Document Document Title
US07981860B2 Use of ghrelin splice variant for treating cachexia and/or anorexia and/or anorexia-cachexia and/or malnutrition and/or lipodystrophy and/or muscle wasting and/or appetite-stimulation
The present disclosure relates, in one aspect, to use of ghrelin splice variant or an analogue thereof for the preparation of a medicament for one or more of: treatment and/or prevention of loss of body weight and body fat, prophylaxis or treatment of cachexia, stimulation of appetite, stimulation of food intake, stimulation of weight gain, or increasing body fat mass, or increasing body lean mass. Another aspect relates to the use of a ghrelin splice variant-like compound for the preparation of a medicament for the prophylaxis or treatment of cancer cachexia in an individual in need of such treatment. Another aspect relates to the use of a ghrelin splice variant-like compound for the preparation of a medicament for prophylaxis or treatment of cachexia in an individual by administering a subcutaneous dosage of said medicament to the individual. A further aspect relates to the use of a ghrelin splice variant-like compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the preparation of a medicament for stimulation of appetite in an individual by administering a subcutaneous dosage of said medicament to the individual. A further aspect relates to a number of new ghrelin splice variant-like compounds and uses thereof, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions and medical packaging comprising the new ghrelin splice variant-like compounds.
US07981856B2 Surfactant composition method for production thereof and cosmetic comprising said composition
The invention relates to surfactant compositions made from esters or amides of the betaine glycine, produced by reaction of the glycine betaine with a sulphonic acid and an alcohol or a fatty-chain amine derived from vegetable oils. The invention further relates to a cosmetic comprising said surfactant composition, in particular, liquid soap, bath foam, shower gel or shampoo.
US07981853B2 Sprayable wash-and-wax composition
A sprayable wash-and-wax composition which includes biodegradable surfactants and water repelling sealants. The sprayable composition preferably is packaged in an aerosol can and is dispensed as a foamed composition onto the car surface to be clean. The foamed composition is thereafter wiped from the car surface to produce a cleaned surface which is then buffed to a high gloss.
US07981847B2 Preparation of monomers for grafting to polyolefins, and lubricating oil compositions containing graft copolymer
A graft copolymer containing one or more ethylenically-unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic, nitrogen- and oxygen-containing graftable monomers grafted to a polyolefin is disclosed. Novel monomers, methods of making such monomers, and graft copolymers comprising such monomers are based on reacting an acylating agent with an amine to form a reaction product. The reaction product may include more than one chemical compound formed from the combination of the acylating agent and the amine. The monomer is the graftable, ethylenically unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic, nitrogen- and oxygen-containing compound(s) of the reaction product. The monomer may, but need not, be recovered from the product mixture. The preferred monomer is the reaction product of maleic anhydride and 4-aminodiphenylamine. Also described is a method of making a dispersant viscosity index improver. The monomer of the present invention may be grafted to a polyolefin in solutions or melts. Also described is a lubricating oil comprising a base oil and a grafted polyolefin as described above.
US07981846B2 Lubricating oil composition with improved emission compatibility
A lubricating oil composition comprising a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity, an alkaline earth metal borated sulfonate detergent, and, optionally, a molybdenum-containing compound, wherein the lubricating oil composition comprises no more than 0.12 wt % phosphorus and the amount of sulfated ash in the lubricating oil is not more than 1.25 wt %.
US07981838B2 Defoliant
A mixture, which comprises (A) thidiazuron (or thidiazuron and diuron), and (B) one or more compounds from the group of the N-phenylsulfonyl(het)arylamides, if appropriate also in salt form, of the formula below: in which R21 is cyclopropyl and R22 is H, R21 is cyclopropyl and R22 is 5-Cl, R21 is ethyl and R22 is H, R21 is isopropyl and R22 is 5-Cl or R21 is isopropyl and R22 is H; is suitable for use as a defoliant, in particular in crops of cotton.
US07981823B2 Transparent glass ceramic plate that has an opaque, colored bottom coating over the entire surface or over part of the surface
A transparent, colorless lithium-aluminosilicate glass ceramic plate with high-quartz mixed crystals as the prevailing crystal phase, which is provided on one side with an opaque, colored, temperature-stable coating over the entire surface or over the entire surface to a large extent, is described, which has a content of Nd2O3 of 40 to 4000 ppm, a Yellowness Index of less than 10% with a 4 mm glass (ceramic) layer thickness, and a variegation of colors of the glass or the glass ceramic in the CIELAB color system of C* of less than 5. The glass ceramic plate preferably has a composition (in % by weight based on oxide) of: Li2O 3.0-4.5, Na2O 0-1.5, K2O 0-1.5, ΣNa2O+K2O 0.2-2.0, MgO 0-2.0, CaO 0-1.5, SrO 0-1.5, BaO 0-2.5, ZnO 0-2.5, B2O3 0-1.0, Al2O3 19-25, SiO2 55-69, TiO2 1-3, ZrO2 1-2.5, SnO2 0-0.4, ΣSnO2+TiO2<3, P2O5 0-3.0, Nd2O3 0.01-0.4, CoO 0.0-0.004.
US07981822B2 Hook and loop fastener device
The instant invention is a hook and loop fastener device. According to the instant invention, the hook and loop fastener device includes a loop component. The loop component includes a binder-free non-woven material having a bottom layer and a top layer. The bottom layer includes a first bicomponent fiber and a first monocomponent fiber. The first bicomponent fiber comprises the majority of the bottom layer based on total weight of the bottom layer, and the first monocomponent fiber comprises the balance thereof. The top layer includes a second bicomponent fiber, and a second monocomponent fiber. The second monocomponent fiber comprises the majority of the top layer based on total weight of the top layer, and the second bicomponent layer comprises the balance thereof. The bottom layer and the top layer may further include interfiber bonding to form the binder-free non-woven material. The non-woven material may further be island bonded via hot-roll calendering thereby forming a bonded area and a non-bonded area. Additionally, the loop component may include a backing layer bonded to the non-woven material.
US07981818B2 Battery separator structures
A multilayer composite sheet for use in a lead-acid battery includes a) a base layer including paper or a glass fiber mat; b) a layer of polymeric nanofibers bonded with discrete adhesive particles to a first surface of the base layer; and c) a scrim layer bonded with discrete adhesive particles to a surface of the layer of nanofibers opposite the base layer. A plate assembly for a lead-acid battery includes one or more multilayer composite sheets located adjacent or partially enclosing a lead plate.
US07981816B2 Impurity-activating thermal process method and thermal process apparatus
An impurity-activating thermal process is performed after a target is subjected to an impurity introduction step. In this thermal process, while a spike RTA process including a holding period for holding a temperature at a predetermined temperature is performed, at least one iteration of millisecond annealing at a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature is performed during the holding period of the spike RTA process.
US07981814B2 Replication and transfer of microstructures and nanostructures
A method for the duplication of microscopic patterns from a master to a substrate is disclosed, in which a replica of a topographic structure on a master is formed and transferred when needed onto a receiving substrate using one of a variety of printing or imprint techniques, and then dissolved. Additional processing steps can also be carried out using the replica before transfer, including the formation of nanostructures, microdevices, or portions thereof. These structures are then also transferred onto the substrate when the replica is transferred, and remain on the substrate when the replica is dissolved. This is a technique that can be applied as a complementary process or a replacement for various lithographic processing steps in the fabrication of integrated circuits and other microdevices.
US07981807B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device with smoothing
Cost is reduced and reliability is improved with a CSP type semiconductor device. A glass substrate which works as a supporting plate is bonded through an adhesive to a first surface of a semiconductor wafer on which first wirings are formed. Thickness of the semiconductor wafer is reduced by back-grinding the semiconductor wafer on a second surface of the semiconductor wafer which is opposite to the first surface of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is wet-etched to remove bumps and dips on the second surface of the semiconductor wafer caused during the back-grinding. Then the second surface of the semiconductor wafer is etched to form a tapered groove. The semiconductor wafer is wet-etched to reduce bumps and dips caused by the etching and round a corner of the groove. The wet-etching improves coverage of insulation film, wiring and protection film and enhances yield and reliability of the semiconductor device.
US07981798B2 Method of manufacturing substrate
The present disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a substrate. The method includes: (a) forming through holes by applying an anisotropic etching to a silicon substrate from a first surface of the silicon substrate; (b) forming a first insulating film to cover the first surface of the silicon substrate, surfaces of the silicon substrate exposed from the through holes, and a second surface of the silicon substrate opposite to the first surface; (c) forming an opening in a portion of the first insulating film provided on the second surface, the portion of the first insulating film corresponding to an area in which the through holes are formed; (d) etching the silicon substrate using the first insulating film provided on the second surface as a mask, thereby forming a cavity in the silicon substrate; and (e) removing the first insulating film.
US07981793B2 Method of forming a metal directly on a conductive barrier layer by electrochemical deposition using an oxygen-depleted ambient
By suppressing the presence of free oxygen during a cleaning process and a subsequent electrochemical deposition of a seed layer, the quality of a corresponding interface between the barrier material and the seed layer may be enhanced, thereby also improving performance and the characteristics of the finally obtained metal region. Thus, by identifying free oxygen as a main source for negatively affecting the characteristics of metals during a “direct on barrier” plating process, efficient strategies have been developed and are disclosed herein to provide a reliable technique for volume production of sophisticated semiconductor devices.
US07981786B2 Method of fabricating non-volatile memory device having charge trapping layer
A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device having a charge trapping layer includes forming a tunneling layer, a charge trapping layer, a blocking layer and a control gate electrode layer over a substrate, forming a mask layer pattern on the control gate electrode layer, performing an etching process using the mask layer pattern as an etching mask to remove an exposed portion of the control gate electrode layer, wherein the etching process is performed as excessive etching to remove the charge trapping layer by a specified thickness, forming an insulating layer for blocking charges from moving on the control gate electrode layer and the mask layer pattern, performing anisotropic etching on the insulating layer to form an insulating layer pattern on a sidewall of the control gate electrode layer and a partial upper sidewall of the blocking layer, and performing an etching process on the blocking layer exposed by the anisotropic etching, wherein the etching process is performed as excessive etching to remove the charge trapping layer by a specified thickness.
US07981765B2 Substrate bonding with bonding material having rare earth metal
A microchip has a bonding material that bonds a first substrate to a second substrate. The bonding material has, among other things, a rare earth metal and other material.
US07981763B1 Atomic layer removal for high aspect ratio gapfill
Methods of filling high aspect ratio, narrow width (e.g., sub-50 nm) gaps on a substrate are provided. The methods provide gap fill with little or no incidence of voids, seams or weak spots. According to various embodiments, the methods depositing dielectric material in the gaps to partially fill the gaps, then performing multi-step atomic layer removal process to selectively etch unwanted material deposited on the sidewalls of the gaps. The multi-step atomic layer removal process involves a performing one or more initial atomic layer removal operations to remove unwanted material deposited at the top of the gap, followed by one or more subsequent atomic layer removal operations to remove unwanted material deposited on the sidewalls of the gap. Each atomic layer removal operation involves selectively chemically reacting a portion of the fill material with one or more reactants to form a solid reaction product, which is then removed.
US07981746B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing thereof
The present invention provides a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate provided with a trench section; a tunnel insulating film covering an inner surface of the trench section; a trap layer provided in contact with the tunnel insulating film on an inner surface of an upper portion of the trench section; a top insulating film provided in contact with the trap layer; a gate electrode embedded in the trench section, and provided in contact with the tunnel insulating film at a lower portion of the trench section and in contact with the top insulating film at the upper portion of the trench section, in which the trap layer and the top insulating film, in between the lower portion of the trench section and the upper portion of the trench section, extend and protrude from both sides of the trench section so as to be embedded in the gate electrode, and a method for manufacturing thereof.
US07981745B2 Sacrificial nitride and gate replacement
Methods of forming a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell and methods of improving quality of a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell are provided. The method can involve providing a charge storage layer on a semiconductor substrate, a nitride layer on the charge storage layer, and a first poly layer on the nitride layer, and converting at least a portion of the nitride layer to a top oxide. By converting at least a portion of a nitride layer to a top oxide layer, the quality of the resultant top oxide layer can be improved.
US07981742B2 Semiconductor device, data element thereof and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a first and a second conductor; (b) providing a conductive layer; (c) forming a part of the conductive layer into a data storage layer by a plasma oxidation process, wherein the data storage layer is positioned between the first and the second conductor.
US07981732B2 Programming of laser fuse
A method for programming a laser fuse. The laser fuse has a fuse link including a material having a characteristic of changing its electrical resistance after being exposed to a laser beam. The laser beam is directed to the fuse link, the laser beam being controlled such that, in response to the impact of the laser beam upon the fuse link, the electrical resistance of the fuse link changes but the fuse link is not blown off.
US07981727B2 Electronic device wafer level scale packages and fabrication methods thereof
Electronic device wafer level scale packages and fabrication methods thereof. A semiconductor wafer with a plurality of electronic devices formed thereon is provided. The semiconductor wafer is bonded with a supporting substrate. The back of the semiconductor substrate is thinned. A first trench is formed by etching the semiconductor exposing an inter-layered dielectric layer. An insulating layer is conformably deposited on the back of the semiconductor substrate. The insulating layer on the bottom of the first trench is removed to create a second trench. The insulating layer and the ILD layer are sequentially removed exposing part of a pair of contact pads. A conductive layer is conformably formed on the back of the semiconductor. After the conductive layer is patterned, the conductive layer and the contact pads construct an S-shaped connection. Next, an exterior connection and terminal contact pads are subsequently formed.
US07981716B2 Chip module having a protection device
Some embodiments of a chip module comprise a substrate, a semiconductor chip on the substrate, and a first layer between the substrate and the semiconductor chip, the first layer having high reflectivity for electromagnetic waves. Methods of protecting a chip module from electromagnetic radiation by interposing a protective layer between the chip and the substrate are also disclosed.
US07981700B2 Semiconductor oxidation apparatus and method of producing semiconductor element
A semiconductor oxidation apparatus is provided with a sealable oxidation chamber defined by walls, a base provided within the oxidation chamber and configured to support a semiconductor sample, a supply part configured to supply water vapor into the oxidation chamber to oxidize a specific portion of the semiconductor sample, a monitoring window provided in one of the walls of the oxidation chamber and disposed at a position capable of confronting the semiconductor sample supported on the base, a monitoring part provided outside the oxidation chamber and capable of confronting the semiconductor sample supported on the base via the monitoring window, and an adjusting part configured to adjust a distance between the base and the monitoring part.
US07981695B2 Diagnostic methods using plasmon resonant particles
A method and apparatus for interrogating a target having a plurality of plasmon resonant particles (PREs) distributed in the target are disclosed. In the method, a field containing the target is illuminated, and one or more spectral emission characteristics of the light-scattering particles in the field are detected. From this data, an image of positions and spectral characteristic values in the field is constructed, allowing PREs with a selected spectral signature to be discriminated from other light-scattering entities, to provide information about the field. Also disclosed are a novel PRE composition for use in practicing the method, and a variety of diagnostic applications of the method.
US07981692B2 Immunoassays to detect diseases or disease susceptibility traits
Disclosed are immunoassay methods for the diagnosis/prognosis of diseases and disease susceptibility traits associated with gene mutations that cause protein truncation or allelic loss. The levels of one or more targeted wild-type proteins expressed by a subject gene or genes are immunologically quantitated in biological samples. Results indicating that a targeted wild-type protein is not present in an assayed sample, or that approximately 50% of the normal amount of such a wild-type protein is present in an assayed sample are considered to be positive for a mutation in one or both alleles of a subject gene, and correlated with the disease or the disease susceptibility trait associated with that mutation or mutations. Normal cells, particularly normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, are preferred biological samples.
US07981686B2 Indicator for assessing body odor, process for producing the same, body odor assessment method, method of assessing efficaciousness of deodorant and kit for conveniently assessing body odor
A method of assessing body odor using as an index an indicator material comprising an alcohol compound having a mercapto group at the 3-position represented by the following formula (2) and/or a substance that is a derivative of an alcohol compound having a mercapto group at the 3-position, wherein an atom(s) or an atom group(s) is introduced to a mercapto group and/or a hydroxyl group of an alcohol compound having a mercapto group at the 3-position represented by the formula (2):
US07981682B2 High resolution flow cytometer
High resolution particle differentiation process and separation system that provides enhanced resolution of particles based upon selected particle characteristics. In particular, the system may include an enhanced resolution flow cytometer. In an embodiment, the invention can include at least one fluid source conduit (24) that introduces 0 fluid source stream (24) into an enhanced resolution nozzle (25) at an angle that enhances particle resolution by the cell sensing system (13).
US07981675B2 LITAF binding site peptides and methods of using the same
The invention provides molecules containing nucleic acid sequences for fragments of LPS-induced TNF-α factor (LITAF) and vectors containing these sequences. Also provided are molecules that contain the peptide sequence SQTWREPGAAGSPFHL (SEQ ID NO: 5), or homologs thereof. Such molecules may be useful in the treatment of diseases that relate to the expression of TNF-α, where treatment involves the modulation of this expression. The invention also provides methods for identifying compounds that inhibit or enhance the transcription of TNF-α.
US07981669B2 Viral vectors
The present invention provides a herpes virus which lacks a functional ICP34.5 encoding gene and which comprises two or more of—(i) a gene encoding a prodrug converting enzyme; (ii) a gene encoding a protein capable of causing cell to cell fusion; and (iii) a gene encoding an immunomodulatory protein.
US07981665B2 Supports for assaying analytes and methods of making and using thereof
Described herein are supports for assaying an analyte and methods of making and using thereof.
US07981659B2 Bacillus subtilis mutant strain
Novel Bacillus subtilis mutant strains having good productivity of various enzymes are provided through extensive analysis of strains that are derived from Bacillus subtilis via gene disruption. The Bacillus subtilis mutant strains according to the present invention have genomic structures prepared by deletion of regions listed in the columns for deficient regions. Each of these Bacillus subtilis mutant strains exerts significantly improved secretory productivity of a protein when a gene encoding such a secretory target protein is introduced so that it can be expressed, compared with a case in which the same gene is introduced into a wild-type strain.
US07981658B2 Nucleic acid molecules, vectors, and host cells encoding fluorescent protein
The present invention provides a fluorescent protein having an amino acid sequence of the green fluorescent protein, the yellow fluorescent protein or mutants thereof wherein the 46th phenylalanine residue is substituted with a leucine residue. According to the present invention, there are provided novel GFP or YEP mutants having an excellent maturation efficacy and having a decreased sensitivity to both of H+ and CI31.
US07981656B2 Pseudotyped retrovirus with modified ebola glycoprotein
Pseudotyped retroviruses having viral glycoproteins with modified O glycosylation regions are provided. Also provided are methods for making the pseudotyped retroviruses of the present invention and for using the pseudotyped retroviruses for transduction of target cells. Cells for stably producing the pseudotyped retroviruses or the present invention are also provided.
US07981650B2 Fusion proteins between plant cell-wall degrading enzymes, and their uses
The invention relates to the use of fusion proteins between at least two plant cell-wall degrading enzymes, the enzymes being such that they do not contain a C-terminal carbohydrate-binding-molecule (CBM), and optionally a CBM, the enzymes and CBM being recombinant proteins corresponding to native proteins in fungi, or mutated forms thereof, for carrying out processes of plant cell-wall degradation in the frame of the preparation, from plants or vegetal by-products, of compounds of interest located in plant cell-wall, or in the frame of the bleaching of pulp and paper.
US07981641B2 Processes for the production of triglycerides of unsaturated fatty acids in the presence of enzymes
Processes for the enzyme-catalyzed production of triglycerides using polyunsaturated fatty acids, in which (a) the reaction of polyunsaturated fatty acids and/or C1-4 alkyl esters thereof with glycerol in vacuo in the presence of an immobilized enzyme to form their triglycerides is accelerated by addition of an additive from the group of weakly basic salts, complexing agents and ion exchangers and/or addition of a weakly basic salt and/or addition of an entraining agent in the form of a solvent or a gas and/or addition of glycerol-binding adsorbers and/or heat treatment of the partial glyceride intermediate product, (b) the immobilized enzymes are removed from the triglyceride by separation or filtration and (c) the remaining fatty acids and/or C1-4 alkyl esters thereof are removed from the triglyceride by distillation, refining or extraction.
US07981635B2 Cleavage of precursors of insulins by a variant of trypsin
The present invention relates to the production of a variant of recombinant trypsin with increased substrate specificity for arginine versus lysine in non-animal host organisms. Moreover, the present invention relates to a variant of recombinant trypsin and their production. Also provided are use of recombinant porcine pancreatic trypsin variants for cleavage of precursors of insulins, and kits containing the variant of trypsin.
US07981633B2 Method for measuring tyrosine kinase phosphorylation
The present invention relates to methods for measuring the autophosphorylation of one or more tyrosine kinases and use of such methods in profiling kinase inhibitors and activators. As a representative example, the method comprises inducing kinase autophosphorylation activity in cells in presence and in absence of a kinase inhibitor, lysing the cells, capturing the tyrosine kinase in the cell lysate by adding a plurality of tyrosine kinase specific binding proteins which are associated with unique dyes, adding a phosphotyrosine specific antibody tagged with a marker which is distinguishable from the unique dyes, and identifying the autophosphorylated tyrosine kinase by detecting the unique dye and the marker. Alternately, the tyrosine kinases themselves could be coupled to the unique dyes. The present invention also relates to kits and compositions for carrying out the above-described methods.
US07981631B2 Identification of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans antigens for use in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of periodontal diseases
Antibodies, polypeptides, and polynucleotides are provided for the detection, prevention, amelioration and treatment of diseases caused by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.
US07981622B2 Procedure for the determination of the reaction lag phase in an analyte-dependent reaction
The invention is in the field of analytical technique and relates to an improved procedure for determining the concentration or activity of an analyte, an analyte-dependent detection reaction being set in motion and the reaction kinetics determined being evaluated. The procedure makes possible an individual determination of the lag phase of the reaction kinetics for each measurement.
US07981614B2 Methods for generating polynucleotides having desired characteristics by iterative selection and recombination
A method for DNA reassembly after random fragmentation, and its application to mutagenesis of nucleic acid sequences by in vitro or in vivo recombination is described. In particular, a method for the production of nucleic acid fragments or polynucleotides encoding mutant proteins is described. The present invention also relates to a method of repeated cycles of mutagenesis, shuffling and selection which allow for the directed molecular evolution in vitro or in vivo of proteins.
US07981609B2 Methods for identifying and using SNP panels
Described are methods for identifying single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) that are useful for analyzing genetic samples, and for using said SNPs to determine genetic identity of samples.
US07981607B2 Method for detecting recombinant event
Methods relating to isolating and amplifying chimeric nucleic acid molecules are provided. The methods of the invention are useful for detecting chromosome translocation events associated with diseases or conditions, such as cancer.
US07981604B2 Methods and kits for analyzing polynucleotide sequences
The present invention features methods for analyzing a sequence of a target polynucleotide by detecting incorporation of a nucleotide into its complementary strand, where the polynucleotides may be bound at high density and at single molecule resolution. The invention also features labeling moieties and blocking moieties, which facilitate chain termination or choking. Certain aspects provide for temporal detection of the incorporations; some allow for asynchronous analysis of a plurality of target polynucleotides and the use of short sequencing cycles. Surface chemistry aspects of the sequencing methods are also provided. The method may also be used in kits, said kits designed to carry out and facilitate the methods provided herein.
US07981599B1 Non-nucleic acid probes, probe sets, methods and kits pertaining to the detection of individual human chromosomes X, Y, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18 and 20 as 13/21 as a pair
This invention is related to novel non-nucleic acid probes, probe sets, methods and kits pertaining to the detection, identification or quantitation of human chromosomes X, Y, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 20 and/or 21. The non-nucleic acid probes, probe sets, methods and kits of this invention are particularly well suited for use in multiplex ISH and FISH assays wherein each of chromosomes X, Y, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18 and/or 20, as well as 13/21 as a pair, in a sample or cell can be individually detected, identified or quantitated in the same assay. Multiplex ISH and FISH assays are possible because two or more of the probes used in the assay are labeled with one or more independently detectable labels. Preferably, the independently detectable labels are independently detectable fluorophores. In preferred embodiments, one or more of the probes comprise two or more linked independently detectable moieties wherein the combination of the two or more independently detectable moieties is used to detect, identify or quantitate a particular probe/target sequence hybrid. The methods, kits, probes and probe sets of this invention are particularly well suited for automated analysis, including a slide scanner based system, microscope and CCD camera or a flow cytometer. Furthermore, this invention is particularly useful for detection and identifying chromosome abnormalities such as aneuploidy and polyploidy karyotypes and particularly for preimplantation diagnosis, for prenatal screening and for clinical diagnostic applications.
US07981591B2 Semiconductor buried grating fabrication method
Methods for forming grating profiles in semiconductor laser structures comprise the steps of providing a semiconductor wafer comprising a wafer substrate, an etch stop layer disposed over the wafer substrate, a grating layer disposed over the etch stop layer, an etch mask layer disposed over the grating layer, and a photoresist layer disposed over the etch mask layer, forming a photoresist grating pattern, transferring the photoresist grating pattern into the grating layers via dry etching, and removing the photoresist layer, selectively wet etching the grating layer to form the grating profile in the grating layer. The placement of the grating layer between the etch mask and etch stop layers controls the selective wet etching step. The method also comprises removing the etch mask layer via selective wet etching without altering the grating profile, and regrowing an upper cladding layer to produce the semiconductor laser structure.
US07981582B2 Toner and developer compositions with a specific resistivity
A toner having a crystalline or semi-crystalline polyester resin, an amorphous resin and a colorant. The toner preferably exhibits a resistivity of at least 1×1011 ohm-cm. A developer may be produced including the toner and optionally a carrier. If a carrier is included, the carrier preferably exhibits a resistivity of greater than 1×107 ohm-cm. An electrophotographic machine includes the toner exhibiting high resistivity.
US07981578B2 Additive containing photoconductors
A photoconductor comprising a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains an aminoquinoline.
US07981577B2 Process for producing dye-containing negative curable composition, color filter, and color filter production process
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a process for producing a dye-containing negative curable composition, the process including passing a mixture containing a dye, a photopolymerization initiator, and a radical polymerizable monomer through a filter having a pore diameter of from not less than 0.02 μm to less than 0.2 μm.
US07981573B2 Reflective mask blank, reflective mask and methods of producing the mask blank and the mask
A reflective mask blank has a substrate (11) on which a reflective layer (12) for reflecting exposure light in a short-wavelength region including an extreme ultraviolet region and an absorber layer (16) for absorbing the exposure light are successively formed. The absorber layer (16) has an at least two-layer structure including as a lower layer an exposure light absorbing layer (14) formed by an absorber for the exposure light in the short-wavelength region including the extreme ultraviolet region and as an upper layer a low-reflectivity layer (15) formed by an absorber for inspection light used in inspection of a mask pattern. The upper layer is made of a material containing tantalum (Ta), boron (B), and nitrogen (N). The content of B is 5 at % to 30 at %. The ratio of Ta and N (Ta:N) falls within a range of 8:1 to 2:7. Alternatively, the reflective mask blank has a substrate on which a multilayer reflective film and an absorber layer are successively formed. In this case, the absorber layer is made of a material containing tantalum (Ta), boron (B), and nitrogen (N). The content of B is 5 at % to 25 at %. The ratio of Ta and N (Ta:N) falls within a range of 8:1 to 2:7.
US07981559B2 Fuel cell system supply having a measuring device and a control device
A fuel cell system that generates electricity using an electrochemical reaction of fuel gas and oxidizing gas, having: a pressure adjustment valve which is provided on a fuel gas supply path for conducting the fuel gas from a fuel gas supply source to a fuel cell and which adjusts the supply gas pressure of the fuel gas; a degree of opening adjustment valve provided downstream of the pressure adjustment valve on the fuel gas supply path, the degree of opening thereof being set in stages or continuously in accordance with a degree of opening signal; and control means that adjusts the degree of opening adjustment signal in accordance with the operating condition of the fuel cell system and controls the state quantity of fuel gas supplied to the fuel cell to a target quantity. In this way, the pressure of fuel gas (for example, hydrogen gas) whose pressure has been reduced by the pressure adjustment valve can be further adjusted to the target pressure by the degree of opening adjustment valve provided downstream of the pressure adjustment valve in accordance with the operating condition of the fuel cell system.
US07981558B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system comprises a fuel cell, a supply flow passage for flowing a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source to the fuel cell, a variable gas supply device for regulating the state of the gas on the upstream side of the supply flow passage to supply the gas to the downstream side, a discharge flow passage for flowing a fuel off gas discharged from the fuel cell, a discharge valve for discharging the gas from the discharge flow passage to the exterior, and a control part for closing the discharge valve when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds a predetermined target discharge amount. The control part stops the gas supply from the variable gas supply device and simultaneously closes the discharge valve, when the discharge amount of the gas calculated while the discharge valve is opened exceeds the target discharge amount.
US07981537B2 Electrode assembly and secondary battery having the same
The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, and a film separator interposed between the positive and negative electrode plate to prevent a short circuit. A ceramic layer is formed between the positive electrode collector and the film separator or between the negative electrode coating portion and the film separator.
US07981530B2 Dysprosia stabilized zirconia abradable
Ceramic abradable materials, in particular thermally sprayable ceramic abradable powder materials, and abradable seals formed by thermally spraying the materials include dysprosia (Dy2O3) and zirconia (ZrO2). Coatings are porous whereby the porosity, in part, is induced by plastic or fugitive phases. Abradable seal coatings comprising dysprosia and zirconia exhibit improved thermal shock and sintering resistance and can be worn into tolerance by untreated, bare turbine blades, at least in certain regimes of relative blade speed and coating porosity. Ceramic abradable seal coatings comprising dysprosia and zirconia can be used up to 1200° C.
US07981529B2 Method of forming metallic tone glitter paint films and painted objects
A metallic tone glitter paint film is formed by applying sequentially a first base metallic paint, a second base glitter paint in which very small scale-like pigment or very small scale-like pigment and aluminum pigment is compounded and a clear paint, baking and hardening. The metallic paint contains (A) aluminum pigment of average particle diameter D50 from 13 to 40 m and average thickness from 0.5 to 2.5 μm (B) aluminum pigment of average particle diameter D50 from 13 to 40 μm and average thickness from 0.01 to less than 0.5 m and (C) aluminum pigment of average particle diameter D 50 from 4 to less than 13 μm and average thickness from 0.01 to 1.3 μm, and the ratio (A/B) by mass of the solid fractions of the aluminum pigments (A) and (B) is from 10/90 to 90/10.
US07981523B2 Aromatic amine derivative and organic electroluminescence device using the same
To provide an organic electroluminescence device having high emission luminance, high heat resistance, excellent high-temperature storage stability, and a long lifetime, and an aromatic amine derivative for realizing the device. Provided are a novel aromatic amine derivative having a specific structure and an organic electroluminescence device including: a cathode; an anode; and one or multiple organic thin film layers including at least a light-emitting layer, the one or multiple organic thin film layers being interposed between the cathode and the anode, in which at least one layer of the one or multiple organic thin film layers contains the aromatic amine compound alone or as a component of a mixture.
US07981521B2 Steel compositions, methods of forming the same, and articles formed therefrom
Maraging steel compositions, methods of forming the same, and articles formed therefrom comprising, by weight, 15.0 to 20.0% Ni, 2.0 to 6.0% Mo, 3.0 to 8.0% Ti, up to 0.5% Al, the balance Fe and residual impurities. The composition may be a first layer of a composite plate, and may have a second layer deposited on the first layer, the second layer having a composition comprising, by weight, 15.0 to 20.0% Ni, 2.0 to 6.0% Mo, 1.0 to 3.0 Ti, up to 0.5% Al, the balance Fe and residual impurities. The first layer may have a hardness value ranging from 58 to 64 RC, and the second layer may have a hardness value ranging from 48 to 54 RC. The first layer may be formed employing powdered metallurgical techniques. Articles formed from the compositions include armored plate.
US07981512B2 Organic polymer-magnetic particles and process for producing same
Organic polymer particles having a structure shown by the following formula (1) are disclosed. wherein A represents an alkylidene group, an alkylene group, a cyclohexylene group, or a phenylene group, and B represents a linear or branched alkylene group or an alkylidene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
US07981511B2 Hollow resin fine particles, organic/inorganic hybrid fine particles, and method for producing hollow resin fine particles
It is the object of the present invention to provide a hollow resin particle and an organic-inorganic hybrid particle, which have excellent dispersibility in a binder component and prevent the diffuse reflection of light and can attain an antireflection layer having high alkali resistance when used as a particle constituting an antireflection layer having a low refractive index, and a method of producing the hollow resin particle.
US07981510B2 Compartmentalized chips with polymers of different viscosities for improved processability
Compartmentalized chips of at least two chemically similar crystallizable thermoplastic polymers each having a different intrinsic viscosity placed in separate zones are disclosed. These compartmentalized chips exhibit thermal characteristics that are different from the traditional technique of homogeneously combining the two materials into the chip. These compartmentalized chips in their amorphous, crystalline and solid phase polymerized forms exhibit a longer crystallization half time than the homogeneous mixture, thus permitting faster injection cycle times.
US07981509B2 Polymer blend, polymer solution composition and fibers spun from the polymer blend and filtration applications thereof
The invention relates to a web or filter structure such as the filtration media comprising a collection of fiber comprising a first polymer and a second polymer in a fine fiber or fine fiber web structure. The combination of two polymers provides improved fiber rheology in that the fiber has excellent temperature and mechanical stability. The combination of polymers imparts the properties of elasticity or tackiness, which is desirable for adhering particles to the fiber web, with high temperature resistance.
US07981507B2 Primer composition and coated article
A primer composition for a polysiloxane hard coating is provided. This primer composition comprises (A) a vinyl polymer having a hydrolyzable silyl group and/or SiOH group and an organic UV absorbing group bonded to its side chain, and (B) fine silica particles dispersed in an organic solvent, and the primer layer formed after coating and curing has a coefficient of linear expansion of up to 150×10−6/° C.
US07981502B2 Grip tape for sports implements
The present invention relates to a grip tape (2) and replacement grip tape for sports implements, like tennis, squash, racketball and badminton rackets, or clubs, as well as to a process for producing the same. The grip tape and replacement grip tape according to the present invention comprise a phase change material for dissipating and/or storing body heat of a player, so that the grip feeling for the player is improved considerably.
