 to 60 wt % of reinforcing fibers with a length of 2 to 100 mm.
US07938227B2	Variable resonation chamber valve A variable resonation chamber valve includes an outer valve seat and a rotatable plunger. The outer valve seat defines an inlet opening into an associated resonation chamber. The rotatable plunger is movable into the inlet opening of the valve seat for varying a tuner area of the inlet opening.
US07938226B2	Exhaust system for internal combustion engine having temperature variable acoustics A muffler for an internal combustion engine featuring two flowpaths for exhaust through the muffler. A first serpentine pathway is substantially longer than a second pathway through the muffler, thereby providing increased sound attenuation. Temperature activated internal valves operate to change the exhaust flowpath from the first flowpath to the second flowpath through the muffler as exhaust gasses warm the muffler and the temperature actuated valves.
US07938221B2	Suspension system for vehicle A suspension system for a vehicle includes a swing frame and right and left suspension cylinders for front wheels. The swing frame is swingably supported by the front portion of a vehicle body about a support shaft extending in a lateral direction, and supports the front axle case, so as to allow the front axle case to swing about a center shaft extending in a front-rear direction. The right and left suspension cylinders are provided on the swing frame. A lateral oscillation regulation unit is provided between the swing frame and the front frame, and configured to regulate an oscillation of the swing frame by contact in the lateral direction.
US07938213B2	Vehicle drain hole structure A vehicle drain hole structure includes an enclosure (e.g., an air intake tube, an intake enclosure, a resonator, a cleaner, etc.) defined by at least one wall. The at least one wall has an inner surface and an outer surface. A drain hole is defined in the at least one wall for providing drainage from the enclosure. The drain hole extends from a first end defined in the inner surface to a second end defined in the outer surface. The first end of the drain hole at the inner surface has a larger cross-sectional area than the second end of the drain hole at the exterior surface to reduce the likelihood of a liquid film forming across the drain hole.
US07938207B2	Vehicle control by pitch modulation A method for fore-aft stabilization of a vehicle for motion in a specified direction over an underlying surface. The vehicle has at least one forward wheel and at least one aft wheel, and the forward wheel is characterized by a force normal to the instantaneous direction of motion of the vehicle. A motor actuator drives each aft wheel, and a controller governs the motor actuator or motor actuators in such a manner as to dynamically stabilize the vehicle, according to a uniform control law, when the forward wheel is in contact with the underlying surface or not. A torque is applied to the aft wheel on the basis of vehicle pitch or the force on the forward wheel normal to the direction of motion. Additionally, a periodic rotational modulation may be applied to the aft wheel, and a stabilizing torque provided based on a detected response, either of vehicle pitch or of normal force on the front wheel. Left and right motor actuators may independently control left and right aft wheels to continue turns as governed by user steering, whether or not forward wheels are in contact with the ground.
US07938199B2	Measurement while drilling tool with interconnect assembly An embodiment of the apparatus includes a first drill collar section having an outer surface, an MWD tool for interaction with an earth formation coupled to the first drill collar section, the MWD tool including a first fluid line and a first electrical conduit, a second drill collar section, and an interconnect assembly coupling the second drill collar section to the first drill collar section, the interconnect assembly comprising a fluid line connection coupled to the first fluid line and an electrical connection coupled to the first electrical conduit. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a probe, an interconnect assembly adapted for fluid communication and electrical communication, and a sample bottle drill collar section including at least one removable sample bottle in fluid communication with the probe. Another embodiment of the apparatus includes a flush pump mounted in the power collar section and coupled to the probe. An additional embodiment includes a fluid ID sensor disposed in a flow line between the flush pump and the probe.
US07938194B2	Safety mechanism for a rotary hammer An improved method is provided for controlling a power tool having a rotary shaft. The method includes: disposing an inertial mass in a housing of the power tool, such that the inertial mass is freely rotatable about an axis of rotation which is axially aligned with the rotary shaft; monitoring rotational motion of the power tool in relation to the inertial mass during operation of the power tool; and activating a protective operation based on the rotational motion of the power tool in relation to the inertial mass.
US07938193B2	Vehicle mounted edging device The vehicle mounted edging device provides a safe and efficient means for edging grass and soil adjacent to improved surfaces. The device is attached to the remotely actuated bed of a utility vehicle and utilizes the lifting capabilities of the bed for its operation. When the disc is in the cutting position, the operator of the utility vehicle positions the vehicle near the edge of the surface to be maintained and lowers the remotely actuated bed of the utility vehicle to place the disc adjacent to the surface to be maintained. The operator then drives the vehicle parallely to the edge of the path and remove the unwanted grass. The vehicle mounted edging device effectively guides the utility vehicle along the edge of the path so that minimal steering is required and is oriented to enable the operator to easily monitor the edging operation.
US07938192B2	Packer A packer that is usable with a well includes an anchor. The anchor includes at least one spirally extending ring, which is adapted to be selectively radially expanded to secure the packer to a casing string.
US07938189B2	Pressure protection for a control chamber of a well tool A technique includes providing a chamber in a well tool to receive pressure to control an operation of the tool. The technique includes providing a seal to isolate the chamber from well pressure. The technique also includes providing a pressure relief mechanism to relieve pressure from the chamber in response to the pressure exceeding a threshold.
US07938187B2	Dual functional components and associated methods Some of the methods provided comprise the steps of: providing an aqueous treatment fluid that comprises a polysaccharide and a dual functional component, the aqueous treatment fluid having a first viscosity; allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide such that the viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid increases to a second viscosity, the second viscosity being greater than the first viscosity; placing the aqueous treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide so as to reduce the second viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid to a third viscosity, the third viscosity being less than the second viscosity.
US07938186B1	Casing shoes and methods of reverse-circulation cementing of casing A method having the following steps: running a circulation valve comprising a reactive material into the well bore on the casing; reverse-circulating an activator material in the well bore until the activator material contacts the reactive material of the circulation valve; reconfiguring the circulation valve by contact of the activator material with the reactive material; and reverse-circulating a cement composition in the well bore until the reconfigured circulation valve decreases flow of the cement composition. A circulation valve for cementing casing in a well bore, the valve having: a valve housing connected to the casing and comprising a reactive material; a plurality of holes in the housing, wherein the plurality of holes allow fluid communication between an inner diameter of the housing and an exterior of the housing, wherein the reactive material is expandable to close the plurality of holes.
US07938185B2	Fracture stimulation of layered reservoirs A hydraulic fracturing process consisting essentially of drilling a wellbore through at least one reservoir formation, installing in said wellbore at least one conduit, ensuring pressure communication between said wellbore and said reservoir formation, at a higher effective stress formation, selecting the location of the pressure communication between the wellbore and the reservoir formation for control of said hydraulic fracturing process and pumping a hydraulic fracturing treatment comprising a fracturing fluid and a proppant, at a sufficient pressure via said conduit to create at least one fracture in the higher effective stress formation. In addition, processes for increasing conductivity near a wellbore and producing fluids from a lower effective stress permeable formation via a fracture extending from the higher effective stress fracture formation into the lower effective stress permeable formation may include applying several approaches to packing or filling fractures with proppant.
US07938177B1	Circulating sub tool for dispensing and circulating fluid in a well bore A circulator sub tool for dispensing and circulating fluid in a well bore having a threaded packer sub with a quick coupler body, and wherein diameters for each annulus of the quick coupler body and the sub body are substantially identical enhancing laminar flow through the threaded packer sub.
US07938170B2	Cold or heat accumulator and process for its manufacture A cold and/or heat accumulator with a plurality of carrier elements which are charged with a cold or heat storage medium, and with at least one heat exchanger which is designed to have a heat transfer medium flow through it in order to cause heat exchange between the cold or heat storage medium and the heat transfer medium. The at least one heat exchanger has a serpentine hollow section, and carrier elements are provided between the legs of the loops of the serpentine hollow section. Two heat exchangers can be provided with the loops of the serpentine hollow section one heat exchanger being interspersed with those of the serpentine hollow section of the other heat exchanger. Preferably, the carrier elements are made of a porous metal foam, and the inlet and outlet for the heat transfer medium are located together at a bottom area at one side of the accumulator.
US07938166B2	Adjusting the mode of electromagnetic stirring over the height of a continous casting mould In the continuous casting of flat metal products with a submerged nozzle having lateral outlets, a mold is equipped on each of its long sides with a pair of linear inductors that generate a magnetic field that travels horizontally over a width of the long sides and are placed on sides of the nozzle. The inductors are mounted in pairs to slide vertically over the height of the mold, and by being moved, pass from a low stirring position, located level with the outlets of the nozzle, to a high stirring position, located level with a meniscus of the liquid metal in the mold, and vice versa. Also, on passing from one position to the other, the connections for the inductors to the phases of the power supply are modified to reverse the direction of travel of the magnetic field of only one of the two inductors of each pair.
US07938151B2	Safety device to prevent overfilling The invention relates to a device for preventing overfilling of a plurality of fuel tanks (8) at a gasoline station, in the event that fuel tanks are filled simultaneously by multi-chamber tank vehicles (7). The fuel tanks (8) are equipped with filling level threshold indicators (3) linked to a transmitter (1) for wireless transmission of a signal. A receiver (2) mounted in the tank vehicle (7) is provided to control one or several tank valves. In order to ensure safe closure of the tank valves, the filling level threshold indicators (3) of the fuel tanks (8) at the gasoline station are connected each to a signal line (5) leading to a common interface (4). Only one transmitter (1) along with an interrogation control device is provided for connecting to said interface (4) and cooperates with the receiver (2) mounted in the tank vehicle (7). The receiver is connected to a control for receiving address-coded signals from the transmitter (1), said control being connected to an actuating device for selectively disconnecting the tank valves of the tank vehicle (7).
US07938147B2	Apparatus and method for axially transferring fluids to a plurality of components An apparatus for axially transferring fluid may comprise an elongated shaft defining a first fluid passageway axially therethrough and a second fluid passageway from an outer surface thereof to the first fluid passageway. An elongated tube member defines an outer surface that is received within the first fluid passageway and a third fluid passageway axially therethrough. A plurality of axial channels are defined between the tube member and the first fluid passageway or along the tube member separately from the third fluid passageway. At least one of the plurality of axial channels define a first opening near one end thereof that receives fluid from a source of fluid and a second opening axially spaced apart from the first opening and that aligns with the second fluid passageway such that fluid may be transferred by the at least one fluid passageway from the source of fluid through the second fluid passageway.
US07938129B2	Substrate processing apparatus A substrate processing apparatus of the present invention is to apply processing using a processing liquid to a substrate. The substrate processing apparatus includes a first-side plate disposed oppositely to a first surface of the substrate with a distance and provided with plural discharge ports and suction ports in a surface opposing the first surface, a first-side processing liquid supply mechanism that supplies a processing liquid to the discharge ports in the first-side plate, and a first-side suction mechanism that sucks insides of the suction ports in the first-side plate.
US07938124B2	Applied flavoring-material inspection device and cigarette making machine provided with same An applied flavoring-material inspecting device suitable to inspect that a flavoring material containing a fluorescent substance is applied on cigarette wrapping paper evenly and in a proper amount. The inspecting device comprises a light source (10) for casting ultraviolet light onto a flavoring-material application surface of cigarette wrapping paper on which a flavoring material with a fluorescent substance added or containing a fluorescent substance is applied, a camera (20) for obtaining an image of the flavoring-material application surface from fluorescence radiated due to the ultraviolet light, and an image processing means (30) for detecting an area of a fluorescence irradiation region in an image for inspection obtained by digitizing the image obtained by the camera and determining an applying state of the flavoring material applied on the cigarette wrapping paper, from the area of the fluorescence irradiation region.
US07938118B2	Combination laryngeal mask airway with dual blocking and fluid removal features and method The present invention relates generally to the field of laryngeal mask airway devices. The invention provides for dual passageways in a laryngeal mask which permits a physician to effectively isolate the trachea from the esophagus. In one embodiment, the physician separately inserts an instrumentality (e.g., an endotracheal tube) into a patient's esophagus in order to isolate the stomach from the lungs, respectively. In another embodiment, the physician inserts an instrumentality (e.g., an endotracheal tube) into the trachea and inserts another instrumentality (e.g., a drainage tube) in the second passageway within the laryngeal mask in order to remove particles or fluids contained in the laryngeal mask that may cause problems if allowed to flow through the patient's trachea to the lungs.
US07938115B2	Cardiopulmonary resuscitation device A cardiopulmonary resuscitation device that combines ventilation of a patient's lungs with chest compressions on the patient's sternum area. The device includes a self-inflating bag having an outlet port through which the content of the bag is forced when bag is compressed; target indicia on the bag to indicate the proper position of the bag on the patient's sternum area and to indicate the proper location on the bag for applying force to the top side thereof; a face mask for placement over the patient's mouth and nose; and a tube extending from the bag to the face mask. The device may include indicia for indicating the amount of pressure applied to the self-inflating bag, and a backboard including belt/motor structure for providing repeated and rapid chest compression and forced ventilation of the patient's lungs.
US07938112B2	Apparatus for humidifying a respiratory gas Apparatus for humidifying a respiratory gas includes a liquid storage space for storage of a liquid, a humidifying region for loading the respiratory gas with the liquid by the respiratory gas coming into contact in the humidifying region with the liquid, a respiratory gas supply device for supplying the respiratory gas to the humidifying region, a respiratory gas withdrawal device for withdrawal of the humidified respiratory gas from the humidifying region, and a partial-amount discharge device for passing a partial amount of the liquid stored in the liquid storage space into the humidifying region.
US07938109B1	Synchronizing pulley assembly for compound archery bow A rigging structure for a compound archery bow includes first and second pulley assemblies, pivotally mounted on axles at tips of corresponding first and second limbs of a compound bow and interconnected by cables. Each pulley assembly includes a dynamic synchronizing component, decoupled from the string and cable pulley components of the assembly.
US07938105B2	High flow (delta P) differential pressure EGR system with provision for both flow control and OBD monitor In one approach, a method for measuring exhaust gas recirculation flow in an engine is provided. The method comprises separating EGR flow into at least a first flow and a second flow, passing the separated first flow through a restriction region, where the first flow passes through the restriction region separately from the separated second flow, combining the separated second flow and inducting the combined flows into a cylinder of the engine, where the EGR flow is separated and then combined within a common EGR passage.
US07938099B2	Intake port structure of internal combustion engine An intake port structure of an internal combustion engine includes an intake port, a valve shaft provided in proximity to an inner wall of the intake port, and an airflow control valve having a proximal end which is pivotally supported on the valve shaft and a distal end which becomes part of the inner wall of the intake port when the airflow control valve is fully opened. The inner wall of the intake port has a recess into which the airflow control valve is partially or entirely retracted when the airflow control valve is fully opened. The recess has a flow smoothing portion located downstream of the proximal end.
US07938092B2	Combustion and emergency starting control system with auxiliary power The present invention is an installation of an emergency starting switching device and/or direct current boosted boost circuit device. When the power of the starting battery is insufficient, the electric energy of the auxiliary battery is used to drive the starting motor in order to start the engine by operating the emergency starting switching device. And when the engine is started, the voltage of the ignition device or the fuel injection device is stepped up to strengthen its starting capability by means of a voltage boost by the direct current boosted boost circuit device.
US07938079B2	Annular aerosol jet deposition using an extended nozzle Method and apparatus for improved maskless deposition of electronic and biological materials using an extended nozzle. The process is capable of direct deposition of features with linewidths varying from a few microns to a fraction of a millimeter, and can be used to deposit features on targets with damage thresholds near 100° C. or less. Deposition and subsequent processing may be performed under ambient conditions and produce linewidths as low as 1 micron, with sub-micron edge definition. The extended nozzle reduces particle overspray and has a large working distance; that is, the orifice to target distance may be several millimeters or more, enabling direct write onto non-planar surfaces. The nozzle allows for deposition of features with linewidths that are approximately as small as one-twentieth the size of the nozzle orifice diameter, and is preferably interchangeable, enabling rapid variance of deposited linewidth.
US07938072B2	Air pressure dissipator for air seed delivery system In an air pressurized system for use in delivering seeds in an agricultural planter from a main hopper to plural remote bins each associated with a respective seed discharge unit, an air/seed mixture is provided to a seed discharge unit via an air pressure dissipator which vents the air to the atmosphere in controlling the rate at which seed is delivered to the seed discharge unit. The air pressure dissipator includes an upper, angled tube having an outwardly tapered lower end adapted to receive an upper end of a perforated screen tube which extends into the seed discharge unit. As the seed discharge unit fills with seed during operation, the air pressure dissipator regulates the air flow entraining and transporting the seed by directing a portion of the air to the atmosphere when necessary to provide seed to the seed discharge unit to substantially match the seed discharge rate.
US07938067B2	Reduced firing signature weapon cartridge A reduced signature weapon cartridge is provided which, when fired, produces little or no muzzle blast or noise signature. In particular, a reduced signature weapon cartridge of the present invention comprises a movable piston disposed within the cartridge, disposed in between the high pressure chamber and the projectile. When fired, propellant gases rapidly force the piston forward within the cartridge case, thereby launching the projectile at a subsonic velocity, thereby eliminating the conventional noise signature associated with supersonic velocities. Thereafter, the propellant gases are slowly released from the cartridge case via perforations formed within the piston, grooves formed in the periphery of the piston, or via a gap between the piston and cartridge wall, thereby reducing or eliminating the conventional muzzle blast.
US07938059B2	Pressure attenuated pump piston A pump piston assembly for use with a high-pressure pump includes a first section extending axially from a first end, a second section positioned adjacent to the first section and extending axially towards a second end, and an attenuation feature disposed within the piston bore such that the attenuation feature is part of the second end. By integrating the attenuation feature directly into the pump piston, pressure spikes, such as pressure peaks and valleys of an oscillatory pressure wave originating from the reciprocating motion of the piston, may be compensated directly in a supply pressure chamber. By providing a variety of attenuation features, such as a ball/spring assembly, an elastomer insert, an elastomer insert/internal piston assembly, and an elastomer insert/spring/ball assembly, attenuation for applications with a variety of frequencies and pressures can be utilized.
US07938051B2	Apparatus and methods for cutting electronic displays during resizing Apparatus and methods for resizing electronic displays are provided. The display includes a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back plates apart, image-generating medium contained in an area between the plates, and polarizing layers and/or other films on the outer surfaces of the plates. A target portion of the display is identified, and a saw is passed along a cut line to create a channel that extends through the polarizer to the outer surface of the top plate. A scriber tool is passed along the cut line within the channel to create a scribe line in the outer surface of the top plate. The display is inverted, and the process repeated to cut a channel and scribe the bottom plate. The plates are broken along the scribe line, and a seal is applied along the exposed edge, which may penetrate between the plates.
US07938049B2	Trimmer with quick adjustment feature An apparatus has a rotatable base having a plurality of guide features with opposed sides and supports. Each of the supports are slidably disposed in one of the plurality of guide features. The supports and the base member have spacer engagement surfaces which are configured to face one another in pairs and to have spacers clamped between each of the pairs. The spacers are so dimensioned as to locate each of the supports in a predetermined position with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotatable base member. A gear train on cut drive side is driven by a variable speed motor. Motor speed can be set for a given can diameter.
US07938047B2	Tube end milling head A tube end rotary milling head with cylindrical cutting pieces removably secured to the milling head by forces exerted by the material being cut and by friction without any separate securing elements.
US07938040B2	Foot coupling device for a bicycle pedal An inner side upper foot coupling device for a bicycle pedal is provided made of a cylindrical rod. The coupling device has a middle portion that is U-shaped, two poles having different lengths connected to the middle portion and bases connecting to the poles for attachment to a bicycle pedal.
US07938038B2	Joint structure of robot A joint structure of a robot for moving an assembly 51 to be connected to a robot link with respect to the robot link, the joint structure includes a first motor 10 for causing the assembly a longitudinal swing motion, a second motor 20 for causing the assembly a lateral swing motion, and a third motor 30 for causing the assembly a rotary motion, wherein the first motor 10 and the second motor 20 are disposed so that the output shaft of the first motor 10 and the output shaft of the second motor 20 are in parallel with each other and are orthogonal to the robot link, and the third motor 30 is disposed so that the output shaft of the third motor 30 is shifted with respect to the central axis of the rotary motion of the assembly 51.
US07938030B2	Analytical device An analytical device according to the present invention comprises a liquid accommodating chamber 9 for accommodating a sample solution of a quantity required for analyzing; a volume measuring chamber 10 connected to the liquid accommodating chamber 9 with a connecting path 13 and disposed in the exterior of the liquid accommodating chamber 9 in a radial direction; an overflowing chamber 11 connected to the volume measuring chamber 10 for accommodating an excessive quantity of the sample solution; and a measuring cell 12 for transferring and measuring the sample solution measured in the volume measuring chamber 10; wherein an overflowing port 14 of the volume measuring chamber 10 is connected to a flow-in port 16 of the overflowing chamber 11 by a capillary path 17.
US07938023B2	Wet-gas flowmeter Methods and apparatus determine phase fractions for phases within a fluid mixture flow under a wide range of flow conditions including wet-gas flow. Appropriate flow algorithms can utilize this phase fraction information with a total flow rate of the mixture to find individual flow rates for phases, such as oil, water, and gas or gas and liquid, which can represent a combination of oil and water phases. For some embodiments, a multiphase flowmeter includes an array of spatially distributed pressure sensors configured to determine a velocity of the mixture flow and hence the total flow rate, which is applied with information from a differential pressure meter to calculate the bulk density of the fluid mixture. Further, additional speed of sound information or a water-in-liquid ratio as may be determined by spectral analysis can enable differentiation between the oil and water phases.
US07938020B2	High pressure magnetic flowmeter with stress resistant electrode assembly An electrode assembly comprises a housing, an electrode, a retainer and a potting material. The housing has a first end and a second end, with the electrode extending from the first end of the housing to a process flow. The retainer is positioned about the electrode, inside the housing. The potting material fills voids between the first end of the housing and the second end of the housing, such that the potting material limits displacement of the electrode when the electrode head is subject to pressure from the process flow.
US07938017B2	Test bench and a method for testing wind turbine equipment The invention relates to a test bench for testing wind turbine equipment. The test bench comprises one or more load applying means directly and/or indirectly applying load to the equipment, drive means of the test bench for rotating an input shaft of the equipment at least during a part of the test, and simulating means for establishing wind turbine like conditions or facilities. The invention further relates to a method for testing wind turbine equipment. The method comprises the steps of positioning the equipment in, on or at a test bench, rotating an input shaft of the equipment by drive means of the test bench, and directly and/or indirectly applying load to the equipment by means of load applying means of the test bench.
US07938011B1	High shock test apparatus A testing apparatus and method comprising providing a platform for a unit under test, charging a capacitor bank with a charging system, with a switching and power control system generating multiple pulses per cycle from energy from the capacitor bank, and with an electromagnetic force generator receiving pulses from the switching and power control system and directing force at the platform.
