Document	Document Title
US07956003B2	Catalyst components based on ferricinium complexes used for olefin polymerisation The present invention discloses catalyst components based on ferricinium ligands, their method of preparation and their use in the polymerisation of olefins.
US07956002B2	Ionic liquid catalyst regenerated using a regeneration metal in the presence of added hydrogen An ionic liquid catalyst, which has been regenerated by contacting a used ionic liquid catalyst with at least one regeneration metal in a regeneration zone in the presence of added hydrogen under regeneration conditions for a time sufficient to increase the activity of the ionic liquid catalyst. Also, an ionic liquid catalyst which has been regenerated by contacting a used ionic liquid catalyst with at least one regeneration metal in a regeneration zone in the presence of added hydrogen under regeneration conditions in the presence of an inert hydrocarbon in which conjunct polymers are soluble for a time sufficient to increase the activity of the ionic liquid catalyst.
US07956001B2	Templated metal oxide particles and methods of making Composite particles of a metal oxide particle within a crosslinked, cored dendrimer are described. Additionally, methods of making the composite particles and compositions that contain the composite particles are described.
US07955998B2	Optical glass, precision press-molding and process for the production thereof, and optical element and process for the production thereof A high-refractivity optical glass which has both a low-temperature softening property suitable for precision press-molding and glass stability suitable for hot-shaping of a preform, which contains, by mass %, 13 to 30% of B2O3, 0.1 to 4% of Li2O, 17 to 35% of ZnO, 15 to 45% of La2O3, 4 to 15% of Ta2O5 exclusive of 15%, 0 to 10% of ZrO2, 0 to 10% of Nb2O5 provided that Ta2O5/(Ta2O5+ZrO2+Nb2O5)>0.3, 0 to 20% of WO3 and 0 to 1% of Sb2O3 and which has a refractive index (nd) of 1.80 to 1.84 and an Abbe's number (νd) of 40.0 to 45.0.
US07955990B2	Method for improved thickness repeatability of PECVD deposited carbon films Provided herein are improved methods of depositing carbon-based films using acetylene as a precursor. The methods involve using a low-vapor pressure solvent, e.g., dimethylfluoride (DMF) to stabilize the acetylene and delivering the acetylene to a deposition chamber. The methods provide improved wafer-to-wafer thickness uniformity and increase the usable amount of acetylene in an acetylene source to over 95%.
US07955986B2	Capacitively coupled plasma reactor with magnetic plasma control A plasma reactor includes a vacuum enclosure including a side wall and a ceiling defining a vacuum chamber, and a workpiece support within the chamber and facing the ceiling for supporting a planar workpiece, the workpiece support and the ceiling together defining a processing region between the workpiece support and the ceiling. Process gas inlets furnish a process gas into the chamber. A plasma source power electrode is connected to an RF power generator for capacitively coupling plasma source power into the chamber for maintaining a plasma within the chamber. The reactor further includes at least a first overhead solenoidal electromagnet adjacent the ceiling, the overhead solenoidal electromagnet, the ceiling, the side wall and the workpiece support being located along a common axis of symmetry. A current source is connected to the first solenoidal electromagnet and furnishes a first electric current in the first solenoidal electromagnet whereby to generate within the chamber a magnetic field which is a function of the first electric current, the first electric current having a value such that the magnetic field increases uniformity of plasma ion density radial distribution about the axis of symmetry near a surface of the workpiece support.
US07955984B2	High speed high power nitride semiconductor device A nitride semiconductor device has: a substrate; a semiconductor lamination formed on the substrate, and including a channel layer of nitride semiconductor; source and drain electrodes formed on the semiconductor lamination in ohmic contact with the channel layer; an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor lamination, and having an opening in a gate electrode contact area, a total thickness portion having a flat surface and a total thickness in an area spaced apart from the opening, and a transient portion with monotonically changing thickness between the opening and the total thickness portion, a sidewall of the insulating layer facing the opening rising steeply to a partial thickness of the total thickness; and a T-shaped gate electrode contacting the semiconductor lamination layer in the opening and extending on the insulating film to portions with increased thickness thicker than the partial thickness.
US07955983B2	Defect reduction of non-polar and semi-polar III-nitrides with sidewall lateral epitaxial overgrowth (SLEO) A method of reducing threading dislocation densities in non-polar such as a-{11-20} plane and m-{1-100} plane or semi-polar such as {10-1n} plane III-Nitrides by employing lateral epitaxial overgrowth from sidewalls of etched template material through a patterned mask. The method includes depositing a patterned mask on a template material such as a non-polar or semi polar GaN template, etching the template material down to various depths through openings in the mask, and growing non-polar or semi-polar III-Nitride by coalescing laterally from the tops of the sidewalls before the vertically growing material from the trench bottoms reaches the tops of the sidewalls. The coalesced features grow through the openings of the mask, and grow laterally over the dielectric mask until a fully coalesced continuous film is achieved.
US07955982B2	Method for smoothing wafer surface and apparatus used therefor Disclosed is a method for smoothing the surface of at least one side of a wafer which is obtained by slicing a semiconductor ingot. In this method, a fluid is applied according to projections of the wafer surface, thereby reducing the projections. Alternatively, a fluid is applied over the wafer surface, thereby smoothing the entire surface of the wafer while reducing the projections in the wafer surface.
US07955974B2	Formation of a through-electrode by inkjet deposition of resin pastes When forming a resin material in a through hole, an electrode pad is formed in the bottom portion of the through hole, an insulating material is formed about the periphery of the through hole and a conductive material is formed in the central portion by an inkjet method, inkjet-ejected resins being ejected in such a manner that concavo-convex indentations and projections are formed in the surface thereof, whereby the adhesiveness between the insulating material and the conductive material and the adhesiveness between the insulating material and the inner walls of the through hole can be improved. Therefore, it is possible to suppress mechanical defects such as detachment of conductive material at the interfaces between the inner surface of the through hole and the resin or conductor layer, or electrical defects such as insulation defects, conduction defects, or the like.
US07955973B2	Method and apparatus for improvements in chip manufacture and design A method of securing a bond pad in to a semiconductor chip having an upper top metal surface which includes one or more holes, the method comprising the steps of forming a passivation layer over the upper metal surface, which passivation layer has holes therein substantially corresponding to the or each hole in the upper metal layer and being substantially the same size or smaller than the holes in the upper metal layer; forming the bond pad over the passivation layer; characterised in that the step of forming the bond pad comprises introducing some of the material from the bond pad into the holes in the passivation layer and upper metal layer when forming the bond pad, securing the bond pad to the passivation layer by allowing said material to flow under the surface thereof and attach thereto without attaching to the upper metal layer to thereby form a securing means.
US07955972B2	Methods for growing low-resistivity tungsten for high aspect ratio and small features The present invention addresses this need by providing methods for depositing low resistivity tungsten films in small features and features having high aspect ratios. The methods involve depositing very thin tungsten nucleation layers by pulsed nucleation layer (PNL) processes and then using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to deposit a tungsten layer to fill the feature. Depositing the tungsten nucleation layer involves exposing the substrate to alternating pulses of a boron-containing reducing agent and a tungsten-containing precursor without using any hydrogen gas, e.g., as a carrier or background gas. Using this process, a conformal tungsten nucleation layer can be deposited to a thickness as small as about 10 Angstroms. The feature may then be wholly or partially filled with tungsten by a hydrogen reduction chemical vapor deposition process. Resistivities of about 14 μΩ-cm for a 500 Angstrom film may be obtained.
US07955965B2	Nanophotovoltaic devices The present invention provides nanophotovoltaic devices having sizes in a range of about 50 nm to about 5 microns, and method of their fabrication. In some embodiments, the nanophotovoltaic device includes a semiconductor core, e.g., formed of silicon, sandwiched between two metallic layers, one of which forms a Schottky barrier junction with the semiconductor core and the other forms an ohmic contact therewith. In other embodiment, the nanophotovoltaic device includes a semiconductor core comprising a p-n junction that is sandwiched between two metallic layers forming ohmic contacts with the core.
US07955957B2	Group III-nitride semiconductor thin film, method for fabricating the same, and group III-nitride semiconductor light emitting device Disclosed herein is a high-quality group III-nitride semiconductor thin film and group III-nitride semiconductor light emitting device using the same. To obtain the group III-nitride semiconductor thin film, an AlInN buffer layer is formed on a (1-102)-plane (so called r-plane) sapphire substrate by use of a MOCVD apparatus under atmospheric pressure while controlling a temperature of the substrate within a range from 850 to 950 degrees Celsius, and then, GaN-based compound, such as GaN, AlGaN or the like, is epitaxially grown on the buffer layer at a high temperature. The group III-nitride semiconductor light emitting device is fabricated by using the group III-nitride semiconductor thin film as a base layer.
US07955949B2	Manufacturing method of SOI substrate There is provided a method of manufacturing an SOI substrate which is practicable even when a supporting substrate having a low allowable temperature limit is used. A separation layer is formed in a region at a certain depth from a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a first heat treatment is conducted when a semiconductor layer on the separation layer is bonded to the supporting substrate and separated. A second heat treatment is conducted to the supporting substrate to which the semiconductor layer is bonded. The second heat treatment is conducted at a temperature which is equal to or higher than the temperature of the first heat treatment and does not exceed a strain point of the supporting substrate. When the first heat treatment and the second heat treatment are conducted at the same temperature, a treatment time of the second heat treatment may be set to be longer.
US07955948B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the steps of carrying a substrate in a processing chamber, bringing the processing chamber into a state at a first pressure by supplying a silicon compound gas which contains carbon and hydrogen into the processing chamber, forming a silicon oxide film on the substrate by irradiating a UV light to the silicon compound gas supplied into the processing chamber in the state kept at the first pressure, and decompression process to bring the processing chamber into a state at a second pressure lower than the first pressure. This makes it possible to form the dense silicon oxide film in the trench with high aspect ratio and small width.
US07955946B2	Methods of determining x-y spatial orientation of a semiconductor substrate comprising an integrated circuit, methods of positioning a semiconductor substrate comprising an integrated circuit, methods of processing a semiconductor substrate, and semiconductor devices The invention includes methods of determining x-y spatial orientation of a semiconductor substrate comprising an integrated circuit, methods of positioning a semiconductor substrate comprising an integrated circuit, methods of processing a semiconductor substrate, and semiconductor devices. In one implementation, a method of determining x-y spatial orientation of a semiconductor substrate comprising an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate comprising at least one integrated circuit die. The semiconductor substrate comprises a circuit side, a backside, and a plurality of conductive vias extending from the circuit side to the backside. The plurality of conductive vias on the semiconductor substrate backside is examined to determine location of portions of at least two of the plurality of conductive vias on the semiconductor substrate backside. From the determined location, x-y spatial orientation of the semiconductor substrate is determined. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US07955945B1	Weak-link capacitor A process for making a dielectric material where a precursor polymer selected from poly(phenylene vinylene) polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene), poly(thienylene vinylene), poly(1,4-naphthylene vinylene), and poly(p-pyridine vinylene) is energized said by exposure by radiation or increase in temperature to a level sufficient to eliminate said leaving groups contained within the precursor polymer, thereby transforming the dielectric material into a conductive polymer. The leaving group in the precursor polymer can be a chloride, a bromide, an iodide, a fluoride, an ester, an xanthate, a nitrile, an amine, a nitro group, a carbonate, a dithiocarbamate, a sulfonium group, an oxonium group, an iodonium group, a pyridinium group, an ammonium group, a borate group, a borane group, a sulphinyl group, or a sulfonyl group.
US07955942B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming a 3D inductor from prefabricated pillar frame A semiconductor device is made by mounting a semiconductor die over a carrier. A ferromagnetic inductor core is formed over the carrier. A prefabricated pillar frame is formed over the carrier, semiconductor die, and inductor core. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and inductor core. A portion of the pillar frame is removed. A remaining portion of the pillar frame provides an interconnect pillar and inductor pillars around the inductor core. A first interconnect structure is formed over a first surface of the encapsulant. The carrier is removed. A second interconnect structure is formed over a second surface of the encapsulant. The first and second interconnect structures are electrically connected to the inductor pillars to form one or more 3D inductors. In another embodiment, a shielding layer is formed over the semiconductor die. A capacitor or resistor is formed within the first or second interconnect structures.
US07955934B2	Nitride read only memory device with buried diffusion spacers and method for making the same A method for making a nitride read only memory device with buried diffusion spacers is disclosed. An oxide-nitride-oxide (ONO) layer is formed on top of a silicon substrate, and a polysilicon gate is formed over the ONO layer. The polysilicon gate is formed less than a length of the ONO layer. Two buried diffusion spacers are formed beside two sidewalls of the polysilicon gate and over the ONO layer. Two buried diffusion regions are implanted on the silicon substrate next to the two buried diffusion spacers. The two buried diffusion regions are then annealed such that the approximate interfaces of the buried diffusion regions are under the sidewalls of the polysilicon gate. The structure of a nitride read only memory device with buried diffusion spacers is also described.
US07955929B2	Method of forming a semiconductor device having an active area and a termination area A method of forming a semiconductor device having an active area and a termination area surrounding the active area comprises providing a semiconductor substrate, providing a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type over the semiconductor substrate and forming a mask layer over the semiconductor layer. The mask layer outlines at least two portions of a surface of the semiconductor layer: a first outlined portion outlining a floating region in the active area and a second outlined portion outlining a termination region in the termination area. Semiconductor material of a second conductivity type is provided to the first and second outlined portions so as to provide a floating region of the second conductivity type buried in the semiconductor layer in the active area and a first termination region of the second conductivity type buried in the semiconductor layer in the termination area of the semiconductor device.
US07955928B2	Structure and method of fabricating FinFET A CMOS FinFET device and a method of manufacturing the same using a three dimensional doping process is provided. The method of forming the CMOS FinFET includes forming fins on a first side and a second side of a structure and forming spacers of a dopant material having a first dopant type on the fins on the first side of the structure. The method further includes annealing the dopant material such that the first dopant type diffuses into the fins on the first side of the structure. The method further includes protecting the first dopant type from diffusing into the fins on the second side of the structure during the annealing.
US07955926B2	Structure and method to control oxidation in high-k gate structures In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of fabricating a semiconducting device that includes providing a substrate including at least one semiconducting region and at least one oxygen source region; forming an oxygen barrier material atop portions of an upper surface of the at least one oxygen region; forming a high-k gate dielectric on the substrate including the at least one semiconducting region, wherein oxygen barrier material separates the high-k gate dielectric from the at least one oxygen source material; and forming a gate conductor atop the high-k gate dielectric.
US07955923B1	I/O ESD protection device for high performance circuits A trigger circuit is provided for a pull-down device by connecting a diode between the I/O pad and the body of the pull-down device. In one embodiment, the pull-down device is formed as a plurality of discrete transistors in a single well. The drain of each transistor is connected through a ballast resistor to the I/O pad; and the source of each transistor is connected through a ballast resistor to ground. The trigger circuit is a diode formed in a different well from that of the transistors. The cathode of the diode is connected to the I/O pad and the anode is connected to the transistor well through a center tap located between the transistors. Preferably, the transistors are NMOS transistors formed in a P-well. Advantageously, the diode is an N+/PLDD diode. Alternatively, the diode is an N+/P diode where the P region is formed by an ESD implant. In other embodiments the diode is formed in the same well as the transistors. In these embodiments, either an N+/PLDD diode or an implanted diode is formed in place of one of the transistors.
US07955909B2	Strained ultra-thin SOI transistor formed by replacement gate A semiconductor structure is described. The structure includes a transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) layer; a channel associated with the transistor and formed on a first portion of the SOI layer; and a source/drain region associated with the transistor and formed in a second portion of the SOI layer and in a recess at each end of the channel, where the second portion of the SOI layer is substantially thicker than the first portion of the SOI layer. A method of fabricating the semiconductor structure is also described. The method includes forming a dummy gate in a semiconductor substrate; performing a SIMOX process to form a SOI layer such that a first portion of the SOI layer under the dummy gate is substantially thinner than a second portion of the SOI layer; forming a source/drain extension in the SOI layer; and recessing the source/drain extension for forming a source/drain region; epitaxially growing the second portion of the SOI layer; forming an insulating layer over the epitaxial growth; removing the dummy gate for forming a gate opening; and filling the gate opening with a gate dielectric material and a gate conductor material.
US07955907B2	Semiconductor device, television set, and method for manufacturing the same An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a substrate having a film pattern such as an insulating film, a semiconductor film, or a conductive film with an easy process, and further, a semiconductor device and a television set having a high throughput or a high yield at low cost and a manufacturing method thereof. One feature of the invention is that a first film pattern is formed by a droplet discharge method, a photosensitive material is discharged or applied to the first film pattern, a mask pattern is formed by irradiating a region where the first film pattern and the photosensitive material are overlapped with a laser beam and by developing, and a second film pattern having a desired shape is formed by etching the first film pattern using the mask pattern as a mask.
US07955902B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device with surface mounting terminals A semiconductor device manufacturing method in which a semiconductor chip is connected to first and second lead frames. Source and gate electrodes extending over a first main surface of the semiconductor chip are connected to first electrode plates of the first lead frame and a drain electrode on the second main surface of the semiconductor chip, opposite to the first main surface, is connected to a drain electrode plate of the second lead frame. A sealing body is formed to cover the semiconductor chip and lead frames, while leaving the top surface of the drain electrode plate exposed with respect to the sealing body. Unnecessary portions of the first and second lead frames are cut off and surface mounting terminals are formed from the portions of the first and second electrode plates projecting from the sealing body.
US07955896B2	Method of manufacturing stacked semiconductor device A first semiconductor element is mounted on a wiring board. A second semiconductor element having a portion projecting to an outer side of an outer periphery of the first semiconductor element is disposed on the first semiconductor element via an adhesive. The adhesive has a viscosity (μ0.5 rpm) at a low-rotation speed in a range from 10 Pa·s to 150 Pa·s and a thixotropic ratio of 2 or higher expressed by a ratio (μ0.5 rpm/μ5 rpm) of the viscosity (μ0.5 rpm) at the low-rotation speed to a viscosity (μ5 rpm) at a high-rotation speed. The second semiconductor element is bonded onto the first semiconductor element while the adhesive is filled in a hollow portion between the projecting portion of the second semiconductor element and the wiring board.
US07955887B2	Techniques for three-dimensional circuit integration Integrated circuits having complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and photonics circuitry and techniques for three-dimensional integration thereof are provided. In one aspect, a three-dimensional integrated circuit comprises a bottom device layer and a top device layer. The bottom device layer comprises a digital CMOS circuitry layer; and a first bonding oxide layer adjacent to the digital CMOS circuitry layer. The top device layer comprises a substrate; an analog CMOS and photonics circuitry layer formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer adjacent to the substrate, the SOI layer having a buried oxide (BOX) with a thickness of greater than or equal to about one micrometer; and a second bonding oxide layer adjacent to a side of the analog CMOS and photonics circuitry layer opposite the substrate. The bottom device layer is bonded to the top device layer by an oxide-to-oxide bond between the first bonding oxide layer and the second bonding oxide layer.
US07955883B2	Polymer replicated interdigitated electrode array for (bio) sensing applications Interdigitated electrode arrays are very promising devices for multi-parameter (bio)sensing, for example the label-free detection of nucleic acid hybridization for diagnostic applications. The current disclosure provides an innovative method for the affordable manufacturing of polymer-based arrays of interdigitated electrodes with μm-dimensions. The method is based on a combination of an appropriate three-dimensional structure and a single and directional deposition of conductive material. The three-dimensional structure can be realized in a polymer material using a molding step, for which the molds are manufactured by electroplating as a reverse copy of a silicon master structure. In order to ensure sufficient electrical isolation and individual, but convenient, accessibility of the sensors in the array, the interdigitated electrode regions need to be complemented with specific features on the three-dimensional structure. Combined with the use of e.g. shadow masks in the deposition step, these features allow for the site-specific deposition of the conductive material. The technology described has the additional advantage to integrate highly miniaturized and arrayed electronics elements into polymer micro-fluidics technology, which leads to the affordable manufacturing of (bio)sensor arrays.
US07955877B2	Method for simulating long-term performance of a non-volatile memory by exposing the non-volatile memory to heavy-ion radiation Testing a non volatile memory by exposing the non volatile memory to particle radiation (e.g. xenon ions) to emulate memory cell damage due to data state changing events of a non volatile memory cell. After the exposing, the memory cells are subjected to tests and the results of the tests are used to develop reliability indications of the non volatile memory. Integrated circuits with non volatile memories of the same design are provided. Reliability representations of the integrated circuits can be made with respect to a number of data state charging events based on the exposure and subsequent tests.
US07955875B2	Forming light emitting devices including custom wavelength conversion structures Methods of forming a light emitting device include selectively forming a wavelength conversion structure on a light emitting element using stereolithography. Selectively forming the wavelength conversion structure may include covering the light emitting element with a photo-curable liquid polymer containing a luminescent material, and exposing the liquid polymer to light for a time sufficient to at least partially cure the liquid polymer. Multiple layers of polymer can be selectively built up to form a wavelength conversion structure having a custom shape on the light emitting element.
US07955872B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor integrated circuit device using magnetic memory In the case where a laminated structure formed by laminating tunneling magnetoresistive films are processed by ion milling or the like, scattered substances of a material constituting the tunneling magnetoresistive film are deposited onto side walls of the laminated structure, or contaminate the inside of a device for processing. Accordingly, it has been difficult to manufacture a magnetic memory or a semiconductor device on which the magnetic memory is mounted, with stable characteristics.Side wall spacers are formed on side walls of a conductive layer arranged above a tunneling magnetoresistive film, and scattered substances of a material constituting the tunneling magnetoresistive film during processing are deposited. Thereafter, by removing the side wall spacers, the redepositions of the material are also removed. The side wall spacers used are of one kind or two kinds.
US07955864B2	Device and method for making discrete volumes of a first fluid in contact with a second fluid, which are immiscible with each other Various embodiments described in the application relate to an apparatus, system, and method for generating, within a conduit, discrete volumes of one or more fluids that are immiscible with a second fluid. The discrete volumes can be used for biochemical or molecular biology procedures involving small volumes, for example, microliter-sized volumes, nanoliter-sized volumes, or smaller. The system can comprise an apparatus comprising at least one conduit operatively connected to one or more pumps for providing discrete volumes separated from one another by a fluid that is immiscible with the fluid(s) of the discrete volumes, for example, aqueous immiscible-fluid-discrete volumes separated by an oil.
US07955863B2	Microfluidic device and material manipulating method using same Microfluidic devices for manipulating relatively dense materials, such as colloidal rod particles, are provided. Microfluidic devices for separating a denser first material from a less-dense second material are provided. Methods of manipulating a relatively dense first material, for example, colloidal rod particles, and separating the first material from a less-dense second material, are provided. Methods of marking samples or sample components with relatively dense materials, are also provided.
US07955862B2	Method and device for the qualitative and/or quantitative determination of a protein and/or peptide pattern of a fluid sample, which has been taken from a human or animal body Provided are a process and a device for the qualitative and/or quantitative determination of a protein and/or peptide pattern of a liquid sample taken from a human or animal body for checking its state. The peptides and proteins of the liquid sample are processed and then subjected to analysis, wherein reference and sample values describing states of a human or animal body as well as deviations and correspondences derived therefrom are established, automatically stored in a data base, and when the protein and/or peptide pattern is again determined, a search for optimum correspondence is automatically performed. In this process, mass components or structural components of the proteins and/or peptides are established and stored. Subsequently, real masses or real structures are calculated from a common evaluation of the stored mass components or structural components, and an assignment to the proteins and/or peptides contained in the liquid sample is performed from a combination of the calculated real masses or real structures.
US07955858B2	Quantum dot-based environmental indicators A detection method and indicator are disclosed that includes quantum dots that fluoresce under illumination of a first light having a first wavelength to indicate the presence of a predetermined condition, and in particular, a corrosion condition. The quantum dots are surrounded by a shell material that under normal conditions reflect the first light and reacts in the presence of the predetermined condition to permit the first light to illuminate the quantum dot to excite the quantum dot to emit a second light having a second wavelength, which when detected, indicates the presence of the predetermined condition.
US07955845B2	Modified antigen-presenting cells The invention relates to antigen-presenting cells having specificity against a selected antigen and methods for making the cells. The invention also relates to a method of selecting efficient antigen-presenting cells using reporter fusion constructs. The highly efficient antigen-presenting cells of the invention will provide a therapeutic strategy of modulating immune responses for a variety of diseases.
US07955841B2	Temperature control device with a flexible temperature control surface A device for controlling temperature in a reaction chamber is disclosed. The device comprises: a bladder assembly comprising a housing dimensioned to hold a reaction chamber disposed within an interior volume of the housing; and a first temperature-control bladder disposed within the housing, the first temperature-control bladder is configured to receive a temperature-control fluid and comprises a flexible, heat conductive surface that comes in contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the reaction chamber after receiving the temperature-control fluid. Also disclosed are a bladder thermal cycler, a temperature-control bladder assembly and methods for producing a thermal cycle in a reaction chamber.
US07955836B2	Microfluidic mixing and analytical apparatus Disclosed herein is a device comprising a pair of bellows pumps configured for efficient mixing at a microfluidic scale. By moving a fluid sample and particles in suspension through an aperture between the paired bellows pump mixing chambers, molecular collisions leading to binding between the particles and ligands in the sample are enhanced. Such devices provide an alternative for mixing that does not use a vent and can be used with a variety of particles in suspension such as magnetic beads to capture or purify useful cells and molecules.
US07955833B2	Animal protein free media for cultivation of cells The present invention relates to animal protein free cell culture media comprising a combination of non-animal derived peptides derived from soy hydrolysate and yeast hydrolysate. The invention also provides an animal protein free culture process, wherein cells are cultivated, propagated and passaged without animal-derived components. This process is useful for cultivating cells, such as recombinant cells or cells infected with a virus, and for production biological products by cell culture processes under conditions devoid of animal protein components.
US07955819B2	Process for producing sugar chain asparagine derivative A process for preparing asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives including the steps of: (a) treating a delipidated egg yolk with a protease to obtain a mixture of peptide-linked oligosaccharides, (b) treating the mixture of peptide-linked oligosaccharides with a peptidase to obtain a mixture of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides, (c) introducing a lipophilic protective group into the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in the mixture to obtain a mixture of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives, and (d) subjecting the mixture of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives to chromatography to separate the mixture into individual asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives.
US07955809B2	Method for measuring human megalin This invention provides a method for measuring human megalin that can be performed in a simpler manner within a shorter period of time than is possible with conventional techniques, and that can also quantify human megalin. This invention also provides a method that enables diagnosis of functional diseases, which are specific to cells, tissues, or organs, in a site-directed manner at an early stage. Measurement of human megalin enables detection of a disease in an organ in which megalin expression is observed.
US07955808B2	Bitter taste receptors The present invention relates to bitter-taste receptors and their role in bitter taste transduction. The invention also relates to assays for screening molecules that modulate, e.g. suppress or block, bitter taste transduction, or enhance bitter taste response.
US07955805B2	Nucleic acids and polypeptides useful for diagnosing complications of pregnancy Disclosed herein are methods for diagnosing or treating pregnancy related hypertensive disorders that include the use of a polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide selected from the following: follistatin related protein, interleukin 8, inhibin A, VEGF-C, angiogenin, beta fertilin, hypothetical protein, leukocyte associated Ig-like receptor secreted protein, erythroid differentiation protein, adipogenesis inhibitory factor, corticotropin releasing factor binding protein, alpha-1 anti-chymotrypsin, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5, CD33L, cytokine receptor like factor 1, platelet derived endothelial growth factor, lysyl hydroxylase isoform 2, stanniocalcin precursor, secreted frizzled related protein, galectin-3, alpha defensin, ADAM-TS3, cholecystokinin precursor, interferon stimulated T-cell alpha chemoattractant precursor, azurocidin, sperminine oxidase, UDP glycosyltransferase 2 family polypeptide B28, neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 2, neutral endopeptidase, CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 2, beta glucosidase, lanosterol synthase, calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase, estrogen receptor-alternatively spliced transcript H, chemokine (CX3C motif) receptor 1, tyrosinase-related protein 1, hydoxy-delta-5-steroid dehyrogenase, dihydropyramidinase-like-4, and cytochrome P450-family 11.
US07955797B2	Fluid storage and dispensing system including dynamic fluid monitoring of fluid storage and dispensing vessel A monitoring system for monitoring fluid in a fluid supply vessel during operation including dispensing of fluid from the fluid supply vessel. The monitoring system includes (i) one or more sensors for monitoring a characteristic of the fluid supply vessel or the fluid dispensed therefrom, (ii) a data acquisition module operatively coupled to the one or more sensors to receive monitoring data therefrom and responsively generate an output correlative to the characteristic monitored by the one or more sensors, and (iii) a processor and display operatively coupled with the data acquisition module and arranged to process the output from the data acquisition module and responsively output a graphical representation of fluid in the fluid supply vessel.
US07955795B2	Method of whole genome amplification with reduced artifact production Disclosed are compositions and methods for amplification of nucleic acid sequences of interest with greater efficiency and fidelity. The disclosed method relates to isothermal amplification techniques, such as Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA), where the generation of DNA artifacts is decreased or eliminated. Generally, this can be accomplished by carrying out the reaction at elevated temperature. In particularly useful embodiments of the method, sugars and/or other additives can be used to stabilized the polymerase at high temperature. It has been discovered that generation of high molecular weight artifacts, in an isothermal amplification procedure, is substantially reduced or eliminated while still allowing the desired amplification of input DNA by carrying out the reaction at a higher temperature and, optionally, in the presence of one or more additives. It also has been discovered that isothermal amplification reactions can produce amplification products of high quality, such as low amplification bias, if performed at a higher temperature and, optionally, in the presence of one or more additives.
US07955792B2	Diluent for norovirus or sapovirus specimen and method for detecting virus The present invention relates to a diluent for a Norovirus or Sapovirus specimen, the diluent containing an alkaline buffer of pH 9.0 to 10.0, and to a method for detecting a Norovirus or a Sapovirus through use of the diluent. According to the present invention, a Norovirus or a Sapovirus can be detected in a Norovirus- or Sapovirus-containing specimen such as stool, vomit, body fluid, blood, body tissue, or food, in a convenient manner without use of a special machine such as a centrifuge, with an improved detection sensitivity, and with complete elimination of non-specific factors.
US07955786B2	Production of a multilayer optical recording medium using a stamper Provided is a light transmissive stamper having light transmissivity with respect to an ultraviolet ray and durability for repeated use. Specifically, on a light transmissive substrate, a light transmissive auxiliary layer and an inorganic resist layer are formed sequentially, and a light beam is selectively irradiated to the inorganic resist layer, to thereby modify an inorganic resist ranging from a surface of the inorganic resist layer to a surface of the light transmissive auxiliary layer. Then, a part modified by the light beam or an unmodified part is selectively removed until the light transmissive auxiliary layer is exposed, thereby forming an uneven pattern corresponding to an information pattern in the inorganic resist layer.
US07955781B2	Negative-working photosensitive material and negative-working planographic printing plate precursor A negative-working photosensitive material is provided which includes: a support; an undercoat layer; and a photosensitive layer including a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound, and a binder polymer, wherein the support, the undercoat layer, and the photosensitive layer are sequentially layered, the undercoat layer includes a polymer including a structural unit (a) including at least one of a carboxylic acid or a carboxylic acid salt and a structural unit (b) including at least one carboxylic acid ester; and the content of the structural unit (a) in the polymer is from 30% to 90% by mole. Also, a negative-working planographic printing plate precursor including the negative-working photosensitive material is provided.
US07955776B2	Photopolymer composition suitable for lithographic printing plates Radiation-sensitive element comprising (a) a substrate and (b) a radiation-sensitive coating comprising (i) at least one component selected from photoinitiators and sensitizer/coinitiator systems which absorbs radiation of a wavelength in the range of 250 to 1,200 nm; (ii) at least one oligomer A of formula (I) wherein X1, X2 and X3 are independently selected from straight-chain or cyclic C4-C12 alkylene and C6-C10 arylene, a heterocyclic group, a heteroaromatic group and combinations of two or more of the above, R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from (II) and (III) with the proviso that (1) n=0 in at least one of the groups R1, R2 and R3, and (2) n>2 in at least one of the groups R1, R2 and R3, and (3) at least one group R6 is different from H in formula (III).
US07955770B2	Photoconductor, photoconductor cartridge and image-forming apparatus The surface of a photoconductor is coated with a surface protection layer comprising a cured material of a fluorine-containing photo-curing composition containing fluorinated alkyl group-containing (meth)acrylate and a photopolymerization initiator, and the surface protection layer has a fluorine atom content of 8.5 to 20% by mass.
US07955769B2	Control of crazing, cracking or crystallization of a charge transport layer in a photoconductor Embodiments of a photoconductor for use in a printer or printer cartridge comprise an electrically conductive substrate, a charge generation layer disposed over the electrically conductive substrate, and a charge transport layer disposed over the charge generation layer, wherein the charge transport layer comprises charge transport molecules with octyl/decyl glycidyl ether (OGE) or dodecyl/tetradecyl glycidyl ether (DGE), or combinations thereof, added to improve resistance to crazing, cracking and crystallization in the change transport layer.
US07955768B2	Electrophotographic photoconductor and method for producing the same, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge There is provided an electrophotographic photoconductor containing a conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer, disposed thereon, containing a charge transporting material having a triarylamine structure represented by General Formula 1, and wherein the photosensitive layer satisfies Mathematical Formula 1 when peak heights in raman scattering spectra of the triarylamine structure are measured at a wavenumber of 1,324±2 cm−1 by a confocal raman spectroscopy using z-polarized light: where Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon groups, and Ar1 and Ar2, Ar2 and Ar3, and Ar3 and Ar1 are optionally combined to form heterocyclic rings, respectively, ε=I(inside)/I(surface)≧1.1 Mathematical Formula 1 where I(inside) represents the peak height in of the raman scattering spectrum obtained at a depth of 5 μm or more from the photosensitive layer surface and I(surface) represents the peak height in the raman scattering spectrum obtained at a depth of less than 5 μm from the photosensitive layer surface.
US07955767B2	Method for examining a wafer with regard to a contamination limit and EUV projection exposure system A method for examining at least one wafer (13) with regard to a contamination limit, in which the contamination potential of the resist (13a) of the wafer (13), which resist (13a) outgasses contaminating substances, is examined with regard to a contamination limit before the wafer (13) is exposed in an EUV projection exposure system (1). The method preferably includes: arranging the wafer (13) and/or a test disc coated with the same resist (13a) as the resist (13a) of the wafer (13) in a vacuum chamber (19), evacuating the vacuum chamber (19), and measuring the contamination potential of the contaminating substances outgassed from the wafer (13) in the evacuated vacuum chamber (19), and also comparing the contamination potential of the wafer (13) with a contamination limit. An EUV projection exposure system (1) for carrying out the method is also disclosed. By rejecting wafers having an especially high contamination risk, the contamination of optical elements in the projection exposure system (1) on wafer exposure may be distinctly reduced.