US07981501B2 Laminated composites and methods of making the same
The instant disclosure relates to a laminated composite and methods of making the same. The laminated composite includes a plurality of stacked prepregs having an interface formed between each pair of adjacent prepregs. Each prepreg includes a matrix material and reinforcing fibers dispersed therein. At least one fibrous veil is laminated to at least a portion of at least one of the interfaces, the at least one fibrous veil having graphite nano-platelets attached to at least one surface thereof.
US07981500B2 Carbon fiber reinforced prepreg of gas barrier properties, carbon fiber reinforced plastic and methods of producing the same
There are provided a carbon fiber reinforced prepreg of gas barrier properties comprising a sheet-like carbon fiber reinforcement and a matrix resin including therein a gas barrier layer having a clay mineral with a plate-like crystal structure unidirectionally aligned and densely laminated, and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic produced from the carbon fiber reinforced prepreg. Such prepreg is obtained by disposing a film material of gas barrier properties having a clay mineral with a plate-like crystal structure unidirectionally aligned and densely laminated, in at least one interlayer of a laminate of a carbon fiber reinforced prepreg comprising a sheet form carbon fiber reinforcement and a matrix resin; and then heating and/or pressurizing the laminate. The carbon fiber-reinforced composite material of the invention exhibits high gas barrier properties, and particularly hydrogen gas barrier properties.
US07981496B2 Honeycomb structured body
A honeycomb structured body of the present invention includes plural pillar-shaped honeycomb units which are bonded to one another through sealing material layers, each unit having in the longitudinal direction a large number of cells placed in parallel with a cell wall therebetween, wherein each honeycomb unit includes inorganic fibers and/or whiskers in addition to inorganic particles, a cross-sectional area of the honeycomb unit on a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is set to at least about 5 cm2 and at most about 50 cm2, and a coefficient αL of thermal expansion of the sealing material layer and a coefficient αF of thermal expansion of the honeycomb unit satisfy the following relationship: about 0.01≦|αL−αF|/αF≦about 1.0.
US07981478B2 Fluoropolymer coating compositions containing adhesive polymers and substrate coating process
A liquid fluoropolymer coating composition and a process for using the composition to make fluoropolymer coated polymeric substrates. The liquid fluoropolymer composition comprises fluoropolymer selected from homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl fluoride and homopolymers and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride polymer, solvent, and compatible adhesive polymer comprising functional groups selected from carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid, aziridine, amine, isocyanate, melamine, epoxy, hydroxy, anhydride and mixtures thereof. In the process, the composition is applied to a polymeric substrate comprising functional groups on its surface that interact with said compatible adhesive polymer to promote bonding of said fluoropolymer coating to said substrate. The solvent is removed from the coating composition applied to the substrate to form a fluoropolymer coating on the substrate.
US07981477B2 Hydroxyalkylcellulose as additive in pigmented metering size press coatings
Pigmented coated paper is prepared by adding a water-soluble hydroxyalkylcellulose (HAC) with an alkyl moiety of 1 to 4 carbons, or water soluble alkylhydroxyalkylcellulose (AHAC) with an alkyl hydrophobe of 1 to 24 carbons to a pigmented wet coating formulation in an amount equal to or greater than 0.15 parts HAC or AHAC based on pigment content of the coating and applying the pigmented wet coating formulation to a moving paper web via roller metering size press, wherein the use of HAC or AHAC in the pigmented coating significantly reduce misting of the coating during application as compared to the control condition with no HAC or AHAC added.
US07981469B2 Encapsulated chromonic particles
A method of making encapsulated chromonic nanoparticles includes exposing crosslinked chromonic nanoparticles to an acid selected from the group consisting of carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, boric acid, sulfuric acid, and mixtures thereof in the presence of water to encapsulate the crosslinked nanoparticles in a shell comprising a complex comprising the chromonic material, the multivalent cations, and the acid anions.
US07981466B2 Warm mix asphalt binder compositions containing lubricating additives
The present invention provides a functionally dry warm mix asphalt binder composition modified with lubricating agents or additives that can be mixed with aggregate and compacted at temperatures substantially below asphalt binder compositions that do not contain the disclosed lubricating additives.
US07981458B2 Food material and food product using the same
Provided is a food material which contains, as its main ingredients, a wheat protein and at least one of a fusuma bran and a nuka bran, and which eliminates a poor texture peculiar to the fusuma bran, the nuka bran, and a mixture of the fusuma bran and the nuka bran. For this purpose, the food material contains a thickening stabilizer as well as a wheat protein and at least one of a roasted fusuma bran and a roasted nuka bran.
US07981453B2 Delivery system for low calorie bulking agents
The present invention generally relates to low calorie bulking agents (e.g., cellulose, starch, bran, glucans, hydrocolloids, and the like) coated with a lipid compound to form a base or inner layer and thereafter encapsulating the fiber/lipid complex within a protein compound as an outer layer. In effect, the present invention provides a delivery system for edible fibers wherein the moisture absorption by the edible fibers can be controlled. Using the encapsulated fiber of this invention, the absorption of water by the edible fiber (and thus the swelling of the edible fiber) can be effectively delayed until the encapsulated fiber reaches the stomach and normal digestive processes begin.
US07981448B2 Methods of treating necrotizing enterocolitis
The present invention relates to a method of treating necrotizing enterocolitis in a patient, which includes administering a pharmaceutical composition that includes carbon monoxide to the patient.
US07981445B2 Compositions and methods for preparation of poorly water soluble drugs with increased stability
The present invention provides stable pharmaceutical compositions of poorly water soluble pharmaceutical agents and stabilizing agents which function to increase stability of the compositions. The use of stabilizing agents provide extended stability of nanoparticle suspensions and other formulations of poorly water soluble pharmaceutical agents such as docetaxel under certain conditions, for example upon dilution for administration.
US07981438B2 Use of α-mangostin as a mosquito larvicide
Methods of killing mosquito larvae and controlling an adult mosquito population by using α-mangostin, 3,6,8-yrihydroxy-2-methoxy-1,7-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthen-9-one, or a salt, solute, hydrate or solvate thereof. Mosquito larvae are killed by contacting a lethal dose of α-mangostin with mosquito larvae. Adult mosquito populations are controlled by treating a mosquito larvae population with a lethal dose of α-mangostin.
US07981434B2 Surface exposed immunoglobulin D-binding protein from Moraxella catarrhalis
The present invention relates to a surface exposed protein, which can be detected in Moraxella catarrhalis, having an amino acid sequence as described in SEQ ID NO: 1, an apparent molecular weight of 200 kDa and a capacity of selectively binding membrane bound or soluble IgD, to an immunogenic or IgD-binding fragment of said surface exposed protein, and to an immunogenic and adhesive fragment of said surface exposed protein. DNA segments, vaccines, plasmids and phages, non human hosts, recombinant DNA molecules and plants, fusion proteins and polypeptides and fusion products are also described. A method of detecting IgD, a method of separating IgD, a method of isolation of a surface exposed protein of Moraxella catarrhalis and a method for treatment of an autoimmune disease are also disclosed.
US07981401B2 Diuretic aerosols and methods of making and using them
Described herein are diuretic condensation aerosols and methods of making and using them. Kits for delivering a condensation aerosol are also described. The diuretic aerosols typically comprise diuretic condensation aerosol particles that comprise a diuretic compound. In some variations the diuretic compound is selected from the group consisting of bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, muzolimine, spironolactone, torsemide, triamterene, tripamide, BG 9928, and BG 9719. Methods of treating edema using the described aerosols are also provided. In general, the methods typically comprise the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of diuretic condensation aerosol to a person with edema. The diuretic condensation aerosol may be administered in a single inhalation, or may be administered in more than one inhalation. Methods of forming a diuretic condensation aerosol are also described. The methods typically comprise the steps of providing a diuretic composition, vaporizing the composition to form a vapor, and then condensing the diuretic composition vapor.
US07981399B2 Method to determine state of a cell exchanging metabolites with a fluid medium by analyzing the metabolites in the fluid medium
The present invention relates to a method for determining the ideal time for and outcome of reproductive health procedures including in vitro fertilization by establishing a correlation between the successful outcome of said procedure and the spectra of a body fluid obtained using a chosen analytical modality for a population of patients, acquiring for a patient a spectrum of the body fluid of the patient using said chosen modality.
US07981398B2 PEGylation by the dock and lock (DNL) technique
The present invention concerns methods and compositions for forming PEGylated complexes of defined stoichiometry and structure. In preferred embodiments, the PEGylated complex is formed using dock-and-lock technology, by attaching a target agent to a DDD sequence and attaching a PEG moiety to an AD sequence and allowing the DDD sequence to bind to the AD sequence in a 2:1 stoichiometry, to form PEGylated complexes with two target agents and one PEG moiety. In alternative embodiments, the target agent may be attached to the AD sequence and the PEG to the DDD sequence to form PEGylated complexes with two PEG moieties and one target agent. In more preferred embodiments, the target agent may comprise any peptide or protein of physiologic or therapeutic activity. The PEGylated complexes exhibit a significantly slower rate of clearance when injected into a subject and are of use for treatment of a wide variety of diseases.
US07981395B2 Negative electrode carbon material for lithium ion secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof
A negative electrode carbon material for a lithium ion secondary battery manufactured by calcinating a rice starch portion obtained by removing the pericarp and tests from unpolished rice and a method for manufacturing the same. The rice starch portion is preferably middle-grade white bran or high-grade white bran each obtained when unpolished rice is polished. The above negative electrode carbon material may have a relatively broad peak at a 2θ of 40 to 50° and a sharp peak at a 2θ of 42 to 44° in its powder X-ray (CuKα) diffraction. According to the present invention, a negative electrode carbon material for a lithium ion secondary battery which has the same quality as the prior art product can be manufactured at a low cost by making effective use of middle-grade white bran or high-grade white bran of rice.
US07981392B2 Hydride compounds with silicon and germanium core atoms and method of synthesizing same
A method is provided for synthesizing silicon-germanium hydride compounds of the formula (H3Ge)4-XSiHX, wherein x=0, 1, 2 or 3. The method includes combining a silane triflate with a compound having a GeH3 ligand under conditions whereby the silicon-germanium hydride is formed. The compound having the GeH3 ligand is selected from the group consisting of KGeH3, NaGeH3 and MR3GeH3, wherein M is a Group IV element and R is an organic ligand. The silane triflate can be HXSi(OSO2CF3)4-x or HxSi(OSO2C4F9)4-x. The method can be used to synthesize trisilane, (H3Si)2SiH2, and the iso-tetrasilane analog, (H3Si)3SiH, by combining a silane triflate with a compound comprising a SiH3 ligand under conditions whereby the silicon hydride is formed. The silane triflate can include HXSi(OSO2CF3)4-x or HXSi(OSO2C4F9)4-x wherein x=1 or 2. A method for synthesizing (H3Ge)2SiH2 includes combining H3GeSiH2(OSO2CF3) with KGeH3 under conditions whereby (H3Ge)2SiH2 is formed.
US07981385B2 Microfluidic device and microfluidic system with the same
Provided is a microfluidic device and microfluidic system with the device. The microfluidic device includes a substrate; a channel formed in the substrate and in which a fluid can move; a valve controlling flow of a fluid flowing along the channel and including a phase transition material which can be melted by energy such as electromagnetic wave energy; and a lens disposed on the substrate and adjusting an irradiating region of the valve, onto which the energy is applied.
US07981379B2 Producing nitrogen to use in under balanced drilling, secondary recovery production operations and pipeline maintenance
The invention uses a feed of atmospheric air and mixes the air with hydrogen. The hydrogen and air mixture is fed into a catalytic reactor where a deoxygenation reaction occurs. The deoxygenation reaction uses a platinum catalyst to produce water from oxygen and hydrogen. The nitrogen passes through the catalytic reactor without reacting with the hydrogen, the oxygen, or the water. The water is separated from the nitrogen in a dryer. The nitrogen may then be used in drilling and production operations. The water is fed into an electrolyzer where an electrolysis reaction occurs. The electrolyzer passes an electrical current through the water to produce gaseous oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is recycled back to the catalytic reactor and the oxygen may be vented or sold.
US07981378B2 Water activation piece for use in flow passage, arrangement structure of the water activation piece, and water activation device using the water activation piece and the arrangement structure
A water activation device is configured by arranging a plurality of water activation pieces in a holder in a manner that the water activation pieces do not contact with each other where an axial direction of each piece is established along the flow passage. Multiple layers of the holders are established in an internal space of the body of the water activation device. Each of the water activation piece is formed as a cylindrical body with a through hole that includes an axis. Spiral grooves are formed non-continuously or continuously on an inner surface and outer surface of the water activation piece so that when the axis of the water activation piece is established in the flow passage, the water activation piece axially rotates by the flow pressure. The spiral grooves are formed in a rightward rotation (clock-wise) manner in plan view.
US07981375B2 Porous bodies and methods
Systems and methods for treating a fluid with a body are disclosed. Various aspects involve treating a fluid with a porous body. In select embodiments, a body comprises ash particles, and the ash particles used to form the body may be selected based on their providing one or more desired properties for a given treatment. Various bodies provide for the reaction and/or removal of a substance in a fluid, often using a porous body comprised of ash particles. Computer-operable methods for matching a source material to an application are disclosed. Certain aspects feature a porous body comprised of ash particles, the ash particles have a particle size distribution and interparticle connectivity that creates a plurality of pores having a pore size distribution and pore connectivity, and the pore size distribution and pore connectivity are such that a first fluid may substantially penetrate the pores.
US07981371B2 Device and method for destroying liquid, powder or gaseous waste using an inductively coupled plasma
The invention relates to a device and a process for the destruction of toxic or hazardous chemical products using inductively coupled plasma. These products may occur in liquid, gaseous or powder form and belong to the family of organic or halogenated organic compounds.
US07981370B2 Honeycomb filter and exhaust gas purifying apparatus
A honeycomb filter includes a pillar-shaped honeycomb fired body having cells longitudinally disposed with a cell wall and having first and second end faces on gas inlet and outlet sides, respectively. A catalyst supporting layer is formed in a catalyst-supporting-layer area covering at least about 25% and at most about 90% of an overall length of the fired body and that abuts the first end face. Substantially no catalyst supporting layer is formed in a non-catalyst-supporting-layer area covering about 10% of the overall length that abuts the second end face. A thermal conductivity of the non-catalyst-supporting area is larger than that of the catalyst-supporting-layer area, where gas permeability coefficient k1 (μm2) of a cell wall in the non-catalyst-supporting-layer area and gas permeability coefficient k2 (μm2) of a cell wall in the catalyst-supporting-layer area satisfy inequalities, (k1−k2)≦about 0.5 and about 1.0≦k1≦about 1.5.
US07981369B2 Plant for the generation of electricity
A plant for generating electricity includes a gas turbine, a compressor driven by the gas turbine, a reduction reactor configured to reduce metal oxides, fed with a fuel and having a first circulating fluidized bed, a first cyclone configured to separate the metal oxide solids, and feeding at least a portion of the metal oxide solids to the reduction reactor via a first connecting line, an oxidation reactor configured to oxidize the metal oxides having a second circulating fluidized bed and fed only with pressurized air from the compressor, and a second cyclone configured to separate the metal oxide solids and feeding at least a portion of the metal oxide solids to the oxidation reactor via a second connecting line.
US07981366B2 Fluid system comprising a safety device
A fluid system that includes a flow system for a liquid having an inlet, an outlet, at least one fluid line extending from the inlet to the outlet and an electrically activatable melting device, wherein activation of the melting device causes melting, which interrupts, stops or diverts a flow of the fluid through the flow system. In one embodiment, the fluid system may be used in a device for measuring blood sugar.
US07981360B2 Niobium addition in Cr-Mo-¼V steel castings for steam turbine casing applications
A chromium-molybdenum-vanadium (Cr—Mo—V) cast steel including 0.04 to 0.08% by weight of niobium is disclosed. The cast steel may include 0.08 to 0.12% by weight carbon. The cast steel may also have a sulphur content of 0.015% by weight or less, and a phosphorus content of 0.02% by weight or less. The silicon content may be 0.30 to 0.60% by weight, the manganese content may be 0.50 to 0.80% by weight, the chromium content may be 1.20 to 1.50% by weight, the molybdenum content may be 0.90 to 1.10% by weight, and the vanadium content may be 0.20 to 0.30% by weight.
US07981358B2 Cooling apparatus of hot steel plate, cooling method of hot steel plate, and program
An apparatus for controlled cooling of hot steel plate while constraining and conveying the plate by constraining rolls horizontally which is inexpensive and enabling continuous control of the cooling ability over a broad range, that is, a cooling apparatus for spraying hot steel plate hot rolled and transferred between pairs of constraining rolls with cooling water from pluralities of lines of spray nozzles so as to cool the same, which apparatus has lines of gentle cooling spray nozzles and lines of strong cooling spray nozzles with different orifice shapes and enables continuous control of the cooling ability over a broad range due to the fact that a maximum cooling water impact pressure integrated value of the lines of gentle cooling spray nozzles and a minimum cooling water impact pressure integrated value of the lines of strong cooling spray nozzles are continuous.
US07981357B2 Method of making a spunbond
A spunbond web is made by extruding a multiplicity of hot thermoplastic filaments, passing the filaments along an upstream stretch of a path, cooling and stretching the filaments as they move along the upstream stretch of the path, and depositing the cooled and stretched filaments at a downstream end of the upstream stretch on a foraminous belt such that the filaments form a mat thereon. The belt is continuously displaced the belt so as to move the mat downstream along a downstream leg of the path. The mat on the belt, then consolidated with a high-pressure water-jet treatment, and further processed.
US07981356B2 Stretch blow moulding method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for stretch blow moulding a preform into a desired article is disclosed. The method includes the steps of inserting the preform into a hollow mould, stretching the heated preform with a stretching member, filling the preform with an incompressible fluid such that the preform expands and is formed into the article by the mould and draining the incompressible fluid from the interior of the formed article. The apparatus comprises a hollow mould for receiving the preform, a stretching member for stretching the preform, an incompressible fluid filling means for filling the preform with an incompressible fluid such that the preform expands and a drain for draining the incompressible fluid from the formed article.
US07981347B2 Carrier mold
A carrier mold having prongs that produces shaped tampons is provided. When subjected to pressure by a pushrod the prongs of the carrier mold flex to substantially or partially open one end of the carrier mold. A method of forming a shaped tampon using the carrier mold is also provided.
US07981340B2 Method of degassing a flowable mass in a ring extruder
The method of degassing is performed in a ring extruder wherein at least one process chamber is provided with at least one degassing opening. The radius R of the conveyor element in the degassing zone is smaller by ΔR than the full radius Rv of the conveyor element required for the mutual stripping of adhering product in a closely intermeshing screw operation with adjacent conveyor elements.
US07981337B2 Use of aqueous NaOH/thiourea solution in pilot-scale production of cellulose products
The present invention relates to the use of an aqueous sodium hydroxide/thiourea solution, specifically to the use of an aqueous sodium hydroxide/thiourea solution for pilot-scale production of cellulose products, wherein sodium hydroxide constitutes 8.1%-12.0% of the total weight of the aqueous solution, thiourea constitutes 3.0%-6.0% of the total weight of the aqueous solution, and said cellulose products include regenerated cellulose filaments, films, nonwovens, as well as composite fibers and/or functional materials of protein/cellulose, chitin/cellulose, Konjac Glucomannan/cellulose, nano-crystal particle/cellulose, etc.
US07981333B2 Method of setting mold clamping force of injection molding machine
Test molding is performed by sequentially clamping a mold 2 with a mold clamping force (100%, 80%, 70%, . . . ) obtained by sequentially lowering a mold clamping force by a predetermined amount from the maximum mold clamping force (100%); with mold position sensors 4 provided on outer surfaces 3cf and 3mf of a fixed platen 3c supporting a fixed mold 2c of the mold 2 and a movable platen 3m supporting a movable mold 2m of the mold 2, a relative position (mold position Xc) of the movable platen 3m with respect to the fixed platen 3c in an injection process is detected; and, when at least a variation that meets predetermined conditions is produced on the mold position Xc, a mold clamping force obtained by increasing a mold clamping force at a time of occurrence of the variation by a predetermined amount is set as a proper mold clamping force Fs.
US07981331B2 Salvage coating applicator and process
A method for repairing a wear-induced void associated with a surface of a component including applying a heat-cured ceramic material to the wear-induced void, wherein the heat-cured ceramic material is configured to substantially fill the wear-induced void and providing a volume of material to a bladder configured to retain the volume of material and expand in one or more directions, wherein at least a portion of the bladder is further configured to apply at least one of pressure and heat to the heat-cured ceramic material. The method further includes applying at least one of pressure and heat, via the bladder, to the heat-cured ceramic material.
US07981330B2 Form assembly for use in constructing pier pads
Form assemblies disclosed herein include a form assembly having a reusable flexible form. The form can define a molding cavity having a shape corresponding to the shape of a pier pad. The form assembly can selectively adjust the size and shape of the cavity such that different types of pier pads can be formed with a single form assembly. A user can determine the shape and configuration of the form based using a table relating pier pads of a first shape to pier pads of a second different shape.
US07981324B2 Oxocarbon-, pseudooxocarbon- and radialene compounds and their use
The present invention relates to oxocarbon-, pseudooxocarbon- and radialene compounds as well as to their use as doping agent for doping an organic semiconductive matrix material, as blocker material, as charge injection layer, as electrode material as well as organic semiconductor, as well as electronic components and organic semiconductive materials using them.
US07981322B2 Use of a metal organosilicate polymer for the protection of compounds sensitive to oxidation and/or to electromagnetic radiation
In the invention, use is made of at least one metal organosilicate polymer, in the form of particles, having one of the following formulae I and II: R4Si4Al2O8(OH)x,  Formula I: R8Si8M6O16(OH)y,  Formula II: for the protection from oxidation and/or electromagnetic radiation of a compound sensitive to oxidation and/or to electromagnetic radiation. The invention finds application in particular in the field of the protection from oxidation and photoaging of various materials.
US07981319B2 Non-aqueous liquid compositions comprising ion exchange polymers
Compositions, and methods of making thereof, comprising from about 1% to about 5% of a perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer or a hydrocarbon-based ionomer; and from about 95% to about 99% of a solvent, said solvent consisting essentially of a polyol; wherein said composition is substantially free of water and wherein said ionomer is uniformly dispersed in said solvent.
US07981318B2 Reaction reagent for trifluoromethylation
Provided is a reaction reagent for trifluoromethylation with high general versatility and good efficiency.The reaction reagent for trifluoromethylation contains an iron compound, trifluoromethyl iodide, a sulfoxide and a peroxide, and may further contain an acid. The iron compound is, for example, iron(II) sulfate, ammonium iron(II) sulfate, iron(II) tetrafluoroborate, ferrocene, bis(η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)iron or an iron powder; the sulfoxide is, for example, dimethyl sulfoxide; the peroxide is, for example, hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide-urea composite; and the acid is, for example, sulfuric acid, tetrafluoroboric acid or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.
US07981312B2 Processes for producing and compositions comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and/or 1,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropene
A process is disclosed for making CF3CF═CH2 or mixtures thereof with CHF═CFCHF2. The process involves contacting CCl3CF2CF3 and optionally CCl2FCF2CClF2 with H2 in the presence of a palladium catalyst supported on a support of alumina, fluorided alumina and/or aluminum fluoride, to produce a product mixture including CH2═CFCF3 (and when CCl2FCF2CClF2 is present, CHF═CFCHF2); recovering CH2═CFCF3 or a mixture thereof with CHF═CFCHF2 from the product mixture. The present invention also provides another process that involves reacting CCl3CF2CF3 and optionally CCl2FCF2CClF2 with H2 in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to form CH3CF2CF3 (and when CCl2FCF2CClF2 is present, CH2FCF2CHF2); dehydrofluorinating; and recovering CH2═CFCF3 or a mixture thereof with CHF═CFCHF2.
US07981310B2 Method for preparing magnetic paint and magnetic recording medium comprising the same
A magnetic paint is prepared by a method comprising a surface-treating step for magnetic powder, to obtain a first composition by mixing and stirring a composition which comprises a magnetic powder, a dispersant and/or a binder resin, and an organic solvent, and which contains 40% by weight or less of a non-solvent component, while applying a shear force to the composition; and a concentrating step to obtain a second composition by concentrating the first composition until the content of the non-solvent components of the first composition reaches 80% by weight or more.
US07981293B2 Method and apparatus for treatment of contaminated liquid
Methods and apparatuses for treatment of contaminated liquid are provided including an integrated ultra-filtration and clarification apparatus, and an optional integrated electrocoagulation capability. The integrated apparatus comprises an outer tank, an inner casing, and a plurality of ultra-filtration filters contained within the inner casing. Clarification of liquid occurs in the gap between the casing and tank. Solid matter settles, and aggregates in the bottom portion of the tank. The accumulated solid material acts as a secondary filter by pre-filtering the liquid prior to contact with the ultra-filtration filters. Clarified liquid is retained in a chamber of the casing, and the clarified liquid is drawn through the ultra-filtration filters as initiated by a source of vacuum communicating with the ultra-filtration filters. The integrated apparatus can be incorporated within any desired liquid treatment facility, and one combination in accordance with this system of the present invention includes an upstream electrocoagulation unit and a downstream reverse osmosis unit. The electrocoagulation function may be incorporated in the tank by a plurality of reaction plates or blades mounted to the interior sidewall of the tank. Additionally, the integrated apparatuses may include bacterial treatment in which a selected group of micro-organisms are introduced into the apparatus for treatment of particular contaminates.
US07981285B2 Internal UV treatment of potable water systems
A UV disinfectant system for treatment of water resident in a vessel. One or more UV lamps are mounted within the interior of the vessel so as to expose the water stored therein. The vessel may be, for example, a water tank, water heater, water filter or other component which holds a volume of water. A layer of photoreactive material may be formed on an inside surface of a wall of the vessel so as to be exposed to the UV radiation from the lamp. The photoreactive material may be tin dioxide, titanium dioxide, or other material that produces hydroxyl ions in response to UV exposure. The hydroxyl ions flow from the vessel into the piping and other components of the system so as to inhibit microbial action therein. The UV lamps may be mounted in quartz sleeves that surround the lamps for immersion in water and that are supported to protect the sleeves and lamps from vibration damage. The system may also be used to prevent freeze damage to the vessel and water system.
US07981281B2 Dialysis system having regimen generation methodology
A peritoneal dialysis system includes a logic implementer configured to: (i) accept at least one therapy target input; (ii) accept at least one patient transport characteristic input; (iii) accept at least one solution input; (iv) accept at least one fluid volume input; (v) accept at least one therapy time input, at least one of the inputs (ii) to (v) including an input range; and (vi) generate each therapy regimen using the inputs of (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), including each of the possibilities within the at least one input range, that satisfy the at least one therapy target input.
US07981280B2 Recirculation of blood in an extracorporeal blood treatment system
An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus includes a blood treatment unit, a treatment fluid circuit, and a blood circuit. The treatment fluid circuit has a treatment fluid pump for circulating treatment fluid around the treatment fluid circuit and through the blood treatment unit. The blood circuit has a dual chamber blood pump for circulating blood around the blood circuit and through the blood treatment unit. An arterial line withdraws blood from a patient and delivers the withdrawn blood to the blood treatment unit. A venous line returns the treated blood to the patient. The arterial and venous lines can be switched between a first condition in which they are connected to the patient and a second condition in which they are disconnected from the patient and connected to each other for recirculation of blood through the blood circuit. A controller operates the blood pump, and switches the blood pump between a condition in which the dual chambers operate in phase with each other and a condition in which the dual chambers operate out of phase with each other.
US07981279B2 Oil filter with bypass valve
An oil filter assembly has a bypass valve and a cover formed with an orifice. In order to provide a simple contamination indicator for the oil filter, there is provided a deflection device that deflects an oil jet emerging through the orifice when the bypass valve is open on the outside of the cover. The oil jet can thus be deflected into a region observable through a filling orifice. A contaminated oil filter can therefore be reliably detected on occasion of a quick visual check, by observing the deflected oil jet.
US07981273B2 Process for catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons using UZM-35
Catalytic cracking processes such as fluidized catalytic cracking, naphtha cracking, and olefin cracking are catalyzed by the UZM-35 family of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites represented by the empirical formula: Mmn+Rr+Al(1-x)ExSiyOz where M represents a combination of potassium and sodium exchangeable cations, R is a singly charged organoammonium cation such as the dimethyldipropylammonium cation and E is a framework element such as gallium. These UZM-35 zeolites are active and selective in the catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons.
US07981270B2 Extra light hydrocarbon liquids
The present invention relates to an extra light hydrocarbon liquid derived from highly paraffinic wax. This extra light hydrocarbon liquid is suitable for use as a lubricant additive diluent oil in oil soluble additive concentrates. This extra light hydrocarbon liquid derived from highly paraffinic wax has a viscosity of between about 1.0 and 3.5 cSt at 100° C. and a Noack volatility of less than 50 weight % and comprises greater than 3 weight % molecules with cycloparaffinic functionality and less than 0.30 weight percent aromatics. The extra light hydrocarbon liquid makes an excellent lubricant additive diluent oil because it has low volatility, low viscosity, good additive solubility, and excellent solubility in lubricant base oil stocks. The present invention also relates to finished lubricants comprising the oil soluble additive concentrates made with the extra light hydrocarbon liquid and finished lubricants comprising the oil soluble additive concentrates. The present invention further relates to processes for making these lubricant additive diluent oils, oil soluble additive concentrates, and finished lubricants.
US07981268B2 Deionization and desalination using electrostatic ion pumping
The present invention provides a new method and apparatus/system for purifying ionic solutions, such as, for example, desalinating water, using engineered charged surfaces to sorb ions from such solutions. Surface charge is applied externally, and is synchronized with oscillatory fluid movements between substantially parallel charged plates. Ions are held in place during fluid movement in one direction (because they are held in the electrical double layer), and released for transport during fluid movement in the opposite direction by removing the applied electric field. In this way the ions, such as salt, are “ratcheted” across the charged surface from the feed side to the concentrate side. The process itself is very simple and involves only pumps, charged surfaces, and manifolds for fluid collection.
US07981262B2 Process kit for substrate processing chamber
A process kit comprises a shield and ring assembly positioned about a substrate support in a processing chamber to reduce deposition of process deposits on internal chamber components and an overhang edge of the substrate. The shield comprises a cylindrical band having a top wall that surrounds a sputtering target and a bottom wall that surrounds the substrate support, a support ledge, a sloped step, and a U-shaped channel with gas conductance holes. The ring assembly comprises a deposition ring and cover ring, the cover ring having a bulb-shaped protuberance about the periphery of the ring.
US07981260B2 Electrolysis cell for producing alkali metal
An electrolysis cell for preparing alkali metals from a liquid alkali metal heavy metal alloy, including a tube arranged essentially horizontally having a closure device at each of the two ends of the tube. At least one solid electrolyte tube arranged concentrically in the tube and oriented with openings towards one end of the tube such that a first annular gap for conducting a liquid alkali metal, which forms an anode, is present between the inside of the tube and the outside of the solid electrolyte tube. An interior space in the solid electrolyte tube, sealed off from an alloy inlet, first annular gap and an alloy outlet, accommodates liquid alkali metal that can be used as a cathode.
US07981247B2 Process for increasing the refiner production rate and/or decreasing the specific energy of pulping wood
The present invention relates to processes for enhancing a refiner's production rate and/or reducing the specific energy consumption for a freeness target through the use of lubricant(s) or carrier(s)/frictionizer(s), respectively.
US07981236B2 Method and device for bonding two sheets
A method and a device for bonding at least two sheets, is disclosed. The sheets may be joined by a groove and are connected to each other at least in one contact area in the sheet surface of the first sheet. The sheets may first be shaped whereby the first sheet may be shaped with at least one hook which forms an angle with the sheet surface and the second sheet may be shaped with at least one groove and one leg. The hook may be accommodated by the groove and the leg may be substantially parallel to the contact area of the first sheet. The shaped sheets are then bonded to each other, whereby the hook is inserted in the groove and the leg is bonded to the contact area.
US07981228B2 Joined body and method for manufacturing the same
There is provided a joined body formed by unitarily joining two or more members to be joined by means of a bonding material layer formed of a bonding material composition. The bonding material composition contains flat particles, non-flat particles, and an inorganic adhesive as main components, and the bonding material layer has a Young's modulus of 3 GPa or more. The joined body can suppress deformation of members to be joined due to thermal distortion with the bonding material layer, hardly causes rupture of the bonding material layer due to stress, and has excellent thermal shock resistance.
US07981219B2 System for plasma treating a plastic component
A system is provided for plasma treating a plastic component having an exterior surface and an inside surface. The system comprises at least one fixture. The fixture includes a support structure, a plurality of locating features, and a plurality of holding devices which cooperate to position a portion of the exterior surface to within a specified tolerance. The system further comprises at least one APAP nozzle configured to move relative to the exterior surface along a path, wherein the APAP nozzle directs a plasma jet onto the portion producing a functionalized polymer layer covering the portion.
US07981214B2 Device and process for the crystallizing of non-ferrous metals
In the case of a device for the melting and/or crystallizing of non-ferrous metals, especially of silicon, provision is made, for improving the quality of the crystallized and block-shaped non-ferrous metal, for there to be arranged around a container for receiving the non-ferrous metal at least one controllable cooling element for the active removal of heat from the non-ferrous metal.
US07981209B2 Ink composition
There is provided an ink composition for ink jet recording that is free from feathering or bleeding and, at the same time, can realize high-gloss images particularly advantageous when the ink composition is recorded on specialty papers. The ink composition comprises at least a colorant, water, and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant satisfies a requirement represented by formula (I) β−α≧0  (I) wherein (i) α represents contact angle of a recording medium with an aqueous solution containing 0.1% by weight of the surfactant 0.3 sec after the contact of the aqueous solution with the recording medium, degree; and (ii) β represents contact angle of a recording medium with an aqueous solution containing 0.1% by weight of the surfactant, 20% by weight of glycerin, 10% by weight of 1,2-hexanediol and 1.0% by weight of triethanolamine 0.3 sec after the contact of the aqueous solution with the recording medium, degree.