US07938002B1	Apparatus for detecting water level mixtures in fluids A gauge tape device detects electronically conductive water level mixtures in various fluids through the use of electricity. The gauge tape device includes a gauge circuit and gauge line, having a weight attached thereto, which is lowered into a containment vessel holding water and other fluids. Once the weight contacts the water, the gauge circuitry activates an alert, which informs the user of the presence of water.
US07937994B2	Method and device for detecting the presence of an exhaust gas treatment system in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine A method and device for detecting presence of an exhaust gas treatment system in an exhaust line of an internal combustion engine. The method determines the derivative of the temperature upstream of the treatment system, determines the derivative of the temperature downstream of the treatment system, and compares the downstream temperature derivative with a threshold value for detecting absence of the treatment system using a pre-determined upstream temperature derivative level.
US07937986B2	Sheet material identifying apparatus, sheet material treating apparatus and sheet material identifying method To provide a sheet material identifying apparatus for identifying the kind of a sheet material, including an adjusting assembly for dehumidifying or humidifying a predetermined region of the sheet material and adjusting the moisture content of the predetermined region, external force applying means for applying an external force to the predetermined region of the sheet material whose moisture content is adjusted and detecting means for detecting an external force propagated through the sheet while the external force is applied by the external force applying means; wherein an external force is applied to the predetermined region whose moisture content is adjusted through the adjusting assembly by the external force applying means and the kind of a sheet material is identified in accordance with the external force propagated through the sheet detected by the detecting means.
US07937957B2	Method for using high pressure refrigerant for leak checking a system A method for using refrigerant to check for a leak in a refrigerant system is provided that establishing fluid communication between a refrigerant recovery unit and a refrigerant system. The refrigerant recovery unit passes a refrigerant through the refrigerant recovery unit, compresses the refrigerant utilizing the refrigerant recovery unit, and transfers the compressed refrigerant from the refrigerant recovery unit directly into the refrigerant system. Additional refrigerant is added into the refrigerant system until a desired system pressure is reached, and then the refrigerant system is checked for leaks.
US07937955B2	Solar and wind hybrid powered air-conditioning/refrigeration, space-heating, hot water supply and electricity generation system A system for environmental control includes a hybrid wind and solar energy collection subsystem; a temperature control subsystem having a thermo-mechanical engine; an electrical generating subsystem; a sensor for detecting an environmental condition; and a controller for receiving information representing an environmental condition from the sensor. The controller is programmed to detect a change in an environmental condition, and in response to the change, to selectively connect the hybrid wind and solar energy collection subsystem to one of the temperature control subsystem and the electrical generating subsystem and to selectively disconnect the hybrid wind and solar energy collection subsystem from the other of the temperature control subsystem and the electrical generating subsystem.
US07937948B2	Systems and methods for generating electricity from carbonaceous material with substantially no carbon dioxide emissions A reformation power plant generates clean electricity from carbonaceous material and high pressure CO2 which can be easily sequestered or utilized for a beneficial purpose, such as fuel production. The reformation power plant design utilizes a reformation process that reforms carbonaceous fuel with super-heated steam into a high-pressure gaseous mixture that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. This high-pressure gas exchanges excess heat with the incoming steam from a boiler and continues onward to a condenser. Once cooled, the high-pressure gas goes through a methanol separator, after which the CO2-rich gas is sequestered underground or beneficially re-used. The remaining hydrogen-rich gas is combusted through a gas turbine. The gas turbine provides power to a generator and also regenerative heat for the boiler. Finally, the generator converts mechanical energy into electricity, which is transferred to the electric grid. Therefore, carbon-free electricity is generated from coal, biomass, or other carbon-based feedstock.
US07937942B2	Turbochanger system for internal combustion engine comprising two compressor stages of the radial type provided with compressor wheels having backswept blades A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine having at least one exhaust line for evacuating exhaust gases from the combustion chamber of the engine and at least on inlet line for supplying air to the combustion chamber. A high-pressure turbine interacts with a high-pressure compressor and a low-pressure turbine interacts with a low-pressure compressor to extract energy from the exhaust flow of the engine and pressurize the inlet air of the engine. Both compressor stages are of the radial type and are provided with compressor wheels having backswept blades, in which a blade angle between an imaginary extension of the blade along the centerline between root section and tip section in the direction of the outlet tangent and a line connecting the center axis of the compressor wheel to the outer point of the blade, is at least about 40 degrees.
US07937940B2	Master cylinder comprising a resupply-promoting seal Brake master cylinder (10) for a motor vehicle, of the type which comprises a substantially axial body (12) inside a bore (14) of which at least one axial piston is slideably mounted, of the type in which the bore (14) comprises two seals, front (30, 34) and rear, interposed between the piston and the bore (14), the seals (30, 34) comprising three radially concentric lips accommodated in grooves (70, 72) in the bore (14), characterized in that front faces of the grooves (70, 72) are configured at least in part as a slope.
US07937924B2	Fire retardant compositions and methods and apparatuses for making the same A method for forming yarn provides for forming an intermediate product being a fire retardant and heat resistant cohesive elongated network of fibers in a single operation by stretching and breaking filaments of a ribbon like tow starting material of longitudinally aligned filaments. The intermediate product may be wool-like with wavy and randomly oriented fibers formed by from the fragmented filaments. The single drafting operation includes directing the tow through first and second pairs of rollers, the second pair rotating faster than the first. The intermediate product may be spun directly into yarn in one spinning/twisting operation. The fire retardant and heat resistant yarn so produced may include 100% oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers having an average length greater than about 15 cm. The yarn may be knitted or otherwise formed into fire-retardant and heat resistant fabrics or other products used in various applications.
US07937917B2	Saddle pad having integrated plate-shaped spring device for pressure distribution and stabilization A saddle pad that exhibits pockets on its top side facing toward a saddle to be laid on, arranged along and to the left and right of a line of symmetry of the saddle pad. The pockets extend over the entire length of the saddle pad. Inserted into the pockets is a plate-shaped spring device, by which optimal stabilization and pressure distribution are achieved, even when treeless saddles are provided for the riding of a riding animal.
US07937908B2	Dual hot melt adhesive systems The present disclosure relates to the use of first and second adhesives for the attachment of zipper flanges to reclosable packages. A first adhesive is typically a reactive, cross-linkable hot melt adhesive while the second adhesive is typically non-cross-linkable hot melt adhesive, typically, but not limited to, either EVA-based or polyamide-based. Alternatively, the second adhesive can be a coextrusion layer including a resin that is typically used as a sealant layer in zipper extrusion, such as metallocene type linear low density polyethylene.
US07937907B2	Container filling and locking device The invention relates to a device for filling and sealing containers, including a filling device for filling at least one container, a sealing device for sealing at least one container and a transport device for conveying at least one fillable container to the filling and locking devices and displacement means for modifying a distance between the filling and locking devices in a transport direction.
US07937889B2	Green garlic and methods of production A new vegetable, referred to herein as green garlic, grown from garlic bulbils is disclosed. In particular examples, the green garlic is rich in one or more thiosulfinates. Methods of producing green garlic are also disclosed. In some examples, such methods permit year-round commercial production of green garlic.
US07937884B1	Fishing lure storage device and method of use thereof An apparatus that organizes, stores, and transports fishing lures comprising a series of vertical dividers as would be found in a filing cabinet each having a perforated panel that allows the fishing lure and hook to be hung is herein disclosed. In such a manner, the fishermen can organize their fishing lures by style, size, or class and remove the respective panel from the dividers to select the appropriate lure. This storage method allows lures to be stored with the hooks attached while reducing the chance of the hooks and lures from becoming entangled. The storage box also comprises a top handle for transportation.
US07937878B2	Apparatus and method for calculating aiming point information The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.
US07937874B2	Firearm grips and firearm grip construction sets A firearm grip, a firearm grip construction set and related methods are disclosed. An example firearm grip includes a grip portion, which includes a wall covering at least a portion of a magazine and a plurality of ribs. The firearm grip also has a first grip shell having a plurality of first lateral edges, second grip shell having a plurality of second lateral edges, and a grip back having a top edge and a bottom edge. With the example firearm grip, at least one of the first grip shell or the second grip shell is exchangeable. In addition, at least one of the first grip shell, the second grip shell or the grip back is coupled to the grip portion with an undercut tongue and groove connection. Further, at least one of the first lateral edges, the second lateral edges, the top edge or the bottom edge slidably engages under one of the plurality of ribs and an opposite edge of at least one of the first lateral edges, the second lateral edges, the top edge or the bottom edge is coupled to the grip portion via an attachment. In addition, the grip back of the example firearm grip slidably engages at least one of the first lateral edges or the second lateral edges and holds at least one of the first grip shell or the second grip shell in place.
US07937872B1	Plastic magazines for use with firearms Plastic magazines for use with firearms are described. An example plastic magazine for use with firearms includes a plurality of sidewalls along which cartridges are to be moved during a reloading of a firearm. Each of the plurality of sidewalls comprises a plastic material. Additionally, the example plastic magazine includes a metal coating adjacent a first surface of a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the interior surface of the first sidewall is in a direction of fire.
US07937868B2	Day/night safety sign using reflective internal lighting A safety sign that has a front panel with cut out letters or numbers that form the word or message of the sign. Behind the front panel a predetermined distance can be a reflective panel or other surface. Light from an oncoming vehicle can reflect from this reflective panel through the cut out letters causing the sign to function like any other safety sign when not lighted. One or more light sources like LEDs can be mounted facing the reflective panel at angles so that light from these sources is reflected from the reflective panel and out through the cut out letters causing the sign to increase significantly in visibility at night or in other low light conditions. Further light sources can be located around the periphery of the sign or around the word or words on the sign. All or part of the light sources can be made to blink, and the system can optionally be made to turn off during the daytime. The sign can be run from AC power or battery power. An optional solar panel can charge the battery during the daytime.
US07937863B2	Air freshner device An air freshener device comprises one or more planar elements that can move relative to a base, where each planar element is connected to the base by a flexible connector, and where each planar element releases a fragrance. The planar elements and the flexible connectors are disposed in a plane. The planar elements may be made of an inexpensive paper material and may bear images or text. The air freshener device imparts fragrance to an area and has moving parts that entertain viewers and also attract the attention of viewers. When mounted in an automobile, for example, the device can entertain child or adult passengers. The device can also convey a statement, using images or text, to drivers of nearby automobiles, who will notice the device because of its motion.
US07937848B2	Coordinate measuring auxiliary tool, coordinate measuring probe and coordinate measuring machine A coordinate measuring auxiliary tool including a cylindrical shaped body that is attached to an outer circumference of a coordinate measuring probe, and a clamping mechanism for positioning and fixing the cylindrical shaped body to a tip of the probe. Measurement of a thin plate-shaped object to be measured can be easily and accurately performed with the coordinate measuring auxiliary tool having a simple construction and low price. At least a part of the cylindrical shaped body may be transparent, and a position of the cylindrical shaped body to the tip of the probe can be adjusted.
US07937839B2	Pole pruner An improved pole pruner for pruning a limb from a tree is provided which includes structure which grabs or grasps that portion of the tree limb to be detached as the cutting blade of the pole pruner severs the tree limb from the tree thereby preventing the severed tree limb from falling downwardly and injuring the operator of the pole pruner. The operator of the pole pruner may maneuver the pole pruner to a location wherein it is safe to release the severed tree limb from the pole pruner.
US07937835B2	Composite ceramic substrate for micro-fluid ejection head A composite ceramic substrate for receiving an ejection head chip for a micro-fluid ejection head and a method for making the composite ceramic substrate. The substrate includes a high temperature previously fired ceramic base having a substantially planarized first surface and at least one fluid supply slot therethrough. A low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) tape layer bundle having at least two LTCC tape layers is attached to the ceramic base at an interface between the LTCC tape layer bundle and the first surface of the ceramic base. The LTTC tape layer bundle has at least one chip pocket therein and at least one of the LTCC tape layers includes a plurality of conductors.
US07937820B2	Method for transporting a piping structure The invention is a method of transporting a pipe mounted within a plurality of brackets, each bracket having a body, an arm coupled to the body, a support guide located within the arm and configured to provide support to the pipe, a base coupled to the body and configured to attach a platform, the base further configured to provide support to the body, a spacer coupled to the body and configured to maneuver the bracket, wherein each bracket is configured to maintain support for the pipe while the bracket is maneuvered by the spacer. The method comprises the following. Position the plurality of brackets with the spacer proximate to the transporting surface. Set the spacer of each of the plurality of brackets on the transporting surface.
US07937819B2	Method of manufacturing a friction damped disc brake rotor The invention provides a method for manufacturing a friction damped disc brake rotor, including the steps of: (A) providing a ceramic coating on an insert, wherein the insert has a body with tabs extending therefrom to hold the insert in a desired position within a mold; (B) washing the ceramic coating off of the tabs; (C) positioning the insert into the mold; and (D) casting a rotor cheek of the disc brake rotor in the mold around the insert such that a portion of each tab is bonded with the rotor cheek, and such that the coating is substantially non-bonded with the rotor cheek so that the coating provides a proper interfacial boundary between the body and the cheek for damping, and the at least partial bonding of each tab with the rotor cheek prevents corrosion-causing exterior elements from reaching the interfacial boundary when the friction damped disc brake rotor is in use.
US07937814B2	Apparatus and means for the internment of the deceased Provided herewith is an apparatus and means for interning a plurality of cremated remains and their accompanying urns in a single columbarium such that the ashes and urns are inaccessible once they are interned. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vertically stacked slanted trays for retaining the urns and a telescoping cylinder with built in ramps. The telescoping cylinder is raised in the columbarium, the urn placed in a ramp in the cylinder and the cylinder lowered back into the columbarium. The cylinder is then rotated and the urn rolls by gravitational force onto the tray for permanent storage. A storage container is available to store DNA or other memorabilia of the deceased that is accessible at a future date. There is a ring binder type structure on the top of the columbarium to inscribe or attached the deceased individual's particulars.
US07937813B2	Clip A bistable clip suitable for clipping sheaves of paper, made from sheet metal with at least one hole in its upper surface (3), which toggles between a stable open position (for putting papers in or taking papers out) and a stable closed position (for gripping the papers), and which comprises a spine (2) stiffened to some degree by the shaping of the material in the spine (2).
US07937812B2	Boot band The resistance against the portion of a band body that is riding over engagement claws at the time of fastening the band body is reduced, so that the band body can be fastened by a small amount of fastening force. This boot band consists of: a band body that is fastened by winding in a ring shape an outer overlapping portion and an inner overlapped portion around a member to be fastened; engagement claws and that are formed on the outer overlapping portion; engagement holes that are formed in the inner overlapped portion and that engage with the engagement claws, so as to maintain the band body in a fastened condition; a lip that is formed by separating, along the fastening direction of the band body, the area of the inner overlapped portion where an engagement hole is formed from that area's surrounding area, and with the fastening-direction end of the lip formed as a free end; and a slit, which the lip penetrates through to the opposite side of the slit.
US07937811B2	Apparatus for the fibre-sorting or fibre-selection of a fibre bundle comprising textile fibres, especially for combing In an apparatus for the fibre-sorting or fibre-selection of fibre material which is supplied by means of a supply device to a fibre-sorting device, mechanical means are present which generate a combing action to remove non-clamped constituents such as short fibres. Downstream of the supply device there are arranged at least two rotatably mounted rollers with clamping devices for the fibre bundles, and the supply device comprises a feed unit, which feed unit comprises a feed roller and at least one feed tray defining a nip between said feed roller and said feed tray, and the retaining force in the nip optimally retains the short fibres completely or substantially completely in the nip during separation of a fibre bundle by said clamping devices.
US07937794B2	Plastic object for use in personal hygiene A unitary two component article for personal hygiene, such as a toothbrush, wherein the same is formed by injection molding of two differing plastic materials. The plastics do not adhesively or chemically bond to each other. The two differing plastic parts of the toothbrush are mechanically connected, such as by interfitting portions of the two plastic components or by shrinking one plastic component about the other.
US07937791B2	Pressure relief surface The present invention includes a pressure relief patient support surface. The pressure relief support surface includes a plurality of layers of a three-dimensional networked fiber material positioned inside a cover.
US07937778B1	Protective headgear A cap (10) is provided with a plurality of pockets (29) formed between a plurality of panels (13-18) and fabric materials (25) attached to each of the panels (13-18). The pockets (29) have an open end which is covered by a headband (23). A protection segment (30) is positioned in each pocket (29) and includes a plastic protective panel (31) and an energy absorbing foam layer (32). The segments (30) are curved in both the longitudinal and lateral directions, but not all of the segments (30) have the same radii of curvature in those directions.
US07937774B1	Finger protector for using a hammer A finger protector for using a hammer includes a glove with a back hand covering, a palm covering, a thumb sleeve and four finger sleeves. The finger sleeves include a first finger sleeve positioned adjacent to the thumb sleeve. A thumb covering is attached to the thumb sleeve and has a size and shape to be removably positioned on an upper surface of the thumb so that the thumb covering extends along a length of and downwardly on either side of the thumb.
US07937770B1	Inflatable swimsuit The present invention relates to a swimsuit comprising swimming trunks, a compressed gas cylinder with a user-operated valve, and one or more inflatable bladders attached to the swimming trunks. The swimsuit, apart from its basic function as clothing, performs simultaneously as a protecting and rescuing device in a life-threatening situation.
US07937769B2	Knee pad A knee pad with a support frame, a pad, and a boot. The pad is assembled on the support frame to provide a cushioning surface between the support frame and the wearer's leg. The pad has ears in the knee section and in the ankle section, which serve to maintain the support frame and pad in proper alignment on the leg. The boot provides a non-slip, non-marring surface against the floor, when the wearer is working in a kneeling position. A moisture-absorbent liner, which is easily removed for cleaning or replaceable, may also be fitted on top of the pad, to provide an absorbent layer between the pad and the wearer's leg.
US07941865B2	Rechargeable battery pack and operating system A method and system for authenticating a smart battery having a smart battery and an electronic device. Both the device and the smart battery generate encrypted random strings using key material based by A/D noise bits as a seed value. A pseudo random number is generated from the A/D noise that is transmitted to both the electronic device and the smart battery. The pseudo random number is used by both devices as a key index to select one of a plurality of keys stored in separate key libraries. The keys, or key material, is used to execute an encryption algorithm. The two encryption data streams are then compared to authenticate the smart battery.
US07941859B2	Reducing access to sensitive information Method, system, and storage medium for reducing or minimizing access to sensitive information. A method includes identifying processes and data associated with a computer system and classifying each of the data as one of either sensitive information or non-sensitive information. The sensitive information includes at least one of: data that is personal to an individual, confidential data, and data that is legally subject to conditions of restricted use. For each of the processes the method includes selecting a process and a sensitive data item, modifying the sensitive data item, analyzing the behavior of at least the selected process, and preventing access of the sensitive data item by the selected process if, as a result of the analyzing, the sensitive data item is determined not to be needed by the selected process.
US07941851B2	Architecture for identifying electronic threat patterns The invention is a comprehensive conceptual and computational architecture that enables monitoring accumulated time-oriented data using knowledge related to the operation of elements of a computer network and deriving temporal abstractions from the accumulated data and the knowledge in order to identify electronic threat patterns and create alerts. The architecture of the invention supports two main modes of operation: a. an automated, continuous mode for monitoring, recognition and detection of known eThreats; and b. an interactive, human-operated intelligent tool for dynamic exploration of the contents of a security storage service to identify new temporal patterns that characterize such threats, and to add them to the monitoring database. The architecture of the invention can analyze data collected from various sources, such as end-user devices, network element, network links etc., to identify potentially infected devices, files, sub-streams or network segments.
US07941846B2	Method of securing the learning mode of a home automation device A method of securing the learning mode of a device includes an assembly of at least one command transmitter, communicating with a command receiver capable of driving an element providing for the security and/or the comfort of a building and capable of being switched to learning mode by one or more activation functions, wherein one or more actions of which at least one is applied to a particular command transmitter of the assembly, termed secure, causes the disabling of at least one function of activation of the learning mode of the command receiver.
US07941833B2	Enhanced shared secret provisioning protocol An Enhanced Shared Secret Provisioning Protocol (ESSPP) provides a novel method and system for adding devices to a network in a secure manner. A registration process is launched at two network devices together within a predetermined time interval. These two devices then automatically register with each other. When two devices running ESSPP detect each other, they exchange identities and establish a key that can later be used by the devices to mutually authenticate each other and generate session encryption keys. With ESSPP, two ESSPP devices that are attempting to register with each other will only provision a key when they detect that they are the only two ESSPP devices on the wireless network running ESSPP. If additional devices running ESSPP are detected, the ESSPP protocol is either terminated or suspended.
US07941830B1	Authentication protocol for network security services In one embodiment, an authentication protocol used in a network security service is performed over non-secure connection, such as HTTP. A router subscribing to the service may send a service request for information about a URL to a server computer providing the service. The service request may be included in a first data set posted by the router to the server computer. The first data set may be described by an HTML form and include an encrypted device authenticator used by the server computer to validate the router. The first data set may further include a server authentication code. In responding to the service request, the server computer returns the server authentication code to the router along with information about the URL. The response may be in a second data set, such as an XML document sent by the server computer to the router over an HTTP connection.
US07941818B2	System and method for utilizing EPG database for modifying advertisements A system and method for utilizing data stored in an EPG database for modifying advertisement information. In this way, a service provider and/or an advertiser can transmit a single advertisement to all the television stations regardless of their geographic location and other user specific information, and need not re-transmit the advertisement even if there is a change in the show's program description. When the advertisement is displayed, the correct updated information is retrieved from the EPG database and inserted into the advertisement.In one aspect, the present invention describes a method for modifying an advertisement in an EPG comprising the steps of: storing television schedule information in a first database; storing advertisement information in a second database; incorporating a portion of the television schedule information into a portion of the advertisement information to form a modified advertisement; and displaying the modified advertisement on a screen.
US07941817B2	System and method for directed television and radio advertising A method and a device that presents a broadcast commercial message selects a commercial message for presentation based on user profile criteria. A programming content signal is received at a customer premises equipment (CPE). A stored commercial message is selected for presentation during presentation of the programming content signal. The selected commercial message contains summary information related to an informational content of the selected commercial message, and is selected based on the summary information contained by the selected commercial message. Each selected commercial message is then presented during the programming content signal by inserting each selected commercial message into the received programming content signal by presenting the selected commercial message in place of the programming content signal. Information relating to each commercial message presented and/or an interaction with a user can be recorded and sent to a central location.
US07941813B1	System and method for using virtual machine for driver installation sandbox A method, system and computer program product for providing driver functionality in computing system includes installing an operating system on the computing system; forming a plurality of isolated sandboxes running on the computing system under control of the operating system; during an attempt to install a driver, installing driver stub in the operating system; installing the driver in one of the isolated sandboxes, wherein the driver directly uses at least part of system resources; using a gateway between the driver stub and the installed driver to provide an interface for transmitting requests from the driver stub to driver.