US07955760B2	Method of correcting defect in photomask Disclosed herein is a method of correcting defects in photomasks. According to one embodiment, a light absorption layer is formed on a photomask where pin hole defects occur in a light blocking layer, and light absorption patterns are formed on the pin hole defect portions by selectively etching the light absorption layer. According to another embodiment, a light absorption layer is formed on a backside of a photomask having pin hole defects in a light blocking layer, and light absorption patterns are formed on the backside of the photomask substrate corresponding to a region having pin hole defects by etching the light absorption layer.
US07955752B2	Reduction of voltage loss by voltage cycle through the use of specially formed bipolar plates A fuel cell that includes specially configured bipolar plates that separate the reactant gas flow field in an active area of the fuel cell into a primary flow channels and a secondary channels. In one embodiment, the primary flow channels are in use over the entire operating range of the fuel cell and the secondary flow channels are only in use at high cell current outputs. At low power demands, the primary channels operate at a voltage below 0.8 volts and provides a gas current density of more than 0.2 A/cm2. The secondary flow channels have no gas supply and operate at mass transport limited conditions. Because of this design, voltage cycling is significantly reduced or eliminated, thus increasing the life of the fuel cell.
US07955740B2	Fuel cell stack and hydrogen supply including a positive temperature coefficient ceramic heater A fuel cell system that employs one or more PTC ceramic heaters that do not need to be self-regulated, and thus will not require various control components, such as temperature sensors. The PTC ceramic heaters include a ceramic material that is designed for a particular temperature depending on the particular application. An electrical current is applied to the ceramic heater that generates heat as long as the temperature of the ceramic heater is below the designed temperature. If the ceramic heater reaches the designed temperature, then the resistance of the ceramic material goes up, and the current through the ceramic material goes down, so that the heater does not provide significant heating. Therefore, it does not need to be regulated.
US07955729B2	Vibration resistant secondary battery module The present invention provides a secondary battery module which is excellent in vibration resistance. A battery module 20 has assembled battery blocks 11 each constituted by screw-fixing the assembled batteries 2 to the block bases 3, 4 supporting a lower portion thereof and the two block reinforcing plates 5 supporting an upper portion thereof, the six assembled batteries 2 are sandwiched by and fixed firmly to the block bases 3, 4 and the block reinforcing plates 5. The assembled batteries 2 do not move freely even if vibration is added to the battery module 20. Because the elastic sheet 9 is laid between the block bases 3, 4 and the assembled batteries 2, since a space derived due to variance in size accuracy of frames 12 which hold and fix the unit cells 11 and derived due to variance in size accuracy of the block bases 3, 4 can be removed, and vibration resistance can be enhanced. To thermal stress change caused due to combination of different materials, influence thereof can be reduced by laying the elastic sheet 9.
US07955728B2	Electrical storage device An electrical storage device has a solid electrolyte layer; and electrode assemblies stacked with the solid electrolyte layer interposed therebetween and each having a current collector on which a plurality of electrode parts are formed. A part of the solid electrolyte layer is located between successive electrode parts in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction on at least one of successive electrode assemblies in the stacking direction.
US07955727B2	Battery pack Disclosed herein is a battery pack including: a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of layers; and a partition member for partitioning the battery cells; wherein each the battery cell is larger in diametral size on the positive electrode terminal side than on the negative electrode terminal side; the partition member includes a partition plate, and ribs formed in corners formed between the partition plate and support plates provided to be substantially orthogonal to the partition plate at substantially regular intervals, the ribs being operative to support the battery cells; and the ribs are formed correspondingly to the shape of the battery cell.
US07955721B2	Article having cobalt-phosphorous coating and method for heat treating A method of processing an article having a substrate and a cobalt-phosphorous coating disposed on the substrate includes heat treating the article. At least one physical characteristic of the cobalt-phosphorous coating is altered using the heat treating to thereby change a performance characteristic of the article. For example, the article may be an actuator component having a bore or a shaft that is movably disposed at least partially within the bore.
US07955720B2	Polymer comprising phenyl pyridine units The invention relates to a polymer comprising structural unit of formula II: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are independently at each occurrence a C1-C20 aliphatic radical, a C3-C20 aromatic radical, or a C3-C20 cycloaliphatic radical; a, b, d, e and f are independently at each occurrence 0, or an integer ranging from 1 to 4; c and g are independently at each occurrence 0, or an integer ranging from 1 to 3. In another aspect, the invention relates to monomers for preparing the polymers. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to an optical electronic device comprising a polymer comprising structural unit of formula II.
US07955719B2	Tandem OLED device with intermediate connector A tandem OLED device including an anode; a cathode; at least two electroluminescent units disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein each of the electroluminescent units includes at least one hole-transporting layer and one organic light-emitting layer; and an intermediate connector disposed between adjacent electroluminescent units, wherein the intermediate connector includes an n-doped organic layer and an electron-accepting layer, the electron-accepting layer being disposed closer to the cathode than the n-doped organic layer, and wherein the n-doped organic layer includes an alkali metal and an organic alkali metal complex.
US07955711B2	Wood treatment solution and process The present invention features a single aqueous solution that imparts acceptable levels of water resistance, fire resistance, mold resistance and pest resistance to wood, and which may be used in standard wood treatment techniques commonly utilized in the wood treatment industry. The aqueous solution contains a fire retardant, an insect and termite repellant, a mold inhibitor and a pH buffer.
US07955707B2	High purity ceramic abradable coatings The invention is directed to a material and method for obtaining a ceramic abradable system for high temperature applications. High purity partially stabilized zirconia and/or hafnia base material has higher sintering resistance compared to conventional 6-9 weight percent yttria stabilized zirconia systems. The benefits of these systems are higher service lifetime and low thermal conductivity to achieve high operating temperatures. System includes a superalloy substrate, oxidation resistant bond coat and a thick ceramic abradable top coat. Total coating thickness is about 0.5-5 mm. In some applications an intermediate layer of high purity partially stabilized zirconia or a partially stabilized YSZ/MCrAlY cermet is applied over the oxidation resistant bond coat. In other applications an abradable system is applied on top of a grid. Additional benefits should be reduced blade wear at high operating conditions.
US07955699B2	Composite material An composite material is disclosed, which includes carbon fibrous structures which are capable of being included in a relatively large amount in the composite material, and which are capable of improving the physical properties, such as electric, mechanical, or thermal properties.The carbon fibrous structure comprises (a) carbon fibrous structures each of which comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers, each of the carbon fibers having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part, at which the carbon fibers are bound in a state that the carbon fibers are extended outwardly therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers, and (b) an material other than the carbon fibrous structures, wherein the amount of carbon fibrous structures added is more than 30% and not more than 100% by weight of the total weight of the composite.
US07955697B2	Adhesive bond and method for the production thereof The invention relates to an adhesive bond of a substrate material (1), whose surface and surface-near solid area contain polymer compounds with low active surface energy, and another material (4) and a method for the production of a corresponding adhesive bond. The invention more particularly relates to an adhesive metallized fluoropolymer, such as polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), as a base material for printed circuit boards having a very high structural density (fine and very fine printed circuit boards) used in the GHz range and to a method for adhesive metallization of a corresponding fluoropolymer. According to the invention, the adhesive bond is formed by a nanostructured transition area (6), containing nanocomposites, between the substrate material (1) and the other material (4), inside which the substrate material (4) which is nanostructured changes into the other material (4). The nanocomposites are composed of substrate material (1) and the other material (4). The material parts of the nanocomposites change from the substrate material (1) in the direction of the other material (1), starting with predominantly substrate material which becomes predominantly the other material (4). According to the invention, the adhesive bond is produced by physically and/or chemically exciting a nano-indented surface of the substrate material (1) and by applying the other material (4) in the form of particles during the excited state until the surface of the other substrate material (1) is fully coated with the other material (4).
US07955694B2	Strain tolerant coating for environmental protection A corrosion resistant coating system having a first coating and a second coating. The first coating includes a matrix and corrosion resistant particles. The matrix is preferably a matrix material selected from the group consisting of silica, silicone, phosphate, chromate, and combinations thereof. The corrosion resistant particles are uniformly distributed within the matrix and provide the coating a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion. The particles provide the first coating with corrosion resistance. The second coating is disposed on at least a portion of the first coating. The second coating includes an organic material capable of sufficiently sealing the pores of the first coating to reduce or eliminate infiltration of contaminant material, and is capable of being removed by exposure elevated temperatures.
US07955690B2	Sleeved fuser member A fuser member is described wherein the fuser member includes a core, a cushion comprising a first layer adjacent to the core and a second layer on top of the first layer, and a plastic sleeve. Also described is a process for producing a fuser member, which includes applying a first layer of cushioning composition on a core, applying a second layer of cushioning composition on the first layer of the cushioning composition, and applying a plastic sleeve on the second layer of the cushioning composition.
US07955686B2	UV resistant multilayered cellular confinement system The present disclosure generally relates to a polymeric cellular confinement system which can be filled with soil, concrete, aggregate, earth materials, and the like. More specifically, the present disclosure concerns a cellular confinement system characterized by improved durability against damage generated by UV light, humidity, and aggressive soils, or combinations thereof.
US07955685B2	Cellulose acylate film and method for producing same Disclosed is a cellulose acylate film produced according to a melt casting process and having an Re unevenness of from 0 to 10%. When built in a liquid-crystal display device, the film significantly solves the problem of display unevenness and humidity-dependent visibility change.
US07955683B1	Magnetic anchoring towel system A towel has parallel first and second side edges and parallel first and second end edges. The towel has a top surface and an under surface. A first patch with stitching couples the first patch to the under surface of the tower adjacent to the first side edge and to the first end edge. In this manner a first pocket is formed. A magnet is positioned within the first pocket. A second patch with stitching couples the second patch to the under surface of the tower adjacent to the second side edge and to the first end edge. In this manner a second pocket is formed. A disc with ferro magnetic properties is positioned within the second pocket.
US07955680B2	Tessellating elements The tessellating elements are in sets and comprise (a) at least one curve element comprising a semi-circle of diameter x; (b) at least one wave element having a perimeter which is three-sided, including a first side which is straight and of length x, a second side which comprises a concave curve forming a semi-circle of diameter x, and a third side which comprises a convex curve forming a quarter circle of radius x; (c) at least one corner element having a perimeter which is three-sided, including two sides of length x at right angles to one another and a third side which is concave and comprises a quarter circle of radius x; and, optionally, (d) one or more lozenge elements having at least one shaped face with a perimeter comprising two arcuate edges, each said arcuate edge having a radius of curvature x. The elements have a wide range of applications, from building tiles and children's toys, to screen-filling of computer screens or the like. In use, the elements are laid on a surface in a space-filling manner with straight edges abutting straight edges of adjacent elements, and convex curved edges abutting concave curved edges of adjacent elements.
US07955674B2	Transparent polymer blends containing polyesters comprising a cyclobutanediol and articles prepared therefrom Disclosed are polymer compositions having high transparency and low haze comprising immiscible blends of at least one polyester comprising 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol, and a copolyamide or a transamidized, homogeneous blend of a least two polyamides. The components of the immiscible blend have refractive indices which differ by about 0.006 to about −0.0006. The small difference in the refractive indices enable the incorporation of regrind into the polymer composition to produce transparent shaped articles. The blends of the present invention are useful in producing shaped articles such as, for example, sheeting, films, tubes, bottles, preforms and profiles. These articles may have one or more layers and can exhibit improved excellent barrier properties and good melt processability while retaining excellent mechanical properties. Metal catalysts can be incorporated into the compositions to produce oxygen-scavenging compositions.
US07955672B2	Permeation-inhibiting members and multi-layer containers made by using the same A permeation-preventive member and a multilayered container for fuel tank employing the permeation-preventive member, the permeation-preventive member is for preventing a permeation of hydrocarbon compound by fusion-bonding the member to a discontinuous part of the permeation-preventive layer in a multilayered container for fuel tank which comprises an inner polyolefin resin layer, an outer polyolefin resin layer and a permeation-preventive layer as an interlayer, wherein the permeation-preventive member comprises a metal sheet or foil and an adhesive resin layer comprising a modified polyolefin that satisfies the following requirements (a) to (e): (a) the melt flow rate as measured at a temperature of 190° C. under a load of 2.16 kg is 0.1-100 g/10 min; (b) the density is 0.910-0.965 g/cm3; (c) the initial adhesive strength to the metal sheet or foil is 0.1 kg/10 mm or higher; (d) the adhesive strength to the metal sheet or foil as measured after 2,500-hour immersion at 65° C. in a mixed solvent composed of 45 parts by volume of 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, 45 parts by volume of toluene, and 10 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol is 0.1 kg/10 mm or higher; and (e) the proportion of the adhesive strength (d) to the initial adhesive strength (c) is 50% or higher.
US07955671B2	Crush-resistant disposable lid and containers utilizing same A domed lid 12 for a food container 10 is configured for ease of engagement and removal from a container base 14. The lid characteristically includes: (a) a dome portion 16 with a top wall 24 and a sidewall 26; (b) a flange portion 28 extending outwardly away from a lower portion of the sidewall; and (c) a tab portion 30 extending outwardly from the flange. The flange portion is provided with a rim 32 having a variable profile around the rim characterized in that: (i) the rim is provided with a securing undercut portion 36 extending around the majority of its periphery adapted to secure the lid to an outer border of base 14; and (ii) the rim has a pair of relatively passive engagement profile portions 42, 44 on either side of tab 30, extending to the securing undercut portion of the rim, the passive engagement profile portions are configured so that they are undercut less than the securing undercut portion of the lid, thereby facilitating engagement of the lid with, or removal of the lid from, base 14.
US07955661B2	Treatment of micropores in mica materials A method for the treatment of micro pores within a mica paper that includes: obtaining a silane with a molecular weight of between approximately 15 and 300, adding the silane to the mica paper, and reacting the silane with the inner surface of the micro pores within the mica paper. After this, a resin is impregnated into the mica paper, and the resin binds to the inner surfaces of the micro pores with the mica paper through the silane. In one embodiment, the mica paper is compressed by an amount between 5% and 30% of its original thickness. In another embodiment, the mica paper is compressed both prior to reacting the silane and during impregnation with the resin.
US07955652B2	Enrobed core An enrobed a core, such as a tablet core, that has a coating made of one or more patterned films each having portions that are visually distinct (e.g., differently colored) from one another and having a transition line segment between these visually distinct portions. At least a portion of an outer surface of the core is covered with the film or films, such that the transition line segments form a substantially continuous transition line on the coating and a film seam is formed which is different from the transition line. Where the patterned films are bi-colored, the resulting enrobed core can be bi-colored, or the resulting enrobed core can have a coating with at least four visually distinct portions alternately arranged thereon, thereby forming a “checkerboard” pattern on the coating. In either case, the film seam of the coating is different from the transition line of the coating.
US07955651B2	Enhanced alumina layer with texture A refined method to produce textured α-Al2O3 layers in a temperature range of 750-1000° C. with a controlled texture and substantially enhanced wear resistance and toughness than the prior art is disclosed. The α-Al2O3 layer is formed on a bonding layer of (Ti,Al)(C,O,N) with increasing aluminum content towards the outer surface. Nucleation of α-Al2O3 is obtained through a nucleation step composed of short pulses and purges of Ti-containing and oxidizing steps. The α-Al2O3 layer has a thickness ranging from 1 to 20 μm and is composed of columnar grains. The length/width ratio of the alumina grains is from 2 to 15, preferably 6 to 10. The layer is characterized by a strong (110) growth texture, measured using XRD, and by the low intensity of (012), (104), (113), (024) and (116) diffraction peaks.
US07955644B2	Method for selectively anchoring large numbers of nanoscale structures A method is provided for creating composites by combining pre-fabricated nanoscale structures (nanostructures) and other materials in which the nanostructures are anchored. This method results in anchored nanostructures with their base held and encased within the anchoring material to a specified depth and with a specified length of protrusion of the nanostructures from the anchoring material. This represents a major advance over previous methods of creating composites containing nanostructures which were limited to fully embedded nanostructures or, at best, very limited and uncontrolled protrusion of nanostructures. In summary, the current method involves bringing nanostructures and anchoring materials into physical contact in a controlled fashion and optionally conducting a treatment step to complete the anchoring process.
US07955643B2	Method and device for the continuous coating of cores by means of a dragée-making apparatus Continuously coating cores by a dragee-making apparatus including at least one rotatably driven drum in which the product is coated with one or several coating materials or is subjected to other treatment processes. The charge of the product to be processed divided into small individual charges at the inlet end of the drum is conveyed through the drum in a clocked manner and treated in individual treatment chambers separated from each other. The longitudinal conveyor that conveys the individual charges through the drum embodies the individual treatment chambers in connection with the inner wall of the drum. The products to be treated constantly rotate in the revolving drum without being conveyed in the longitudinal direction, the longitudinal conveyor located in the drum conveying the product from one treatment station to the next as required. A passage is formed from one chamber to the adjacent, other chamber if necessary.
US07955638B2	Surface for the immobilization of ligands The present invention relates to binding surfaces for the immobilization of ligands, ligand surfaces and structured surface arrays which present a plurality of identical or different ligands. The invention further relates to a process for the production and the use of such surfaces and to specific binder molecules which can be used for the preparation thereof.
US07955634B2	Method and system of preventing rancidity in whole grain corn products Stabilized whole grain corn products and a method and system of preventing rancidity in whole grain corn products are provided. Whole kernels of corn are fractured into a plurality of pieces and heat treated to inactivate rancidity causing enzymes to produce whole grain corn products of which more than about 40% by weight passes through a size 8 screen. The stabilized whole grain corn products can be milled to produce whole grain grits, meal and flour.
US07955631B2	Process for washing and sterilizing food products, particularly vegetables, and relevant apparatus The present invention relates to a process for washing and sterilizing food products, particularly vegetables. The process comprises the following steps: (a) treatment of the food products by ultrasounds, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering; (b) treatment of the food products under ozone atmosphere, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering; (c) treatment of the food products by ultraviolet rays; and (d) dewatering and drying the food products under controlled atmosphere. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above process.
US07955626B2	Method for enhancing the DNA repair process, treating disorders associated with the DNA repair process, enhancing antitumor response and treating disorders associated with anti-tumor response in mammals by administering purified quinic acid and/or carboxy alkyl ester For use in mammals, methods for enhancing the DNA repair process, treating disorders associated with the DNA repair process, enhancing anti-tumor response and treating disorders associated with anti-tumor response. The methods generally comprise non-topical administration of purified, isolated quinic acid alkyl acid or a carboxy alkyl ester with a non-toxic carrier or diluent.
US07955625B2	Production of canola protein A canola protein isolate having a protein content of at least about 90 wt % (N×6.25), preferably at least about 100 wt %, and consisting predominantly of the 2S protein and substantially free from the 7S and 12S proteins is prepared. In one aspect, canola oil seed meal is extracted with aqueous protein solution at an elevated temperature to preferentially extract 2S protein from the meal to produce a canola protein solution containing predominantly 2S protein. The 2S canola protein is recovered as an isolate. In another aspect, the canola oil seed meal is extracted with aqueous saline solution to extract 2S, 7S and 12S proteins from the meal. The aqueous protein extract solution is heat treated at an elevated temperature to precipitate 7S and 12S proteins and leave a 2S protein solution from which the isolate may be recovered. In a further aspect, the aqueous protein solution is concentrated prior to the heat treatment.
US07955621B2	Pharmaceutical formulation comprising levothyroxine sodium There is provided a stable pharmaceutical formulation comprising (a) an effective amount of levothyroxine sodium, (b) microcrystalline cellulose which has a mean particle size of less than 125 μm and is present in an amount of 60 to 85% w/w based upon the total weight of the formulation, and (c) pregelatinised starch present in an amount of 5 to 30% w/w based upon total weight of the formulation. There is also provided a process for the preparation of such a formulation.
US07955619B2	Abuse resistant drugs, method of use and method of making An abuse resistant oral pharmaceutical composition, comprising: a barrier layer, comprising a first polymer; a diffusion layer, comprising a second polymer, substantially covering the barrier layer, wherein the diffusion layer is bonded to the barrier layer and comprises a drug that is substantially homogeneously distributed within the second polymer and diffuses from the diffusion layer within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; and optionally an expansion layer comprising an expandable polymer, wherein the expansion layer is substantially covered by the barrier layer. Methods of making the same and methods of using the same are also provided.
US07955618B2	Composition for treatment of inflammatory disorders A pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration, comprising liposomes composed of non-charged vesicle-forming lipids, including up to 20 mole percent of an amphipathic vesicle-forming lipid derivatized with polyethyleneglycol, and optionally including not more than 10 mole percent of negatively charged vesicle-forming lipids, the liposomes having a selected mean particle diameter in the size range between about 40-200 nm and containing a water soluble corticosteroid for the site-specific treatment of inflammatory disorders, is provided.
US07955613B2	Bioartificial implant and its use and method of reducing the risk for formation of connective tissue after implantation A bioartificial implant comprises a semipermeable barrier designed from one side to allow diffusion or prevent diffusion of predetermined substances/materials/molecules/cells/cell lines produced in the human body to the other opposite side of the barrier, and from said other opposite side to allow diffusion or prevent diffusion of predetermined substances which are the same as or different from the first mentioned substances/materials/molecules/cells/cell lines. The semipermeable barrier has a surface coating at least on said one side a bioactive metal, such as titanium, which surface coating is permeable to allow said diffusions. In a method for reducing the risk of formation/growth of connective tissue in connection with an implant which comprises a semipermeable barrier, the barrier is provided at least on one side with a permeable coating of bioactive metal. An example of the use of the implant is bioartificial pancreas.
US07955612B1	Intraluminal device, coating for such device, and method for preparing said device Disclosed is an intraluminal device, suitable for implantation in a body. The intraluminal device is provided with a coating which comprises: 50-97% heparan sulfate; 1-20% laminin; 0.2-15% type IV collagen. Furthermore a coating is disclosed, which coating is suitable for the above mentioned device, as well as a method for preparing such device, comprising the steps of: providing a intraluminal device for implantation in a body; preparing a composition, comprising, in about 50 mg/ml solvent: 50-97% heparan sulfate; 1-20% laminin; 0.2-15% type IV collagen; the solvent being a suitable buffer or water; dipping the intraluminal device in the composition; and drying the dipped intraluminal device.
US07955607B2	Method of evaluating evenness of suplatast tosilate crystal, even crystal, and process for producing the same Provided are a method for evaluating evenness of suplatast tosilate crystals; stable suplatast tosilate crystals exhibiting evenness in optical purity; and a method for producing the suplatast tosilate crystals.The method for evaluating evenness of suplatast tosilate crystals includes: (a) a step of adding a solvent to suplatast tosilate crystals to thereby dissolve 3% or less of the crystals in the solvent, and subjecting a portion of the supernatant of the resultant suspension to optical purity measurement, and (b) a step of adding a solvent to the remaining suspension to thereby dissolve the entirety of the suspension in the solvent, and subjecting a portion of the resultant solution to optical purity measurement, wherein the optical purity as measured in the step (a) is compared with the optical purity as measured in the step (b). The suplatast tosilate crystals exhibits excellent evenness and thermal stability. The method for producing the suplatast tosilate crystals is also provided.
US07955605B2	Multivalent pneumococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate composition An immunogenic composition having 13 distinct polysaccharide-protein conjugates and optionally, an aluminum-based adjuvant, is described. Each conjugate contains a capsular polysaccharide prepared from a different serotype of Streptococcus pneumoniae (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) conjugated to a carrier protein. The immunogenic composition, formulated as a vaccine, increases coverage against pneumococcal disease in infants and young children globally, and provides coverage for serotypes 6A and 19A that is not dependent on the limitations of serogroup cross-protection. Methods for making an immunogenic conjugate comprising Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A polysaccharide are also provided in which the serotype 19A polysaccharide is co-lyophilized with a carrier protein and conjugation is carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) via a reductive amination mechanism.
US07955602B2	Annexin proteins and autoantibodies as serum markers for cancer The present invention relates to screening methods for diagnosis, prognosis, or susceptibility to cancer in a subject by means of detecting the presence of serum autoantibodies to specific annexin protein antigens in sera from subjects. The present invention also provides screening methods for diagnosis and prognosis of cancer in a subject by means of detecting increased expression levels of annexin proteins in biological samples of the subject. The method of the invention can also be used to identify subjects at risk for developing cancer. The method of the invention involves the use of subject derived biological samples to determine the occurrence and level of expression of annexin proteins or expression of annexin derived peptides or antigens, and/or the occurrence and level of circulating autoantibodies to specific annexin protein antigens. The present invention further provides for kits for carrying out the above described screening methods. Such kits can be used to screen subjects for increased levels of annexin proteins, or for the detection of autoantibodies to annexin proteins, as a diagnostic, predictive or prognostic indicator of cancer.
US07955598B2	Therapeutic agent for chronic arthritides diseases of childhood-related diseases A therapeutic agent for chronic arthritides diseases of childhood-related diseases, for example chronic arthritides diseases of childhood, Still's disease and the like, comprising an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist as an active ingredient.
US07955592B2	Selective separation of heavy metal ion using metal ion imprinted polymer (MIIP) The present invention relates to a process for preparing a metal ion imprinted polymer which can selectively separate heavy metal ions, comprising: (a) reacting a metal salt and a monomer to make a monomer containing a metal ion group; (b) mixing the monomer containing the metal ion group, a cross-linker and an initiator in a solvent; (c) suspension polymerizing or emulsion polymerizing the obtained mixture to obtain a metal ion imprinted polymer containing a metal ion; and (d) removing the imprinted metal ion from said metal ion imprinted polymer.
US07955582B2	Method for producing crystallized silicon as well as crystallized silicon A method for producing crystallized silicon according to the EFG process by using a shaping part, between which part and a silicon melt, crystallized silicon grows in a growth zone. Inert gas and at least water vapor are fed into the silicon melt and/or growth zone, by means of which the oxygen content of the crystallized silicon is increased. From 50 to 250 ppm of vapor water is added to the inert gas, and the inert gas has an oxygen, CO and/or CO2 content of less than 20 ppm total.
US07955577B2	Reducing mercury emissions from the burning of coal Sorbent components containing calcium, alumina, and silica are used in combination during coal combustion to produce environmental benefits. Sorbents are added to the coal ahead of combustion and/or are added into the flame or downstream of the flame, preferably at minimum temperatures to assure complete formation of the refractory structures that result in various advantages of the methods. When used together, the components reduce emissions of elemental and oxidized mercury; increase the level of Hg, As, Pb, and/or Cl in the coal ash; decrease the levels of leachable heavy metals (such as Hg) in the ash, preferably to levels below the detectable limits; and make a highly cementitious ash product.
US07955575B2	Microfluidic surfaces A microfluidic device comprising a set of one or more, preferably more than 5, covered microchannel structures manufactured in the surface of a planar substrate. The device is characterized in that a part surface of at least one of the microchannel structures has a coat exposing a non-ionic hydrophilic polymer. The non-ionic hydrophilic polymer is preferably attached covalently directly to the part surface or to a polymer skeleton that is attached to the surface.
US07955573B2	Low-mass sample block with rapid response to temperature change A sample block for use in the polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and other procedures that involve the performance of simultaneous reactions in multiple samples with temperature control by heating or cooling elements contacting the bottom surface of the block is improved by the inclusion of hollows in the block that are positioned to decrease the mass of the block in the immediate vicinity of the wells.
US07955572B2	Sample collection and testing device with swing arm A sample collection and testing device comprising: An elongate housing (1) having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis; an analytical element (4) retained in the housing; a sample collector assembly extending from the first end of the housing and comprising a sample collector (24) in fluid communication with the analytical element (4); a swing arm (2) attached to the housing by a pivot fitting (44), said swing arm having proximal and distal ends; and a cap (40) at the distal end of the swing arm (2); wherein the device comprises a slide to allow limited linear movement of the cap (40) substantially along the longitudinal axis of the housing (1), and wherein the pivot fitting (44) allows the swing arm to rotate about a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the said longitudinal axis, whereby the swing arm (2) is movable between a sample collection configuration in which the cap (40) is remote from the sample collector (24) and a sample analysis configuration in which the cap (40) encloses the sample collector (24).
US07955568B2	Chemical reaction-based thermal management system and method The disclosure provides for a chemical reaction-based thermal management system and method. The system comprises a heat source for heating a first flow element, a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the first flow element to a reaction mixture flow, and a heat sink comprising one or more endothermic chemical reactions to absorb heat from the heat exchanger. The system further comprises a reactor element for approaching chemical equilibrium of the reaction mixture flow, a product removal element for removing one or more products from the one or more endothermic chemical reactions, and a plurality of driver elements for moving the first flow element and for moving the reaction mixture flow.
US07955557B2	Automatic analyzer Multiple piezoelectric elements 35 are arranged in a row along the top of liquid level in the reaction vessel 11. An ultrasonic reflecting material 38 is installed on the bottom of the portion of the heat insulating bath 12 where heat insulating medium 13 is stored. A lateral ultrasonic wave 9b is generated on the lower side is generated by actuation of the piezoelectric element 35. Wave 9b is reflected by the ultrasonic reflecting material 38. As a lower ultrasonic wave 8 advances along the wall surface of the reaction vessel, it collides with the specimen liquid level, thereby causing a portion of the liquid level closer to the piezoelectric element 35 to be raised. When the lateral ultrasonic wave 9a is applied to this portion, it reaches the inclined portion of the raised liquid level of the specimen. Swirling flow by agitation 36 is produced by the acoustic radiation pressure of the ultrasonic wave. The specimen and reagent are mixed and agitated by this swirling flow.
US07955540B2	Extrusion of thermoplastic elastomers A method of forming a thermoplastic vulcanizate by first providing a melt-blender having a die through which melt-blended thermoplastic vulcanizate passes to form a shaped article; wherein the die comprises a flow design having at least one flow branch having a taper angle and a flow reservoir at the end of each flow branch; and wherein the taper angle of the flow design ranges from 5 to 20 degrees; followed by melt-blending a thermoplastic and an elastomer with an organic peroxide curative in the melt-blender to form a thermoplastic vulcanizate; and finally, passing the melt-blended thermoplastic vulcanizate through the flow design to form the shaped article.
US07955538B2	Radiation hardened composite layer plate or film The invention relates to a radiation-curable laminated sheet or film comprising at least one substrate layer and a top layer which comprises a radiation-curable material having a glass transition temperature below 50° C. and having a high double bond density, processes for the production thereof and the use thereof.
US07955537B2	Method for constructing patterns in a layered manner A process to produce models in layers is described, whereby a first material and then selectively a second material is applied in layers on a building platform and these two application stages are repeated until a desired pattern is achieved. The two materials form a solid if a suitable mixture ratio is used and the first material is a material mixture. The material mixture is at least partially prepared prior to each application stage.
US07955529B2	Synthesis for catalysis of bifunctional perovskite compound This invention discloses the synthesis of a bifunctional La0.6Ca0.4Co1-xIrxO3 (x=0˜1) perovskite compound with a superb bifunctional catalytic ability for the oxygen reduction and generation in alkaline electrolytes. Synthetic routes demonstrated include solid state reaction, amorphous citrate precursor, and mechanical alloying. The interested compound demonstrates notable enhancements over commercially available La0.6Ca0.4CoO3.
US07955512B2	Medical devices having textured surfaces Disclosed are medical devices having textured surfaces and related methods for texturing. Methods of surface texturing using gas-phase plasma provide medical devices with myriad complex surface morphologies.
US07955511B2	Silica glass crucible A silica glass crucible used for pulling up silicon single crystal at a high temperature. The silica glass crucible may have at least an outer surface of a wall part of the crucible covered with fine grooves having a length of less than 200 μm, a width of less than 30 μm and a depth of from more than 3 μm to less than 30 μm. The fine groves may be formed by carrying out a sand-blast treatment and a hydrofluoric acid etching and may exist on more than 10% of the outer surface of the crucible, and a sliding frictional coefficient of the outer surface of the crucible to a carbon at 1500° C. is more than 0.6.
US07955509B2	Manufacturing method of liquid discharge head and orifice plate There is disclosed a manufacturing method in which depths of individual liquid chambers can be set to be small. The manufacturing method is a manufacturing method of a liquid discharge head having a liquid chamber which communicates with a discharge port for discharging a liquid, and includes: etching a first Si layer of an SOI substrate by use of an insulating layer as an etching stop layer to form the liquid chamber at the first Si layer, the SOI substrate being constituted by the first Si layer, the insulating layer and a second Si layer in this order; and removing a part or all of the second Si layer.
US07955504B1	Microfluidic devices, particularly filtration devices comprising polymeric membranes, and method for their manufacture and use The present disclosure describes devices useful for microscale fluid purification, separation, and synthesis devices. Generally, such devices comprise a fluid membrane that separates two or more fluids flowing through plural microchannels operatively associated with the membrane. Often, the membrane is a semipermeable membrane, such as might be used with a filtration device, such as a dialyzer. Devices of the present invention can be combined with other microscale devices to make systems. For example, the devices may be coupled with one or more microchemical microfactories, one or more micromixers, one or more microheaters; etc. Particular materials had to be developed for use with certain embodiments of the device disclosed herein. For example, a new composite material was made comprising nanocrystalline cellulose filler and a polysulfone polymeric material. A dialyzer comprising the composite membrane also is disclosed.
US07955497B2	Process for recovering ultrafine solids from a hydrocarbon liquid A method for separating and recovering ultrafine particulate solid material from a suspension or slurry of the solid material and a hydrocarbon liquid by precipitation or flocculation of a heavy fraction of the hydrocarbon liquid with an effective amount of a precipitation or flocculation agent such that the precipitated heavy fraction encapsulates the particulate solid material. The method further comprises coking the precipitated heavy fraction and grinding the coked product to an ultrafine size.
US07955481B2	Internal flow control in electrolytic cells Method and apparatus for controlling two phase flow in electrolytic cells. The present invention is directed to any electrolytic cell, including but not limited to upflow electrolytic cells that comprise parallel electrodes in a vertical orientation. Fluid control strips are preferably added between the anode and cathode electrodes to control flow of fluid and gas bubbles generated between the electrodes in order to avoid the detrimental effects of gas bubbles on the conductivity of the fluid solution, and thereby increase production and operational efficiency of the electrolytic cell.
US07955474B2	Tube bank apparatus for distributing stock A tube bank apparatus is disclosed for distributing stock in a headbox of a papermaking machine. The apparatus includes a tube having a first and a second portion for the flow therethrough of the stock. The first portion defines a bore for the flow therethrough of the stock, the bore having an upstream and a downstream end. The second portion defines a passage for the flow therethrough of the stock, the passage having an upstream and a downstream extremity. The upstream extremity of the passage cooperates with the downstream end of the bore so that the stock flows from the upstream end to the downstream end of the bore and then through the upstream extremity and then the downstream extremity of the passage. The downstream end of the bore has a cross-sectional area which is less than a further cross-sectional area of the upstream extremity of the passage. Also, the downstream extremity of the passage has a cross-section of trapezoidal configuration.
US07955468B2	Pneumatically actuated infrared welding method and apparatus An infrared light source focuses infrared energy onto a work surface through the open end of a concentrator. The open end of the concentrator includes an elastomeric seal for sealably coupling the end of the concentrator directly to a work piece. Pneumatic pressure is applied through the concentrator and the seal to urge the work pieces together during the heating process to complete the weld. The method of infrared (IR) welding includes the steps of applying concentrated IR energy to at least one thermoplastic member while simultaneously applying pneumatic pressure to the work pieces for welding one member to another.