US07981201B2 De-entrainment device
De-entrainment devices for effectively removing entrained liquid from a vapor stream are disclosed. These de-entrainment devices are effective in distillation columns and other apparatuses comprising vapor-liquid contacting devices. Particular representative applications for these de-entrainment devices are in distillation (or fractionation) columns having co-current contacting modules, in which liquid and vapor enter into co-current flow channels of the modules. The de-entrainment devices can be used, for example, with non-parallel contacting stages or other types of high capacity trays.
US07981199B2 Sorber heat exchanger wall and sorber heat exchanger
The invention relates to a sorber heat exchanger wall comprising a fluid side (2) which is delimited by a fluid wall (4) and is impinged upon by a fluid releasing or absorbing heat, and a sorption side (5) that is provided with a sorption bed (6) with a sorbent (7) which accumulates a sorbate so as to absorb or release heat. In order to create a mechanically stable sorption wall that has good heat conducting and material conveying properties, the sorption bed (6) encompasses a highly heat conducting support structure (10,21) for the sorbent (7), which is connected to the fluid wall (4) in a heat conducting manner, and a hierarchical hollow space system.
US07981197B2 Easily removable filter bowl for paint spray guns
A filter bowl and filter cover assembly is provided wherein the filter bowl is adapted to be easily mounted upon and removed from the filter cover by a plurality of bolt fasteners as a result of the bolt fasteners, connecting the filter bowl to the filter cover, being loosened to a predetermined degree and rotating the filter bowl relative to the filter housing in a clockwise direction so as to permit the head portions of the bolt fasteners to pass through key-hole shaped apertures formed within the filter cover. The filter bowl is able to likewise be easily and quickly re-installed upon the filter cover as a result of a reversal of the aforenoted removal procedures.
US07981195B2 System for preventing contaminants from reaching a gas purifier
The present invention is directed to the prevention of an exothermic reaction in the gas purifier of an ultra-high purity gas system.
US07981191B2 Method for the production of tantalum powder using reclaimed scrap as source material
A process for obtaining tantalum powder from tantalum containing scrap material is provided. The process includes selecting source material, such as from sintered anodes for capacitors, hydriding the source material, milling to desired particle size and surface area, dehydriding, deoxidizing, agglomerating, sifting, and acid treating to obtain tantalum powder of a desired size and purity.
US07981182B2 Labyrinth box structure and method
A labyrinth box can include a housing that has an open end, a closed end, and defines two cavities. A cover is configured to cover the opening and can include a divider that extends into one of the two cavities of the housing to define first and second chamber passageways in that cavity. An inlet port is located in the bottom closed end of one of the cavities and an outlet port is located in the other of the cavities. The surfaces that define the chambers can be configured such that the box can be oriented in different positions and still work, namely, in horizontal and vertical positions. When in the vertical position, the divider can include surfaces that are angled off of the horizontal plane and towards the inlet port such that water and debris will return to the inlet port via gravity. The labyrinth box can be used in applications that require separation between fluids and/or debris, such as in a fuel tank pressure sensor system in which rainwater, backsplash, or other debris, should be kept clear from a pressure sensor that has a portion exposed to atmospheric pressure for sensor reference purposes.
US07981180B2 Dust filter
A dust filter of an evaporated fuel treatment device is taught that preferably include a filtration member for filtering air introduced to an atmosphere introduction path, and a casing receiving the filtration member therein. The dust filter being disposed on the atmosphere introduction path of the evaporated fuel treatment device. The filtration member has an arcuate shape in cross section, and wherein the filtration member is arranged and structured such that air flows in a radial direction thereof, so as to be filtered.
US07981176B2 Particulate filter and method for its assembly
A particulate filter cartridge has a woven metal fiber filter medium surrounding a perforated support tube. The filter medium is crimped down to the support tube at opposite ends thereof and then welded to the support tube at the crimped regions. A plurality of such cartridges can then be nested within each other and separated by appropriate exhaust gas flow directing baffles to form a particulate filter assembly.
US07981167B2 Method and composition for maintaining hair dye color
A method of preventing color loss from dyed hair comprising the application of a hair care composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 20% of a sulfoalkyl(meth)acrylate compound, an alkylacetamido(meth)acrylate, or a mixture thereof, and a dermatologically acceptable carrier wherein the sulfoalkyl(meth)acrylate compound and the alkylacetamido(meth)acrylate undergo polymerization inside the hair fibers.
US07981166B2 Bleaching agent having cationic acyl pyridinium derivatives, co-bleaching activators and hydrogen peroxide
Agent for bleaching keratin fibers comprising in a cosmetic carrier at least one cationic acyl pyridinium derivative of formula (I) where R is a C1-C6-alkyl group, a C2-C6-alkenyl group, a C2-C6-hydroxy alkyl group, a C1-C6-alkoxy-C2-C6-alkyl group, a carboxy-C1-C6-alkyl group, an aryl-C1-C6-alkyl group, a C1-C6-dialkylamino-C2-C6-alkyl group, a heteroaryl-C1-C6-alkyl group, a 3-oxobutyl group, a 2-oxopropyl group, an aryl group, or a heteroaryl group, R′ is a C1-C4-alkyl group, a C2-C6-hydroxy alkyl group, or a C1-C6-alkoxy-C2-C6-alkyl group, X− is a physiologically compatible anion, at least one toxicologically safe co-bleaching activator and/or the physiologically compatible salt thereof, and hydrogen peroxide.
US07981165B2 Process for lightening keratin materials using an anhydrous composition comprising at least one fatty substance and at least one alkaline agent, and at least one oxidizing composition
The present disclosure relates to a process for lightening keratin fibers, comprising applying to the keratin fibers: an anhydrous composition (A) comprising at least one fatty substance in an amount of at least 20% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, at least one surfactant, and at least one alkaline agent chosen from organic amines, organic amine salts, and ammonium salts; and a composition (B) comprising at least one oxidizing agent. The present disclosure also relates to a multi-compartment device comprising: a first compartment comprising the anhydrous composition (A); and a second compartment comprising the composition (B).
US07981164B1 Knee prosthesis
A knee prosthesis for providing a user with a natural walking gait and flexion resistance. The knee prosthesis includes a support assembly; a flexion resistance member being supported upon the support assembly; a pivot assembly being pivotally connected to the support assembly and being fastened to a user's leg socket; and a flexion resistance drive assembly interconnecting said pivot assembly and said flexion resistance member.
US07981154B2 Ophthalmic surgical method
The present invention is in the field of ophthalmic surgery and relates to a method for the prevention of capsular opacification, especially after extraction of the natural lens from the lens capsule of the eye. Particular methods disclosed include replacing the natural lens with a capsule filling implant comprising an injectable material and injecting an agent capable of inhibiting the proliferation of lens epithelial cells, migration of lens epithelial cells, and/or production of extra-cellular matrix by lens epithelial cells into a space between the inserted capsule filling implant and the lens capsule using an instrument having a hydrophobic outer surface such that the composition reaches a germinative zone of the capsular bag.
US07981153B2 Biologically implantable prosthesis methods of using
A heart valve assembly includes a first annular prosthesis for implantation within a tissue annulus, a second valve prosthesis, and a plurality of magnets on the first and second prostheses to secure the second prosthesis to the first prosthesis. In one embodiment, the magnets are arranged to allow the second prosthesis to be secured to the first prosthesis in a predetermined angular orientation. During use, the first annular prosthesis is implanted into the annulus, and the second valve prosthesis is inserted into the annulus. The magnets orient the second prosthesis relative to the first prosthesis to align the second prosthesis with the first prosthesis in a predetermined angular orientation; and secure the second prosthesis to the first prosthesis in the predetermined angular orientation.
US07981144B2 Implant equipped for nerve location and method of use
The invention describes a surgical implant that is equipped to provide neurological data during and after implantation. Neurological monitoring ensures accurate insertion of the implant with minimal disturbance of neural structures. The implant includes at least one electrically conductive region that is utilized to determine the distance from and direction to a nerve with respect to the implant.
US07981141B2 Variable angle adaptive plate
A device for supporting and/or assisting in bone fusion, particularly in the spine, is described. A plate member is provided, along with two or more attachment members that are anchorable to bones. In one embodiment, the plate member has a slot near one end and an aperture at another end. The attachment members include threaded posts for connection to the plate member via the latter's slot(s) and aperture(s). Alternatively, attachment members need not have a threaded post, and attachment members may be connected to the plate member via a bone bolt or similar fixation member. The slot(s) allow a single plate member to be used for a variety of operative situations and anatomies. A device for repositioning bones and a method for using the disclosed devices is also described.
US07981139B2 Suture anchors and methods of use
The present invention provides apparatuses, systems, methods and kits for fastening sutures or similar devices used in medical surgical procedures. In particular, the present invention is suitable for use with percutaneous or minimally invasive procedures in which sutures are placed with catheter-based devices wherein the tying of knots is particularly challenging. Suture fasteners of the present invention provide for fastening the sutures together in a fixed position at any location along the suture strands. In addition, the fasteners are adjustable to allow repositioning of the fastener after placement to a new desired location along the suture strands. Similarly, such fasteners may be used to hold a single suture strand for various applications.
US07981138B2 Surgical suture needle
A surgical needle is disclosed and includes an elongated needle body defining a longitudinal axis The surgical needle has a first end for attachment to a suture and a second needled end for penetrating tissue. The needled end includes lower and upper opposed surfaces and a pair of side surfaces extending between the lower and upper surfaces and being contiguous therewith. The upper surface and side surfaces extend to a pointed tip. The lower surface extends to a cutting edge, which is defined at the intersection of the side surfaces and proximal of the pointed tip. The cutting edge extends in oblique relation relative to the longitudinal axis and terminates at the pointed tip.
US07981133B2 Tissue dissection method
A cannula and surgical methods include a tubular body, for housing an endoscope having a lighted, viewing end disposed near the distal end of the body that is selectively covered by a blunt, transparent, tissue-separating tip. Endoscopic viewing through the tip is enhanced by inner walls that taper to a cusp adjacent the blunt tip in order to reduce visual distortion. Alternatively, a removable or deflectable tip exposes a probe and endoscope to facilitate viewing and dissection of connective tissue and lateral vessels along the course of a blood vessel for subsequent harvesting or other treatment of the isolated blood vessel. The dissection probe includes a partial ring for passing along the vessel and past lateral branching vessels under visualization through the endoscope and the transparent tip. Surgical procedures including making an initial incision, above an artery or other vessel to establish an initial portion of an elongated working cavity of bluntly-dissected tissue. Lateral branches are doubly occluded, and then severed to isolate the vessel for harvesting and use as a graft conduit.
US07981132B2 Self-conforming surgical seal
The present disclosure relates to surgical seal, or valve, of the type adapted to releasably receive a surgical object. The seal disclosed herein defines an aperture that is configured to maintain a substantially fluid-tight seal with the surgical object upon its insertion, and includes at least one cable member connected to the seal that facilitates maintenance of the substantially fluid-tight seal during subsequent lateral manipulation of the surgical object.
US07981128B2 Atherectomy devices and methods
The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and method relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens.
US07981120B2 Trajectory guide with angled or patterned guide lumens or height adjustment
This document discusses trajectory guides that include an instrument guide with at least one lumen angled with respect to an orthogonal or other through-axis. In one example, patterned lumens on the instrument guide provide a mirror image pattern of trajectory axes intersecting a target plane. In another example, height adjustment of the instrument guide extends these or other targeting techniques to a three-dimensional volume. This document also describes a method of manufacturing such an instrument guide, which is also applicable to manufacturing an instrument guide providing parallel lumens.
US07981113B2 Electrosurgical instrument
An embodiment of the invention includes an electrosurgical jaw structure that carries cooperating PTC bodies in both series and parallel circuit components for controlled RF energy application to engaged tissue to effectively weld tissue.
US07981107B2 Low profile inlet valve for a piston pump therapeutic substance delivery device
Low profile inlet valve embodiments for a piston pump therapeutic substance infusion device are disclosed that reduce dead volume, occupies little residential space, operates rapidly, and have many other improvements. The therapeutic substance infusion device has a housing, a therapeutic substance reservoir, a power source carried in the housing, electronics, a piston pump, and an inlet valve. The piston pump is configured for pumping therapeutic substance from the therapeutic substance reservoir through an infusion port at a programmed rate. The inlet valve is in fluid communication with a reservoir outlet to control the flow of therapeutic substance into the piston pump. The inlet valve has a substantially coplanar valve surface and valve spring. Many embodiments of the low profile inlet valve and its methods of operation are possible.
US07981105B2 Medication reservoir
A medication reservoir includes a reservoir. A swage is coupled to the reservoir enclosing an outer periphery of a septum to secure the septum to the reservoir. A base is attached to the reservoir secured around the swage, wherein the base includes at least one slot along sides of the base. At least one base engagement member is disposed on the sides of the base to engage a cap engagement member on a cap when the base is inserted into a lower end of the cap. The cap includes a needle located internal to the cap to pierce the septum and permit flow of liquid from the reservoir through the needle and into infusion set tubing and to a user.
US07981097B2 Medical device for the treatment and prevention of eye and respiratory tract conditions
A medical device for the treatment and prevention of eye and respiratory tract conditions is provided. The medical device may include a pack with a pump, a filter, and a vaporizer chamber for storing fluid and selectively supplying fluid vapor to ambient air. The medical device may further include a glasses unit comprising a pair of frames and a diffuser. The medical device may further include a tube having a first end configured for connection to the pack and a second end configured for connection to the diffuser. The glasses unit may be separated from the pack when the medical device is in use. Various methods for the treatment and prevention of eye and respiratory tract conditions and a method for modifying a pair of conventional glasses for treatment are also disclosed.
US07981096B2 Optic nerve head implant and medication delivery system
An method and a device for implant into the eye of a patient configured in size to frictionally engage within a cup-like depression naturally occurring in the optic nerve of the eye. The implant has a reservoir for calculated disbursement of medicine to tissue surrounding it and in one mode is refillable and in another mode is formed of biodegradable material which is absorbed by the patient after use ceases.
US07981078B2 Inflation/deflation system for a catheter
According to the present invention there is provided an inflation/deflation system for a dilatation balloon comprising a receptacle, a pressure member, a sensing system and a data processing and display unit. The receptacle is adapted to contain an inflation fluid to be introduced into the balloon during its inflation. The receptacle also has an inlet/outlet port adapted for connection to the dilatation balloon; The pressure member is adapted to be axially displaced within the receptacle to cause the fluid to exit the receptacle via the outlet port. The sensing system comprises a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is associated with the pressure member to sense its axial displacement. The second sensor is associated with the interior of the receptacle to sense in a non-contact manner the pressure P of the inflation fluid within the receptacle, and to provide a corresponding data signal. The data processing and display unit is adapted to process the signal and display at least a scheme of pressure P within the receptacle vs. the volume V of the inflation fluid exiting the receptacle through the inlet/outlet port. The volume is calculated by the axial displacement of the pressure member. The scheme reflects the corresponding P-V conditions within the balloon when the system is in use.
US07981077B2 Systems and methods for nasal lavage
A nasal lavage device includes a source of saline solution, an effluent receptacle, and a nasal interface for engaging the nostrils of a user of the device. A fluid passageway is disposed to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle through the nasal cavity of the user. The nasal interface and fluid passageways are included within a removable cartridge for communicating the saline relative to the nostrils in a first direction. A second cartridge can be inserted to communicate the flow in a second direction. The interface includes nasal pillows that form a seal against the user's nostrils.
US07981072B2 Method and apparatus for supplying predetermined gas into body cavities of a patient
A gas supply apparatus measures a first pressure inside a first body cavity of a patient and a second pressure inside a second body cavity of the patient. The gas supply apparatus regulates a pressure of a predetermined gas based on the measured first and second pressures inside the first and second body cavities.
US07981070B2 Internal tourniquet for automatically controlling hemostasis within a joint capsule
An internal tourniquet for establishing hemostasis within a portion of a limb to facilitate surgery controls flow of a fluid into a capsule surrounding substantially all of a human joint. Blood concentration in the capsule is sensed; and pressure in the capsule is controlled to maintain a fluid pressure in the capsule within a predetermined pressure tolerance window. The concentration of blood in the capsule is maintained below a predetermined maximum concentration while the fluid pressure is within the pressure tolerance window.
US07981067B2 Range of motion device
The present invention provides 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. The second extension member is operatively connected to the first extension member and travels through the first extension member along an arcuate path when the second arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the first arm member.
US07981066B2 External pulsation treatment apparatus
There is provided a non-invasive pulsation and counterpulsation medical treatment apparatus for treating reduced cardiac output in heart patients. A flexible cuff is passed over the patient's lower body and/or extremities, and is attached through a lever arm to an electromechanical actuator. Through a mechanical linkage, the actuator sequentially tensions and releases the cuff, thereby sequentially compressing and releasing pressure on the patient, and thereby augmenting the patient's blood pressure. The actuator includes an electric solenoid which axially extends and retracts a shaft. The shaft oscillates the lever arm. A curved plate on the apparatus supports the patient's body or extremity in a fixed position during the treatment. A pressure sensor in the cuff transmits pressure data to an operator or electronic processor. Based on physiological data continuously obtained from the patient, various treatment parameters may be changed during the patient's treatment by an attending clinician or by a computer processor controlling the treatment.
US07981065B2 Lead electrode incorporating extracellular matrix
Implantable devices containing extracellular matrix and methods of using the devices are provided.
US07981062B2 Mechanically activated objects for treatment of degenerative retinal disease
Mechanically activated objects or devices for use in treating degenerative retinal diseases are provided. Such devices apply mechanical forces to tissues of an eye to effectuate treatment and are configured for chronic implantation (thereby applying chronic stimulation/irritation) in or on the eye. The devices may be configured for contact with a retina of the eye, preferably positioned in a subretinal space. Various embodiments comprise a moving member configured for chronic contact with at least a portion of the eye, which moving member is activated by an actuator. In some embodiments, the actuator may be distally located relative to the moving member. Alternatively, the moving member may be supported by a body member that, optionally, also supports the actuator.
US07981060B2 Ultrasound applying skin care device
An ultrasonic skin care device has an applicator head for applying the ultrasound vibrations to a user's skin. The applicator head has a vibrator element and a horn which are integrated into a combined vibration mass that resonates with an electric pulse to produce the ultrasound vibrations. The device is configured to limit the ultrasound upon detection that the applicator head is out of a normal contact with the skin. A load detecting circuit detects whether the applicator head is in a normally loaded condition or in an unloaded condition with reference to electrically equivalent impedance of the combined vibration mass. The combined vibration mass has a structure that restrains vibrations at a center portion of the vibration mass in order to reduce an undesired parasitic resonance, thereby enabling to discriminate the impedance given under the normally loaded condition from that given under the unloaded condition.
US07981043B2 Non-invasive electronic method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure
Provided is a non-invasive electronic method and apparatus for measuring blood pressure, in which the data is processed with an algorithm of non-linear fitting for recovering trend envelope of an oscillating PW by a firmware, so that the trend envelope of PW amplitude can be recovered accurately, and the obtained average pressure shows higher degree of agreement with the real situation in clinic. In this apparatus, a 3-way solenoid valve (20) is arranged between a cuff (10) and a first pressure sensor (30), wherein the common port of the 3-way solenoid valve (20) is connected with the first pressure sensor (30), the normally open port thereof connected with the cuff (10), and the normally closed port thereof connected with the air atmosphere during zeroing process. Moreover, an independent timing circuit (45) is provided additionally. In the measurement method of the present invention, the zeroing is performed with the help of the 3-way solenoid valve (20). Once a state of overtime or overpressure occurs, a gas pump (50) is immediately closed, and a quick-deflation solenoid valve (60) is opened so that the pressure in the cuff (10) is released to ensure safe application.
US07981038B2 Sensor guided catheter navigation system
A method and a system for producing images of a subject, such as the heart of a human being. The method may comprise acquiring ultrasound images of the subject with a catheter comprising a position sensor. The method may also comprise capturing a plurality of 4D surface registration points in the acquired ultrasound images corresponding to points on the subject. The method may also comprise registering, in space and time, a high-resolution 4D model of the subject with the plurality of 4D surface registration points. The method may also comprise displaying high resolution, real-time images of the subject during a medical procedure based on the registration of the high resolution 4D model to the 4D surface registration points. Embodiments of the present invention are especially useful in left atrium ablation procedures.
US07981035B2 Phase selection for cardiac contrast assessment
In one embodiment, at least one visual characteristic from a selected image is used to automatically select an ultrasound image from a set of images from a plurality of heart cycles. In another embodiment, motion correction is performed on ultrasound images that are automatically selected from a plurality of ultrasound images associated with the same phase of the heart cycle. In yet another embodiment, ultrasound images are automatically selected from a set of images based on a time interval that is within a tolerance range from a reference phase of the heart cycle. In another embodiment, a stored user-preference of a phase of the heart cycle is used to automatically select an ultrasound image from a set of images. In yet another embodiment, a user-defined region of interest is placed on an ultrasound image associated with a selected phase of a heart cycle.
US07981022B2 Medical slings
A sling in accordance with the invention includes a synthetic material and a non-synthetic material positioned adjacent thereto. The non-synthetic material may be wrapped around or may be attached to the synthetic material. Additionally, the non-synthetic material may include slits. Methods for making such slings are also described.
US07981021B2 Correction of stress urinary incontinence
Devices for treating stress incontinence, having a horizontal proximal portion supported on the pubococcygeus muscle and a distal portion extending downward and away from the proximal portion at an angle approximating the vagina in an erect female as it passes down and between the anterior segments of the pubococcygeus. The distal portion may terminate with a protrusion that is positioned to provide midurethral support, thereby preserving the urethovesical angle.
US07981017B2 Materials for and method for manufacturing retail container and resulting retail container
In accordance with the invention, a method of manufacturing containers such as shipping, display and display ready packaging, for example, and resulting containers and associated preassemblies and blanks are provided, which, when utilized, result in preassemblies that are more easily and quickly assembled into fully assembled containers including a plurality of stacking shoulder provided at opposing ends of the containers.
US07981010B1 Exercise machine with multi-function user engagement device
An exercise machine has a main frame and a user support movably mounted relative to the main frame for movement between a start position and an end position during an exercise. At least one multi-function user engagement device is movably mounted relative to the frames for engagement and actuation by a user during an exercise, and a connecting linkage translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support. The user engagement device has two different modes of operation selectable by a user for performing different exercises which exercise distinct muscles or muscle groups. A load provides resistance for both exercises.
US07981006B1 Track-adjusting mechanism for elliptical exercise apparatus
A track-adjusting method and a track-adjusting mechanism are applicable to an elliptical exercise apparatus using a linkage system to generate a cyclic exercise track. The track-adjusting method and the track-adjusting mechanism provide the elliptical exercise apparatus with additional exercise tracks by displacing at least one set of horizontally symmetrical pivotal joints in the linkage system, so as to allow diverse training programs and improved exercise effects.
US07981005B1 Leg exerciser with opposite wheeled swivel foot plates on folding swivel rails
An exerciser includes a base comprising a rotatable central seat and a fixed support upwardly extending out of the seat; first and second carriage assemblies each comprising two opposite rails each having one end formed as a joint pivotably secured to either side of the seat, a bar across the other ends of the rails, and a foot plate adapted to rotate horizontally with respect to the rails and move along the rails; and first and second damping assembly in the first and second carriage assemblies respectively and each comprising two rollers fixedly secured to the seat between the joints and an intermediate portion of the bar respectively, an elastic belt passing the rollers, and two attachments at both ends of the first elastic belt respectively, the attachments being releasably fastened at either carriage assembly.
US07981001B2 Total body exercise methods and apparatus
An exercise apparatus includes a frame, an arm supporting member, and a leg supporting member. A sensor is connected to at least one of the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, and/or a resilient member is interconnected between the arm supporting member and either the leg supporting member or the frame. The sensor communicates with a user display and/or a resistance device to indicate the amounts of work performed by the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, and/or to adjust resistance to movement of the leg supporting member as a function of user force applied against the arm supporting member. The resilient member encourages synchronization of the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, while allowing some relative movement therebetween. A user interface displays data associated with exercise activity, including relative amounts of work performed by a user's arms and legs and/or performed during different phases of exercise, including discrete aerobic and anaerobic phases. The interface display and the level of resistance are preferably changed as part of the transition between phases.
US07981000B2 Systems for interaction with exercise device
An exercise device is configured to enable a user to interact with a trainer in real-time communication. The exercise device includes an exercise mechanism having a movable element for movement in performance of exercise by a user. Communicating with the exercise mechanism is an interface adapted for gathering a first real-time signal from the user. The interface communicates with a communication system for receiving a packetized second real-time signal including a synchronized control signal from the trainer. The exercise device includes an output device configured to reproduce the second real-time signal. The control signals carried by the second signal are used to control the operating parameters of the exercise mechanism in real-time.
US07980991B2 Control device for hybrid vehicle drive apparatus
When the power transmitting path in an automatic shifting portion (20) is interrupted, a Co-lock control is executed to allow a differential portion (11) to be placed in a non-differential or nearly non-differential state with rotary elements (RE1 to RE3) kept in a unitary rotation. Thus, an engine (8), a first electric motor (M1) and a second electric motor (M2) rotate at an identical or nearly identical speed. Then, for the purpose of controlling the second electric motor (M2) at a rotation speed below a permit rotation speed, it may suffice for the first and second electric motors (M1) and (M2) to be driven in a direction to lower relevant rotation speeds while monitoring any one of an engine rotation speed, a first-motor rotation speed and a second-motor rotation speed. This allows such a control to be easily executed, thereby preventing the second electric motor from reaching a high speed rotation.
US07980990B2 Power output apparatus, vehicle including power output apparatus, and control unit and method for power output apparatus
When there is no malfunction in either drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), control of internal combustion engine (22), the power split device (30, MG1), the electric motor (MG2), and the shifting portion (60) is performed while speed ratio in shifting portion (60) is changed and an intermittent operation of internal combustion engine (22) is performed so that a drive power required for drive shaft (32a) is output to shaft (32a). When a malfunction occurs in drive shaft rotational speed detection portion (36) or/and rotating shaft rotational speed detection portion (44), the control is performed while at least one of change in speed ratio, intermittent operation, and output of drive power required for shaft (32a) to shaft (32a) is limited so that a drive power that approximates required drive power as closely as possible is output to drive shaft (32a).
US07980987B2 Eight speed automatic transmission
An eight speed automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets and five torque transmitting devices. Three of the planetary gear sets are simple and one planetary gear set is compound. Each of the plurality of planetary gear sets has first, second and third members: a sun gear, a ring gear and a planet carrier having a plurality of planet gears rotatably disposed thereon. Three of the torque transmitting devices are clutches and two of the devices are brakes. Eight embodiments of the transmission having different arrangements of the planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes are disclosed.
US07980980B2 Hybrid powertrain
A hybrid powertrain is provided that includes an engine operatively connected with an input member. The powertrain includes a transmission with first and second electric motor/generators, a differential gear set having multiple members, and selectively engagable torque-transmitting mechanisms. The input member, the output member, the engine and the motor/generators are selectively interconnected through the differential gear set by engagement of the torque-transmitting mechanisms in different combinations. An electronic controller controls the electric motor/generators, the engine and the torque-transmitting mechanisms to provide multiple operating modes between the input member and the output member, including an electric-only operating mode in which the engine is off and one motor generator acts as a motor to provide torque at the output member while the other electric motor/generator can remain substantially stationary, and another electric-only operating mode in which both electric motor/generators act as motors to provide torque at the output member.
US07980978B2 Hoisting and lowering driving engagement multi-row chain
A hoisting and lowering driving engagement multi-row chain is disclosed, in which bending of the connecting pins in the chain is suppressed to avoid fatigue failure. Additionally, the load carrying balance in the chain width direction is improved, and contact vibrations and contact noises generated between the chain and the hoisting and lowering sprockets are suppressed. Endurance of the bush in the chain is thereby improved. Bending of connecting pins is avoided by press-fitting bushes, through which connecting pins pass, into intermediate tooth plates. This also improves load carrying balance widthwise. Contact noises and vibrations between the bushes and sprockets are suppressed by providing bushes with a separate sprocket engagement portion having a larger diameter than the press-fitting portion of the bushes.
US07980974B2 Apparatus for mounting a bicycle electrical component
An apparatus for mounting a bicycle electrical component comprises a housing member structured to be mounted to a bicycle and an electronic circuit element mounted to a circuit mounting member, wherein the circuit mounting member is disposed in the housing. The circuit mounting member has a shape that varies away from a plane containing the electronic circuit element to conform to a shape of the housing member.
US07980968B1 Stringing device of a racket stringing machine
A stringing device of a racket stringing machine includes a shell whose internal surrounding surface is defined with a track extending along a straight line; a sliding base accommodated in the track of the shell, with wheels on its opposite sides to roll on the surrounding surface of the track; a stringing head fixed on the sliding base by its bottom end; a transmission mechanism connected to the sliding base to drive the sliding base to slide along the track, concurrently driving the stringing head on the sliding base to move along a straight line.
US07980966B2 Toy for positioning a play implement
The present invention discloses a play implement positioning device including an implement support for holding a first play implement in a play position to be struck. The invention also discloses a mechanism for selectively, automatically placing multiple stored play implements onto the implement support after the first implement has been struck and dislodged from the implement support.
US07980962B2 Golf club and grip for golf club
A golf club (2) according to the present invention includes a head (4), a shaft (6) and a grip (8). A maximum thickness portion of the grip (8) is present within a range of 3 to 8 mm from a butt end. When the closest position to a tip side in the maximum thickness portion is set to be a reference position (K), a position placed apart from the reference position (K) toward the tip side by 20 mm is set to be a position (A), a position placed apart from the reference position (K) toward the tip side by 30 mm is set to be a position (B), a position placed apart from the reference position (K) toward the tip side by 50 mm is set to be a position (C), and a position placed apart from the reference position (K) toward the tip side by 200 mm is set to be a position (D), a taper ratio (T1) between the reference position (K) and the position (A) is equal to or higher than 0.255 and is equal to or lower than 0.270, a taper ratio (T2) between the position (B) and the position (C) is equal to or higher than 0.045 and is equal to or lower than 0.060, and a taper ratio (T3) between the position (C) and the position (D) is equal to or higher than 0.015 and is equal to or lower than 0.035.
US07980958B1 Golf work station
A golf work station having a base module with telescoping knee guides and adjustable target knee posts. A rear attachment module having a posture post is removably attached to the base module rear, said posture post being longitudinally extensible and angularly adjustable. A swing attachment module having an adjustable swing plane ring is pivotally and removably attached to the base module and rear attachment modules.
US07980945B2 Hierarchical five-wheel gaming methods and gaming machines implementing the same
The disclosed embodiments of the present Hierarchical-Five Wheel model of gaming include systems in which every wager made on an electronic game of chance may trigger two games: 1) standard play on the machine's primary display and 2) the display of one or more numbers or symbols on the machine's secondary display. The numbers and/or symbols on each machine's secondary display may combine with the numbers or symbols on other player's secondary displays to create a shared game in which certain predetermined symbol combinations equate to jackpots awarded to participating players. Banks of Hierarchical-Five Wheel machines may have two levels of play, as is described above, or may have three, four, five or more levels of game play. Hierarchical Five-Wheel gaming machines are capable of awarding large, life-changing jackpots to players who are not necessarily winners within their primary game, giving the player multiple ways to win. In addition, Hierarchical Five-Wheel gaming machines use large numbers and graphics to symbolize the random jackpot award, a system that gives the player a visual process to root for and elevates the player's enjoyment and excitement level, thus stimulating wagering.
US07980944B2 Gaming machine, game control method and game system
In a gaming machine of the present invention, a processing device executes: a processing reading from a storage device a program for shifting the game state from a without-insurance mode to a with-insurance mode on condition that a specific number of game media have been inserted, and then executing the program; a processing reading from the storage device a program for providing the player with a predetermined profit when a predetermined variable, accumulatively counted every time a game is played after the game state has been shifted to the with-insurance mode, reaches a set value that is an object of comparison with the predetermined variable, and then executing the program; and a processing reading from the storage device a program for shifting the game state from the with-insurance mode to the without-insurance mode when a result of the game in the with-insurance mode satisfies a predetermined condition, and then executing the program.
US07980939B2 Gaming apparatus and playing method thereof
A gaming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a roulette wheel including a plurality of pockets associated with respective numbers in advance; a memory for storing a plurality of control data for controlling the gaming apparatus so as to provide different weights on probabilities that a ball is housed in each of the pockets; and a controller, the controller controlling rotation of the roulette wheel and launching of the ball by referring to a single control data out of the control data, determining a number corresponding to one of the pockets with the ball housed therein as a winning number, determining whether or not to offer a prize based on the determined winning number and a BET placed by a player, determining whether or not to generate a predetermined bonus different from the prize, and selecting another control data different from the single control data, out of the plurality of control data, and setting the selected control data as a reference target, when determining that the predetermined bonus different from the prize is to be generated.
US07980935B2 Method of playing a poker-type game
A method of playing a succession of poker-type games that has a plurality of two-card, revealed, starter hands and five unrevealed community cards. The starter hands remain the same for all games of the succession of game. In each game a player wagers on one or more starter hands, after which the community cards are revealed. Each starter hand is combined with all of the community cards to form complete hands. The player is paid a payout amount if a complete hand that has been wagered on is found in the pay table that corresponds to the hand. Optionally, there are multiple sets of community cards. Optionally, the player is required to wager on all of the starter hands. Optionally, the game is played after the occurrence of a triggering event in another game.
US07980917B2 Footwear and toy vehicle entertainment device
An entertainment device is provided comprising the combination of an article of footwear and a self-propelled toy vehicle whose operation may be rudimentarily controlled by the actuation of one or more sensors mounted to the outsole or upper of the article of footwear.
US07980902B2 Electrical terminal block and method of fixture
An electrical terminal block whose base has four or more lugs projecting downwardly from a generally flat under-surface for locking the block against a fixed support having edges which are co-planar, in a plane parallel to the block's undersurface; at least two of the lugs being formed with opposed channels, each open at one side for receiving and laterally abutting against one of two corresponding oppositely-extending edges of the fixed support so as to lock the block against the support, at least two others of the lugs being stops for laterally abutting corresponding edges of the fixed support; whereby the block may be fixed to the support by resting its undersurface against the block and twisting it in the plane of the undersurface until all the lugs are in abutment against the corresponding edges.