US07941805B2	Affinity dispatching load balancer with precise CPU consumption data A computer-implemented method for distributing a plurality of tasks over a plurality of processing nodes in a processor network includes the following steps: calculating a task process consumption value for the tasks; calculating a measured node processor consumption value for the nodes; calculating a target node processor consumption value for the nodes, the target node processor consumption value indicating optimal node processor consumption; calculating a load index value as a difference between the calculated node processor consumption value for a node i and the target node processor consumption value for node i; and distributing the tasks among the nodes to balance a processor workload among the nodes, according to the calculated load index value, such that the calculated load index value of each node is substantially zero. The method further embodies a multi-dimensional balancing matrix, each dimension of the matrix representing a node corresponding to a different processor type and each cell representing tasks assigned to multiple nodes.
US07941798B2	Customer relationship management system and method having code reuse A software-based customer relationship management system and method.
US07941797B2	Dynamically providing native libraries and their dependencies A mechanism is provided for providing a native code library from a server to an application written in an interpreted programming language for execution on a remote computer. An installer object is invoked from within a main class of the interpreted programming language application. The install object extracts a file list from the server including at least one native code library filename indicating a native code library. The native code library indicated by the native code library filename is installed to a target directory on the remote computer and the main class of the interpreted programming language application is then invoked on the remote computer. Additional native code library dependencies are also installed to the target directory on the remote computer.
US07941782B2	Pattern layout of integrated circuit In a pattern layout which includes a first device pattern having a uniformly repeated pattern group having first lines and first spaces formed parallel to one anther and uniformly arranged with constant width at a constant pitch and a non-uniformly repeated pattern group having first lines and first spaces non-uniformly arranged, and a second device pattern arranged adjacent to the end portion of the non-uniformly repeated pattern group in an arrangement direction thereof and having second lines and second spaces whose widths are larger than the widths of the first lines and first spaces of the non-uniformly repeated pattern group, at least part of the widths of the first lines and the first spaces of the non-uniformly repeated pattern group is made larger than the width of the first line or the width of the first space of the uniformly repeated pattern group.
US07941772B2	Dynamic critical path detector for digital logic circuit paths Method for correcting timing failures in an integrated circuit and device for monitoring an integrated circuit. The method includes placing a first and second latch near a critical path. The first latch has an input comprising a data value on the critical path. The method further includes generating a delayed data value from the data value, latching the delayed data value in the second latch, comparing the data value with the delayed data value to determine whether the critical path comprises a timing failure condition, and executing a predetermined corrective measure for the critical path.
US07941757B2	Method and apparatus for creating multimedia presentations Some embodiments of the invention provide a computerized method for creating and editing a multimedia item. The method provides a menu theme for a multimedia item. The menu theme includes a display section for displaying a multimedia item, an adjustable text section for displaying several selectable text options, and a special effect built into the menu theme for applying to the multimedia item. The method presents the multimedia item on display after applying the special effect to the multimedia item.
US07941756B1	System and method for creating and displaying classes of graphical display objects In the graphical display object system, a user can create a class of graphical display objects such that the various members of the class may share common features. In addition, the graphical display object system builds the graphical display objects based upon the common class definitions as well as the custom features of the graphical display object.
US07941754B2	Media content distribution indicator A method includes providing an expandable element associated with a message transmit key of a device. An outer border of the expandable element moves or expands to reflect a number of recipients of a message to be sent from the device. The message transmit key of the device is contacted to cause the initiation of the message transmitted to each of the recipients, and a size of an inner region within the outer border is expanded to reflect a state of the message transmission to each of the recipients, wherein the size of the inner regions expands to fill an area within the outer border in order to send the message to each recipient.
US07941746B2	Extended cascading style sheets A CSSX (Extended Cascading Style Sheets) file including non-CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) extensions is used to define and reference variables and inheritance sets. A CSSX file compiler determines a value of the defined variable, modifies the CSSX file by replacing all references to the defined variable with the value, and generates the CSS file from the modified CSSX file. The inheritance set is defined in the CSSX file and includes a reference to a previously defined CSS rule set. The CSSX file compiler defines a new CSS rule set as a function of the determined attributes included in the previously defined CSS rule set of the defined inheritance set and generates the CSS file including the newly defined CSS rule set.
US07941738B2	Method for characterizing a bit detection event A bit detection event within a read period is characterized by sub-dividing each read period into elementary time intervals. Certain ones of the elementary intervals are selected to for a window and a counting operation for a number of bits detected during the intervals within the window is performed. The elementary time intervals are defined by a difference between a frequency corresponding to the read period and a bit detection timing frequency. The counting result for the intervals in the window over several consecutive read periods is statistically processed. A reduction of an integrated electronic circuit test duration results from limiting the counting operations performed to the selected elementary time intervals.
US07941732B2	Method and apparatus for evaluating performance of a read channel Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring the performance of a read channel. A number of detection techniques, such as SOVA and maximum-a-posteriori (MAP) detectors, produce a bit decision and a corresponding reliability value associated with the bit decision. The reliability value associated with the bit decision may be expressed, for example, in the form of log likelihood ratios (LLRs). The reliability value can be monitored and used as a performance measure. The present invention provides a channel performance measure that generally correlates directly to the BER but can be collected in less time.
US07941730B2	Memory system A semiconductor memory has a field programmable unit in which logic to inter-convert external signals to be input/output to/from a memory system and internal signals to be input/output to/from a memory cell array is programmed. A program for constructing the logic of the field programmable unit is stored in a nonvolatile program memory unit. Through the field programmable unit, a controller can access the memory cell array, even when the interface of the controller accessing the semiconductor memory is different from an interface for accessing the memory cell array. Therefore, one kind of semiconductor memory can be used as plural kinds of semiconductor memories. This eliminates the need to develop plural kinds of semiconductor memories, reducing a development cost.
US07941727B2	Checksum generator for variable-length data One embodiment relates to a method of generating an N-bit checksum for variable-length data. An N-bit data word of the variable-length data is received by data input circuitry, and an N-bit input checksum generator is used to calculate an updated value of the N-bit checksum for N-bit data words. A plurality of smaller checksum generators and the N-bit input checksum generator are each used to calculate a last value of the N-bit checksum for the last data word of the variable-length data. Control signals are used to controllably select the last value of the N-bit checksum from outputs of said checksum generators. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US07941725B2	Method for ciphering data with error correction code A method and a system for coding digital data represented by source symbols (Si) with an error-correction code. The error-correction code generates parity symbols (Pj) based on, for each parity symbol, several source symbols and at least one parity symbol of preceding rank. At least a part of the source symbols is submitted to at least a first ciphering. The obtained ciphered symbols and the rest of the unciphered source symbols are submitted to the error-correction code.
US07941720B2	Scan test circuit and scan test control method A scan test circuit in the present invention includes a control FF for inputting a control signal, and a scan path chain configured of scan storage elements to operate in a shift operation mode when an output of the control FF is a first status value, and in a normal operation mode when the output is a second status value. When the control signal is switched from the first status value to the second status value, the control FF outputs the second status value to multiple scan storage elements synchronously with a first clock pulse, after the switching, of a clock provided to multiple scan storage elements. When the scan control signal is switched from the second status value to the first status value, the control FF outputs the first status value to multiple scan storage elements at a timing of the control signal switching.
US07941708B2	Error management framework A system and method for computer error management initially detects an error and creates an error report. The error report is then sent to a server where it is hosted on the World Wide Web. The server additionally notifies designated users of the error and can allow the users to correct the error.
US07941705B2	Computer system to use memory having defective memory cell and control method thereof A computer system having a plurality of devices including a data storage part which includes a plurality of cells to store data, and a controller to inspect whether there is a defective cell in the data storage part if a condition to execute a cell inspection function is met, and sets the defective cell to be assigned to one of the devices if a defective cell is found.
US07941696B2	Flash-based memory system with static or variable length page stripes including data protection information and auxiliary protection stripes Methods and apparatuses for enhanced protection of data stored in a FLASH memory system involve a controller capable of protecting data using page stripes and auxiliary protection stripes. The controller stores the data in a manner such that the pages making up each page stripe include a plurality of data pages and at least one data protection page and the pages making up each auxiliary protection stripe include a plurality of data pages and an auxiliary protection page. At least a plurality of data pages are within one page stripe and one auxiliary protection stripe such that each data page is protected both by a data protection page in the page stripe and an auxiliary protection page in the auxiliary protection stripe.
US07941695B2	Virtual disk drive system and method A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc.
US07941692B2	NAND power fail recovery Techniques to recover data from an indirected non-volatile memory system after unexpected power failure, as, e.g., NAND memory in electronic devices are disclosed.
US07941684B2	Synchronization of processor time stamp counters to master counter In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and a controller coupled to the processors. Each processor comprises at least one processor time stamp counter (TSC) and a first control unit configured to maintain the processor TSC. The controller comprises at least one controller TSC and a second control unit configured to maintain the controller TSC. The controller is configured to signal the processor responsive to determining that the processor TSC is out of synchronization with the controller TSC. In response to having been signalled that the processor TSC is out of synchronization, the processor is configured to resynchronize the processor TSC to the controller TSC before generating a result for a read TSC instruction. In response to having not been signalled that the processor TSC is out of synchronization, the processor is configured to generate the result responsive to the processor TSC without resynchronizing.
US07941682B2	Optimum power management of system on chip based on tiered states of operation Optimum power management of system on chip based on tiered states of operation is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system on chip includes a hardware module including one or more of a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a DSP core, a memory, a timing source, a peripheral, and an external interface to have a real time counter module of the peripheral isolated from a rest of the hardware module using a plurality of voltage level shifting cells and/or a plurality of voltage island cells. Also, the system on chip includes a software module associated with the real time counter module to generate one or more control signals to one or more devices external to the system on chip during a sleep mode of the system on chip.
US07941681B2	Proactive power management in a parallel computer Proactive power management in a parallel computer, the parallel computer including a service node and a plurality of compute nodes, the service node connected to the compute nodes through an out-of-band service network, each compute node including a computer processor and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor. Embodiments include receiving, by the service node, a user instruction to initiate a job on an operational group of compute nodes in the parallel computer, the instruction including power management attributes for the compute nodes; setting, by the service node in accordance with the power management attributes for the compute nodes of the operational group, power consumption ratios for each compute node of the operational group including a computer processor power consumption ratio and a computer memory power consumption ratio; and initiating, by the service node, the job on the compute nodes of the operational group of the parallel computer.
US07941679B2	Method for computing power savings and determining the preferred clock gating circuit of an integrated circuit design A method for computing the power savings in an integrated circuit (IC) design is disclosed. The method computes the difference in power savings between techniques used for clock gating. Based on the computation results, the method outputs a script to control the implementation tool so as to provide for the best implementation clock gating technique in terms of power and area savings.
US07941678B2	Image processing apparatus An image processing apparatus includes a data reading and writing unit for reading and writing data with respect to a specific recording medium; a data incompatibility avoiding unit for performing a data incompatibility avoiding process during reading and writing the data associated with cut-off of power; an incompatibility avoiding process starting unit for detecting a cut-off signal of power and controlling the data incompatibility avoiding unit to start the data incompatibility avoiding process; and a power cut-off delaying unit for delaying cut-off of the power for a specific period of time after the cut-off signal is detected when the data incompatibility avoiding unit starts the data incompatibility avoiding process. The data incompatibility avoiding unit performs the data incompatibility avoiding process within the specific period of time.
US07941674B2	Apparatus and method for securing data on a portable storage device A portable storage device including a microprocessor and a secure user data area, the microprocessor operable to perform on-the-fly encryption/decryption of secure data stored on the storage device under a user password, the microprocessor also operable to exclude access to the secure user data area unless the user password is provided.
US07941668B2	Method and system for securely managing application transactions using cryptographic techniques A method and system for secure managing transactions between application devices over a network. The present invention provides a method and system for receiving data from an application device, such as computer workstation, ATM, credit card point-of-sale terminal, or application software, and transferring that data securely over a network to a recipient application device. The method and system provide secure cryptographic key and enterprise management of embedded, standalone and tightly coupled information assurance components.
US07941667B2	Electronic document authenticity guarantee method, and electronic document disclosure system A need exists for a technology for guaranteeing the authenticity of an electronic document, and an information disclosure system, which can guarantee the authenticity of a disclosed document and delete information regarded as inappropriate for disclosure. An electronic document is divided into components, and a random number generated from a seed value is concatenated to each of the components. A hash value is calculated for each of the components with which the random numbers have been concatenated. The calculated hash values are further concatenated using a hash function to generate data to which an digital signature is applied.
US07941663B2	Authentication of 6LoWPAN nodes using EAP-GPSK A system is provided that includes at least one processor and instructions that when executed by the processor promote exchanging extensible authentication protocol (EAP) messages for authentication by sending a plurality of data packets formatted in accordance with an IEEE 802.15.4 standard. The EAP messages are encapsulated within a data field of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard data packet and wherein the encapsulated EAP message comprises an EAP header and a data portion.
US07941658B2	Computer system and method for updating program code A computer system includes: a processor for executing a program code, a first non-volatile memory for storing a first program code for starting the computer system, the first non-volatile memory being functionally connected to the processor, and a system monitoring module which is functionally connected to the processor and to the first non-volatile memory and is configured to monitor the computer system for the occurrence of a predetermined condition. The system monitoring module includes a second non-volatile memory for storing a second program code for starting the computer system and is configured to copy the second program code from the second non-volatile memory into the first non-volatile memory when the predetermined condition occurs, so that the second program code replaces the first program code and is available for subsequent starting of the computer system.
US07941653B2	Jump instruction having a reference to a pointer for accessing a branch address table Methods and apparatus are provided for performing a jump operation in a pipelined digital processor. The method includes writing target addresses of jump instructions to be executed to a memory table, detecting a first jump instruction being executed by the processor, the first jump instruction referencing a pointer to a first target address in the memory table, the processor executing the first jump instruction by jumping to the first target address and modifying the pointer to point to a second target address in the memory table, the second target address corresponding to a second jump instruction. The execution of the first jump instruction may include prefetching at least one future target address from the memory table and writing the future target address in a local memory. The second target address may be accessed in the local memory in response to detection of the second jump instruction.
US07941652B2	Apparatus and computer program product for implementing atomic data tracing A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing atomic data tracing in a processor system including an auxiliary processor unit (APU) coupled to a central processor unit (CPU). The auxiliary processor unit (APU) processes a trace instruction. When a trace instruction is identified by the APU, the APU signals the CPU with a pipeline stall signal for stalling the CPU and checks for an enabled trace engine as specified by the trace instruction. When the trace engine for the trace instruction is enabled, then the trace data is written into a trace buffer. The APU signals the CPU with an op done signal for allowing the CPU to continue with instruction processing.
US07941651B1	Method and apparatus for combining micro-operations to process immediate data A method and apparatus for combining micro-operations to process immediate data. The immediate data may be wider than the immediate data storage capacity of a micro-operation. A first micro-operation is issued to process a first portion of the immediate data, which can be processed within the immediate data storage capacity of a micro-operation. A second micro-operation is issued to process a second portion of the immediate data, which can be processed within the immediate data storage capacity of a micro-operation. Execution of the first and second micro-operations and optionally of a third micro-operation serves to reconstruct the immediate data comprising the first portion and the second portion of the immediate data.
US07941640B1	Secure processors having encoded instructions A processor includes an instruction fetcher, a decoder, and an instruction processor. The instruction fetcher retrieves encoded machine-language instructions. The encoded machine-language instructions are encoded according to a predetermined key assigned only to the processor. The predetermined key is independent of opcodes of the processor. The decoder decodes each of the encoded machine-language instructions according to the predetermined key. The instruction processor executes the decoded machine-language instructions.
US07941635B2	High-performance superscalar-based computer system with out-of order instruction execution and concurrent results distribution The high-performance, RISC core based microprocessor architecture includes an instruction fetch unit for fetching instruction sets from an instruction store and an execution unit that implements the concurrent execution of a plurality of instructions through a parallel array of functional units. The fetch unit generally maintains a predetermined number of instructions in an instruction buffer. The execution unit includes an instruction selection unit, coupled to the instruction buffer, for selecting instructions for execution, and a plurality of functional units for performing instruction specified functional operations. A unified instruction scheduler, within the instruction selection unit, initiates the processing of instructions through the functional units when instructions are determined to be available for execution and for which at least one of the functional units implementing a necessary computational function is available. Unified scheduling is performed across multiple execution data paths, where each execution data path, and corresponding functional units, is generally optimized for the type of computational function that is to be performed on the data: integer, floating point, and boolean. The number, type and computational specifics of the functional units provided in each data path, and as between data paths, are mutually independent.
US07941631B2	Providing metadata in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) In one embodiment, the present invention includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) to store entries each having a translation portion to store a virtual address (VA)-to-physical address (PA) translation and a second portion to store bits for a memory page associated with the VA-to-PA translation, where the bits indicate attributes of information in the memory page. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07941625B2	Volume selection method and information processing system In a storage management system in which a storage apparatus is connected via a network to a volume allocation management server having a performance requirement analysis unit, a volume allocation unit, and a volume performance determining unit, the performance requirements of a business application using volume-allocating data and the performance characteristics of a volume serving as a data storage destination are determined, and on the basis of the resulting information, a volume which satisfies the performance requirements is selected as the data storage destination.
US07941621B1	Automatically mounting and unmounting a volume during a backup or restore operation A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for sharing non-distributed, random-access storage resources among a plurality of computer systems. A first backup or restore operation may be initiated. In response to initiation of the first backup or restore operation, a volume of a random-access storage device may be automatically mounted at a first computer system. The random-access storage device may be coupled to the first computer system by a network, and the volume may store a non-distributed file system. The first backup or restore operation may be completed by transmitting a first set of data between the random-access storage device and the first computer system. In response to completion of the first backup or restore operation, the volume of the random-access storage device may be automatically unmounted at the first computer system.
US07941620B2	Double-allocation data-replication system A data-allocation data-replication system includes a controller adapted to respond to back-up requests from host systems by first allocating an accumulated data set containing multiple source data sets. An index data set is then allocated incorporating index keys and other information helpful to restore the source data sets, such as locations of individual source data sets within the accumulated data set.
US07941613B2	Shared memory architecture Disclosed herein is an apparatus which may comprise a plurality of nodes. In one example embodiment, each of the plurality of nodes may include one or more central processing units (CPUs), a random access memory device, and a parallel link input/output port. The random access memory device may include a local memory address space and a global memory address space. The local memory address space may be accessible to the one or more CPUs of the node that comprises the random access memory device. The global memory address space may be accessible to CPUs of all the nodes. The parallel link input/output port may be configured to send data frames to, and receive data frames from, the global memory address space comprised by the random access memory device(s) of the other nodes.
US07941610B2	Coherency directory updating in a multiprocessor computing system Coherency directory updating is provided in a multiprocessor computing system. A plurality of memory resources have a directory, and are operably connected to an interconnect fabric. A cell is operably connected to the interconnect fabric. The cell has a cache including an entry for each of a plurality of coherency units, each coherency unit included in a memory block representing a contiguous portion of the plurality of memory resources. A controller is operably connected to the interconnect fabric. The controller is configured to control a portion of the plurality of memory resources, and has a comparator configured to identify whether a memory block is local. If the memory block is local, the controller is configured to set a state of the directory to exclusive for a write transaction. If the memory block is not local, the controller is configured to set the state to invalid for a write transaction.
US07941600B2	Storage system The storage system includes a disk controller for receiving write commands from a computer, and a plurality of disk devices in which data is written in accordance with the control of the disk controller. The size of the first block which constitutes the data unit handled in the execution of the input/output processing of the data in accordance with the write command by the disk controller is different from the size of the second block which constitutes the data unit handled in the execution of the input/output processing of data by the plurality of disk devices. The disk controller issues an instruction for the writing of data to the disk devices using a third block unit of a size corresponding to a common multiple of the size of the first block and the size of the second block.
US07941595B2	Methods and systems for a memory section A storage system that may include one or more memory devices, a memory interface device corresponding to one or more of the memory devices, which are organized in sections, and a section controller. In this system, a data request for the data may be received over a communications path by a section controller. The section controller determines the addresses in the memory devices storing the requested data, transfers these addresses to those memory devices storing the requested data, and transfers an identifier to the memory interface device. The memory device, in response, reads the data and transfers the data to its corresponding memory interface device. The memory interface device then adds to the data the identifier it received from the section controller and forwards the requested bits towards their destination, such that the data need not pass through the section controller.
US07941594B2	SDRAM sharing using a control surrogate A system and method for sharing a single synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) unit between two chips, each having an SDRAM controller. Each SDRAM controller is effectively divided into a control block and a data block. The first SDRAM controller drives or reads directly from the SDRAM unit's data bus instead of employing a dedicated data bus for communication between the first and second SDRAM units. The data section of the second SDRAM controller responds to requests from the first SDRAM controller as if the requests had come from the second SDRAM controller's own control block. In other embodiments of the present invention, the second SDRAM controller can accept control signals generated by the first SDRAM. If the second SDRAM controller detects that the first SDRAM controller is initiating a request, the second SDRAM controller terminates any active requests of its own using burst termination. Thereafter, the second SDRAM controller processes the first SDRAM controller's request with the SDRAM unit as appropriate.
US07941584B2	Data processing apparatus and method for performing hazard detection A data processing apparatus and method are provided for performing hazard detection in a series of access requests issued by processing circuitry for handling by one or more slaves. The requests include one or more write access requests to be performec by an addressed slave device. Hazard detection circuitry comprises a pending write access history storage having at least one buffer and at least one counter for keeping a record of each pending write access request. Update circuitry responds receipt of a write access request to perform an update process to identify that write access request as a pending write access request in one of the buffers, and if the identity of another pending write access request is overwritten by that update process, to increment a count value a counter. Hazard checking circuitry is then responsive to at least a subset of the access requests to be issued by the processing circuitry, to reference pending write access history storage in order to determine whether a hazard condition occurs. The manner in which the update circuitry jses a combination of buffers aid counters to keep a record of each pending write access request provides improved performance with respect to known prior art techniques, without the hardware cost that would be associated with increasing the number of buffers.
US07941576B2	Time-gap defect detection apparatus and method A programmatic time-gap defect correction apparatus and method corrects errors which may go undetected by a computer system. Buffer underruns or overruns, which may incur errors in data transfers, yet remain undetected and uncorrected in a computer system, are corrected by an error avoidance module in accordance with the invention. Bytes transferred to and from buffers, used by an I/O controllers to temporarily store data while being transferred between synchronous and asynchronous devices, are counted and an error condition is forced based on the count. If the count exceeds the capacity of the buffer, an error condition is forced, thereby reducing chances that errors are incurred into the data transfer.
US07941566B2	Multi-service network system A multi-service network system which forms a wide area network connecting a plurality of metropolitan areas, including a primary network ring including at least one primary node and at least one secondary node; and a secondary network ring connecting the at least one secondary node to business premises equipment, wherein the business premises equipment are associated with respective customer premises equipment.
US07941565B2	Network interface device A network interface device in a manufacturing system may receive communications from remote users in a database query language. The network interface device may translate or forward commands and queries in a pump-supported language. The network interface device may communicate the commands and queries to pumps and other components on the manufacturing process using the pump-supported language. The results of the command or query may be returned to the network interface device, which may send the information to a database. A GUI allows the remote user to check states of pumps or other functions.