US07955467B2	Method and device for producing a groove near an intended edge part of a conveyor belt, which groove is intended to be filled with a filler having sealing properties The present invention relates to a method and device for producing a groove near an intended edge part of a conveyor belt, which groove is intended to be filled with a filler having sealing properties, in which the groove is formed by removing conveyor belt material from one of the surfaces of the conveyor belt and in which, during the step of removing conveyor belt material, the conveyor belt is bent at the position of the groove to be formed near the intended edge part, and also to a conveyor belt in which a groove is produced in this manner.
US07955464B2	Method of making a shielding device A shielding device configured to provide EMI or ESD protection to an electronic component (80) comprises a cover (83), and a wall (10) of a resilient material. By molding the resilient material under the influence of a magnetic field provided by a number of separate magnets, a dispersed plurality of magnetically attractable particles in the material are concentrated in strings (11) extending between a lower (12) and upper (13) end of the wall. The cover is attached to connect to the strings affixed in the solidified wall at the upper end of the wall, and at the lower end of the wall the strings are placed in contact with a ground trace (82) formed around the component to be shielded, thereby forming a Faraday cage about the component.
US07955462B2	Method for accommodating the use of chemicals that contain low amounts of VOC in an existing device where chemicals that contained high levels of VOC had previously been used and resultant product This method to allow the use of low VOC (volatile organic compounds) solvents in blanket cleaning operations and the resultant product that is produced by this method involves the retrofitting of currently existing seals on printing press so that operators can use low VOC solvents in place of high VOC solvents. High VOC solvents are harmful to the atmosphere and humans alike. As VOC are lighter than the surrounding air, humans are subjected to inhalation of these harmful vapors which cause respiratory and other health ailments. The VOC continue to rise, mixing with nitrogen oxides, until they reach the troposphere forming thick layers of ozone or smog. The current movement of municipalities to limit the use of high VOC solvents have lead printers and others to use low VOC solvents which are inherently less evaporative than high VOC solvents. This lack of evaporation causes problems with having to handle greater volumes of waste to handle and dispose properly. Catch pans and basins designed to work in high VOC applications are insufficiently engineered to handle this increased waste and seals that are sized to fit the catch pans and basins are designed to be permeable to allow for the evaporation of the VOC. This method creates an impermeable seal with similar sizing to retrofit the existing seal allowing the user to simply change the seal versus changing the entire catch pan.
US07955460B2	Movable barriers having transverse stiffeners and methods of making the same A movable door panel having a front facer with opposed longitudinal edge profiles, rails secured to the longitudinal edge profiles, a rear facer secured to the rails, and foam disposed within an inner volume defined by the front facer, the rails and the rear facer is disclosed. Transverse stiffeners are disposed within the inner volume and the foam, and extend between the opposed rails. The door panel may be made by continuously providing the front facer with a rail secured thereto, continuously positioning transverse stiffeners on the front facer and extending between the metal rails, and continuously applying a foaming material on the front facer and the transverse stiffeners. The method concludes by bringing a rear facer into contact with the metal rails, and drawing the panel through a laminator. Hardware may then be attached to one or both of the facers and the stiffener.
US07955446B2	Welding repair method for full hoop structures A unique heat treat method for relieving stresses caused by a repairing weld joint in a full hoop part heat treats locally, at the location of the weld joint, and at a diametrically opposed location. By providing the diametrically opposed heat treat location, the present invention relieves stresses caused by the weld joint, without creating any additional residual stress in the weld joint.
US07955444B2	High strength steel sheet and method for manufacturing the same A high tensile steel sheet having 980 MPa or higher tensile strength with excellent elongation and stretch-flange formability, suitable for the press-forming of complex cross sectional shape such as automobile parts, is manufactured by adjusting the steel to consist essential of a ferrite single phase structure, to precipitate carbide containing Ti, Mo, and V, of smaller than 10 nm of average particle size, in dispersed state, and to have an average composition of the carbide containing Ti, Mo, and V satisfying [V/(Ti+Mo+V)≧0.3 (atomic ratio].
US07955442B2	Method for producing sintered magnet and alloy for sintered magnet The present invention provides a method for producing a sintered magnet, which can have a sufficient sintered density even when the magnet has a low-R composition. The method is for producing a sintered magnet comprising R (R: one or more rare-earth elements), T (T: one or more transition metal elements essentially comprising Fe, or Fe and Co) and B (boron) as the main components, wherein a starting alloy prepared by strip casting is pulverized to a given particle size to form a fine powder, where the starting alloy comprises discolored deposit 1 on the surface and the area ratio of the discolored deposit 1 is 1.5% or less, the resulting fine powder is compacted in a magnetic field to prepare a compact, and the compact is sintered.
US07955435B2	Method of producing high quality relaxed silicon germanium layers A method for minimizing particle generation during deposition of a graded Si.sub.1-xGe.sub.x layer on a semiconductor material includes providing a substrate in an atmosphere including a Si precursor and a Ge precursor, wherein the Ge precursor has a decomposition temperature greater than germane, and depositing the graded Si.sub.1-xGe.sub.x layer having a final Ge content of greater than about 0.15 and a particle density of less than about 0.3 particles/cm.sup.2 on the substrate.
US07955432B2	Phase modulation device, phase modulation device fabrication method, crystallization apparatus, and crystallization method A phase shifter which modulates the phase of incident light has a light-transmitting substrate such as a glass substrate, and a phase modulator such as a concavity and convexity pattern which is formed on the laser beam incident surface of the light-transmitting substrate and modules the phase of incident light. A light-shielding portion which shields light in the peripheral portion where the optical intensity distribution decreases of the phase modulator is formed on the laser beam incident surface or exit surface of the phase shifter, thereby shielding the peripheral light in the irradiation surface of the incident laser beam.
US07955430B2	Coating material A coating material comprising a binding agent and at least one filler including particles having a size and/or surface roughness of about 100 μm or less, and a photocatalytically active agent. The binding agent may be at least partially decomposed by a photocatalytic action, and a microstructured, self-cleaning surface may be formed.
US07955416B2	Polymerized polymeric fluid storage and purification method and system A method of storing and dispensing a fluid includes providing a vessel configured for selective dispensing of the fluid therefrom. A polymerized polymeric material is provided within the vessel. The fluid is contacted with the polymerized polymeric material for take-up of the fluid by the polymerized polymeric material. The fluid is released from the polymerized polymeric material and dispensed from the vessel.
US07955410B2	Method of recovering scrap metal A method of removing iron from waste slag from a steel producing furnace that reduces the size of the waste slag to slag particles in a reduction zone. The slag particles are advanced along a conveyor in a first direction. A first and second magnet are positioned adjacent the conveyor to remove slag particles that have a sufficient iron content to be attached by the first and second magnets. A first removal belt is advanced between the first magnet and the conveyor to remove slag particles removed from the conveyor by the first magnet. A second removal belt is advanced between the second magnet and the conveyor to remove slag particles removed from the conveyor by the second magnet. A first and second separation screens are positioned along the conveyor to remove particles not removed by the first or second magnets that are small enough to pass through the first and second separation screens.
US07955407B2	Filtration element having a variable density sidewall A filter made of specifically arranged filaments. The filter has an upstream side where fluid enters and a downstream side where fluid exits. The filaments are greatest in diameter near the upstream side wherein the filaments continuously and gradually decrease in thickness toward the downstream side. The pores or spaces between the filaments are largest near the upstream side and decrease gradually toward the downstream side. This allows various size particles to become entrained in the filter in an evenly distributed manner.
US07955396B2	Prosthesis including a mechanism for attaching a first component to a second component In one embodiment of the present invention a prosthesis including a mechanism for attaching a first component to a second component is provided. In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the first component may be a femoral head component and the second component may be a femoral stem component. In another example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the femoral head component may comprise a ceramic material and the femoral stem component may comprise a metallic material (e.g., any desired orthopedic alloy, such as Cobalt Chromium).
US07955395B2	Universal liner The present invention relates to universal liner assemblies for use during hip joint replacement surgeries, kits providing a plurality of universal liners, and methods of manufacturing and implanting the universal liners. The universal liners allow the surgeon a greater degree of selection of liners and shells, without being tied to typical liner/shell connections based on material connection constraints.
US07955392B2	Interspinous process devices and methods The present application is directed to devices and methods for spacing and/or positioning spinous processes of vertebral members. The device may include a first wing to position on a first lateral side of spinous processes and a second wing to position on a second lateral side of spinous processes. An intermediate member extends between the wings and fits within the interspinous space. The device may be selectively adjustable from a first orientation with the second wing received by the intermediate member. This first orientation may include a reduced sized to facilitate insertion of the device with a lateral approach into the interspinous space. The device may also be moved to a second orientation with the wing deployed from the intermediate member. The second orientation may provide for the second wing to be positioned on the second side of the spinous process opposite from the first wing. The intermediate member may be positioned within the interspinous space to retain a predetermined distraction height.
US07955388B2	Orthopedic connector system System, including methods, apparatus and components thereof, and kits, for connecting to bone using an anchor element configured to be anchored in bone and having a selectively bendable hinge region. In some embodiments, the system may connect the anchor element to connective tissue, a bridge member, and/or to another anchor element by bending the hinge region while the anchor element is disposed in bone, thereby connecting bone to the connective tissue or bridge member, and/or connecting bone members.
US07955384B2	Coronary sinus approach for repair of mitral valve regurgitation A device and method for treating cardiac valve regurgitation. The device includes a tubular member including a lumen there through and a locking mechanism and a compression device carried on the tubular member. The compression device is transformable to a compression configuration in response to axial displacement and is locked in the compression configuration by the locking mechanism. The method includes positioning the compression device adjacent a cardiac valve and applying an axial displacement to the compression device to transform the compression device into a compression configuration and locking the compression device in the compression configuration to apply a compressive force to the cardiac valve.
US07955377B2	Valve frame The disclosure relates to frames suitable for prosthetic implantable valves, and methods of treatment with such frames, to regulate blood flow and to be compliant in percutaneous delivery and, upon implantation, configured to conform to the changing shape of the body vessel or vein. The frames include at least one anchoring member attached to a support member at one or more attachments, and a valve member, preferably a monocuspid valve leaflet, attached to the support member. Preferred frames include two anchoring members with the support member in between the anchoring members. The support member preferably has a semielliptical shape and extends diagonally to sealingly contact the wall of the body vessel.
US07955364B2	Variable angle bone fixation assembly A bone fixation assembly and associated method. The bone fixation assembly includes a bone fastener having a shaft for engaging a bone, and a head connected to the shaft. The shaft defines a longitudinal first axis. The bone fastener also includes a plurality of external thread windings defining an outer surface of the head. The external thread windings are circumferentially interrupted by at least one slot defined on the outer surface. The slot is inclined at an angle relative to the first axis.
US07955360B2	Method for using dynamic lordotic guard with movable extensions for creating an implantation space posteriorly in the lumbar spine A lordotic guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space. The guard has a body having a first portion and a second portion in pivotal relationship to one another proximate the leading end between an open position and a closed position. The first and second portions define an opening for providing a protected pathway to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one disc space penetrating extension extends from the leading end of the body adapted for insertion at least in part into the disc space. First and second portions of the extension are in pivotal relationship to one another about an axis that passes through at least a portion of the pathway.
US07955357B2	Expandable rod system to treat scoliosis and method of using the same Correction of a scoliotic curve in a spine comprises the steps of implanting an expanding rod isolated completely under the skin and attached to selected portions of the scoliotic curve of the spine at opposing ends of the rod; and producing a controlled force by means of expansion of the rod over at an extended time period under external control until a desire spinal curve is obtained. An incremental force is generated to stretch the scoliotic curve of the spine between the selected portions where attachment of the rod is defined. The controlled force is provided steadily for at least one month or alternatively 1-3 months. Multiple rods may be employed each associated with a different scoliotic curve of the spine or a different portion of the scoliotic curve.
US07955352B2	Surgical tourniquet cuff for limiting usage to improve safety A surgical tourniquet cuff for limiting usage to improve safety, comprises: an inflatable portion having a length sufficient for encircling a patient's limb at a desired location; cuff connector means communicating pneumatically with the inflatable portion and adapted near an end for connecting to a tourniquet instrument to establish a releasable pneumatic connection; and a cuff usage register located at a predetermined distance from the end of the cuff connector means and adapted for containing a usage amount record indicative of an amount of a predetermined usage of the cuff. The cuff usage register may further contain a usage limit record indicative of a predetermined limit of the predetermined usage of the cuff. The cuff usage register may be further adapted for enabling the cuff usage record and the usage limit record to be read by a tourniquet instrument that is pneumatically connected to the inflatable portion through the cuff connector means.
US07955351B2	Rapid exchange catheters and embolic protection devices A catheter comprising a housing portion defining an interior cavity and the housing portion comprising a housing member having an interior space dimensioned for housing an indwelling medical device. The elongated member comprises a lumen extending at least from an exit port to a distal port, the housing member is disposed within the lumen, and the lumen is dimensioned in the housing portion to receive a guidewire outside of the interior space of the housing member. A medical device for filtering emboli from blood flowing in a blood vessel of patient comprising an elongate support member and an elongate side branch member connected to the elongate support member. The filter element is attached to the elongate side branch member by a proximal filter element slider, and the elongate side branch member is adapted to maintain the filter element centered in the vessel.
US07955349B2	Body piercing instrument Apparatuses and methods for a ornamental piercing of body parts are disclosed. An exemplary a piercing instrument includes a post carrier disposed to translate in a first channel within the body piercing instrument, a nut carrier disposed to translate in second channel within the body piercing instrument in opposition to translation of the post carrier and a synchronizing mechanism between the post carrier and the nut carrier to coordinate opposing motion relative to the body piercing instrument of both the post carrier and the nut carrier simultaneously. The synchronizing mechanism can be a gear, where the post and nut carriers include racks that engage the gear. The body piercing instrument can be hand-operated and also include a stabilizing surface to support the body part to be pierced during operation.
US07955341B2	Method and apparatus for providing suture in a passageway A surgical apparatus may include a guide apparatus to be used in an arthroscopic procedure and to interact with a passageway through a body portion formed by intersecting first and second holes that may lead into the body portion from different positions, e.g., from two different locations on a bone. The guide apparatus may include first and second guide members having first and second passages, respectively, that communicate with the first and second holes. The surgical apparatus may also include a suture retriever arranged to retrieve, from the second passage, a suture fed into the first passage. A method may include forming a passageway including first and second intersecting holes. First and second guide tubes may be positioned relative to the first and second holes, a suture or suture-like material may be provided into the first guide tube, and the suture or suture-like material may be retrieved from the second guide tube.
US07955334B2	External fixation system An orthopedic fixation ring for an external fixator has a ring or a ring-segment extending around a center axis. The ring comprises a first surface running perpendicular to the center axis, a second surface which is parallel to the first surface, and a plurality of spaced apart through openings running parallel to the center axis and extending through the fixation plate. The fixation plate has at least a third surface which is parallel to the first surface spaced outwardly thereof with respect to the center axis. A further set of through openings extends from the first surface to the third surface. A fourth surface may be provided which is axially displaced from the second surface with respect to the center axis. The ring preferably is circular or part-circular and is molded from carbon fiber reinforced PEEK.
US07955331B2	Electrosurgical instrument and method of use A particular embodiment of the invention provides an electrosurgical working end for performing high strength welding of tissue comprising a body having a tissue contacting energy delivery surface. The body includes pixel portions and non-pixel portions distributed within the tissue contacting surface. The pixel portions comprise a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) material with at least one pixel portion configured to switch Rf current on and off in the at least one pixel portion responsive to tissue temperature adjacent the at least one pixel portion. The pixel portions can be configured to be coupled to an Rf current source such as an Rf generator. The pixelated energy delivery surfaces are capable of highly localized modulation of Rf energy application to the engaged tissue to create high strength tissue welds.
US07955328B2	Tissue dissector and/or coagulator with a slit in an insulating tip to control the direction of energy Various devices and methods for dissecting and/or coagulating tissue are provided. In one embodiment, a surgical device is provided that includes an elongate member having proximal and distal ends, an energy emitter coupled to the distal end of the elongate member, and an insulating element that is disposed around the energy emitter. The insulating element can have an opening for receiving energy from the energy emitter, and the opening can be shaped to control a direction of energy emitted from the energy emitter.
US07955317B2	Female adaptor for feeding line An adaptor for discriminating connection of an oral tip having a length greater than 0.50 (12.70 mm) to a feeding line and for preventing sealed connection with a standard semi-rigid luer tip having a length less than or equal to 0.50 in (12.70 mm) is disclosed. The adaptor includes a duckbill valve spaced at least 0.50 in (12.70 mm) downstream from a first open end of the body such that when an oral tip is fully inserted into a connection port, the oral tip engages valve flaps of the duckbill valve and opens the valve, and when a standard semi-rigid luer tip is fully inserted into the connection port, the standard semi-rigid luer tip does not contact the valve flaps and the valve flaps remain in a closed position.
US07955309B2	Syringe plunger jacket with expandable seal A syringe plunger/jacket assembly may comprise a flexible jacket attached to a rigid plunger. The jacket may comprise at least two sealing rings (front and rear) that prevent fluid from leaking out of the rear of the barrel during injection of fluid from the syringe. The rear sealing ring may not contact or seal the interior surface of the syringe barrel in an unloaded state. In the loaded state, when force is applied in the direction of the forward discharge end of the syringe, pressure is created on the jacket. This condition causes the rear seal to expand and contact and/or seal the interior surface of the syringe barrel.
US07955302B2	Dosing device for an infusion system and method thereof A dosing device for an infusion system comprises a dosing unit having a variable volume and at least one opening in fluid connection with the variable volume, through which opening the variable volume can be filled with a substance or the substance can be dispensed from the variable volume. The dosing device is operable in a first state for filling the substance from a supply conduit, in a second state for preventing filling and dispensing, or in a third state for dispensing through a dispensing conduit. No direct fluid connection exists between the supply conduit and the dispensing conduit at any time. Methods for dosing a substance with the dosing device.
US07955298B2	Defined deflection structure Deflection mechanisms are disclosed that are positionable to deflecting portions of a flexible body, such as a catheter, in more than one direction in a single plane, as well as in more than one plane. The invention allows a distal portion of a catheter to be deflected more than 360 degrees to provide a loop.
US07955296B1	Biologically enhanced irrigants Compositions, systems and methods utilizing engineered surgical irrigants providing delivery of components with therapeutic or other secondary benefits. Engineered irrigants provide targeted delivery of desired agents, including agents for propulsion of nano-devices, agents including molecular probes, gene expression agents, magnetically orientable agents, agents for discrete tissue temperature detection and tissue regeneration agents.
US07955290B2	Method and composition for removing uremic toxins in dialysis processes Methods and devices for providing dialysis treatment are provided. The device includes a resin bed including zirconium phosphate, zirconium oxide, and urease.
US07955287B2	Orthopaedic support for immobilizing the thumb A support (1) of a rigid material having a salient arcuate bow (6) extending orthogonally from one side of the vertex of a saddle portion (5) has a Velcro® hook part (2) fixed onto the concave surface of the saddle portion (5) and a coating of a cushioning material (3) on the convex surface of the salient arcuate bow (6). The support (1) is fixable onto a wrist band (P) by anchoring the Velcro® hook part (2) present on the concave surface of the saddle (5) onto a textile lace (9) of the wrist band (P) passed in front of the thumb, the coated convex surface of the salient arcuate bow (6) sustaining the thumb resting on it. A textile binding lace (7) is wound around the thumb and the sustaining salient arcuate bow (6) of the saddle (5) for immobilizing the thumb.
US07955286B2	Elbow orthosis An orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions. The orthosis includes a first arm member affixable to the first body portion and including a first extension member extending therefrom. A second arm member affixable to the second body portion is also included and has a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom. A third arm member including a third extension member having an arcuate shape extending therefrom is interposed between the first and second arm members. The third arm member is operatively connected to the first and second arm members, such that the first and third arm members travel along an arcuate path defined by the second extension member when the third arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the second arm member. Furthermore, the first arm member can slide along the third extension member as the third arm member is moved from the first position to the second position relative to the second arm member.
US07955284B2	Cast protector without an inflexible sealing ring Cast and bandage protector that avoids use of a separate sealing ring and therefore can be folded over upon itself, has suitability for convenient packaging and at the same time still provides an effective waterproof sealing arrangement.
US07955274B2	Device for sizing a human female breast A device for intraoperative sizing of a human female breast during resizing and/or shaping of the breast composes: a (a) substantially hemispherical, rigid, cup-shaped foraminous body, i.e., a foraminous cup, defining a desired size and shape of the breast; and (b) a rim member to which the foraminous cup is affixed.
US07955271B2	Tape transport lance sampler A lancet-sampler system is configured to automatically remove a protective cover from a lancet and automatically unpack a test pad just prior to use. This minimizes the risk of injury and reduces the chance of cross-contamination between the lancet and the test pad. The lancet defines a capillary groove for drawing body fluid from the incision via capillary action and a sample transfer opening for collecting the fluid from the groove. A carrier tape is coupled to the lancet. The carrier tape includes a test pad for analyzing the fluid. The tape is folded around the test pad to form an airtight package. The test pad is located at a position to align with the sample transfer opening when the tape is unfolded. The protective cover covers a portion of the lancet, and when the tape is pulled, the protective cover is automatically pulled from the lancet.
US07955267B2	Apparatus for control of non-invasive parameter measurements Improved methods and apparatus for non-invasively assessing one or more parameters associated with fluidic systems such as the circulatory system of a living organism. In a first aspect, an improved method of continuously measuring pressure from a compressible vessel is disclosed, wherein a substantially optimal level of compression for the vessel is achieved and maintained using perturbations (e.g., modulation) of the compression level of the vessel. In one exemplary embodiment, the modulation is conducted according to a pseudo-random binary sequence (PBRS). In a second aspect, an improved apparatus for determining the blood pressure of a living subject is disclosed, the apparatus generally comprising a pressure sensor and associated processor with a computer program defining a plurality of operating states related to the sensed pressure data. Methods for pressure waveform correction and reacquisition, as well as treatment using the present invention, are also disclosed.
US07955264B2	System and method for providing communication between ultrasound scanners System and method for ganged ultrasound scanners is described. The described system includes a plurality of ultrasound scanners configured as a network and at least one connector for connecting a single ultrasound probe to the plurality of ultrasound scanners. The connector is configured to provide communication between the plurality of ultrasound scanners and the ultrasound probe.
US07955263B2	Non-invasive positioning system for locating the focus of high-intensity focused ultrasound A non-invasive positioning system for determining the focus location of a HIFU device comprises a diagnostic ultrasound and the HIFU for ablating and removing tumor tissue. The imaging plane of the diagnostic ultrasound probe and the geometrical axis of a probe of the HIFU define an inclining angle during operation. When the imaging plane of the diagnostic ultrasound intersected to the focus of the HIFU transducer, a maximal convergent interference signals was obtained, so as to position the HIFU focus within tumors for precise ablation.
US07955262B2	Method and apparatus for treatment of skin using RF and ultrasound energies A system and method for treating skin. The System comprises one or more ultrasound transducers and one or more pairs of RF electrodes. The ultrasound transducers are adapted to focus ultrasound energy at one or more focal volumes in the skin. The RF electrodes are adapted to deliver RF energy to the one or more focal volumes. The method comprises heating the skin to a first temperature at one or more focal volumes in the skin by focusing ultrasound energy at the one or more focal volumes. The focal regions are then heated to a second temperature, the second temperature being higher than the first temperature, by generating an RF current in a region of the skin containing the focal regions.
US07955256B2	Laryngoscope blade A laryngoscope blade is provided. The blade includes a base, a relatively straight main blade portion and a distal tip. The relatively straight main blade portion has a length that extends from the base. The distal tip has a length that extends from the main blade portion. The distal tip further has a width that extends out beyond the width of the main blade in a select direction. The distal tip further yet has a bend at a select location about its length.
US07955245B2	Dunnage conversion machine and method A dunnage conversion machine (36) converts a sheet stock material into a dunnage product that is relatively thicker and less dense than the stock material, but is relatively thin and sufficiently flexible to function as a protective wrap. The conversion machine includes a feed mechanism (40) that advances a sheet stock material therethrough and a connecting mechanism (42) downstream of the feed mechanism. The connecting mechanism retards the passage of the sheet stock material therethrough by feeding the stock material therethrough at a slower rate than the feed mechanism feeds the stock material to the connecting mechanism. This causes the stock material to randomly crumple in a longitudinal space between the feed mechanism and the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism connects multiple overlapping layers of sheet stock material together as they pass therethrough, including connecting at least one crumpled sheet to one side of one other sheet.
US07955225B1	Automatically variable stride walk-run-stepper pedal exerciser This pedal exerciser allows normal walking and running in place on pedals (16, 17) reciprocal back and forth by returning the pedal from varying strides to a forward step-down position in response to user's end of stride action of stepping down on the forward pedal and lifting the other foot at the rear. A return force is applied to a pedal only during its return stroke, avoiding the high force opposing user's stride of elastic return devices. This enables high return forces to return the pedals at high stride rates and long strides without high user stride effort, making possible pedal exercisers allowing normal, varying walk-run strides as on powered treadmills but without a motor drive. Mechanical and pneumatic versions are described, manual and motorized, providing cushioned step-down with automatic stride length, speed variation and stopping responding to user's foot force.
US07955212B2	Damper device Mass portions of torsional dampers are annular surrounding corresponding elastic portions. The mass portion of the torsional damper has a first inclined face formed such that the elastic portion deforms in a sheared manner as the mass portion rotates in a rotational direction with respect to a companion flange and the elastic portion partially deforms in a compressed manner as the mass portion rotates in a direction other than the rotational direction. The mass portion of the torsional damper has second inclined faces formed such that the elastic portion deforms in a sheared manner as the mass portion rotates in the direction of the rotational axis of the companion flange and the elastic portion partially deforms in a compressed manner as the mass portion rotates in a direction other than the direction of the rotational axis.
US07955204B2	Stepping motor cooling apparatus and method for belt-type continuously variable transmission In a stepping motor cooling apparatus for a belt-type continuously variable transmission, a pair of primary and secondary pulleys are disposed inside a transmission case, and a forward/backward switching unit is disposed coaxially to the primary pulley, furthermore, a stepping motor is disposed below the forward/backward switching unit. An inner case originating from the transmission case surrounds a circumference of the forward/backward switching unit. Through the inner case, a dripping hole is formed at an inner case's portion directly above the stepping motor so that working fluid drained from the forward/backward switching unit can drip on the stepping motor. In order to further improve the cooling effect of the stepping motor, a recess portion is formed immediately below the stepping motor at an upper surface of a valve body disposed under the stepping motor.
US07955196B2	Batting training device and method Apparatus and method for teaching a batter to swing a bat in a premeditated plane to and through an invisible target that simulates the point of contact where a round bat will meet and greet a round ball squarely. A batter's training tool that facilitates a batter to swing a bat with finesse, confidence, accuracy, speed and strength. Through repeated practice, the batter becomes physically and psychologically habituated to maintain the correct swing form for improved contact.
US07955189B2	Spin milled grooves for a golf club The present invention is directed to a method of forming a golf club head with an improved striking surface. The grooves are machined into the strike surface with tight tolerances. The grooves have sharp edges, radiused ends, and a draft angle between about 2° and 12°. The striking face is machined such that it has a uniform texture with a roughness of more than 40 Ra.
US07955181B2	Device for practicing a sequence of movement in the golf swing Device for practicing a sequence of movement in the golf swing, includes a base, and a first support, that is mounted on the base in a manner such that it can pivot about a first vertical axis and is intended for a golf player to place a first foot onto the first support which has a first supporting part for supporting the front part of the foot and a second supporting part that can be pivoted about a horizontal axis and is intended for supporting the heel of the first foot, a guide device is provided which is arranged on the base in a manner such that it at least partially surrounds the first vertical axis and which exhibits a curved design which rises from a lowermost point and which supports the second supporting part, and a second support is provided for the golf player to place his second foot on.
US07955177B2	Rotating bill acceptor for use with a gaming device The present invention provides a rotating bill acceptor for use with a gaming device. The gaming device includes a cabinet with a locking mechanism, where the bill acceptor is rotatably mounted within the cabinet and removably engages the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes one or two pins connected to the cabinet, wherein the pins are engaged by an engagement member on the bill acceptor. The bill acceptor rotates between a bill insertion position and a bill removal position and includes a cash box removably connected to the bill acceptor, which stores the bills until removed and emptied.
US07955176B2	Button panel assembly for a gaming machine A gaming machine comprises a display, a cabinet, a front door, and a slide-in button panel. The display depicts a randomly selected game outcome. The cabinet houses the display. The front door is hinged to the cabinet and includes a frame. The slide-in button panel is mounted by sliding it into the frame and supports a plurality of physical buttons for operating the gaming machine. The button panel is easily removed from the frame for maintenance or replacement purposes.
US07955168B2	Amusement ride and video game An amusement system has a first path extending through an amusement attraction. Vehicles moving along the path have simulated weapons. Riders in the vehicles shoot at targets along the paths or on the vehicles. A game play system allows remote players to participate in a concurrent simulation of an amusement park or theme park ride, activity or event as the amusement park or theme park ride, activity or event is occurring. The system gathers input from sensors located at the amusement park or theme park ride or activity or event, preprocesses this input, and transfers it to a computer system, which uses this input to create a concurrent simulation of the amusement park or theme park ride or activity or event. A remote game player can then interact with the concurrent simulation by providing input to the concurrent simulation through a user interface. This system combines the excitement of a highly interactive video game with the amusement park or theme park ride or activity or event. Remote game players may additionally compete against each other.
US07955165B2	Methods of rucking using low profile ruckers capable of rucking fixed diameter coverings Methods for rucking sleeves of covering material onto a chute body include a plurality of spaced apart rotatable wheels having a primary axis of movement, wherein, in operation, the plurality of wheels have an automated stroke cycle whereby each is configured to travel inwardly a distance sufficient to snugly abut an outer surface of a chute body and remain in contact with the chute body while the wheels travel in a first direction about the primary axis of movement and in an opposing second direction about the primary axis of movement.
US07955163B2	Abrading device An abrading device features a flexible abrading membrane supported by two supports. The device may be used in either linear or rotary configurations. The device can be used in conjunction with devices that impart continuous or vibratory linear or rotary motion.
US07955160B2	Glass mold polishing method and structure A glass mold polishing structure and method. The method includes providing a polishing tool comprising mounting plate, a chuck plate over and mechanically attached to the mounting plate, and a pad structure over and mechanically attached to the chuck plate. A retaining structure is attached the chuck plate. A glass mold comprising a plurality of cavities is placed on the pad structure and within a perimeter formed by the retaining structure. A vacuum device is attached to the chuck plate. The vacuum device is activated such that a vacuum is formed and mechanically attaches the glass mold to the pad structure. The polishing tool comprising the glass mold mechanically attached to the pad structure is placed over and in contact with the polishing pad. The polishing tool comprising the glass mold is rotated. The glass mold is polished as a result of the rotation.
US07955159B2	Machining of ceramic materials Milling strategies for machining dental ceramic materials are provided that reduce milling time while maintaining strength, accuracy and marginal integrity.
US07955157B1	Baton apparatus An embodiment of a baton apparatus may include a grip having an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring may have a handle. The outer ring may be mounted concentric to the inner ring and be movable/slidable with respect to the inner ring. A ratchet assembly that is positioned on the grip may also be provided for driving the outer ring in a predetermined direction. In addition, at least two arms may be provided that are mounted to, and extend radially outward from, the outer ring. In operation, the ratchet may function to permit the outer ring to remain substantially stationary as the inner ring is rotated in a first direction, and then function to permit the inner ring to drive the outer ring as the inner ring is rotated in a second opposite direction.
US07955147B1	Surface mount (SMT) crimp terminal and method of securing wire to same An surface mount technology (“SMT”) crimp terminal for mounting on printed circuit boards is in the form of a seamless circular tube or cylinder. The method of use includes depositing the SMT crimp terminal on a copper pad or land on a printed circuit board (“PCB”) coated with solder paste to render the pad or land tacky. The solder is reflowed by application of heat and the crimp terminal is soldered to the PCB. A bare wire to be retained is inserted through one end of the tube and the tube is subjected to sufficiently high stress, intermediate its axial ends, to induce plastic flow on the surface of the material. The force plastically deforms the central region of the tube as well as the bare wire received therein. Any form of mechanical hydraulic press can be used for this purpose and resulting deformation of the crimp terminal and the wire contained therein provides a retention force on the wire which is greater than wire breaking strength.
US07955146B1	Electrical connector An electrical connector adapted to be mounted to an electronic product which has two first locating blocks each defining a first containing mouth between two arms of the first locating block, and two second locating blocks each defining a second containing mouth between two arms of the second locating block. The electrical connector includes an insulating housing and a plurality of terminals. The insulating housing defines a plurality of terminal passages. The insulating housing has two opposite end surfaces which oppositely protrude outward to form two connecting blocks. A front of each of the connecting blocks is positioned in the first containing mouth and a rear of each of the connecting blocks is positioned in the second containing mouth so that the connecting block can be clipped between the first locating block and the corresponding second locating block. The terminals are received in the terminal passages, respectively.
US07955142B1	Rotatable secondary lock for electrical connector An electrical connector assembly is comprised of a main housing portion and a front housing portion. The main housing portion and front housing portion receive a terminal therethrough and are rotatable relative to each other. The front housing portion has a terminal receiving cavity which receives the base portion of a terminal, and the main housing portion has a terminal receiving passageway. The terminal receiving passageway has a terminal receiving aperture which aligns with the terminal receiving cavity, which when rotated overlaps the terminal receiving cavity to lock the terminal therein.
US07955139B2	Method and system for reducing internal crosstalk and common mode signal generation within a plug/jack combination A communication connector is described that includes a plug and a jack, into which the plug is inserted. The plug terminates a length of twisted pair cable. The jack includes a sled to support contacts for connecting to wires within the cable, a rigid circuit board that connects to the contacts, and a flex board that contacts the plug interface contacts. The jack also includes circuitry to compensate for crosstalk between wire pairs of the cable by adding capacitance values within the sled, rigid circuit board and/or flex board between traces carrying signals from the wire pairs so that crosstalk caused by the plug between wire pairs that have signals in phase cancels with crosstalk caused by the plug between signals out of phase, and so that the capacitance values added between each trace are about equal. The compensation is performed to reduce differential to common mode signal conversion.
US07955135B2	Electrical card connector with at least a retention piece extending vertically from contact A card connector, comprising an insulative housing having a base, a plurality of passageways extending along a widthwise direction of the base, a plurality of retention slots defined on two lengthwise sides of each passageway, and a plurality of contacts received in the respective passageways. Each contact has a planar soldering section on a side of the planar section; a beam section extending from the side of the planar section opposite to the soldering section; the beam section defining an arc contact section on a free end; the planar section having a number of retention pieces received in the retention slots. The retention pieces are defined perpendicular to an extending direction of the soldering section.