US07980898B2 Augmented small form-factor connector
A connector that is structured to electrically and physically connect with (i) a first connector type using a first set of electrical contacts, and (ii) a second connector type that uses the first set of electrical contacts and a second augmenting set of electrical contacts.
US07980890B2 Adhesive laminate label for a communication connector jack and communication connector jack and communications devices including same
An embodiment of the invention is directed to an adhesive laminate label for a communications device. The adhesive laminate label includes an upper label including visible indicia and at least one lower label. Each of the lower labels includes corresponding visible indicia that are different than the visible indicia of the upper label and of the other lower labels. At least the visible indicia of each lower label are covered by either the upper label or one of the other lower labels and the upper and lower labels are removably adhered to one another.
US07980878B2 Electrical connector assembly with clamping members
A connector assembly for holding a memory card provided with two card holes, includes an insulated body, two fixing members projecting from two opposite ends of the insulated body, two supporting elements formed on a front side of the insulated body and two clamping members mounted respectively on the opposite ends of the insulated body. Once the memory card is inserted into the electrical connector assembly, the clamping members cooperatively clamp two opposite ends of the memory card therebetween with the supporting elements extend respectively through the card holes in the memory card.
US07980876B2 Lock for mobile communication equipment
A system includes an integrated circuit card, a tray configured to receive the integrated circuit card, a connector, and a housing configured to receive the connector. The housing is configured to attach to a mobile communication device, the connector is configured to couple the tray and the integrated circuit card to the mobile communication device, the tray includes one or more one way snaps that are configured to lock the tray and the integrated circuit card to one or more of the connector, the housing, and the mobile communication device, and the tray includes a means for engaging and damaging one or more leads on the connector when attempts are made to disengage the tray and the integrated circuit card from the connector.
US07980870B2 Electrical card connector
An electrical card connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10) defining a card receiving room, at least one set of terminals (30) retained in the insulative housing, and an ejector attached on the insulative housing. Each terminal has a soldering portion (303) extending out of the insulative housing and a contacting portion (301) extending towards the card receiving room. The ejector includes a slider (50), at least one spring member (90) and at least one pin member (80) cammedly pushing an inserted card. The slider includes a base portion (501) pressing against the contacting portions of the terminals and a pair of arm portions (503) extending laterally from the base portion. The base portion defines a number of passageways (502) and forms a number of protrusions (5011) extending into the corresponding passageways. The slider blocks the contacting portions from entering the card receiving room at an original position and moves to an inner position for giving way for the contacting portions. The contacting portions extend through the passageways into the card receiving room are supported by the protrusions.
US07980868B2 Flash memory device with slidable contact module
A flash memory device includes a circuit board and a contact module slidable with respect to the circuit board. The circuit board includes a plurality of first contacts each having a stiff first contact portion. The contact module includes a slider and a plurality of second contacts fixed to the slider. The slider is slidable with respect to the circuit board along a front-to-rear direction between a first position and a second position. The flash memory device is compatible to USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 receptacle connectors via the slidable contact module.
US07980845B2 Molding apparatus
A molding apparatus includes a first mold half, a first mold core, a second mold half, a second mold core and a plurality of spacers. The first mold core is received in the first mold half and has a first molding surface. The second mold half includes a receiving cavity defined therein and a plurality of parallel grooves angularly equidistantly spaced from each other. The second mold core is received in the receiving cavity and has a second molding surface facing the first molding surface. The first and second molding surfaces are configured for cooperatively defining a molding cavity therebetween. The spacers are configured for being selectively disposed in the corresponding grooves. Each spacer is configured for being sandwiched between the second mold half and the second mold core. The spacers are configured for aligning the second molding surface with the first molding surface.
US07980831B2 Oscillating type compressor
An oscillating type piston is connected to an output shaft of an electric motor through a crankshaft. The piston is provided with a lip ring that slidingly contacts a cylinder. The motor is rotated forward and reversely by using a control circuit. Thus, different regions of the piston are subjected to a load during forward rotation of the motor and during reverse rotation thereof. Accordingly, wear of the lip ring can be distributed to different regions thereof.
US07980821B1 Turbine blade with trailing edge cooling
A turbine rotor blade with a trailing edge cooling circuit in which cooling air from an impingement cavity located adjacent to the trailing edge region is connected to a plurality of metering channels that open onto the pressure side wall of the trailing edge region of the airfoil to discharge the cooling air. A row of submerged slots that open onto the suction side wall of the airfoil are connected to the metering channels by a row of small holes that bleed off the cooling air in the metering channel in a progressive manner and discharge the air into the slot. The trailing edge cooling circuit allows for a thinner trailing edge airfoil, reduces the metal temperature and reduces the shear mixing between the cooling air and the mainstream hot gas flow.
US07980815B2 Turbomachine variable-pitch stator blade
A turbomachine variable-pitch stator blade is disclosed. The stator blade includes an aerofoil, extended on one side by a pivot by which it is mounted so as to rotate in a bore of the casing of the turbomachine, and a plate, between the aerofoil and the pivot, perpendicular to the line formed by the aerofoil and the pivot. Since the face of the plate opposite to the aerofoil includes a first zone and a second zone, the first zone being subjected to an intense friction with the wall of the casing because of the transverse forces applied to the aerofoil, the thickness of the plate on the second zone is reduced relative to the thickness of the plate of the first zone. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the weight of the blade without loss of performance.
US07980807B2 Load-handling means with rolling-body circulatory guidance
A load-handling apparatus having a frame and a load movement component part accommodated on said frame in such a way that it is capable of relative movement, the load movement component part being guided on the frame by a plurality of rolling bodies for the relative movement along a guide axis, the plurality of rolling bodies comprising at least one arrangement of circulating rolling bodies, with a supporting section, in which rolling bodies in the event of a relative movement of the frame and the load movement component part roll along a guide track and a rolling track, and a return section, in which the rolling bodies during the relative movement of the frame and the load movement component part move from an outlet end region of the supporting section towards its inlet end region.
US07980806B1 Conveyor roller assembly installing system
A vehicle supported mine item positioning apparatus for placing, for example, heavy mining conveyor belt items such as roller assemblies, conveyor frame side rails, frame sections or the like in precise positions for attachment to other conveyor structure, wherein the vehicle can get into cramped quarters in the mine alongside the conveyor and extend, retract, rotate and further manipulate an item pick-up crane mounted on the vehicle, whereby the crane with item pick-up means mounted on an end thereof can pick up and place, e.g., a roller assembly in a precise position and posture on a conveyor frame for making said attachment, and further in a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is provided with second crane means for lifting a moving conveyor belt off of a roller assembly for replacement of said assembly with or without stopping the belt, whereby worker lifting and manipulation of heavy roller assemblies or other heavy mining structures is eliminated.
US07980802B2 Pipe handling apparatus with arm stiffening
A pipe handling apparatus has a supporting structure, an arm pivotally interconnected to the supporting structure such that the supporting structure and the arm are movable between a first position and a second position within a single degree of freedom, and a stiffener cooperative with the arm when the arm and the supporting structure are in the second position. The stiffener applies a mechanical resistance to the arm in the second position. The second position is at an end of the travel of the supporting structure and the arm. The stiffener applies a variable resistance to the arm as the arm moves from the first position to the second position. This variable resistance is at its greatest when the arm is in the second position.
US07980794B2 Ring with cutting edge (ring-shaped chamfer tool)
A ring with a cutting edge detachably fixed to a drilling tool, and machines the peripheral edge of a hole bored by the drilling tool can be simply attached to the drilling tool. A ring with a cutting edge is constituted by a ring portion, in which an insertion hole allowing a drilling tool to be inserted in the direction of an axis O thereof and having a circular shape in plane view, is formed, the ring portion has a portion on the inner peripheral surface provided with a recess formed radially outward, a circular-arc arm portion, which extends in the peripheral direction from one peripheral end of the inner peripheral surface toward the other peripheral end thereof, in the opening edge of the recess facing the inner peripheral surface and is elastically deformable in the radial direction, is formed integrally in the ring portion, and the circular-arc arm portion is pressed axially inward by a fastening screw threadedly attached to a threaded attachment hole which goes through the ring portion in the radial direction, and is opened to a bottom surface of the recess.
US07980793B2 Concentric clamping for drill spindles
Methods and systems for concentric clamping for manufacturing assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a drilling assembly includes a spindle assembly configured to perform a drilling operation at a drilling location on a workpiece, and a clamping assembly having an actuator concentrically disposed about the spindle assembly. A nosepiece is coupled to the actuator and is configured to apply a clamping force concentrically about the drilling location on the workpiece. The actuator may include an inner housing having an outwardly extending flange, and an outer housing disposed about the flange of the inner housing. Pressurization of a first chamber moves the inner housing forwardly and applies the clamping force of the nosepiece against the workpiece, and pressurization of a second chamber moves the inner housing aftwardly and retracts the nosepiece away from the workpiece.
US07980783B2 Linear lost motion positioning mechanism
A linear lost motion mechanism is located within a tubular handle of a machine, such as a concrete finishing machine. The linear lost motion mechanism includes a pitch block configured to selectively frictionally lock with the tubular handle or a component attached to the tubular handle using a biasing spring. The linear lost motion mechanism can perform a number of functions, such as controlling a blade pitch adjustment system of a concrete finishing machine.
US07980781B2 Self locking mast assembly and method of making
A mast arrangement having two elongate individual masts. The first elongate individual mast comprises a hollow connector comprising an inner diameter. The second elongate individual mast comprises a protruding connector end. The protruding connector end telescopically engages with the hollow connector end. The mast arrangement also comprises a pin and slot arrangement and collars to connect the masts together and minimize unwanted disengagement of the masts from each other.
US07980776B2 Heated mascara
A heated mascara device having a mascara container housing a mascara formulation and a mascara applicator having an applicator head control heated by a heating system, the heating system turning on when the mascara applicator is disengaged from the mascara container and turning off when the mascara applicator is engaged with the mascara container. The applicator head has two sets of lined tooth protruding from a casing of the applicator head, a first set of a single combing toothed strip for combing the eyelashes and a second set of a plurality of lined applicator toothed strips for applying the mascara to the eyelashes.
US07980775B2 Mounting structure for support shaft and image generating apparatus
This image generating apparatus includes a side plate, mounted on a first side surface of a chassis provided with a print portion, integrally including a bearing, a bracket member mounted on the side plate and a support shaft arranged between the side plate and the bracket member for rotatably supporting a gear member, while a first end of the support shaft is fixedly mounted on the bracket member, and a second end of the support shaft includes a side end surface brought into line contact with the bearing of the side plate.
US07980774B2 Recording apparatus including temperature detector
A recording control device includes a head driving circuit, a temperature detector, and a controller. The head driving circuit includes a power supply that supplies a driving current to a plurality of driving coils used for driving a plurality of recording wires provided in a recording head. An induced current flows through a circuit which is connected to the plurality of driving coils when the driving current to the driving coils stops. The temperature detector detects a temperature of heat generated in the circuit due to the induced current, and the controller controls an operation of the recording head based on the temperature detected by the temperature detector.
US07980773B2 Camera module and imaging apparatus
A camera module includes a sensor for converting incident light incident thereto into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal therefrom, a glass cover for transmitting therethrough light to the sensor, the light being the incident light; a flexible printed circuit for receiving as an input thereto the electric signal outputted from the sensor, a lens unit for focusing the incident light onto the sensor, and a pedestal for holding the lens unit, the pedestal including a sidewall section which includes a lower end surface being fixed onto the flexible printed circuit by use of adhesive. A depression is formed along the sidewall section of the mount to discard the adhesive therein.
US07980769B2 Vacuum optical fiber connector and optical fiber terminal structure
A vacuum optical fiber connector includes a port flange attached to a vacuum flange for housing a first waveguide connector to which an optical fiber bundle is attached, an optical transparent body placed on the outside of the port flange, and an attachment member formed with a fit shape relative to the port flange for housing a second waveguide connector to which an optical fiber bundle is attached. The first and second waveguide connectors are positioned at least in two directions orthogonal to an optical axis with optical coupling of the first and second waveguide connectors.
US07980768B2 Fiber optic connector holder and method
A fiber optic connector holder is sized to fit within an opening for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to permit a fiber optic connector with a dust cap positioned about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule to be inserted within and releasably held by the connector holder. A system for holding fiber optic connectors includes a fiber optic connector holder mounted within an opening in a bulkhead for mounting a fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic connector holder is configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule. A optical fiber connector may be held to a bulkhead when the fiber optic connector includes a dust cap mounted about a ferrule and a polished end face of an optical fiber held by the ferrule.
US07980766B2 Rolling bearing unit
The rolling bearing unit includes an outer ring, an inner shaft disposed radially inward of the outer ring and having an inner ring fitting part on the outer peripheral surface on the one axial direction side, an inner ring fitted on the inner ring fitting part and having the shaft end on the one axial direction side crimped on the end face of the one axial direction side thereof, the inner ring having a step portion on the one axial direction side of the shoulder portion, and the step portion having an inclined surface shape the diameter of which expands in the other axial direction.
US07980760B2 X-ray inspection apparatus and X-ray inspection program
An X-ray inspection apparatus detects, by an X-ray line sensor, X-rays irradiated towards a product placed on a conveyor and transmitted therethrough in order to detect the presence of foreign matter contained in the product. The X-ray inspection apparatus includes a determination unit and a calibrating unit. The determination unit is configured to determine, based on detection results by a line sensor obtained at each of prescribed positions of the conveyor, whether each of the prescribed positions of the conveyor is an appropriate position for calibrating the line sensor. The calibrating unit is configured to calibrate the line sensor based on detection results obtained by the line sensor at a position that is determined by the determination unit to be the appropriate position for calibrating the line sensor.
US07980759B2 Temperature sensing circuit for low voltage operation
The present invention discloses a temperature sensing circuit which is adaptive toward low voltage IC environment, it mainly comprises: a temperature sensing unit, a temperature threshold control unit and a transconductance amplifier. The temperature sensing unit includes a bipolar transistor and PMOS transistors, and senses temperature via detecting voltage. The temperature threshold control unit includes PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors, and makes an over-temperature alert signal persistently sent out until temperature is lowered to a specified value when the temperature sensing unit detects an over-temperature state. The transconductance amplifier includes PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors, and makes the temperature sensing circuit of the present invention adapt to a low voltage IC environment. Further, the circuit architecture of the present invention does not require any use of operational amplifier or band-gap voltage reference source. Therefore, the present invention can reduce the production and design cost.
US07980746B2 Hollow type planar illuminating device
A hollow type planar illuminating device having uniform luminance distribution over the entire light emitting is described. A reflecting surface member is arranged on the bottom side of a hollow unit case, a light emitting surface member is arranged on the side facing the reflecting surface member of the unit case, and a space sandwiched between the reflecting surface member and the light emitting surface member of the unit case forms a hollow light guide space. An LED light source unit emits light into the hollow light guide space with a light collecting lens arranged between the LED light source unit and an end surface of the hollow light guide space. The light collecting lens reduces the directivity angle of light emitted from the LED light source unit in the device thickness direction.
US07980734B2 Bulk light diffuser composition
The present invention is a bulk light diffuser material based upon a hydrogenated block copolymer, but including a particulate light diffusing component. The material may be in the form of a film, a sheet or a molded article. When present as a sheet having a thickness of 2 millimeters, the sheet has a percent total transmittance of at least 50% and a haze of at least 70%, measured according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard D 1003.
US07980733B2 Aspherical LED angular lens for wide distribution patterns and LED assembly using the same
The present invention discloses an aspherical LED angular optical lens for wide distribution patterns and an LED assembly using the same. The optical lens comprises a concave surface on a source side and a convex surface on a project side. The LED assembly comprising the optical lens can accumulate light emitted from the LED die and generate a peak intensity of the wide angular circle distribution pattern which is greater than 120° and smaller than 180°. The present invention only uses a single optical lens capable of accumulating light and forming a required distribution pattern to satisfy the requirement of a luminous flux ratio greater than 85% and the requirement of an illumination, a flash light of a cell phone or a flash light of a camera.
US07980727B2 Monolithic tiring condensing arrays and methods thereof
A TIRing condensing array includes a plurality of condensing elements with at least one of the condensing elements having a first section and a second section. The first section provides substantially total internal reflection of light entering at a base of the first section. The second section tapers from the first section towards an optical axis extending through the first and second sections. The first and second sections are configured so a half-power angle of the light output from the second section is less than the half-power angle of the light entering the first section. At least one of the condensing elements is optically and mechanically connected to at least one other of the condensing elements at an attachment area between the condensing elements.
US07980726B2 Control device for controlling the color of light emitted from a light source
The invention relates to a control device (1) for controlling the color of light (L) emitted from a light source (2). The control device comprises color variation means (24) for varying the color of said light emitted from said light source and one or more light-emitting elements (26) arranged to indicate an available color variation range for the color of said light emitted from said light source upon operation of said color variation means. The control device 1 further comprises control means (23) capable of controlling at least one color of the light emitted by said light-emitting elements in dependence on said available color variation range for said light emitted by said light source.
US07980720B2 LED dazzler shield
A shield produces a “dazzling” effect: disorientation and temporary and fully reversible blindness in subjects for the purpose of threat deterrence. The apparatus is comprised of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) capable of intense illumination. Light emitted by each LED is further pulsed and focused by reflective optics to produce a dazzling effect. The shield further provides ballistic protection, chemical or electrical crowd control functionality, safety-glass breaking capability, optically propagated communications and an arm strap to further secure the shield.
US07980719B2 Digital light with target effects
A digital light used with stage items. The digital light can form a portion of a stage performers costume, by for example illuminating a logo of the or a shape or color onto that costume. The digital light can also form effects when used in conjunction with phosphor paint. Another aspect includes using the digital light to signal the performer.
US07980716B2 Front sheet and display device using the same
A technique for a display device using a display panel with Lambert light distribution, such as a plasma display panel, which displays a bright image with less contrast deterioration. This device has a front sheet which is integrally or separately located in front of the display panel. The front sheet includes light guides which extend in the horizontal direction and have a virtually convex cross section in the vertical direction with their apexes on the light exit side. A light reflection layer and a light-absorbing layer are sequentially stacked on the lateral sides of the light guides.
US07980708B2 Document presentation device including a movable part
A document presentation device comprising an imaging unit that takes images of documents and a display unit that displays the images of documents taken by the imaging unit.
US07980707B2 Audience scanning laser display projector and associated methods
An apparatus and method for an audience scanning laser display projector includes a laser projector capable of generating a laser beam output having a predetermined beam path, scan area and beam wavelength. A beam position sensor is associated with said laser projector. A camera capable of capturing an image of the audience using light of a wavelength other than the beam wavelength, is disposed relative to said laser projector so that the captured image includes the area scanned by the laser beam. A processor is operably connected with said laser projector, said beam position sensor and said camera, said processor generating a table corresponding to the camera image of the audience, and containing software capable of identifying location of faces in the audience image and comparing face locations with beam position so as to signal said laser projector to attenuate the beam when scanning over a face location.
US07980693B2 Anaglyphic depth perception training or testing
An anaglyphic image presentation system is provided to evaluate and train a user's depth perception abilities. In embodiments, anaglyphic image target components are presented to a user on a display device. The image target components are then viewed by the user through a set of transmission filter lenses. The transmission filter lenses present and block one or more target components based on the peak wavelength transmission associated with each lens. As a result, a user perceives an anaglyphic target image that is resultant from the perceived image target components when viewed through the transmission filter lenses.
US07980691B2 Fixing mechanism of gut for half rim
A fixing mechanism of a gut 6 holding a lens 20 onto a half rim 1 prevents the gut 6 from being cut off by a large force acting on a bent part of the gut 6. The fixing mechanism includes an attachment part 2 of the half rim 1, to which a part of the periphery of the lens 20 is held, the lens 20, and the gut 6 fixing the lens 20 to the attachment part 2 by pressing the periphery of the lens 20 and thereby pressing the lens 20 toward the attachment part 2. The fixing mechanism further includes holding members 8 and 11 holding each end of the gut 6 on the both sides of the attachment part 2 of the half rim 1, which holding members 8 and 11 are arranged in hollow parts 7 and 10, respectively, formed on both the side parts of the attachment part 2 of the half rim 1.
US07980689B2 Floating eyewear and method of making floating eyewear
Eyewear, and more particularly floating eyewear such as eyeglasses and/or sunglasses may include a frame, temples, and lenses wherein the frame and/or temples may be formed form the combination of a blowing agent and a polymer so as to render the eyewear floating. A method for making floating eyewear is also contemplated wherein a heat-activated blowing agent is dry-blended with a plastic resin to form a mixture which is loaded into a hopper coupled to a cylinder, after which the mixture is heated to a molten form, injected into a mold, cooled, and then later ejected from the mold.
US07980687B2 Outer cover for ink cartridges
The present invention provides an outer cover to secure a printhead-ink cartridge and can be used in a segregated printhead-ink cartridge which is modified from an all-in-one printhead-ink cartridge. The inner and outer mounting and matching dimensions of the outer cover fit the outer frame edge (2) of the printhead and the printhead rack. The outer cover is an integrated cartridge holder comprising functional parts including locking tabs (4a,4b), at least one outer cover operating handle (3), at least one printhead locking tab (7), at least one printhead operating handle (5), and at least one pressing rib (6). The outer cover ensures that the ink cartridge (8) is securely mounted in the frame of printhead (1) and that the printhead is accurately positioned in the printhead rack. When the ink is depleted only the ink cartridge inside the printhead needs to be replaced.
US07980686B2 Fluid reservoir connector
A fluid reservoir connector for dispensing a fluid from a fluid container to a reservoir is described. The reservoir includes a tank and a lid mounted to the top of the tank. A needle includes a tip end and an opposite end, and the needle traverses the housing and is adapted to pierce a septum of a fluid container. The needle also includes a first channel extending from a first opening at the tip end to an opening at the opposite end, and a second channel extending from a second opening at the tip end to an opening at a position between the tip end and the opposite end.
US07980685B2 Ink supply system with float valve
An ink supply system for an inkjet printer. The ink supply system includes an ink reservoir and a pressure-regulating chamber. The pressure-regulating chamber has an inlet port, an outlet port, an air vent open to atmosphere and a float valve for maintaining a predetermined level of ink in the chamber. The float valve is biased towards a closed position by a positive ink pressure from the ink reservoir at the inlet port.
US07980678B2 Ink jet recording head
An ink jet recording head includes a substrate including a discharge port forming member provided with discharge ports for discharging ink, and a flow path forming member for forming an ink flow path communicating with the discharge ports, wherein at least one of the flow path forming member and the discharge port forming member contains a material having fluorine atoms, a supply path used to supply ink to a supply hole, a support member supporting the substrate, a supply path forming member for forming a part of the supply path, and a rubber member provided between the support member and the supply path forming member and forming a part of the supply path. The supply path forming member or the rubber member contains a material containing bivalent metal, and the rubber member contains a compound providing counter ions to the bivalent metal.
US07980668B2 Ejection arrangement for printhead nozzle
An ejection arrangement is provided for a printhead nozzle. The arrangement has a chamber having an inlet defined by edge portions of a first side of the chamber and an ejection port defined in a second side of the chamber, and an ejection member located in the chamber between the edge portions. The ejection member is operable to cause ejection of fluid in the chamber through the ejection port and subsequent refill of fluid into the chamber through the inlet. The edge portions are configured to reduce fluid flow through a space between the edge portions and the ejection member during ejection.
US07980667B2 Nozzle arrangement with pivotal wall coupled to thermal expansion actuator
A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel; a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with the ink inlet channel, the nozzle chamber including an ink ejection port defined through a roof of the nozzle chamber, and a pivotal wall formed as part of one sidewall of the nozzle chamber; a paddle attached to the pivotal wall in a cantilevered manner, and extending into the nozzle chamber; a pair of anchors extending from the substrate assembly, a first anchor of the pair connected to a positive electrical contact and a second anchor of the pair connected to a negative electrical contact; and a thermal expansion actuator forming a bridge between the pair of anchors and the pivotal wall, the thermal expansion actuator having two arms each respectively attached to each of the pair of anchors, the thermal expansion actuator further having a bridge portion bridging the two arm. The thermal expansion actuator is configure to expand upon application of a current supplied through the pair of anchors.
US07980662B2 Ink jet print head
A reliable ink jet print head enables small ink droplets to be ejected at a high frequency while preventing possible satellites and mist. A bubbling chamber, in which an energy generating element is disposed, communicates, via an ejection port portion, with an ejection port provided opposite the energy generating element. The ejection port portion is formed such that flow resistance to ink is lower in an area of the ejection port portion which is positioned inward from a center of the ejection port in an ink supply direction of ink flowing along the ink supply channel, than in an area of the ejection port portion which is positioned outward from the center of the ejection port.
US07980658B2 Rotatable platen
A rotatable platen for use in an inkjet printing device. The platen is arranged to rotate about a rotational axis and has a functional outer surface around the rotational axis. The surface has first and second portions. The first portion is adapted to support print media during a printing operation. The second portion is a printhead servicing region, which includes a stationary ink absorbing member.
US07980643B2 Refrigerating device with pull-out carrier for refrigerated goods
A carrier for refrigerated goods is moved in the cooling chamber of a refrigerating device by means of two telescopic extensions. The carrier for refrigerated goods is held on each telescopic extension via an adapter. A contact surface of the adapter that supports the carrier for refrigerated goods lies above the level of the telescopic extensions.
US07980638B2 Brake controller
In a brake controller, a slope climbing vehicle stop detecting means determines when the vehicle is stopped while climbing a slope, and a pedal release detecting means determines that the pedal is released. An assist control unit interpolates a decrement in brake fluid pressure in the master cylinder due to an input piston movement caused by a release of a brake pedal. An assist piston is controlled by an electric motor to restore and maintain the fluid pressure within the master cylinder.
US07980622B2 Power supply apparatus for a sliding door
A power supply apparatus for a sliding door includes a body-side fixture mounted on an automobile body, a door-side fixture mounted on the sliding door, and a flat cable gripped in the body-side fixture and the door-side fixture for supplying power to the sliding door. The flat cable is pulled out from the body-side fixture and/or the door-side fixture to form a convex flexural portion during opening and closing of the sliding door. The flat cable pull-out direction conforms with the protrusion direction of the convex flexural portion.
US07980621B2 Vehicle rear door articulating mechanism
A vehicle rear door unsequenced articulating mechanism including one or more articulating hinge assemblies having one or more hinge arms pivotally mounted to a vehicle C-pillar at one end thereof via a C-pillar hinge mount and pivotally mounted to a vehicle rear door at another end thereof via a door hinge mount. The hinge arm may include a generally J-shaped profile between the ends thereof for permitting unsequenced articulation of the rear door up to approximately 180° from a rear door closed position. The door hinge mount may include a door stop engageable with a stop surface on the hinge arm for limiting pivotal movement of the vehicle rear door.
US07980617B2 Vehicle seat with back-support and shoulder-support wings
A vehicle seat unit includes a left-side passenger seat, a right-side passenger seat, and a middle passenger seat positioned to lie therebetween.
US07980616B2 Pickup truck bed mounted chairs
The disclosure teaches a seating component device for removable installation in a pickup truck. The device includes a first bracket removeably attached to a first side panel of a pickup truck bed and a first cross rail and a second cross rail attached to the bracket wherein each rail extends laterally across the truck bed. The rails connect to a second bracket removeably attached to a second side panel of a pickup truck bed. The device includes two foldable chairs hingeably mounted to the second rail, and a table mounted between the two chairs.
US07980613B2 Rear garnish clip
A garnish for a vehicle has an inner surface with at least one planar projection extending therefrom. The projection has at least one opening disposed therein. The opening has two side edges, at least one of which is beveled.
US07980611B2 Substrate holding apparatus, substrate transferring robot equipped with the same, and semiconductor production apparatus
A substrate holding apparatus includes a base plate with a two-pronged portion, a holding plate arranged above the base plate, a driving portion provided therebetween, a holding portion formed by a tip end of the two-pronged portion and a tip end of the holding plate, and a guide portion provided at the tip end of the two-pronged portion for guiding a part of the substrate. The driving portion includes an urging means for always urging a basal end side of the holding plate upward, an electric magnetic portion for drawing the holding plate toward the base plate, and a bearing portion arranged at on the tip end side of the base plate. The guide portion has a guide groove which comes into contact with a part of a periphery of the substrate.
US07980605B1 Portable public restroom door lock
A portable public restroom door lock for holding stall doors of restrooms closed when the locking system normally provided for the door is inoperative. The device comprises opposed metal or plastic elastic arm members that can be squeezed together and slidably positioned between the stall door and the stall wall and then released to engage the stall door and the stall wall to hold the stall door in closed relationship with the stall wall.
US07980600B2 Permanent joint comprised of a fitting, a sleeve and a pipe, as well as fitting for fluid conduits and a sleeve for fluid conduit pipes
A permanent joint includes a fitting, a sleeve, and a pipe. The fitting exhibits a base body, an outer body and a supporting body, wherein the outer body and supporting body form a groove between them, the inner peripheral surface of the outer body exhibits at least one latching groove, and the outer peripheral surface of the supporting body exhibits a sealing surface inclined relative to the axis of the fitting. The sleeve exhibits at least one latching projection arranged on the outer peripheral surface and at least one open slit running in the axial direction, wherein at least one fixing projection is arranged on the inner peripheral surface in the area of the latching projection. The sleeve embraces a pipe end under a pre-stress, wherein the pipe end with the sleeve engages into the groove under a pre-stress, and the latching groove and latching projection create a frictional connection.
US07980597B2 External protection for expandable threaded tubular connections
A female element of a threaded tubular connection that is fitted to undergo diametrical expansion in a plastic deformation region. The female element is disposed at one end of a tubular component and includes on its external periphery a mechanism that absorbs scratch energy of a scratching body that may come into external contact with the female element and a mechanism that retains the scratch energy absorption mechanism. The retaining mechanism is configured to prevent release of debris from the scratch energy absorption mechanism during expansion of the threaded tubular connection.
US07980593B2 Airbag module having a tether holder
A passenger airbag module equipped with an airbag cushion and a tether holder used in a vehicle. The tether holder holds a tether prior to inflating the airbag cushion and inhibits twisting of the tether during deployment of the tether when the airbag cushion is inflated. When the tether is deployed without being twisted or folded, the deployment length of the tether is not reduced. Thus, the airbag is more consistently deployed and inflated.
US07980590B2 Inflatable personal restraint systems having web-mounted inflators and associated methods of use and manufacture
Inflatable restraint systems for restraining an occupant in a vehicle are disclosed herein. An inflatable restraint system configured in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an airbag carried by a web. The web has an end portion coupled to a vehicle and is configured to extend around a portion of the occupant. The restraint system further includes a gas source that is also carried by the web. The gas source is operably coupled to the airbag to inflate the airbag in the event of a rapid deceleration or other dynamic event.
US07980589B2 Inflatable bolster
This invention is in the field of safety devices to lessen injuries arising from impact in vehicles, particularly automobiles. A bolster which may be employed to reduce impact severity to passengers from either frontal or side impacts is activated by impact sensing devices. The housing of the bolster has a lateral length L. Upon activation, the bolster is inflated with an activating fluid and extends the lateral length L of the bolster upon activation. A bolster is also provided having portions which inflate at differing rates.
US07980583B2 Footbed for gliding board binding
A method and apparatus for providing a gliding board binding, such as a snowboard binding. The binding may include an adjustment indicator that allows for determination of a longitudinal position of the base relative to a gliding board, heel-to-toe position of the base relative to a gliding board and/or an angular position of the base relative to a gliding board when the base is secured to the gliding board. The adjustment indicator may be included with a footbed that is removable from a binding base, e.g., that includes a foot engagement member to secure a rider's foot to the binding and board. A removable footbed may include a toe portion that is adjustable in position relative to a heel portion of the footbed. A gliding board may include a channel for mounting a binding that is arranged in the board core so that no portion of the board core is located on top or bottom sides of the channel, and instead so the top and bottom reinforcement layers are located above and below the channel.
US07980577B2 Suspension assembly
A vehicle suspension system includes a pair of suspension assemblies mounted on a pair of spaced vehicle frame members for supporting a vehicle body on the vehicle wheels. A torsion axle extends between the pair of suspension assemblies and terminates in a pair of stub shafts. The axle is mounted on a pair of spaced frame brackets attached to the vehicle frame. An air spring extends between the vehicle frame and an outer end of a support arm pivotally mounted on each end of the torsion axle. The stub shafts are supported within an outer tube of the torsion axle by a plurality of elastomeric members. One end of each stub shaft is connected to a spindle arm which has a spindle extending from an opposite end of the arm. The length of the air spring support arm and the distances between the pivot axis of the support arm and the axii of the spindle and torsion axle are chosen so that the surface of the air spring is always out of contact with the mounting bracket and has a portion inboard between the axis of the spindle and axis of the torsion axle.
US07980572B2 Mobility device for amputee and leg-injured persons
An amputee mobility device includes a wheeled frame, and seat with webbed pocket for receiving an amputated leg. The seat is adjustable height adjustable, as is the pocket for customizing to individuals. Adjustable handles allow amputees to move themselves, or allow a helper to push like a wheelchair. In one form, the frame includes front and rear articulated subframes. In another form, the wheeled frame forms an elongated rigid frame, with two fixed-axle wheels and two rear-located steerable wheels and one front-located steerable wheel. In another form, the frame includes two fixed-axle wheels and two steerable wheels arranged to function somewhat like a wheeled walking cane. Optional features include outriggers for leg protection, a foldable frame for compact storage and shipment, bicycle-like lockable hand brakes, a seat without aperture for supporting a lower leg extending horizontally, storage shelves, and cup holders.
US07980570B2 Trolley for a slidable cantilever gate and process for its manufacture
Trolley for a slidable cantilever gate comprising two L-shaped plates, each provided with a load-bearing wall and a base wall which is extended without interruption from the load-bearing wall by means of a substantially orthogonal fold. The load-bearing walls are rigidly connected by means of screws or rivets with the two base walls oriented in opposite directions so as to form a support base on ground. Each load-bearing wall is provided with two first through openings aligned with respective corresponding first openings of the other load-bearing wall so to jointly define two first seats adapted to house first rotatable support means for two pairs of support wheels; and with a second through opening aligned with that corresponding on the other load-bearing wall so to jointly define a second seat for receiving a guide wheel, rotatably supported by second rotatably support means. The load-bearing walls, moreover, are each provided with a first shape with concavity facing that of the other load-bearing wall in order to jointly define a first housing adapted to receive a fixing screw of the pin of the guide wheel, and a second shape with concavity facing that of the other load-bearing wall in order to jointly define a second housing, which communicates with a vertical guide defined in one of the first seats, and houses adjustment means operating on a slide which bears, pivoted, a pair of adjustable wheels, in order to adjust its vertical height.