US07941556B2	Monitoring for replica placement and request distribution A platform that may be used to dynamically reallocate resources to support an Internet application is disclosed. In an embodiment, the platform may include two layers of distribution, one at the domain name server (DNS) layer and one at an Internet data center layer. The platform may include a dynamic resource allocation manager that causes instances of applications to be initiated in Internet data centers in response to dynamic conditions and characteristics of the application. A monitoring system module may be provided to keep the dynamic resource allocation manager informed as the health and utilization of instances of the application.
US07941545B2	System and article of manufacture for establishing and requesting status on a computational resource Provided are a system and article of manufacture for establishing and requesting status on a computational resource. An operation is performed to establish a computational resource, wherein the computational resource is not available until the establish operation is completed. A determination is made as to whether a status request to determine status of the computational resource is pending before the establish operation has completed. Indication is made to resubmit the status request if there is a status request for the computational resource pending before the establish operation has completed.
US07941543B2	System and method for migrating applications from a legacy system An information processing system comprises a legacy application, a web services consumption copybook, and a set of application program interfaces for enabling the legacy application to access a selected web service via a web services consumption server. The web services consumption copybook represents data structures of the selected web service. The system can either connect to or include a set of web service proxies that each correspond to a web service available via a network connection. A web services consumption server is optionally used to route service requests from the application to the appropriate web service proxy. The system can also optionally include a developer tool for adapting legacy systems or environments to be able to consume web services using modem protocols thus allowing the migration of legacy subsystems to a networked loosely-coupled environment.
US07941540B2	Method for uniform network access According to some embodiments, a registry is displayed. The registry may, for example, indicate resources available from a plurality of remote network access devices via a communications network. Moreover, a personal network address may be associated with each available resource, the personal network address including an destination address portion and an application program identifier portion. A direct communications link may then be established between a first network access device hosting an available resource and a second network address device using the personal network address associated with the resource.
US07941536B2	Apparatus and method for uniform network access According to some embodiments, a registry is displayed. The registry may, for example, indicate resources available from a plurality of remote network access devices via a communications network. Moreover, a personal network address may be associated with each available resource, the personal network address including an destination address portion and an application program identifier portion. A direct communications link may then be established between a first network access device hosting an available resource and a second network address device using the personal network address associated with the resource.
US07941531B2	Age biased distributed collision resolution without clocks A method resolves collisions in a networking system that includes a plurality of entities operable to transmit an intention to reserve a resource. A first request to reserve resources, which includes a listing of the resources along the first transmission path and a first intention priority value, is broadcast through the networking system. The first intention priority value is determined as a function of other intention priority values previously broadcast through the networking system. A second request is received. The second request includes a second intention priority value and at least one of the same resources included in the first request, thereby indicating a collision. The collision is resolved by comparing the first intention priority value to the second intention priority value. If the collision is resolved in favor of the first request, data is routed through the networking system using the resources along the first transmission path.
US07941530B2	Thermostat status notification through a network The present invention provides apparatuses and computer readable media for obtaining status information from a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and sending the status information to a remote networked device using a data container. A thermostat obtains status information from a HVAC system, associates the status information with a corresponding index number, and includes the index number and HVAC information in a data container. The data container can assume different forms, including a customer-defined cluster or a publicly accessible cluster. The HVAC information may be encoded so that the HVAC information can be included as an attribute of the publicly accessible cluster. HVAC information may include relay status of a relay in the HVAC system. The relay is identified by an index number that is included in an attribute. A networked device typically receives the HVAC information from the thermostat in at least one data container.
US07941529B2	Periodic exporting of information over a flow protocol In some example embodiments, a apparatus and method are shown that include receiving a subscription instruction identifying a subscription to management information from a network device. Additionally, the apparatus and method includes periodically retrieving the management information from the network device. Further, the apparatus and method includes formatting the management information according to an export template. The apparatus and method also includes transmitting the management information utilizing a protocol. A apparatus and network device are also shown that include receiving a management information snapshot as part of a periodic subscription. This apparatus and method includes processing the management information snapshot based upon an export template, the export template defined as part of an IPFIX protocol.
US07941528B2	Methods, systems and computer program products for providing a multimedia applications gateway Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing application services to an end user domain are disclosed. A method includes providing a multimedia applications gateway that is connected to an access gateway for the end user domain of the application services or a multimedia applications gateway that includes an integrated access gateway function. The access gateway is communicatively coupled to end user devices at the end user domain. The method also includes configuring the multimedia applications gateway to convert network communications of a selected application service that is downloaded to the access gateway and transmitted from the access gateway to an end user device into communications having an open standards protocol recognized by each of the end user devices. The method further includes executing the selected application service via a virtual machine operating on an operating system of the multimedia applications gateway, and monitoring activities occurring in response to execution of the selected application service.
US07941527B1	Tuning aging parameters for flows in flow-based systems In one embodiment, flows are monitored that are open for a length of time until ending by either a distinct ending or by being silent longer than a configured aging timer (wherein a silent flow is a “zombie flow”). In response to each first flow ending, a total flow time value may be increased by a length of time that first flow was open, and in response to each second flow ending by aging, a zombie flow time value may be increased by the aging timer. A ratio of zombie flows at a particular time in the computer network that will be ended by aging may be estimated as the zombie flow time value divided by the total flow time value. Also, in other embodiments, a capacity improvement, performance hit, and accuracy hit may be predicted based on a new aging timer value.
US07941525B1	Method and system for monitoring an activity of a user A method for tracking an activity of a user, the method includes: downloading, over a network, web page content that comprises a tracking code; tracking, at least partially by executing the tracking code by a user computer, user activities that are responsive to at least a portion of the downloaded web page content, wherein the tracking comprises generating user activity information; compressing and buffering a portion of the user activity information; and transmitting to a tracking entity, at least a compressed portion of the user activity information when a first transmission criterion is fulfilled.
US07941524B2	System and method for collecting and storing event data from distributed transactional applications Event data associated with state data corresponding to an instance of a process is collected by an interceptor associated with a server that performs an operation to modify the state data. The server performs a single transaction with the database to store both the modified state data and the associated event data, the transaction either succeeding or failing, whereby if the transaction succeeds, then both the state data and the event data are stored at the database, and if the transaction fails, then both the state data and the event data are not stored at the database. The event data stored at the database is then transmitted to a tracking service for conversion into a query-able format.
US07941522B2	Application security in an interactive media environment A security system is described which controls the access of applications to system resources in the field of interactive multimedia. The system establishes a framework for application security, including a signature system, and further provides file formats that support security. Signed applications are afforded high access privileges, while unsigned applications are afforded low access privileges. The combination of signed and unsigned applications on, e.g., a disk, provides for low access privileges for all applications, signed and unsigned.
US07941519B2	Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing ontological domain services Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing ontological domain services are provided. A method includes gathering information elements relating to an individual from trusted sources of information via secure channels of communication. The method also includes creating an ontological domain that is specific to the individual using the information elements accrued from the sources. The information elements are acquired from detectable behaviors of the individual over time. The ontological domain is automatically generated from the detectable behaviors and absent any intervention by the individual. The method also includes determining an interest that is specific to the individual based upon relevancy analyses performed with respect to the information elements and making the interest available to the individual or entity.
US07941515B2	Applying a filter set to information provided to a subscribing client Applying a filter to state information sent from a server to a subscribing client includes receiving a subscription request from the subscribing client, where the subscription request requests a subscription for the subscribing client. A subscriber value is established from the subscription request. A filter set corresponding to the subscriber value is implicitly determined. The filter set comprises one or more filters, where a filter operates to filter state information sent from a server to the subscribing client. The filter set is recorded in a subscription record of the subscription for the subscribing client.
US07941509B2	Method and apparatus for a secure network install A method, an apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for a secure network install. One aspect of the present invention provides a proxy server within the same subnet of the client for performing a lookup of the boot image file and downloading the boot image file from a boot file server in a secure manner. The client in turn downloads the file from the proxy TFTP server. Another aspect of the present invention modifies the client remote boot code to include a secure boot file download discovery (SBDD) mode. The client starts the SBDD mode by sending a request for a boot image file to a subnet broadcast address and port, which is listened by a proxy TFTP server. The proxy TFTP server receives the client request and downloads the boot image file. The client in turn downloads the boot image file from the proxy TFTP server.
US07941506B2	User interface for network discovery operations Methods, apparatus, systems and computer program products to capture discovery task information are described. More specifically, a graphical user interface is described that simplifies the task of defining what types of components (hardware and software), domains and methods are to be used during an IT infrastructure discovery operation. One benefit of using the described user interface is that the user is relieved of the burden of determining what aspects of the discovery action need be defined. Another benefit is that a user may be asked for input for only those elements necessary to the discovery—based on the user's prior input. For example, if the only type of component identified for discovery are JAVA® platforms, only those discovery methods (e.g., JMX) related to JAVA® platforms will be proffered to the user during that phase of specifying the discovery operation.
US07941502B2	Method and system for migrating content on a network A method and system for migrating content on a network. In one method embodiment, the present invention accesses a directory having a network address. A business rule is created and a directory is scripted based on the business rule. Next, a content switch automatically directs future access to the directory to a new environment based on the scripting, wherein the future access to the directory uses the same network address. In so doing, the migration of content on a network is greatly simplified.
US07941495B2	Management capabilities for real-time messaging networks Techniques for managing instant message (IM) communications are provided. In various embodiments, IM communications in a plurality of network implementations are managed using one or more policies. A policy in the one or more policies includes an action applicable for an IM communication. Once an IM communications is received from an IM client, a policy that is applicable for that IM communication is determined. After determining an applicable policy, an action associated with the policy for the instant message communication is performed. Examples of actions that may be taken include recording the IM communication, modifying the IM communication, blocking the IM communication, forwarding the IM communication, and the like.
US07941492B2	Message data management A workflow manager application transfers message data received from an originating device via a communication network to a target application for processing. A graphical user interface displays the received message data and allows the user to view and designate one or more target applications for processing the message data. The workflow manger application is responsive to user input to transfer message data to the designated one or more target applications for processing the message data. Alternatively, the workflow manager application analyzes received message data to identify one or more target applications, and transfers the message data to the identified one or more target applications for processing.
US07941491B2	System and method for dynamic adaptive user-based prioritization and display of electronic messages A method and system that dynamically ranks electronic messages based on their situational and inherent dimensions, which are judged by a set of filters. These filters evaluate the different elemental metadata constituting a message and produce a priority value based on filters relevance and importance. The system iterates through queued messages, examine the structured content for expected attributes, statistically analyze unstructured content, apply dynamically weighted rules and policies to deliver a priority ranking, and then display the message and its vital attributes in accordance with the priority ranking. The system also adaptive learns and adjusts its weighted rules and policies to permit priority ranking to change on real-time or interval-based (may be user-defined) schedule. The system includes a GUI for increasing reading and processing efficiency. The GUI performs supervised and unsupervised learning from the user's behaviors, and displays messages in accordance with their priority classification.
US07941490B1	Method and apparatus for detecting spam in email messages and email attachments A method and system for a character-based document comparison are described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an email message and determining a level of noise present in the message. The level of noise present in the email message is then utilized to determine whether the message is indicative of spam.
US07941487B2	Apparatus, system, and method of electronic mail processing An electronic mail processing apparatus includes a data receiving section (101) that receives mail data including video data or audio data, a cited data detecting section (103) that detects a cited part of the received video data or audio data as cited data from the mail data received by the data receiving section, and a reproduction control section (104) that controls a reproducing method of the received mail data. The reproduction control section (104) controls the reproduction method so that a reproduction method (for example, reproduction speed) for the cited data is deferent from a reproduction method for data other than the cited data in the received mail data.
US07941484B2	User interfaces for collaborative multi-locale context-aware systems management problem analysis A method to provide user interfaces for multi-locale context-aware systems management problem analysis comprises receiving a request for information associated with a systems management event, dynamically identifying a first locale designation associated with a first user of a systems management tool and a second locale designation associated with a second user of the systems management tool, and the systems management tool concurrently displaying the information according to the first and second locale designations.
US07941483B2	Low latency display methods for thin client devices Control techniques support low latency display operations on thin client devices. In response to a request to render a page in a user interface, the control may distinguish fields that likely have immediately displayable content from fields that are unlikely to have immediately displayable content. The control may retrieve data for those fields that are likely to have immediately displayable content and render them in an initial page. Content for the fields that are unlikely to have immediately displayable content may be generated as a background process and may be rendered in supplemental page(s) as they become available. The control permits quick rendering of basic pages, which may include navigation functionality, and therefore promote early navigation operations or quick review of data which can be made immediately available.
US07941481B1	Updating an electronic phonebook over electronic communication networks A method of accessing and updating an electronic phonebook over electronic communications networks such as a telephone and computer networks is described. The creation of a voice portal is supported by the invention. Embodiments of the invention use telephone identifying information such as the calling party's number to identify, or create, user profiles for customization. The user profile can include personalized phonebook entries that include names and telephone numbers of relevance to the user. Additionally, the voice portal can connect the user to numbers contained in the personalized phonebook in response to spoken commands. The profile can also be updated with additional phonebook entries over the interne using a web browser.
US07941474B2	Arithmetic circuit, arithmetic method, and information processing device To provide a floating point arithmetic circuit for efficiently defecting an error, which has a large numerical error, with a less circuit amount, the floating point arithmetic circuit comprises a first arithmetic unit for outputting a first arithmetic result, a second arithmetic unit for outputting a second arithmetic result, and a comparison circuit for making a comparison between the first and the second arithmetic results by a predetermined bit width.
US07941466B2	On-demand service reconciliation, audit, and alert An audit tool (AT) operates in cooperation with an audit tool manager (ATM), a policy file (PF) and a query file (QF) in order to provide a real time display of usage within an on-demand service system. The ATM identifies the data to be gathered. Using the ATM, the user identifies comparison points, maps the comparison points to audit controls, defines policies and develops SQL queries to report transactions and record quantities. The AT gathers data, displays the gathered data, and compares the data points, and alerts the user to a discrepancy. The AT displays the compared data points side by side so that real time visual verification can be made, and the AT also alerts the user to discrepancies.
US07941444B2	Universal annotation configuration and deployment Systems and articles of manufacture for managing annotations made for a variety of different type data objects manipulated (e.g., created, edited, and viewed) by a variety of different type applications are provided. Some embodiments allow users collaborating on a project to create, view, and edit annotations from within the applications used to manipulate the annotated data objects, which may facilitate and encourage the capturing and sharing of tacit knowledge through annotations. Further, annotations may be stored separate from the application data they describe, decoupling the tacit knowledge captured in the annotations from the applications used to manipulate the annotated data.
US07941433B2	System and method for managing context-rich database A system and method for maintaining a data cluster of records referring to a same object or phenomenon in a context-rich database are provided. The method comprises assessing each record of the data cluster entered by a source on a predetermined number of parameters to develop a quality score for the source. The method further comprises assessing each field of a record entered by the source on parameters related to quality or performance of the data. The method further comprises storing one or more scores based on the assessments so as to enhance answering requests about a portion of the database.
US07941425B2	Techniques for scoring and comparing query execution plans Techniques for scoring and comparing query execution plans are provided. Predefined parameter types are identified in query execution plans and predefined weighted values are assigned to any identified parameters within the query execution plans. The weights are summed on a per processing step bases and the sum of the processing steps represents a total score for a particular query execution plan. The total scores or individual step scores from different query execution plans can then be compared or evaluated against one another for optimization and problem detection analysis.
US07941422B2	Method and apparatus for communication efficient private information retrieval and oblivious transfer A method, article of manufacture and apparatus for performing private retrieval of information from a database is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprising obtaining an index corresponding to information to be retrieved from the database and generating a query that does not reveal the index to the database. The query is an arithmetic function of the index and a secret value, wherein the arithmetic function includes a multiplication group specified by a modulus of a random value whose order is divisible by a prime power, such that the prime power is an order of the random value. The secret value is an arithmetic function of the index that comprises a factorization into prime numbers of the modulus. The method further comprises communicating the query to the database for execution of the arithmetic function against the entirety of the database.
US07941420B2	Method for organizing structurally similar web pages from a web site Techniques are described for organizing structurally similar web pages for a website. Fingerprints are made of the structure of the web pages using shingling by placing the web page's HTML tags and attributes in sequence and encoding the tags and attributes using a standard encoding technique. Fixed-size portions of the encoded sequence are taken and a set of values extracted using independent hash functions to compute the shingles. Alternatively, a DOM tree representation of HTML of the web page is generated and each path of the DOM tree encoded and values extracted using independent hash functions to compute the shingles. A specified number of shingles are retained as the fingerprint. The pages are then clustered based upon the URL and the similarity of the shingles. The clustered hierarchal organization of pages is further pruned by various criteria including similarity of shingles or support of the cluster node in the hierarchy.
US07941419B2	Suggested content with attribute parameterization A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety of sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security attributes to be submitted at query time, for example, in order to provide real-time secure access to enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries.
US07941410B2	Method and system of managing conflicts for a set of synchronized folders Generally, the described system and process enables resolution of conflicts in a synchronized folder. Within the described mesh operating environment, each of the devices may be configured to do the same processing so that the file system view of the synchronized folder looks the same on all devices (pending local capabilities). Updates that cannot be immediately realized to the local store due to conflicts may be deferred for later attempts when, for example, additional updates at the system level or local level are made to resolve or eliminate the conflict for the update item. Generally, further changes may be propagated by a user in addressing a particular conflict that the user is notified about (e.g., via a selected winner that the user disagrees with). Alternatively, the conflict may resolve itself when a further update occurs that overrides or renders moot the previous update (e.g., a deleted item having a modified enclosure, where the enclosure had a previous concurrency conflict).Depending on the local file system, the described system and process may perform additional fix ups for file name, attributes, etc. In this case, the described system and process may be configured not to update a main replication feed since the updates are local or node application specific. Resolution may primarily depend on the user. When the user does resolve a conflict, the feed may be updated and the resolution propagated to all nodes.
US07941400B2	Systems, methods and computer program products for maintaining a state of a document in a document-centric model to maintain a task across systems with the document Systems, methods, and computer program for maintaining a state of a document in a document-centric model to maintain a task across systems with the document. Exemplary embodiments include a method for maintaining a state of a document in a document-centric model to maintain a task across systems with the document, the method including opening the document on a first device, loading and rendering the document on the first device, activating a first plugin on the first device, checking the document for a marker record in a first marker registry database associated with the first device, performing scrolling operations to position a view of the user at a specified location as defined in the marker entry and performing a synchronization between the first device and a second device, the synchronization including transferring the marker entry to a second marker registry database associated with the second device.
US07941396B2	Process control method with integrated database for electronically documenting the configuration, modification and operation of a controlled process A process control method that automatically and comprehensively manages the creation, storage and use of electronic records during the operation of a controlled process and for governing and documenting the users that operate the computer systems that are involved in the creation, storage and use of the electronic records. The method controls a process, such as a chemical process, by receiving measurement information relating to the process, applying rules to the received measurement information to determine a desired response, and sending control information to at least one device associated with the process, so as to modify the process. The method maintains the rules, measurements and control activity in transaction logs or audit trails related thereto in a secure database. By providing convenient, centralized control of the process within a secure database, the method enhances compliance with the FDA regulations that permit electronic records to be regarded as the equivalent to paper records under 21 CFR Part 11.
US07941394B2	User interface providing summary information or a status pane in a web analytics tool A system and method provide a summary comparison of data. The summary may compare filtered and unfiltered data or one set of filtered data to another. The system presents a status pane or window to a user in conjunction with filtered data that is dynamically updated to correspond to the data. A summary of the filtered data is available for display side by side with other filtered data or unfiltered data. The reports and summary are dynamically updated.
US07941391B2	Link spam detection using smooth classification function A collection of web pages is considered as a directed graph in which the pages themselves are nodes and the hyperlinks between the pages are directed edges in the graph. A trusted entity identifies training examples for spam pages and normal pages. A random walk is conducted through the directed graph that includes the collection of web pages and the stationary probabilities, and transitional probabilities, among the nodes in the directed graph are obtained. A classifier training component estimates a classification function that changes slowly on densely connected subgraphs within the directed graph. The classification function assigns a value to each of the nodes in the directed graph and identifies them as spam or normal pages based upon whether the value meets a given function threshold value.
US07941388B2	Telecommunications-based social-trust networks A method of facilitating the construction, maintenance, and usage of social-trust networks is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment monitors the call processing details of communication events between users of a telecommunications system as the basis for estimating whether or not a relationship exists between the users that can be exploited in a social-trust network. This is possible because the call processing details of communication events between users is an excellent indicator of the nature of the relationship between users. For example, if Alice calls Brian three times a day on average, including nights, weekends, and holidays, and Brian answers Alice's calls quickly and returns her unanswered calls quickly, then it is reasonable to infer that Alice and Brian have a relationship that is substantial enough to be used in a social-trust network.
US07941382B2	Method of classifying and active learning that ranks entries based on multiple scores, presents entries to human analysts, and detects and/or prevents malicious behavior A malicious behavior detection/prevention system, such as an intrusion detection system, is provided that uses active learning to classify entries into multiple classes. A single entry can correspond to either the occurrence of one or more events or the non-occurrence of one or more events. During a training phase, entries are automatically classified into one of multiple classes. After classifying the entry, a generated model for the determined class is utilized to determine how well an entry corresponds to the model. Ambiguous classifications along with entries that do not fit the model well for the determined class are selected for labeling by a human analyst. The selected entries are presented to a human analyst for labeling. These labels are used to further train the classifier and the models. During an evaluation phase, entries are automatically classified using the trained classifier and a policy associated with determined class is applied.
US07941378B2	Stamp testing and monitoring A method for detection of fraudulent postage indicia such as a stamp or permit marking includes an initial step of introducing a mail piece for processing on an automated facing and canceling machine and imaging the mail piece as it is being processed on the automated facing and canceling machine, which image includes an image of the postage indicia. The image is analyzed according to predetermined criteria stored in a database to determine if the postage indicia meets the predetermined criteria and therefore has an enhanced probability of being valid. If the analysis is step results in a determination that the postage indicia as an enhanced probability of being invalid, then the method involved determining that the information corresponds to counterfeit postage indicia; and storing the resulting information and decision in the database.
US07941371B1	System and method for an automated depository account pledged as security Embodiments of a system and method for administering a deposit account are disclosed. In an embodiment, a secured party may directly access a deposit account electronically and withdraw funds that are pledged to secure an obligation under the terms of a deposit account control agreement, without prior notification of such withdrawal to the bank, and without the active human participation of bank employees. An embodiment of the method includes the secured party accessing the deposit account electronically using a joint account holder personal identification number. An alternative embodiment of the method includes the secured party accessing the deposit account electronically using the secured party's personal identification number. An embodiment of the system includes a user interface for displaying deposit account information and accepting instructions to transfer funds out of the deposit account. An embodiment of the system includes a user interface for displaying information about two or more deposit accounts.
US07941369B2	Method of assisting a business in acquiring merchant services A method of assisting a business in acquiring merchant services includes the following steps: gathering the information of the business; comparing the gathered information to a repopulated rate grid from merchant acquirers; and providing the business with at least one competitive acquirer rate.