US07955132B2	HDMI cable connector A cable connector comprising a connector, a cable, a circuit board electrically connecting the connector to the cable, an insulating inner housing and an outer housing. The connector comprises an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive terminals disposed therein and a metal shield mounted on the periphery of the insulating housing. The insulating inner housing comprises upper and lower casings integrally coupled together and a receiving space formed therebetween for accommodating the circuit board. The cable connector comprises a copper foil which covers the periphery of the insulating inner housing. The copper foil is electrically coupled to the metal shield and grounded through the metal shield. Finally, the outer housing envelopes the periphery of the copper foil. Thereby, the cable connector can achieve both miniaturized and a lower cost, while also reducing the rate of defective products.
US07955130B2	Electrical connector with shielding plates without mounting tail and grounding member An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a number of signal contacts, a number of shielding plates and a grounding member touching the shielding plates so that the shielding plates are jointly connected with each other. The shielding plates are assembled to the insulative housing and disposed between the signal contacts of adjacent columns. Each shielding plate includes a tab projecting into a base of the insulative housing. No mounting tail for establishing connection between the shielding plates and a circuit board is set on any of the shielding plates. Instead, the grounding member comprises a number of mounting tails for being connected to the circuit board so as to establish electrical connection between the shielding plates and the circuit board.
US07955128B2	Electrical power system, method and assembly having nonconductive support bar A method, system and assembly for transferring electrical power adapted to provide power to a grounded aircraft is provided. The assembly comprises a first and second insulated electrical conductor and a plug body, attached to ends of these conductors. A first contact and a second contact is provided within the plug body, having electrically conductive connections with the first and second conductors. A non conductive support bar disposed at least partially within the plug body separating at least portions of the first contact and the first conductor from the second contact and the second conductor.
US07955126B2	Electrical connector with grounding member A coaxial cable connector includes tubular post, a coupler secured over an end of the tubular post for securing the connector to an appliance, and an outer body secured to the tubular post. An electrical grounding path is maintained between the coupler and the tubular post whether or not the coupler is tightly fastened to the appliance. The electrical grounding path is provided by a resilient, electrically-conductive grounding member disposed between the tubular post and the coupler. Alternatively, the connector includes conductive grease at a point where mating portions of the tubular post and coupler have closely matching dimensions.
US07955124B2	Cable connector assembly with an extra connector to supply power A cable connector assembly includes a first cable connector (1), a pair of cables (4, 5), a second cable connector (2) and a third cable connector (3). The first cable connector has a printed circuit board (10) received therein, a shielding member (13) enclosing the printed circuit board and an insulative cover (14, 15) assembled out of the shielding member. The cables are connected with the printed circuit board and extending out of the shielding member, the second cable connector is in accordance with Displayport standard and connected with one of the two cables; and the third cable connector is in accordance with USB standard and connected with another one of the two cables.
US07955120B2	Wire containment cap with an integral strain relief clip A wire containment cap for reducing horizontal strain on a cable terminated at a communication jack. The wire containment cap is part of the communication jack and includes a strain relief clip that may be actuated to apply pressure to the cable. The applied pressure holds the cable in place and helps prevent wire pairs of the cable from pulling out of terminals in the communication jack.
US07955114B2	Cable assembly with latching mechanism An cable assembly (1000) includes an insulative housing (7); a plurality of terminals (211, 222) received in the insulative housing; a cable (6) having a plurality of wires connected to the terminals; and a latching member (3a) assembled to the insulative housing, the latching member having a latching arm (32) and an inclined tab (324) upwardly and inwardly projecting from the latching arm; an actuating member (7) having a frame (70) and an elastic arm (71) protruding backwardly from a lateral side of the frame, and an actuating tab (72) protruding inwardly from the elastic arm; an external cover (51) with a deformable button (514) formed at a lateral side thereof. The deformable button is pressed to urge the elastic arm of the actuating member inwardly movement and the actuating tab moves inwardly to downwardly press the tab so as to lower the latching arm.
US07955111B2	Plug-type mount A plug-type mount is provided for releasably holding an equipment part such as a panel or an interior trim part on a sub-frame such as a fuselage. The plug-type mount (5) includes a first holder (30) and a second holder (35) which can be fastened to one another with the aid of a holding pin (11) and a housing (20), in which the holding pin (11) can be releasably locked. The holders (30, 35) carry in each case at least one electrical contact (33, 34) and are configured in such a way that, in the case of the holding pin (11) being locked in the housing (20), the holders (30, 35) are fastened to one another and the electrical contacts (33, 34) are connected electrically. Excessive cable lengths can be avoided by the preferable use of the plug-type mount (5) in an airplane because the electrical connection is also produced and disconnected as the mechanical connection is produced and disconnected.
US07955108B2	Cable end joint assembly A cable end joint assembly (60) for a heating cable is provided, and a method for manufacturing of said joint assembly. The cable end joint assembly comprises at least two insulated conductors (11,12) arranged within a common sheath (10) and has end portions (1,2) stripped for their insulation (11,12) and electrically interconnected (3), as well as an enclosing end cap (6) being sealed to the sheath (10). The cable end joint assembly (60) further comprises at least one sealing element (4), which is provided between the respective conductor insulations (11,12) and the inner wall (26) of the end cap (6).
US07955101B2	Modifiable electrical connector lug An electrical connector including a first connection section adapted to connect the electrical connector to a first conductor; and a second connection section connected to the first connection section. The second connection section includes a lug having a hole configured to be located onto a mounting post. The second connection section has a substantially straight shape with the electrical connector having a first predetermined product safety certification. The second connection section includes a recess on a top side forming a weakened line across the second connection section for bending the second connection section at the weakened line from the substantially straight shape to a bent shape forming a modified electrical connector having a second different predetermined product safety certification.
US07955086B1	Socket connector with vented pick up cap thereon A socket connector includes an insulative housing defining an upper surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of contacts received in the housing, and a pick up cap assembly mounted upon the housing and covering the contacts. The pick up cap assembly includes a pick up cap having an opening exposed to contacts, and a deformable shield secured onto the pick up cap and covering the opening. The shield includes two layers having different coefficient of thermal expansion so that the shield warps upward when exposed to a heat, allowing heat to reach to the upper surface of the housing.
US07955079B2	Dental prophylaxis angle and handpiece assembly A dental prophylaxis angle and handpiece assembly for cleaning and polishing teeth is provided. The dental prophylaxis angle is removably attached to the dental handpiece by an interlocking mechanism that includes extension locking tabs, a locking annular member, and an interlocking drive member in the handpiece. The prophy angle is securely snap-fitted onto the handpiece and locked in place so that it has minimal lateral movement. After the prophy angle has been used to treat a patient, it can be removed easily from the handpiece and disposed thereof.
US07955073B2	Flame arrester arrangement and method of incorporating bores in a flame arrester arrangement In a flame arrester arrangement which is formed from two metal strips (8, 9) which are wound together to form a disk having an approximately circular outer circumference and of which a first metal strip (8) is a smooth strip and the second metal strip (9) is a corrugated strip having defined corrugation, the two strips (8, 9), by bearing against one another, forming defined gaps (11) for passage of a fluid and being held in position relative to one another by fixing pins inserted into radial bores (6), the radial bores (6) can be incorporated without deforming the gaps (11) even in the region of the bores (6) by virtue of the fact that the bores (6) are incorporated by spark erosion without deforming the corrugation formed in the second metal strip, such that the gaps (11) are also present in the region of the bores (6) in the manner defined by the corrugation.
US07955070B2	Device for moulding parts of a plastic material A molding device including a mold having a stationary portion arranged on a stationary platen of a press, and a movable portion arranged on a movable platen of the press, at least one injection channel for injecting material into the movable portion of the mold, and a feeder device for feeding the mold with plastics material, the feeder device including a stationary installation including a first metering device for metering a first quantity of material. The feeder device includes at least one second metering device arranged on the movable platen, the second metering device being connected to the first metering device in such a manner as to be fed with plastics material by said first metering device, and being connected to the injection channel for injecting material into the movable portion of the mold in such a manner as to be capable of feeding it with plastics material.
US07955069B2	Receiving jig To separate resin molded parts that are used for a push button switch member with less light leakage from the side faces and less trouble in key operation, easily, a resin molded body comprises one or more resin molded parts for a push button switch member, a frame surrounding the outside of the resin molded parts, one or more gates connecting a plurality of the resin molded parts each other or the resin molded part to the frame and one or more runners crossing the longitudinal direction of the gates, wherein the gates are connected at the back faces of the resin molded parts not to be coated with light shielding paint, and wherein the runners are connected to the gates on the same surfaces as the resin molded parts are connected to and are connecting the opposing sides of the frame.
US07955068B2	Injection molding machine An injection apparatus includes a guide member on a frame via a guide member support mechanism. A screw rotation mechanism is assembled on the guide member. This prevents the guide member from being affected by deformation of the frame and allows the screw rotation mechanism to be smoothly moved. Thus, a screw rotatably coupled to the screw rotation mechanism can be smoothly moved.
US07955062B2	Vane pump A vane pump for pumping hydraulic fluid wherein fluid at a pressure intermediate the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure of the pump is supplied to under vane passages of the vanes located in and passing through the rise region of the pump. This assists in preventing damage to the vanes caused by driving the vanes through the protective coating of oil on the wall of the pump chamber when the vanes are travelling through an inlet region of the pump.
US07955059B2	Fluid control device for a high pressure analytical instrument In various embodiments a fluid control device suitable for high pressure analytical instruments includes a housing having an interior surface with an end wall. The interior surface defines a chamber. A valve assembly disposed in the chamber controls the flow of fluid through the chamber. An end cap is disposed in the housing opposite the end wall to enclose the chamber. The end wall and end cap each have an opening to pass a fluid to the chamber or to remove a fluid from the chamber. The housing and end cap each has an abutment surface to receive the other abutment surface. At least one of the abutment surfaces has a plastic seal coating. A means of compression, such as a compression housing and compression sleeve, is included to engage the end cap to deform the plastic seal coating between the abutment surfaces and thereby seal the chamber.
US07955056B2	Method for controlling a compressed air installation comprising several compressors, control box applied thereby and compressed air installation applying this method Method for adjusting a compressed air installation using several electrically driven compressors of what is called the “loaded/unloaded” type and/or the turbo compressor type and/or the compressor type with variable rotational speed, wherein these compressors are each connected to a single compressed air network with their outlets, and wherein use is made of a control box which makes it possible to adjust the pressure in the compressed air network around a target pressure to be set. The adjustment takes place by controlling the flow of one or several of the compressors, in particular in order to increase the overall flow supplied by the compressors when the pressure drops too much, and in order to lower the overall supplied flow when the pressure becomes too high.
US07955052B2	Load sensing on a rotor blade of a wind power plant A rotor blade of a wind power plant, comprising a rotor blade connection for connection to a hub of the rotor of a wind power plant and a blade tip disposed at the opposite end of the rotor blade. In order to provide a rotor blade in which flexing can be detected with simple means, at least one electrical conductor is laid over the length of the rotor blade, wherein the electrical conductor begins at the rotor blade connection, extends in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade and back to the rotor blade connection, and that there is provided a detector which detects the electrical resistance of the conductor and is connected to an evaluation device which evaluates the electrical resistance.
US07955046B2	Gas turbine engine front architecture modularity A gas turbine engine is disclosed that includes a spool having a compressor section. An inlet case is arranged axially upstream from the compressor section. A gearbox is secured to the inlet case. The gearbox couples the spool and a fan. A sealing assembly is arranged between the inlet case and the gearbox to provide a sealed bearing compartment. The inlet case, gearbox and seal assembly provide a module. A fastening element removably secures the module to the spool. The gas turbine engine can be serviced by disconnecting the fastening element from the engine core. The gearbox and inlet case can be removed as a module from the engine core without disassembling the gearbox.
US07955044B2	Method for processing substrates A method for processing substrates for a substrate processing facility includes the steps of: performing ventilation of a container with a fan filter unit while a lid of the container is in a closed state, when the container is stored in a storage shelf, and when the container is transferred with a substrate transfer device, and ventilating the container with the fan filter with the lid of the container in an open state, when substrates are transferred in a substrate loading/unloading section with the substrate transfer device.
US07955043B2	Substrate transfer apparatus Provided is a substrate transfer apparatus which can perform stable and highly accurate transfer without making a configuration complicated. A substrate transfer apparatus according to the present invention includes a multijoint arm whose one end is arranged on a base and the other end is connected to a hand for supporting a substrate, a linear guide for guiding a rectilinear movement of the hand, and a belt driving mechanism for moving the hand along a guide rail of the linear guide. The substrate transfer apparatus having such a configuration supports a load acting on the hand by the multijoint arm and ensures rectilinear transfer performance of the hand by the linear guide. Therefore, since a special mechanism for passing the substrate through a dead point is not required, the configuration is prevented from becoming complicated. Furthermore, since the load does not directly act on the linear guide, high transfer accuracy can be obtained.
US07955040B2	Cutting device, finisher and image forming apparatus provided therewith A cutting device that cuts an edge portion of a sheet bundle to an even length, in which a plurality of sheet have been stacked, using a cutting blade, the cutting device includes: a paddle shaft capable of being rotated, which is connected to a drive source provided in the vicinity of the cutting blade; and a plurality of paddles provided on the paddle shaft in a rotary axis direction thereof; wherein the plurality of paddles are arranged in a single line with the same phase as each other on the paddle shaft.
US07955039B2	Method of creating booklet cover and booklet cover kit A peeling sheet on the back of a cover sheet is provided with a cover seal having a printed front surface is peeled off to partially expose an adhesive layer. A core material for cover is placed thereon. First side piece portion and second side piece portion are then peeled off and the entire surface of the first cover members, backbone member and second cover member of the core material for cover is bonded and fixed by the adhesive layer of the cover sheet for cover. Outer circumferential region of the cover seal for cover is then bent to the inside thus making a cover of a booklet. When a personal user edits electronic images and prints the electronic images on a printed sheet, the printed sheet can be fixed easily in a short time for making a booklet.
US07955038B2	Turnlock fastener A turnlock fastener (1) for the connection of two components features a cover plate (4) and a base shaft (5) which is formed on the cover plate (4) and which extends away from the cover plate (4), at which at least two opposing rigid locking stands (10, 11) are positioned at a distance from the cover plate (4) and extend outward from the base shaft (5) in the radial direction. In addition, a fixing arrangement is provided to secure the turnlock fastener (1) to a first component which possesses at least two radial elastic spring limbs (14, 15) which are each arranged between two locking stands (10, 11) and which are connected at one end with the base shaft (5) and which extend away from the base shaft (5) with the other free end in the direction of the cover plate (4). That way, the turnlock fastener (1) can be secured ahead of time within certain relatively large dimensions of insertion openings of different sizes and with relatively large pullout forces.
US07955025B2	Tile for synthetic grass system An array of tiles for use in a synthetic grass system. The array includes a plurality of tiles wherein a first tile has attachment members on three sides and complementary attachment members on the fourth side and a second tile includes two sets of adjacent sides, the first set having attachment members and the second set having complementary attachment members.
US07955018B2	Applicator and a packaging and applicator device A packaging and applicator device for a makeup composition includes a receptacle for containing the composition and an applicator for applying the composition. The applicator includes a handle of elongate shape, having a longitudinal axis and a rotary applicator member movable relative to the handle about an axis of rotation that does not coincide with the longitudinal axis, the applicator member defining an applicator surface that projects outwards between free surfaces of the applicator member and that is for loading with composition. The axis of rotation is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis and is not perpendicular thereto; and/or the applicator member is offset laterally relative to the handle so that a proximal side of the applicator surface is free.
US07955014B2	Dispenser with moving assembly with encased valve A dispenser includes a moving assembly which includes an upper valve and a lower valve having a reservoir for containing a product. The upper valve having at least one aperture is coupled to the lower valve having at least one aperture. Furthermore, the lower valve and the upper valve are partially covered by a sleeve. The sleeve includes a shaped path. The upper valve and the lower valve being selectively guidable along the shaped path between an upward position for the dispenser to deliver the product and a downward position to store the dispenser.
US07955005B2	Roll rotation mechanism In a roll rotation mechanism (1) for continuously causing a film-rolling roll to rotate at a constant rate, an Oldham coupling (4) is interposed in a transmission path between a wave gear reduction mechanism (3) and a roll (10). The Oldham coupling (4) forms a connection between a gear rotation output shaft (34) and a roll rotation shaft (11) in a state in which latitude of movement α is present about a central axis line (4a). When a roll (10) is continuously rotated at a constant rate, the Oldham coupling (4) is held in a state in which no latitude of movement is present in a rotation direction R and latitude of movement α is present in a direction opposite the rotation direction; and rotation torque is transmitted. Due to the presence of the latitude of movement α, a vibration transmission path is blocked in the Oldham coupling (4), vibrations are not transmitted from the wave gear reduction mechanism (3) to a roll (19), a vibration system does not resonate, and no incidence of large rotational fluctuation occurs in the roller.
US07955002B2	Optical signal measurement device A device connects to a male network connector of a network conduit, and connects to a female network connector of the network conduit. The female network connector is capable of communicating with the male network connector. The device also measures outputs of the male network connector and the female network connector.
US07955000B2	Joint assembly, particularly for bogie brake linkages A greased joint assembly operating in oily conditions comprises an axle mounted rotating or pivoting in a ring. The axle and/or the ring are subjected to a hardening surface treatment by diffusion or by structural transformation followed by a finishing surface treatment and a treatment suitable for reducing the tendency to jamming and for reducing the sensitivity to corrosion, and the bore of the ring and/or the axle is provided with arrangements acting as a lubricant reserve.
US07954993B2	Measuring apparatus comprising a Peltier-Seebeck detector A measuring apparatus comprises a detector device for detecting a variable to be measured, and a controller operative to control the detector device and generate an output signal indicative of the magnitude of the variable being measured. The detector device comprises a housing on which are mounted two Peltier-Seebeck detectors, the detectors being arranged on the housing such that only the first Peltier-Seebeck detector is exposed, in use, to the variable to be measured. The controller is operative to generate the output signal based on the output of the first Peltier-Seebeck detector and the output of the second Peltier-Seebeck detector so as to account for the effect of the ambient heat on each Peltier-Seebeck detector.
US07954990B2	Composite light guiding device A light guiding device (1) and in particular to a light guiding device that can be used for illumination, backlighting, signage or display purposes is described. The light guiding device (1) comprises a transparent base substrate (2), upon a first surface of which are mounted light sources (3), and a guide substrate (4) arranged so as to encapsulate the light sources (3) upon the first surface. In this way the guide substrate (4) provides a means for guiding light produced by the one or more light sources over the first surface. The incorporation of scattering structures (5) along with appropriate choice of the refractive indices of the various layers provides a highly flexible light guiding device that is typically less than 1 mm thick. The described light guiding device (1) provides particular application as a seven segment display.
US07954988B2	Scanner module and image scanning apparatus employing the same A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employ an illuminator that includes at least one light emitting diode, a light guide to change the direction of the light from the light emitting diode, and a light source holder to which the light emitting diode is mounted, the light source holder being positioned in relation to the light guide such that the light source holder covers an incidence face of the light guide, on which the light from the light source is incident, the surface of light source holder facing the incidence face reflecting light incident thereupon. The reflection of light by the light source holder reduces the possibility of leakage of light, and can enhance luminous intensity of light of the illuminator.
US07954986B2	Vehicle light and method for manufacturing the same A vehicle light can have a simple configuration for easily determining whether or not a coating, such as an anti-fog coating and a hard coating, has been applied to a lens. A manufacturing method of such a vehicle light is also disclosed. The vehicle light can include a housing opened in an illumination direction, a light source disposed within the housing, a reflecting surface disposed within the housing and configured to reflect light from the light source to the illumination direction, and an outer lens disposed so as to hermetically close the front open end of the housing. The outer lens can have an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of which including a coating for surface treatment. The outer lens can further have a first area which is subjected to a texturing process on the inner surface and/or the outer surface, with at least part of the first area including the coating for surface treatment.
US07954980B2	Folding rechargeable worklight An LED having a center core and a first panel and a second panel coupled to the center core. The first panel includes a first array of LEDs mounted to a first circuit board disposed within a first opening formed within the first panel and a first lens disposed over the first array of LEDs. The second panel includes features similar to the first panel. The second panel is rotatable around the center core from a 0 degree closed orientation to about a 360 degree orientation, and is positionable at any intermediate angle therebetween. The LED includes a retractable hook for mounting to an elevated object. The LED also includes at least one magnet to mount the LED to vertical/vertically angling surfaces. The array of LEDs mounted to the first panel and the second panel can be controlled independently of one another.
US07954975B2	Refraction-type led ceiling lamp A refraction-type LED ceiling lamp, especially a plate-type ceiling lamp which is used on an indoor ceiling, includes primarily a fiber light guide plate, a reflection surface of which is provided with multiple chip-shape reflection elements, distributed in arrays. A chip size of the reflection elements decreases gradually toward an entrance surface by a geometric series; whereas, a gap between the reflection elements increases gradually. A reflection curve of the reflection element allows light to be projected out uniformly and a required illumination angle to be achieved.
US07954973B1	Stair lighting system, and method for its implementation A stair lighting system that features: means for sending electrical power from one end to the other end of a stair case down a main line, means for distributing electrical power from the main line to each individual step or tread, and an electrical load in the form of a light source, preferably featuring a light emitting diode (LED), and means for controlling a supply of electrical power to the light source.
US07954971B1	Offset mountable light accessory An offset mountable light, including a light body, wherein the light body includes a battery compartment positioned within a cavity formed by the light body; a light hood housing a light source; at least three electrical contacts formed in the light body, wherein the at least three electrical contacts comprise at least one inner contact and at least two outer contacts; a controller that is capable of controlling the light source to illuminate in a predetermined manner; a light switch bar pivotably coupled to the light body; and an accessory mounting clamp coupled to the offset mountable light, wherein the accessory mounting clamp mounts the mountable light to an accessory rail, such that the mountable light is mounted offset from the accessory rail.
US07954965B1	Method for multiple gauges in a scanning laser based display device A display for measured quantities can include a gauge with a set of indicia spaced around the gauge to indicate the measured quantities. A window can be formed in the gauge that extends along the set of indicia. An elliptical reflector can be positioned such that a first focus of the elliptical reflector is on the same axis as the center of the gauge with this axis perpendicular to the axis connecting the foci. An optical device can be mounted on a shaft and be arranged to redirect a light beam from a second foci of the elliptical reflector onto the elliptical reflector to generate a virtual pointer in the window. Means can be provided for turning the shaft to rotate the optical device. A light source can project the light beam onto the optical device. Rotation of the optical device can enable the virtual pointer to be selectively aimed at the set of indicia.
US07954961B2	Method for driving a high-pressure gas discharge lamp of a projector system A method for driving a high-pressure gas discharge lamp of a projector system, which is suitable to produce and to supply to a light valve device during a projection interval (4) a light beam of a basic color which is selected from several basic colors (G, R, B). The lamp is driven by a lamp current. During said projection interval light valves of the light valve device are controlled in a pulse width modulation manner to have each valve provide a respective wanted light integral over said projection interval. During at least one of a number of successive projection intervals associated with one basic color a magnitude of the lamp current is temporarily reduced for at least a time that all light valves can be controlled for said one basic color.
US07954955B2	Projector lamp having pulsed monochromatic microwave light sources A light engine for image display projectors has a plurality of monochromatic light sources, typically red, blue and green, combined into one light generation device powered by microwaves pulsed at 3-5 KHz rates. The light engine has a microwave power supply, microwave coupling cavity, a microwave coupler coupling a microwave signal from the microwave power supply to the microwave coupling cavity, and the plurality of monochromatic light sources disposed in the microwave coupling cavity and powered by the microwave signal. The microwave coupling cavity includes a plurality of resonance points, each of the monochromatic light sources being located respectively at one of the resonance points.
US07954945B2	Reflectometry/interferometry system and method for corneal plane positioning A system for positioning an eye of a patient, for example, for laser ophthalmic surgery includes a reflectometer adapted to receive as input a reflected beam from an anterior surface of a cornea of an eye of a patient. The interferometer is calibratable to a desired position of the corneal anterior surface. A comparator is in signal communication with the interferometer and is adapted to calculate from the input a difference between an actual position and the desired position of the corneal anterior surface. A device is in signal communication with the comparator for moving the patient a distance in a direction for matching the actual position to the desired position of the corneal anterior surface.
US07954942B2	Floating lens mounting system Various embodiments of an eyeglass and eyeglass system are provided that can maintain the geometric and optical quality of a lens supported by the eyeglass. The eyeglass can comprise a frame, a support member carried by the frame, and a lens mounting area or groove extending at least partially along at least one of the frame and the support member. The support member can be pivoted, moved, or deflected relative to the frame between a retaining position and an open position. In the open position, the lens can be seated within the lens mounting area. In the retaining position, the support member and the frame retain the lens without exerting deformative forces on the lens. Accordingly, the as-molded geometric and optical qualities of the lens can be preserved.
US07954939B2	Decurling mechanism A decurling mechanism for performing a decurling process of correcting the curl of paper includes: a first roller; a second roller disposed travelably around the first roller; and a roller position changing mechanism for changing the second roller to a plurality of positions set on a traveling path of the second roller. The plurality of positions include a decurling position in which the decurling process to the paper is enabled and the paper is conveyed while being pinched between the first and second rollers, a conveyance position in which the decurling process to the paper is disabled and the paper is conveyed while being pinched between the first and second rollers and a pinch release position in which the paper is released from the pinch between the first and second rollers.
US07954936B2	Ink cartridges and ink supply systems An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber configured to store ink. The ink chamber is defined by at least one wall, and an air layer is formed in the ink chamber between a surface of the ink and a portion of the wall. The ink cartridge also includes a pump for selectively supplying air to the air layer and to draw air from the air layer. An ink supply system includes a first ink tank including an ink chamber defined by at least one wall, and an air layer is formed in the ink chamber between a surface of the ink and a portion of the wall. The ink supply system also includes a pump for selectively supplying air to the air layer and to draw air from the air layer, and a second ink tank in fluid communication with the first ink tank.
US07954933B2	Ink cartridge An ink cartridge for inkjet printers is disclosed. The inkjet cartridge comprises a case, an ink supply chamber, and an ink storage chamber. The ink supply chamber and the ink storage chamber are inside the case. An ink outlet is provided on a sidewall of the case. The ink supply chamber is connected or linked in a low position with the ink outlet and in a high position with an air vent. The ink storage chamber is connected or linked in a low position with the ink supply chamber through a first passageway and a second passageway; the second passageway is below the ink outlet but above the first passageway. The cartridge has a simple structure. It eliminates the need of air pump and provides constant supply of ink to the print head. It avoids ink overflow caused by the temperature change in the environment.
US07954927B2	Nozzle members, compositions, and methods for micro-fluid ejection heads An improved photoimaged nozzle plate for a micro-fluid ejection head, a micro-fluid ejection head containing the nozzle plate, and methods for making a micro-fluid ejection head. The improved nozzle plate is provided by a photoresist nozzle plate layer applied to a thick film layer on a semiconductor substrate containing fluid ejector actuators. The photoresist nozzle plate layer has a plurality of nozzle holes therein. Each of the nozzle holes are formed in the nozzle plate layer from an exit surface of the nozzle plate layer to an entrance surface of the nozzle plate layer. Each of the nozzle holes has a reentrant hole profile with a wall angle greater than about 4° up to about 30° measured from an axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the exit surface of the nozzle plate layer.
US07954925B2	Droplet discharging head and method for manufacturing the same, and droplet discharging device A droplet discharging head comprises: a pressure chamber; a nozzle plate including a penetration part that couples with the pressure chamber and discharges a droplet; and a droplet guidance part having a tip positioned inside the penetration part. The tip of the droplet guidance part is free from touching an inside wall of the penetration part.
US07954922B2	Ink jet recording apparatus Activation/deactivation of a pump 50 is executed with a delay of a predetermined time from a forward/reverse switching of rotation of a conveying roller 2, while an activation/deactivation of lock means 20 is executed simultaneous with a forward/reverse switching of rotation of the conveying roller 2, and, at the switching of the driving direction of the conveying roller, a difference in timing is provided in the drive transmission so as not to transmit the driving power to the pump for a time necessary for the activation/deactivation switching of the lock means. By separating the cap from the recording head while retaining a negative pressure in the cap after the ink suction operation, thereby reducing the ink amount remaining on the discharge port face or in the cap after the ink suction operation.
US07954921B2	Digital printing apparatus A digital printing machine includes a rigid frame, a first linear motion X axis stage mounted on the frame, a printing table assembly movable on each linear X axis stage, a linear motion Y axis stage mounted on the frame perpendicular to the linear X axis stages, above the printing table assemblies, and an array of inkjet nozzles mounted on the linear Y axis stage for linear motion perpendicular to the X axis stage, also a second linear motion X axis stage mounted on the frame parallel to the first axis stage and arranged for operation independently of the first axis stage, and/or a curing unit located above the printing table assembly and/or a pre-printing wetting assembly, for printing over garments, by applying wetting composition on the printed material, prior to printing.
US07954918B2	Liquid discharge head substrate and liquid discharge head having reduced heat enable wiring A selection circuit receives heat-enable signals to drive heaters, whereby signals are selected to drive the heaters.
US07954916B2	Droplet ejecting apparatus for forming dots on a medium An apparatus for ejecting droplets includes an actuator which applies ejection pressure to a pressure chamber which stores ink; a nozzle communicating with the pressure chamber and capable of ejecting a main droplet having a trajectory and a satellite droplet having a volume smaller than the main droplet together with the ejection of the main droplet; and a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber and ejects a main droplet having a trajectory intersecting the trajectory at a intersection point. The apparatus further includes a control device which controls the actuator and platen rollers transferring a paper. The control device performs control so that the main droplets collide with each other at the intersection point to form an united droplet and that the satellite droplet lands on the paper.
US07954915B2	Ink jet recording apparatus and remaining ink amount detecting method Even if an error occurred in a result of the detection by an optical detecting mechanism for optically detecting whether or not a remaining amount of ink in an ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a correct situation of the remaining ink amount in the ink tank can be detected. A detecting method has a first discriminating step of discriminating whether or not a remaining ink amount in the ink tank is equal to or less than a predetermined amount by using an optical sensor and a second discriminating step of discriminating whether or not the remaining ink amount in the ink tank is equal to or less than the predetermined amount on the basis of information regarding an amount of ink consumed in the ink tank. If the absence of ink is determined in either the first or second discriminating step, information showing the absence of ink is notified.
US07954909B2	Fluid pressure booster In a fluid pressure booster, when an input shaft and a valve plunger advance, an atmosphere valve opens to introduce air into a variable pressure chamber. At this time, the input shaft has not moved by a predetermined stroke, and thus a projection of the valve plunger is positioned within an inner peripheral surface of a control valve body, thus forming an orifice, which causes air to be sucked at a restricted flow rate. As a result, generation of noise is suppressed. When the input shaft moves the predetermined stroke, the projection of the valve plunger is positioned away from the inner peripheral surface of the control valve body and the orifice is no longer formed. Accordingly, the flow rate of the air is not restricted by the orifice, and thus a relatively large amount of air is sucked into and introduced into the pressure variation chamber.
US07954903B2	Barrier mechanism A barrier mechanism for vehicles arranged to receive containers comprising dispensable content comprises a bracket arranged to be moveably mounted at a dispensing side of the vehicle and an activation device. The activation device is operable to move the bracket between a non-deployed state, to accommodate loading of the container onto the trailer, and a deployed state, for securing container content during dispensing of content at the barrier side of the vehicle.
US07954900B2	Leg supporting device for use behind a head rest for air and vehicular travel A leg supporting device for use behind a head rest for air and vehicular travel has a head rest support portion that fits over a head rest of a forwardly positioned seat and supports a back flap portion that hangs down behind the forwardly positioned seat. A pair of adjustment straps adjustably attach to the back flap portion and supports a foot support portion. A user slips one or both of their feet into the foot support portion and then adjusts the adjustment straps to support their feet at a desired height and position. The foot support portion handles to carry it. In use, the leg supporting device can be folded and placed within the foot support portion and carried using the handles until needed. One embodiment includes pockets for holding drinks, computer, and other carry-on items. A leg massage unit may be built in for additional relief.
US07954897B2	Vehicular seat In a vehicular seat 10 according to this invention, since a back shell 32 covers a back frame 31, as in the case where the shape of a seat back is formed of the urethane pad, the shape of the seat back is not easily changed. Thus, the passenger can be surely held. Further, since the back shell 32 is displaceably supported for the back frame 31, the back shell 32 is displaced according to the figure or posture of the passenger. This permits the passenger to sit with good riding comfort.
US07954894B2	Headrest mountable video system A media system for a seat in a vehicle comprises a display electrically coupled to a media player, wherein the display and the media player are housed together in a first housing, and a second housing disposed substantially in the seat and adapted to secure the first housing including the display and the media player therein, wherein the first housing is selectively detachable from the second housing.
US07954885B2	Installation structure of resin garnish A resin garnish installation structure installed to a vehicle body exterior surface, having a resin garnish which extends along a longitudinal direction thereof, the resin garnish including: an exterior surface which is level with the vehicle body exterior surface; a first edge which extends along the longitudinal direction; a second edge which is provided on an opposite side of the first edge and extends along the longitudinal direction; and an end part provided at a tip in the longitudinal direction, wherein in a vicinity of the end part, the second edge gradually curbs toward the first edge, and the second edge joins the first edge at the end part, and the resin garnish is installed so that a gap is formed between the end part and the vehicle body exterior surface, the gap becoming wider as it gets closer to the tip of the resin garnish.
US07954880B2	Sliding door structure for automobile A sliding door structure of a vehicle is provided for sliding a door body with respect to an opening portion of a vehicle body in forward and rearward directions of the vehicle body for opening and closing. The sliding door structure includes a rail disposed on the door body and aligned with the forward and rearward directions of the vehicle body. An arm protrudes from an edge portion on a door opening direction side of the opening portion of the vehicle body, and is configured to engage with the rail to hold the door body movably in the forward and rearward directions. The door body is able to slide in the door opening direction after engagement between the vehicle body side engagement portion and the arm side engagement portion when the arm pushes the door body outwardly in the width direction of the vehicle.
US07954864B2	Hybrid energy absorber for automobile bumper An automobile bumper system including an isolator disposed adjacent a cross beam of an automobile frame, and a bumper edge guard strip mounted adjacent upper and/or lower edges of the cross beam. The bumper edge guard strip may include an upper extension fixedly engaged with an upper surface of the cross beam and a lower extension fixedly engaged with a frontal surface of the cross beam, with the upper extension having a length greater than the lower extension for distributing impact energy in a predetermined manner.
US07954862B2	Electromagnetic lock provided with a sliding bolt for a swinging-type door Electromagnetic lock includes a body, a retractable sliding bolt, and a movable plate structured and arranged to move the retractable sliding bolt and functioning as an armature of an electromagnet housed in the body. The movable plate is movable via two forces acting in the same direction and is structured and arranged to move the retractable sliding bolt to a protruding position. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07954860B2	Coupling mechanism In a coupling mechanism, an inner peripheral wall of a coupling main body is inscribed with an outer side ring groove of containing an outer peripheral side edge portion of a stopper member, a stopper member introducing port formed by a width wider than a width dimension of a strip member of the stopper member is inscribed at a position of an outer wall portion of the coupling main body slightly shifted from a position of inscribing the outer side ring groove to a side of an inserting front end, the stopper member is applied with a spiral torsion such that both end portions opposed to each other of the strip member slightly carry out core deviation, an inner peripheral wall of the outer side ring groove is formed by a taper face in a state of being expanded from a rear end side to a front end side in an inserting direction, also an outer peripheral wall of the stopper member is formed by a taper face of a shape in correspondence with the taper face of the outer side ring groove, the inner peripheral wall of the stopper member is formed by a shape substantially in parallel with an outer peripheral wall of the connected pipe, and a face of the inner peripheral wall is formed by a rough face achieving a slip preventing effect.