US07980569B2 Platform assembly for use with working vehicle
Operator platform assemblies for use with the working vehicles, e.g., skid steer loaders, and vehicles incorporating the same. The platform assemblies may, in some embodiments, include an arm assembly that attaches to a rear portion of the vehicle and extends rearwardly therefrom as a cantilever member. The platform assembly may pivot from this deployed position to a storage position by pivoting upwardly about a pivot axis proximate the vehicle. A platform is, in some embodiments, pivotally attached to the arm assembly so that the platform may pivot relative to the arm assembly.
US07980560B2 Three-dimensional tube puzzle
A three-dimensional tube puzzle is disclosed as a new modification of Rubik's Cube™. It consists of plurality of straight and curved cylindrical elements. The dimensions of each element are so that it fits into cubical cell. Assembled puzzle forms a continuous pipeline that fits into cubical space, wiggling from starting element to ending element. Elements are interconnected so that groups of nine elements, belonging to one of six side surfaces of the puzzle, can be rotated about spatial axes. Each element or layer of the puzzle can be made of the same one color or different colors or gray scale levels to define puzzle difficulty. The subject puzzle requires specific imagination skills to assemble a continuous pipeline based on elements' shapes and orientation. Cylindrical elements can be made hollow with opened ends so that the assembled puzzle forms a continuous tube path for an article of an appropriate size to pass through the puzzle.
US07980559B2 Instant-win lottery game system based on a varying pattern of line segments
A lottery ticket having a play area containing rows and columns defining individual play spaces with up to all of the play spaces containing a play symbol and at least one line connecting a plurality of play spaces wherein a prize may be won if the line connects at least two preselected play symbols.
US07980557B2 Document handler capable of protecting a built-in sensor from extraneous substance
A document handler is provided with a casement 1 which comprises a lower case 6 which has a lower cover 7 for providing a bottom surface of a passageway 5 and a lower tray 8 attached to a bottom of lower cover 7 to form therebetween a lower cavity 3d in which lower optical sensing element 3a of optical sensor 3 is disposed. Even if liquid spilled on a main surface of the table may often enter passageway 5 to the rear from the bill inlet, there is incurred no damage to electric instruments in lower cavity 3d by extraneous substance which is discharged through a drainage 15.
US07980552B2 Paper feed cassette
A paper feed cassette capable of inhibiting a paper from being warped in a direction substantially perpendicular to a paper feed direction while minimizing increase in the number of component and inhibiting the paper from being plastically deformed into a curved shape is obtained. The paper feed cassette includes a cassette body storing the paper, a first lift member for lifting up the paper so as to bring the paper into contact with a paper feed roller in printing, and a second lift member for lifting up the paper so as to produce bending caused by droop of the rear in the paper feed direction of the paper due to the paper's own weight in printing.
US07980546B2 Mail paper sealing apparatus
A mail paper sealing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an input part, a compression roller part, a driving unit, and a convey accelerator. The input part supplies a mail paper. The compression roller part seals the folded mail paper conveyed from the input part. The driving unit generates a rotary force. The convey accelerator is provided between the input part and the compression roller part and adds a rotation frictional force to a top surface of one side of the mail paper in a convey direction.
US07980537B2 Vibration isolator
A vibration isolator which is capable of stably opening and closing an orifice is provided at low manufacturing cost. A plunger for opening and closing an idle orifice is disposed in a manner that is slidably engaged with the inner wall surface of an orifice-forming member. A shaft portion extending downward is formed in the central portion of the plunger. A convex portion which is formed with a through-hole in which the shaft portion is slidably is provided on the bottom of the orifice-forming member so as to provide a bearing portion. The shaft portion of the plunger and the bearing portion of the orifice-forming member constitute a guide member for guiding the reciprocating motion of this plunger.
US07980533B1 Breakaway coupling for road-side signs
A breakaway coupling for use with a ground-installed road sign such as a stop sign typically located at the side of a road. The coupling interfaces between a conventional hollow ground stake and a hollow sign post. The coupling can be used with newly installed stop signs, as well as with currently installed stop signs, without modification to either the post of the ground stake. When the sign post is struck by an automobile, the coupling shears along a preformed score section generally aligned with the bottom of the post such that the post and sign break completely from the ground stake and are propelled away from the automobile.
US07980526B2 Portable inclinating desk for notebook computers
A portable desk for use in home and office environments for comfortably and conveniently supporting a portable computer or other electronic device on the lap or knees of a user. The desk has an upper surface on which the computer rests. The desk is supported on the user's lap by a flexible, bowable support member which is repositionable, thus allowing the user to change the inclination of the desk in order to adjust the viewing angle of the computer screen. A flexible tray for an accessory such as a mouse may be inserted in a slot at either side of the desktop. The tray may be reversibly inserted with a smooth, planar surface or a textured, frictional surface disposed facing upwardly. Ventilation is provided through a transversely recessed convex channel in the upper surface and may also include a small, USB-powered fan to increase heat dissipation. Cable management features may also be provided.
US07980523B2 Suspended platform for water heaters
A method and apparatus are provided for suspending an appliance from a plurality of support members which depend from overhead beams and structures of a building. A lower frame has a base with side walls extending from the base and joined to form a fluid tight container. The base has sufficient strength to support the appliance thereon when the lower frame is suspended from the support members and all the weight of the appliance is carried by the base. At least three connectors are provided, each fastened to at least one of the side walls and base. Each connector removably fastens to a different one of the support members. An upper frame can be fastened to the depending support members to further stabilize the frame. Straps can encircle the appliance to stabilize the appliance on the frame.
US07980519B2 Telescopic adjustable positioning device
A telescopic adjustable positioning device comprises an outer sleeve; a telescopic tube receiving into the outer sleeve at one end thereof and having a plurality of positioning holes; a retaining seat being a hollow tube and enclosing a connection of the outer sleeve and the telescopic tube; one side of the retaining seat being formed with a receiving portion; a slot being formed in the receiving portion; and a bottom side of the slot having a through hole which is smaller than the slot; a pin capable of passing through the retaining seat and the outer sleeve to be retained to the positioning hole of the telescopic tube; and an operation unit assembled to the receiving portion of the retaining seat. The pin is received in the slot and the through hole; and two springs are attached to the pin.
US07980518B2 Feeding structure for sliding structural body
A feeding structure for a sliding structural body includes: a protector base arranged in one of the sliding structural body and a stationary structural body; a link arm pivotally supported by a shaft portion of the protector base; a harness holder pivotally connected to an end portion of the link arm; and a wire harness which is laid from one end of the protector base to the harness holder so as to be bent in a substantial S-shape, and laid from the harness holder to the other of the sliding structural body and the stationary structural body so as to be moved therebetween.
US07980516B2 Ultra-low friction air pump for creating oscillatory or pulsed jets
An air pump positioned within a hollow space in an aerodynamic structure for controlling the flow over an aerodynamic surface thereof, includes a movable member linearly displaced by a very low friction piston mechanism and a compression chamber open to the exterior of the aerodynamic surface through an orifice. Reciprocal displacement of the very low friction movable member changes the volume of the compression chamber to alternately expel fluid (e.g., air) from and pull fluid into the compression chamber through the orifice. The movable member includes a piston oscillating within a piston housing each having an ultra-low friction coating for improved thermal performance and reduced maintenance. Fluid intake to the compression chamber may be increased through the use of a one-way valve located either in the aerodynamic surface, or in the piston. Multiple flapper valves may surround the orifice in the aerodynamic surface for increased fluid control.
US07980505B2 Method for calculating the diameter of a continuous-material reel on a roller, and a reel-control system
In a method for calculating the diameter of a continuous-material reel on a roller, with which the roller is mounted on a swivel arm that is swivelable about a swiveling axis; the roller rotates at a changeable winding speed, and the continuous material is unwound from the roller and directed to a continuous-material machine, or it is removed from a continuous-material machine and wound onto the roller, the winding speed is set as a function of the web-conveyance speed, and the diameter of the continuous-material reel is calculated in a reel-control system; the winding speed is changed when the swivel arm on which the roller is mounted is swiveled about its swiveling axis during the winding motion; a correction value for correcting the change in winding speed is incorporated in the calculation of the diameter of the continuous-material reel, the correction value being determined within the reel-control system, and a related reel-control system is provided.
US07980503B2 Webbing take-up device
To obtain a webbing take-up device that can not only transmit to a take-up shaft only rotation from a motor by a clutch but is also simple and compact.A clutch of this webbing take-up device has a simply configuration where sliders 144 of a clutch body portion 114 are caused by frictional force to be retained in a case, whereby the sliders 144 and lock bars 154 are caused to relatively move and the lock bars 154 are caused by this relative movement to move to positions where they engage with or disengage from a ratchet 134. Consequently, the overall configuration of a clutch 100 can be made significantly compact (thinned) in comparison to a configuration that causes a pawl to move using an inertial disk that is large and has weight as in a conventional clutch. Thus, the overall configuration of a webbing take-up device 10 can be made compact.
US07980499B2 Block dressing apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for dressing marginal areas of externally viewable surfaces of a building block. The apparatus includes at least one chipper having rotational axis and a plurality of outwardly extending teeth randomly disposed thereabout. The chipper is positioned and oriented so that its teeth may effectively work a predetermined marginal area of interest. As the predetermined marginal area of interest and the teeth of the chipper are brought into contact with each other, portions of the marginal area are randomly impacted and fractured to form an erose or jagged surface that resembles hand dressing. The apparatus may also include additional chippers, each having a rotational axis and a plurality of teeth randomly disposed thereabout.
US07980481B2 Thermally controlled process interface
A field device is coupled to a process through at least one process interface element. The process interface element may be a field device flange, a manifold, or a process flange. The process interface element has a temperature sensor attached thereto, and is adapted to receive a thermal source. In one embodiment, the thermal source is one or more electrical heaters. In another embodiment, the thermal source is thermal transfer fluid tracing through the process interface element. A controller is coupled to the temperature sensor and is adapted to control the heat applied to the process interface element based upon the temperature of the process interface element measured by the temperature sensor.
US07980480B2 Method of imaging a coding pattern having registration symbols
A method of imaging a coding pattern disposed on a surface of a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern; (b) sampling and decoding a plurality of registration symbols contained in said imaged portion; (c) determining an orientation and a translation from the decoded registration symbols; and (d) using the orientation and the translation to sample and decode tag data.
US07980473B2 Camera based code reading
Techniques for providing camera based code reading are disclosed. In some aspects, a camera-readable code is generated which may be read by a code reading device. The code reading device may capture an image of the code, process the image, and decode the code. The code includes symbols arranged to form a pattern. According to one or more embodiments, an image with the code is cropped to remove extraneous information. The code image is manipulated by exact binary segmentation to remove background information from the code. The code is oriented to a grid using an interval value defined between the symbols. The symbols are decoded by comparing unique aspects of the symbols using a statistical analysis. The decoded symbols may be converted to a message for a user or be used for other purposes.
US07980468B2 Processing method and apparatus for recording media having printed magnetic ink characters
In a method of processing recording media on which magnetic ink characters are printed, the media is transported at a first speed in an upright position along a transportation path from a supply unit to a discharge unit. The magnetic characters are read and output signals representative of the reading generated. The output signals are analyzed, including comparing the output signals with previously stored signal patterns of magnetic ink characters to determine if the magnetic characters can be recognized or not. The transporting of the recording media is paused, or slowed to a second speed substantially lower than the first speed, for a period of time during the analyzing of the output signals. A processing apparatus includes components for carrying out the operations of such method.
US07980466B2 Point-of-sale promotions
A method and system to publish a promotion at a point-of-sale are provided. For example, a preliminary selection associated with a purchase from a user may be received. A promotion may be published to the user at a point-of-sale associated with the purchase after the user makes the preliminary selection and before the user finalizes the purchase. The promotion may be based on at least one attribute, where the at least one attribute is selected from a group including a user attribute and an attribute associated with the preliminary selection.
US07980463B2 Cashiers check verification system
The present invention discloses a method and system for the verification of a cashier's check. The method and system involves a verification machine-readable code that can be verified online for authenticity and status. It can further be used to authorize payment.
US07980451B2 Single-ply pressure seal mailer with removable pull tab
A business form or intermediate is provided constructed from a single ply, wherein one or more inserts are formed from the same single ply. The business form or business form intermediate includes a removable pull tab that is manually removed from the form or intermediate with a single manual motion. Removal of the pull lab releases the one or more inserts from the form or intermediate to permit removal of the one or more inserts therefrom.
US07980450B2 Disposable pressware prepared from wax-infused paperboard
A disposable servingware container press-formed from paperboard includes (a) a bottom panel; (b) an annular transition portion; and (c) an outer portion extending upwardly and outwardly with respect to the transition portion, the container having an outer surface and an inner surface distal to the outer surface, the inner surface being adapted as a serving surface. The paperboard is infused with a wax composition on one side thereof in an amount of at least 3 lbs of wax per 3000 ft2 ream such that the paperboard is partially saturated with wax and has a wax-enriched layer proximate one side thereof and a layer undersaturated with wax proximate the other side thereof.
US07980447B2 Jet stack brazing in a diffusion furnace
A method and apparatus for batch brazing jet stacks in a diffusion furnace. The method may include inserting fusible parts into slots of quartz boats and transporting the quartz boats into an interior of a reaction chamber of a diffusion furnace. An operator may seal the interior of the reaction chamber and an atmosphere of the interior of the reaction chamber may be adjusted according to a brazing recipe. A preheated furnace heating element may be moved toward the reaction chamber to increase a temperature and the fusible parts may be brazed according to the brazing recipe. The furnace heating element may then be moved away from the reaction chamber, the chamber unsealed, and the brazed parts removed.
US07980444B2 Electronic component mounting head, and apparatus and method for mounting electronic component
An electronic component mounting apparatus includes an electronic component mounting head for holding an electronic component and an up/down device for pressing the electronic component against a circuit board, and the electronic component is pressed against the circuit board while ultrasonic vibrations are applied from an ultrasonic transducer of the electronic component mounting head to the electronic component via a component holding unit, so that the electronic component is mounted onto the circuit board. In the electronic component mounting apparatus, the electronic component is heated via the component holding unit by radiant heat from a heater fixed to the component holding unit in a noncontact state, so that even when the electrothermal heater is replaceably attached, characteristics of the ultrasonic vibrations applied to the electronic component can be maintained constant.
US07980436B2 Cargo box gear mounting assembly
A gear mounting assembly for mounting gear within a vehicle rooftop cargo box. The mounting assembly includes a support platform for mounting gear, and which is configured to fit within a vehicle cargo box. The mounting assembly also includes an attachment mechanism for attaching the support platform to the cargo box, configured to allow rotation of the support platform between a stowed position and a rotated position in which gear is “presented” to a user.
US07980430B2 Valve carrier ring assembly
A carrier ring assembly is provided for use with a closure for a container. The carrier ring assembly includes a carrier ring and a valve. The carrier ring includes a retention bead and a retention space. The valve is located at least partially within the carrier ring and has a retention portion positioned within the retention space.
US07980427B2 Closing system for a container, for example for trigger dispenser
The present invention relates to a closing system for a container, comprising a neck of the container and a closing body. The body wall comprises at least one flexible tongue and at least one relatively stiff protrusion that, when the tongue is seated in the seating portion, arranges circumferentially sided to a circumferential stopping projection of the neck. In an imminent interference configuration, reached by relative rotation between the neck and the closing body, the protrusion interferes with the circumferential stopping projection for making an obstacle to the further rotation in the same direction of rotation, while the tongue is free from interferences with further obstacles to rotation.
US07980422B2 Portable beverage dispenser with electronic beverage characteristic display and method
A dispensing urn assembly (10, 10′) with a hollow body (12) with an interior surface for containing beverage (14) and a manually operable faucet (16) for selectively dispensing beverage (14) from the bottom of hollow body with an electronic status display assembly (50) controlled by a microcomputer (62) in response to a temperature probe (44), a level probe (42) and a timer reset switch (46) to provide graphic displays (64,68, 72), numerical displays (66,70, 74) of the temperature, quantity and time elapsed or remaining since the brewing of the beverage and light indication displays (55,57, 59) when preselected values are achieved. A an integrated funnel assembly (30′) with a down-tube (40) and level probes (174-186) carried by the down-tube (40), electronic module (170) and relatively rigid interconnection (200,174) between provides a water tight passageway for leads from the probes to the microcomputer (62) contained within the electronic component housing and forms a single subassembly or module that eliminates the need for switches for activation and operation of the display (162) and may be removed for cleaning or repair.
US07980421B2 Optically keyed dispenser
A method of controlling operation of a mechanism, preferably a dispenser, having a removable component comprises measuring electromagnetic radiation passing through a waveguide carrying at least in part on the removable component and permitting operation of the mechanism only when the measured electromagnetic radiation corresponds with one or more pre-selected parameters. Preferably, the method involves directing emitted electromagnetic radiation with pre-selected input parameters selected from a plurality of input parameters.
US07980417B2 Theft resistant product merchandiser
A product merchandiser stores a plurality of products, dispenses products one at a time and produces a sound when a product is dispensed. The product merchandiser may include a housing, a track, a door and a structure that produces sound. The housing has a proximal opening. The track may be disposed within the housing and directs products towards the proximal opening of the housing. The door is disposed near the proximal opening of the housing. The door pivotally connects to the housing and is movable from a first position to at least a second position. When the door is in its first position, a product is held at least partially within the housing. When the door is in its second position, a product is removable from the housing. The sound-producing structure produces a sound when the door is moved between its first position and its second position.
US07980415B2 Apparatus for replacing gripping member on wire bucket handle
An apparatus includes an elongate member having opposed ends, and identical first and second grip units. The first grip unit is joined to the second grip unit to form a gripping member that circumscribes a section of the elongate member between the opposed ends of the elongate member. Clip tabs are formed in the first and second grip units, respectively, which extend past the elongate member and snap into corresponding openings in the respective first and second grip units in response to movement of the first grip unit in a direction toward the second grip unit and that is normal with respect to the second grip unit and to the elongate member.
US07980409B2 Console lid dual latch differentiation
Disclosed herein are a vehicle console and a latching system for a vehicle console with dual latch differentiation. The latching system comprises at least one lid pivotally attached to the console to move between a closed position and an open position relative to the opening. First and second latches are mounted to the lid. The first latch is configured to detach the lid from the first coupling to permit the lid to move to the open position while still attached to the secondary compartment, thereby exposing the primary compartment. The second latch is configured to detach the lid from both the first coupling and second coupling to permit the lid to move to the open position, detached from the secondary compartment. The first and second latches each comprise a hand engageable contact surface and the contact surface of one of the first and second latches comprises a tactile differentiator.
US07980406B2 Container assembly
A container assembly includes a first container, a second container, and a connecting unit. The first container has an opening and a rim that defines the opening. The second container has a wall formed with a slit unit. The connecting unit includes an upper hook section hooked removably onto the rim of the first container, a lower hook section extended removably through the slit unit for hooking the wall of the second container onto the lower hook section, and an intermediate section interconnecting the upper hook section and the lower hook section.
US07980401B1 Shelving system
A shelving system includes an upper wall that has a bottom surface. A panel has a top side, a bottom side, a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, a front edge and a rear edge. The panel has four corners. A plurality of tethers each has a first end and a second end. Each of the first ends is attached to the bottom surface and each of the second ends is attached to the panel. The corners each have one of the second ends positioned adjacent thereto when the tethers are suspended from the upper wall. The tethers suspend the panel from the upper wall a distance equal to at least 8 inches. A plurality of couplers releasably couple the panel to the upper wall in a stored position spaced from the upper wall a distance of less than 4 inches.
US07980381B2 Alignment mechanism for food products
An apparatus and method are described for aligning food products in a plurality of rows for feeding a subsequent processing operation in a production process. The apparatus includes first and second continuous belt conveyors adjacent to each other, a dispensing plate operable to delay movement of the plurality of food products and cluster the food products together. The food products are then periodically distributed onto the second continuous belt conveyor, improving dispersion of the food products thereon. Guide fingers that extend and retract over the second continuous belt conveyor contact and displace the food products into rows within channels formed by longitudinal members extending over at least a portion of the second continuous belt conveyor. The rows of food products are then conveyed to the next processing operation.
US07980367B2 Disc brake assembly with tone ring
A disc brake assembly including a rotor defining a rotational axis and including a barrel portion and a disc portion extending generally radially outward from the barrel portion, the barrel portion defining an inner surface and the inner surface defining a groove, a biasing element received in the groove, and a tone ring having an outer surface and including a step formed on the outer surface, the tone ring being positioned in the barrel portion such that the step is aligned for engagement with the biasing element.
US07980347B2 Motorcycles having frame with aperture passing flexible drive member and methods
A motorcycle includes a frame and a flexible drive member. The frame is provided with an aperture. An engine is attached to the frame and is configured to selectively rotate a drive sprocket. A driven sprocket is attached to a rear wheel. A flexible drive member operably couples the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket and, in doing so, passes through the aperture in the frame. Methods of manufacturing a motorcycle are also provided.
US07980345B1 Detachable footrest for a vehicle
A detachable footrest for use on a vehicle. The footrest has a surface area sized and shaped to accommodate a foot of a user and at least one support arm attached to a support structure. The footrest also includes two downward projections projecting from the support structure. The downward projections are sized and shaped to fit within hinge mounts of a removed door of the vehicle. The projections are slid into the hinge mounts of the removed door of the vehicle, thereby providing a surface area outside of the vehicle for resting the foot of the user. The footrest may also include a stabilizer projecting from the support structure and fastened to a mounting post located in an interior of the vehicle.
US07980344B2 Hydrogen station, method of charging hydrogen, and vehicle
A hydrogen station includes gas storage equipment for storing hydrogen, a dispenser for charging hydrogen gas supplied from the gas storage equipment into a hydrogen tank of a vehicle, and a blower. When charging hydrogen, the blower blows air towards a radiator of the vehicle parked at a predetermined vehicle parking area of the hydrogen station. The current flow of the blower is adjusted in accordance with the heat load on the radiator.
US07980321B2 Anvil for a power tool
The present disclosure relates to an anvil, an anvil and socket combination and an anvil attached to a power tool. The anvil structure includes a drive head with an end and a body portion having a channel spaced there between. A friction ring is retained in the channel. Flats are provided on the end and on the sides of the end and the square portion in a coordinating alignment such that the flats generally lie in the same plane. The ring retained in the channel between the end and the portion at least partially extends relative to the flap. A transition cone is provided on the anvil for distributing impact load. Additional, relief grooves are provided on corners of the polygon portion to help further relieve stress in the anvil structure.
US07980319B2 Motor grader
A motor grader including lift cylinders is described. Each one of lift cylinders is connected to a lifter bracket through first support means, and each other ends of the lift cylinders is connected to a forward position compared to a rear in portion in a draw bar, through second support means. Each one ends and the other end of the lift cylinders are offset from each other with respect to a front-rear direction of the motor grader as viewed from above the motor grader, thereby disposing the pair of lift cylinders inclined in the front-rear direction of the motor as viewed from a side of the motor grader. With this structure, it is possible to obtain the motor grader in which a height position of each end of the lift cylinders can be substantially equal to a height position of the lifter bracket as viewed from the side of the motor grader, and a visibility hindrance by the pair of lift cylinders can extremely be lowered.
US07980312B1 Integrated in situ retorting and refining of oil shale
A method and system for producing hydrocarbons in situ from an oil shale, fixed bed, hydrocarbon formation disposed below a ground surface. The hydrocarbon formation having an upper A-Groove higher permeability aquifer zone disposed above a R-rated, kerogen rich, lower permeability zone and a lower B-Groove higher permeability aquifer zone disposed below the R-rated zone. The system includes a plurality of injection wells drilled into the formation and spaced apart from a plurality of production wells also drilled into the hydrocarbon formation. A heated thermal-energy carrier fluid is circulated under pressure into the injection wells, circulated under pressure through the A-Groove and B-Groove aquifer zones for mobilizing selected hydrocarbons in the R-rated zone and pumped from the A-Groove and the B-Groove aquifer zones upwardly under pressure through the production wells to the ground surface. Selected hydrocarbons are then removed from the carrier fluid. The carrier fluid can be recirculated back into the injection wells.
US07980311B2 Devices, systems and methods for equalizing pressure in a gas well
Devices, systems and methods for equalizing pressure in a gas well are provided. A jar device is coupled to a pump deployed in a gas well between areas of low pressure and high pressure. The jar device includes a mandrel and a no-go sleeve. A jarring tool is operated to transfer an axial force onto the jar device that is large enough to shear a shearable connection between the mandrel and no-go sleeve and thereby cause the mandrel to slide from a first position to a second position with respect to the no-go sleeve. A seal that seals between the no-go sleeve and mandrel when the mandrel is located in the first position is unsealed as a result of the movement of the mandrel and thereby fluid communication is allowed between the area of high pressure and low pressure. This allows for easier retrieval of the pump.
US07980306B2 Methods, systems and apparatus for coiled tubing testing
A method and apparatus for testing a multi-zone reservoir while reservoir fluids are flowing from within the wellbore. The method and apparatus enables isolation and testing of individual zones without the need to pull production tubing. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It may not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07980305B2 Ram BOP position sensor
A method to determine movement of a wellhead component includes sensing a relative position of the wellhead component with a magnetostrictive sensor over a selected interval of time. The method includes sending a signal from the magnetostrictive sensor to a data acquisition device and recording the relative position of the wellhead component with the data acquisition device with respect to the selected interval of time. Further, the method includes comparing the recorded position of the wellhead component with operations data to determine if the relative position is desirable.
US07980304B2 Method and system for extraction of hydrocarbons from oil shale
A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil shale using nuclear energy sources for energy to fracture the oil shale formations and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products from the oil shale formations.
US07980303B2 Laminate pressure containing body for a well tool
Apparatus if provided for use in wells, particularly wells that have high-pressure and high-temperature conditions in the well. The shells of completion equipment that is required to withstand the rigorous conditions in such wells are increased in strength by laminate layers that are formed of materials having higher yield strength than the yield strength of materials that can be used in well fluids.
US07980301B1 Method and apparatus for the dampening of shocks in the borehole of wells
The method and apparatus for dampening of sudden shocks in the wells filled by liquid wherein the tubing pump is used in which on upstroke of pumping unit the damper plunger and tubing pump plunger are moving in concordance thereby compressing the liquid contained within the damper chamber and allowing the liquid inside the damper chamber to be discharged into the internal volume of tubing string above damper plunger providing a dampening counterforce inside the damper chamber, i.e. when the damper plunger is displaced upwardly in the elongated damper cylinder, the damper plunger having a diameter smaller than diameter of the tubing pump plunger causes the compression of liquid inside the damper chamber thereby creating a dampening force.
US07980299B1 Horizontal well treating method
Method of treating, especially, horizontally deviated wellbores where various treating solutions such as, acids, slurries, proppants, fracturing fluids, flushing fluids, or sealants are transferred into an annulus formed by a casing in the well and a working string. The working string has a seal member providing a sliding seal with the casing, a perforated nipple above the seal, and a check valve above the perforated nipple for preventing back flow through the working string to the surface. The working string has a seal element at the wellhead to avoid treating solutions leaking from the annulus out the wellhead. Treating solution of the desired make-up is pumped into the annulus, through the perforated nipple, down the working string, along the horizontal deviated wellbore, then into the strata or formation through a dispersing tool for the particular treating solution. The method provides a decrease in head loss, and if the working string uses a solid rod of lesser diameter than the remainder of the working string the head loss is further minimized. The apertures in the perforated nipple may be selected according to the requirements of the treating solution being pumped into the formation.
US07980286B2 Device for applying a protruding tab to double-sided adhesive tape, and method of using
Herein is disclosed a device and method for attaching a tab to an elongate length of double-sided adhesive tape, the tab protruding beyond a terminal end of the elongate length of tape and being attached to both surfaces of the adhesive tape.
US07980284B2 Vacuum laminator
An vacuum laminator for laminating workpieces includes a grasping assembly, an alignment assembly, a pickup head, and a sealed body. The grasping assembly is configured for grasping one workpiece. The alignment assembly is connected to the grasping assembly for adjusting a position of the workpiece on the grasping assembly. The pickup head is configured for picking up another workpiece. The grasping assembly and pickup head are received in the sealed body opposite to each other. The grasping assembly includes two grasping members grasping and releasing the workpiece.
US07980273B2 Storm water flow restriction method and apparatus
A feature of the present invention is it is adaptable to any pre-existing storm catch basin system. Another feature of the present invention is that it permits empirical analysis and verification of the draw down rate. Another feature is the present invention can be adjusted or modified to increase or decrease the rate of draw down after it has been installed to insure regulatory conditions are precisely met without difficulty. Changes in future regulatory draw down rates can be easily implemented.A flow restriction device has an orifice plate, the orifice plate having a frontal surface area A and at least one opening for the passage of fluid of an area Oa, wherein Oa is less than A. The flow restriction device may also employ a screen debris plate, the screen debris plate having a plurality of spaced openings for the passage of fluid; the sum area of the openings being ΣOsp wherein ΣOsp is greater than Oa.
US07980272B2 Microfluidic valve, method of manufacturing the same, and microfluidic device comprising the microfluidic valve
Provided is a microfluidic valve, a method of manufacturing the microfluidic valve, and a microfluidic device that employs the microfluidic valve. The microfluidic valve includes a platform that includes two substrates combined facing each other; a channel having a first depth allowing a fluid to flow between the two substrates; a valve gap that is disposed on at least a region of the channel and has a second depth which is smaller than the first depth; and a valve plug that is disposed to fill the valve gap and is formed of a valve material made by mixing a phase change material, which is solid at room temperature, with a plurality of exothermic particles that emit an amount of heat sufficient to melt the phase change material by absorbing electromagnetic waves.
US07980271B2 Fluid flow controller
A fluid pathway is provided with a flow controller in at least a portion of its length wherein the flow controller comprises an active surface capable of influencing the fluid flow through the fluid pathway, the configuration of the active surface conforming to at least one logarithmic curve conforming to the Golden Section.
US07980270B2 Spool valve apparatus and method
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a spool valve having a spool axially movable within a sleeve of two or more stacked rings having projections extending therebetween. One or more seals on the spool can slide across surfaces of the stacked rings in movement of the spool to different positions corresponding to different states of the valve. In some embodiments, one or more of the stacked rings can have projections extending toward and contacting an adjacent ring of the sleeve, thereby maintaining desired axial positions of the rings relative to one another while providing apertures through which fluid can flow and supporting surfaces for each seal as it slides from one ring to another.
US07980260B2 Dishwasher with driven rotatable spray arm
An automatic dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for receiving utensils to be washed and including a rotatable spray arm located within the wash chamber and a liquid recirculation system for selectively supplying liquid to the rotatable spray arm and where the rotatable spray arm is driven with a power unit.
US07980258B1 Apparatus for cleaning the propulsion means of vehicles
A method and apparatus for removing debris from the propulsion system of a vehicle such as a battle tank, including a tank in which the vehicle is positioned, means for lifting the vehicle in the tank, and means to wash the vehicle's propulsion system while the vehicle is in raised position.
US07980257B2 Parts washing system
Provided is a parts washer that includes a multi-tiered basin, a cleaning fluid and a biological component, living within the fluid, that breaks down organic waste. The multi-tiered basin includes a sink member with a false bottom, and a support grid and filter are interposed between the false bottom and a bottom panel of the sink member. The false bottom, support grid, and filter are readily removable from the sink member. The tank is partially filled with the cleaning fluid and a pump and conduit assembly direct a flow of the cleaning fluid to the basin. The cleaning fluid discharged into the basin flows through a drain hole in the false bottom, through the filter and support grid, and then through a drain hole in the bottom panel of the sink member back into the tank for reuse. The cleaning fluid includes, at least, a surfactant that functions to remove organic waste from the parts being washed. The biological component within the cleaning fluid includes nonpathogenic microorganisms that break down the organic waste. The cleaning fluid is not toxic to the microorganisms. The pump and conduit assembly, in addition to aiding in the removal of organic waste, functions to aerate the cleaning fluid to maintain a proper environment for the microorganisms. A heater, thermostat, and level control assembly function to maintain the cleaning fluid within a certain temperature range so as to aid in the removal of organic waste and maintain a proper environment for the microorganisms.
US07980256B2 Filter system for a household dishwasher
This invention relates to a filter system for a household dishwasher comprising a wash space and a liquid circuit that comprises a coarse sieve (33) and one or several fine filters (18, 19). The coarse sieve (33) is movable between at least two positions with the aid of means (29, 31) arranged in the dishwasher. A part of the circulating liquid in the first position (FIG. 3) flows through a collecting part (34) of the coarse sieve (33) whereas the circulating liquid in the second position (FIG. 4) flows outside said collecting part.
US07980252B2 Nail drying and decorating assembly
An appliance 1 according to the present invention comprises a bottom tray 2, a middle housing 3, a transparent lid 4, a lid release button 5 for removing the lid from the housing 3, at least one finger hole 6 for receiving a user's finger, and a glittering switch 7 for activating an automatic glitter application sequence. A glittering tray 9 is housed inside of the middle housing 3 and has a plurality of separate chambers or can have a single chamber. A finger hole 10 corresponding to each chamber is provided and the tray 9 can be manipulated to line up the hole 10 with the finger hole 6. Glitter fragments are loaded into the one or more chambers 32 and, as described below, will be blown about and dispersed so that some settle on and adhere to freshly painted nails before they dry.
US07980245B2 Informative accessories
An optimized system for providing medical support to a patient is disclosed. The system has a plurality of modular components that may be assembled to create a connection between a support machine and the patient wherein at least one of the modular components comprises an information tag for the storage of data and at least one of the modular components comprises an information sensor for the reading and transmission of the data. Once read and transmitted by the sensor, the data may be used to optimize the operation of the support machine.