US07941368B2	System and method for electronic transaction settlement A method for electronic transaction settlement includes a customer providing an account identifier and contact information to a merchant, the merchant contacting a settlement house and transmitting the account identifier and a transaction amount, the settlement house contacting the customer, preferably via a mobile communication device. The customer then chooses a payment method such as a credit card and the settlement house contacts a credit provider for authorization. If the settlement house receives an authorization, the settlement house transmits it to the client, who approves the amount. The settlement house then completes the transaction with the credit provider and the merchant's bank.
US07941359B2	Computer-based method for teaming research analysts to generate improved securities investment recommendations A computer-based method for combining investment recommendations of individual research providers such as stock analysts. The method includes providing a server running a research team management module. A list of individual research providers is displayed on a client node linked to the server network. A research team is generated based on user input including a number of the research providers. Team rules are assigned to the team defining an algorithm for processing recommendations from the members of the team. Recommendations for securities are retrieved for the research providers on the team, and team recommendations are generated by applying the team rules to the recommendations. Team recommendations are reported to the client node for guiding investments. Processing of the individual recommendations may include applying differing weights to the positive and negative recommendations and combining the weighted recommendations, with the weights being user-selected differentiating strengths of members of the research team.
US07941358B2	Systems and methods for providing a combination financial product The present invention relates to systems and methods for administering combination annuity products and to combination annuity products themselves. Certain embodiments of the invention can be used in connection with variable universal life insurance and variable life insurance contracts.
US07941355B1	Universal payment protection A system for and method of providing payment protection upon the occurrence of trigger events. The system and method include an account, which may be associated with a credit card or other financial product. An accountholder may select trigger events and associated benefits. Upon the occurrence of a trigger event, the issuing entity will evaluate whether the accountholder is entitled to receive an associated benefit. Each benefit is intended to address at least one payment obligation. For example, an account may include payment protection in the form of automatic payment of minimum monthly credit card fees should the accountholder involuntarily become unemployed.
US07941348B2	Method and system for scheduling transaction listings at a network-based transaction facility According to the present invention, there is provided a method to facilitate propagating a plurality of transaction listings to a network-based transaction facility. An input interface is presented at a seller application to receive from a user, a plurality of transaction listings, each transaction listing including an associated start time. Also, a data file is composed at the seller application to include the plurality of transaction listings. Moreover, the data file is propagated, using the seller application, from the client computer to the network-based transaction facility.
US07941345B2	Method of presenting contents based on a common relationship A method is disclosed for providing a requested contents and associated contents to a user of a client computer system. A provider's server receives a request from the client computer system to send a first object in an HTML page for display on the client computer system. The provider examines the requested first object and includes a related second object in the HTML page. The HTML page with both objects is then sent to the client computer system for display. In an alternative embodiment, the HTML page is sent to the user with code to receive and display one or more objects sent independently from a second server to the user based on the first content or on user action within the first content.
US07941344B1	Method and apparatus for time incremented purchase price discounting A method and apparatus for time incremented purchase price discounting includes a process for time incremented purchase price discounting whereby a seller offers a product for sale on a seller website at an initial purchase price and then the product purchase price is automatically discounted by a predetermined amount at predetermined increments of time until either, the product is sold, or a seller determined minimum product purchase price is reached.
US07941339B2	Method and system for managing customer network value A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for evaluating a customer network value of a set of customers for a given marketing campaign, said method comprising the steps of storing for each customer static information, collecting for each customer, historical and time cumulative network behavior data, building a customer network map from network behavior data said map describing network relation between nodes, one node representing one customer, computing the social network parameters for the nodes of the network map, selecting the most relevant social network parameters according to the objectives of the given marketing campaign, and, computing for each customer a Customer Network Value Index (NVI) by combining the most relevant social network parameters and static information. When a static information profile is defined for an extended customer population, applying data mining techniques on this population allows estimating a probabilistic NVI for each customer in the extended customer population for which no NVI has been computed.
US07941335B2	System and method for performing conjoint analysis In a system and method for conjoint analysis, corresponding utility values are determined for a plurality of individual concept elements and for combinations of multiple concept elements, e.g., pair wise combinations of concept elements. A regression technique, e.g., least squares linear regression, may be used to determine the utility values.
US07941330B1	Systems and methods for home inventory and insurance Information may be received regarding items purchased or otherwise acquired by a user, and the items may be added to an electronic home inventory maintained by an institution system and the items may be added to an insurance policy issued by the institution system. The institution system may receive information about an item from the merchant who sold the item, an appraiser, the user, from a barcode that is provided on the receipt associated with the purchase, by a barcode generated by the user (e.g., using data from the receipt and other information from the user), and/or via data from a financial card transaction directed to the purchase. The user may be provided with a listing of the items, and can select which items are to be included in the home inventory and which items are to be added to an insurance policy.
US07941323B2	Remote health monitoring and maintenance system A system and method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network. The patient data may also include information supplied by a physiological monitoring device such as a blood glucose monitor that is connected to the remotely programmable patient apparatus. When the patient data arrives at the health care provider apparatus, the patient data is processed for further management of the patient's health condition by the health care provider, such as forwarding another script program to the remotely programmable patient apparatus.
US07941319B2	Audio decoding apparatus and decoding method and program An energy corrector (105) for correcting a target energy for high-frequency components and a corrective coefficient calculator (106) for calculating an energy corrective coefficient from low-frequency subband signals are newly provided. These processors perform a process for correcting a target energy that is required when a band expanding process is performed on a real number only. Thus, a real subband combining filter and a real band expander which require a smaller amount of calculations can be used instead of a complex subband combining filter and a complex band expander, while maintaining a high sound-quality level, and the required amount of calculations and the apparatus scale can be reduced.
US07941318B2	Public speaking self-evaluation tool A public speaking self-evaluation tool that helps a user practice public speaking in terms of avoiding undesirable words or sounds, maintaining a desirable speech rhythm, and ensuring that the user is regularly glancing at the audience. The system provides a user interface through which the user is able to define the undesirable words or sounds that are to be avoided, as well as a maximum frequency of occurrence threshold to be used for providing warning signals based on detection of such filler or undesirable words or sounds. The user interface allows a user to define a speech rhythm, e.g. in terms of spoken syllables per minute, that is another maximum threshold for providing a visual warning indication. The disclosed system also provides a visual indication when the user fails to glance at the audience at least as often as defined by a predefined minimum threshold.
US07941315B2	Noise reducer, noise reducing method, and recording medium Accepting the speech having the noise superimposed thereon and converting it into a signal on a time axis of the speech, an amplitude component of a speech for each predetermined frequency band of the converted signal on the frequency axis is calculated. Calculating a noise reduction coefficient, the noise component is reduced by multiplying the signal on the frequency axis of the original signal by the calculated noise reduction coefficient. By estimating the target value of the remaining noise for each frequency band, a signal on a frequency axis in which a signal corresponding to a frequency band of which target value estimated by the noise target value is larger than the value of the amplitude component of the signal on the frequency axis of which noise component is reduced is corrected to a signal corresponding to the target value is restored, into a signal on a time axis.
US07941312B2	Dynamic mixed-initiative dialog generation in speech recognition Disclosed are a method (500), apparatus (100) and computer program product for generating a mixed-initiative dialog to obtain information for dialog slots. A composite grammar dependent upon a set of unfilled slots is constructed (501). A prompt, dependent upon the a set of unfilled slots, is presented (309) to a user. An utterance is received (301) from the user in response to said prompt. Relevant information is determined based upon the further utterance. One or more said unfilled slots are filled (302) with said relevant information.
US07941304B2	Method for enhancement of a wind plant layout with multiple wind turbines The layout and configuration of wind turbines in a wind power plant includes identifying constraints of a power plant site and defining at least one region in the site for placement of a plurality of wind turbines. The wind state at the region in the site is determined. An actual wind condition at the various possible wind turbine locations within the site is determined by modeling the wind state with wake effects at the respective wind turbine locations. Individual wind turbine configuration and location within the region is then selected as a function of the actual wind conditions each of the individual wind turbine locations to optimize power output of the individual wind turbines. The selection of turbine configuration includes selection of a turbine hub height that minimizes wake loss of the individual wind turbines as a function of the actual wind conditions predicted for the turbine location.
US07941291B2	Method and apparatus for calculating a distance in assembly operation A method and apparatus for calculating distance in an assembly operation. The method includes the steps of providing an assembly comprising a first part, a second part and a driver coupled to the first part. The driver arranged to selectively move the first part relative to the second part. The method also includes actuating the driver to selectively move the first part between a first known position and a second position and registering speed and/or acceleration data of the driver between the first known position and the second position. The time interval for the first part to move between the first known position and the second position is measured. The distance moved by the first part between the first known position and the second position using the measured time interval and the data registered from the driver can then be calculated.
US07941289B2	Fuel dispenser calibration Systems and processes may provide calibration of a fuel dispenser. In particular implementations, fuel dispenser systems and processes may include the ability to determine whether a fuel delivery measurement of a fuel dispenser should be calibrated and adjust the fuel dispenser in response to the calibration.
US07941287B2	Periodic jitter (PJ) measurement methodology Methodologies are disclosed for analyzing periodic jitter is a signal pattern using a continuous time interval analyzer. Sampled signal patterns may be correlated using time interval error calculations to determine start and stop sequences within sampled blocks of signal data while sampling synchronization may be achieved based on time interval calculations or pattern interval error calculations.
US07941286B2	Variable density scanning Systems and techniques for varying a scan rate in a measurement instrument. The techniques may be used in scanning probe instruments, including atomic force microscopes (AFMs) and other scanning probe microscopes, as well as profilometers and confocal optical microscopes. This allows the selective imaging of particular regions of a sample surface for accurate measurement of critical dimensions within a relatively small data acquisition time.
US07941280B2	Procedure and device for checking the functionality of a tank ventilation valve A procedure for checking the functionality of a tank ventilation valve of a tank ventilation system for a motor vehicle with a fuel tank, an adsorbing filter, which is connected to the fuel tank over a filter line and which provides a vent pipe, and with the tank ventilation valve, which is connected to the inlet manifold of a combustion engine that provides an actuator for the idle mode over valve pipes, is thereby characterized, in that the mass flow that flows through the tank ventilation valve in the idle mode of the combustion engine and the mass flow that flows through the actuator for the idle mode are detected and in that the functionality of the tank ventilation valve is deduced from a variation of the actuator for the idle mode.
US07941278B2	MicroRNA motifs Disclosed are methods of identifying microRNA motifs or microRNA precursors for a target gene or a set of target genes. Also disclosed are related computer-readable media.
US07941272B2	Downloading map segment(s) to a cell phone based upon its GPS coordinates and mobility A wireless terminal displays its location and navigation information (map segment) on its display. The wireless terminal accesses a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the wireless terminal to determine its location coordinates. The wireless terminal determines a maximum data size for navigation information to be downloaded. The wireless terminal sends a navigation information download request to a map server via a supporting wireless network infrastructure that includes the location coordinates and the maximum data size. The wireless terminal receives navigation information that has a data size no greater than the maximum data size and displays the navigation information on the display. The wireless terminal may display a map segment and an icon representing the wireless terminal at a location corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal with respect to the map segment. The wireless terminal may download a premises map from a premises map server.
US07941268B2	Bearing calculator and error correction method A bearing calculator provided with a geomagnetic sensor for detecting earth-geomagnetism and a control unit for calculating a geographical bearing based on detection values of the geomagnetic sensor. The control unit can execute offset error correction processing for correcting the offset error to the geomagnetic sensor based on a change in the magnetic field inside the bearing calculator. When detection values of the geomagnetic sensor enter an abnormal state, it performs said offset error correction processing when the abnormal state continues for a predetermined time, while does not perform the offset error correction processing when the abnormal state ends within a predetermined time.
US07941267B2	Methods, systems and computer program products for ride matching based on selection criteria and driver characteristic information Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for matching a passenger with a driver for a trip to a destination. Characteristic information about a plurality of drivers is received and a plurality of selection criteria are received from the passenger. A request for the trip is received from the passenger. One of the drivers is automatically identified as a candidate driver for the trip based on the selection criteria and the characteristic information responsive to the received request. Contact information is provided to the passenger and/or the identified candidate driver to match the passenger with the identified candidate driver. One or more of the drivers may be associated with transportation service providing companies and the request for the trip may be a reservation request for a planned trip at a scheduled time in the future and the reservation request may include a date and/or time defining the scheduled time in the future.
US07941264B2	Fuel supply device for flexible-fuel internal combustion engine When it is detected in a fuel supply device for a flexible-fuel internal combustion engine that a refueling operation has been performed for a fuel tank, a return suppression process in which fuel in a delivery pipe is prohibited from returning to the fuel tank through a high-pressure return passage is executed until a concentration learning process is started. After the concentration learning process is started, a compulsory return process in which fuel in the delivery pipe is compulsorily returned to the fuel tank through the high-pressure return passage is executed.
US07941256B2	Method for vehicle suspension wear prediction and indication A vehicle suspension wear prediction and indication method includes processing data inputs from a suspension system and converting the data inputs into a cumulative wear estimate. The data inputs are selected to model a magnitude factor and a duration factor related to the operation of the suspension system.
US07941255B2	Process and apparatus for detecting damper damage In a method and apparatus for detecting shock absorber damage, features of a shock absorber are determined by analyzing a signal of an antilock braking system rotational wheel speed sensor.
US07941246B2	Automatic generation control augmentation for wind plant integration An automatic generation control (AGC) augmentation system and method for wind power plant integration for controlling the power contribution to a grid by the wind plant is disclosed that provides for the calculation of the area control error (ACE) by actively communicating to the wind plant ramp rate limits and curtailment requests contributing to the ACE calculation. The augmented control of the ACE minimizes the amount of lost energy production by the wind plant.
US07941240B2	Position ensuring system for oblique machining in five-axis machine tool A position ensuring system includes an A-axis calibration system which measures a displacement angle, which is an error between a target value and a measured value of the pivot angle of the spindle head about the A-axis, and corrects the pivot angle about the A-axis in such a manner that the displacement angle as measured with the corrected pivot angle as a target value fall within a tolerable range. A corrected data storage device stores the corrected pivot angle about the A-axis. An A-axis control system reads out the corrected pivot angle about the A-axis, the corrected pivot angle about the A-axis to pivot the spindle head when executing oblique machining of the inclined hole.
US07941236B2	Methods and systems for employing dynamic risk-based scheduling to optimize and integrate production with a supply chain A production and inventory control for a manufacturing facility is provided that facilitates and coordinates improved planning and execution of such facility in a supply chain with a focus on providing an improved and robust planning, production and inventory control, even in the presence of uncertainty. This may include Optimal Planning that can balance the need for low inventory, low cost (i.e., high utilization of equipment and labor), and efficient on-time delivery. The result of such planning is not a schedule per se but a set of parameters that form a dynamic policy that generates an evolving schedule as conditions (demand, production) materialize. An Optimal Execution applies the dynamic policy resulting in a manufacturing system that is robust enough to accommodate moderate changes in demand and/or capacity without the need to reschedule. Optimal Execution may also involve a “Capacity Trigger” that detects when the assumptions regarding demand and capacity used to determine the dynamic policy are no longer valid. The Capacity Trigger also may provide a Trigger Signal to the planner indicating the need for either more or less capacity.
US07941234B2	Exposure apparatus and parameter editing method An exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate to radiation based on parameters. The apparatus includes a display, an input device, and a processor configured to execute a program for editing the parameters. The processor is configured to cause, in accordance with the program, the display to display a first group of a first classification name for classifying the parameters, a plurality of names of works to be executed by the apparatus, a second group of a second classification name for classifying the parameters, a plurality of names of functions, each of which is contained in at least one of the works, and contents of parameters corresponding to a combination of one of the plurality of names of works of the first classification name and one of the plurality of names of functions of the second classification name, respectively selected by the input device.
US07941230B1	Control apparatus and control method, network system, program for control apparatus, and information recording medium The present invention provides a control apparatus and the like capable of performing exclusive control in a network without adding a new configuration to an existing apparatus to be controlled and, even in the case where the apparatus to be controlled or the like drops from the network, capable of maintaining and continuing the original exclusive control state.In a bus system S in which an apparatus C to be controlled and a control apparatus CC are exclusively associated with each other and the operation of one apparatus C to be controlled is controlled by one control apparatus CC, exclusive control information indicating correspondence between operation of each of the apparatuses C to be controlled and a control apparatus CC which controls the operation is stored similarly in all of the control apparatuses CC with respect to each of the apparatuses to be controlled. The operation in any of the apparatuses C to be controlled is controlled by the control apparatus CC on the basis of the stored exclusive control information.
US07941226B2	Magnetostrictive electrical stimulation leads A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body, an electrode shaft, and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element is coupled to the electrode shaft. The magnetostrictive element comprises either terfenol-D and/or galfenol or any material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. The magnetostrictive element expands when exposed to magnetic resonance imaging.
US07941225B2	Magnetostrictive electrical stimulation leads A medical device lead is presented. The medical device lead includes a lead body, an electrode shaft, and a tip electrode. A magnetostrictive element is coupled to the electrode shaft. The magnetostrictive element comprises either terfenol-D and/or galfenol or any material with sufficient magnetostrictive properties. The magnetostrictive element expands when exposed to magnetic resonance imaging.
US07941222B2	Vision regeneration assisting apparatus A vision regeneration assisting apparatus for regenerating vision of a patient includes an extracorporeal device and an intracorporeal device. The extracorporeal device includes a transmitting unit that converts an electrical stimulation pulse signal data of image data and power into a predetermined signal and transmitting the signal. The intracorporeal device includes a receiving unit that receives the signal transmitted from the transmitting unit, and a conductor that is covered with a resin having biocompatibility and insulating property and electrically connects a first control unit for converting the received stimulation pulse signal data and the power into a predetermined alternating current signal and a second control unit for outputting an electrical stimulation pulse signal from electrodes based on the alternating current signal to each other to send the alternating current signal.
US07941218B2	Apparatus and methods of optimizing atrioventricular pacing delay intervals Methods and apparatus for optimizing an atrioventricular (AV) pacing delay interval based upon ECG-based optimization is calculated as a linear function of P-wave duration, sensed PR (intrinsic) interval, sensed or paced QRS duration and heart rate. Since the relationship among these parameters is linear, once the coefficients are solved (which can be any value, including null) with reference to a known optimized AV interval (AVopt) such as from an echocardiographic study, an AVopt value can be dynamically adjusted in an ambulatory subject. The various combinations of values can be loaded into a look up table or calculated automatically. And, since some of the parameters do not typically change much over time they can be determined acutely and fed into the equation while the other values can be measured frequently. The parameter values can be measured by an implantable medical device such as a dual- or triple-chamber pacemaker.
US07941216B2	Method and device for treating myocardial ischemia A method and device for treating myocardial ischemia are described in which the stress experienced by a myocardial region identified as vulnerable to becoming ischemic is varied with pre-excitation pacing. In an unloading mode, pacing is applied in proximity to the vulnerable region to reduce stress and the metabolic demand of the region. In a loading mode, pacing is applied to a region remote from the vulnerable region in order to produce a conditioning effect.
US07941212B2	Method of delivering a drug using a medical device with a coating comprising a self-assembled molecular structure A method for local delivery of a drug is provided. The method comprises the acts of (a) implanting a medical device carrying a drug-containing coating in a patient for the sustained local delivery of the drug, wherein at least a portion of the coating is transformed from crystalline structure to amorphous structure; and (b) applying an electric current for an interval of time to the device for increasing the rate of release of the drug, wherein the coating is further transformed from crystalline structure to amorphous structure; and (c) terminating the current after an interval of time, wherein at least a portion of the amorphous structure in the coating is at least partially restored to crystalline structure.
US07941208B2	Therapy delivery for identified tachyarrhythmia episode types Methods and systems for identifying tachyarrhythmia episode types and delivering therapy to mitigate the identified tachyarrhythmia episode types are described. Electrogram signals of cardiac activity are sensed and stored by an implantable cardiac device. Tachyarrhythmia episodes are detected and tachyarrhythmia episode types are identified based on characteristics of the electrogram signals. In preparation for performing ablation, a tachyarrhythmia episode is induced. The features of the induced tachyarrhythmia episode are compared to characteristics of the identified episode types. A similarity between the induced tachyarrhythmia episode and at least one of the episode types identified from the stored electrogram signals is indicated to facilitate performing the ablation.
US07941204B1	Magnetic resonance imaging concepts Methods of acquiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for angiography. The present invention includes novel magnetization preparation schemes where the navigator and fat saturation pulses are executed in steady state after the preparatory pulses in order to minimize the delay between the magnetization preparation and the image echoes. The present invention also provides for improved methods of contrast-enhanced MRI where data are collected along non-linear trajectories through k-space and may also involve novel view ordering. In addition, the present methods employ novel motion corrections that minimize motion artifacts. The present invention further provides novel methods of self-calibrated sensitivity-encoded parallel imaging that allow for accurate and rapid scanning of subjects.
US07941192B2	Torsion coil spring and sliding type mobile terminal equipped therewith A torsion coil spring has first and second coil parts and first to third straight line parts. One end of the first coil part is continued to a first straight line part, while the other end is continued to one end of a second straight line part. The other end of the second straight line part is continued to one end of a second coil part, and the other end of the second coil part is continued to one end of the third straight line part. Also, a mobile terminal having a first housing slidably coupled to a second housing is provided. On the surface of the second housing, a pair of rail parts is provided extending in a sliding direction of the first housing. Between the rail parts, the torsion coil spring is provided for aiding sliding of the first housing on the rail parts of the second housing.
US07941187B2	Apparatus for using a wireless communication base station in common In the wireless communication base station sharing apparatus, a first signal combiner/distributor is connected to a main system duplexer through a first port, distributes a signal received through the first port to second and third ports, combines the signals received through the second and third ports according to the phases of the signals, and provides the combined signal through the first port or a fourth port. A second signal combiner/distributor is connected to a subsystem duplexer through a fifth port and the antenna through an eighth port, distributes a signal received through the fifth port to sixth and seventh ports, combines the signals received through the sixth and seventh ports according to the phases of the signals, and provides the combined signal through the fifth or eighth port. Variable filters are provided in signal paths between the first and second signal combiner/distributors.
US07941185B2	Mobile terminal and data display method by individual SIM cards A mobile terminal of displaying data by individual SIM cards and a display method of sorting data according to individual SIM cards includes the steps of authenticating a SIM card that is inserted into the mobile terminal when the power is on by retrieving subscriber information stored in the SIM card and displaying data stored by the authenticated SIM card user in a different form than other data. When a mobile terminal is shared by a plurality of users, data may be displayed in different forms according to the SIM card inserted into the mobile terminal.
US07941183B2	Telephone and incoming call notification method for telephone A telephone and an incoming call notification method for the telephone in which telephone book data can be used to sound an incoming call sound of a specified date such as a birthday for a specific caller. When an incoming call to the mobile telephone of the present invention arrives from another telephone (s21), a control part of the mobile telephone determines whether or not a notification of the caller's telephone number has been made (s22). The birthday or the like of the caller can be quickly relayed before the telephone is taken off-hook, and an entertainment function can be provided.