US07954857B2	Assembly of multi-use torque fitting and length of tubing having compressible seal An assembly comprises a multi-use torque fitting and a length of tubing. The torque fitting generally comprises a threaded body portion and a torque-limiting body portion, wherein the threaded body portion and the torque-limiting body portion are arranged substantially concentrically along a longitudinal axis of the fitting. The length of tubing, meanwhile, generally comprises a compressible seal formed at its end. Generally, the torque fitting is configured to couple the length of tubing to a fluid port in a hermetically sealed or substantially leak-proof manner by providing a degree of compression to the compressible seal of the length of tubing sufficient to prevent substantial fluid leakage at the tube/port interface.
US07954844B2	Curtain air bag device and method of producing the same An air bag comprises inside and outside base fabrics that are stitched to constitute an outer bag that is flat when receiving no gas. The outer bag is formed with a gas inlet opening through which an inflation gas is led into the outer bag to expand the same. The air bag further comprises inside and outside smaller fabrics that are stitched to constitute an inner bag that is installed in the outer bag. Given portions of the inside and outside smaller fabrics are stitched to given portions of the inside and outside base fabrics respectively to form a plurality of narrow auxiliary chambers between the inner bag and the outer bag.
US07954841B2	Gliding board with rigidifying insert and method of manufacture Gliding board that includes an upper sub-assembly, a lower sub-assembly, and an intermediate core, the upper sub-assembly including a first longitudinal opening, the lower sub-assembly including a second longitudinal opening, and the intermediate core including a third longitudinal opening, each of the first, second, and third longitudinal openings being positioned at the rear end of the gliding board, the gliding board further including a rigidifying element that is inserted simultaneously in the first, second, and third longitudinal openings. The rigidifying element can have a planar, bulging, or convex lower surface.
US07954835B2	Front wheel suspension structure for saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same A front wheel suspension structure for a saddle-type vehicle (all terrain vehicle) includes a double wishbone suspension system. The double wishbone suspension system includes a pair of right and left upper arms and a pair of right and left lower arms. The upper arm and the lower arm each include a front arm portion and a rear arm portion, respectively, and each of the upper arm and the lower arm is attached to a side of a body frame at two points. When viewed in a side view, the rear arm portion of the upper arm is located in front of the rear arm portion of the lower arm. A front shock absorber is arranged behind the rear arm portion of the upper arm.
US07954830B2	Ice transport system An ice transport system includes a cart and a plurality of ice totes. The cart includes a bed and a plurality of retention structures mounted on the bed. The plurality of ice totes are arranged on a platform of the bed and contained on the platform by the plurality of retention structures. The plurality of retention structures are configured and positioned relative to the platform to contain the plurality of ice totes on the platform while leaving an access side of a plurality of sides of the platform open for loading and unloading the plurality of ice totes. In some cases, each ice tote may include a hang hook removably disposed within a recess in the exterior surface of the tote and configured to extend outward from the exterior surface.
US07954829B2	Retractable wheel assembly for a jackstand A receiver extends from the top of a retractable wheel assembly to receive the lower end of a jackstand or the like. Upon exerting pressure on a foot operated plate, a wheel is extended from the bottom of a plate and locked in place with a catch to permit transport of a trailer or the like attached to the jackstand. Upon release of the catch, the wheel will retract to bring the plate into contact with the ground and immobilize the trailer.
US07954823B2	Sealing ring for reciprocating motion A sealing ring used for reciprocating motion and having low friction characteristics. The sealing ring is held at one of two members that move relative to each other and slidably in intimate contact with the other. The sealing ring has an end sliding part having an arcuate cross section and slidably in intimate contact with the other and also has a recessed surface formed in at least either a rear face or both side faces in an axial direction. The sealing ring satisfies the relationships of A/2
US07954822B2	Wire material for coil expander and coil expander A wire material for a coil expander capable of manufacturing a coil expander that is unlikely to cause disadvantages such as abnormal wear and resultant reduction in strength The wire material for a coil expander is used for a coil expander of a combination piston ring having a piston ring and the coil expander for pressing and urging the piston ring outward in the radial direction thereof, wherein a cross-sectional shape thereof is a rectangular shape, and when the coil expander is formed by using the wire material for a coil expander, the surface of the wire material for a coil expander, constituting an outer peripheral surface of the coil expander, is formed into a convex curved shape.
US07954819B2	Pinball machine A pinball adapted for play by either one or two players. The pinball game includes the playing surface having first and second ends. The playing surface is adapted for supporting a pinball between the ends. The pinball game also includes a tilting assembly associated with the playing surface for orientating the playing surface between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position directed towards one of the first and second ends. When the pinball game is adapted to be played by one player, the playing surface is in the inclined position. But when the pinball game is adapted to be played by two players, the playing surface is in the horizontal position.
US07954813B2	Sheet conveying device and control method therefor A sheet conveying device that is capable of performing a stable sheet conveying operation without being influenced by a characteristic of a sheet. A sheet conveying device includes lots of conveying roller pairs configured to convey a sheet by nipping the same and conveying motors configured to drive the respective conveying roller pairs. A downstream conveying roller pair and an upstream conveying roller pair cooperate with each other to convey the sheet by nipping the same. A CPU controls the conveying motors such that the circumferential speed of the downstream conveying roller pair becomes lower than that of the upstream conveying roller pair. The speed difference in circumferential speed between the downstream conveying roller pair and the upstream conveying roller pair is changed according to a characteristic of the sheet.
US07954810B2	Method and device for transporting a sheet A device for manufacturing a crosslaid fiber web including a first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, which are oriented in two different directions, wherein the second conveyor belt adjoins a side of the first conveyor belt. During operation of the device, the first conveyor belt transports longitudinal fiber web segments, which are conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a conveyance region. During transportation by the first conveyor belt, a conveyance area of the longitudinal fiber web segments projects with respect to the side of the first conveyor belt. The device comprises a guiding belt for supporting a portion of this conveyance area, in order to guarantee that, in the conveyance region, the longitudinal fiber web segments may be conveyed to the second conveyor belt in a completely outstretched fashion.
US07954793B2	Elastomeric isolator An elastomeric tie rod end isolator or an elastomeric cartridge isolator that includes an outer metal sleeve defining a generally cylindrical socket, a generally cylindrical inner metal sleeve disposed coaxially within the socket in radially spaced relationship with the outer metal sleeve, and an elastomeric isolator disposed therebetween. The elastomeric isolator is a unitary annular body formed of an elastomer material and having a radially inboard surface in contact with the inner metal sleeve and a radially outboard surface in contact with the outer metal sleeve. The unitary elastomer body has a generally conical primary load-carrying section and a generally cylindrical secondary load-limiting section, each disposed coaxially about the axis of the socket. The load-limiting section includes a snubber gap formed by an axially extending groove. The annular unitary elastomeric body may be formed of an elastomer material having a relatively low damping characteristic and a relatively soft stiffness characteristic.
US07954792B2	Strut assembly with air spring A strut assembly includes a damper having a housing and a rod moveable relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis. The strut assembly includes a flexible membrane configured to receive a pressurized gas to form an air spring. A coil spring defines an inner diameter with the housing disposed within the inner diameter to permit relative movement between the coil spring and the housing. The coil spring is at least partially disposed outside the flexible membrane relative to the longitudinal axis.
US07954791B2	Fine bubble airlift device The present invention relates to an aeration device for use in a liquid medium. The device includes a housing adapted to float within the medium such that a top portion thereof remains above a top surface of the medium. The housing has a bottom portion and an open side portion. The device further includes a hose affixed to the bottom portion of the housing substantially parallel to the surface of the liquid medium. The hose has a wall with a plurality of pores formed therein. The device further includes a gas-supplying pipe affixed to the hose and means for supplying a gas to the pipe such that the gas passes through the pipe and into the hose.
US07954789B2	Composite shaft and self-centering coupling A composite hollow aspirator shaft is formed of fiberglass-reinforced phenolic resin that reduces the amount of vibration that is transferred to the motor rotating the shaft, and the motor's bearings. This extends motor and bearing life. When the aspirator tip is rotated in a liquid, fluidic forces are transferred to the shaft. Rather than transmitting those forces into the motor and its bearings, the composite aspirator shaft attenuates the forces to prevent most of them from reaching the motor and its bearings. The composite shaft material has a flexural modulus, or ratio, within the elastic limit of any applied stress, and is sufficiently low to allow the transfer of the flexural or oscillatory energy into heat within the shaft instead of conveying the energy in the form of vibration/oscillations along the axial length of the shaft. As an added advantage, the fiberglass resists abrasion better in wastewater than stainless steel used in the prior art.
US07954783B2	Folding bracket for light bar A two part bracket for mounting a light bar to an environmental surface. The bracket may comprise two mirror image platforms or members hinged to one another to move from an open condition to a closed or folded condition. Each platform may have a plurality of holes for passing fasteners to fix the platform to the light bar or to the environmental surface. In the closed conditioner, the bracket obstructs casual access to these fasteners. Each platform has an eye which aligns with the eye of the other platform when the bracket is in the closed condition, to receive the shackle of a padlock for example. Each platform includes pads which abut pads of the other to oppose collapse of the bracket due to weight loads.
US07954780B2	Adjustable self-balancing flat panel display mounting system A self-balanced adjustable mounting system for a flat panel display. When a flat panel display is attached to the mounting system, the display is adapted to revolve about a substantially horizontal axis extending proximate a center of gravity of the display. The system may be self-balancing at a plurality of locations about the axis.
US07954776B2	Wire basket pathway system A cable bend guide includes a curvilinear wall and a mounting clip interconnected with the curvilinear wall. The mounting clip has first and second spaced apart wire hooks adapted to engage at least one wire of a wire basket. The cable bend guide also includes a retaining tab interconnected with the curvilinear wall and adapted to engage another wire of the wire basket.
US07954775B2	Adjustable support assembly A support structure is disclosed comprising a longitudinally extending hollow member configured to receive a support tube therein. The longitudinally extending hollow member comprises an approximately flat surface opposite an internal corner of the longitudinally extending hollow member. The invention further comprises a support tube configured to be removably inserted within the longitudinally extending hollow member and a mechanism for forcing an outer corner of the support tube into the internal corner of the longitudinally extending member.
US07954765B2	System and method for in-flight adjustment of store ejector gas flow orificing A store ejector is adapted for in-flight adjustment of the pitch attitude imparted to a store by a pair of ejector pistons. The pitch attitude of the store is adjustable to correspond to a flight condition of the aircraft at time of store release. The aircraft has a flight computer that provides store release pitch data corresponding to the aircraft flight conditions. The store ejector includes an orificing assembly that varies the flow of pressurized gas to the ejector pistons by translating a mandrel within a bore formed in the orificing assembly. Orifices within the bore are adjusted to apportion the flow of pressurized gas to the ejector pistons in accordance with an optimum orifice setting corresponding to the desired pitch attitude of the store for the given flight condition.
US07954762B2	Lightweight aircraft passenger seat with composite construction An aircraft seat assembly configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention utilizes composite materials to achieve significant weight savings relative to conventional seat designs. The seat assembly includes a lightweight composite support structure, a lightweight composite seat base, and a seat back assembly that employs a lightweight inner frame. The seat cushion and the seat back cushion may utilize a sealed pneumatic element that self-inflates to provide increased air cushioning during flight. The seat assembly can leverage inexpensive manufacturing techniques such that the seat assembly can be economically produced for use as an economy class seat.
US07954759B2	Control system for the nacelle of a turboreactor The invention relates to an electrical control system for the nacelle of a turboreactor, comprising a plurality of electromechanical maneuvering elements for a plurality of actuating devices embodied as auxiliary parts of the turboreactor. The invention is characterized in that the control system comprises an electronic control box comprising a plurality of control inlets to be connected to control elements, and a plurality of outlets connected to electromechanical maneuvering of the auxiliary actuating devices. The control box can translate each instruction received into an operating sequence for at least one corresponding electromechanical maneuvering element. The invention also relates to a nacelle and an aircraft provided with one such control system.
US07954753B2	Supply system for the energy supply in an aircraft, aircraft and method for supplying an aircraft with energy A supply system for the energy supply in an aircraft comprising an engine for propelling an aircraft, a fuel cell for supplying an aircraft with electric energy, a first fuel reservoir for supplying the engine with engine fuel and a second fuel reservoir for supplying the fuel cell with fuel cell fuel. The first fuel reservoir is arranged separately of the second fuel reservoir.
US07954738B2	Ice dispenser Provided is an ice dispenser. The ice dispenser dispenses ice pieces have various sizes such as chunks, fragments, and shavings to users, and the size of ice pieces discharged from the ice dispenser can be conveniently adjusted. The ice dispenser includes a rotatable first roller, a rotatable second roller disposed close to the first roller, and a distance adjustor. The distance adjustor is configured to adjust a distance between the first and second rollers for adjusting sizes of ice crushed between the first and second rollers.
US07954737B2	Shredder thickness with anti-jitter feature A shredder includes a housing having a throat for receiving at least one article to be shredded, and a shredder mechanism received in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. The shredder also includes a detector that is configured to detect a thickness of the at least one article being received by the throat, and a controller that is configured to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements to shred the at least one article and to set a flutter threshold higher than the predetermined maximum thickness threshold, if the detected thickness is less than a predetermined maximum thickness threshold. The controller is also configured to thereafter continuously detect the thickness of the at least one article being inserted into a throat of the shredder; and to perform a predetermined operation responsive to the thickness detector detecting that the thickness of the at least one article is greater than the flutter threshold.
US07954733B2	Eggshell membrane separation method A method for processing unseparated egg shells is provided. The method includes placing the unseparated egg shells in a fluid tank containing a fluid mixture, applying cavitation to the fluid mixture to thereby assist in separating the egg shell membranes from the egg shells, and recovering the egg shell membranes. Preferably, the fluid mixture is recirculated to thereby provide for continuous processing of unseparated egg shells. The method may further include drying the egg shell membranes to produce dried egg shell membranes which may then be vacuum packaged for storage and/or transport. The dried egg shell membranes may then be subjected to an extraction process for extracting at least one type of polypeptide from the egg shell membranes. Collagen, hyaluronic acid, or amino acids of interest may be extracted from the egg shell membrane and purified for numerous uses.
US07954732B2	Irrigation system and method An irrigation system has an elongated irrigation tube subdivided by an integrally formed internal partition into a first lumen and a second lumen. At one end of the tube, a supply connection connects a water supply to the first lumen while at the other a termination arrangement defines a flow path from the first lumen to the second lumen. There is thus defined a water flow path which passes from the supply connection along the first lumen and then via the termination arrangement back along the second lumen. Water is released either by openings spaced along the tube connecting to the second lumen, or by the use of porous material for the irrigation tube. The partition is preferably flexible so that, under the pressure differentials occurring during use, an effectively conical flow path is created.
US07954724B2	Electronic card and methods for making same An electronic card includes a digital processor, an electrochemical battery and a communications port. The processor and battery are essentially coplanar, and are sandwiched between and enclosed by two flexible covers, preferably made from an insulating plastic material, and preferably fitted to the components that they enclose. The communications port can include, for example, a Smart Card contact port, a stripe emulator, an RF port, and IR port, etc. The battery may comprise a rechargeable battery. In an exemplary embodiment, at least the processor is carried by a flexible printed circuit (PC) board. In other exemplary embodiments, switches and/or indicators are also carried by the PC board. A method for manufacturing an electronic card having at least two components is also disclosed.
US07954711B2	System and method for demand driven collaborative procurement, logistics, and authenticity establishment of luxury commodities using virtual inventories Systems and methods providing for a virtual inventory system of goods aggregating disparate inventories into a single virtual inventory for the purpose of tracking the goods, trading the goods, and establishing authenticity of the goods. The aggregation of disparate inventories readily provides for quick procurement or sales of the goods, especially as they relate to high end, rare, or expensive items. Accordingly, electronic product codes are assigned to each good to monitor inventory and movement of the good.
US07954709B1	Computer-based value-bearing item customization security The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide computer systems and methods for protecting the security of processing for customization of computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, securing processing of exemplary image-customized computer-based postage label 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will further provide computer systems and methods for securing computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, securing image-customized computer-based postage label 1 as depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear an image 2 that would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The user may provide image 2 in an electronic form, such as by uploading a digital representation of image 2. In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a user could alternatively provide a hardcopy image. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear a human-readable indication of the country 4 for which the postage is approved. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable indication of an amount of postage 5. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable identifier (such as a serial number) 6 that will uniquely identify the particular customized computer-based postage label. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a machine-readable set of information 7.
US07954707B2	Fitting room terminal, job supporting system, and information acquiring method A display unit displays information in a fitting room. An operation input unit receives operation input of information in the fitting room. An RFID reader writer performs radio communication with an RFID tag, which is attached to a commodity and stores data of a commodity ID for identifying the commodity, and sets a radio communication range in the inside of the fitting room. A control unit that (i) acquires data of a commodity ID from an RFID tag attached to a commodity in the fitting room via the RFID reader writer, (ii) acquires, according to the acquisition of the data of the commodity ID, data of questionnaire information including a question and plural answers to the question from a questionnaire information file that stores the data of the questionnaire information, and (iii) causes the display unit to display the acquired questionnaire information, waits for selection of one or two or more answers, which are included in the questionnaire information displayed by the display unit, by operation input in the operation input unit, and causes a storage area to store the answers selected by the operation input in the operation input unit.
US07954699B1	Facilitating multi-transaction currency handling processes A transaction such as a withdrawal or deposit may be divided into multiple smaller transactions based on an amount of currency associated with the transaction. For example, in a withdrawal, a container in which withdrawn funds are to be placed may be of limited size. Thus, multiple containers may be needed to withdraw the requested funds. Accordingly, each container may be assigned or associated with a different transaction. Each transaction may be created automatically, for example, upon completion of a previous transaction. Additionally, a number of transactions needed may be determined automatically. Thus, a user might only need to initiate the overall transaction process. Initiation may be based on manual input or triggered using an identification device such as an RFID tag, iris scan, card swipe and the like.
US07954697B2	Tamperproof genuineness ID device with self-destruct protection function and a method thereof A tamperproof genuineness ID device with self-destruct protection function and a method thereof, which identifies whether merchandises are genuine or fake by reading, identifying and encrypting genuineness ID information in a genuineness ID medium. The tamperproof genuineness ID device includes a working part with self-destruct protection function and a detecting work part for identifying a product to be detected, wherein the product to be detected is airtight sealed or fixed with the tamperproof genuineness ID device together. The method includes several steps: setting the genuineness ID medium in a coordinate working state with the tamperproof genuineness ID device; identifying information in the genuineness ID medium by the detecting work part of the tamperproof genuineness ID device, then encrypting and calculating to obtain a native genuineness ID code; and outputting a detecting result. The tamperproof genuineness ID device makes genuineness ID detection for merchandise easier and more reliable.
US07954676B2	Dispensing head and fluid product dispenser comprising same A fluid dispenser device including a dispenser head, a piston and an outlet valve. The dispenser head has a body defining a fluid expulsion channel terminated by a dispenser orifice, a rigid insert disposed in the channel, and a shutter element disposed in the channel and displaceable between a closed position and an open position. The shutter element is urged at rest towards its closed position and automatically displaced towards its open position while fluid is dispensed, returning automatically to its closed position. The shutter element forms a single piece with the rigid insert. The rigid insert forms or is secured to the outlet valve and is mechanically displaceable towards its actuated position while the fluid is being expelled, and being automatically returned to its rest position once the fluid has been expelled.
US07954671B2	Pack, especially for breath freshening products The pack comprises a container defining a containment volume containing pastilles or the like, a lid closing off the said containment volume and includes a flap for dispensing the pastilles or the like. The pack also contains a spray dispenser including a sprayable fluid and spray nozzle for dispensing the fluid. The spray dispenser is inserted within the containment volume of the container with the spray nozzle associated with the lid.
US07954662B2	Liquid storage container A liquid storage container capable of ensuring a sufficient ink storage space and preventing liquid leakage without large variations in liquid pressure even when the container is deformed by an external force during shipping or in operating time. The container includes a protection member positioned outside of a flexible member, and an opening is defined on a plane member arranged in contact with the flexible member so as to face the protection member.
US07954655B2	Display with folding shelves A presentation display for use in displaying products, samples and/or premiums. The display is comprised a shelf that is attached to a backer panel by means of a flexible hinge. The display may be made with flexible material as in paperboard, or with more permanent material as in plastic, wood, metal or other suitable material. Additional shelves may be added. The orientation of the additional shelves should be in a “nesting” way where when they are in the “Up” or “Closed” position there is minimal space between the shelves (“nesting” way), and when they are in the “Down” or “Open” position the area covered up during storage or shipping is revealed, giving a substantially “open” look a and feel to the display and allowing for easy access to the product. The revealed area may contain imagery or messaging to inform, entertain or to help sell the product.
US07954641B2	Display packaging for an animated toy The present invention is directed toward a display package for an animated doll or similar toy product that facilitates demonstration of the toy's animated features. The display package provides an enclosure that houses the doll. The doll includes an animation mechanism that drives a portion of the toy from a first position to a second position. The display package may include a moveable display panel mounted within the enclosure. The display panel is selectively engaged by the toy when the animation mechanism is engaged. The display package may include a support member that supports the toy within the package and permits the animation mechanism to move the doll from a first display position to a second display position.
US07954632B2	Conveyor belt having replaceable segments The invention relates to a conveying belt which is made of elastomeric material and has a load-bearing side (2) for the conveying material and a running side and, in particular, has a reinforcing support embedded within the conveying-belt core, wherein the conveying belt has at least one exchangeable part, wherein the invention provides for the exchangeable part to be a segment (6) which has a small surface area in relation to the load-bearing side (2) and/or running side as a whole and comprises a component support (7) and information carrier (8), the component support and information carrier forming a dedicated unit.
US07954628B2	Article stacking apparatus having at least one safety sensor and method of operating same A stacking apparatus includes a base, a main conveyor pivotably supported on the base that is pivotable between a first, lowered, position and a second, raised, position, an accumulator section downstream of a discharge end of the main conveyor for receiving articles from the main conveyor, where the accumulator section includes a support for supporting a stack of items fed to the accumulator section by the main conveyor. Also, at least one optical sensor detecting the presence of an object in the main conveyor travel path and at least one controller operatively connected to the main conveyor and the optical sensor, the at least one controller receiving signals from the optical sensor and controlling the main conveyor based on the signals and on the direction of movement of the main conveyor.
US07954622B2	Two-piece wedge diverter gate A diverter gate generally includes a bracket which connects to an actuator and a flag which releasably engages with the bracket via cooperating engagement members. The cooperating engagement members may be symmetrical, and may comprise one or more tabs and one or more corresponding receptacles. The tabs may be dimensioned slightly larger than the receptacles so as to create a positive interference fit. The bracket and the flag may include openings to receive a fastener extending substantially across the length of the gate. Tightening the fastener compresses the tab(s) against the receptacle(s) to result in a compression fit between the flag and the bracket. The two-piece design allows the flag to be easily removed and reversed or replaced, without disassembling or removing the bracket or the actuator.
US07954621B2	Modular wireless conveyor interconnection method and system A modular conveyor system is disclosed in which components of each conveyor module is designed for wireless mesh communication. The communications may be within a module or between modules. Certain of the components may be powered by battery, such that the components may be completely wireless. The network may be entirely self-configuring such that the modules may be assembled and the network established in a straightforward manner.
US07954619B2	Load sharing handrail drive apparatus A handrail drive apparatus is provided comprising a first drive wheel assembly configured to drive a handrail and comprising a planetary gear train arranged to be driven by a first driving member. The handrail drive apparatus further comprises a second drive wheel assembly configured to drive the handrail, the second drive wheel assembly being coupled to the planetary gear train of the first handrail drive wheel assembly by a second driving member. The planetary gear train of the first handrail drive wheel assembly is configured to divide a torque imparted by the first driving member between the first and second drive wheel assemblies.
US07954617B2	Motorcycle clutch A motorcycle clutch for a drive connection between an engine and a transmission of a motorcycle is provided, and is some embodiments includes a manually operable clutch lever, engaging inner and outer disks, and a disengaging mechanism operable by means of the clutch lever for a pressure body which is spring-loaded by at least one clutch spring assembly for pressurization of the inner and outer disks, wherein a servo mechanism for reducing the operating force of the clutch lever is provided, the servo mechanism being effectively connected to the intake section of the engine and utilizing the negative intake pressure in the intake section to build up a servo force acting against the direction of the spring load of the clutch spring assembly.
US07954614B2	Drive mechanism and method A drive train is used at least including an input shaft and an output shaft. A clutch member is rotatable by a clutch shaft about an axis of rotation. The clutch shaft is supported for lateral movement along the axis of rotation to move the clutch member to cooperate with the drive train at a first lateral position to cause the output shaft to turn and to move the clutch member to a second lateral position to disengage the output shaft from rotation of the input shaft. A permanent magnet is supported by one end of the clutch shaft and arranged for receiving an external magnetic biasing force along the axis of rotation to selectively move the clutch member between the first and second lateral positions. A traveling shaft can be used to support a selected gear for movement by the permanent magnet to implement transmission and reversing configurations.
US07954609B2	Damping force generating mechanism for shock absorber A damping valve (10) resists a flow of fluid from a first fluid chamber (41) to a second fluid chamber (42) which are separated by a piston (1). A partitioning member (24, 27-29, 52) partitions an inflow space (A, B) of a passage (2) in the first fluid chamber (41). A spool (17, 31, 51) decreases a flow cross-sectional area of a flow path from the first fluid chamber (41) into the inflow space (A, B) according to a differential pressure between the fluid chambers. By ensuring a gap between the outer circumference of the valve disk (1) and the partitioning member (24, 27-29, 52) which permanently allows fluid to flow from the first chamber (41) into the inflow space (A, B), the damping force characteristic in a high speed region of piston displacement can be set independently of the damping force characteristic in other regions.
US07954592B2	Work vehicle with drive operation device A work vehicle operable in a rearward facing position using a simple construction is disclosed. The work vehicle includes a hydrostatic stepless change speed device for transmitting power from an engine to a traveling device, a change speed pedal mechanism operable in a forward facing position for changing speeds in the hydrostatic stepless change speed device, and a travel-control lever provided at a rear position of a vehicle body and operable in the rearward facing position. The travel-control lever and the change speed pedal mechanism are linked to each other through a mechanical interlocking mechanism so as to control the hydrostatic stepless change speed device by the travel-control lever through the change speed pedal mechanism.
US07954590B2	Method for a preventive-action protection system in a motor vehicle In a method for operating a preventive-action protection system in a vehicle having safety devices for diminishing the consequences of accidents, driving state data is acquired by a driving state sensor system and is monitored with respect to the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle and a braking torque request by the driver. A state of emergency braking is determined by a braking request evaluation means, and at least one of the safety devices is triggered only if a longitudinal deceleration below a longitudinal deceleration threshold is simultaneously present.
US07954586B2	ATV engine power output conversion mechanism Disclosed is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) engine power output conversion mechanism, which is characterized primarily by linking a first transmission assembly to the output terminal of the engine, where the central shaft of the first transmission assembly is provided with a first gear at its one end which connects to the output terminal of the engine, while the other end of the central shaft to a first bevel gear; having a second transmission assembly, where its central shaft is provided with a second bevel gear at its one end which gears to the first bevel gear, while the other end of the central shaft to a second gear, and the central shaft is joined to the rear wheel axle to drive the rear wheels; having a third transmission assembly, where its central shaft is provided with a third gear which gears to the second gear, and the third gear gears to a reduction gear, where the output terminal of the reduction gear is used to drive the front wheels; and having a switch set up at the handle bar of the ATV or wherever the rider can reach, where the switch is for the control of the reduction gear to drive the front wheel. Through such setup, the ATVs are capable of selecting a two-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive, subject to the demand upon various terrain conditions.
US07954582B2	Motorcycle A motorcycle including a radiator and having an engine offset, and in which increase in vehicle width is suppressed. A center of the engine is out of alignment with respect to a center of a head pipe toward one side in the vehicle width direction. The radiator is arranged in front of the engine. Cooling liquid flows in the radiator in the vehicle width direction. A first piping extends rearward from the other end portion of the radiator and a rear end portion of the first piping is connected to the engine. A second piping connects one end portion of the radiator in the vehicle width direction to the engine. The second piping extends from the one end portion of the radiator to the other side of the engine in the vehicle width direction, between the radiator and the engine, and extends rearward of the other side of the engine in the vehicle width direction.
US07954580B2	Accessory drive system and method for a belt-alternator-starter electric hybrid vehicle The method and apparatus of the present invention provide an accessory drive system for a belt-alternator-starter electric hybrid vehicle. The apparatus includes a drive pulley connected to an engine output shaft, a plurality of accessories that are each connected to a driven pulley, and a selectively engageable torque transmitting device disposed between the engine crankshaft and a transmission. A belt-alternator-starter system is connected to another driven pulley. A drive belt connectively couples the drive pulley and the driven pulleys and is operable to transfer drive forces between the drive pulley and the driven pulleys. A controller is operatively connected to the torque transmitting device, the engine and the belt-alternator-starter system. The controller is configured to control the torque transmitting device, the engine and the belt-alternator-starter system to ensure the accessories are adequately powered.
US07954579B2	Adaptive control strategy and method for optimizing hybrid electric vehicles This invention relates a control strategy for a hybrid electric vehicle having an electric motor, a battery and an internal combustion engine. The control strategy improves fuel economy and reduces emissions while providing sufficient acceleration over a varying set of driving conditions through an adaptive control unit with an artificial neural network. The artificial neural network is trained on a pre-processed training set based on the highest fuel economies of multiple control strategies and multiple driving profiles. Training the artificial neural network includes a training algorithm and a learning algorithm. The invention also includes a method of operating a hybrid electric vehicle with an adaptive control strategy using an artificial neural network.
US07954578B2	Power transmission device for hybrid vehicle The present invention provides a power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle which provides an effect of reducing engine vibration, facilitates engine clutch control, and has a package type layout enabling mass production.For this, the preset invention provides a power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle, in which an automatic transmission having an input shaft, a motor, a torsion damper, and an engine having an output shaft connected to a crank shaft of the engine are arranged in a row, the power transmission device including: a motor support shaft, the outer end of which is supported by a motor rotor and the inner end of which extends toward the boundary between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the automatic transmission; a motor housing disposed to surround the outer circumference and the left side surface of the motor rotor; an engine clutch, disposed between the left side end of the motor housing and the left side surface of the inner end of the motor support shaft, for power transmission between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the automatic transmission; a motor cover housing arranged to so as cover the right side surface of the motor rotor and the right side surface of the inner end of the motor support shaft and including a concave portion on the right side surface thereof; and a torsion damper positioned in the concave portion of the motor cover housing to be blocked from the motor rotor.
US07954577B2	Electric wheelchair An electric wheelchair is disclosed. The electric wheelchair includes a main frame correspondingly pivoted with a foldable chair while the folding of the chair connects with an accessory tip wheel. Moreover, the main frame is disposed with main wheels and a front wheel set arranged on front of the main wheel correspondingly on each of two sides thereof. A footrest that is pulled out or stored in the main frame is arranged between the two front wheel sets. In use, the footrest is pulled out of the main frame and the chair is moved and unfolded. At the same time, the accessory tip wheel tilted a little angle is extended out of the main frame by a connecting member. Thereby the problem caused by movement of the center of gravity of the wheelchair while moving can be solved and the safety of users is ensured.
US07954575B1	Leader string pull-through machine A crawler device for pulling a leader string through electrical or cable conduit. The crawler device has a traction head, for example using caterpillar-type rubber tracks, biased outwardly into contact with the inner wall of the conduit when inserted in the conduit. The traction head pulls its own motor and power supply behind it, serially and flexibly linked to follow the traction head and negotiate curves in the typically small diameter electrical conduit. In the preferred from, the power supply is a series of linked batteries, such that the crawler is an independently and self-sufficiently mobile machine traveling through the conduit.
US07954568B2	Drill bit nozzle assembly and insert assembly including a drill bit nozzle assembly A steel body bit nozzle assembly comprising a bit body having a port therein with a sleeve disposed adjacent a nozzle in the port and an annular seal disposed between an outer wall, each of the sleeve and the nozzle and a wall of the port, each seal being received and compressed in an annular seal groove located between its respective component and the bit body. A nozzle pocket insert assembly and a method of manufacturing or retrofitting a steel body bit for use of the nozzle pocket insert assembly are also disclosed.
US07954558B2	Devices and methods for power control in horizontal directional drilling The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatuses for controlling pump power draw from an engine in horizontal directional drilling. Various embodiments of the invention are directed to a horizontal directional drilling machine that comprises an engine that outputs mechanical energy, a rotation pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a rotation motor that rotates a drill string, a thrust pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a thrust motor that longitudinally moves the drill string, a mud pump that draws upon the mechanical energy output by the engine to operate a mud motor that delivers fluid through the drill string, and control circuitry comprising a controller and memory, the processor configured to execute program instructions stored on the memory, processor execution of the stored program instructions causing the control circuitry to calculate a rotation pump power draw from the engine, calculate a thrust pump power draw from the engine, calculate a mud pump power draw from the engine, calculate a total power draw based on the rotation pump power draw, the thrust pump power draw and the mud pump power draw, compare the total power draw to a threshold, and decrease mechanical energy draw of each of the rotation pump, the thrust pump, and the mud pump from the engine based on the total power draw exceeding the threshold.
US07954557B2	Tool apparatus system and method of use A system, and a method of using a system, for controlled tool operation. The method includes providing a tool used in a force application such as a such torque application. The tool communicates with a controller which can communicate with the tool, and to a display in communication with the tool and the controller. The controller can be programmed with operational information about a tool operation. Information related to the operational information is displayed to a user during use. Service information including at least information about an amount of force applied during use is recorded and stored in the controller. Also disclosed is a computerized system for controlled tool operation which sends operational instructions to the tool before use and retrieves service information from the tool after use.
US07954555B2	Full function downhole valve and method of operating the valve Downhole valves comprise a housing having a bore, a port, upper and lower recesses disposed in an inner wall surface of the bore, the upper recess disposed above the port and the lower recess disposed below the port, and upper and lower pistons disposed in the bore. The upper and lower pistons each comprise a bore with a port in communication with housing bore. During run-in, the housing port is blocked by the lower piston. Actuation of the lower piston unblocks the housing port and aligns the lower piston port with the lower recess. Actuation of the upper piston closes the housing port and aligns the upper piston port with the upper recess. Alignment of the ports of the pistons with their respective recesses permits fluid flow through the tool both when the valve is opened by the lower piston and closed by the upper piston.