US07980243B2 Two-chamber cartridge for propellant-free metering aerosols
A cartridge for propellant-free administration of a liquid pharmaceutical composition by inhalation includes: an elongate displacing device including an upper end and a lower end, the lower end for at least partial insertion into a container; a cartridge chamber disposed at the lower end of the displacing device and operable store a pharmaceutical formulation, the cartridge chamber including at least one pierceably sealed opening; and a cannula guide extending from the upper end of the displacing device to the cartridge chamber, wherein insertion of a cannula through the guide pierces the sealed opening and releases the pharmaceutical formulation into a liquid solvent in the container to form the liquid pharmaceutical composition.
US07980236B1 Archery bow system
An archery bow system incorporating a bow riser and dual limbs supporting cams or a cam and wheel mounted for rotation about respective axles. The dual limbs are independently adjustable to correct for cam lean and are individually supported in pockets that incorporate variable limb angle attachments to the bow riser. The limbs extend from the riser to flex, when at full draw, to positions that cause the respective axles to initially travel rearward toward the archer upon release of the bowstring. The limbs are adjustably attached to the riser to permit the limb angle with respect to the riser to be changed.
US07980231B1 Outboard motor with an exhaust gas recirculation system and an idle exhaust relief system
A control system for an outboard motor provides an EGR valve and an idle exhaust relief valve which are under the control of a controller that opens and closes the valves as a function of the rotational speed of a crankshaft of the engine. The EGR valve controls the flow of exhaust gas from an exhaust gas conduit to an air intake manifold. The idle exhaust relief valve controls the flow of exhaust gas from the exhaust conduit to a location at atmospheric pressure. In addition, the idle exhaust relief valve is used to allow air to flow from the atmosphere into the exhaust conduit when the engine is turned off.
US07980228B2 Vehicle fuel vapor management
A fuel vapor recovery system and method for an automotive vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle fuel tank is vented to atmosphere via a passageway having a carbon canister to remove fuel vapors, a bladder, and a normally-closed isolation valve. When fueling the vehicle, the gases in the fuel tank displaced by entering fuel are introduced into the carbon canister where the fuel vapors are stored. The isolation valve is commanded to open to allow such flow through the carbon canister. When the vehicle is parked for a period of a day, it undergoes a diurnal temperature change which causes fuel to vaporize into the fuel system. According to an aspect of the present development, the isolation valve remains closed and the gases are contained within the bladder as it expands or contracts as the volume of gases increases or decreases in response to temperature changes.
US07980225B2 Fuel supply device for internal combustion engine
A device includes two fuel injection systems and a pulsation damper. Each system includes fuel injection valves and first and second delivery pipes. While fuel is pumped to the two fuel injection systems with a common fuel pump, the device intermittently drives the fuel injection valves to open, thereby supplying the fuel within the delivery pipes from the fuel injection valves. The paths through which the fuel passes include a first passageway, which has the first delivery pipe and a communication path, and a second passageway which has a branch path and the second delivery pipe. An opposing portion opposite to the opening of a placement channel in the first delivery pipe includes the opening of the branch path in the first delivery pipe. This enables one pulsation damper to precisely suppress fuel pressure pulsations occurring in the two delivery pipes.
US07980224B2 Two wire intensified common rail fuel system
A fuel system includes a plurality of fuel injectors fluidly connected to a common rail. Each of the fuel injectors has at least one body component and includes an intensifier control valve for controlling movement of an intensifier piston, a needle control valve for controlling movement of a needle valve member, and exactly one electrical actuator coupled with the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve via a coupling linkage. The intensifier control valve and the needle control valve each include a valve member that is movable with respect to a valve seat. The electrical actuator includes an intermediate position during which the valve member of one of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is in contact with the respective valve seat, and the valve member of the other of the intensifier control valve and the needle control valve is out of contact with the respective valve seat.
US07980223B2 Accumulation-volume fuel injection system for an internal-combustion engine
The injection system comprises a pump designed to send fuel at high pressure to an accumulation volume, for example formed by a common rail, for supplying a plurality of injectors. The pump comprises at least one pumping element actuated with reciprocating motion with a compression stroke at a sinusoidal speed, in synchronism with each step of fuel injection. The injection system comprises at least one by-pass solenoid valve, which is controlled by a chopper control unit for modulating the delivery of the pumping element by varying both the instant of start and the instant of end of delivery during the compression stroke, in such a way that the delivery is synchronous with the injection phase.
US07980213B2 Internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve control system
The invention provides an internal combustion engine equipped with a variable valve control system which switches the actions of an engine valve by sliding a rocker arm in the axial direction of the rocker arm shaft, while enabling the restriction on the sliding movement of the rocker arm to be removed in accordance with the timings of the actions of the rocker arms irrespective of the engine speed. The internal combustion engine includes an actuator that moves a rocker arm shaft in its axial direction, a trigger arm that engages with a rocker arm to prohibit the sliding movement of the rocker arm, and a trigger pin which is configured to be activated by an axial movement of the rocker arm shaft to bring the trigger arm into action, and to disengage the trigger arm from the rocker arm.
US07980206B2 Cooling water passage structure of cylinder head
In an internal combustion engine, one end of a cylinder head (1) in a longitudinal direction is provided with a cooling water inflow port (19) leading to the inside of the cylinder head (1), while the other end of the cylinder head (1) in the longitudinal direction is provided with an outflow port (20) of main cooling water flow (X) flowing through the center inside the cylinder head (1). Further, an outflow port (21) of sub cooling water flows (Y) branched from the main cooling water flow (X) and flowing around the merged part of the exhaust port (5) is provided. An adapter (23) communicated with the main cooling water outlet (20) and sub cooling water outlet (21) and combining these outflow ports (20, 21) into a single cooling water outlet (22) is fixed to the outer wall surface of the cylinder head (1).
US07980205B2 Air-cooled engine
An air-cooled engine (10) is cooled by cooling air (Wi). The air-cooled engine (10) includes a cylinder block (33) and a cylinder head (28). The cylinder block (33) has cylinder cooling through-ducts (101, 102) capable of transmitting cooling air (Wi), on the periphery of a cylinder (26). The cylinder head (28) has a head-cooling through-duct (104) capable of transmitting cooling air (Wi). The cylinder-cooling ducts (101, 102) and the head-cooling duct (104) extend in a direction perpendicular to the axial line (109) of the cylinder (26), and are communicated with each other by means of communication channels (105, 105).
US07980204B2 Reserve tank
A reserve tank includes a tank body for storing coolant, an inflow portion for allowing the coolant to flow into the tank body, a guide portion, and an outflow portion for allowing the coolant to flow out of the tank body. The guide portion is disposed above the inflow portion and below a liquid level of the coolant in the tank body. Furthermore, the guide portion is adapted to guide a flow of the coolant flowing thereinto from the inflow portion and directed upward, substantially in a horizontal direction or downward with respect to the horizontal direction. Therefore, the reserve tank can restrict air from being trapped in coolant.
US07980202B2 Apparatus for preventing entanglement of multiple lines fed from separate reels
An apparatus for preventing entanglement of lines fed from separate reels has at least two reels mounted on separate axles. A separate line is wound around each reel. Each axle is mounted on one of at least two rotatable split shaft members. Each split shaft member is connected to one of at least two non-rotating controls by means of one of at least two non-rotating brake rods, arranged such that operating one or another of said controls results in one or another of said reels being made to contact a fixed portion of the apparatus and brought to a halt or, if already halted, released and positioned so as to permit the line wound thereon to resume being fed out. The lines, each of which is separately fed out and retracted onto a respective one of the reels, are fed through holes formed in a faceplate mounted on one end of the assembled said split shaft members such that crossing of the lines tends to cause said faceplate, along with the split shaft members and the two reels, to rotate and disentangle said lines. One embodiment is a pet leash apparatus for exercising two or more pets.
US07980198B2 Doping apparatus, doping method, and method for fabricating thin film transistor
It is an object of the present invention to provide a doping apparatus, a doping method, and a method for fabricating a thin film transistor that can carry out doping to the carrier concentration which is optimum for obtaining the desired electric characteristic non-destructively and in an easy manner. In accordance with the present invention, an electric characteristic of a semiconductor element (threshold voltage in a transistor and the like) is correctly and precisely monitored by using a contact angle, and is controlled by controlling a doping method. In addition, the present invention can be momentarily acquired information by in-situ monitoring the characteristic and can be fed back without a time lag.
US07980185B1 Locking apparatus
A locking apparatus is disclosed including a lock box member and a first auger. The lock box member comprises at least one sidewall, a bottom wall including a first aperture, and a plurality of cover portions. The plurality of cover portions are selectively positionable in open and closed positions. The sidewall, the bottom wall and the plurality of cover portions define an interior portion when the cover portions are positioned in their closed positions. The lock box member further comprises structure to lock the cover portions in their closed positions, wherein the plurality of cover portions cooperate to form a second aperture therebetween when positioned in their closed positions. The first auger is attached to the lock box member.
US07980184B2 Foldably constructed force-resisting structures having interior vertical support ribs
A foldably constructed force-resisting structure comprises a top member and a bottom member foldably constructed and assembled from one or more blanks of sheet material, preferably corrugated paperboard, initially in a flat condition. The top member includes a base panel and at least one side portion folded downwardly from the base panel. The bottom member includes a base panel and at least one side portion folded upwardly from the base panel. The top and bottom members are assembled in nested relation to define an interior of the force-resisting structure between the base panels, which are at least substantially parallel to one another. The force-resisting structure includes a vertical support rib structure in the interior defining an X-shaped or cross-shaped configuration. The support rib structure is foldably constructed from the top member base panel and/or the bottom member base panel and provides vertical support for a load disposed on the base panel of the top member.
US07980165B2 Modular blast-resistant panel system for reinforcing existing structures
Various embodiments of the present invention provide a blast-resistant reinforcement assembly and/or system for engaging a surface of an existing structure to protect the structure from an applied force, such as an explosive detonation. The assembly includes one or more energy absorbing panels that may be attached to the structure. The energy absorbing panels include a core material configured to absorb some portion of the applied force by pulverizing in response to the applied force. In some embodiments, the energy absorbing panels also include one or more ballistic-resistant composite panels configured to protect the core material and the underlying existing structure from debris. Some embodiments further provide one or more energy deflecting panels engaged with the plurality of energy absorbing panels so as to be disposed between the energy absorbing panels and the location of the applied force for at least partially deflecting the applied force.
US07980164B2 Multi-purpose hole punch
A multi-purpose hole punch, having a main body pivotal configured with a pivot shaft, an upper end of which is pivotal configured with a press plate, and the lower end is connected to a base plate, thereby forming a gap between the main body and the base plate. Each through hole of three sides of the main body has a key-press, and a punch is located in each of the through holes beneath the key-press. Two joined transform plates are pivotal configured on two sides in the gap. One of the transform plates is configured with an unfilled corner able to fixedly position a corner of paper, while the other transform plate forms an unfilled corner able to fixedly position the edge of paper. Accordingly, rotating the press plate and pressing the key-presses above the two unfilled corners enables punching holes in the corner and margin of the paper.
US07980161B2 Method and apparatus for assessing blade life of a guillotine paper cutter
A method and system for assessing when to change or sharpen a cutting blade of a paper cutter is presented. The cutting blade is operated using an electric motor that causes motion of the cutting blade, and the motion of the cutting blade causes the paper to be cut. Data is recorded about usage of the electric motor at least while cutting the paper. Based upon the data, a determination is made as to whether the cutting blade should be changed or sharpened.
US07980156B2 Multipurpose transmission mechanism for bicycle with quick assembly device
A transmission mechanism is used in a bicycle having a frame. The transmission mechanism includes a quick assembly device including a central shaft, threaded collars, and a clip bracket, which is adapted to mount to a lower frame portion of the bicycle frame and a multi-mode mechanism, which is supported and fixed by the quick assembly device to provide the bicycle with multiple modes of pedaling.
US07980152B2 Rack and pinion steering gear assembly having self-adjusting eccentric rack bearing
A steering apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and an aperture extending into the chamber. A rack is disposed within the chamber and moveable along a longitudinal axis. A pinion extends into the chamber for meshing engagement with the rack. A bearing supports the rack within the chamber relative to the housing. The bearing includes a wall having a continuously varying radial thickness. An adjustment mechanism includes a shaft partially disposed within the aperture in threaded engagement with the aperture and engaging the bearing for rotating the bearing about the longitudinal axis, thereby repositioning the rack relative to the pinion. A plug is disposed within the aperture. A spring is disposed within the aperture between the plug and the shaft to bias against the shaft, thereby urging rotational threaded movement of the shaft to produce linear movement of the shaft into engagement with the bearing.
US07980144B2 Flexible electronics for pressure device and fabrication method thereof
A pressure device of flexible electronics capable for sensing a large area includes flexible films, electrodes, sensing blocks, and bumps. The flexible films are disposed with intervals and define two spaces. The electrodes and the sensing blocks are disposed on the flexible films and are in a space. The bumps are disposed on the flexible films and are in another space. The air in the spaces maintains a buffer distance of each two adjacent flexible films with the electrodes and the sensing blocks. When the pressure device of flexible electronics is deformed, it is capable of avoiding erroneous signals caused by contact of the sensing block and the electrode or the two sensing blocks disposed on the different flexible films respectively.
US07980139B2 Miniature pressure sensor assembly
A miniature pressure sensor assembly is provided for fitting within the valve stem of a vehicle tire. The pressure sensor assembly typically includes a reference device for temperature compensation and a measurement device for pressure measurement. Each device includes a substrate assembly defining a plurality of holes. A deflectable membrane is mounted to the substrate assembly to define a first chamber. A cap is mounted to the membrane to form a second chamber.
US07980138B2 Integrated circuit with stress sensing element
An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor die, and a stress sensing element. The stress sensing element comprises a first lateral resistor and a first vertical resistor. The stress sensing element is formed in the semiconductor die and is configured to indicate a level of at least one stress component within the semiconductor die.
US07980107B2 Variable diameter pipe expander
A reducing pipe expander that applies to casing deformation restoration of deep wells such as oil field and comprises a conical-nosed enclosure, a mandrel and several steel balls. The main body of the enclosure is equipped with several radial slotted holes to nest steel balls. Held by a taper, slant or curved face against insides of the slotted holes, the steel balls move axially, overhanging the enclosure. When the deformed casing pipe or patching pipe obstructs the pipe expander from moving forward, the steel balls will move in the reverse direction of the movement of the expander to directly expand the deformed pipe. When the expander can pass through the casing pipe or patching pipe, the steel balls will be free to return to their original status.
US07980103B2 Drum washing machine
A drum washing machine having tub coupling structure includes a cabinet having a plurality of coupling holes each receiving a transit bolt on a rear surface thereof, a tub provided in the cabinet so as to store wash water therein and having a plurality of coupling members each coupled with the transit bolt on a rear surface thereof, and a condensing duct provided to be connected with a rear surface of the tub and having a through hole formed at a position corresponding to one of at least three coupling members of the tub so as to be communicated therewith, the through hole to which the transit bolt is inserted.
US07980098B2 Method for producing an optical component of synthetic quartz glass with enhanced radiation resistance, and blank for producing the component
To optimize an optical component of synthetic quartz glass, in the case of which a quartz glass blank is subjected to a multistage annealing treatment, with respect to compaction and central birefringence, the present invention suggests a method comprising the following steps: (a) a first treatment phase during which the quartz glass blank is treated in an upper temperature range between 1130° C. and 1240° C., (b) cooling the quartz glass blank at a first-higher-mean cooling rate to a quenching temperature below 1100° C., a fictive temperature with a high mean value of 1100° C. or more being reached in the quartz glass, (c) a second treatment phase which comprises cooling of the quartz glass blank at a second-lower-mean cooling rate, and in which the quartz glass blank is treated in a lower temperature range between 950° C. and 1100° C. such that a fictive temperature is reached in the quartz glass with a low mean value which is at least 50° C. lower than the high mean value of the fictive temperature according to method step (b).
US07980097B2 Methods and systems for controlling temperature of a bushing
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to glass fiber forming bushings, to methods of controlling the temperature of bushings having multiple segments, to systems of controlling the temperature of bushings having multiple segments, and to other systems and methods. In one embodiment, a method of controlling the temperature of a bushing having multiple segments comprises forming a plurality of filaments from a bushing comprising at least two segments, gathering the filaments into at least two ends, measuring the size of each of the at least two ends, comparing the measured size of the at least two ends to a desired end size, adjusting the amount of current passing through the at least two bushing segments in response to the end size comparisons.
US07980090B2 Machine for producing ice
The machine for the production of ice, comprises a tubular pipe to form the ice, covered by a refrigerator group evaporator, and having an auger inside to move the ice towards the delivery outlet, associated with a ring nut having a plurality of drawing holes arranged angularly spaced along a circumference, the delivery outlet of the tubular pipe is associated with the terminal inlet of the conveyor of ice, having a substantially upward axial extension and a terminal outlet part positioned at a level substantially higher than the top of the machine.
US07980082B2 Wobbe control and enhanced operability through in-line fuel reforming
A method of regulating the Wobbe number of a multi-composition gas fuel supplied to one or more combustors of a gas turbine comprising: (a) providing a control system for regulating fuel and air flow to the one or more combustors; and (b) reforming a fraction of the gas fuel upstream of the one or more combustors to form hydrogen and carbon monoxide to be supplied to the one or more combustors with a remaining fraction of the fuel; wherein the fraction of fuel reformed is adjusted to maintain the Wobbe number of the fuel supplied to the one or more combustors within a predetermined range.
US07980073B2 Hybrid system for a powertrain and hydraulic system
A hybrid system for a machine is disclosed. The system has a pump configured to generate fluid flow within a hydraulic system and a first actuator actuated by fluid pressurized by the pump. The system also has a first motor configured to be selectively actuated by pressurized fluid directed from the first actuator by an external load and directed to the first motor by a first control valve. The system further has a first generator configured to be actuated by the first motor and a power source configured to actuate the pump. The system also has a powertrain including a first driveshaft and at least one traction device, the powertrain configured to transfer kinetic energy from the traction device to the first driveshaft during deceleration of the machine. The system further has a second generator configured to be selectively actuated by the kinetic energy transferred by the powertrain.
US07980070B2 Exhaust gas cooling system for engine
An exhaust gas cooling system for an engine includes an exhaust gas conduit having an inner tube defining an exhaust gas passage and an exhaust coupler surrounding the inner tube and defining a cooling water passage together with the inner tube therebetween, and a water-lock coupled with a downstream end of the exhaust gas conduit through an exhaust gas conduit coupling section which extends from an upstream end of the water-lock. The exhaust gas conduit coupling section and the exhaust coupler are coupled with each other and the inner tube extends into the interior of the water-lock. A downstream end part of the inner tube can be formed to be a wide portion having a bell mouth configuration. A diameter of the downstream end part becomes larger as a portion thereof exists closer to the end of the downstream end part. The exhaust gas cooling system for the engine can be provided for a water vehicle.
US07980065B2 Regeneration method for ceramic honeycomb structures
A method for regenerating a diesel particulate filter includes elevating a temperature of a gas stream flowing into an inlet of the diesel particulate filter to greater than or equal to 450° of the inlet of the diesel particulate filter, wherein the gas stream at the inlet of the diesel particulate filter contains an amount of NOx of equal to or greater than 300 ppm, and an amount of O2 of equal to or greater than 5% volume, thereby burning the soot within the diesel particulate filter. The method also includes elevating a temperature of the gas stream flowing into the inlet of the diesel particulate filter to less than or equal to 550° C. at the inlet of the diesel particulate filter, wherein a burn rate of soot from porous watts of the diesel particulate filter is greater than or equal to 3.8 grams/liter/hour.
US07980051B2 Apparatus and method for producing composite cable
A cable winding machine for winding together a multiple number of subconductors into a composite cable includes holding means for holding a first subconductor in the machine direction, and in a predetermined orientation of the first subconductor about its longitudinal axis as it moves through the machine; a first rotating member arranged and rotate the second subconductor around the first subconductor as the second subconductor moves through the machine and one or more further rotating members arranged to hold further subconductors aligned in the machine direction and in a predetermined orientation about their longitudinal axes and rotate the further subconductors around the subconductors wound with one another in the first winding stage of the machine.
US07980047B1 Apparatus for and method of severing and sealing thermoplastic film
A method of severing and sealing a film formed of a thermoplastic material includes heating a cutting edge implement to a temperature sufficient to melt but not to burn the thermoplastic material, feeding a plurality of layers of the film between the cutting edge implement and an opposing surface, and moving the cutting edge implement, which is preferably a supported hot wire, and the opposing surface relative to one another to pinch the plurality of layers of film therebetween. Thereafter, any relative lateral movement between the cutting edge implement, the film, and the opposing surface is suspended, while the cutting edge implement and the opposing surface are relatively biased together with the plurality of layers of film pinched therebetween, until the cutting edge implement cuts through the plurality of layers of film, contacts the opposing surface, and seals the plurality of layers of film together.
US07980045B2 Systems and methods for filling a collapsible container
A system and method for filling a collapsible container are provided. Such a collapsible container may be made of a relatively rigid portion and a collapsible portion, with the collapsible portion having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. An obstruction maintains the collapsible portion in the collapsed condition while the container is filled with contents. The obstruction may remain in place until the container is capped and sealed with the contents stored inside the container.
US07980044B2 Method for forming cast-in-place concrete window wells
A method and apparatus for forming cast-in-place window well walls includes first and second forming panel modules each having an inner and outer section. The forming panel modules may be connected together by a spacer panel which extends downwardly to a footing for providing a pier for supporting the window well wall. The forming panel modules are preferably configured with arcuate corners and upper and lower rails to permit stacking of the modules to increase the height of the window well wall, or include additional spacer panels or filler forms to increase the width or thickness of the window well wall.
US07980043B2 Panels with coupling means
The invention relates to panels comprising coupling means which permit the panels to be interconnected by form fit. A first panel comprises a projecting edge positioned laterally on its underside as the coupling element. A second panel comprises a projecting edge positioned laterally on its upper side as the coupling element. One of the aforementioned edges has a first projecting locking element which engages in a corresponding first cavity or recess of the other edge when the two panels are joined together. The panels comprise additional coupling elements which lock the panels by form fit in a vertical direction, in relation to the surface of said panels. The coupling elements are configured in such a way that one panel can be connected to the other panel by form fit, by lowering the former in relation to the latter. Two panels of the aforementioned type can be interconnected without adhesive in a particularly rapid manner.
US07980036B2 Lining structure
The lining structure of the present invention comprises lining plates each having supporting portions formed at two opposite sides of a square lining plate body via bent step portions, and covering portions formed at the remaining sides of the lining plate body; the lining plates being arranged in longitudinal and transverse directions on a surface to be lined; in the first and second lining plates that are adjacent to each other in longitudinal and transverse directions, a covering portion of one of the lining plates being superposed on a supporting portion of, and being butted against the lining plate body of, another of the lining plates, with the butted portion being joined by welding, with an adhesive, or a combination thereof.
US07980032B2 Construction unit mounting system
A clip is provided for affixing a construction unit to a building structure. The clip comprises: a generally planar middle portion, an exterior portion located on an exterior side of the middle portion and an interior portion located on an interior side of the middle portion; the exterior portion comprising a groove at an exterior end of the clip for receiving a construction unit flange, the groove having a generally U-shaped cross-section, the groove defined at least in part by a pair of generally parallel groove portions and a base portion connecting the groove portions at a base of the groove, the base of the groove spaced apart from an opening of the groove; the middle portion extending from an interior side of groove toward the interior portion; and the interior portion at an interior end of the clip, the interior portion extending from the middle portion at an obtuse angle to define a fulcrum at a junction between the middle portion and the interior portion.
US07980030B2 C-type underbracing having enlarged end portions for installing on utility pole
A C-type underbracing has developed for installing on a lower portion of a utility pole for firmly anchoring the utility pole. The underbracing is comprised of: a body (12) formed a half-annular or C-shape with a rectangular cross section; a pair of the enlarged end portions (11, 11′) having larger rectangular cross section than that of the body; a pair of the conjunction (17, 17′) for connecting between the body and the enlarged end portions; a hook receiving hole (13) horizontally through a center of the body, and a pair of nut mounting portions (16, 16′) formed flat surfaces for seating the nuts and a pair of slit-shaped holes (14, 14′) for horizontally inserting U-bolts (20) through the body portion, the nut mounting portions and slit-shaped holes disposed both sides of said hook receiving hole, and an earth plate (30) made of conductive material is attached to the bottom surface of the body.
US07980023B2 Versatile pest station with interchangeable inserts
A versatile pest station for use with interchangeable inserts includes a housing, a lock mechanism, a first insert, and a second insert. The housing includes a base, a lid, and an opening. The base and the lid form a cavity, and the opening provides access to the cavity. The base has a bottom surface and is configured and arranged to be securely mounted to a surface. The lock mechanism interlocks the base and the lid. The first insert is configured and arranged to fit within the cavity, and the first insert includes an entrance mechanism. The second insert is configured and arranged to fit within the cavity, and the second insert includes a snap trap. The first insert and the second insert are interchangeable for individual use with the housing, and the first insert and the second insert are elevated relative to the bottom surface of the base.
US07980011B2 Fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment
A fully stabilized excavator tooth attachment. An excavator tooth includes a nose-receiving pocket bounded by an inner end, upper and lower, and opposing side walls, the end wall having a nose-engaging interface surface formed orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tooth, at least one of the side walls having a fastener opening formed therethrough, and each of the upper and lower walls having two spaced apart nose-engaging interface surfaces formed thereon substantially parallel to each other. Another excavator tooth includes side walls having generally planar nose-engaging interface surfaces formed therein, one surface resisting rotation of the tooth about the longitudinal axis in one direction, and another interface surface resisting rotation of the tooth in an opposite direction. An attachment system includes a fastener configured for releasably securing the tooth on the nose, the fastener having a thread which is eccentric relative to a body of the fastener.
US07980004B2 Footwear with retainable strap
The invention relates to clog and sandal-type footwear having a sole and a heel strap. The heel strap is pivotable to be selectively secure the sole to a foot of a user or to be selectively retained by a channel formed in a heel portion of the sole. The heel strap may be permanently or removably attached to the sole.
US07979998B2 Slide mounting tool and method of use
Described herein is an improved tool and method for installing undermount drawer slides in a cabinet. The undermount drawer slides are of the type commonly used to conceal the drawer slide from a user for improved aesthetics. The tool is designed so that the drawer slide fits snugly and securely to the tool and the drawer slide may be adjusted horizontally or vertically without moving or becoming displaced easily. The method of using the tool provides a means for securely attaching the drawer slide within the cabinet without variation, thereby ensuring that drawers open and close smoothly and securely.
US07979997B2 Carpentry stud spacer
An apparatus for spacing studs on a plate is provided. The apparatus includes a frame, a bottom jaw, and first and second side jaws. The frame includes first and second parallelogram linkages at first and second ends thereof, and the first and second side jaws are connected to outer ends of the first and second parallelogram linkages, respectively. The bottom jaw is capable of engaging a plate, and the first and second side jaws are capable of engaging first and second studs for securing the first stud to the plate at a predetermined distance from the second stud.
US07979994B2 Ultraviolet risk indicator
An ultraviolet risk indicator instrument comprising a dial and a shadow projection device on it, the dial having colored areas that indicate different UV risks, defined by lines of declination (solstices and equinoxes) and solar hour lines calculated based on the transformation of the Hour Coordinates of the Sun (Hour Angle and Declination) in a 3D Cartesian Coordinate System, whose origin is the tip of the shadow projection device (being a polar style parallel to the rotation axis of the Earth, or a straight style perpendicular to the dial plane) using matrix calculations to produce the necessary rotations of the system, taking into account the latitude of the place, the declination and inclination of the dial. The style may be a rod or a triangular shape. The tip of the style is the focus or point of view of a gnomonic projection, where the Sun is the “point” of space to be projected, the dial is the projection plane and the projected point is the shadow point, whose coordinates (x,y) in the dial plane are calculated. Hour lines for local solar time in the dial are calculated, converging to the intersection of a polar style with the dial, the lines of declination of solstices and equinoxes and the position on the dial plane of the shadow cast by the tip of the style. The shadow point moves according to the annual and diurnal variation of the altitude of the Sun crossing different sectors of the dial.
US07979991B2 Vegetation cutting device
A trimmer head wherein the driveline of the power tool is connected to a core member. A spool is mounted to the core member and directly driven by the core member. A housing is mounted for axially sliding on the core member and a spring urges axial movement of the housing relative to the core member. Interlocking structure on the spool and housing produces interlocking for common rotation of the spool and housing responsive to urging by the spring. Release of the interlocking structure is affected by opposing said spring urging. Desirable additional features include selective alternate positioning of the spring for automatic and manual only release of said interlocking and a line loading assist provided by a tubular post through the spool alignable with housing eyelets for threading line through the eyelets and spool and winding thereof onto the spool by manual turning of the spool relative to the housing.
US07979987B2 Method of manufacturing fluid ejection device with dry-film photo-resist layer
A method of manufacturing a fluid ejection device includes providing a barrier layer and an orifice layer on a substrate, laminating a layer of photo-resist over a substantially planar surface of the orifice layer, forming an orifice in the orifice layer, and forming a counterbore in the layer of photo-resist, with forming a counterbore in the layer of photo-resist including exposing a portion of the substantially planar surface of the orifice layer within the counterbore.
US07979985B2 Multi-port mounting bracket and method
A multi-port cabling system for use in installing cable to an equipment rack or enclosure or within an equipment room or data center includes a cabling assembly comprising at least one connector head having a plurality of ports and at least one cable operatively connected to the plurality of ports. The at least one cable terminates internally within the connector head to operatively couple the cable to the plurality of ports. The system further includes a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket and the connector head are each configured for tool-less attachment of one or more cabling assemblies to the bracket. The mounting bracket is further configured to removably mount to an equipment rack or enclosure, and/or to a wall, to thereby install one or more cables. The cabling assembly and the cabling system help to eliminate on-site cable termination and testing during installation of cables to rack-mounted equipment.
US07979983B2 Connection an integrated circuit on a surface layer of a printed circuit board
Techniques for optimizing application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and other IC pin assignment corresponding to a high density interconnect (HDI) printed circuit board (PCB) layout are provided. Applying the techniques described herein, pin assignments may be systematically and strategically planned, for example, in an effort to reduce the PCB layer count and associated cost, increase signal integrity and speed, reduce the surface area used by an ASIC and its support circuitry, reduce plane perforations, and reduce via crosstalk when compared to conventional designs with an ASIC mounted on a multilayered PCB.
US07979978B2 Method for manufacturing a self-aligned full side shield PMR
A process for forming the write pole of a PMR head is described. This write pole is symmetrically located relative to its side shields, This is accomplished, not through optical alignment, but by coating the pole with a uniform layer of non-magnetic material of a predetermined and precise thickness, followed by the formation of the shield layer around this.
US07979975B2 Methods of connecting an antenna to a transponder chip
An antenna wire (210, 260, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710) is mounted to a substrate (204, 254, 304, 404, 504, 604, 704) so that end portions (210a/b, 260a/b, 310a/b, 410a/b, 510a/b, 610a/b, 710a/b) of the wire are spaced far enough apart for a transponder chip (208, 250, 308, 408, 508, 608, 708) to be positioned therebetween, such as into a recess (206, 256, 306, 406, 506, 606, 706) in the substrate. The end portions are left unmounted, as “wire bridges”, “jump loops”, or “flat loops”. The end portions may be re-positioned to be over the terminals (208a/b, 258a/b, 308a/b, 408a/b, 508a/b, 608a/b, 708a/b) of the chip for bonding. Or, the chip (or substrate) may be moved (such as side-to-side, or rotated) so that the chip's terminals are under the end portions of the wire for bonding. Insulation may be removed from the end portions of the wire prior to bonding.
US07979973B2 Method and apparatus for covering a container
A method and apparatus for covering and identifying a container utilizing a thin film material and a frame. The thin film material covers a through hole in the frame and has a perforation that defines an outer detaching surface an inner covering surface commensurate with the container opening. The method comprises the steps of attaching the thin film material to a frame having the through hole; disposing the frame onto an open top surface of the container; depressing a portion of the frame to detach the thin-film from the frame along the perforation and further sliding the frame coaxially to circumscribe the base of the container where it identifies information about the container.
US07979971B2 Hand tool with an extendable plunger
A hand tool having an elongated plunger assembly that is rotatably and movably disposed in a socket. The plunger assembly can be rotated between a first orientation and a second orientation as well as being moved between a first, withdrawn position and a second, extended position. The plunger assembly also has an upper notch and a lower notch on a front side and at least one generally flat lateral side. A fixed latch member extends across a portion of the socket and defines a narrow passage within the socket. The hand tool, preferably, includes a compression spring biasing the plunger assembly toward the extended position.
US07979967B2 Method for manufacturing a hinge, hinge and hinge pin
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hinge between two workpieces or components; first a hinge socket is inserted in an opening of the first component and then a hinge pin is inserted in the hinge socket; the second component can be fastened to the hinge pin end protruding from the hinge socket.
US07979966B2 Buckle
The male member comprises a base to which a string member can be attached, a pair of legs that project from the base, and an engaging portion that projects from a top surface and a bottom surface of a distal end of each of the pair of legs. The female member comprises: a hollow female member body that comprises an inserting opening into which the male member is inserted and an accommodating space that accommodates the pair of legs of the male member inserted through the inserting opening; an engaged portion provided to an interior of the accommodating space of the female member body with which the engaging portion of the male member is engaged; and a guiding receptacle provided to the interior of the accommodating space to guide the engaging portion to the engaged portion. A guide that abuts to the engaging portion of the male member to guide the engaging portion to the guiding receptacle is provided to the inserting opening of the female member.
US07979964B2 Locking zipper
A locking zipper includes a zip retainer and a zip fastener for zipping two elongated engaging tracks locating alongside of each other. The zip retainer includes a retention base, and a locking head integrally extended from the retention base. The zip fastener includes a sliding base and a key-free locker which is integrally provided at the sliding base and is releasably engaged with the locking head. At a zipped position, the sliding base is slid to the retention base for zipping the engaging tracks with each other that the key-free locker is locked with the locking head to securely lock up the zip fastener with the zip retainer. At an unzipped position, the key-free locker is released from the locking head such that the sliding base is slid away from the retention base for unzipping the engaging tracks from each other.