US07941180B2	Device for selective power management for a hand held host A hand held radio host includes circuitry for selectively providing power to radiating transceiver elements and non-radiating application elements according to a plurality of power modes of operation to achieve desired effects and in a way that saves power and extends battery life. In one embodiment of the invention, the hand held host operates in one of three modes. In a full power mode, any selected application element as well as all transceiver elements are powered on at the same time. Thus, for example, a cell phone module, a wireless personal access network module, a wireless local area network module and one of a pager/short message service message module may all be powered on at the same time to receive corresponding messages, calls, data sessions, etc. At the same time that all of the transceiver elements are powered on, any selected application element receives power. Thus, application elements such as address books, calendar functions, games, word processors, etc may receive power when selected.
US07941179B2	System and method providing concurrent multimode communication A system and method providing concurrent multimode communication through multimode signal multiplexing. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise, during a first time period, transmitting a first portion of a first communication in a first communication mode in a serial wireless transmission stream. During a second time period after the first time period, a first portion of a second communication may be transmitted in a second communication mode in the serial wireless transmission stream. Also, during a third time period after the second time period, a second portion of the first communication may be transmitted in the first communication mode in the serial wireless transmission stream. In an exemplary scenario, prior to communicating various communications, transmission time may be allocated between the first and second communication modes. In another exemplary scenario, transmission may be switched between a plurality of communication modes in response to detected communication conditions.
US07941178B2	Systems and methods for scheduling transmissions for coexistence of differing wireless radio protocols Embodiments of systems and methods for Bluetooth and WiMAX coexistence are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments systems and methods are described to determine a temporal reference associated a frame, and then align another wireless frame with that temporal reference. Once aligned, transmissions and receptions in one wireless frame may be arranged to not temporally overlap with transmissions or reception the other wireless frame.
US07941170B2	Wireless transmitter, wireless receiver, wireless communication system, and wireless signal control method A wireless transmitter comprises ID signal storage module for storing an ID signal that identifies a group to which a data signal to be transmitted belongs and provides, for each group, second or higher-order statistic properties unique to each group; modulator for modulating the data signal; wireless signal ID assignment module for associating the modulated signal thus modulated with the stored ID signal and for generating a signal to be transmitted, by assigning second or higher-order statistic properties that correspond with the ID signal to the modulated signal that is associated with the ID signal; and wireless signal transmission module for wirelessly transmitting the signal thus generated.
US07941166B2	Method for synchronizing a radio communication system divided into radio cells Data is transmitted via time division multiple access methods and every radio cell includes one base station each for the radio coverage of a plurality of mobile stations assigned to the radio cell. The base station receives, in addition to mobile station signals of its own radio cell, mobile station signals of neighboring radio cells and determines, on the basis of the mobile station signals received, a time synchronization value and/or a frequency synchronization value to which the base station synchronizes itself.
US07941164B2	Satellite positioning system receiver utilizing broadcast doppler information A cellular communicating device (10). The device comprises means (221) for communicating bi-directional data to and from a cellular transceiver station along a bi -directional channel (30S). The device also comprises means (222) for receiving SPS information. The device also comprises means (223) for receiving broadcast Doppler information from a source other than the bi-directional channel and an SPS system. Lastly, the device also comprises means (24) for determining a location fix of the electronic device in response to the SPS information and the broadcast Doppler information.
US07941161B2	System for providing alert-based services to mobile stations in a wireless communications network System for providing alert-based communication services for which corresponding alert conditions to be met by mobile stations are defined. The system includes an alert engine capable of firing alerts associated with the alert-based communication services if location data regarding the mobile stations is indicative of the mobile stations meeting the alert conditions corresponding to the alert-based communication services. A requirements engine is provided for determining an expected earliest future time at which at least one alert condition is capable of being met by a particular mobile station and outputting a data element indicative of a requirement to obtain updated location data about the particular mobile station in advance of the expected earliest future time. Also provided is a scheduler for receiving expiry times data indicative of a plurality of expiry times relating to respective location requests, processing the expiry times data for determining an order for servicing the location requests by positioning determining equipment (PDE) at least in part on a basis on the expiry times of the location requests and an output for interfacing with the PDE, allowing it to service the location requests according to the order determined.
US07941159B2	Position determination using received broadcast signals A radio device that is capable of positioning itself within a broadcast radio system includes a receiver operable to receive a plurality of broadcast radio signals, each broadcast from a respective one of a plurality of broadcast radio signal sources. The radio device further includes processing circuitry operable to determine respective call station identification information for each of the broadcast radio signal sources from the broadcast radio signals, measure respective signal quality characteristics for each of the received broadcast radio signals, identify station position data associated with each of the broadcast radio signal sources from the respective call station identification information, and calculate a location of the radio device using the signal quality characteristics and station position data associated with at least three broadcast radio signal sources.
US07941154B2	Method and system for resource management in communication networks, related network and computer program product therefor A method for providing, in a communication network including at least a first and a second set of resources, a service to users of at least a first and a second type. The users of the first type are in a condition to be provided said service only by means of said first set of resources, while the users of the second type are in a condition to be provided said service both by means of the first set of resources and by means of the second set of resources. The method includes the steps of detecting during at least one time interval, the total number of requests for service coming from said users, identifying within the total number the fraction of requests adapted to be met only by means of the first set of resources, identifying at least one parameter representative of said fraction, and providing the service to the users of the second type by means of the second set of resources as a function of the at least one parameter.
US07941151B2	Method and system for providing channel assignment information used to support uplink and downlink channels A method and wireless communication system for providing channel assignment information used to support an uplink (UL) channel and a downlink (DL) channel. The system includes at least one Node-B and at least one wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The WTRU communicates with the Node-B via a common control channel, the UL channel and the DL channel. The WTRU receives a message from the Node-B via the common control channel. The message includes an indication of whether the message is intended for assigning radio resources to the UL channel or the DL channel. The WTRU determines whether the message is intended for the WTRU and, if so, the WTRU determines whether the message is for assigning radio resources to the UL channel or the DL channel. The WTRU takes an appropriate action based on whether the message is for assigning radio resources to the UL channel or the DL channel.
US07941150B2	Method and system for allocating media access control layer resources in a wireless communication environment A method and system for allocating shareable wireless transmission resources. A resource pool is established. The resource pool is divided into a plurality of physical layer allocation units usable for wirelessly transmitting control information and traffic data. The allocation units are assigned at the media access control layer for the wireless transmission of the control information and traffic data. The system and method of the present invention also allows mobile stations to be dynamically grouped into multicast groupings to reduce system overhead resource requirements.
US07941138B2	Wireless access point management in a campus environment A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is operated in conjunction with a wired Local Area Network (wired LAN) to service a premises, e.g., a campus setting. The wired LAN services the wired communication needs of the premises and serves as the wired backbone of the WLAN. A plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) of the WLAN couple to the wired backbone and are serviced by the LAN. With this shared structure, wired network components, e.g., multi-layer switches, manage the operation of WLAN components, i.e., WAPs. Such management includes ensuring that the WAPs provide sufficient bandwidth to support wireless packetized voice communications. Additional management operations include WAP access, wireless terminal registration, and channel resource allocation, among others.
US07941134B2	Push-to-talk communication system and push-to-talk communication method The communication form of each terminal which participates in PTT communication is registered in a call control server in advance. When performing PTT communication, a call control server (100a) detects the communication form of each terminal. As a result, speech data is extracted from moving image data transmitted from a transmission terminal and is delivered to a speech PTT terminal which can receive only speech data (S11, S12). On the other hand, moving image data transmitted from a transmission terminal is delivered to a moving image PTT terminal compatible with moving image data without any change (S13). This makes it possible to implement PTT communication in accordance with the communication form of each terminal.
US07941133B2	Methods, systems, and computer program products for schedule management based on locations of wireless devices A method for managing appointments using a wireless device includes receiving scheduling data for a future appointment including a time associated with the future appointment. A current location of the wireless device is determined, and a reminder for the future appointment is provided at a time prior to the future appointment based on the current location of the wireless device. For example, the reminder may be provided at a time that varies based on the current location of the wireless device, a location associated with the future appointment, and an estimated travel time between the current location of the device and the location associated with the future appointment. Related methods, devices, and computer program products are also discussed.
US07941132B2	Method and apparatus for dynamic menuing of applications in a mobile communication device A mobile communication device (100) downloads an application file (300), which includes an application (302) and a menu parameter set (306). The mobile communication device uses custom menu categories (502), and the application is delivered using standardized categories. The mobile communication device maps the application's standardized category to one of the custom categories, and adds the application name to the custom category.
US07941112B2	Method and apparatus for automatic fine tuning based on sync detection The method according to the invention for adjusting the tuning of a receiver circuit for receiving modulated a high frequency signal within a frequency range, the high frequency signal comprising a sync signal, uses the steps of shifting a frequency of a local oscillator within the frequency range and looking for the sync signal, and storing the value of a first frequency, when a sync signal is recognized. Then, the frequency of the local oscillator is continuously shifted in the same frequency direction across the bandwidth of the modulated high frequency signal by controlling the presence of the sync signal. The frequency, at which the sync signal is lost, is stored as a second frequency. From the first and the second frequency in a further step an optimum tuning frequency, located between the first and second frequency, is calculated for the reception for the high frequency signal. The receiver circuit comprises in particular a sync signal detector coupled to an output of an intermediate frequency filter and a controller circuit coupled to the sync signal detector and a local oscillator for performing the method.
US07941107B2	High linearity, high efficiency power amplifier with DSP assisted linearity optimization A communications transceiver includes a baseband processor, a receiver section, and a transmitter section that includes a power amplifier. The receiver and transmitter sections communicatively couple to the baseband processor. In a calibration operation, the baseband processor produces a test signal to the transmitter section. Further, the baseband processor causes each of a plurality of power amplifier bias settings to be applied to the power amplifier. For each of the plurality of power amplifier bias settings, the power amplifier produces an amplified test signal, the receiver section couples back a portion of the amplified test signal to the baseband processor, and the baseband processor produces a characterization of the amplified test signal respective. Based upon a plurality of characterizations of the amplified test signal and respective power amplifier bias settings, the baseband processor determines power amplifier bias control settings. The baseband processor then applies the power amplifier bias control settings to the power amplifier.
US07941105B1	Reflection cancellation circuit for a radio frequency power amplifier The present invention is an RF cancellation circuit located between the output of a power amplifier and downstream circuitry, such as a transmitting antenna. The RF cancellation circuit cancels reflections resulting from antenna impedance mismatches, thereby presenting a constant load impedance to the output of the power amplifier. The RF cancellation circuit extracts a portion of the reflected signal, phase-shifts by 180 degrees and amplifies the extracted portion of the reflected signal to create a cancellation signal, and then cancels the balance of the reflected signal by adding in the cancellation signal. Directional circuitry is used to process the reflected signals without interfering with normal transmitted signals. Presenting a constant load impedance to the output of the power amplifier helps facilitate compliance with total radiated power into load mismatch specifications.
US07941101B2	Apparatus and method of removing interference noise in personal communication terminal Apparatus and method for removing interference noise in a personal communication terminal. A function of removing interference noise is adapted to the personal communication terminal, and adjustment parameters for removing interference noises are continuously set to up-to-date adjustment parameters, so that, in the activation of broadcast receiving, a turn-on stabilizing time of the personal communication terminal can be reduced, and the broadcast receiving performance can be maintained at an optimum state.
US07941097B1	Method and system for shot tracking The present invention is a transponder for transmitting a RFID signal for shot tracking a golfer's round of golf while conserving battery power, comprising a battery in electrical communication with a resistor, the resistor in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch, which in turn is in electrical communication with a microprocessor comprising a radiofrequency transceiver.
US07941093B2	Spurious-free flexible frequency converter and a satellite communication repeater architecture A method for frequency conversion within a satellite-based repeater system. An uplink radio frequency signal having a frequency fRF is received. A first and at least a second local oscillator signal having frequencies fL01 and fLO2, respectively, is generated. The uplink signal is mixed at a first frequency conversion stage with the first local oscillator signal to generate an intermediate signal having a frequency fMF. The intermediate signal is mixed at a second frequency conversion stage with the at least second local oscillator signal to generate a downlink signal having a frequency fIF. The generation and mixing of the signals are performed such that: fLO1 and fLO2>fRF and fIF fMF=fLO1−fRF, and fIF=fLO2−fMF.
US07941089B2	Image forming system and clear coating apparatus A image forming system that can prevent a toner from coming off while reducing the amount of consumption of a clear toner in binding sheets into a book. An image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet. A clear coating apparatus 200 forms a clear coating image on the sheet using the clear toner that becomes transparent after fixing. A bookbinding apparatus 600 connected to the image forming apparatus 100 and the clear coating apparatus 200 subjects the sheet to folding process. A job controller 501 and an image controller 502 cause the clear coating apparatus 200 to form the clear toner image at a folding position on the sheet in response to designation of a folding mode in the bookbinding apparatus 600.
US07941085B2	Fusing core and drive collar assembly A system for stabilizing a fuser core in an imaging device. The system includes a fuser core having a body and two opposing ends, and a pair of hubs. The opposing ends of the fuser core are configured with ratchet type geometric profiles that mate with ratchet type geometric profiles configured on the corresponding hubs. The system also includes two elastomeric collars each of which is at least partially disposed between the end of the fuser core and the corresponding mating hub.
US07941077B2	Conductive member, process cartridge using conductive member, and image forming apparatus using process cartridge A conductive member includes a conductive supporter, an electric resistance adjusting layer formed on the conductive supporter and gap retaining members which are of a different material from that of the electric resistance adjusting layer and are disposed respectively at both ends of the electric resistance adjusting layer for contacting an image carrier so as to maintain a predetermined gap between the electric resistance adjusting layer and the image carrier, wherein the electric resistance adjusting layer is made from a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin containing an ether group, an organic phosphonium salt and a fluorine-containing organic anion salt.
US07941067B2	Apparatus for print assembly blade deflection detection An apparatus (100) that detects blade deflection from a print assembly contact surface is disclosed. The apparatus can include a print assembly (110) rotationally supported in the apparatus, where the print assembly can have a print assembly contact surface (112) and a print assembly conductor (114). The apparatus can include a blade (120) configured to be coupled to the print assembly contact surface and a blade conductive layer (130) coupled to the blade. The apparatus can include a sensor (140) configured to measure a capacitance between the blade conductive layer and the print assembly conductor.
US07941066B2	Image heating device with duct for air blowing and suction An image forming apparatus comprising a heating rotating body which heats a toner image while nipping and conveying a recording material bearing the toner image, a fan which cools down the heating rotating body, and a duct adapted in such a manner that air which is blown by the fan so as to cool down the heating rotating body does not pass through a recording material conveying path.
US07941059B1	Down conversion for distortion free recovery of a phase modulated optical signal In one embodiment, a down conversion receiver is provided for a phase modulated optical signal. This may include an optical coupler coupled to be capable of receiving a phase modulated signal and a local oscillator signal, and a modulator coupled to an input of the optical coupler so as to be capable of modulating one of: (1) a phase modulated signal; or (2) a local oscillator signal. A photodetector circuit is located to be capable of detecting signals coupled by the optical coupler, with a sub-band selector circuit coupled to be capable of receiving signals from the photodetector circuit. The sub-band selector circuit has an output coupled to a modulating input of the modulator.
US07941057B2	Integral phase rule for reducing dispersion errors in an adiabatically chirped amplitude modulated signal An optical transmitter is disclosed for transmitting a signal along a dispersive medium to a receiver. The optical transmitter generates adiabatically chirped profile having an initial pulse width and frequency excursion chosen such that high frequency data sequences include one bits that interfere destructively at a middle point of an intervening zero bit upon arrival at the receiver.
US07941045B2	Camera body, interchangeable lens unit, and imaging apparatus A camera body that includes a lens attaching unit to which an interchangeable lens unit including a lens-side contact is mountable and that communicates information with the interchangeable lens unit when the interchangeable lens unit is attached to the lens attaching unit, the camera body comprising: a substrate; a holding member fixed to the substrate and formed of a conductive material; a body-side contact that is electrically connected to the lens-side contact when the interchangeable lens unit is mounted to the camera body and that is held by the holding member so as to be movable between a projected position at which the body-side contact projects from the holding member and a retracted position; and a biasing unit that biases the body-side contact to the projected position, wherein the body-side contact is electrically connected to the holding member.
US07941039B1	Pedestal heat transfer and temperature control Provided herein are assemblies that, when coupled to an object, are capable of keeping the object at a uniform elevated temperature while removing large amounts of heat from an external source. Applications include various integrated circuit fabrication processes that use such external sources to expose wafers to radiation. In certain embodiments, the assemblies include a pedestal for supporting the wafer or other object. In certain embodiments, the assemblies include a calibrated heat resistance that allows heat be conducted away from the pedestal and wafer to maintain the desired set-point temperature. In certain embodiments, the pedestal may have one or more protrusions used to dissipate or transfer heat from the pedestal to a heat sink. Also, in certain embodiments, the pedestal surface is configured to have a spectral reflectivity of desired values in such way as to reflect the wavelengths that are emitted by an external radiant heat source.
US07941035B2	Information storage medium and information recording/playback system There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07941033B2	Information processing method and apparatus, program and recording medium In case continuous reproduction is commanded from a first AV stream to a second AV stream, a third AV stream, made up of a preset portion of the first AV stream and a preset portion of the second AV stream, is generated. The third AV stream is reproduced when reproduction is switched from the first AV stream to the second AV stream. As information pertinent to the third AV stream, the address information of a source packet of the first AV stream at a time of switching from the first AV stream to the third AV stream and the address information of a source packet of the second AV stream at a time of switching from the third AV stream to the second AV stream, are generated. This enables reproduction such as to maintain continuity between separately recorded AV streams.
US07941021B2	Distribution cable assembly having mid-span access location The present disclosure is generally directed to a fiber optic distribution cable assembly having an interior portion and an exterior portion. A distribution cable includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the interior portion and at least one predetermined mid-span access location positioned along a length of the distribution cable to provide access from the exterior portion to the interior portion. At least one optical fiber of the distribution cable is accessed and terminated from the distribution cable within the interior portion of the distribution cable. A tether having a first end is attached to the distribution cable through the mid-span access location. The tether has at least one optical fiber optically connected to the at least one terminated optical fiber of the distribution cable at a location within the interior portion of the distribution cable.
US07941016B2	Optical waveguide for touch panel and touch panel using the same A touch panel optical waveguide which obviates the need for positioning light receiving cores of the optical waveguide with respect to light emitting cores of the optical waveguide, and to provide a touch panel employing the optical waveguide. A projection (5) is provided in one of longitudinally opposite end portions of an elongated optical waveguide (A), and a recess (6) to be engaged with the projection (5) is provided in the other end portion of the elongated optical waveguide (A). By engaging the projection (5) with the recess (6), distal ends of light emitting cores (3) are automatically and accurately opposed to distal ends of light receiving cores (3) with the intervention of a display screen of a touch panel.
US07941004B2	Super resolution using gaussian regression A computer implemented technique for producing super resolution images from ordinary images or videos containing a number of images wherein a number of non-smooth low resolution patches comprising an image are found using edge detection methodologies. The low resolution patches are then transformed using selected basis of a Radial Basis Function (RBF) and Gaussian process regression is used to generate high resolution patches using a trained model. The high resolution patches are then combined into a high resolution image or video.
US07941000B2	Method for producing an image and system for producing an image An image of a physical object is produced by receiving a plurality of raw images, dividing the plurality of raw images into a first subset of primary images and a second subset of secondary images according to a predetermined criterion. From the first subset of primary images an intermediate image is determined while from the second subset of secondary images a mask image is determined. Afterwards a registration of the intermediate image and the mask image is performed by using direct registration of predetermined features present in the intermediate image and the mask image. A fused image of the physical object is generated out of the mask image and the intermediate image.
US07940999B2	System and method for learning-based 2D/3D rigid registration for image-guided surgery using Jensen-Shannon divergence A method of registering 3-dimensional digitized images to 2-dimensional digitized images during a medical procedure includes providing a pair of correctly-registered training images L={lr, lf} and their joint intensity distribution pl(ir, if), wherein ir and if are reference and floating images, respectively, providing a pair of observed images O={or, of} and their joint intensity distribution po(ir, if), mapping a marginal intensity distribution of the observed pair O={or, of} to a marginal intensity distribution of the training pair L={lr, lf}, and estimating a set of parameters T that registers image of to image or by maximizing a weighted sum of a Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) of a joint intensity distribution of the observed pair and a joint intensity distribution of the training pair and a similarity measure between the observed images.
US07940996B2	Image noise detection An image comprises columns and rows of blocks of pixels. In each row and/or column, a series of pairs of blocks of pixels comprise first and second adjacent blocks of pixels, with the second block in a previous pair of blocks corresponding to the first block in a next pair of blocks. For at least a part of the pairs of blocks in at least a part of the rows and/or columns of blocks in the image, a method determines an indication of a block boundary between the first and second blocks. The method decides based on the determined indication whether the block boundary is a visible or invisible block boundary. These steps are then repeated for a next pair. If at least one invisible block boundary is present between two visible block boundaries, it is decided that a uniform image distortion zone has been detected.
US07940991B2	Image signal processing apparatus Reference grid information is supplied from a tiling unit to an order control unit. The order control unit generates three control signals on the basis of the reference grid information and outputs them. The first control signal is a signal for controlling the execution order of a vertical low-pass filter and a vertical high-pass filter. The second control signal is a signal for controlling the execution order of a horizontal low-pass filter and a horizontal high-pass filter. The third control signal is a signal for controlling the execution order of a horizontal low-pass filter and a horizontal high-pass filter.
US07940983B2	Image processing method An image processing method includes: inputting color image data obtained by capturing an image at a given imaging sensitivity level; and converting the color image data to a specific uniform color space determined in correspondence to the imaging sensitivity level.
US07940979B2	Aggregation of check image data A method includes receiving a request for a first check image and a second check image. The request includes a first identifier associated with the first check image and a second identifier associated with the second check image. The method further includes retrieving the first check image using the first identifier. The method also includes retrieving the second check image using the second identifier. The method further includes transmitting the first check image and the second check image in response to the request.
US07940971B2	System and method for coronary digital subtraction angiography A method and system for extracting motion-based layers from fluoroscopic image sequences are disclosed. Portions of multiple objects, such as anatomical structures, are detected in the fluoroscopic images. Motion of the objects is estimated between the images is the sequence of fluoroscopic images. The images in the fluoroscopic image sequence are then divided into layers based on the estimated motion. In a particular implementation, the coronary vessel tree and the diaphragm can be extracted in separate motion layers from coronary angiograph fluoroscopic image sequence.