US07954551B2	System and method for thru tubing deepening of gas lift The present disclosure is directed to a gas lift system adapted to provide a gas injection point to a deeper location in a wellbore. A turn-over suspension mandrel can be landed inside a side pocket mandrel and connected to a gas lift valve on one end and a coil on the other end. A length of production tubing can extend from the side pocket mandrel. The production tubing can include a production packer to seal the annulus between the tubing and the well casing. The turn-over suspension mandrel can be constructed such that gas entering the gas lift valve is directed down through the coil and into the wellbore beneath the production packer. A plug can be placed at the bottom of the coil in order to prevent blowouts during installation of the gas lift system. An alternative embodiment of the present disclosure provides a coil and plug hung from a gas lift valve of a pack-off assembly.
US07954548B2	Proppant for hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells The present invention relates to a proppant for the hydraulic fracturing of oil or gas wells, which consists of a mixture of from 10 to 95% by weight of a spherical proppant and from 5 to 90% by weight of an angular material, the percentages being based on the total weight of the mixture. The proppant obtained according to the present invention is useful for eliminating or decreasing the “flow-back” phenomenon in operations in oil or gas wells.
US07954534B2	Tape sticking apparatus and sticking method A tape sticking apparatus includes a feed-out device for feeding out a raw sheet in which a strip-shaped tape base material is temporarily stuck on one surface of a strip-shaped release liner. A cutting device is configured to form a closed-loop-shaped cut-line on the tape base material to form a sticking tape. The apparatus further includes a peeling device for peeling the sticking tape from the release liner, and a sticking device for sticking the sticking tape to a workpiece. A collecting device collects the raw sheet after being peeled off the sticking tape by the peeling device.
US07954533B2	Sheet cutting table A sheet cutting table 13, after sticking an adhesive sheet S to a semiconductor wafer W, for cutting the area outside the semiconductor wafer W as an unnecessary adhesive sheet S1 with a cutting device 15. The table 13 includes an inner table 52 which supports the semiconductor wafer W, and an outer table 51 corresponding to the unnecessary adhesive sheet S1 outside the semiconductor wafer W. The upper surface of the outer table 51 is provided with a non-adherable treatment surface 51A, and an adherable member formed with a ring member 53 or a plate member 63 for sticking the adhesive sheet S thereto.
US07954525B2	Portable crozer for barrels The present invention relates to a portable crozer adapted to be mounted above a new or used barrel for firstly creating a groove or “croze” along an inside surface to accommodate a barrel head, and secondly, for creating a bevelled top edge. In the case of used barrels, the croze is formed a short distance below the existing croze, and a new bevelled edge is formed to compensate for the lowered barrel head position. Conventional crozers are not adapted to be used on used barrels and have a number of inherent problems which are overcome by the present invention. In particular, conventional crozers are not portable which means they are not able to be used in mobile barrel reconditioning services, the time taken for each croze is significant, and they are generally in the form of bulky, quite expensive machinery.
US07954518B2	Tear cord for jacketed tube The disclosure pertains to installing a plurality of tear cords between a metal tube and a protective jacket. The multiple cords facilitate ease of removal of the protective jacket by creating a panel of the jacket that is detached from the remainder by pulling on the multiple tear cords. The resulting widened space can be used to remove the tube from the remaining protective jacket. The jacketed tubes may be used in a hydrocarbon production downhole well bore. The tubes may be used to furnish hydraulic fluid or chemicals into the well bore. The contents may be pressurized or under vacuum. The jacketed tubes are hermetically sealed. The tubes, which may be 1 inch in diameter, are joined using compression fittings. Tear cords are used to facilitate removal of the protective jacket without damage to the tube surface thereby facilitating the placement of compression fittings and maintaining the integrity of the tube wall.
US07954514B2	Air-admitting guide member An air-admitting guide member comprises an inflow end; an outflow end disposed on an inlet of a mechanical device; an elongated straight flow hole defined between the inflow and outflow ends; a plurality of rotational flow holes spaced apart respectively and each being defined between the inflow end and the outflow end, a diameter of the rotational flow hole being more than that of the straight flow hole and a bottom end thereof flushing with an end surface of the outflow end, the outflow end including a plurality of annular bores arranged on the end surface thereof and formed in a swirl shape toward the inflow end, an inner wall of the inflow end being formed in a tilted arc shape and including a stream-line sector end portion, the rotational flow hole including two openings arranged on two ends thereof individually, and projected shadows of the openings overlapping each other.
US07954502B2	Mobility assistance apparatus An improved mobility assistance apparatus for use by a person as a walking aid, e.g. a cane, crutch, or walker, has a support capable of bearing vertical forces during use of the apparatus as a walking aid and a resilient device connected to a lower portion of the support for ground engagement. The device has a dynamic response characteristic to forces associated with ambulating using the apparatus as a walking aid which generates propulsive force to aid mobility. Two coiled springs are monolithically formed with the device at an upper end thereof. A flexible elongated member is connected to a radially inner, free end of each of the coiled springs and extends about a return at a lower portion of the device for resiliently expanding the coiled springs to store energy with force loading of the apparatus during use and to release stored energy during force unloading to generate propulsive force to aid mobility. The dorsiflexion moment of the resilient device is an order of magnitude greater than a plantarflexion moment thereof to mimic human ankle joint function.
US07954498B2	Device for the creating of a homogeneous cut tobacco flow In order to treat cut tobacco so as to loosen and homogenize the same, a tobacco stream (12, 16) passes through a plurality of processing stations (18, 19, 20), in the region of which the tobacco is loosened, during transportation, with the aid of different processing arrangements. The tobacco stream or main stream here is divided up into a plurality of smaller sub-streams during treatment.
US07954495B2	Dustproof mask for nose Disclosed is a dustproof mask for nose, in which filters are inserted into the nasal cavities of a user. The dustproof mask for nose includes a clamping unit having two wings and surrounding the nasal septum (the septum of the nose) of a user; connection portions installed at tips of the two wings; and filters installed at the connection portions. In the dustproof mask for nose, the filters (10) have a hemispheric shape, nipple-shaped connectors, which are formed at the connection portions, are inserted into connection holes, which are formed through the central areas of the filters, and fixing protrusions for firmly holding the nasal septum are formed on the wings of the clamping unit.
US07954493B2	Oxygen supplying apparatus As a respiration synchronized-type gas supplying apparatus which has a function for setting the flow rate during continuous supply and at the same time can be miniaturized by simplifying the structure, the present invention provides an oxygen supplying apparatus comprising an oxygen generating means, an oxygen supplying means for supplying the oxygen generated by the oxygen supplying means to a user and an automatic closing valve placed on the oxygen-supplying passage, wherein the oxygen supplying apparatus is provided with the following: a respiration sensor which detects the respiration of a user; a supply method setting means which selects the supply in a continuous flow or the supply in synchronism with the respiration of the user; a flow rate setting means for a supply flow rate; and a controlling means which controls the aperture of the closing valve corresponding to the set value of the flow rate setting means by receiving a supply method setting signal of the continuous flow, or opens the automatic closing valve on the inhalation starting point based on the respiration signal of the respiration sensor by receiving a supply method setting signal of the synchronous flow and at the same time controls the open time of the automatic closing valve corresponding to the flow rate set value.
US07954492B2	Pharmaceutical powder cartridge, and inhaler equipped with same To improve administration of powdered pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical powder cartridge (1) for powder inhalers for holding a pharmaceutical depot for a large number of pharmaceutical powder doses is proposed, having at least one storage space (6) and an integrated metering device, said integrated metering device comprising at least one metering slide (9, 13, 14) which can be moved approximately transversely in a metering slide channel (12) at least from a filling position to an emptying position, approximately transversely with respect to the direction of flow of the pharmaceutical powder out from the at least one storage space (6), said metering slide channel (12) with the at least one metering slide (9, 13, 14) being sealed off from the environment at least in the filling position of the metering slide (9, 13, 14), and also further measures and a corresponding inhaler.
US07954491B2	Low dose pharmaceutical powders for inhalations The invention relates to a method of delivering an agent to the pulmonary system of a compromised patient, in a single breath-activated step, comprising administering a particle mass comprising an agent from an inhaler containing less than 5 milligrams of the mass, wherein at least about 50% of the mass in the receptacle is delivered to the pulmonary system of a patient. The invention also relates to receptacles containing the particle mass and the inhaler for use therein.
US07954488B2	Oral airway An oral airway for providing an air passage to a patient's trachea. The oral airway includes a curved section and a straight section with the curved section having spaced-apart curved upper and lower members and the straight section having spaced-apart planar upper and lower members with the same width. The curved upper member has the same width as the planar upper member with the curved lower member having a greater width than the width of the lower planar member. The width of the curved lower member is greater than the width of the planar lower member and the distance between the curved upper and lower members is greater than the distance between the planar upper and lower members. The curved lower member has a generally inverted V-shaped cross-section.
US07954486B2	Aerosol delivery systems and methods Methods and systems for aerosol delivery of agents to a patient are described herein. The present system can be used to administer various types of agents, such as a vaccine or other types of pharmaceutical substances. Certain embodiments of the present system utilize an actuator coupled to a disposable aerosolizing element that aerosolizes an agent for delivery to a patient when acted upon by the actuator. The aerosolizing element prevents the agent from contacting the actuator and other non-disposable components of the system so that little or no cleaning or maintenance is required. The present system also can include an aerosolization rate monitor that monitors the rate at which an agent is being aerosolized and provides feedback to the user to ensure that the proper dose is being administered.
US07954484B2	Splitting devices An apparatus for splitting stones and blocks comprises means (5A, 6A) for supporting a stone or block while it is subject to a splitting operation, a unit which includes an upper blade (1) for engaging an upper surface of the stone or block and a lower blade (10) for engaging a lower surface of the stone or block, means (5) for effecting movement of the upper blade (1) downwardly towards the lower blade (10), a base (1A, 3A), and resilient support means (11) acting between the base (1A, 3A) and the unit.
US07954470B2	Energy transfer machine An energy transfer machine, for example, a positive displacement internal combustion device, has a fixed outer housing, an internal rotating carrier and one or more inner rotors with rotational axes which are offset from the inner rotor carrier rotational axis. Projections from the fixed outer housing and rotor mesh with each other to define variable volume chambers. In another energy transfer machine, in which the outer housing may be fixed or rotating, projections of the rotor are expandable within cylinders defined by projections of the outer housing.
US07954469B2	Magnetic brake system for starter motor An engine starter system is disclosed. The starter system includes an electric cranking motor having a shaft and configured to crank the engine. The starter system further includes a planetary-type reduction gear unit that has a starter motor ring gear. The starter system has a pinion mechanism mounted on the shaft and configured to selectively engage a ring gear of the engine. A clutch assembly is configured to transmit torque between the shaft and the pinion mechanism. The clutch assembly includes a current conducting material and the starter motor ring gear includes one or more permanent magnets. The starter system employs the principle of Lenz's law to reduce the overrunning rotational speed of the cranking motor upon disengagement of the pinion mechanism from the engine's ring gear after the engine has started.
US07954468B2	Mechanical adjuster A mechanical adjuster that automatically increases or decreases or decreases valve clearance is provided that includes: a housing (12) having threaded portions (24, 26); a threaded member (14) thread-coupled with the threaded portion (24); a threaded member (16) connected to the threaded member (14) via mutual rotation prevention-couplings (32, 38) and thread-coupled with the threaded portion (26). When a load acting on the threaded member (14) is equal to or less than a valve closing load, valve clearance is decreased by an integrated rotation of the threaded members (14, 16). with a slip torque of the threaded member (14)>a self-locking torque of the threaded member (16). When a load acting on the threaded member (14) is close to or exceeds a valve opening load, valve clearance is increased by an integral rotation of the threaded members (14, 16) with the absolute value of a slip torque of the threaded member (14)>a self-locking torque of the threaded member (16).
US07954453B2	Sensor apparatus for extraction machinery for milking mammals A sensor apparatus to be used with extraction machinery (2), said extraction machinery (2) including a plurality of extraction elements which when activated are adapted to deliver an extracted fluid from two or more extraction elements into a common collection line (3). The sensor apparatus including at least one sensor (4a/4b) positioned in the common collection line (3), and at least one controller (6) adapted to control the activation of said extraction elements, whereby activation of said extraction elements is controlled to prevent said at least one sensor (4a/4b) being exposed to extracted fluid supplied from all of said extraction elements at any one time.
US07954452B2	Film formation apparatus for semiconductor process and method for using the same A method for using a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process forms a first atmosphere inside an upstream gas passage between a gas supply source of a halogen acidic gas and a flow rate controller. The first atmosphere is set for the halogen acidic gas to have an average molecular weight of 20 or more and 23 or less. Further, the using method supplies the halogen acidic gas from the gas supply source through the upstream gas passage having the first atmosphere thus formed and the flow rate controller, thereby supplying a cleaning gas containing the halogen acidic gas into a reaction chamber of the film formation apparatus. A by-product film deposited on an inner surface of the reaction chamber is etched and removed by use of the cleaning gas thus supplied.
US07954432B1	Shipping cap for shielded mild detonating cord and resulting assembly for safe shipping A shipping cap is provided for use with a shielded mild detonating cord (SMDC) having an explosive tip that contains a volume of explosive material. The shipping cap is coupled to a portion of the SMDC to define a sealed free volume region about the SMDC's explosive tip. The size of the free volume region is a function of the volume of explosive material contained in the explosive tip. The shipping cap's wall strength in the free volume region is defined by a factor of safety that is a function of the yield strength of the material used to construct the cap.
US07954428B2	Endless print belt for rotary stamp An endless print belt for rotary stamp in which a plurality of print sections are disposed and spaced-out between each other on a surface of a print belt main body, with at least the print surface of the print section being formed of porous material, wherein a groove in the width direction is formed at an intermediate position of each spaced-out part. Preferably, the spaced-out part is formed such that the surface thereof is in a non-porous state and both ends of the groove are formed into a bund part, for preventing ink from running out.
US07954423B2	Apparatus for determining crystallization solidification curves of fat-containing masses An apparatus (1) for determining crystallization solidification curves of a chocolate mass (6) includes a removal location (37), a measurement chamber (9) and a melting chamber (21). The removal location (37) serves to remove a liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) from a flow of liquid chocolate mass (6). The measurement chamber (9) is connected to the removal location (37) such that the liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) enters the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a temperature sensor (16) serving to sense the temperature of the sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) contained in the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a cooled wall serving for solidification of the liquid sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) contained in the measurement chamber (9). The measurement chamber (9) includes a movable piston (14; 41). The melting chamber (21) is separate from the measurement chamber (9), and it serves to melt the solidified sample (38) of chocolate mass (6). The piston (14; 41) of the measurement chamber (9) is moved in a way to transfer the solidified sample (38) of chocolate mass (6) from the measurement chamber (9) into the melting chamber (21).
US07954420B2	Hydraulic valve arrangement The invention concerns a hydraulic valve arrangement (1) having at least two working connections (A, B), a check valve (5, 6) being allocated to each working connection (A, B), and a pressure relief valve (7, 8) being allocated to each check valve (5, 6), each pressure relief valve (7, 8) being connected to a control pressure passage (17, 18). The valve arrangement shall ensure a reliable, pressure-less lowering, also in connection with single-actuated consumers, and further enable a pressure-less float position. For this purpose, the check valves (5, 6) can be opened by means of tappets (20, 21), whose sides facing away from the check valves (5, 6) are ending in a pressure chamber (22), which is connected to the control pressure passage (17, 18) of one of the pressure relief valves (7, 8).
US07954416B2	Bullet-proof structure Self-protection structure, comprising a first inner layer (2) made form a material having high resistant to the impact of a bullet (4), and at least a second outer pierceable layer (3) having a melting temperature relatively low so as to melt upon the arrival of the bullet (4) and to retain the latter by preventing the bounce thereof.
US07954410B2	Fast rope A fast rope, which includes a weighted core, a first braid surrounding the core, a second braid surrounding the first braid, and a third braid surrounding the second braid. The core is constructed from lead wires extruded over a polyester yarn, the first braid is strands of polypropylene, the second braid is strands of composite press material, and the third braid is strands of spun polyester.
US07954402B2	Ratchet wrench with socket quick release mechanism A ratchet wrench includes a working head located forwardly on a handle. The working head has a body portion with a generally flat and generally uninterrupted upper surface and a cavity formed in an opposite lower surface with at least one actuator bore through the side wall of the body portion. A drive item is rotatably disposed in the cavity. A pawl item is disposed in the cavity to switch the drive direction of the drive item, and a pawl actuator pin is movably disposed in the actuator bore to switch the pawl. A retention plate may be used to mount the drive item and pawl item in the cavity plate. A quick release mechanism may include a longitudinally oriented and longitudinally slideable release actuator. The upper surface of the working head may be formed by the body portion or by a cover plate mounted thereto.
US07954401B2	Method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element A method of assembling a drill bit with a jack element that includes obtaining a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face, with the working face including a plurality of blades having of at least one cutting element and a receptacle formed proximate a center of the working face. The method further includes attaching a pocket having a central hollow within the receptacle, and securing the jack element within the central hollow with a press fit such that the centerline of the jack element is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drill bit.
US07954394B2	Range switching device A parking switching valve includes a spool that is movable to a first position and to a second position. The parking switching valve also has an oil chamber that generates a biasing force from a difference in the pressure receiving area between the land portions of the spool. The oil chamber has a second input port to which a line pressure is input while the spool is in the second position. Because the line pressure is input to the second input port, a biasing force is generated so that the spool is held in the second position against a spring. As a result, a parking device is held in a parking release state.
US07954393B2	Linear actuator with wear-resistant ceramic bushing An actuator in one embodiment includes a threaded shaft; a shaft engaging portion coupled to the threaded shaft, the shaft engaging portion being moveable in a direction parallel to an axis of the threaded shaft upon a relative rotation between the threaded shaft and the shaft engaging portion; and a ceramic bushing coupled to the shaft engaging portion, the bushing encircling the threaded shaft.
US07954383B2	Method and apparatus for pressure measurement using fill tube A pressure sensor includes a fill tube which is arranged to couple to a process pressure. A sensor is coupled to the fill tube and is configured to measure pressure of fluid in the fill tube as a function of a change of a physical property of the fill tube. Circuitry is provided to measure pressure using the pressure sensor, and to measure pressure based upon the change of the physical property of the fill tube.
US07954376B2	Method and device for balancing a rotor of an electrical machine A balancing device is provided that is able to balance a rotor of an electrical machine. The machine includes a mounted rotor in a central bore of a stator and coaxially thereto. Between the rotor and the stator there is an air gap. The rotor preferably comprises a plurality of axially extending ferromagnetic teeth and non-magnetic wedges being arranged alternately around the circumference of the surface of the rotor. The teeth and/or the wedges preferably include balancing openings for balancing weights. The balancing device includes a mounting device and/or a locking device and/or a confirmation device. The device has a radial height that is smaller than the minimal clearance of the air gap and an axial extension such that it can be inserted into the air gap. With such a device it is possible to balance a rotor in an efficient way, when it is located in the bore of the stator.
US07954372B2	Diagnosis of pitch and load defects The invention relates to a method, system and computer readable code for diagnosis of pitch and/or load defects of e.g. wind turbines as well as wind turbines using said diagnosis method and/or comprising said diagnosis system.
US07954342B2	Flexible knitting pin A flexible knitting pin consisting of two relatively stiff shanks (1) pointed one end each, wherein said shanks (1) are connected with each other by the other end with a flexible hollow connecting material (2) comprising a joint; said joint between the stiff shanks (1) characterized in that it comprises a flexible hollow connecting material.
US07954327B2	Chamber endwall, method of producing it, combustion chamber comprising it, and turbine engine equipped therewith A combustion chamber which includes a chamber endwall which takes the form of a substantially frustoconical component including a succession of adjacent planar portions is disclosed. The invention can be applied to a combustion chamber of a turbine engine.
US07954324B2	Gas turbine engine A gas turbine engine is provided comprising a compressor, a fuel supply apparatus, a combustor, and a turbine. The fuel supply apparatus comprises a fuel source, a cooling apparatus including a heat exchanger and structure for defining a first path for fuel to travel from the fuel source to the heat exchanger and a second path for fuel to travel away from the heat exchanger. The combustor functions to receive the compressed air from the compressor and the fuel from the heat exchanger, combine the air and fuel to create an air/fuel mixture and ignite the air/fuel mixture to create combustion products. The cooling apparatus further comprises structure coupled to and extending between the heat exchanger and at least one of a plurality vanes in the turbine for circulating a coolant fluid through at least one vane and the heat exchanger. In another embodiment, pipe supply structure extends from a fuel source through an end section of a turbine casing. In a further embodiment, a heat exchanger of a heat recovery steam generator is provided in a turbine casing end section.
US07954320B2	Engine apparatus with heat recovery system and relative heat recovery method A turbocompound engine has an internal combustion engine with a first recuperation turbine positioned on an exhaust line of the engine. The first turbine provides mechanical power to the engine. Heat from an exhaust line of the first turbine is transferred to a heat recovery system. A second turbine is operated by the heat within the heat recovery system and provides mechanical power to the engine.
US07954317B2	Hydraulic system A hydraulic system for an agricultural vehicle is proposed. The hydraulic system comprises a main hydraulic circuit, which is fed with hydraulic fluid by a main hydraulic pump, a variable displacement charge pump which supplies charge pressure to the main hydraulic pump, and a lubricating hydraulic circuits. In order to keep efficiency losses on the vehicle to a minimum, particularly at high engine speeds, part of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the charge pump can be diverted to the lubricating hydraulic circuit.
US07954314B1	Marine propulsion system with a catalyst contained within the body of the engine An engine is provided with a cavity so that a catalyst member can be contained within the engine when an engine head portion is attached to an engine block portion. This attachment of the engine head portion and engine block portion, which forms the engine structure, captivates the catalyst member within the cavity without the need for additional brackets and housing structures. The cavity is preferably located above or at the upper regions of first and second exhaust conduits which direct exhaust upwardly from the engine head portion toward the cavity and downwardly from the cavity within the engine block portion. The first and second exhaust conduits are preferably formed as integral structures within the engine head portion and engine block portion.
US07954313B2	Exhaust cleaner for internal combustion engine An exhaust purifying system for an internal combustion engine is provided with a plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b) branched and connected to an exhaust passage (15) for collecting particulate matter in an exhaust gas and an ozone supplier for supplying ozone to the upstream side of each of the plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b). The system respectively changes a ratio of a supply amount of the exhaust gas and a ratio of a supply amount of the ozone between the plurality of DPFs (30a and 30b).
US07954312B2	Approach for detecting reductant availability and make-up A engine system having a reductant delivery and storage system is described. In one example, a physical condition associated with a reductant storage device is correlated with a characteristic of a fluid stored in the reductant storage device to determine the availability and make-up of the stored fluid. In response, engine operation may be adjusted.
US07954298B2	Panel for floor coverings and wall and ceiling linings, and a method for producing the panel The present invention relates to a method for producing a two-dimensional panel (1) for floor coverings, wall and ceiling coverings, preferably for moisture-prone rooms, comprising the following steps: milling one upper longitudinal groove (6) into a base panel, starting from its useful side (5), the longitudinal groove (6) is filled with an elastic water-repellent plastics or sealing mass (9); and after hardening of the plastics or sealing mass (9), at least one lower longitudinal groove (11) is milled, starting from its rear side (10), the depth of which groove reaching as far as to the sealing mass (9) or into the sealing mass of one of the upper longitudinal grooves (6), thus forming an elastic expansion joint (12) of the panel (1). A further method comprises the following steps: one edge groove (8) each is milled into the base panel, starting from its useful side (5), in the region close to the longitudinal sides (7); the edge grooves (8) are filled with an elastic, water-repellent plastics or sealing mass (9); and after hardening of the plastics or sealing mass (9), a groove (13) as well as a tongue (14) are milled for a groove-and-tongue connection, wherein each of the outer lateral flanks (15) of the sealing mass (9) is milled.
US07954296B2	Radial tetrahedral modular structures A new connecting node set that is unique and surprisingly effective at aligning interfacing holes in connecting nodes is illustrated by their application to radial tetrahedral structures. This method of connecting one node to another requires that a left handed node be connected to a right handed node. They are called left handed or right handed because their lines of interface in at least two directions of intended use are geometrically coincident with straight line rulings of a hyperboloid of revolution of one sheet which itself consists of two families of straight line rulings, designated a left handed and a right handed family respectively. With these nodes, magnets could be placed on the lines of interface (opposite placement in a left handed one from a right handed one) and thus the magnets would always attract or repel as preferred.
US07954288B2	Custom connection system for modular walls A virtual connector post (or customized wall module intersection) includes a variable angle connector assembled with a plurality of position retention mechanisms and a corresponding plurality of connector interfaces of corresponding wall modules. The virtual connector post can be varied for virtually any shape or design simply by varying the shape of the variable angle connector(s) used therein. In particular, the variable angle connector can be arbitrarily shaped so that the ultimately joined wall modules form a corresponding, non-standard angle, such as non-right angles between wall modules in a given partition. The variable angle connectors and corresponding position retention mechanisms can be securely fastened between multiple wall modules at any number of arbitrary points along the length of a partition.
US07954276B1	Plant eradication using unnatural mechanical and thermal trauma Plant eradication using by inflicting upon a plant root (R) unnatural hot wound mechanical and thermal trauma delivered from a hot stab knife (V) which produces a stab gash (K) sufficiently deep to traverse plant cortex (C) and penetrate to plant xylem (X), simultaneous with or followed by heating the damaged area to a temperature of higher than 70 C, preferably 200 C for a sufficient time to cause cellular damage to the plant root. The root and hot stab knife may be shrouded to increase the temperature adjacent the stab gash. Preferably, the stab knife is formed to be sufficiently acuate and flat so as to allow a surface/volume ratio for the stab knife to be at least twice that of a cone of similar size and extent. Unhealable damage results, believed to caused by role conversion of organisms in the rhizosphere from symbiosis to antagonism.
US07954272B2	Adjustable firearm supports and associated methods of use and manufacture Adjustable firearm supports, and more specifically adjustable bipods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a firearm support includes a stock mount assembly configured to support a forestock of the firearm and an attachment assembly carried by the stock mount assembly. The attachment assembly is configured to releasably attach to the forestock of the firearm. The firearm support also includes first and second legs operably coupled to the support plate. Each leg is pivotable between a stowed position and an extended position. In the stowed position the legs are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the firearm, and in the extended position the legs are generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the firearm.
US07954269B2	Muzzle loading rifle with breech plug having gas seal facility A muzzle loading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and the barrel has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel. The breech plug including a seal element closely received by the bore. The seal element may be a set of piston rings that are received in a circumferential groove about a forward end of the plug, or may be a cup at the forward end, with a forward rim that flares under pressure to provide a gas seal.
US07954268B2	Torsion spring recoil system for the forend of a firearm A recoil reduction system for use with firearms. The recoil reduction system includes a cam coupled with a torsion spring which can provide resistance to a sliding member of a firearm, thus reducing recoil. The torsion spring and cam can be used as part of a recoil reduction system that is installed in a handgrip or in a forend. Accessories may be attached to the recoil reduction mechanism in order to gain the benefits of recoil reduction.
US07954263B2	Screening, crushing or mixing bucket The invention relates to a screening, crushing or mixing bucket, which is formed into a bucket of an excavating machine or bucket loader, comprising a bottom plate (1), side walls (2) and at the back of the bucket working drums (3) rotatable about their shafts, which screen, crush or mix the material in the bucket as they rotate and at the same time deliver screened, crushed or mixed material out of the bucket, between or through the working drums (3). In the bucket are casings (4) for the power transmission and bearings of the working drums (3). The casings (4) are limited by frame plates (5) to which the bearing housings (6) of the working drums (3) are attachable. The frame plates (5) have receiving and fastening formings (5a, 5b) for the working drums (3), into which the drums (3) with their bearings (6) can be positioned through the rear side of the bucket. The sides of the casings (4) may in that case be smooth and their opening wall plates are on the rear side of the bucket.
US07954262B2	Adapter frame and method for installing the same An adapter frame for installation of a front and an accessory implement, such as a snowplow blade and a sidewing, on a vehicle having a coupling plate is disclosed. The adapter frame has a frame structure. The adapter frame also comprises a hitch coupling mechanism for removably coupling the adapter frame to the vehicle coupling plate. The adapter frame further comprises a front implement coupling receptacle mechanism for removably receiving a corresponding coupling mechanism arranged on a front implement support frame attached to a rear portion of the front implement, the front implement support frame coupling mechanism being adapted to be removably coupled to the vehicle coupling plate. The adapter frame also comprises an accessory implement coupling mechanism for removably coupling the adapter frame to the accessory implement. The adapter frame increases the implement reconfiguration capability of the vehicle. A method for installing the adapter frame is also disclosed.
US07954258B2	Article of footwear with walled cleat system An article of footwear with primary cleats and secondary cleats is disclosed. The primary and secondary cleats are preferably disposed on an outer peripheral zone of a forefoot portion of a sole and present a walled cleat system on a portion of the outer peripheral zone. The article of footwear also includes bladed toe cleats.
US07954250B2	CMM Arm with enhanced manual control The present invention relates to an apparatus for a Robust CMM Arm with Exoskeleton is provided comprising an Internal CMM Arm and an Exoskeleton driving the Internal CMM Arm through a plurality of transmission means such that one or more internal volumes are sealed against ingress of solid objects and fluids. It also relates to a haptic control of an RCA.
US07954240B2	Method for repairing damaged pallets A multi-step method to repair damaged wooden pallets includes in a first step, the connector members of the pallet element to be replaced are cut through by means of a band saw and then removed. In a subsequent step, both the partially disassembled pallet as well the new pallet elements are transferred into an assembly station, where the new pallet elements are attached to the pallet from the top side. Preferably, damaged bottom parts of the pallet are removed as a module Before the replacement module is attached, preferably the position of the connector elements still present in a top deck board member is electronically scanned, such that the new connector members can be applied in a position offset to the existing connector members.
US07954207B2	Apparatus and method for securing and protecting electronic devices The invention is an apparatus and method for securing and protecting electronic devices, for example mobile phones, from impact. By utilizing a fastening device constructed of a flexible, stretchable or elastic material, an electronic device may be wrapped and secured in order to provide protection and prevent damage from impact. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention, for protecting an electronic device comprises, a body in the shape of a string allowing the body to create a loop around an electronic device to form a protective layer, a first fastening end at one end of the body for initiating said loop, and a second fastening end at the other end of the body to complete said loop.
US07954202B1	Pivotal nozzle arms with external hose port A multifunction vacuum nozzle (20) with a nozzle body (30) comprising two tool ends (60A and 60B), where tool end (60B) supports a pair of pivotal arms (40L and 40R) pivotally attached at pivot holes (32L and 32R) and pivotal between an substantially closed position (FIG. 3A) and a substantially open position (FIG. 3B—see position 45). Tool end (60A) is adapted to connect a variety of vacuum tools. Connecting tool ends (60A) and (60B) is a suction passageway (38) therethrough the nozzle body. Body (30) is designed to provide a first attachment port (34) at the first tool end (60A) and pivot arms (40L and 40R) are designed to provide a male second attachment port (46) when in their substantially closed position. A suction conduit (70) can be removable attached to both first attachment port (34) and second attachment port (46), to alternately provide suction air to either tool end.
US07954199B2	Drain cleaner A drain cleaner which is superior in portability and which makes it possible for a small number of people to perform drain cleaning operation on a broad floor. A drain cleaner (1) comprises a strip body (2), and a reel body (3) for winging or unwinding the strip body (2). The strip body (2) has a handle (4) at its front end (2a), the opposite edges (2b, 2b) thereof having attached thereto flexible members (20, 20) made of rubber having high adhesion to a floor or the like. Surrounding a puddle on a floor by the strip body (2) unwound from the reel body (3), one of two operators holds the handle (4) of the strip body (2) and the other holds the reel body (3). By pulling the strip body (2), the water in the puddle can be swept by the strip body (2).
US07954193B2	Oral brushing devices and/or methods An oral hygiene device having two toothbrushes connected or connectable to the end of a handle, the one or more toothbrushes providing a desirable fit about the teeth and/or gums and/or providing a desirable brushing action. An oral hygiene device hereof may provide for mechanically providing the brushing movements of the professionally recommended manual tooth-brushing method known as the “Bass” or “Modified Bass” technique to thus reduce or eliminate the element of human error associated with the brushing of a user's teeth and gums.
US07954190B2	Process for increasing liquid extraction from fabrics The present invention relates to a process of increasing liquid extraction from fabrics having a first liquid content through the use of a mechanical extraction means and a liquid extraction agent.
US07954186B2	Inflatable mattress with uniform restraint A cushioning device having a first deep cell inflatable bladder, a first restraint structure, a pump and an attachment. The first deep cell inflatable bladder has a first side, a second side, an upper surface and a lower surface. The first restraint structure has a top surface and a bottom surface. The pump has (a) a maximum inflation mode that inflates the first deep cell inflatable bladder so the bladder's upper surface and the first restraint's top surface are in or approximately in the same plane and (b) a normal operating inflation mode that provides sufficient inflation to (A) prevent the first bladder's upper surface from contacting the first bladder's lower surface, (B) decrease (i) the formation of debuticus ulcers on a patient and (ii) the patient's tissue interface pressure, and (C) allow the restraint structure to inhibit and/or restrain the patient from rolling off the first deep cell inflatable bladder. The attachment attaches at least a portion of the first bladder's first side to the first restraint structure at a predetermined distance below the first restraint's top surface so (A) the first restraint during the normal operating mode inhibits and/or restrains the patient from rolling off the first deep cell inflatable bladder, and (B) the first restraint and first deep cell inflatable bladder provide lateral stability to allow the patient to get in and out of the cushioning device and facilitating patient transfers during the maximum inflate mode.
US07954183B2	Combination game cleaning station, portable sink and ice chest The present invention relates to a portable sink or container with a lid that is preferably capable of closing and sealing the sink or container. In certain embodiments, the sink is preferably adapted to be connected to an existing water supply, such as an outdoor hose or faucet, such that running water can be provided inside the sink in an outdoor environment. The sink or container preferably has features that make it easy to use in an outdoor environment, such as folding legs, an adjustable spigot, a spray nozzle, a storage drawer, a shelf, a drain, a funnel, a strainer for the drain, cutting boards, baskets, etc. In one aspect, the sink preferably has handles that support utility panels that can be folded up or down on top of the sink or container.
US07954179B2	Water closet bolt A water closet bolt comprises an upper end and a lower end with a threaded body extending therebetween. The lower end includes an oblong foot and the upper end includes a male or female notch for visually indicating the orientation of the long axis of the oblong foot. The notch also serves as a gripping surface to aid the installer in the installation of the toilet. Furthermore, the bottom of the notch acts as a break-off point to aid the installer in removing an excess portion of the bolt after the completing the installation.