US07979962B2 Hinge mechanism with two rotation directions
A hinge mechanism includes first and second hinge devices rotatable in different directions. Further, a first positioning member is utilized for limiting the rotation of the first hinge device within one predetermined angle. Further, a second positioning member is utilized for positioning the first pintle at various orientations. Moreover, a third positioning member is utilized for limiting rotation of the second hinge device within another predetermined angle. A fourth positioning member is utilized for positioning the second pintle at various orientations.
US07979960B2 Two-axis hinge device with rotation regulating function
A two-axis hinge device with rotation regulating function including the rotation regulating function capable of wiring by passing a harness through a through hole of an axis member, simple in structure, and low in cost is provided. A folding axis [5] rotatably supporting one case and a rotational axis rotatably supporting the other case are set to intersect each other, a rotation allowing portion is formed by recessing an outer circumferential side surface of a rotational operation range restricting head portion rotatably supported by a base frame [1] and arranged on an end of the folding axis [5], a rotational operation range restricting deformed head portion arranged on an end of the rotational axis so as to face the rotational operation range restricting head portion, a restricting structure portion is formed at the deformed head portion so as to restrain rotation of the folding axis [5] by abutting the outer circumferential side surface of the rotation allowing portion on an end surface and so as to restrain rotation of the rotational axis when the outer circumferential side surface abuts on the end surface of the restricting head portion, and the rotation of the rotational axis is restricted to correspond to an opening or closing angle of the folding axis [5].
US07979945B2 Systems and methods for robotic gutter cleaning
In embodiments of the present invention, a gutter-cleaning device comprises a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into a gutter, an impeller, disposed at an end of the housing and driven by the impeller drive facility, and a transport facility for transporting the housing along the gutter.
US07979941B2 Produce bin scrubber and related methods
A produce bin washer for washing produce bins of an open-box type may include a housing and a conveyor for advancing a plurality of empty produce bins along a path of travel through the housing. The produce bin washer may include at least one scrubbing brush within the housing adjacent the conveyor and along the path of travel. The produce bin washer may also include a positioner within the housing for sequentially lifting and rotating each empty produce bin from the conveyor onto the at least one scrubbing brush to scrub the interior, and returning the empty produce bin to the conveyor. A sprayer may be within the housing for spraying a cleaning solution onto the empty produce bins, and a collector may also be within the housing for collecting sprayed cleaning solution.
US07979937B2 Boarding bridge
It is an object to provide a boarding bridge that can guide passengers to a predetermined gangway at the distal end and in which safety can be improved. A boarding bridge is provided which includes a proximal-end tunnel and a distal-end tunnel telescopically fitted together and capable of relative movement in a longitudinal direction; and a traveling unit mounted at the lower part of a movable leg that supports the distal-end tunnel and moving the movable leg by traveling; wherein the traveling unit includes a pair of traveling devices disposed with a certain distance therebetween in the widthwise direction of the distal-end tunnel, the traveling devices each having an axle rotatable about a vertically extending axis, a plurality of tires rotatably mounted to the axle with a certain distance therebetween, and a traveling motor that rotationally drives the axle; and a rotation synchronizing member that synchronizes the rotation angles of the axles in the pair of traveling devices.
US07979934B2 Headrest assembly for a massage device with timed support arms and arm connector near the forehead
A headrest assembly (212) for supporting a face of a user (16) of a massage device (10) includes a resilient assembly (220) and a support arm assembly (222). The resilient assembly (220) supports the face (13) of the user. The support arm assembly (222) couples the resilient assembly (220) to the massage device (10). The support arm assembly (222) can include a first support arm (228) that selectively engages a headrest receiver assembly (15) of the massage device (10), a spaced apart second support arm (230) that selectively engages the headrest receiver assembly (15), and an arm connector (232) that couples the support arms (228) (230) together. The arm connector (232) can inhibit relative pivoting of the support arms (228) (230) when the support arms (228) (230) are not engaging the headrest receiver assembly (15).
US07979932B2 Operating table
An operating table includes a base, a support post standing on the base, and a bed. The bed has a head section, a back section, a hip section and a foot section. The back section and the foot section respectively connect with ends of the hip section through pivot joints and are pivotable relative to the hip section upward and downward. The foot section has a rear section and a front section connecting with each other, and is pivotable either upward to an angle of less than 135 degree with respect to the hip section. The rear section is detachable separately, and an angle of the front section with respect to the hip section is adjustable via a pivot joint. The foot section can be shortened to support downward weight of the patient reliably. Moreover, a surgeon can adjust angles between the patient's legs and hip easily during the operation.
US07979929B2 Quick change mounting system for a faucet
A faucet assembly including a mounting base and an upper faucet assembly. A coupler releasably couples the upper faucet assembly to the mounting base.
US07979927B2 Modular shower pan
A modular shower pan includes at least four polygon panels adapted to interlock in side by side relation to form a body. Each panel has a planar bottom surface and a top surface that is sloped based upon a pre-selected drain position on the body.
US07979925B2 Portable infant washing tub
A movable apparatus for bathing infants and small children therein which includes a tub section having a cavity for supporting an infant during bathing and a storage section, a filling means in fluid communication with the cavity for introducing water into said cavity, a drain in fluid communication with said cavity for removing water from the cavity the tub section further including a separator separating the cavity and the storage section a seat removably mounted to a bottom portion of said cavity the seat designed to securely hold an infant during bathing legs pivotally secured to a bottom portion of the tub section the legs extending downwardly from the bottom portion of the tub section and supporting the tub section at a height such that a person using said apparatus does not have to bend over to bathe an infant in the tub section.
US07979919B2 Full body harness
A full-body harness, with or without an integral support line, with the harness being adaptable for class I, class II, and/or class III service, and for use by safety personnel (such as firefighters, military personnel, rescue workers etc.) or others for situations that call for emergency activity in areas where falls from an unsafe height are possible, or for use for entertainment purposes such as climbing, rappelling, or skydiving, for example.
US07979918B2 Protective covering
A protective covering with a hard outer layer and a soft inner layer. The hard outer layer comprises a plurality of substantially rigid shape-retaining and interworking tiles anatomically conformed to a contoured object. The outer layer has sufficient flexibility to adjust its conformity to the object as the object's contour changes. The soft inner layer comprises a plurality of impact absorbing units. The protective covering provides impact resistance and is designed to remain securely in place and protective of the object even when the contour of the object changes.
US07979917B2 Rear break away ballistics vest
A rear break away ballistics vest (1) having a front section (36) and a back section (11) that are securable to one another. The front section (36) has a first side front section (16), a second side front section (17) and an upper front section (18). The back section (11) has a first side back section (13), a second side back section (14) and a back section cover (12) secured to the back section (11). A release strap (44) is located on the front section (36) to permit a user to quickly and easily remove the rear break away ballistics vest (1) with one hand. A first shoulder strap (4) and a second shoulder strap (5) are connected to the front section (36) and extend to the back section (11). A first clip (38) is located on the back section (11) to release the first shoulder strap (4) from the first clip (38). Similarly, a second clip (39) is located on the back section (11) to release the second shoulder strap (5) from the second clip (39).
US07984516B2 Method and apparatus for protection of voice over internet protocol software
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for executing an application to perform voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephony, requesting a hardware key from a line interface device, comparing the hardware key to a software key associated with the application, and enabling the VoIP telephony if the keys match.
US07984511B2 Self-protecting digital content
Technologies are disclosed to transfer responsibility and control over security from player makers to content authors by enabling integration of security logic and content. An exemplary optical disc carries an encrypted digital video title combined with data processing operations that implement the title's security policies and decryption processes. Player devices include a processing environment (e.g., a real-time virtual machine), which plays content by interpreting its processing operations. Players also provide procedure calls to enable content code to load data from media, perform network communications, determine playback environment configurations, access secure nonvolatile storage, submit data to CODECs for output, and/or perform cryptographic operations. Content can insert forensic watermarks in decoded output for tracing pirate copies. If pirates compromise a player or title, future content can be mastered with security features that, for example, block the attack, revoke pirated media, or use native code to correct player vulnerabilities.
US07984499B2 Processing device and associated methodology for authorized device certificate updating
A configuration for preventing authentication processing due to continuous use of an old authorized device certificate, and illegal use of contents is provided. An arrangement is made wherein with playback or recording processing of contents accompanying data transfer between two different devices such as a drive and a host or the like, when performing mutual authentication between devices for executing data transfer, the number of times of authentication is counted, and in the event of this reaching a predetermined upper limit value of the number of times of authentication, authentication processing is cancelled, and it is necessary to update a certificate to be applied to authentication. The present configuration eliminates contents use due to continuity of authentication processing to which an old certificate is applied, and enables prompting a user to obtain the newest certificate.
US07984486B2 Using GAA to derive and distribute proxy mobile node home agent keys
A Generic Authentication Architecture bootstrapping procedure is performed between a mobile terminal and a bootstrapping server function resulting in the mobile terminal and the bootstrapping server function each acquiring at least a bootstrapping transaction Identifier associated with the mobile terminal and a corresponding shared key. The mobile terminal derives a network application function specific key based on at least the acquired shared key and an identifier of said network application function. The bootstrapping transaction identifier and the network application function specific key are sent from the mobile terminal to the proxy mobile node. A request message for Mobile Internet Protocol registration is sent from the proxy mobile node to a home agent on behalf of the mobile terminal, the request message including the bootstrapping transaction identifier and an identifier of the proxy mobile node. The registration message is verified in the home agent with the use of a network application function specific key obtained from the bootstrapping server function or a network application function. The request message for Mobile Internet Protocol registration is authenticated with the proxy mobile node acting on behalf of the mobile terminal by verifying the message authentication code with the obtained network application function specific key.
US07984484B1 System and method for assisting in remote message server configuration
When a user enters an email address associated with a remote message server account in a configuration area on a display, one or more suggestions for other field inputs are made based on canonical data or historical data from a variety of users. If the user cannot find a desired entry in the suggestions, the user may enter new information. The newly entered information (once validated) improves the prediction capability for subsequent users. A database stores information associated with each email address domain name including one or more remote message server names, one or more username patterns and ranking values. When more than one suggestion for a field is presented to a user, the suggestions are ranked in accordance with the respective ranking values such as by the popularity of a particular configuration.
US07984479B2 Policy-based security certificate filtering
Policy filtering services are built into security processing of an execution environment for resolving how to handle a digital security certificate of a communicating entity without requiring a local copy of a root certificate that is associated with the entity through a certificate authority (“CA”) chain. Policy may be specified using a set of rules (or other policy format) indicating conditions for certificate filtering. This filtering is preferably invoked during handshaking, upon determining that a needed root CA certificate is not available. In one approach, the policy uses rules specifying conditions under which a certificate is permitted (i.e., treated as if it is validated) and other rules specifying conditions under which a certificate is blocked (i.e., treated as if it is invalid). Preferably, policy rules are evaluated and enforced in order of most-specific to least-specific.
US07984474B2 Method and apparatus for a digitized CATV network for bundled services
A cost-efficient digital CATV network to improve signal quality, provide reliability, and offer the ability to meet demands for interactive services is described. Analog or digital video downstream channels are converted to a digital format by a digital headend transmitter. Relatively costly error-encoding for digital video channels is also part of the digital headend transmitter. Downstream analog and digital video channels in the digital format are transmitted using time-division multiplex technology from a headend to nodes using standard network protocols, such as SONET. Standard network protocols provide error-monitoring and status indication of transmit data, thus ensuring high signal quality and reliability. Time-division multiplexing facilitates easy adding or dropping of information to a transmit path. Flexibility to add or drop information is critical in providing interactive services. Data from interactive services can be added or dropped at points of presence throughout the digital CATV network. Subscribers to the digital CATV network can communicate with each other. A digital node transmitter receives the analog or digital video channels in digital format and converts the analog or digital video channels into an analog format. The digital node transmitter also frequency-division multiplexes multiple analog or digital video channels into one analog broadband signal for broadcast to subscribers' homes.
US07984466B2 Advertising management system for digital video streams
A method and apparatus for the managing advertisements in a digital environment, including methods for selecting suitable advertising based on subscriber profiles, and substituting advertisements in a program stream with targeted advertisements. The Ad Management System (AMS) 100 of the present invention manages the sales and insertion of digital video advertisements in cable television, switched digital video, and streaming video (Internet) based environments. The AMS 100 provides advertisers an ability to describe their advertisements (ads) in terms of target market demographics, required ad bandwidth, ad duration, and other ad specific parameters. The AMS 100 receives the ad descriptions that include some or all of the aforementioned parameters, and matches the ads to the advertising opportunities (“avails”) available in the programming stream. The AMS 100 tracks different avails including duration and bandwidth of the avail, and uses a number of schemes to determine if the ad can be placed in the avail. The advertisements may be transported over an in-band advertising channel or over an out-of-band advertisement channel. At the multiplexing end, the ads may be multiplexed in one or more program streams synchronously, plesiochronously, or asynchronously. In either case, a dynamic linking process is used to insert the selected advertisements in the program streams.
US07984463B2 Instant video on demand playback
According to the invention, a method for providing a stored program to a user for playback is disclosed. In one step, a program selection is received from the user. The stored program corresponding to the program selection is requested. The stored program is provided to the user whereby viewing may occur. It is determined if the user is authorized to view the stored program after the stored program is provided to the user whereby the user may view the stored program before authorization is determined.
US07984461B2 Disk chucking device and disk driving device having the same
A disk chucking device and a disk driving device having the same are disclosed. The disk chucking device may include: a chuck base, on which a boss is formed; chuck chips inserted in the chuck base in a manner such that the chuck chips protrude out from the chuck base; an elastic member, which elastically supports a pair of adjacent chuck chips towards an outer side of the chuck base; and a protrusion portion, which is formed on a bottom of the boss, and which supports the elastic member. The disk chucking device can improve the environment of the elastic members that support the chuck chips, to improve the alignment between the rotation centers of the disk and the chuck base.
US07984452B2 Event source management using a metadata-driven framework
The system and method described herein relates to managing multiple network device connections, collecting event source data from one or more network devices with one or more collectors, filtering the event source data, continuously monitoring the network device connections, controlling raw data collection from the one or more network devices, parsing the event source data into normalized data structures, and managing configurations for the collectors, among other things. Event sources may be physical or logical network devices distributed across a network, including but not limited to, firewalls, routers, biometric devices, mainframes, databases, and applications. The network devices may be sources from which the collectors may receive or request the event source data.
US07984445B2 Method and system for scheduling jobs based on predefined, re-usable profiles
A method for scheduling execution of a work unit in a data processing system, wherein the execution of the work unit involves the execution of at least one program, the method comprising: providing a first collection of pieces of information necessary to execute the work unit, said first collection of pieces of information being arranged in at least one pre-defined, re-usable program profile corresponding to the at least one program to be executed; receiving, in a request for scheduling execution of the work unit, a second collection of pieces of information necessary to execute the work unit; determining execution information for the execution of the work unit based on the first and second collections of pieces of information, and scheduling the execution of the work unit based on the determined execution information.
US07984443B2 System and method for normalizing job properties
This disclosure provides a system and method for normalizing job properties. In one embodiment, a job manager is operable to identify a property of a job, with the job being associated with an operating environment. The job manager is further operable to normalize the property of the job and present the normalized property of the job to a user.
US07984441B2 Method and system for tuning a taskscheduling process
A method of tuning a task scheduling algorithm for assigning tasks to resources of a workforce management system, the scheduling algorithm being arranged for calculating a work plan on the basis of resources availability and tasks to be carried out by the resources and as a function of predetermined scheduling parameters. The method includes selectively modifying at least a predetermined subset of scheduling parameters; running the scheduling algorithm on the basis of the parameters, resource and task data for each modified subset of parameters to calculate respective work plans; applying a score function to each of said work plans for calculating respective score values representative of the degree of achievement of one or more targets by each work plan; and selecting the work plan to be used by the workforce management system as the work plan being attributed a score value complying with a predetermined selection criterion, i.e., a highest score. A system and a computer program or computer program set to be run on the system arranged to carry out the method.
US07984439B2 Efficient mechanism for preventing starvation in counting semaphores
An algorithm for preventing starving threads in a counting semaphore for a computer operating system. The algorithm operates in a stealing mode where threads can steal resources from other threads if none of the threads is starving, and operates in a first-in first-out mode if one or more of the threads becomes starving.
US07984426B2 Graphical representation of dependencies between changes of source code
Embodiments of the invention include a system for analyzing and displaying dependencies of change lists tracked by a software configuration management system. The process may include retrieving a set of change lists and traversing each change list to determine dependencies between change lists. The process may generate a graphical representation of a hierarchy of the set of change lists defined by the dependencies. The system may include a file storage system to store a plurality of change lists and a change list analysis module to traverse the plurality of change lists to determine dependencies between the change lists. A graphics module may display change lists and dependencies received from the change list analysis module.
US07984424B2 Isolating declarative code to preserve customizations
Embodiments provide a software model which allows a user to modify a software program in substantially the same manner as the original programmer or developer. In one embodiment, declarative code and user customizations are isolated from other code and structure of the software program. The isolated customizations can be quickly and efficiently examined to determine whether any changes or other modifications have been made to the software program. Additionally, the isolated changes can be efficiently located and applied when updating or upgrading the software program to persist any customized changes made to the software program.
US07984410B2 Hierarchy-based analytical placement method for an integrated circuit
A placer produces a global placement plan specifying positions of cell instances to be interconnected by nets within an integrated circuit (IC) by initially clusterizing cell instances to form a pyramidal hierarchy of blocks and generating an initial global placement plan specifying a position of each block at a highest level of the hierarchy. The placer then declusterizes the global placement plan by replacing the highest level blocks with their component blocks and then improves the routability of the global placement plan by iteratively moving specified block positions in directions and by distances dynamically determined by analyzing the global placement plan and an objective function having a total wirelength term and having a bin density term reflecting density of blocks in specified areas (bins) of the IC. The placer iteratively repeats the declusterization and routability improvement process until the global placement plan specifies positions of all blocks residing at the lowest level of the hierarchy, with weighting of the bin density term adjusted when necessary during each iteration of the routability improvement process to provide sufficient white space in each bin. The placer employs a look-ahead legalization technique to move low level blocks to legal positions during later iterations of the plan improvement process.
US07984403B2 Verification supporting system
A verification target register to be verified is specified from a configuration of a verification target circuit, and patterns requiring verification are extracted as a coverage standard with regard to the specified verification target register. When the patterns are extracted, a DIRW matrix is prepared to indicate possibly occurring state transitions among four states Declare, Initialize, Read, and Write in the register included in the verification target circuit, and used to decide two coverage standards, a matrix coverage standard and an implementation coverage standard.
US07984397B2 Power network stacked via removal for congestion reduction
A method of automatically reducing stacked vias while minimizing voltage drop in a power network of an integrated circuit (IC) is provided. In this method, any feasible (i.e. other than connectivity-necessary and uncongested stacked vias) stacked vias of the power network can be virtually removed. If a target voltage drop of the power network is exceeded, then a measurement of the severity of at least a maximum voltage drop on the IC can be updated. After this updating, a set of voltage drop improvement stacked vias can be virtually returned to the power network. The steps of determining whether the target voltage drop is exceeded, updating the severity of the voltage drop at one or more hot spots, and virtually returning the set of additional stacked vias can be repeated until the target voltage drop is not exceeded.
US07984374B2 Computer generation of documents using layout elements and content elements
Bindings are used to describe a document (and a different document) by associating content elements with layout elements, the layout elements defining layout features or placement information to be applied to the associated content elements in the document, the bindings being stored separately from both the content and layout elements.
US07984372B2 Markup language element to provide label for stored URI
A BOOKMARK element is proposed to be included within the HEAD element of a markup language document. Such a BOOKMARK element is intended to provide a default bookmark label that is to be associated with a Universal Resource Identifier (URI) of a markup language document when storing the URI of the markup language document as a bookmark or favorite. A short, to-the-point label suggested by an author of the markup language document may be seen as beneficial particularly to users of mobile communication devices. Such a suggested label may also greatly improve the user experience of desktop-based browsers.
US07984369B2 Concurrent code checker and hardware efficient high-speed I/O having built-in self-test and debug features
Method, device, and system for testing for errors in high-speed input/output systems. System and device may include a concurrent code checker for checking for errors in encoded data packets through data packets static properties and dynamic properties of the data stream including the packets. Method may involve detecting invalid encoded packets using the data packets static properties and the dynamic properties of the data stream including the packets. Method for optimizing a design of a concurrent code checker logic using don't-care conditions, and concurrent code checker circuit having reduce logic element and semiconductor area requirements.
US07984368B2 Method and system for increasing decoder throughput
A method for increasing decoder throughput is provided that includes dividing a data block into a plurality of segments. For each of the segments, the segment is decoded by performing a plurality of processes for the segment. At least one process for a current segment is performed while at least one process for a preceding segment is performed. Also, at least one process for the current segment is performed while at least one process for a subsequent segment is performed.
US07984360B2 Avoiding errors in a flash memory by using substitution transformations
To store an input string of M N-tuples of bits, a substitution transformation is selected in accordance with the input string and is applied to the input string to provide a transformed string of M N-tuples of bits. M or more memory cells are programmed to represent the transformed string and preferably also to represent a key of the transformation. Alternatively, the memory selectively programs each of M or more cells to a respective one of 2N states. A mapping that maps the binary numbers in [0,2N−1] into respective states is selected in accordance with the input string and is used to program M cells to represent the input string. Preferably, a key of the mapping is stored in the memory in association with the M cells.
US07984359B2 Correction of data errors in a memory buffer
Methods, circuits, and disk drive that correct errors in data that is temporarily stored in a memory buffer are disclosed. An error detection code and an error correction code are generated for data. The data, the error detection code, and the error correction code are stored in the memory buffer. The data is retrieved from the memory buffer and error detected using the error detection code. In response to detecting an error, the error correction code is applied to the retrieved data to generate corrected data.
US07984352B2 Saving debugging contexts with periodic built-in self-test execution
A system comprises built-in self-test (BIST) logic configured to perform a BIST, processing logic coupled to the BIST logic and storage logic coupled to the processing logic. The storage logic comprises debug context information associated with a debugging session. Prior to performance of the BIST, the processing logic stores the debug context information to a destination. After performance of the BIST, the processing logic is reset, and the processing logic restores the debug context information from the destination to the storage logic.
US07984348B2 Series equivalent scans across multiple scan topologies
Performing series equivalent scans spanning a plurality of scan technologies in a complex scan topology may be performed by performing shift operations in the complex scan topology while only one branch of the complex scan topology connectivity is enabled, and performing capture and update operations in parallel while scan topology connectivity of two or more of the plurality of scan technologies is enabled.
US07984346B2 Integrated apparatus for testing image devices
An integrated apparatus for testing image devices is disclosed, in which a plurality of testing apparatuses needed when an image-related device is installed are integrated into one construction for thereby achieving a good portability as compared to a conventional art in which a plurality of testing apparatuses such as a multi-meter, a portable monitor, a communication tester, etc. are separately needed.
US07984341B2 Method, system and computer program product involving error thresholds
A system for processing errors in a processor comprising, an error counter, a pass counter, and a processing portion operative to determine whether a first error is active, increment an error counter responsive to determining that the first error is active, increment the pass counter responsive to determining that all errors have been checked, and clear the error counter responsive to determining that the pass counter is greater than or equal to a pass count threshold value.
US07984339B2 Method of recording/reproducing digital data and apparatus for same
A digital data recording/reproducing method includes the steps of: interleaving data on a PI code for each PI code of a 208-row ECC block; and converting a short burst error into random errors by dispersing errors on the PI codes. Moreover, the digital data recording/reproducing method increases correction capability against several bytes to several tens bytes of errors generated at random without changing burst error correction length by performing this processing for respective PI codes by using interleave rules that are different as much as possible from one another.
US07984338B2 Program counter (PC) trace
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises a first processor configured to output program counter (PC) trace records, wherein PC trace records provide data indicating the PCs of instructions retired by the first processor. The integrated circuit further comprises a second source of trace records, and a trace unit coupled to receive the PC trace records from the first processor and the trace records from the second source. The trace unit comprises a trace memory into which the trace unit is configured to store the PC trace records and trace records from the second source. The trace unit is configured to interleave the PC trace records and the trace records from the second source in the trace memory according to the order of receipt of the records.
US07984335B2 Test amplification for datacenter applications via model checking
Systems and methods are provided to determine execution errors in distributed computing environments. In an illustrative implementation, a computing environment comprises a test amplification engine and at least one instruction set to instruct the test amplification engine to process data representative of a request to perform a test for one or more execution errors in an distributed computing environment according to a selected execution error testing paradigm dependent on identifying critical sources of non-determinism for execution within the exemplary distributed computing environment. In an illustrative operation, a participating distributed computing environment operator (e.g., programmer) can cooperate with the test amplification engine to select an existing unit or integration test, instrument sources of non-determinism and to select one or more instrumentations for the unit or integration test for execution in the exemplary distributed computing environment to elicit the occurrence of one or more execution errors.
US07984328B1 System and method for reducing unrecoverable media errors
A method for operating a computer data storage system is described. A recoverable error in a data storage device in recognized in response to receiving a command for a write operation. It is determined whether the data storage system is in a degraded state. The write operation encountering the recoverable error is reassigned to a space on a spare data storage device if the data storage system is not in a degraded state. The write operation is stored to reassign to a spare data storage device at a future time if the data storage system is in a degraded state.
US07984325B2 Storage control device, data recovery device, and storage system
When data in one semiconductor memory device is corrupted during a padding process by a padding unit and the data cannot be recovered even by using an error correcting code for correcting a data error, a storage control device issues a data recovery request to a data recovery device. The data recovery device reads the data from other semiconductor memory device in response to the data recovery request to recover the data, and returns a recovery result to the padding unit in the storage control device to perform the padding process.
US07984324B2 Systems and methods for managing stalled storage devices
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for managing stalled storage devices of a storage system. In one embodiment, a method for managing access to storage devices includes determining that a first storage device, which stores a first resource, is stalled and transitioning the first storage device to a stalled state. The method also includes receiving an access request for at least a portion of the first resource while the first storage device is in the stalled state and attempting to provide access to a representation of the portion of the first resource from at least a second storage device that is not in a stalled state. In another embodiment, a method of managing access requests by a thread for a resource stored on a storage device includes initializing a thread access level for an access request by a thread for the resource. The method also includes determining whether the storage device, which has a device access level, is accessible based at least in part on the thread access level and the device access level and selecting a thread operation based at least in part on the determination of whether the storage device is accessible. The thread operation may be selected from attempting the thread access request if the device is accessible and determining whether to restart the thread access request if the device is not accessible.
US07984320B2 Silent time tampering detection
Computers and other electronic devices typically include a timing operation such as a clock in an operating system. It is anticipated that hackers may tamper with this clock. This tampering might be especially advantage in the context of systems which provide for rental of audio and video content, such as movies. Tampering with the system clock on the playing device would allow an extension of the rental period to the detriment of the provider of the rental content. Hence the present method is directed to detecting clock modifications both in terms of time shifting and clock rate tampering. This detection is done using digital signal processing.
US07984316B2 Solid state disk with hot-swappable components
A solid state disk (SSD) device includes a non-volatile storage module (NVSM), a secondary power source coupled to power inputs of the SSD, a volatile memory (VM), a controller in communication with the NVSM and the VM. The controller is operable in a (re)populate mode to (re)populate data stored in the NVSM to the VM when primary power is initially applied to power inputs of the SSD and further operable in a primary power on mode to replicate data to the NVSM that was written to the VM in response to received I/O requests while primary power is applied to the power inputs of the SSD. The secondary power source can be decoupled from the power inputs of the SSD while the controller is operating in either the (re)populate mode or the primary power on mode.
US07984315B2 External storage device and power management method for the same
An external storage device includes a media control section (10), a monitoring section (20), an interface section (30) and a power control section (40). The media control section (10) drives a recording media and performs data access to the recording media. The monitoring section (20) monitors whether the data access by the media control section (10) can be performed or not. The interface section (30) performs communication with a host device. When the monitoring section (20) detects that the data access can not be performed, the power control section (40) limits power supply to the interface section (30). When the monitoring section (20) detects that the data access can be performed, the power control section (40) re-starts the power supply.
US07984307B2 Data transmission apparatus, control method therefor, and program
A read document image is stored in a storage apparatus. The destination of data to be transmitted is set, and the data is transmitted to the destination. If transmission fails, the data is discarded on the basis of settings of the data.
US07984306B1 System and method for reducing processing latency in a security appliance
A system and method enables efficient transfer and cryptographic processing of data within a security appliance. A network adapter of the security appliance initiates a random access data transfer to a system memory that is illustratively organized into a plurality of blocks of predetermined size. Mapping circuitry of the appliance is configured to track the progress of the data transfer between the adapter and memory such that, once data is stored in a memory block, an encryption processor of the appliance may process the data or the network adapter may retrieve the processed data without having to wait for completion of the data transfer between the adapter and memory, thereby reducing processing latency in the security appliance.
US07984301B2 Bi-processor architecture for secure systems
Systems, methods and program products for a first central processing unit (CPU) configured to perform tasks that do not require manipulation of sensitive information and a second CPU that is configured to perform tasks that manipulate the sensitive information on behalf of the first CPU. The first CPU and the second CPU can communicate through a secure interface. The first CPU cannot access the sensitive information within the second CPU.
US07984293B2 Secure host network address configuration
A Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card may establish, via a non-secure network, a secure communications channel between a computer and a secure network. The non-secure network may define a first address space. The secure network may define a second address space. The PCMCIA card may include a cryptography module, a network adapter, and/or a processor. The cryptography module may provide Type 1 cryptography of data communicated between the computer and the secure network. The network adapter may be in communication with the non-secure network and may be associated with a first network address from the first address space. The processor may be in communication with the secure network via the cryptography module and the network adapter. The processor may identify a second network address for the computer from the second address space and may communicate the second network address to the computer, for example via dynamic host control protocol (DHCP).
US07984291B2 Method for distributing certificates in a communication system
The invention relates to a method for delivering certificates in a communication system using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The identity of a mobile node is sent to a gateway from which the identity is sent to a network entity. In the network entity is selected at least one first certificate based on information relating to the mobile node. In the network entity is signed the at least one first certificate using a master key. The at least one first certificate is provided from the network entity to the mobile node.
US07984288B2 Software protection apparatus and protection method thereof
A software protection apparatus and its protection method are disclosed. The software protection apparatus includes a storage unit and a processing unit. The storage unit has a program area and a data area. The program area is used to save an executable. The processing unit generates a reference pointer based on internal information of the executable, and the reference pointer then is saved to the program area or the data area. The processing unit then generates an algorithm based on at least one characteristic of the executable to save the algorithm to a specific position of the program area or the data area through the reference pointer, and employs the algorithm to perform an encoding action for the executable to generate a wrap program that is saved to the program area. When the wrap program is decoded, the reference pointer is obtained through a restore program to take the algorithm out. The wrap program then is restored to become the executable by using the algorithm.
US07984280B2 Storing branch information in an address table of a processor
Methods for storing branch information in an address table of a processor are disclosed. A processor of the disclosed embodiments may generally include an instruction fetch unit connected to an instruction cache, a branch execution unit, and an address table being connected to the instruction fetch unit and the branch execution unit. The address table may generally be adapted to store a plurality of entries with each entry of the address table being adapted to store a base address and a base instruction tag. In a further embodiment, the branch execution unit may be adapted to determine the address of a branch instruction having an instruction tag based on the base address and the base instruction tag of an entry of the address table associated with the instruction tag. In some embodiments, the address table may further be adapted to store branch information.
US07984277B2 System and method of instruction modification
A method and system of instruction modification. A first machine language instruction, which may comprise a plurality of discrete instructions, is fetched. Responsive to a trigger pattern in the first machine language instruction, a segment of the first machine language instruction is modified. Information can be substituted into the segment based on specifics outlined in the trigger pattern. Alternatively, information can be combined with the segment via logical and/or arithmetic operations. Modification of the segment produces a second machine language instruction that is executed by units of the processor. In one embodiment, information may be taken from a queue and used to replace data from the segment. How information is taken from the queue and how the information so taken is used to replace fields of the segment are defined by the trigger pattern.
US07984264B2 Maintaining reverse mappings in a virtualized computer system
For a virtual memory of a virtualized computer system in which a virtual page is mapped to a guest physical page which is backed by a machine page and in which a shadow page table entry directly maps the virtual page to the machine page, reverse mappings of guest physical pages are optimized by removing the reverse mappings of certain immutable guest physical pages. An immutable guest physical memory page is identified, and existing reverse mappings corresponding to the immutable guest physical page are removed. New reverse mappings corresponding to the identified immutable guest physical page are no longer added.
US07984263B2 Structure for a memory-centric page table walker
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for at least one of designing, manufacturing, and testing a design is provided. The design structure includes a page table walker. The page table walker is moved from its conventional location in the memory management unit associated with the data processor to a location in main memory i.e. the main memory controller. As a result, wherein the processing of requests for data could selectively avoid or bypass cumbersome caches associated with the data processor.
US07984261B2 Memory expansion structure in multi-path accessible semiconductor memory device
A multiprocessor system includes a first processor coupled to a first bus, a second processor coupled to a second bus, a first memory coupled to the first bus and the second bus, and a second memory coupled to the second bus. The first processor is configured to access the first memory through the first bus, and the second processor is configured to access the first memory and the second memory through the second bus.
US07984258B2 Distributed storage system with global sparing
An apparatus and associated method is provided with a virtualization engine connected to a remote device over a network for passing access commands between the remote device and a storage space. The data storage system also has a plurality of intelligent storage elements that are uniquely addressable by the virtualization engine for passing the access commands, wherein the intelligent storage elements are configured for migrating data from a first intelligent storage element to a second intelligent storage element independently of access commands being simultaneously passed between the virtualization engine and the first intelligent storage element.
US07984257B2 System for protecting supervisor mode data from user code
A system for protecting supervisor mode data from user code having a processor which implements a register window architecture supporting as separate window stacks for supervisor and user modes with a transition window in one of the window stacks set with at least one invalid window bit in an invalid window mask of the architecture additional to an invalid window bit set for a reserved window of the invalid window mask for transitioning from the supervisor mode to the user mode, supervisor mode-only memory storing the supervisor mode window stack, and user mode accessible memory storing the supervisor and user mode window stacks.