US07940966B2	Full-field breast image data processing and archiving A system, computer program product, and related methods are described for obtaining, processing, and/or and archiving full-field breast image data, such as full-field breast ultrasound (FFBU) data, in a manner that promotes ready integration with current x-ray mammogram-based breast cancer screening methodologies, and which can alternatively be used to support a full-field-only environment. Two-dimensional thick-slice images computed from a three-dimensional data volume are used to facilitate efficient archiving for a breast imaging session, the two-dimensional thick-slice images corresponding to slab-like subvolumes of the breast. Clinician data overload problems that can arise from the existence of large amounts of three-dimensional full-field breast image data are reduced. Archive space is also preserved while still providing sufficient information data for future reference purposes. Related adjunctive full-field workflow methods are also described. The described embodiments are applicable to FFBU imaging and other full-field breast imaging modalities such as MRI, CT, PET, and others.
US07940964B2	Method and image processor for processing image data to adjust for brightness in face, and method and apparatus for printing with adjusted image data Image data obtained by capturing an image including a human is received. The image data is analyzed and a part of the image including a human face is extracted. A prescribed part of the extracted human face is detected. Brightness of the image data is adjusted with reference to the prescribed part to obtain adjusted image data. An image is printed based on the adjusted image data.
US07940954B2	Watermarking digital representations that have undergone lossy compression Techniques for watermarking digital representations such as MPEG audio frames that spread the watermark information across the entire audio frame. The techniques work in conjunction with lossy compression techniques and are compatible with the perception models that are often used with lossy compression techniques. The watermark information is spread by means of transformations between the space/time domain and the frequency domain. When a MPEG audio frame is being watermarked, the compressed audio frame as it is produced by the quantizer is transformed from the frequency domain to the time domain; the time domain transformation is then randomized using a key and the randomized time domain transformation is transformed into the frequency domain. The watermark information is added at a predetermined frequency in the frequency domain transformation and the sequence of transformations is done in reverse order, with the randomization and derandomization serving to distribute the watermark information across the frequency domain representation of the watermarked audio frame.
US07940952B2	Electro-acoustic transducer An electro-acoustic transducer includes a generally V-shaped diaphragm comprising a folded sheet of film material. The diaphragm also comprises two upper ends, a lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface. A frame supports the diaphragm in at least the two upper ends of the diaphragm and a structured conductive layer is arranged on a surface of the diaphragm. Permanent magnets are attached to the frame adjacent to the upper two ends and the lower end of the diaphragm.
US07940945B2	Method for operating a wireless audio signal receiver unit and system for providing hearing assistance to a user There is provided a method for operating a receiver unit (12) for receiving audio signals from a remote transmission unit (10) via a wireless audio link (56), comprising: connecting an audio signal output (41) of the receiver unit (12) to an audio signal input (42) of a hearing instrument (14A, 14B) comprising means (52) located at a user's ear or in the user's ear canal for stimulating the user's hearing according to the audio signals from the receiver unit (12) and a microphone arrangement (44); measuring by means (34, 38) included in the receiver unit (12) the impedance of the audio signal input (42) of the hearing instrument (14A, 14B); and adjusting the impedance of the audio signal output (41) of the receiver unit (12) according to the measured impedance of the audio signal input (42) of the hearing instrument (14A, 14B).
US07940944B2	Directional silicon condenser microphone having additional back chamber A directional silicon condenser microphone having an additional back chamber is disclosed. The directional silicon condenser microphone comprises a case having a front sound hole for passing through a front sound; a acoustic delay device for delaying a phase of a sound; a substrate including a chamber case, a MEMS chip having an additional back chamber formed by the chamber case, an ASIC chip for operating the MEMS chip, a conductive pattern for bonding the substrate to the case, and a rear sound hole for passing through a rear sound; a fixing means for fixing the case to the substrate; and an adhesive for bonding the case and the substrate, wherein the adhesive is applied to an entirety of a bonding surface of the case and the substrate fixed by the fixing means.
US07940942B2	Self-identifying microphone A microphone including a connector with a plurality of electrical contacts. The microphone interfaces with a computer system via a digital bus. The microphone can transmit data to the computer system via the connector that is related to at least one of the following: the microphone manufacturer, the microphone manufacture date, the microphone model number, the microphone serial number, the microphone frequency response, whether the microphone uses phantom power, the desired pre-amplifier gain, and the microphone dynamic response.
US07940938B2	Sound reproducing apparatus A sound reproducing apparatus which can be relatively inexpensive as a whole and also be simple in construction with reduced wiring even in the case where many speakers are used. Pulse-width modulated (PWM) pulses are generated based on respective audio signals for multiple-channel speakers. PWM pulses are time-division multiplexed and amplified, and then output as digital driving signals. The multiple-channel speakers are selectively turned on/off such that the digital driving signals are supplied to the respective multiple-channel speakers of corresponding channels.
US07940933B2	Secure telemetric link A communications protocol is used to provide data privacy, message integrity, message freshness, and user authentication to telemetric traffic, such as to and from implantable medical devices in a body area network. In certain embodiments, encryption, message integrity, and message freshness are provided through use of token-like nonces and ephemeral session-keys derived from device identification numbers and pseudorandom numbers.
US07940932B2	Methods, apparatus, and systems for securing SIM (subscriber identity module) personalization and other data on a first processor and secure communication of the SIM data to a second processor An electronic circuit 120 includes a more-secure processor (600) having hardware based security (138) for storing data. A less-secure processor (200) eventually utilizes the data. By a data transfer request-response arrangement (2010, 2050, 2070, 2090) between the more-secure processor (600) and the less-secure processor (200), the more-secure processor (600) confers greater security of the data on the less-secure processor (200). A manufacturing process makes a handheld device (110) having a storage space (222), a less-secure processor (200) for executing modem software and a more-secure processor (600) having a protected application (2090) and a secure storage (2210). A manufacturing process involves generating a per-device private key and public key pair, storing the private key in a secure storage (2210) where it can be accessed by the protected application (2090), combining the public key with the modem software to produce a combined software, signing the combined software; and storing the signed combined software into the storage space (222). Other processes of manufacture, processes of operation, circuits, devices, wireless and wireline communications products, wireless handsets and systems are disclosed and claimed.
US07940915B2	Apparatus and method for determining part of elicitation from spoken dialogue data This apparatus calculates, from the spoken dialogue data between a customer and an operator, the speech length of each speech. Then, it estimates the structure of the spoken dialogue data based on the speech length and specifies a speech-length-characteristic change time point (time) when the speaker who makes longer speeches changes. Then it extracts an information search time point (time) when the operator performs information search from operation log information about operator's operations performed during this conversation and determined both the ending time point of a part-to-elicit from the information search time point and the starting time point of the part-to-elicit from the speech length-characteristic change time point.
US07940914B2	Detecting emotion in voice signals in a call center A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for detecting emotion using statistics. First, a database is provided. The database has statistics including human associations of voice parameters with emotions. Next, a voice signal is received. At least one feature is extracted from the voice signal. Then the extracted voice feature is compared to the voice parameters in the database. An emotion is selected from the database based on the comparison of the extracted voice feature to the voice parameters and is then output.
US07940913B2	System and method for improved contact center services to disabled callers A system and method for servicing a caller at a contact center includes prompting the caller for a password associated with a certificate of disability of the caller, then accessing a database that contains the certificate authenticating the password to retrieve information listed in the certificate. The certificate information includes a type of disability of the caller. Following authentication, the system provides a service response appropriate for the type of disability of the caller. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07940908B2	Sharing profile data between telecommunication devices A telecommunications device and/or service enable a user to establish and maintain a profile which is then associated with the user or the user's telecommunication device (the “calling device”). The profile is stored on a profile server that is in communication with the telecommunications service provider. A receiving device receives a call from the calling device and is provided with the profile during call set-up. Some or all of the profile is used in connection with the incoming call on the receiving device.
US07940895B2	Methods and computer program products for tracking modifications in physical plant during maintenance of a communication network Modifications made to physical plant in maintaining a communication network may be tracked by receiving notices corresponding to incidences in which physical plant is modified in performing maintenance tasks on a communication network and associated time information, receiving information specifying a total number of maintenance tasks performed on the communication network during a defined time interval, and storing information associated with the maintenance tasks in which physical plant is modified and the total number of maintenance tasks performed on the communication network in a searchable database.
US07940887B2	Radiographic apparatus An X-ray tube and a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD) are constructed movable parallel to each other in the same direction along a body axis which is a longitudinal direction of a patient. The X-ray tube intermittently emits radiation and the FPD detects radiation transmitted through the patient irradiated intermittently whenever the X-ray tube and FPD move every pitch. X-ray images O1, O2, . . . , OI, . . . , and OM are decomposed for every pitch noted above. The decomposed images are composed for each projection angle to obtain projection images P1, P2 and so on. Therefore, a sectional image with a long field of view in the longitudinal direction can be obtained by carrying out a reconstruction process based on the composed projection images.
US07940886B2	3D medical anatomical image system using 2D images A medical imaging system generates 3D anatomical images from acquired 2D anatomical images. The system includes a synchronization processor for providing a synchronization signal identifying a particular phase of heart operation of a particular patient. An image acquisition device acquires 2D anatomical images of a patient heart in angularly variable imaging planes over multiple different heart cycles at the particular phase of heart operation in response to the synchronization signal and in response to recorded data indicating imaging previously being performed at particular imaging plane angles. An image processor stores the recorded data to prevent imaging overlap at the particular imaging plane angles and to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure of the patient. The image processor processes 2D images acquired by the image acquisition device of the patient heart in multiple different imaging planes having relative angular separation, to provide a 3D image reconstruction of the patient heart.
US07940883B1	Fuel assembly A fuel assembly is charged in a reactor core of a nuclear reactor using a liquid metal as a coolant and includes a wrapper tube storing a plurality of fuel pins and including an entrance nozzle at a lower end thereof for introducing the coolant and an operation handling head at an upper end thereof, grids for supporting the plurality of fuel pins in the wrapper tube in the radial direction of the wrapper tube, liner tubes inserted in the wrapper tube for fixedly holding the grids in the axial direction of the wrapper tube, and peripheral flow suppressing members disposed in a peripheral flow passage extending between peripherally disposed ones of the fuel pins and the wrapper tube over a length corresponding to a heat generation length, which is a length range in the axial direction of the fuel pins storing a radioactive fuel material.
US07940882B2	Method for selecting and disposing remaining spent nuclear fuel bundles for casks There is provided a method for selecting and configuring spent nuclear fuel bundles for casks so that the heat load for each of the casks is about the average heat load for all of the casks. The spent nuclear fuel bundles are disposed in the casks as low as reasonably achievable regarding the heat load.
US07940876B2	USB frequency synchronizing apparatus and method of synchronizing frequencies A universal series bus (USB) frequency synchronous apparatus using a start of frame (SOF) signal generated by a master device to mark a reference interval is disclosed. The frequency synchronizing apparatus includes a frequency divider, a counter unit with a default pulse number, an arithmetic unit, and an adjusting unit. The frequency divider divides a high frequency signal by a variable frequency factor to generate a lock frequency signal. The counter is used to detect a pulse number of the lock frequency signal at a reference interval and obtain a pulse difference between the default pulse number and the detected pulse number of the lock frequency signal.
US07940874B2	Receiver with adaptive strobe offset adjustment Receiver for receiving a data stream via a data bus, which receiver samples the bits of the data stream in an over-sampling process, in which n bit strobe offsets are used and n data sets with i bits are sampled,—applies a decision criterion for identifying those data sets with correct bit values. This decision uses checksum CRC,—selects one of the identified data sets with correct bit values and—uses the bit strobe offset, which was used for receiving the selected data streams, for receiving the data stream. In this way the multiphase clock with optimal phase shifts is selected.
US07940870B2	Digital subscriber line noise mitigation techniques, and applications thereof The present invention provides digital subscriber line noise mitigation techniques, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a toolbox of methods and techniques for mitigating the effects of noise in xDSL systems. These methods and techniques are controllable and locatable at one or both ends of a DSL communication link (e.g., within a central office transceiver unit or a remote transceiver unit). These novel methods and techniques include: (1) per tone noise margin modification, (2) data framer constraints modification, (3) improved noise measurements; (4) more robust on-line reconfiguration processes, (5) worst case noise monitoring, (6) induced bit rate limitations, and (7) distortion noise mitigation. These methods and techniques are particularly useful for mitigating the effects of time-varying noise and impulse noise.
US07940869B2	Radio communication method, system and a terminal station Radio communication system includes terminal including unit detecting radar wave transmitted through second-frequency channel, first-and-second-frequency channels through which radar wave fails to be transmitted being simultaneously utilized or one of first-and-second-frequency channels being utilized, unit generating radar-detection information including information indicating detection time when detecting unit detects radar wave, and information indicating frequency channel through which radar wave is transmitted, and unit transmitting radar-detection information, and base station including unit receiving radar-detection information, unit generating radar-occurrence information based on received-radar-detection information, radar-occurrence information including information indicating occurrence time when radar wave occurs, information indicating period of occurrence of radar wave, and information indicating frequency channel through which radar wave is transmitted, and unit transmitting radar-occurrence information, terminal further including unit receiving radar-occurrence information, and unit communicating with other terminals through second-frequency channel without using base station when radar wave fails to occur, based on received-radar-occurrence information.
US07940862B2	Data decoding method and data decoding device employing same A data decoding method judges a signal state where there is a transition from a low level to a high level or from a high level to a low level at the center portion of a bit interval as logical “1” or “0”, and a signal state where a low level continues or a high level continues over the entire bit interval as logical “0” or “1”. The method has the steps of: measuring a first time duration in which the bit series signal transitions from a low level to the next low level, measuring a second time duration in which the bit series signal transitions from a high level to the next high level, and deciding a logical “0” or “1” value for the target bit to be decided based on the combination of the first time duration and the second time duration measured for the target bit.
US07940861B2	QAM phase error detector The present invention relates to a method for reducing cycle slips in a carrier recovery loop for a phase detector, the method comprising the steps of receiving an input signal consisting of samples, each received sample having an in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) component, providing the input signal to a phase error estimator adapted to determine a phase error estimate, providing the phase error estimate to a loop filter, and forming an output signal from the carrier recovery loop by subtracting an output from the loop filter from the input signal, wherein the phase error estimate is determined based on a combination of the amplitude and phase of the samples and a probability measure for a specifically transmitted symbol, thereby improving phase tracking performance of the carrier recovery loop.Advantages with the present invention includes reduction of cycle slips without using a high performance, and expensive, hardware solution, at the same time as it is possible to suppress the effects of decision errors which enables higher gain, thereby giving an improvement in Bit Error Rate (BER) in low SNR conditions.The present invention also relates to a corresponding phase detector.
US07940855B2	DTV receiving system and method of processing DTV signal A digital broadcast transmitter and a method of processing a DTV signal in the digital broadcast transmitter are disclosed. The digital broadcast transmitter includes a pre-processor, a first multiplexer, a post-processor, and a second multiplexer. The pre-processor includes a first interleaver, a group formatter, and a packer formatter. The first interleaver interleaves symbols corresponding to mobile service data. The group formatter maps data corresponding to the interleaved symbols into at least one region of a data group and adds place holders for main service data and non-systematic RS parity data to the data group. The packet formatter removes the place holders for the main service data and the non-systematic RS parity data, and generates mobile service data packets having data in the data group in which the place holders for the main service data and the non-systematic RS parity data are removed.
US07940853B2	Method and device for calculating zero-croccing reference sequences for signal detection of angle-modulated signals based on zero crossings of the received signal A method for calculating zero-crossing reference sequences ({ti}) for the data detection of a sequence of zero crossings ({{circumflex over (t)}i}) of a received signal is disclosed. The data detection is determined in a receiver, wherein the received signal is based on a data symbol sequence ({dk}) angle-modulated at a transmitter and transmitted to the receiver. The zero-crossing reference sequences ({ti}) are calculated in accordance with an equation specifying an output of a finite state machine that describes, at least approximately, the signal generation in the transmitter.
US07940850B2	Method for encoding frame data In applications where data is transmitted in frames of symbols and the transmission medium is such that the probability of correct reception of symbols is, on the average, not uniform for different symbols in a frame, transmission of test frames enables creation of information about the different probabilities of correct reception, and that information is employed by the transmitter to control the manner in which symbols are transmitted so as to ameliorate the effects of the different probabilities of correct reception.
US07940846B2	Test circuit for serial link receiver A test circuit for a serial link receiver includes a first current source coupled to a first input of the serial link receiver, and a second current source coupled to a second input of the serial link receiver. The first current source is symmetrically matched to the second current source. A first switch of the first current source is turned on to permit a charge-retaining mechanism thereof to be charged. A second switch of the first current source is turned on to permit the retained charge retained to be asserted on the first input. The charge turns on a control switch of the first current source, through which the charge is asserted on the first input. A charge-draining mechanism of the first current source is turned on to thereafter permit the charge to be drained in a controlled manner after the charge has been asserted.
US07940843B1	Method of implementing improved rate control for a multimedia compression and encoding system The rate controller in a digital video encoding system is responsible for allocating a bit budget for video frames to be encoded. The rate controller considers many different factors when determining the frame bit budget. One of the factors considered is the complexity of the frames being compressed. Occasionally there will be a very complex frame that is not representative of the overall video frame sequence. Such a rare complex frame may cause a disproportionate affect on the bit budget allocation. The system of the present invention limits the amount that a very complex frame can change the bit budget allocation. The rate controller of the present invention also includes a relaxation factor. The relaxation factor allows a user to determine if the rate controller should strictly allocate its bit budget or relax its standards such that the rate controller may not be so conservative when allocating bits to frames.
US07940840B2	Dual barrel receiver equalization architecture Methods and apparatus relating to dual barrel receiver equalization architectures are described. In an embodiment, a receiver logic may include an amplifier and two comparators to equalize frequency components of a received signal. The receiver logic may further include offset adjustment (or cancelation) logic to generate an offset adjustment (or cancelation) signal coupled to the amplifier. Other embodiments are also described.
US07940838B1	Distortion characterization system This invention provides a system for evaluating the performance of electronic components and systems by minimizing or eliminating intersymbol interference (ISI). The apparatus includes a transmitter, a device under test, a receiver, and at least one electrical connection between the transmitter and receiver that bypasses the device under test. The electrical connection between the transmitter and receiver transmits information characterizing the intersymbol interference of the transmitted signal to the receiver. The receiver includes an equalizer that uses the information characterizing the intersymbol interference of the transmitted signal to minimize or eliminate intersymbol interference in the received signal where the distortion introduced by the device under test can be isolated and characterized. The methods and devices can be used to evaluate the performance of data transmission systems and components, for example, software models of high-speed data transmission systems, and, among other things, reduces the need for fabricating prototype hardware for testing.
US07940832B2	Method and apparatus for efficient Walsh covering and summing of signals in a communication system A method and apparatus is provided for efficient processing of signal in a communication system. The processing of the signal for transmission may include encoding a block of data at an encoding rate 1/R. The encoding produces R number of data symbols for every data bit in the block of data. A block of RAM (299, 600) is partitioned into a plurality of blocks of RAM to allow reading simultaneously data symbols from the plurality of blocks of RAM to produce an in-phase and a quad-phase data symbols simultaneously. At least two scramblers (306 and 307) are used for simultaneously scrambling the in-phase and quad-phase data symbols. A Walsh covering/summing block (700) followed by the scramblers provides efficient Walsh covering and summing of signals for a combined transmission from the communication system.
US07940821B2	Temperature compensating method of laser power in optical disk storage apparatus A temperature compensating method of laser power in an optical disk storage apparatus is disclosed whereby temperature is compensated so that laser power outputted by a laser diode can be constantly outputted regardless of temperature changes. According to the present invention, a current temperature for operating the laser diode is detected and a linear Equation of a laser power voltage outputted by the laser diode in response to an input current is obtained from the detected current temperature. An input current corresponding to a laser power voltage desired by the obtained linear Equation is calculated and is supplied to the laser diode. Therefore, a laser power desired by the laser diode can be outputted regardless of the temperature changes, thereby enabling to establish an accurate input current.
US07940813B2	Demultiplexing digital data into a 3X mode An apparatus and method for demultiplexing sampled data at a first data rate on a data line using a non-standard demultiplex mode is achieved by first demultiplexing the sampled data using a standard, factor of two, demultiplex mode, to produce n data lines at 1/n time the first data rate, and then down-converting n data lines to m data lines at 1/m times the first data rate to produce the non-standard demultiplex mode. As a specific example sampled data is demultiplexed using a standard 4× mode and then converted to a non-standard 3× mode.
US07940808B2	Communications system with symmetrical interfaces and associated methods A communications system includes a physical layer device (PLD) and a logical link device (LLD), each having respective send and receive interfaces being substantially identical to define symmetrical interfaces for the system. Accordingly, design and manufacturing is simplified compared to conventional systems. In addition, advantages are also provided in terms of loopback capability and packaging options. The PLD comprises a PLD send interface including PLD parallel information outputs, and a PLD receive interface including PLD parallel information inputs. Similarly, the LLD comprises an LLD receive interface including LLD parallel information inputs, and an LLD send interface including LLD parallel information outputs. Parallel communications channels connect the PLD information outputs to respective LLD information inputs, and connect the LLD information outputs to respective PLD information inputs. The PLD send interface and the LLD send interface are substantially identical, and the PLD receive interface and the LLD receive interface are substantially identical to thereby define the symmetrical interfaces for the system. In view of the symmetrical interfaces, the PLD and the LLD may operate in a push-push configuration. Deskewing features are also provided.
US07940807B2	Methods, decoder circuits and computer program products for processing MPEG audio frames Methods of searching for a sync word in an MPEG compressed audio bitstream including a plurality of MPEG audio frames can include determining whether first data in the bitstream has a value equal to a sync word value. It can be determined whether the first data is a valid sync word based on a comparison of a plurality of data that are separated in the bitstream from the first data by at least a frame length to the sync word value.
US07940806B1	Synchronous payload envelope mapping without pointer adjustments A system and method are provided for mapping information into Synchronous Payload Envelopes (SPEs). The method provides information bytes at a nominal system clock-based data rate, which is about equal to a system clock, but may be adjusted. An external clock has a rate approximately equal to the system clock rate. The method generates SPEs with identically-positioned information bytes, regardless of differences between the system and external clock rates. The SPEs are combined with Transport Overhead (TOH) and transmitted as a message frame at the external clock rate. SPEs are generated maintaining the positions of the information bytes within each SPE, without pointer adjustments, despite differences between the system and external clock rates. Expressed another way, message frames are generated with payload and TOH sections, and the information bytes are located exclusively in the payload sections. As a result, constant pointer values (e.g., H1/H2 or V1/V2) are maintained for all the SPEs.
US07940802B2	Replaying digital media A reading unit for reading data from a digital data carrier, the reading unit comprising: a reading head including a sensor for sensing data from the data carrier and generating a sensor signal indicative for the sensed data; head positioning apparatus for positioning the head relative to the data carrier in response to a head positioning control signal; a head positioning controller for receiving the sensed data and being operable in accordance with a stored instruction set to process the sensed data to generate the head positioning control signal; and a data decoder for decoding the sensed data to form a digital output signal.