US07954173B2	Vented apparel, vent systems and associated methods One embodiment of the present invention provides a vented apparel, comprising: an outer shell; an inner liner disposed adjacent at least a portion of an inside of the outer shell; a vent through the outer shell, wherein the vent is substantially covered by a screen; a zipper on the inner liner; and an adjusting mechanism on the outer shell; wherein the adjusting mechanism is connected to the zipper in order to move the zipper between a closed position and an open position. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a vent system, comprising: a vent through an outer shell of an item incorporating the vent system, wherein the vent is substantially covered by a screen; a zipper on an inner liner of the item, wherein the inner liner is disposed adjacent at least a portion of an inside of the outer shell; and an adjusting mechanism on the outer shell; wherein the adjusting mechanism is connected to the zipper in order to move the zipper between a closed position and an open position.
US07954168B2	Garment sleeve with knuckle protector and thumb aperture A garment sleeve with knuckle protector and thumb aperture. A shield having knuckle thimbles attached to a shield base, is attached either to a sleeve inner surface or a sleeve outer surface. If the former, the sleeve incorporates sleeve thimble apertures through which the knuckle thimbles extend. Indicia may be inscribed on the knuckle thimbles for aesthetic reasons. Each knuckle thimble may incorporate a thimble void sized to admit a human knuckle on a side of the shield base opposite a thimble dome. A thumb aperture is located through the sleeve such that when the thumb of a wearer of the sleeve extends through the thumb aperture, the wearer's knuckles are disposed beneath, and protected by, the knuckle thimbles.
US07958561B1	Method and apparatus for utilizing a configurable lock on a data report A method and system for utilizing a configurable lock in a communications network is described. In one example, a key for the configurable lock on at least one data report associated with at least one customer problem is generated. The data report(s) is then subsequently locked with the configurable lock.
US07958559B2	Method, device and computer program product for determining a malicious workload pattern For determining a malicious workload pattern, the following steps are conducted. A training set of workload patterns is collected during a predetermined workload situation. A subset of the training set is being determined as an archetype set, the archetype set being considered to be representative of the predetermined workload situation. A threshold value dependent on the training set and the archetype set, and an evaluation value dependent on a given workload pattern and the archetype set are calculated. The given workload pattern is determined to be malicious if the evaluation value fulfils a given condition with respect to the threshold value.
US07958557B2	Determining a source of malicious computer element in a computer network In certain embodiments, a method for tagging communications from a user system, such that a source of a malicious computer element in a computer network may be determined, includes determining tag information for a user system in the computer network, the tag information physically identifying the user system. The method further includes detecting an attempt to send a communication from the user system and, in response to detecting the attempt to send a communication from the user system, attaching the tag information to the communication prior to sending the communication from the user system. The attachment of the tag information to the communication allows the source of the communication to be determined in response to determining that the communication is associated with a malicious computer element, the source comprising the user system.
US07958549B2	Attack defending system and attack defending method An attack defending system allows effective defense against attacks from external networks even when a communication system uses a communication path encryption technique such as SSL. A firewall device and a decoy device are provided. The firewall device refers to the header of an input IP packet and, when it is determined that the input IP packet is suspicious, it is guided into the decoy device. The decoy device monitors a process providing a service to detect the presence or absence of attacks. When an attack has been detected, an alert including the attack-source IP address is sent to the firewall device so as to reject subsequent packets from attack source.
US07958548B2	Method for provision of access A method for provision of access for a data requesting entity (IRE) to data related to a principal is disclosed, comprising the steps of (i) creating an access granting ticket comprising an access specification specifying a permission for an access to data related to the principal, said data being available at a data providing entity (IPE1), and a principal identifier representing the principal towards the data providing entity (IPE1), (ii) encrypting the access granting ticket with an encryption key of the data providing entity (IPE1), (iii) communicating to the data requesting entity (IRE) the encrypted access granting ticket accompanied by an identifier of the data providing entity (IPE1), (iv) communicating from the data requesting entity (IRE) to the data providing entity (IPE1) a request comprising the encrypted access granting ticket, (v) decrypting the encrypted access granting ticket with a decryption key of the data providing entity (IPE1) corresponding to the encryption key, (vi) providing to the data requesting entity (IRE) access to data related to the principal identifier according to the access specification.
US07958541B2	Method, system and apparatus for preventing media access control address counterfeiting A method for preventing MAC address counterfeiting may include: receiving, by an authentication device, a source MAC address and access port information of an access port, wherein the source MAC address and the access port information are associated with an authentication request from the access port; determining, by the authentication device, whether the source MAC address received is a counterfeit MAC address according to the source MAC address received, the access port information received, and access port information that is stored in the authentication device and corresponds to the source MAC address received; and if the source MAC address received is a counterfeit MAC address, rejecting, by the authentication device, the authentication request. A system, an access device and an authentication device are also proposed.
US07958535B2	URI pointer system and method for the carriage of MPEG-4 data in an MPEG-2 transport stream A uniform resource indicator (URI) pointer system and method are provided for retrieving MPEG-4 data pointers in an MPEG-2 TS. The method comprises: receiving an MPEG-2 TS; locating a URI in the TS; in response to the URI, accessing an address; in response to accessing the address, retrieving MPEG-4 resources; and, decoding the MPEG-4 resources. The URI pointer can be a local cache address, a Web protocol identifier (such as http), and/or a local identifier (lid). In some aspects, the MPEG-2 TS may include MPEG-4 resources organized in an Object Carousal (OC) transport protocol. Then, lid URIs provide a binding name and access scheme to the objects in the OC. For example, a lid URI may be embedded in an Initial Object Descriptor (IOD) to locate resources in the OC such as a binary format for scenes (BIFS) scene description stream and/or an object descriptor stream.
US07958534B1	Systems and methods for increasing cable modem system bandwidth efficiency A cable modem termination system measures signal qualities of upstream transmissions associated with one or more cable modems. The system monitors the measured upstream signal qualities, and selectively commands at least one of the one or more cable modems to switch between upstream channels based on the signal quality monitoring.
US07958526B2	Source detection apparatus and method for audience measurement A system identifies which of first and second signal sources is supplying a program signal to a monitored receiver. The first and second signal sources and the monitored receiver are located in a household. The system extracts a reference program signature representative of an output of the monitored receiver and first and second source program signatures representative of an output of the first and second signal sources. The system identifies which of the first and second signal sources is a source of the program signal in response to the reference program signature and the first and second source program signatures.
US07958524B2	Method and system for detecting and preventing unauthorized signal usage in a content delivery network A method and system for controlling unauthorized signal usage in a content delivery network, such as a television network, is described. The method and system acquires at least two signal usage records for a receiver of the content, evaluates the at least two signal usage records for indicia of usage of a combination of signals not normally authorized on the receiver, and detects unauthorized signal usage upon the at least two signal usage records being consistent with such indicia.
US07958522B2	Slot-in type disk apparatus It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot-in type disk apparatus which can be reduced in thickness without deteriorating strength of a lever and a rear base. In a slot-in type disk apparatus, a base body 10 and a lid 20 constitute a chassis sheath, a disk-insertion opening 11 into which a disk is directly inserted is formed in a front surface of the chassis sheath, a traverse base 30 is disposed on the side of a front surface of the base body 10, a rear base 13 is disposed on the side of a rear surface of the base body 10, a printed board 14 is provided between the rear base 13 and the base body 10, and a link arm 105 is disposed between the rear base 13 and the printed board 14. The rear base 13 is provided at its portion with an opening 13A, a link arm 105 is formed at its portion with a folded piece 105D, which is folded toward the opening 13A, a space is formed on the side of the printed board 14 by the folded piece 105D, and a part 14A to be mounted on the printed board 14 is disposed in correspondence with the space.
US07958521B2	Optical disc drive with latching mechanism that facilitates driving mechanism replacement There is provided an optical disc drive designed for reading data stored in an optical disc. The optical disc drive includes a body, a driving module, a body wrapping unit, and an access module designed for reading data stored in the optical disc. The driving module and the access module are both disposed in the body. The driving module has a circuit board and a driving element disposed on the circuit board, and the body has a plurality of latching structures. The driving mechanism is secured to the body with the use of the latching structures, and the driving mechanism is secured at one side of the latching structures. Moreover, the body wrapping unit used to cover the body has at least a limiting portion which is positioned at another side of a portion of the latching structures.
US07958514B2	Apparatus, system, and method for managing tray devices An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing tray devices. A tray slot module creates a tray slot object of a tray slot class that extends a SMI-S CIM CIM_Slot class. The tray slot object describes a tray slot. A tray physical package module creates a tray physical package object of a tray physical package class that extends a SIM-S CIM CIM_PhysicalPackage class. The tray physical package object describes a tray device, references the tray slot object, and comprises a universal unique identifier. A tray object module creates a tray object of a tray class that extends SMI-S CIM CIM_LogicalDevice class. The tray object describes a tray, is referenced by a SMI-S CIM CIM_ComputerSystem object, references the tray physical package object, and comprises a device identifier. A management module manages the tray device using the tray slot object, tray physical package object, and tray object.
US07958513B2	Method, system and program product for communicating among processes in a symmetric multi-processing cluster environment A facility is provided for communicating among processes in a symmetric multi-processing (SMP) cluster environment wherein at least some SMP nodes of the SMP cluster include multiple processes. The facility includes transferring intra-nodal at an SMP node messages of a collective communication among processes employing a shared memory of the SMP node; and responsive to the intra-nodal transferring, concurrently transferring inter-nodal multiple messages of the collective communication from n SMP node(s) to m other SMP node(s), wherein at least one of n or m is greater than one. The concurrently transferring is performed by multiple processes of at least one of the n SMP node(s) or the m other SMP node(s). More particularly, the facility includes concurrently transferring inter-nodal the multiple messages from one of: one SMP node to multiple other SMP nodes, multiple SMP nodes to one other SMP node, or multiple SMP nodes to multiple other SMP nodes.
US07958512B2	Instrumentation to find the thread or process responsible for an application failure An application programming interface (API) that leverages operating system instrumentation to provide a chain of threads and processes may alleviate some debugging complications. Specifically, the chain may start with the first thread in the process that experienced the original failure and end with the last thread upon which the first thread directly or indirectly depends. The API may aid debugging efforts by classifying all threads related or dependent upon an original failed thread into specific categories of failures, requesting further information from the originating OS concerning specific failed threads, and using that information to debug the failed application or process more thoroughly.
US07958504B2	Distributing software features to a computer A mechanism is provided for distributing software features (particularly software products having a global portion and a user portion necessary for activating the software products) to client workstations of a network. Each client workstation has a multi-user operating system that may be accessed with different user profiles, each one associated with a corresponding operating context. A distribution package is received in the client workstation; the distribution package includes instructions associated with global activities for the client workstation as a whole or with user activities specific for the single profiles. A distribution agent (running outside the context of a current profile) executes only the global activity and schedules the user activities to be performed when a user next logs onto the workstation. A user agent loaded when the workstation is accessed with a selected profile executes the user activities in the corresponding context.
US07958503B2	Quick deployment method Provided is a deployment method for a server system that includes a storage system having logical disks where disk images are stored and plural servers connected to the storage system via a storage network, the method including the step of causing a deploy management module to copy the logical disks which store the disk images to a free area of the storage system before a deployment command is received. According to this invention, disk images are quickly deployed to servers.
US07958502B2	Efficient generator of update packages for mobile devices that uses non-ELF preprocessing An efficient generator for update packages employs one of two possible schemes to perform preprocessing when an ELF file or other similar information is not available. The first technique embeds the preprocessing in the generator loop and does not rely on the knowledge of the architecture. The second technique, called node list technique, needs to know the syntax of the assembly instructions used by the executable.
US07958501B2	System to disclose the internal structure of persistent database objects A system may provide generation of a file to declare one or more persistent classes, the file formatted according to a markup language syntax, and generation, based on the file, of code of an object-oriented language to declare the one or more persistent classes and to describe a structure of each of the one or more persistent classes. Further aspects may include calling a constructor to register an interface to a description of a persistent class, accessing the registered interface to determine the structure of the persistent class, and processing an instance of the persistent class based on the determined structure.
US07958499B2	Program execution control device, program execution control method, control program, and recording medium When a home appliance equipped with a processor implementing a conventional JVM with a JIT compiler executes uncompiled methods, the execution speed is slower because the methods are compiled at runtime. To suppress the execution speed reduction, a program execution control device judges, on invocation of a method during program execution, whether a method invoked has previously been compiled. If the method is uncompiled, the device executes the method by interpreting associated bytecodes, and also issues a compilation request for the method. If the method is compiled, the device executes native code having been generated by compiling the method. Compilation of a method requested is executed as a separate task from tasks of instruction execution such as interpreter execution or native code execution.
US07958492B2	Integration of external schemas and types into native programming languages A system includes a processor, a storage medium, an extensible markup language (XML) schema stored on the storage medium, and a script for manipulating an XML document stored on the storage medium. The script includes an import function to import the XML schema such that the definitions of the XML schema are used to interpret the script.
US07958491B1	Command line output redirection In one embodiment the invention provides a method to provide command line utility output to an application without the need of temporary files. The method includes receiving an identifier, receiving output from a command line utility, and storing the command line utility output in a system storage at a location identified by the identifier. In one illustrative embodiment, command line utility output is stored in a system registry database. In another illustrative embodiment, command line utility output is stored in a shared system memory. The method may be stored in any media that is readable and executable by a computer system.
US07958489B2	Out of band data augmentation Systems and methods facilitate data augmentation in a computer environment. Data collections of various forms are altered out of band with at least one augmentor specifying alterations thereto. The alterations are applied to an associated collection of data such as programmatic code. In this manner, data can be modified, extended and/or removed from the collection to enable specialization and/or personalization, among other things.
US07958488B2	Virtual testing in a development environment System and method for developing a measurement program that performs a measurement function. A measurement program is created in a development environment in response to first user input, possibly including configuring a physical unit under test (UUT) with one or more parameter values. The measurement program includes icons that visually indicate the measurement function, and is executable to receive signals from the physical (UUT). Second user input is received specifying that the measurement program is to receive simulated data instead of signals from the physical UUT. In response, the development environment is configured to provide the simulated data to the measurement program, possibly including configuring the simulated data according to the parameter value(s). The configuring does not change the measurement program. After the configuration, the measurement program is executed, where during execution the measurement program receives the simulated data and performs the measurement function on the simulated data.
US07958487B2	Apparatus, system, and method for modifying an integration software template An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for modifying an integration software template. In one embodiment, a developer selects a template that employs a first code set from a library. A development module creates a project from a template using a developer input. A template modification module modifies the template in response to the project. A code generation module generates a second code set from the project. In one embodiment, an export module exports the second code set to the library.
US07958486B2	Methods and systems for data-focused debugging and tracing capabilities Embodiments of methods and systems consistent with the present invention enable data-focused analysis of an application by reorganizing execution information generated by an application into categories associated with the data objects used by the application, and displaying or otherwise using the reorganized information for analysis, debugging, execution tracing, etc. of the application. Thus, the application execution information is presented from the data standpoint instead of from the execution sequence standpoint.
US07958480B1	Placement of I/O blocks within I/O banks using an integer linear programming formulation A method of input/output (I/O) block placement assigned to an input/output bank includes formulating a placement algorithm using integer linear programming (ILP) and simultaneously placing single groups and Relatively Placed Module (RPM) groups of I/O blocks in the I/O bank. The method further includes determining a placeability matrix P and a binary assignment matrix X used for the ILP. The method can further eliminate all assignment matrix elements of X equal to 0 in the integer linear programming and re-index any remaining elements. The method can further place all I/O blocks according to a solution if solving of the standard ILP formulation results in a feasible solution. Optionally, the method generates a placement solution that is as close as possible to an external reference solution specified by designer. Optionally, the method analyzes which constraints were violated and generates useful error information.
US07958472B2	Increasing scan compression by using X-chains To increase scan compression during testing of an IC design, an X-chain method is provided. In this method, a subset of scan cells that are likely to capture an X are identified and then placed on separate X-chains. A configuration and observation modes for an unload selector and/or an unload compressor can be provided. The configuration and observation modes provide a first compression for non-X-chains that is greater than a second compression provided for X-chains. ATPG can be modified based on such configuration and observation modes. This X-chain method can be fully integrated in the design-for-test (DFT) flow, requires no additional user input, and has negligible impact on area and timing. Test generation results on industrial designs demonstrate significantly increased compression, with no loss of coverage, for designs with high X-densities.
US07958468B2	Unidirectional relabeling for subcircuit recognition A method for indentifying instances of a smaller circuit in a larger circuit is disclosed. Both the smaller circuit and the larger circuit have a plurality of vertices. A vertex is one of a device or a net. The device, such a transistor, includes a Gate, a Drain, and a Source. The net is a wired connection between devices. In this method, one initial unique label is assigned to each of the plurality of vertices, each of a plurality of connection-types, power connection, and ground connection. A zero label is assigned to each of an input/output ports and a same initial unique label is assigned to same types of circuit components. Then each net is relabeled using labels of neighboring vertices. The neighboring vertices of a vertex are vertices that are directly connected to the vertex. Then, each device in the plurality of vertices is relabeled using labels of neighboring vertices excluding a label of a vertex that is connected to the Gate of the each device. The new labels of each vertex are stored in a data store and these labels are used in the calculation of the new labels of the vertices in a next iteration of relabeling.
US07958464B1	Electron beam patterning A method for creating an electron beam pattern exposure, where a pattern of shapes is generated, including at least one of lines and vias. To each shape there is assigned a set of exposure pixels and edge placement constraints. An intensity at each exposure pixel is calculated by using a simplex method, and a latent resist image location is calculated by convolving a proximity function with the pixel intensities. A shape critical dimension and a shape edge slope is statistically evaluated by applying linear regression on the locations of the calculated latent image. The electron beam pattern exposures are produced using dosages linearly optimized on a rotated pixel grid to produce the shape critical dimension and the shape edge slope.
US07958463B2	Computer automated method for manufacturing an integrated circuit pattern layout A computer automated method for designing an integrated circuit includes placing a plurality of marks on each of contours of a plurality of patterns allocated in a chip area; dividing the marks into a plurality of groups so that the adjacent marks are merged in a same group; determining one of the groups as a candidate hot spot based on a total number of marks included in each of the groups; and modifying the corresponding pattern in the candidate hot spot.
US07958460B2	Method for predictive drag and drop operation to improve accessibility A method simplified drag and drop operations of display icons. This method calculates a projected path for an icon based on the past movement of the icon. The method highlights the “best fit” target icon as the mouse pointer moves across the screen. As the mouse pointer moves, or changes direction, the “best fit” target icon can change, with the current best-fit icon being highlighted. In addition to highlighting the target icon, a line or arrow from the mouse pointer to the target icon is maintained. The line presents the predicted path in a very noticeable, visual way. As the best-fit target icon changes, the line is re-drawn to point to the current best-fit icon. Regardless of how the target icon is visually indicated, releasing the mouse button will cause the drop operation to be completed “into” target. Completion of the drop could be instantaneous, or could be rendered with animation of some sort to indicate moving from the source to the target.
US07958459B1	Preview related action list Previewing content included in an enterprise database associated with an enterprise system is disclosed. A first indication is received for an overlay object associated with an object from the enterprise database that is being displayed. an action list is dynamically determined associated with the object being displayed using a first method to retrieve actions from the enterprise system that are associated with the object being displayed. The action list is provided to the overlay object. Content associated with the object is dynamically determined using a second method to retrieve content from the enterprise system. The content is provided to the overlay object. The overlay object is displayed to preview the content included in the enterprise database and to provide the action list.
US07958431B2	Method for interleaving data in a communication device A system and method is provided for interleaving data in a communication device. The system includes a memory that stores blocks of data to be interleaved. In addition to the memory, the system includes a write module and a read module, each of which is coupled to the memory. The write module is configured to receive a burst of data and write blocks of data from the burst into the memory. The write module is also configured to provide control information to the read logic. The control information includes a rolling burst counter and a burst profile bank identifier for each block. If interleaving is activated, the control information also includes information pertaining to how the read module should interleave the block. If interleaving is not activated, the control information also includes the byte length size of the burst. The read module reads blocks of data from memory in either an interleaved fashion or a non-interleaved fashion in accordance with the control information. A block available signal and a block out signal is also provided to determine when a block of data is available to be read from the memory.
US07958429B2	Distributed processing LDPC (low density parity check) decoder Distributed processing LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder. A means is presented herein that includes an LDPC decoding architecture leveraging a distributed processing technique (e.g., daisy chain) to increase data throughput and reduce memory storage requirements. Routing congestion and critical path latency are also improved thereby. Each daisy chain includes a number of registers, and a number of localized MUXs (e.g., MUXs having merely 2 inputs each). The means presented herein also does not contain any barrel shifters, high fan-in multiplexers, or interconnection networks; therefore, the critical path is relatively short and it can also be pipelined to further increase data throughput. If desired, a communication device can include multiple configurations of such daisy chains to accommodate the decoding of various LDPC coded signals (e.g., such as for an application and/or communication device that must decoded LDPC codes using different low density parity check matrices).
US07958427B1	ECC with out of order completion Processing a sequence of data frames in an error correction code (ECC) decoder is disclosed. Processing includes receiving a first data frame in the sequence of data frames, storing the first data frame, initiating processing of the first data frame through the ECC decoder, receiving a second data frame from the input sequence of data frames, storing the second data frame, and initiating processing of the second data frame through the ECC decoder before the first data frame is finished being processed through the ECC decoder.
US07958423B2	Method and apparatus for performing hybrid automatic retransmission request (HARQ) in a mobile communication system A method and apparatus for performing Automatic Retransmission reQuest (ARQ) on packet data in a mobile communication system. The method includes receiving from a transmission entity performing ARQ, by a reception entity, a status report message including a Non-Acknowledged (NACK) signal for the packet data transmitted to the reception entity, and generating time information of the NACK signal; comparing, by the transmission entity, the generation time information with transmission complete time information for the packet data; and determining whether to retransmit the packet data depending on the comparison result, and performing retransmission of the packet data according to the determination step.
US07958422B2	Method and apparatus for generating self-verifying device scenario code Methods and systems for generating code for a device are disclosed. A device command for which the code is to be generated is selected. Response template parameters for the selected device commands are retrieved from a response template associated with the device command. Command syntax for the selected device commands are retrieved from a device library associated with the device command. The code is generated for the device in a high level language and the response template parameters are incorporated to provide verification of the device response when the test code is executed.
US07958417B2	Apparatus and method for isolating portions of a scan path of a system-on-chip The invention includes an apparatus and method for dynamically isolating a portion of a scan path of a system-on-chip. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a scan path and control logic. The scan path includes at least a first hierarchical level, where the first hierarchical level includes a plurality of components, and a second hierarchical level having at least one component. The second hierarchical level is adapted for being selected and deselected such that the second hierarchical level is active or inactive. The control logic is adapted to filter application of at least one control signal to the at least one component of the second hierarchical level in a manner for controlling propagation of data within the second hierarchical level independent of propagation of data within the first hierarchical level. In one embodiment, when the second hierarchical level is deselected, the control logic prevents data from being propagated within the second hierarchical level while data is propagated within the first hierarchical level. In one embodiment, the second hierarchical level may be used for independent, parallel testing while data continues to be propagated through the first hierarchical level.
US07958411B2	Memory system and control method thereof A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including blocks as data erase units, a measuring unit which measures an erase time at which data in each block is erased, a block controller having a block table which associates a state value indicating one of a free state and a used state with the erase time for each block, a detector which detects blocks in which rewrite has collectively occurred within a short period, a first selector which selects a free block having an old erase time as a first block, a second selector which selects a block in use having an old erase time as a second block, and a leveling unit which moves data in the second block to the first block if the first block is included in the blocks detected by the detector.
US07958410B2	Method for shifting a phase of a clock signal and memory chip using the same A memory chip includes a receiver, a clock phase shifter, an error detector, and a controller. The receiver receives a test signal having a plurality of random data bits. The clock phase shifter shifts the phase of a clock signal to one of first through nth phases (n is a natural number). The controller controls the clock phase shifter to sequentially increase the phase of the clock signal from the first phase when the error detector determines the data bit sampled in synchronization with the clock signal has an erro has an error. The controller controls the clock phase shifter to sequentially decrease the phase of the clock signal from the nth phase when none of the plurality of data bits sampled in synchronization with the clock signal having a kth phase (k is a natural number greater than 1 and smaller than n−1) have an error.
US07958403B2	Recreating errors in a network device Recreating errors in a network device. In one embodiment, a method for recreating an error condition in a network device includes capturing a first set of commands sent to a network device; identifying an error condition in the network device, the error condition corresponding to the captured first set of commands; and sending a second set of commands to the network device in a second attempt to recreate the error condition. The second set of commands includes the first set of commands as well as additional commands that are configured to place the network device in substantially the same state as at the time that the first set of commands was sent to the network device.
US07958399B2	Embedded systems debugging The invention relates to a data processing system comprising a central processing unit, a first memory coupled to the central processing unit for storing variable data values, an eventing engine coupled to the central processing, a debug module coupled to the central processing unit and to the eventing engine for receiving the variable data values by way of the eventing engine in real time and configured to trigger breakpoints; and an interface to connect to an external device. Both event-based variable watching and debugging can occur contemporaneously by a user using an external device connected to the interface.
US07958397B2	System for automatically configuring a storage array A method for configuring a storage array, comprising the steps of (A) checking a syntax of an input file, (B) generating an error if a particular syntax is not met, (C) determining whether a physical hardware configuration matches a desired set of design parameters, (D) generating a script file containing a plurality of symbol commands, (E) sending the script file containing the symbol commands to the storage array and (F) verifying whether the physical hardware configuration is valid.
US07958382B2	Latency signal generator and method thereof A latency signal generator and method thereof are provided. The example latency signal generator may include a sampling clock signal generator adjusting a plurality of initial sampling clock signals based on a received clock signal to generate a plurality of adjusted sampling clock signals, a latch enable signal supply unit adjusting a plurality of initial latch enable signals based on a given one of the plurality of initial sampling clock signals to generate a plurality of adjusted latch enable signals and a latch unit including a plurality of latency latches, each of the plurality of latency latches selectively latching a given internal read command based on one of the plurality of adjusted sampling clock signals and one of the plurality of adjusted latch enable signals.
US07958380B2	Coarsely controlling memory power states In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method determining if an access queue associated with a channel of a memory has been empty for a predetermined time period and if so, de-asserting a clock enable signal for all ranks of the channel of the memory, otherwise providing a next memory access request from the access queue to the channel of the memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07958377B2	Secure access system and method In one embodiment, a storage device is provided that includes: a storage medium; and a storage engine, the storage engine being configured to generate a secure session key and to receive encrypted content and a corresponding encrypted content key from a host system, wherein the content key has been encrypted by the host system using the secure session key, the storage engine being further configured to decrypt the encrypted content key using the secure session key and to encrypt the decrypted content key with a first storage engine encryption key and to write the storage-engine-encrypted content key to the storage medium.
US07958373B2	Secure repository with layers of tamper resistance and system and method for providing same A secure repository individualized for a hardware environment and a method and system for providing the same. The secure repository includes a hidden cryptographic key and code that applies the key without requiring access to a copy of the key. The code that implements the secure repository is generated in a manner that is at least partly based on a hardware ID associated with the hardware environment in which the secure repository is to be installed, and may also be based on a random number. Cryptographic functions implemented by the secure repository include decryption of encrypted information and validation of cryptographically signed information. The secure repository may be coupled to an application program, which uses cryptographic services provided by the secure repository, by way of a decoupling interface that provides a common communication and authentication interface for diverse types of secure repositories. The decoupling interface may take the form of a single application programmer interface (API) usable with multiple dynamically linkable libraries.
US07958363B2	Toolbar signature A method and system are provided for a web browser toolbar signature. In one example, the method includes receiving a submission of user content from a source webpage, receiving a producer identity of a producer who submitted the user content, receiving identifying information about the destination webpage, coding signed content using the user content and the producer identity, wherein the signed content includes a signature, and submitting the signed content to a server hosting the destination webpage.
US07958360B2	Method and system for performing an electronic signature approval process The present invention includes a computer-implemented method and an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP). The method and system allows a user to enable an electronic signature approval process for modification of data in a transaction. The method includes accessing a table that corresponds with the transaction and adding a signature field having a property sheet to the table. The method also includes defining a select property in the property sheet with a select parameter. The select property configured to provide approval of modified data in the transaction upon entry of a valid electronic signature.
US07958359B2	Access control systems The present invention relates generally to access control. One claim recites a method of determining whether to allow access to a location, including: receiving optical data from an optical sensor, the optical data being associated with an object presented to the optical sensor, wherein the object comprises optically-detectable, machine-readable indicia encoded in a predetermined symbology thereon, the indicia including at least an orientation component; determining an orientation of the orientation component; obtaining from a data store a predetermined orientation; and comparing the predetermined orientation with the determined orientation to decide whether to allow access to the location. Of course, other claims are provided as well.
US07958358B2	Scanned image disclosure apparatus, method and storage medium; electronic mail transmission apparatus, method and storage medium; and internet facsimile transmission apparatus A scanned image disclosure apparatus has a disclosure unit that encrypts and discloses to a disclosure destination a scanned image by using a public key or a private key relating to a public key certificate that has been verified to be valid, a re-verification unit that judges whether or not re-verification of the validity of the public key certificate is necessary during execution for the disclosure unit and performs re-verification if it is judged to be necessary, a termination unit that terminates the execution for the disclosure unit if the public key certificate was judged to be invalid by the re-verification unit.
US07958356B1	System and method for establishing a shared secret among nodes of a security appliance A system and method securely establishes a shared secret among nodes of a security appliance. The shared secret is established by distributing private keys among the nodes in accordance with a node ring protocol that uses a predetermined encryption algorithm to generate messages containing the keys. Briefly, each node is initially notified as to the number of nodes participating in the shared secret establishment. Each node generates a public-private key-pair, as well as a first message that includes the generated public key and an indication of the source of the generated public key (hereinafter “source generated public key”). The node then sends the first message to an adjacent node of the appliance. Upon receiving the first message, each node extracts the source generated public key from the message and stores the extracted information into a data structure of “partner” public keys. The protocol then continues with each node generating additional messages equal to the number of participating nodes minus one. At that point, each node combines its private key with its partner public keys stored in the data structure to generate a value that is common among all of the participating nodes. This common value is then used to derive the shared secret.
US07958346B2	Multilayered security for systems interacting with configuration items Systems, methodologies, and other embodiments associated with providing multi-layered security for configuration items are described. One exemplary system may include a security logic configured to process the contents of a configuration item based on the source of the configuration item and the integrity of the configuration item. The exemplary system may also include a verification logic configured to further process the contents and to selectively provide the contents. A configuration item may be provided to the security logic by a configuration item provider known to the security logic and related to the security logic by a first set of keys. The security logic may be related to the verification logic by a second set of keys different from the first set of keys.
US07958343B2	BIOS bootable RAID support A computing apparatus comprises a system Read-Only Memory (ROM) comprising a system Basic Integrated Operating System (BIOS) that implements Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) protection on a boot volume.
US07958341B1	Processing stream instruction in IC of mesh connected matrix of processors containing pipeline coupled switch transferring messages over consecutive cycles from one link to another link or memory In some embodiments, each matrix processor in a matrix of mesh-interconnected matrix processors includes an instruction processing pipeline, and a hardware data switch capable of streaming data to/from one or more inter-processor matrix links and/or a matrix processor local memory links in response to execution of a data streaming instruction by the instruction processing pipeline. The data switch can transfer each data stream, which includes multiple words, at wire speed, one word per cycle. After initiating a data stream, the processing pipeline can execute other instructions, including streaming instructions, while a stream transfer is in progress. Different data streaming instructions may be used to transfer data streams from local memory to one or more inter-processor links, from an inter-processor link to local memory, from an inter-processor link to one or more inter-processor links, and from an inter-processor link to one or more inter-processor links and synchronously to local memory.
US07958339B2	Instruction execution control device and instruction execution control method An instruction execution control device operates a plurality of threads in a simultaneous multi-thread system. And the instruction execution control device has a thread selection circuit (30) which detects a state where an instruction has not been completed for a predetermined period during simultaneous multi-thread operation, and controls such that all the reservation stations (5, 6 and 7) can execute only a predetermined thread. Therefore if an entry that cannot be executed from the reservation stations (5, 6 and 7) exists, execution of an entry in the thread that cannot be executed can be enabled by stopping the execution of the thread which has been executed continuously.
US07958337B2	System and method for retiring approximately simultaneously a group of instructions in a superscalar microprocessor An apparatus and method for executing instructions having a program order. The apparatus comprising a temporary buffer, tag assignment logic, a plurality of functional units, a plurality of data paths, a register array, a retirement control block, and a superscalar instruction retirement unit. The temporary buffer includes a plurality of temporary buffer locations to store result data for executed instructions, wherein the temporary buffer locations are arranged in a plurality of groups of temporary buffer locations. The tag assignment logic is configured to concurrently assign a tag to each instruction in a first set of instructions, wherein the tags are assigned such that the respective tag assigned to each of the instructions in the first set of instructions identifies a different one of the temporary buffer locations in a first one of the groups of temporary buffer locations.
US07958335B2	Multiple instruction set decoding A method and a data processing apparatus operable to process instructions from a plurality of instruction sets, the plurality of instruction sets each sharing a sub-set of common instructions and each having a remaining set of instructions is disclosed. The data processing apparatus comprises: a plurality of decode units, each decode unit being operable to only decode the remaining set of instructions from a corresponding one of the plurality of instruction sets; and a common decode unit operable to decode a number of the sub-set of common instructions from each of the plurality of instruction sets. This enables the common instructions from each instruction set to be decoded by the common decode unit. Hence, the logic which would otherwise be duplicated in each of the individual decode units for each instruction set can be removed from those decode units and provided just once in the common decode unit. Accordingly, this can significantly reduce the amount of logic duplicated in the decoder units which, in turn, reduces the amount chip area required to support decoding and reduces power consumption. Also, since the decode units are no longer required to support the decoding of such a high number of different instructions, the complexity of each decode unit can be reduced, which can result in increased performance during decode.
US07958334B2	Method and apparatus for an efficient multi-path trace cache design A novel trace cache design and organization to efficiently store and retrieve multi-path traces. A goal is to design a trace cache, which is capable of storing multi-path traces without significant duplication in the traces. Furthermore, the effective access latency of these traces is reduced.
US07958331B2	Storage device with opportunistic address space A data storage device comprises storage media including physical data blocks. The data storage device comprises a storage circuit. The storage circuit compresses a user data block into a compressed user data block before storing the compressed user data in one of the physical data blocks, leaving an unused block portion of the physical data block. The data storage device comprises a remapping circuit that remaps the unused block portion to an opportunistic block address. The data storage device comprises a circuit that stores data in the unused block portion.
US07958329B2	Hybrid replicated shared memory A multiple computer system with hybrid replicated shared memory is disclosed. The local memory (10, 20, . . . 80) of each of the multiple computers M1, M2, . . . Mn is partitioned into a first part (11, 21, . . . 81) and a second part (12, 22, . . . 82). Each of the first parts are identical and each of the second parts are independent. The total memory available to the system is the first memory part plus n times the second memory part, n being the total number of application running multiple computers.
US07958325B2	Handling temporary files in a file system with snapshots A temporary file is identified. The temporary file includes a data block containing a first file image. A determination is made whether the temporary block has been included in a previous snapshot. Responsive to receiving a modification of the temporary block that has been included in the previous snapshot, a modified first image is created. The modified image is stored in the original file block, and the original image is copied to a newly allocated block. The original first block is updated to include a reference to the second block.