US07984254B2 Method and system for generating consistent snapshots for a group of data objects
Snapshots that are consistent across a group of data objects are generated. The snapshots are initiated by a coordinator, which transmits a sequence of commands to each storage node hosting a data object within a group of data objects. The first command prepares a data object for a snapshot. After a data object has been successfully prepared, an acknowledgment is sent to the coordinator. Once all appropriate acknowledgments are received, the coordinator sends a command to confirm that a snapshot has been created for each data object in the respective group. After receiving this confirmation, the coordinator takes action to confirm or record the successful completion of the group-consistent snapshot.
US07984252B2 Storage controllers with dynamic WWN storage modules and methods for managing data and connections between a host and a storage device
A controller including an interface module and an index module. The interface module is configured to connect devices. The index module is configured to include, in a table stored in memory, an entry for each of the devices. Each entry includes an address field. The index module is configured to: receive a frame of data including an address of one of the devices; compare the address to the address fields associated with the entries in the table; in response to the address matching one of the address fields, access an index value identifying an entry of the table when the address matches one of the address fields; and in response to the address not matching one of the address fields, generate the index value. The index value is used to connect the device associated with the matching one of the address fields with the one of the devices.
US07984248B2 Transaction based shared data operations in a multiprocessor environment
The apparatus and method described herein are for handling shared memory accesses between multiple processors utilizing lock-free synchronization through transactional-execution. A transaction demarcated in software is speculatively executed. During execution invalidating remote accesses/requests to addresses loaded from and to be written to shared memory are track by a transaction buffer. If an invalidating access is encountered, the transaction is re-executed. After a pre-determined number of times re-executing the transaction, the transaction may be re-executed non-speculatively with locks/semaphores.
US07984245B2 Storage system, storage subsystem and storage control method
Proposed is a storage system capable of preventing the compression of a cache memory caused by data remaining in a cache memory of a storage subsystem without being transferred to a storage area of an external storage, and maintaining favorable I/O processing performance of the storage subsystem. In this storage system where an external storage is connected to the storage subsystem and the storage subsystem provides a storage area of the external storage as its own storage area, provided is a volume for saving dirty data remaining in a cache memory of the storage subsystem without being transferred to the external volume. The storage system recognizes the compression of the cache memory, and eliminates the overload of the cache memory by saving dirty data in a save volume.
US07984244B2 Method and apparatus for supporting scalable coherence on many-core products through restricted exposure
In one embodiment, a multi-core processor having cores each associated with a cache memory, can operate such that when a first core is to access data owned by a second core present in a cache line associated with the second core, responsive to a request from the first core, cache coherency state information associated with the cache line is not updated. A coherence engine associated with the processor may receive the data access request and determine that the data is of a memory page owned by the first core and convert the data access request to a non-cache coherent request. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07984243B2 Cache memory and method for cache entry replacement based on modified access order
A cache memory according to the present invention includes a W flag setting unit that modifies order data indicating an access order per cache entry that holds a data unit of a cache so as to reflect an actual access order and a replace unit that selects a cache entry for replacement based on the modified order data and replaces the cache entry.
US07984242B2 Program thread syncronization
A barrier for synchronizing program threads for a plurality of processors includes a filter configured to be coupled to a plurality of processors executing a plurality of threads to be synchronized. The filter is configured to monitor and selectively block fill requests for instruction cache lines. A method for synchronizing program threads for a plurality of processors includes configuring a filter to monitor and selectively block fill requests for instruction cache lines for a plurality of processors executing a plurality of threads to be synchronized.
US07984233B2 Direct data file storage implementation techniques in flash memories
Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. The file based interface between the host and memory systems allows the memory system controller to utilize the data storage blocks within the memory with increased efficiency.
US07984227B2 Connecting device of storage device and computer system including the same connecting device
In an environment in which plural external storage devices having different function control interfaces are intermixed, when a function of a storage device is controlled from a computer, a common interface for controlling the function of the storage device is provided. A device that provides the common interface manages an interrelationship between a storage area recognized by a host computer and a storage area provided by the storage device and associates a storage area which becomes a target of a function control instruction with the storage device that provides the storage area. A type of the storage device that provides the storage area which becomes the target of the function control instruction is identified and function control is ordered through a function control interface unique to the device.
US07984221B2 Storage router and method for providing virtual local storage
A storage router (56) and storage network (50) provide virtual local storage on remote SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) to Fibre Channel devices. A plurality of Fibre Channel devices, such as workstations (58), are connected to a Fibre Channel transport medium (52), and a plurality of SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) are connected to a SCSI bus transport medium (54) The storage router (56) interfaces between the Fibre Channel transport medium (52) and the SCSI bus transport medium (54). The storage router (56) maps between the workstations (58) and the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) and implements access controls for storage space on the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64). The storage router (56) then allows access from the workstations (58) to the SCSI storage devices (60, 62, 64) using native low level, block protocol in accordance with the mapping and the access controls.
US07984205B2 Method and devices for the transfer of a data flow from a data source to a data sink
In the transfer of AV data flows, especially in a network environment, a delayed transition from one operating mode to the other operating mode will be possible when changing the operating mode from e.g. normal replay to fast forward search. This is due to the fact that—in the transfer from data source to data sink different buffer memory stages must be passed before the transferred data finally come to decoding. When the request for changing the operating mode comes, the data already present in the buffer memories must first be processed before the actually requested new data come to be decoded. For the solution of the problem described, it is suggested according to the invention that after the request of changing the operating mode the undesirable data in the buffer memories are quickly eliminated through suitable measures so that the desired data can then be decoded faster. To do that, an identifier for the new operating mode is inserted in the data flow on the part of the data source device. The decoder driver of the decoder in the data sink device will search for the inserted identifier in the data flow and reject all data packets which are not combined with this identifier. Thus, the buffer memory stages are discharged fast and a smooth transition with the change of operating mode will be realized.
US07984202B2 Device directed memory barriers
Efficient techniques for controlling synchronization of bus transactions to improve performance and reduce power requirements in a shared memory system are described. Interconnect arrangements in complex processing systems are also described that provide efficient data transfers between bus masters and shared memory devices to improve performance and reduce power use. In one example, a method for controlling synchronization of bus transactions to remote devices is addressed. A device directed memory barrier command is received. The device directed memory barrier command is decoded to determine one or more destination devices. A memory barrier command is selectively routed to the one or more destination devices in response to the decoding. The described techniques combine high speed device directed memory barrier capability, improved bus bandwidth functionality, and power saving features.
US07984198B2 System and program products for facilitating access to status and measurement data associated with input/output processing
Input/output processing is facilitated by readily enabling access to information associated with input/output processing. This information includes status information and measurement data provided by a control unit executing input/output commands. The status and measurement data are provided in a status control block identified in a transport control word, which is further used to specify a location in memory that includes the input/output commands to be executed.
US07984184B2 Method and apparatus for managing information exchanges between apparatus on a worksite
Operations in a worksite (20) are managed by networking at least some items of apparatus (4, 16, 24, 26, 30, 28, 34) which perform tasks in connection with said worksite and which receive and/or send data. The items of apparatus are organized in hierarchical levels according to a determined dependency relationship of the worksite. Communications are made with an electronic data network comprising management means (74, 76, 66, 64) cooperating with a plurality of communications interfaces (42-46), a given item of apparatus having a data link with a specified communications interface. The management means stores a correspondence between each item of apparatus and an address structure reflecting the hierarchical position of that item of apparatus (4, 16, 24, 26, 30, 28, 34) in the determined dependency relationship of the worksite. It uses that correspondence to establish a communications link with a selected item of apparatus, via its communications interface, in response to a call addressed with an address structure reflecting the hierarchical position of that selected item of apparatus.
US07984182B2 Node device, information transfer processing program, and network participation processing method and the like
A node device which participates in an overlay network formed by participation of all or part of a plurality of node devices which are connected to each other via a communication device. The node device includes a search information transmission device, a reply information receiving device, a communication load information device, a communication load comparison device, a node selection device and a participation request information transmission device. The search information transmission device transmits search information to search a node device transmitted to an information processing device connected to the communication device. The receiving device receives information replied from the plurality of node devices. The comparison device compares information regarding communication load in each of the communication routes. The selection device selects a node device on the basis of comparison result by the comparison device. The participation request information transmission device transmits the participation request information to the selected node device.
US07984181B2 Routing incoming call requests
A method, apparatus, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that in an embodiment dynamically allocate client requests to target servers based on prepare messages sent by the target servers. The addresses of target servers are added to a queue in response to the prepare messages from the target servers. A network interface is then prepared to receive an incoming call request from a client. After the call request arrives from a client, one of the addresses is selected from the queue. The call request is then sent through a tunnel to the target server associated with the selected address.
US07984173B2 Channel bundling
A method and apparatus for processing message is described. In one embodiment, a channel layer is configured to form a channel with a corresponding process. The channel is associated with a group. A plurality of sockets is formed in a transport layer of a group communication protocol. Traffic of messages to and from the processes is distributed across the plurality of sockets in the transport layer.
US07984170B1 Cross-domain communication in domain-restricted communication environments
A messaging frame can be used to allow different domains to communicate in an electronic environment that are otherwise prevented from directly communicating. A messaging frame or other communication element can be configured to receive messages or communications from any frame, object, or element in the same domain as the messaging frame. The messaging frame then can switch to a target domain in order to provide the message or communication to a frame, object, or element in the target domain. The messaging frame can include an interface definition that allows only approved messages to be passed between domains, such that the risk of malicious attack is minimized.
US07984164B2 Server, and packet transferring method and program therefor
A server that relays packet data transmitted and received between a first terminal and a second terminal among plurality of terminals, includes a transfer table storing unit configured to store a transfer table in which a connection address pair, includes a first connection address and a second connection address, is registered, and a connection establishment message processing unit configured to transmit a SYN ACK message as a response message to a SYN message, upon receiving the SYN message, for establishing a TCP connection from each of the terminals. The first connection address is used to connect the server and the first terminal and the second connection address is used to connect the server and the second terminal.
US07984153B2 System and method for analyzing domino impact of network growth
A system and method for analyzing domino impact of network growth including collecting, via a collector module, network information from one or more domains of a communication network. Also, the system and method may include processing, via an analytical module, the network information in order to determine a domino impact of growth of the communication network, wherein processing the network information comprises determining a number of lower network resources and a number of higher network resources within plurality types of networks in the one or more domains of the communication network and outputting, via a presentation module, the processed network information collected from the one or more domains of the communication network.
US07984150B2 Cell compatibilty in multiprocessor systems
In one embodiment, a multiprocessor computer system comprises at least a first partition having a first operating system comprising logic to initiate a request to add a first cell to the first partition, open a communication interface between the first operating system and a firmware module on the first cell, and transmit from the first partition to the first cell a compatibility command, logic in the first cell to determine whether the first cell is compatible with the first partition, and logic in the first partition to add the first cell to the first partition in response to a determination that the first cell is compatible with the first partition.
US07984147B2 Apparatus and method for identifying a requested level of service for a transaction
An apparatus for identifying a requested level of service for a transaction wherein the transaction may be processed in accordance with the requested level of service. The invention is preferably embodied in computer readable program code stored in suitable storage media, and comprises, program code for selecting the requested level of service for the transaction, and program code for assigning the requested level of service to the transaction. The transaction is preferably a packetized signal comprising at least a data packet having a service tag associated therewith, wherein the service tag includes the requested level of service. The requested level of service can be any suitable factors or combination thereof, and can be assigned at any point on the network. The service tag is read from the transaction using suitable program code (e.g., at a load balancer), and based on the requested level of service, the transaction is directed to and processed by a network device that is best able to provide the requested level of service.
US07984138B2 Apparatus and methods for activity-based management of computer systems
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing computer system management on an activity basis. In one embodiment, computer-system-related items are associated with at least one activity to be performed using the computer system. Then, management procedures are established for the at least one activity. Next, when the computer system is used to perform the at least one activity, the computer-system-related items associated with the at least one activity are managed in accordance with the management procedures established for the at least one activity. In another embodiment, apparatus and methods monitor patterns of use of a computer system. Using information gathered during monitoring operations, activity models are formulated, and for each activity model a management plan is devised. After management plans have been devised for each activity model, the use of the computer system is monitored to identify actions being performed with the computer system. The identified actions are then compared with the activity models to determine which activity model best fits the identified actions. Management of computer-system-related items associated with the activity is then performed using the management plan associated with the activity model that best fits the actions being performed with the computer system.
US07984137B2 Methods and apparatus for maintaining a map of node relationships for a network
The invention is directed to techniques for maintaining a map of node relationships for a network of nodes (e.g., network of computers). In one example, the map of node relationships represents relationships overlaying and typically different from the network of physical connections among the nodes. Each child node periodically checks in with its parent nodes, and the parent nodes can thus determine when a child node has terminated a relationship with the parent or created a new relationship with a new parent. Changes in relationships propagate upward through the network of nodes so that each node maintains a map of the relationships among the descendants of that node. A root node receives the propagated change relationship information and maintains a map of the entire network and valid pathways through the network. The root node can use the map when responding to a request from a client to receive services from a node in the network and redirects the client to attach to a node in the network that has a valid path to the root node. The root node can then broadcast data (e.g. a stream of video data) throughout the network, which is received by all the clients attached to nodes in the network.
US07984136B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining locations of interconnected processing modules and for verifying consistency of interconnect wiring of processing modules
Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically determining locations of interconnected processing modules are disclosed. Physical identifiers are determined for each of a plurality of processing modules connected to each other in a linear topology. Communications are iteratively disabled with each of the processing modules. Discover messages are sent to active, reachable processing modules and responses are received from the active processing modules that receive the discover messages. Based on the number of responses, the location of each processing module is determined.
US07984130B2 Multimedia next generation network architecture for IP services delivery based on network and user policy
The exemplary Multimedia Next Generation Network architecture disclosed herein covers the entire next generation system, e.g. for wireless communication services, including application, signaling and bearer functionalities. The architecture addresses unification of subscriber databases for both SIP services and non-SIP services in a Services Data Management Center (SDMC). A Security Center (SC) provides a central repository for all security related databases and functions. An Application Control Point (ACP) provides a single point of services control for all active SIP services for all subscribers via state information and services interaction management. Policy decisions are made at the packet layer, for example in an Advanced Bearer Control Point (ABCP) clustered with other functions to form a Bearer Services Control Point (BSCP). Policy enforcement is implemented at various nodes at the network or packet layer (L3) and above, e.g. including the BSCP and ACP.
US07984122B2 Dedicated processor core request
Processor core data regarding a client device is received from the client device. A processor core configuration is determined based on the processor core data. The processor core configuration may include instructions for instructing the client device to dedicate a task to a processor core in a plurality of processor cores of the client device. The processor core configuration is transmitted to the client device. A configuration success message is received from the client device. The configuration success message may indicate that the client device successfully implemented the processor core configuration. A virtual world module is then transformed from a first state wherein certain functionality is not provided by the virtual world to a second state wherein the functionality is provided. The virtual world module may be configured to provide the virtual world to the client device.
US07984119B2 Template configuration tool for application servers
A template configuration tool includes a template tool core and template processor plug-ins. The template processor plug-ins auto-configure components of an Application Server (“AS”) instance based on component templates containing configuration information. The template tool core loads the components templates and the processor plug-ins and invokes functions of the template processor plug-ins to auto-configure the components of the AS instance.
US07984117B2 Networking method and apparatus
A networking method and apparatus for managing information between a master device and a slave device is provided. In the network, a master device and at least one slave device are connected to each other via an RS-232 port. Through the operation of the network, the master device can obtain the identifiers (IDs) of the slave devices, and connections among the slave devices can be ascertained. Accordingly, a majority of digital home appliances establish a network using a communication medium, such as RS-232 provided to a fundamental external interface. The present invention enables digital home appliances connected on the network to exchange information.
US07984114B2 Direct access to content and services available on an entertainment system
A method and system for providing direct access to content available on an entertainment system. The entertainment system includes a head end and a plurality of user terminals connected by a distribution system. In operation of the entertainment system, a display promoting content available for direct access by a user is provided at a user terminal. A selection input made by the user on an input device is received at the user terminal. The content being promoted when the selection input was made by the user is then provided from the head end to the user terminal.
US07984112B2 Optimizing batch size for prefetching data over wide area networks
A data prefetching technique optimizes the batch size of prefetch requests. The optimized batch size may be determined based on a prefetch transfer time of a previous prefetch operation, where the prefetch transfer time is measured as an elapsed time interval from when data from the previous prefetch operation is first received to when the data from the previous prefetch operation is finished being received.
US07984111B2 Software applications incorporating functionalities based on data-type and access
A process of sending and receiving data by a wireless device through a wireless network is disclosed. Access criteria are set for at least one of the wireless device and applications running on the wireless device. At least one query is formulated by one of the applications running on the wireless device and the query is sent over the wireless network. Data is received in response to the query, wherein the data received is based on the access criteria and the access criteria relate to an access of the wireless device to the wireless network.
US07984108B2 Computer system para-virtualization using a hypervisor that is implemented in a partition of the host system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest operating systems to run and communicate amongst each other within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical/virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical/virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher-level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition. The ultravisor partition maintains the master database of the hardware resource allocations and serves as a command channel to accept transactional requests for assignment of resources to partitions while also providing individual read-only views of individual partitions to the associated partition monitors.
US07984106B2 Messaging system
A message status bartering system is established in a peer-to-peer messaging environment. A message status is made available to a user of the peer-to-peer messaging environment. A bartering engine is used to determine whether an attempted communication with the user is to be allowed based on the message status in use. If the communication is disallowed, the bartering engine can be used to establish a bartering agreement between the parties.
US07984104B1 Method and system for content driven electronic messaging
A system and method for intelligent electronic message routing. An Informant server transmits an electronic message to be routed to a destination and stores a plurality of stylesheets containing routing information for the electronic message. The electronic message includes a reference to the plurality of stylesheets, and a service provider server receives the electronic message from the Informant server, processes the reference to the plurality of stylesheets included in the electronic message, and routes the electronic message to the destination based on the routing information contained in the plurality of stylesheets. A communications device, which defines the destination of the electronic message, receives the routed electronic message from the service provider server.
US07984096B2 Service-oriented architecture for process control systems
A service-oriented architecture for process control systems is disclosed. In one example, a method for conveying process control information between a client process and a server process in a process control system establishes a server process including a plurality of process control services, each of which has a corresponding service interface. The example method also establishes a client process having a proxy for each of the plurality of services to which the client process establishes a communicative connection. Additionally, the example method provides port information associated with the service interfaces to the client process to enable the conveyance of process control information between the client process and the server process.
US07984092B2 FIR filter process and FIR filter arrangement
The present invention relates to a FIR filter process (1′) and to a respective FIR filter arrangement (1) wherein at least one multiplex mode is given which is characterized in that in the respective summation stage (30′) or summation block (30) partial summations are carried out and controlled in conformity with a multiplexed structure underlying a multiplexed input signal (MS) in order to obtain partial sums (Σpk-1) as accordingly filtered single signals.
US07984089B2 User-defined indexing of multimedia content
Methods, systems, and computer program products for arbitrarily indexing multimedia content. In accordance with example embodiments, a multimedia content stream that comprises one or more samples is received. At least one of the samples is passed to one or more multimedia filters for analysis based on criteria that define an index type for the multimedia filter. Once it is determined that the sample meets the criteria for an arbitrary filter and index type, an index entry that identifies both the sample and the index type of the arbitrary filter is created. The index entry is adapted in accordance with a common, extensible indexing scheme to coexist with other index entries of other or the same index type for the sample. The created index entry is stored for subsequent access.
US07984088B2 Method for supporting multiple filesystem implementations
A data structure used by an operating system to refer to a filesystem object includes information that permits the structure to be associated with filesystem objects having different filesystem implementations. The data structure is associated with a filesystem object that is linked into different directories that have different filesystem implementations. Therefore, the data structure includes respective information within it about each different link. As a result, a filesystem object, such as a directory, having one filesystem implementation may be created in or moved to another directory having a different filesystem implementation; or, a file may be linked in multiple directories having different implementations.
US07984084B2 Non-volatile memory with scheduled reclaim operations
In a non-volatile memory array, scheduling of reclaim operations to occur before a shortage of erased blocks arises avoids extended periods of reclaim that could exceed a time limit. A memory controller uses information regarding the data stored in the memory array to estimate the additional host data that may be programmed and the reclaim operations to be performed and schedules the reclaim operations to be evenly distributed between write operations until the memory is full.
US07984079B2 System and method for electronically managing medical data files
A network server arrangement including a processor with a machine readable storage encoded with software for execution by the processor. The network server arrangement is responsive to requests to access a medical record of an individual and generates summary medical record data including summary information having a plurality of data elements associated with the individual, at least one of the data elements conveying medical information about the individual, and a pointers component including at least one pointer pointing to a network location containing importable medical information in connection with the individual that is not contained in the summary information component. The pointer includes a machine readable address part for processing by the client, allowing the client to import the medical information from the network location, and a label part for displaying to a user the nature of the medical information residing at the network location.
US07984071B2 Applying a templated business graph to a business object
A system and computer usable code is provided for using a templated pattern to define part types on a web service definition language (WSDL) interface. Applying the templated pattern enables peer services to define a transparent contract between specific WSDL part types. The templated pattern is used to wrap the original business object with the enriched business graph schema. The templated business graph is created by extending the business graph complex type that is provided by the business object framework runtime and adding an element delegating to the original business object.
US07984070B2 Method and system for establishing and using a social network to facilitate people in life issues
Embodiments described herein provide numerous applications and implementations of a social network to facilitate individuals to resolve various life issues. These issues may include issues that arise when individuals or families relocate, including logistic problems, assimilation of family members in a community, and roommate pairings. As will be described, embodiments described herein greatly facilitate corporations in relocating their employees logistically, and also assist employees and their families with life issues that may determine whether the employees' relocation will be a success.
US07984064B2 Methods and apparatus for managing user access to a computing environment
Methods and apparatus for controlling user access to a computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, a method performed by a user is provided for gaining access to at least one computing device. The method comprises gaining access to the at least one computing device at a first time by providing credential information to the at least one computing device to authenticate the user's identity to the at least one computing device; presenting to the at least one computing device a physical device comprising identifying information to associate the physical device with the user authenticated by the credential information; and gaining access to the at least one computing device at a subsequent time by presenting the physical device to the at least one computing device without providing the credential information.
US07984061B1 Displaying search results
Website search results obtained from searching multiple electronic information stores may be displayed transparently without distinguishing the electronic information store. The search may be performed by a web host and may include receiving at least one search term that then is compared with first electronic information within a first electronic information store to determine whether matches exist, where the first electronic information includes content provided by an internal source. The search term also is compared with second electronic information within a second electronic information store to determine whether matches exist, where the second electronic information includes content provided by an external source. Results are displayed based on matches that are determined to exist with the first electronic information and the second electronic information. The results are combined in a single list of results.
US07984060B2 Model content provider with reusable components for supporting a plurality of GUI API's
A user-friendly query modeling tool, for representing, creating, modifying and modeling a query language statement for use in retrieving data from a database. In accordance with the present invention, the tool includes a user interface for receiving or building and manipulating a query, a query model definition for use in populating instances of one or more query models, and a model content provider for receiving query elements from the user interface and providing them to the query model, and conversely, for retrieving query elements from the query model and providing them to the user interface. The model content provider has a hierarchical architecture including lower level API specific components for supporting a plurality of GUI API'S, and higher level API-independent, reusable components. This architecture facilitates scalability in terms of adding support for new API's.
US07984059B2 Method and system for transferring data between MIME attachments and relational databases
A method and a system for the transfer of data contained in an electronic message, in particular a MIME attachment, to a relational database comprising the steps of providing an XML sequence, which determines, how the data is to be processed, executing a sequencer, which takes the message and the XML sequence as input, wherein the executing of the sequence comprises the execution of at least one SQL statement for accessing the relational database.
US07984057B2 Query composition incorporating by reference a query definition
The present invention provides a computer method and system for querying or searching for at least one data file corresponding to a query definition. A first query is received which may provide a query definition that may be used as a scope of search for a second query. Modifications of the scope of search based on modification of the first query may be automatically reflected in the scope of search for the second query. The scope of search for the second query may further be a combination of a plurality of scopes based on a plurality of user-defined queries.
US07984056B1 System for facilitating discovery and management of feeds
A web feed portal can enable users to discover new web feeds and manage existing subscriptions of feeds. Recommended feeds can be generated for a user that reflect the user's interests or that are popular within a user community. Users can subscribe to feeds by selecting recommended web feeds or by contributing web feeds to the web feed portal. The user's web feed subscriptions can also be ranked to display the feeds in order of update time and/or time viewed by the user.
US07984053B2 System, method, and software for identifying historically related legal cases
The American legal system, judges and lawyers are continually researching an ever-expanding body of past judicial opinions, or case law, for the ones most relevant to resolution of new disputes. To facilitate these searches, some companies collect and publish the judicial opinions of courts across the United States in both paper and electronic forms, with some of the cases containing references to prior cases from other courts that have previously ruled on all or part of the same dispute. Identifying the prior cases is problematic, because, for example, conventional computer text-matching not only suggests too many non-prior cases, but also misses too many actual prior cases. Accordingly, the present inventors devised systems, methods, and software that generally facilitate identification of one or more documents that are related to a given document, and particularly facilitate identification of prior cases for a given case. One specific embodiment retrieves prior-case candidates based on information extracted from an input case, and then uses a support vector machine to determine which of the prior-case candidates are most probably prior cases for the input case.
US07984052B2 System and method for integration of data records having differing data types to a geographical information system
According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a computing system generally includes a geographical information system that is coupled to a data record interface. The data record interface is operable to receive a data record having a data type that is different from a second data type used by the geographical information system. The data record may then determine the data type of the data record and accordingly invoke a particular plug-in that is operable to convert the first data type to the second data type. The data record interface may then transmit the converted data record to the geographical information system.
US07984048B2 Methods and systems for providing a response to a query
Methods and systems for providing a response to a query. Multiple users' search engine activity in regard to a query is correlated. A response is provided based upon this correlated search engine activity information. For one embodiment of the invention, in the context of search engine result optimization, the user activity and/or user information of multiple users, during a search session, is correlated with queries to effect an evolving association between queries and the organization and presentation of documents. Systems in accordance with such embodiments employ the ability to store users' activity over the entire search session, thus making possible the correlation of a number of different types of user activity and user information. The use of correlated user input allows such systems to provide relevant search results without the limitations imposed by the key-word-based systems of the prior art.
US07984047B2 System for extracting relevant data from an intellectual property database
A method of extracting publications relevant to a reference entity, comprising the steps of generating an initial set of publications; associating the initial set with a database to generate a user-engageable display of at least one element relating to the at least one publication such that the at least one element is a required characteristic of the at least one publication in accordance with a predetermined standard of analysis; selecting at least a first element from the at least one element that represents a characteristic not present in the reference entity; yielding a result including publications in the initial set and excluding publications relating to the selected at least a first element in accordance with the predetermined standard of analysis.
US07984044B2 System or program for searching documents
In document search for searching a document by use of a query formula composed of a Boolean formula of keywords, a plurality of query formulas arriving at about the same time from a plurality of users are efficiently processed. A system or a program for searching documents includes: a query formula controller for sorting a plurality of query formulas into a plurality of query formula sets based on predicted search speeds of the respective query formulas; and a search unit for searches for the plurality of sorted query formula sets sequentially from the set having the fastest predicted search speed, and for, in each search processing, merging the query formulas in the corresponding query formula set into a formula and thereby searching from the merged formula.
US07984033B2 Data control system capable of present current image of writer with data
A data control system is disclosed, including a storage unit that stores multiple data items and a presentation unit that presents at least one of the multiple data items upon a request. An identification acquisition unit acquires upon the request identification for identifying one of multiple imaging units. The identification is registered and related to the data item to be presented. An image data acquisition unit acquires image data using the imaging unit the identification of which is acquired by the identification acquisition unit. An image presentation unit presents the at least one of the multiple data items and the image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit.
US07984023B2 Method and utility for copying files from a faulty disk
The present invention provides a faulty disk copy utility. A method for copying files in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: obtaining a list of files to be copied from a first location to a second location; initiating copying of a file from the list; logging an identifier of the file in a log file if an error occurs during the copying; and repeating the copying and logging for each file in the list of files; wherein the copying of the files from the list does not end if an error occurs during the copying.
US07984018B2 Efficient point-to-multipoint data reconciliation
Efficient reconciliation of different versions of a target file or dataset can be facilitated using a hash hierarchy of a master version of the dataset. Each level of the hash hierarchy has hashes of blocks of the master version that may be sub-blocks of the hashes in the level above. The top level of the hash hierarchy, having the hashes of the largest blocks of the master, may be transmitted on a first communication channel, possibly a one-way or broadcast communication channel. Streams of encodings of each lower level of the hash hierarchy may be transmitted on respective communication channels. The encodings for a level of the hierarchy may be combinations, such as random linear combinations, of the hashes of that level. A receiver with a target dataset can receive the top level hashes from the first channel and use them to determine which lower hashes are needed to identify parts of the master missing from the target. The encodings can be used to help obtain needed lower level hashes that can be used to more finely identify missing parts. Different receivers may not have to wait for a particular piece of information about the master. Rather, any received information (e.g. encoding) about the master will most likely allow any receiver to advance its understanding of the master dataset. Receivers will usually not have to wait for delivery of a particular hash in the hierarchy.
US07984016B2 Method for asynchronous replication of a hierarchically-indexed data store
Changes such as write operations on a replication source comprising a hierarchically-indexed file system and associated data store are tracked and aggregated over a point-in-time image replication interval and communicated to a replication target. The replication target receives the changes, conducts operations to make the changes on a target volume or portion thereof, and conducts a point-in-time image replication operation to synchronize the replication target with the replication source. In the present invention the advantages of replication techniques developed for log-structured file systems are provided to systems with conventional hierarchical file systems. The invention also facilitates maintaining point-in-time retrievable images of a volume or portion thereof on a target volume while reducing the bandwidth and processing burden associated with replication.
US07984013B2 Method and apparatus for learning behavior in software robot
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for learning behavior in a software robot. The method includes detecting a kind of an object in cyberspace related to a kind of presently manifested action, and a kind and the variation of at least one state among percept states or emotional states preset so as to change in relation to the kind of the action; finding episodes respectively corresponding to each of one or more objects in the cyberspace, each of one or more emotional states and each of one or more percept states, respectively defined in the software robot, a kind of an object in cyberspace related to the detected kind of the action among multiple episodes for responding a combination of kinds of respective one or more actions and for storing variation related to each state, and a kind of at least one state among percept states or emotional states preset so as to change in relation to the kind of the action; using variation stored in response to the found episode and variation generated in response to the manifested action, and calculating a representative variation; and storing the representative variation as a variation of the found episode.
US07984005B2 Enhanced artificial intelligence language
A method of implicitly forming a context in a dialogue with a computer includes forming megacategories linking one or more attributes to one of a plurality of response templates. The method also includes determining a megacategory by comparing attributes having true variables from a previous input to attributes having true variables in the present input and selecting an appropriate response template corresponding to the megacategory.
US07984002B2 Automatic source code generation for computing probabilities of variables in belief networks
A system for computing probabilities of variables in a belief network includes a data acquisition interface configured to receive data representative of the belief network. The system further includes a partial evaluator configured to carry out a partial evaluation algorithm that determines the probability calculations that must be performed on the received data in order to compute the probabilities of the variables in the belief network. The system further includes a source code generator configured to output the probability calculations as a source code in a programming language.
US07983995B2 System and method for dispensing, sorting and delivering prescription and non-prescription medications through the post office
A pharmacy post office receives prescriptions and produces through an automated pill dispensing and packaging system machine-sortable pharmacy letters that are sortable by automated mail sorting machines into postal delivery routes and delivered as first class or priority mail pieces by the postal delivery persons along their customary routes. A track and trace system may provide a delivery schedule to the patient and/or prescribing doctor based on the time of day the pharmacy letter is provided to the automated mail sorting machines. When a pharmacy letter is delivered by the postal delivery person, he or she scans the tracking code and transmits information back to the track and trace system, which then updates its delivery schedule to show the completed delivery.
US07983986B1 System for card activity-based mortgage crediting
An electrical digital computer machine and a data processing system, methods of making and for using the machine, products produced thereby, as well as data structures and articles of manufacture pertaining thereto, and all necessary intermediates of that which is discussed herein, all in the field of computerized aspects of card crediting to mortgages and the like. More particularly, there is a method for card activity-based mortgage crediting, the method including the steps of: associating card activity with a mortgage of a cardholder; crediting an amount to the mortgage responsive to the card activity; and generating output including the charge card activity-based mortgage crediting; wherein at least some of the steps are carried out by a digital electrical computer.
US07983975B2 Financial advisory system
A financial advisory system is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, return scenarios for optimized portfolio allocations are simulated interactively to facilitate financial product selection. Return scenarios for each asset class of a plurality of asset classes are generated based upon estimated future scenarios of one or more economic factors. A mapping from each financial product of an available set of financial products onto one or more asset classes of the plurality of asset classes is created by determining exposures of the available set of financial products to each asset class of the plurality of asset classes. In this way, the expected returns and correlations of a plurality of financial products are generated and used to produce optimized portfolios of financial products. Return scenarios are simulated for one or more portfolios including combinations of financial products from the available set of financial products based upon the mapping.
US07983970B1 Secure telewire process for authorizing wire transfers
Methods and systems for automatic verification and/or authorization of wire transfers by a telewire service provider are described. In one embodiment, a wire transfer agency database stores agency information including verified telephone numbers for each agency. When a wire transfer order is placed from a verified telephone number, automatic number identification transmitted with the telephone call is detected, the order is only allowed to be processed automatically if that telephone number in the database matches the calling agency, and the order receipt is successfully sent to that agency. Because the agency has been automatically associated with the order, the possibility of fraud and/or error is decreased, and the wire transfer can be automatically authorized after a delay time allowing the agency to issue changed instructions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07983961B1 Methods and apparatus for marketing profiling while preserving user privacy
Techniques are described for collecting user descriptive data as a user employs a client device, such as a personal computer, laptop, PDA, or the like. The data is evaluated and a profile code is assigned based upon the evaluation. This profile code is selected from a domain of profile codes established so that useful markets for targeted advertising are identified by the profile codes, but the profile codes are not so specific that the user's privacy is unduly threatened.