US07940798B2	Burst transmission A terrestrial digital video broadcasting (DVB-T) network is used to transmit IP datagrams to receiving devices using multiprotocol encapsulation (MPE). MPE datagram section and, if forward error correction (FEC) is used, MPE-FEC datagram sections may include time-slicing parameters, such as a “delta-t” parameter for specifying a time until the next burst is transmitted and a flag for indicating the end of a burst. Thus, MPE and MPE-FEC datagram sections can be transmitted in bursts. Other types of sections, however, do not include such time-slicing parameters and thus cannot usually be transmitted in bursts. Nevertheless, by assembling a burst including at least one MPE or MPE-FEC datagram section which specifies delta-t and MPE or MPE-FEC datagram section at the end of a burst which indicates its position, other types of sections can benefit from being transmitted in bursts.
US07940793B2	Media application A media application server, comprising a network interface and a processor adapted to establish voice connections with opposite end devices and to perform on the connections at least one media application task for signals of a plurality of different signal formats, the processor being adapted to establish the connection in a negotiation procedure in which it advertises itself as supporting fewer than the plurality of signal formats.
US07940792B2	System and methods for facilitating third-party call and device control The present invention comprises a system and methods for facilitating third-party call control using a peer-to-peer configuration with SIP. More specifically, the present invention comprises a system and methods, including protocols, for: modeling a communication device as a logical representation and a physical representation thereof; associating the logical representation and the physical representation with unique identifiers; identifying all of the communication devices on a network; determining the relationships between the identified communication devices; establishing a device control channel for each physical representation; establishing a call control channel for each logical representation; controlling the logical representation and the physical representation via the call and device control channels; monitoring the state of the logical representation and the physical representation via the call and device control channels; and, storing data representing the state of the logical representation and the physical representation.
US07940786B2	System and method for communicating data using a common switch fabric A communication system includes a first ingress content processor that receives information associated with a first traffic type. The first ingress content processor places the information associated with the first traffic type into a system cell having a common system cell format. A second ingress content processor receives information associated with a second traffic type. The second ingress content processor places the information associated with the second traffic type into a system cell having the common system cell format. A switch fabric receives system cells from the first and second ingress content processors. System cells from the first ingress content processor are automatically sent to the switch fabric while system cells from the second ingress content processor are required to be scheduled before being sent to the switch fabric. The switch fabric separately queues system cells carrying payloads associated with the first traffic type from system cells carrying payloads associated with the second traffic type. The switch fabric services system cells carrying payloads associated with the first traffic type prior to servicing system cells carrying payloads associated with the second traffic type.
US07940785B2	Ethernet adapter packet management A method, computer program product, and system for managing packets received by an Ethernet adapter shared by a plurality of threads are provided. The method, computer program product, and system provide for a first function operable to add a connection to a connection table of the Ethernet adapter and associate the connection with a queue pair and a second function operable to remove the connection from the connection table of the Ethernet adapter, wherein the Ethernet adapter is operable to route any packet corresponding to the connection received by the Ethernet adapter to the queue pair associated with the connection responsive to the connection being in the connection table.
US07940784B2	Methods and apparatus to advertise network routes to implement a hybrid network topology Example methods and apparatus to advertise network routes to implement a hybrid network topology are disclosed. An example method involves receiving a route advertisement from a first node and identifying a first destination internet protocol address associated with the route advertisement. When the first destination internet protocol address matches a second destination internet protocol address, the route advertisement is associated with a first route target value equal to an import route target value of a second node. The first network node is a first spoke node in a hub-and-spoke network, and the second network node is a second spoke node in the hub-and-spoke network.
US07940781B2	Paging between network devices A network device such as a terminal set in a distributed peer-to-peer communications network receives periodic notifications from other network devices indicating which network devices are currently receiving pages. When the network device wishes to send a page to a set of target network devices, it ascertains whether the target devices are already receiving a page. If not, the network device notifies other network devices that it is claiming the target devices for its exclusive paging use. Each device receiving the notification ascertains whether it is one of the target devices, and if so, prepares to receive a page. Absent any objections, the initiating device sends the page (e.g. audio or video) to the target devices. Upon completion, the network device relinquishes its claim to the target devices. If a target network device becomes engaged in a call while receiving a page, playing of the page may be ceased.
US07940780B2	Data communication system enabling data communication between communication devices through a server A method and a system for speeding up session establishment are provided, wherein the time required to establish a session is reduced, even in the case where a session management server requires a large amount of time to process respective functions required for establishing the session (such as making a decision regarding whether to permit or deny provision of a service, or generating a session key).The session management server is provided with means for conducting, in parallel, processing to issue processing requests for respective functions required for establishing a session (such as making a decision regarding whether to permit or deny provision of a service, or generating a session key) and processing to forward a communication message transmitted by a communications device or another session management server attempting to establish a session.
US07940779B2	Method and system for controlling mobility in a communication network, related network and computer program product therefor A communication network, such as a mobile IP network, includes at least one mobile terminal and a plurality of home agents adapted to provide, within working sessions, communication services to the above mobile terminal. In the network, there is an authentication, authorization and accounting platform configured for identifying, within the above plurality, the home agent that serves the at least one mobile terminal in a selective and varying way within a single working session.
US07940773B2	System, method and apparatus for automated ATM to ethernet provisioning A system, method, and apparatus for network service provisioning includes receiving a network address request from a subscriber device. The network address request includes at least one data cell including a channel identifier associated with the subscriber device. The channel identifier identifies the subscriber device for a cell-switched network The method further includes determining the channel identifier from the network address request, and generating a customer tag using the channel identifier. The customer tag identifies the subscriber device for a packet-switched network The method further includes storing the channel identifier and the customer tag in a provisioning table for use in provisioning the subscriber device for the packet-switched network
US07940771B2	Apparatus and method for requesting packet retransmission in a wireless communication system A method for requesting packet retransmission in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes checking, by a receiving-side Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ) layer, sequence numbers of received packets to determine whether there is any missing packet, and starting a first timer in association with the missing packet; stopping the first timer upon receiving an Hybrid ARQ (HARQ) reception failure indicator corresponding to the missing packet, provided from a receiving-side HARQ layer; and stopping generation of a status report message corresponding to the missing packet, and waiting for an ARQ packet corresponding to the missing packet, retransmitted from a transmitting-side ARQ layer.
US07940760B2	Method and apparatus for discovering component in at least one sub-network A method of discovering a component in a sub-network, the method including: receiving unique information on at least one component included in a first sub-network of a network by a first component in the first sub-network; and broadcasting the unique information on the at least one component to a second sub-network of the network, by joining the first component in the second sub-network.
US07940758B2	Data distribution in a distributed telecommunications network A technique is disclosed that enables a set of information to be represented by data packets, where those data packets can then be distributed as needed throughout the telecommunications system that uses the data. The data packet of the illustrative embodiment is an autonomous encapsulation of data, a subsection of a data model at a certain time in relation to other data in the system at another time. The data packet is identified at a particular time and value with a globally unique identifier. Relationships of the data packet to other data packets are made known by using references to the other packets. As a result, referenced data packets are retrieved throughout the system based on their relationships to each other. Whenever a data packet is transmitted or received, each node involved in the transmission applies rules that determine where the data has to be transmitted to and what to do with the data when received.
US07940753B2	Enhancing routing optimality in IP networks requiring path establishment A system and related method for enhancing routing optimality in IP networks requiring path establishment, including one or more of the following: first and second network clouds including a plurality of communication elements, ones of the plurality of communication elements in the network clouds being first and second communication element, the network clouds having boundaries beyond which each of the plurality of communication elements are unable to see a connectivity between any other communication elements outside the respective network clouds; a path computational element that automatically computes an explicit optimal network route between the first and second communication elements and having an overview of all communication elements in the network clouds, the path computational element providing the computed explicit optimal network route to a routing engine; commissioning a path through the first network cloud and the second network cloud from the first communication element to the second communication element using the provided explicit optimal network route; establishing a path using the computed explicit optimal network route; switching to an alternative route that is inferior to the computed explicit optimal network route upon a failure of the computed explicit optimal network route to function properly; attempting to renegotiate the commissioned path to the computed explicit optimal network route; determining that the explicit optimal network route is again available; and switching the commissioned path back to the computed explicit optimal network route when that route is determined to be again available.
US07940752B2	Rake reception apparatus and method in a mobile terminal A rake reception apparatus for determining whether a paging channel is received in a mobile terminal using a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode. A searcher searches for a multi-path signal using a received signal output from a Radio Frequency (RF) part, and calculates an energy value for each hypothesis. A demodulator demodulates a Paging Indicator (PI) for a hypothesis for which an energy value calculated by the searcher exceeds a valid path threshold. A controller determines whether a paging channel is received, according to the demodulated signal output from the demodulator, and performs finger allocation using a multi-path search of the searcher if it is determined that the paging channel is transmitted.
US07940747B2	Method and apparatus for replacing lost PSTN data in a packet network An apparatus for replacing lost PSTN data in a packet network and for generating variable power white noise, includes a lost packet detection unit (402) for detecting lost data packets, a data processing unit (404) for producing in response a lost data output indicating when replacement data needed, data playout unit (408) or data replacement unit (406), each may be implemented as a variable power white noise generator (FIG. 3) to generate replacement data by reusing data stored in an extended playback buffer, and placing the re-used replacement data on an external network.
US07940742B2	Method and device for providing traffic information including a prediction of travel time to traverse a link and using the same A method for identifying traffic information includes receiving traffic data including a first identifier, information corresponding to a predicted amount of time to traverse a particular link, and information corresponding to a location associated with the particular link, where the first identifier enables a determination of a type of the information that is included within the received traffic data. The method also includes determining a type of information included within the received traffic data based on the first identifier and determining travel time prediction information based on the predicted amount of time included in the received traffic data only if the first identifier enables a determination that the received traffic data includes a prediction related to an amount of time. The method further includes determining location information based on the information that is included in the received traffic data corresponding to the location associated with the particular link and identifying traffic information based on the determined travel time prediction information and the determined location information.
US07940733B2	Device for setting of a service zone in a mobile communication network, method and system for providing zone-based service using the device, and mobile communication unit Provided are a device for setting a service zone for a predetermined zone-based service provided by a mobile communication system for at least one mobile communication unit to which a mobile communication service is provided by the mobile communication system, the device comprising a local area wireless communication unit, wherein the local area wireless communication unit performs local area wireless communication with the mobile communication unit and the device sets a range in which the local area wireless communication is available as the service zone of the mobile communication unit, a method and a system for providing a zone-based service using the device, and a mobile communication unit for providing the zone-based service.
US07940726B2	Inter-access network topology discovery The disclosure relates to building a topology map that can be used to provide a requesting wireless terminal with information relevant to its current location. Information on neighboring cells of different access networks is maintained in the topology map. An inter-access network (IAN) topology apparatus builds to topology map based on results of previous IAN session transfers such as handovers from one access network to a different access network. When the requesting wireless terminal currently accessing a current network makes a request for topology information, the IAN topology apparatus provides a list of cells of other than the current access network in the area of the requesting wireless terminal. The requesting wireless terminal uses the information to scan for cells of other access networks to potentially perform the IAN session transfer. The requesting wireless terminal conserves power by scanning only for accessible cells indicated to be in its area.
US07940715B2	Entropic based activity passive detection and monitoring system The present invention relates generally to computer systems in the field of signals intelligence, and more particularly, to entropic activity detection and monitoring computer systems for collecting and analyzing data packets wirelessly transmitted from a wireless transmitter by applying information theoretic metrics (Tsallis entropy).
US07940711B2	Node device and method for beacon scheduling in ad-hoc network and data transmitting method thereof Provided are a device of a node and method for beacon scheduling in an ad-hoc network and a data transmitting method thereof, which reduce power consumptions of nodes in an ad-hoc network when data communications between the nodes occur frequently. A beacon transmitting node checks its residual power. If the residual power is lower than a predetermined level, the beacon transmitting node notifies a plan to change its beacon cycle to other nodes. Thereafter, the beacon transmitting node increases the beacon cycle and transmits a beacon at the increased beacon cycles. Consequently, the beacon transmitting node can change its beacon cycle dynamically according to its power condition. Thus, the life span of the node can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to reduce an overhead of reconstructing a sensor network.
US07940703B2	Real-time multimedia conferencing over an ATM network using an intelligent ATM cable modem and hybrid fiber-coax access A technique for providing real-time multimedia conferencing services with guaranteed performance, in a hybrid networking environment, by interconnecting cable modem-based premises networks via hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) access networks and an ATM wide area network is disclosed. The ATM wide area network may be divided into a plurality of access network domains and one backbone network domain to provide efficient and intelligent multimedia conferencing services. Each ATM access network domain has one cable modem server as well as access multimedia bridge server. There is only one central network server and one central multimedia bridge server within the backbone network domain. Each cable modem server located in an ATM access network domain maintains necessary information of how the cable network bandwidth is used by existing calls, and will be allocated when new multimedia conference calls are initiated, in accordance with desired priority and performance levels.
US07940695B1	Failure detection for tunneled label-switched paths In general, principles of the invention relate to techniques for detecting data plane failures in Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Label-Switched Paths (LSPs) that may be tunneled over one or more other LSPs. More specifically, the techniques described herein allow for testing connectivity of an LSP that is tunneled through at least one other LSP, and testing connectivity of an inter-autonomous system LSP. For example, a method comprises providing, with an intermediate label-switching router (LSR) of an LSP, instructions to an ingress LSR of the LSP to modify a forwarding equivalence class (FEC) stack of MPLS echo request packets. The intermediate LSR may provide the instructions within an MPLS echo reply packet.
US07940684B2	Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) testing A method and apparatus for testing a VoIP telephone line are provided, the method including determining which of a plurality of VoIP call control protocols and/or CODECs is compatible with the telephone line, and conducting a series of tests on the telephone line in accordance therewith. The method and apparatus also includes steps and the means to connect to a network and capturing a stream of data therefrom to determine configuration settings of a VoIP telephone connected thereto to facilitate the previous testing.
US07940668B2	Method and apparatus to enable an IPe domain through EIGRP In one embodiment, a system, method, and apparatus for preventing excessive transmission of routing information in a communications network occurs by receiving a network routing address at a connection node in a communications network, the network routing address allowing the transmission of data packets from a source node to a destination node in the communications network; determining a longest summary route covering a path to the destination node; creating a list comprising a summary of all neighbor connection nodes of the connection node; and transmitting an update of the longest summary route of the network routing address towards all neighbor nodes advertising a destination address comprising a shorter address prefix, wherein the transmitting process occurs sequentially beginning with a first neighbor connection node entered in the list.
US07940663B2	Mitigating ACK/NACK errors in MIMO/SIC/HARQ Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate mitigating effects of mismatch errors related to incorrectly decoded acknowledgments indicative of successfully decoded data packets in a wireless network environment. Misinterpretation of a cumulative acknowledgment related to a number of successfully decoded data packets can be identified, and data packet transmission mismatch errors caused thereby can be evaluated to determine an optimal manner in which to decode and acknowledge remaining data packets to alleviate mismatch and restore synchronization between a transmitter of the data packets and a receiver thereof.
US07940662B2	Method and apparatus for forwarding bursty data Data received from a bursty interface is received on a burst-by-burst basis. Once a burst is received, it is stored in a processing queue. A complete burst is received so long a processing queue can accommodate a data burst. The complete data burst is directed to an output and used to create a complete data burst on said output. The output burst is dispatched so long as a receiving port is able to accept the output burst.
US07940654B2	Protecting a network from unauthorized access A method and apparatus of protecting a first network from unauthorized access includes storing profile information for each call session, and determining if an unauthorized access of the first network is occurring based on the profile information. The profile information includes a predetermined threshold indicating a maximum acceptable rate of incoming data units from an external network to the first network. If the incoming data unit rate exceeds the predetermined threshold, then a security action is taken, such as generating an alarm or preventing further transport of data units from the external network to the first network.
US07940652B1	Pseudowire protection using a standby pseudowire Providing protection to network traffic includes sending a Pseudowire protection configuration parameter for configuring a standby Pseudowire between a source node and a destination node, receiving a Pseudowire configuration acknowledgement indicating whether the Pseudowire protection configuration parameter has been accepted by the destination node, and in the event that the Pseudowire protection configuration parameter has been accepted by the destination node, using the standby Pseudowire, wherein the standby Pseudowire is configured based at least in part on the Pseudowire protection configuration parameter.
US07940650B1	Peer-agnostic TCP socket replication between primary and secondary routing engines This application describes techniques for peer-agnostic socket replication to implement graceful failover. An exemplary method to enable non-stop routing includes receiving a packet with a first routing engine of a network device having the first routing engine and a second routing engine configured as a backup routing engine, replicating, before processing the packet at a transport layer, the packet to form a replicated packet, sending the replicated packet from the first routing engine to the second routing engine, receiving, at the first routing engine, an acknowledgement from the second routing engine acknowledging reception of the replicated packet, after receiving the acknowledgment, processing the packet at the transport layer of the first routing engine to extract application-layer data and assemble a routing message, and storing the application-layer data from the processed packet in a socket associated with a routing process of the first routing engine.
US07940646B1	Performing non-revertive failover with network devices Techniques are described for performing non-revertive failover with network devices. A network device comprising a control unit and interface cards receives routing information protocol (RIP) updates each having a metric value. The control unit signals bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) sessions based on the metric values of each of the RIP updates with, for example, a media gateway. The control unit also selectively installs a RIP route based on the metric values. The media gateway monitors the BFD sessions, and upon failure of an active BFD session, indicates the network device to perform non-revertive failover by sending a revised plurality of RIP updates. The network device performs non-revertive failover according to the revised plurality of RIP updates. Because of the flexibility of BFD, the network device need not revert back to a previous RIP route, therefore curtailing excessive failover.
US07940639B2	Interference suppressing OFDM system for wireless communications An IS-OFDM system for point-to-point wireless communications that suppresses narrow-band interference comprises an IS-OFDM transmitter and an IS-OFDM receiver, wherein a transmitted signal comprises a plurality of subcarriers, and further wherein each subcarrier contains more than one and potentially all symbols transmitted in a given frame. The IS-OFDM transmitted signal is at a data rate that is equal to the data rate of the input data stream via the use of P/S converters.
US07940636B2	Recording medium, recording apparatus and recording method A recording medium of the recordable type in the form of a multi-layer disc or the like which is improved in compatibility and feasibility in use and a recording apparatus and a recording method ready for the recording medium are disclosed. A region for recording interlayer folding back position information is set on the recording medium (for example, “End sector number in Layer 0” or a session item type 3). In response to a fact that recording on a certain recording layer reaches a maximum recording range or that data recording advances from a certain recording layer to a next recording layer, interlayer folding back position information is recorded on the recording medium. This signifies that such recording is performed when advancement of the data recording to another recording layer is performed at a stage prior to disc closing or session closing or when it is predicted that such advancement of the data recording occurs soon. Also where the disc is of the type for which multi-session recording is performed, interlayer folding back position information is recorded with regard to a session in which folding back is performed.
US07940633B2	Recording device, recording method and computer program A recording device has a recording unit for recording information in a medium having a first layer and a second layer; a forming unit for forming a buffer area in each of the first and second layers; and a control unit for controlling the forming unit to form the buffer area in the first layer to have a prescribed size and an edge on an outer circumference side of the buffer area in the second layer at a position, shifted from an area section of the second layer corresponding to the edge on the outer circumference side of the buffer area by a relative positional shift between an address at a prescribed position in the first layer and an address relating to the prescribed position in the second layer, or at a position shifted by a tolerance length indicating a tolerance range of such positional shift.
US07940632B2	Recording medium, data use limitating method, and program A recording medium in which data supplied from an information processing device is recorded includes: position detecting means for detecting a position of the recording medium; user authentication means for authenticating a user intending to use the data; recording means for recording data use limitation information; and data use limitation control means for controlling the limitation on the user's use of data on the basis of the data use limitation information.
US07940631B2	Optical pickup device An optical pickup device includes a diffraction grating 12 for separating an emitted light beam into at least three light beams. The diffraction grating 12 is divided into three regions by dividing lines D1 and D2 extending in a first direction parallel to a tangent line of a track of an optical information recording medium. A second region 12B is divided into four sub-blocks by a dividing line D3 extending in the first direction and a dividing line D4 extending in a second direction that crosses the first direction. The sub-blocks located diagonally opposite to each other have a same phase, and the sub-blocks located adjacent to each other have a phase difference of approximately 180 degrees. The first region 12A has a phase difference of approximately 90 degrees from each sub-block of the second region 12B, and the first region 12A has a phase difference of approximately 180 degrees from the third region 12C.
US07940627B2	Data recording device, data recording method, and computer program It is possible to manage an empty region in a disc partition while satisfying an inhibit matter of the ROM standard not recording a space bit map describer (SBD). The SBD is recorded upon disc initialization and additional recording into the partition is performed by using the SBD regardless of the access type in the device. When ejecting the disc, pointer information to the SBD recorded in the partition describer (PD) is hacked up in the SBD pointer information save file or save data and then the pointer information is erased. Upon disc recognition, the existence of the save file/data is confirmed and the SBD is restored.
US07940624B2	Method of adjusting write strategy of recordable disc A method of adjusting a write strategy of a recordable disc comprises steps of: generating a test pattern on a power calibrating area of the recordable disc according to a first write strategy, a first write power, and a first target β value; establishing a Pit-to-Land Inter-Symbol Interference table and a Land-to-Pit Inter-Symbol Interference table by measuring a plurality of Pits and Lands with different time lengths in the test pattern; generating an updated timing parameter set by adjusting a timing parameter set of the first write strategy according to the Pit-to-Land Inter-Symbol Interference table and the Land-to-Pit Inter-Symbol Interference table; and generating an updated target β value according to the updated timing parameter set.
US07940618B2	Method for identifying optical disc type, data recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and medium using the same A method of identifying a type of a disc includes steps of: obtaining a first address of a first position on the disc; moving a pick-up unit to a second position of the disc; obtaining a second address of the second position; calculating a difference between the first address and the second address; and identifying the type of the disc by comparing the difference with a predetermined value.
US07940617B2	Method for calibrating a spherical aberration compensation level in an optical drive A method for calibrating an SA compensation level of an optical drive is provided. The method includes steps of providing a plurality of SA compensation levels; obtaining a peak-to-peak value of an S curve corresponding to each of the SA compensation levels; selecting a maximum of the peak-to-peak values of the S curves and the SA compensation level corresponding to the maximum; and setting the selected SA compensation level to be an optimal SA compensation level.
US07940613B2	Drive device A drive apparatus of the present invention includes a recording/reproduction section and a drive control section. The drive control section at least performs a process including: performing an RMW process of reproducing data recorded in an original ECC cluster including the location specified by the recording instruction, modifying at least a portion of the reproduced data, and recording the modified data in a replacement ECC cluster; determining whether or not there is any physical sector, in which the reproduction of data has failed, in the original ECC cluster in the RMW process; and setting status information value in status information of replacement management information when it is determined that there is any physical sector, in which the reproduction of data has failed, in the original ECC cluster in the RMW process, the status information value indicating that there is any physical sector, in which the reproduction of data has failed, in the original ECC cluster, the status information indicating that the original ECC cluster is replaced with the replacement ECC cluster.

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