US07958324B2	Computer system and command execution frequency control method A computer system of the present invention can adjust the execution frequencies of a command issued from a host and a command issued from a storage. An external manager disposed in the host configures a priority for a host command issued from a command issuing module inside the host. An internal manager disposed in the storage configures a priority for an internal command issued from a command issuing module inside the storage. The internal manager adjusts the execution frequency of the host command and the execution frequency of the internal command based on the host command priority and the internal command priority.
US07958315B2	Prefetching in a virtual memory system based upon repeated accesses across page boundaries A system and method of improved handling of large pages in a virtual memory system. A data memory management unit (DMMU) detects sequential access of a first sub-page and a second sub-page out of a set of sub-pages that comprise a same large page. Then, the DMMU receives a request for the first sub-page and in response to such a request, the DMMU instructs a pre-fetch engine to pre-fetch at least the second sub-page if the number of detected sequential accesses equals or exceeds a predetermined value.
US07958312B2	Small and power-efficient cache that can provide data for background DMA devices while the processor is in a low-power state Small and power-efficient buffer/mini-cache sources and sinks selected DMA accesses directed to a memory space included in a coherency domain of a microprocessor when cached data in the microprocessor is inaccessible due to any or all of the microprocessor being in a low-power state not supporting snooping. Satisfying the selected DMA accesses via the buffer/mini-cache enables reduced power consumption by allowing the microprocessor (or portion thereof) to remain in the low-power state. The buffer/mini-cache may be operated (temporarily) incoherently with respect to the cached data in the microprocessor and flushed before deactivation to synchronize with the cached data when the microprocessor (or portion thereof) transitions to a high-power state that enables snooping. Alternatively the buffer/mini-cache may be operated in a manner (incrementally) coherent with the cached data. The microprocessor implements one or more processors having associated cache systems (such as various arrangements of first-, second-, and higher-level caches).
US07958311B2	Cache line replacement techniques allowing choice of LFU or MFU cache line replacement Methods and apparatus allowing a choice of Least Frequently Used (LFU) or Most Frequently Used (MFU) cache line replacement are disclosed. The methods and apparatus determine new state information for at least two given cache lines of a number of cache lines in a cache, the new state information based at least in part on prior state information for the at least two given cache lines. Additionally, when an access miss occurs in one of the at least two given lines, the methods and apparatus (1) select either LFU or MFU replacement criteria, and (2) replace one of the at least two given cache lines based on the new state information and the selected replacement criteria. Additionally, a cache for replacing MFU cache lines is disclosed. The cache additionally comprises MFU circuitry (1) adapted to produce new state information for the at least two given cache lines in response to an access to one of the at least two given cache lines, and (2) when a cache miss occurs in one of the at least two given cache lines, adapted to determine, based on the new state information, which of the at least two given cache lines is the most frequently used cache line.
US07958307B2	Method and system for grouping storage system components Methods and systems are provided for associating a storage system component, e.g. a server, client, machine, sub-client, or other storage system component, with one or more other storage system components into a group. Storage preferences are defined for the group which is automatically associated with each component in the group. The storage preferences define how storage operations are to be performed on the storage system components.
US07958306B2	Computer system and control method for the computer system A computer system including a first storage system connected to a first host computer, a second storage system connected to a second host computer and a third storage system connected to the first and second storage systems. The second storage system sets transfer setting before an occurrence of a failure, the transfer setting being provided with a dedicated storage area to be used for transferring data to the third storage system by asynchronous copy in response to a failure at the first host computer. Before the start of data transfer between the second storage system and third storage system to be executed after an occurrence of the failure, the second storage system checks the dedicated storage area, data transfer line and transfer setting information, and if an abnormal state is detected, this abnormal state is reported to the host computer as information attached to the transfer setting.
US07958305B1	System and method for managing storage networks and providing virtualization of resources in such a network This invention is a system and method for managing one or more data storage networks using a new architecture. A method for handling logical to physical mapping is included in one embodiment with the new architecture. A method for handling errors is included in another embodiment with the new architecture.
US07958299B2	Hard disk system state monitoring method A hard disk system state monitoring method is provided. The hard disk system state monitoring method is to monitor the state of a hard disk system. The hard disk system comprises a backplane, an expander and a plurality of hard disks adapted in the device slots of the backplane. The hard disk system state monitoring method comprises the steps of: retrieving a logic and physical address mapping table from the expander; retrieving a physical address and device slot number mapping table; generating a logical address and device slot number mapping table according to the logic and physical address mapping table and physical address and device slot number mapping table; receiving a plurality of hard disk instant state signals; and establishing a hard disk system state database according to the logical address and device slot number mapping table and the hard disk instant state signals.
US07958297B2	Card-type peripheral device A card-type peripheral device includes an electronic component including a memory disposed in a case, a terminal part including connection terminals connectable with a to-be-connected device, and a switch for disabling writing to the memory. The card-type peripheral device further includes a signal terminal capable of transmitting a signal indicating the status of the switch to the to-be-connected device.
US07958296B2	System management and advanced programmable interrupt controller Methods for processing more securely are disclosed. Embodiments provide effective and efficient mechanisms for reducing APIC interference with accesses to SMRAM, where enhanced SMM code implementing these mechanisms effectively reduces APIC attacks and increases the security of proprietary, confidential or otherwise secure data stored in SMRAM.
US07958288B2	Semiconductor storage device and method of controlling the same A semiconductor storage device includes a first nonvolatile memory to store user data of a file, a second nonvolatile memory to store management data of the file, the second nonvolatile memory being different in type from the first nonvolatile memory, and a controller to control read/write of data with respect to the first and second nonvolatile memories.
US07958279B2	Asynchronous serial data apparatus for transferring data between one transmitter and a plurality of shift registers, avoiding skew during transmission A semiconductor integrated circuit apparatus, comprising a data transmitter circuit, and a plurality of data receiver circuits each having a data converter circuit which restores each of bits of identification number data and transfer data from a shift register of the data transmitter circuit to 2-bit complementary data transmitted via first and second transmission lines, a reception control circuit which, when a transfer completion signal has been received via a third transmission line, compares an allocated identification number with the restored identification number data, and a shift register provided in association with the reception control circuit, wherein each reception control circuit feeds transfer data transmitted from the data transmitter circuit corresponding to the identification number data to the associated shift register in accordance with a result of comparison between the identification number data and the allocated identification number.
US07958272B2	Method and apparatus for outputting a user interface (UI) event of 3rd party device in home network Disclosed are a method and apparatus for outputting a user interface (UI) event of a 3rd party device in a home network having a server, a client and a control point, the server and the client joining a UI session by using a remote protocol, the control point controlling the server and the client. The method includes (a) receiving by the control point a UI event message from the 3rd party device not joined in the UI session, the UI event message representing change in a state of the 3rd party device, (b) selecting by the control point a target client for processing a UI event, (c) transmitting by the control point an Out-of-session connect action message (OOSConnect Action) requesting connection setup with the 3rd party device to the selected target client, and (d) transmitting by the target client a permission message for the OOSConnect Action to the control point, thereby setting an Out-of-session connection OOSConnect with the 3rd party device and processing the UI event.
US07958258B2	Mobile communication device domain name system redirection A device provides, to a domain name system (DNS), uniform resource locator (URL) information received from a user device, and generates a redirect query when a redirect error is received from the DNS based on the URL information. The device also provides the redirect query to a policy server/accounting database, and receives, from the policy server/accounting database, information indicating that the user device subscribes to a redirect service and subscriber information associated with the user device. A device management database (DMD) query is generated based on the subscriber information, provides the DMD query to a DMD server, and receives, from the DMD server, model information associated with the user device, where the URL information and the model information are used to retrieve redirect information for the user device.
US07958254B2	Method and device for performing floor control A method of controlling a floor controller (14) of a communications network (8) including a group of network components (14, 16) which receive a data stream (12) from a data source (10) is described. The method comprises the steps of selecting the network component (14, 16) which is to control the data source (10), receiving a control instruction from at least one of the network components (16), the control instruction relating to a control of the data source (10), and, in response to receipt of the control instruction from the selected network component (16), triggering the transmission of a corresponding session control command to the data source (10).
US07958250B2	System and method for multi-level guided node and topology discovery Systems and methods for user-guided iterative node discovery and topology discovery in a network of nodes involved in secure and reliable data transfer.
US07958245B2	Method and system for providing secure access to private networks with client redirection Improved approaches for providing secure access to resources maintained on private networks are disclosed. The secure access can be provided through a public network using client software of client-server software and/or with file system software. Multiple remote users are able to gain restricted and controlled access to at least portions of a private network through a common access point, such as an intermediate server of the remote network.
US07958232B1	Dashboard for on-the-fly AJAX monitoring A system and method for monitoring a web-page utilizing a dashboard application is disclosed herein. On the server-side, the present invention modifies each of the plurality of objects of a web-page by adding additional instrumentation code and attributes to create a modified web-page with reporting functions to the dashboard application. The modified web-page is served to the client-side and real-time information for the modified web-page is reported to the dashboard application.
US07958224B2	Incentive network for distributing incentives on a network-wide basis and for permitting user access to individual incentives from a plurality of network servers An incentive network equipped with methods for distributing incentives on a network-wide basis and for permitting user access to individual incentives from any network server. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method performed by a server for accessing incentives in an network, comprises steps of receiving an access request from a device associated with a user and connected to the network, transmitting identifying information corresponding to the access request to a host, receiving incentive information from the host reflecting available incentives corresponding to the identifying information, and transmitting a network document, including the incentive information, to the device associated with the user in response to the access request. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a computer-implemented method for accessing incentives in an network, comprises transmitting an access request to access a server in the network, receiving a subscriber request for a subscriber ID associated with the access request, transmitting the subscriber ID to the server, and receiving in response to the access request incentive information reflecting available incentives corresponding to the subscriber ID, wherein the server provides the subscriber ID to a host that selects and transmits the incentive information to the server.
US07958222B1	Method and system for accessing network services A system for accessing network services includes a plurality of resolvers including a root resolver and a secondary resolver, each resolver arranged to perform actions comprising determining a set of service locations based at least in part on the service and an address associated with a client. the system includes an intermediate device that manipulates scores returned by a set of resolvers of the plurality of resolvers, wherein the root resolver is further arranged to combine sets of the determined service locations and return a combined set of service locations to the client, and wherein at least one resolver of the plurality of resolvers employs an algorithm that is different from an algorithm employed by another resolver of the plurality of resolvers, wherein each algorithm is employed to determine scores of service locations, wherein the combined set of services locations comprises the scores of service locations.
US07958220B2	Apparatus, method and system for acquiring IPV6 address An apparatus, method and system for acquiring IPV6 address is described. The apparatus includes a request module (101) and an allocation module (102), the request module (101) is adapted to send an IPV6 address allocation request to the allocation module (102), and acquire an allocated IPV6 address from an IPV6 address allocation acknowledgement returned from the allocation module (102); the allocation module (102) is adapted to allocate an IPV6 address according to the IPV6 address allocation request, make the allocated IPV6 address to be carried in the IPV6 address allocation acknowledgement, and return the IPV6 address allocation acknowledgement to the request module (101). The system includes a user terminal and an IPV6 address management device. The apparatus, method and system improve the security of IPV6 address in use while ensure the uniqueness of IPV6 address.
US07958215B2	System management using real time collaboration The present invention provides a method of improving the response time to IT problems and ensuring that some will respond to a problem. In one embodiment, a management system uses a monitoring system to detect problem conditions with a managed device. When such an event occurs, the managed device sends a message containing a description of the alert to an intelligent agent. In response, the intelligent agent selects an administrator who is both qualified and available to respond to the alert, and then sends an instant message containing the description of the alert to the selected administrator. The administrator may accept responsibility for the alert by sending an instant message acknowledgement back to the intelligent agent. If the intelligent agent does not receive an acknowledgement, it automatically finds another administrator to respond to the alert.
US07958213B1	Processing electronic messages An electronic messaging scheme is described that is configurable to prevent intentional and unintentional transmission of electronic messages subject to one or more access restriction conditions. In accordance with one aspect of this electronic messaging scheme, an electronic message is interrogated for an access restriction notice in response to a user command to transmit the electronic message, and a detected access restriction notice is responded to in accordance with a prescribed transmission policy.
US07958205B2	Method and system for communicating between a remote printer and a server In order to enable downloading to a mobile printer data items from a server, a method comprising the steps of establishing communication connection end points (“sockets”), communicating with the server, where the communication includes sending a request for authentication to the server, receiving an authentication response, requesting print data portions from the server, receiving the requested print data portions, and notifying the server after each print data portion has been printed. The method also includes the step of terminating their communication connection when a printing session ends or if an error occurs. The method constitutes a printer-server protocol.
US07958201B2	Method, system and apparatus for encouraging frequent and purposeful electronic communications from caregivers to individuals with impaired memory A computer implemented system and method for encouraging frequent and purposeful electronic communications from caregivers to individuals with impaired memory to, inter alia, alleviate feelings of isolation and improve memory. The system includes a Web-based application through which caregivers send text, image, voice and other forms of data for receipt by the sufferer on a PDA having a simple user interface. The Web application records the dates and nature (i.e., text, audio, photograph, video) of communications sent by each caregiver, processes the data in order to display it in a variety of meaningful ways to all caregivers, thus creating a peer-pressure environment to encourage more frequent communication. The Web application can also be programmed to send electronic reminders to all caregivers who opt-in to the service requesting that they send a communication to the sufferer, and more particularly to individual caregivers whose frequency of communication has been inadequate relative to a group of caregivers or to predefined expectations.
US07958196B2	Messaging system A messaging system comprises a server which registers clients (users) and stores uploaded contact data in contacts databases. The contact databases have meta data including profile attributes indicating the subject matter profiles of the contacts. A content manager receives content items such as collateral parts and message text and stores them in content databases, also with meta data having profile attributes. When a client requests a message to be sent to a contact, the content manager automatically identifies relevant content items according to the profile attributes, and a messaging engine sends a message with a wrapper having links to these content items. When the contact responds, a response management function captures response data and instructs a build engine to build content from the identified items. The content is then sent to the contact.
US07958189B2	Systems and methods for mapping user experiences in network navigation In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for mapping user experiences over a network include tracking user navigation events through a network site of a resource provider, identifying recurring navigation events of the user, and generating a map of the user navigation events and the recurring navigation events as a user experience. The systems and methods for mapping user experiences, as disclosed herein, provide improved analysis of network site usage patterns for purposes of streamlining and optimizing network site operation.
US07958188B2	Transaction-initiated batch processing A system and method is provided for initiating batch processing on a computer system from a terminal. The method generates a message from the terminal, where the message defines a transaction to be performed on a computer system. The transaction schedules and runs a program that extracts data from the message. The message is then transmitted to the computer system. The data is then used to generate batch job control language and a batch job is run on the computer system. The output of the batch job is then routed back to the terminal.
US07958186B2	Restructuring integration system A system includes a portal connected to user interface (UI) components, application logic linking the UI components to a repository layer and connectivity layer through an object access layer, and source systems linked to the repository layer and the connectivity layer.
US07958182B2	Providing full hardware support of collective operations in a multi-tiered full-graph interconnect architecture A mechanism is provided for performing collective operations. In hardware of a parent processor in a first processor book, a number of other processors are determined in a same or different processor book of the data processing system that is needed to execute the collective operation, thereby establishing a plurality of processors comprising the parent processor and the other processors. In hardware of the parent processor, the plurality of processors are logically arranged as a plurality of nodes in a hierarchical structure. The collective operation is transmitted to the plurality of processors based on the hierarchical structure. In hardware of the parent processor, results are received from the execution of the collective operation from the other processors, a final result is generated of the collective operation based on the received results, and the final result is output.
US07958172B2	Apparatus for implementing container managed uses, ownerships, and references in an enterprise javabean environment A method, apparatus, and computer instructions are provided for implementing container managed uses, ownerships, and references in an enterprise JavaBean™ environment. A user may specify a uses, ownership, reference relationships between entity beans and sessions in a deployment descriptor file. When the file is processed, the present embodiment generates methods on the entity beans and allows the container to recognize the relationships, such that the user may access the session beans based on the specified relationships.
US07958171B1	System and method for organizing search criteria match results In a system and method for organizing database search criteria match results which are generated through a search engine adapted to generate system databases upon the processing of search criteria established and submitted by a system user, the system is adapted to define and group the search criteria match results for presentation to the user based upon the relative emphasis or de-emphasis of such results. The system includes a context software module, for enabling the generating of a context database consisting of content, links, and layouts organized for presentation to the user, which module is adapted to determine and specify the context database based on a current context and settings. The system also includes a criteria software module for enabling the generating of a comparison database, adapted to enable criteria to be submitted, modified, and input by the user to generate comparison database information.
US07958166B2	System and method for providing write-once-read-many (WORM) storage Techniques for providing write-once-read-many (WORM) storage are described herein. According to one embodiment, a range of values is received to set an attribute of a file, where the received range of values is outside of an ordinary range of the attribute in accordance with a file system associated with the file. In addition, a management action is received to be associated with the received range of values of the attribute, where the management action is unrelated to an ordinary action associated with the attribute of the file in accordance with the file system. In response, the received management action is associated with the received range of values of the attribute. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US07958160B2	Executing filter subqueries using a parallel single cursor model Techniques are provided for generating execution plans for, and executing, database statements that contain filter subqueries. Upon receiving a database statement that contains a filter subquery, the database server builds an execution plan that includes a filter operation that is fed by a subtree that corresponds to the subquery. The database server performs a cost analysis to determine whether (1) the filter operation should be parallelized, and (2) the subquery tree should be parallelized. Techniques are also described for generating plans and executing queries where (1) both the filter operation and the subquery subtree are parallelized, (2) the filter operation is parallelized but the subquery subtree operation is performed serially, and (3) the filter operation is performed serially but the subquery subtree operation is parallelized.
US07958157B2	Method of interpreting handwritten data inputted on a printed form A method of interpreting handwritten data inputted on a printed form using an optically sensing pen. The form has a plurality of different form fields for the handwritten data input. The form also includes a plurality of printed tags and the method includes the steps of: (a) receiving, from the pen, digital ink representing handwritten data input of the pen relative to the form; (b) identifying the form field in which handwritten data has been inputted; (c) identifying a set of predetermined text values associated with the identified form field; and (d) interpreting the handwritten data by decoding the digital ink and converting the decoded digital ink into computer text. The computer text is selected only from the set of predetermined text values.
US07958153B2	Systems and methods for employing an orthogonal corpus for document indexing Methods and systems for processing a body of reference material to generate a directory for accessing information from a database.
US07958149B2	Computer program and product for append mode insertion of rows into tables in database management systems Implementation of append mode concurrent insert operations in tables in a page-based concurrent relational database management system is carried out by defining a set of last pages as a current cache into which rows may be inserted by appenders. Append mode insert operations for each page in the current cache are serialized. Appenders seek to access the pages in the current cache using a two-pass process in which latches are sought to be acquired conditionally in the first pass and unconditionally in the second pass. A shared data structure is provided to define a current cache and a next cache for a table supporting append mode inserts in the relational database. The shared data structure includes information reflecting the unused space for each page in the current cache.
US07958144B2	System and method for secure reciprocal exchange of data A system for transmission of data between a first device operated by a first user and a second device includes a database that receives a first set of data input by the first user and a second set of data input by the second user. In one embodiment, the first set of data includes an immediate mode of access and/or one or more future modes of access of the first user which correlate to one or more specific time periods during which the future mode of access will become the immediate mode of access. Additionally, the first set of data can include a time-dependent schedule of the future mode of access of the first user.
US07958142B2	User profile aggregation User profile data that may be spread across different service providers and that may vary across different service providers can be aggregated to provide an aggregate user profile. An aggregate user profile can be generated regardless of, among other things, varying user profile semantics, differing data formats, data item conflicts, evolving server protocols and interfaces, and updates to the number, identity, location, and type of servers upon which the service providers are maintained.
US07958134B2	Recording device for writing content data without continuity in presentation timing A recorder to write content data on a storage medium and includes: a determining section, which receives incoming content data and determines data properties thereof; a selecting section for selecting, depending on whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, either a first type of write processing to add the data to an existent file on the storage medium or a second type of write processing to write the data as a new file; and a writing section for writing the data on the storage medium by performing the selected type of write processing. The selecting section selects the first type of write processing if at least one part of the data properties of the data that have been determined by the determining section is identical with those of the data that is stored in the existent file on the storage medium but selects the second type of write processing unless this condition is satisfied.
US07958125B2	Clustering aggregator for RSS feeds A method for merging really simple syndication (RSS) feeds. Stories containing one or more terms may be merged into one or more clusters based on one or more links between the stories. A cluster frequency with which the terms occur in each cluster may be determined. A diameter for each cluster may be determined. A cluster that is most similar to one of the clusters may be determined based on the cluster frequency. The most similar cluster with the one of the clusters may be determined based on each diameter, and each cluster frequency.
US07958119B2	Method for content recommendation A method for content recommendation for a user, wherein a song or a video is recommended to the user and a confidence measure is determined for the recommended song. The confidence measure is displayed to the user, so the user may get more confidence into the recommendation of the system.
US07958115B2	Search systems and methods using in-line contextual queries Systems and methods are provided for implementing searches using contextual information associated with a Web page (or other document) that a user is viewing when a query is entered. The page includes a contextual search interface that has an associated context vector representing content of the page. When the user submits a search query via the contextual search interface, the query and the context vector are both provided to the query processor and used in responding to the query.
US07958110B2	Performing an ordered search of different databases in response to receiving a search query and without receiving any additional user input Providing a speculative search result for a search query prior to completion of the search query. In response to receiving a search query from a client node, a speculative search result is provided to the client node for the search query prior to receiving an indication from the client node that said search query is completely formed. The speculative search result may be displayed on the same web page on the client node as the search query, while the search query is being entered by the user. As the user further enters the search query, a new speculative search result may be provided to the user.
US07958103B1	Incorporated web page content Including search result based content in a webpage is disclosed. One or more search criteria and an indication that a search result based content associated with the search criteria is to be included in a web page are received. A computer script or code configured to enable the search result based content to be retrieved in accordance with the search criteria is generated automatically for the web page.
US07958102B1	Method and apparatus for searching a storage system for confidential data Method and apparatus for searching a storage system for confidential data is described. One aspect of the invention relates to searching a computer for confidential data related to user. User information comprising the confidential data is obtained from a digital identity for the user. A rule that provides a secure representation of the user information is generated. A storage system in the computer is searched using the rule to detect one or more instances of the user information within at least one file.
US07958087B2	Systems and methods for cross-system digital asset tag propagation Systems and methods for managing digital assets in a distributed computing environment are described. Meta-data for the digital assets is stored separately from the digital assets. Meta-data for some of the digital assets is copied and stored at a central location. Meta-data for the digital assets is generated by clients of the system. A method of propagating a digital asset identification tag associated with a digital asset includes: receiving a command from a client of the distributed computing system to the central computing resource, the command comprising an indication that a change occurred to the asset identification tag of a digital asset and the changed digital asset identification tag; locating the digital asset identification tag at the central resource; updating the digital asset identification tag in response to the received command; and transmitting the updated tag to another client having a copy of the digital asset.
US07958078B2	Clustering triz analysis method The TRIZ decision process of the clustering method proposed by this invention uses the characteristics and invention rules from the contradiction matrix table resulting from massive quantities of patent inferences to find a similar or approximate character group and invention rule group of the physical meanings, and also applies statistics to calculate the number of display times of the groups to be the basic foundation. Apart from the number of display times, Bayes probability, fuzzy object oriented method and Bayes probability combined with fuzzy object oriented method can be used as the system. The reading value is utilized as a foundation for prioritizing the sequence of consideration for the groups, in which the system reading value constructed by different models gives designers lots of options to perform the reading, so as to acquire the undesired result features of the prioritized consideration.
US07958055B2	Method and apparatus for temporary ownership of digital items in a network data processing system A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for leasing a unique digital item in a network data processing system. A listing request is received for a payment and a deposit in the account of a first party. A listing request is received for a unique digital item in the account of a second party. Responsive to receiving the listing requests, the respective digital properties are transferred to a temporary storage account in association with retrieval tags. Listings for the digital properties appear on a trusted third-party leasing service. A lease contract is drawn up between the parties. After all parties have signed the lease agreement, the payment is transferred to the second party and the unique digital item is transferred to the first party. The deposit is held by the trusted third-party leasing service until the unique digital item is returned.
US07958039B2	Computer implemented and/or assisted methods and systems for providing rapid execution of, for example, listed options contracts using toxicity and/or profit analyzers Methods and systems are provided which enable options broker-dealers to execute a listed options contract trade order while simultaneously eliminating (or at least reducing) exposure to the negative consequences associated with toxic (or likely toxic) trades in the options market. By using toxicity and/or profit analyzers, for example, to detect, track and respond to the level of toxic (or likely toxic) orders present in an option contract order flow, a broker dealer can reduce the level of risk inherent in serving as a counter-party in listed options transactions, and inherent in offering a rapid execution guarantee. Various alternative embodiments are also disclosed.
US07958037B2	Method and apparatus for product selection A method for determining a total benefit derived from a subset of products in a product portfolio includes identifying a set of customer orders having a set of ordered products from the product portfolio and an order benefit and selecting the subset of products from the product portfolio. The method also totals the order benefits from the set of customer orders whose set of ordered products are included within the subset of products from the product portfolio. An apparatus is provided for use in determining a total benefit derived from a subset of products in a product portfolio.
US07958031B2	Apparatus, system, and method for automated identity relationship maintenance An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically maintaining identity relationships among disparate enterprise information systems. The apparatus comprises a synchronization hub comprising an identity relationship repository, a relationship service module, a consistency module, and an adjustment module. The relationship service is configured to access a target relationship entry using a unique key from a source business object, wherein the source business object is representative of changes made in a source enterprise information system. The various components and modules of the synchronization hub cooperate to determine identity relationships that need updating and to propagate identity relationship changes to one or more destination enterprise information servers.
US07958026B2	Hierarchical transaction filtering Systems and methods of allocating transactions among business objects are described. Allocation is accomplished using generated allocation rules that are generated using a hierarchical data structure representative of relationships between the business objects and using predefined rules that characterize the business objects. Each generated allocation rule is associated with at least one of the business objects and is used to query a set of transactions to be allocated. Query results, generated using a generated allocation rule, include the transactions to be allocated to the associated business object. Embodiments are disclosed to illustrate how the invention can be used to allocate sales commissions to members of a sales team. The invention is applicable to a variety of business objects including people, organizations, accounts, tasks, or the like.
US07958018B2	Method and apparatus for procuring goods in an automated manner An automatic system and method optimizes the purchasing of goods and services by a buyer. A request for a quote for goods or services required is received from a buyer. This request is processed and dealers are selected based on the criteria of the buyer and other criteria. The selected dealers are then sent the request for goods and services and quotes are solicited. Quotes from the selected dealers, for the goods or services, are then receivable within a predetermined time period. Thereafter, the received quotes of the providers of the goods or services are ranked. The ranking and the report of the providers are then outpribed in steps S2 and S3 of FIG. 2.
US07958010B2	Internet search engine with critic ratings The present invention provides an internet search engine and associated website which provides users with ranked website search results. In an aspect of the present invention, the search engine and associated website provides a critical rating function. Critics can be human experts who review websites on the internet and rate and comment on them. Users apply to become critics, and their applications are reviewed for acceptability by other critics. Critics are selected in particular professions for their expertise in those areas. The critics provide a rating and comments in relation to a site, or to other online content, including text, audio and video, among other things. Ratings and comments are also available to users. In other words, the present invention provides for at least two levels of critical review: critics' review and users' review. In an aspect of the present invention, an advanced critic sorting mechanism is provided.
US07958007B2	Method, system, and software for geographically focused network advertising A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network.
US07958001B2	Computer-based method for assessing competence of an organization Stored in a computer are scores related to answers given by human representatives of organizational units in response to defined questions. For the organizational units, total scores and weighted total scores are calculated. The weighted total scores are calculated by adding up weighted maximum scores assigned to the questions, the weighted maximum scores depending on the respective organizational unit and the respective question. Competence levels of the organizational units are calculated by scaling the total scores of the respective organizational unit to a scale of competence reaching from zero to a maximum competence. The maximum competence corresponds to the weighted total score calculated for the respective organizational unit. The computer generates a graphical representation of the competence levels for multiple organizational units of a particular organization. In one common graph, the competence levels are visualized so that deficiencies of the competence levels from the maximum competence as well as differences between the competence levels of the organizational units are visualized.
US07957989B2	System and method for automatically generating an airplane boarding pass for a traveler returning a rental car The invention provides a system and method for integrating rental vehicle return with airline boarding pass generation. The system includes a rental identification tag located on a rental vehicle and a tag reader located at a rental vehicle return facility for reading and identifying the rental vehicle identification tag when the rental vehicle enters a range of the tag reader. The system additionally includes a database containing information linking a traveler to the rental identification tag and to airline reservation information of the traveler and a computing system communicating with the database and the tag reader to locate the airline reservation information of the traveler based on the identification provided by the tag reader. The system also includes a boarding pass generator for generating a boarding pass based on the airline reservation information upon receiving an instruction from the computing system.
US07957981B2	Method and apparatus for generating standardized carbon emission reduction credits A method and apparatus for determining standardized carbon emission reduction credits is disclosed. General regional data and site-specific data, if available, are input into a carbon sequestration model to determine the approximate change in the level of carbon compounds stored in a media, such as soil, over a specified period of time. An uncertainty analysis is conducted on the results to quantify and normalize carbon emission reduction credits. Standardized carbon emission reduction credits may be compiled for trade and other carbon emission reduction credits are placed in reserve.
US07957978B2	Method and terminal for encoding or decoding an analog signal An analog signal divided into time frames is encoded and a synthetic signal is formed on the model thereof in a time frame manner via a synthesis filter which is excited by an excitation signal. The excitation signal is formed by at least one adaptive code list containing a plurality of scanning values provided with a defined scanning space. For the actual excitation signal, a segment corresponding to the time frame length is selected from the plurality of scanning values via a speech-based frequency parameter which can take non-integer values and, in such a case, the values intermediate to the scanning values defined by the speech-based frequency parameter are formed in such a way that the time space between the intermediate values and the scanning values is reduced and the totality of the intermediate and the scanning values is used for forming the excitation signal.
US07957975B2	Voice controlled wireless communication device system A wireless communication device is disclosed that accepts recorded audio data from an end-user. The audio data can be in the form of a command requesting user action. Likewise, the audio data can be converted into a text file. The audio data is reduced to a digital file in a format that is supported by the device hardware, such as a .wav, .mp3, .vnf file, or the like. The digital file is sent via secured or unsecured wireless communication to one or more server computers for further processing. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the system evaluates the confidence level of the of the speech recognition process. If the confidence level is high, the system automatically builds the application command or creates the text file for transmission to the communication device. Alternatively, if the confidence of the speech recognition is low, the recorded audio data file is routed to a human transcriber employed by the telecommunications service, who manually reviews the digital voice file and builds the application command or text file. Once the application command is created, it is transmitted to the communication device. As a result of the present invention, speech recognition in the context of a communications devices has been shown to be accurate over 90% of the time.
US07957973B2	Audio signal interpolation method and device An audio signal interpolation device comprises a spectral movement calculation unit which determines a spectral movement which is indicative of a difference in each of spectral components between a frequency spectrum of a current frame of an input audio signal and a frequency spectrum of a previous frame of the input audio signal stored in a spectrum storing unit. An interpolation band determination unit determines a frequency band to be interpolated by using the frequency spectrum of the current frame and the spectral movement. A spectrum interpolation unit performs interpolation of spectral components in the frequency band for the current frame by using either the frequency spectrum of the current frame or the frequency spectrum of the previous frame.
US07957972B2	Voice recognition system and method thereof A voice recognition system and method thereof. The communication system comprises a setup controller, a voice recognition controller, and an application controller. The setup controller receives a voice keyword table including a voice recognizable keyword and a corresponding application instruction. The voice recognition controller, coupled to the setup controller, receives the voice keyword table from the setup controller, receives a first voice input, and matches a first voice input to the voice recognizable keyword to determine the corresponding application instruction. The application controller, coupled to the voice recognition controller, receives and performs the corresponding application instruction. The setup controller, the voice recognition controller, and the application controller communicate through wireless communication.
US07957970B1	Method and system for predicting problematic situations in automated dialog The invention concerns a system and method of predicting problematic dialogs in an automated dialog system based on the user's input communications. The method may include determining whether a probability of conducting a successful dialog with the user exceeds a first threshold. The successful dialog may be defined as a dialog exchange between an automated dialog system and the user that results in at least one of processing of the user's input communication and routing the user's input communication. The method may further operate such that if the first threshold is exceeded, further dialog is conducted with the user. Otherwise, the user may be directed to a human for assistance. In another possible embodiment, the method operates as above except that if the probability exceeds a second threshold, the second threshold being higher than the first, then further dialog is conducted with the user using the current dialog strategy. However, if the probability falls between a first threshold and a second threshold, the dialog strategy may be adapted in order to improve the chances of conducting a successful dialog with the user. This process may be cumulative. In particular, the first dialog exchange may be stored in a database. Then, a second dialog exchange is conducted with the user. As a result, a second determination is made as whether successful dialog can be conducted based on the stored first exchange and the current second exchanges. This cumulative process may continue using a third and fourth exchange, if necessary.
US07957968B2	Automatic grammar generation using distributedly collected knowledge The invention includes a computer based system or method for automatically generating a grammar associated with a first task comprising the steps of: receiving first data representing the first task based from responses received from a distributed network; automatically tagging the first data into parts of speech to form first tagged data; identifying filler words and core words from said first tagged data; modeling sentence structure based upon said first tagged data using a first set of rules; identifying synonyms of said core words; and creating the grammar for the first task using said modeled sentence structure, first tagged data and said synonyms.
US07957967B2	Acoustic signal classification system A system classifies the source of an input signal. The system determines whether a sound source belongs to classes that may include human speech, musical instruments, machine noise, or other classes of sound sources. The system is robust, performing classification despite variation in sound level and noise masking. Additionally, the system consumes relatively few computational resources and adapts over time to provide consistently accurate classification.
US07957966B2	Apparatus, method, and program for sound quality correction based on identification of a speech signal and a music signal from an input audio signal According to one embodiment, a sound quality correction apparatus calculates various feature parameters for identifying the speech signal and the music signal from an input audio signal and, based on the various feature parameters thus calculated, also calculates a speech/music identification score indicating to which of the speech signal and the music signal the input audio signal is close to. Then, based on this speech/music identification score, the correction strength of each of plural sound quality correctors is controlled to execute different types of the sound quality correction processes on the input audio signal.
US07957963B2	Voice transcoder First encoded voice bits are transcoded into second encoded voice bits by dividing the first encoded voice bits into one or more received frames, with each received frame containing multiple ones of the first encoded voice bits. First parameter bits for at least one of the received frames are generated by applying error control decoding to one or more of the encoded voice bits contained in the received frame, speech parameters are computed from the first parameter bits, and the speech parameters are quantized to produce second parameter bits. Finally, a transmission frame is formed by applying error control encoding to one or more of the second parameter bits, and the transmission frame is included in the second encoded voice bits.

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