Document	Document Title
US08232239B2	Liquid concentrated fabric softener composition Disclosed are concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softener compositions comprising a quaternary ammonium cation and benzylated alcohol solvent having between 50% to 90% weight active ingredients. Benzyl alcohol is disclosed as a preferred solvent to produce a clear liquid solution formulation rather than emulsion. The concentrated liquid rinse cycle fabric softener compositions of the present invention possess desirable stability, sustainability and fabric-softening properties. Methods of use are further described.
US08232222B2	Catalyst and process A catalyst composition comprises the reaction product of an alkoxide or condensed alkoxide of a metal M, selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminum, or a lanthanide, an alcohol containing at least two hydroxyl groups, a 2-hydroxy carboxylic acid and a base, wherein the ratio of equivalents of base to —COOH acid equivalents of said 2-hydroxy carboxylic acid is in the range 0.0033-0.2:1. The composition is useful as a catalyst for esterification reactions, especially for the production of polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate.
US08232221B2	Zeolite supported metallic nanodots A metal nanodot material is formed by ion-exchange with chabazite or a chabazite-like structure, followed by activation to form metallic nanodots. The nanodot may be formed from silver, nickel, copper, gold or a platinum group metal.
US08232211B1	Methods for self-aligned self-assembled patterning enhancement Methods for producing self-aligned, self-assembled sub-ground-rule features without the need to use additional lithographic patterning. Specifically, the present disclosure allows for the creation of assist features that are localized and self-aligned to a given structure. These assist features can either have the same tone or different tone to the given feature.
US08232206B2	Methods of forming electrical contacts to structures that are at different heights over a substrate relative to one another Electroless plating can be utilized to form electrical interconnects associated with semiconductor substrates. For instance, a semiconductor substrate can be formed to have a dummy structure thereover with a surface suitable for electroless plating, and to also have a digit line thereover having about the same height as the dummy structure. A layer can be formed over the dummy structure and digit line, and openings can be formed through the layer to the upper surfaces of the dummy structure and digit line. Subsequently, a conductive material can be electroless plated within the openings to form electrical contacts within the openings. The opening extending to the dummy structure can pass through a capacitor electrode, and accordingly the conductive material formed within such opening can be utilized to form electrical contact to the capacitor electrode.
US08232199B2	Method of fabricating semiconductor device comprises a photoresist pattern having a desired critical dimension A method of fabricating a semiconductor device and a fabrication system of the semiconductor device are provided. The method includes sequentially forming a film to be etched and a dielectric film and measuring a thickness of the dielectric film, forming a photoresist film on the dielectric film, performing a lithography process using the measured thickness of the dielectric film to form a photoresist film pattern, and etching the dielectric film and the film to be etched using the photoresist film pattern.
US08232196B2	Interconnect structure having a via with a via gouging feature and dielectric liner sidewalls for BEOL integration An interconnect structure including a lower interconnect level with a first dielectric layer having a first conductive material embedded therein; a dielectric capping layer located on the first dielectric layer and some portions of the first conductive material; an upper interconnect level including a second dielectric layer having at least one via opening filled with a second conductive material and at least one overlying line opening filled with the second conductive material disposed therein, wherein the at least one via opening is in contact with the first conductive material in the lower interconnect level by a via gouging feature; a dielectric liner on sidewalls of the at least one via opening; and a first diffusion barrier layer on sidewalls and a bottom of both the at least one via opening and the at least one overlying line opening. A method of forming the interconnect structure is also provided.
US08232195B2	Method for fabricating back end of the line structures with liner and seed materials A sputter-etching method employed to achieve a thinned down noble metal liner layer deposited on the surface or field of an intermediate back end of the line (BEOL) interconnect structure. The noble metal liner layer is substantially thinned down to a point where the effect of the noble metal has no significant effect in the chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The noble metal liner layer may be completely removed by sputter etching to facilitate effective planarization by chemical-mechanical polishing to take place.
US08232193B2	Method of forming Cu pillar capped by barrier layer A nickel barrier layer is formed on an upper sidewall surface of a Cu pillar. A mask layer with an opening for defining the Cu pillar window has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the mask layer is removed after the formation of the Cu pillar so as to expose the upper sidewall surface of the Cu pillar. The nickel barrier layer is then deposited on the exposed sidewall surface of the Cu pillar followed by removing and the lower portion of the mask layer.
US08232188B2	High-K metal gate electrode structures formed by separate removal of placeholder materials using a masking regime prior to gate patterning In a replacement gate approach in sophisticated semiconductor devices, the place-holder material of gate electrode structures of different type are separately removed. Furthermore, electrode metal may be selectively formed in the resulting gate opening, thereby providing superior process conditions in adjusting a respective work function of gate electrode structures of different type. In one illustrative embodiment, the separate forming of gate openings in gate electrode structures of different type may be based on a mask material that is provided in a gate layer stack.
US08232183B2	Process and apparatus for wafer-level flip-chip assembly A method of forming an integrated circuit structure is provided. The method includes providing an interposer wafer; mounting the interposer wafer onto a handling wafer; thinning a backside of the interposer wafer; removing the handling wafer from the interposer wafer after the step of thinning; securing the interposer wafer on a fixture; and bonding a die on the interposer wafer.
US08232181B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device is provided, which includes a process in which a transistor is formed over a first substrate; a process in which a first insulating layer is formed over the transistor; a process in which a first conductive layer connected to a source or a drain of the transistor is formed; a process in which a second substrate provided with a second insulating layer is arranged so that the first insulating layer is attached to the second insulating layer; a process in which the second insulating layer is separated from the second substrate; and a process in which a third substrate provided with a second conductive layer which functions as an antenna is arranged so that the first conductive layer is electrically connected to the second conductive layer.
US08232168B2	Method for making asymmetric double-gate transistors by which asymmetric and symmetric double-gate transistors can be made on the same substrate A method for fabricating a microelectronic device with one or plural double-gate transistors, including: a) forming one or plural structures on a substrate including at least a first block configured to form a first gate of a double-gate transistor, and at least a second block configured to form the second gate of said double-gate, the first block and the second block being located on opposite sides of at least one semiconducting zone and separated from the semiconducting zone by a first gate dielectric zone and a second gate dielectric zone respectively, and b) doping at least one or plural semiconducting zones in the second block of at least one given structure among the structures, using at least one implantation selective relative to the first block, the second block being covered by a hard mask, a critical dimension of the hard mask being larger than the critical dimension of the second block.
US08232163B2	Lateral epitaxial grown SOI in deep trench structures and methods of manufacture Deep trench capacitor structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a deep trench structure in a wafer comprising a substrate, buried oxide layer (BOX) and silicon (SOI) film. The method further includes forming a plate on a sidewall of the deep trench structure in the substrate by an implant process. The implant processes contaminate exposed edges of the SOI film in the deep trench structure. The method further includes removing the contaminated exposed edges of the SOI film by an etching process to form a void in the SOI film. The method further includes growing epitaxial Si in the void, prior to completing a capacitor structure.
US08232161B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same A trench is formed so as to reach a p−-type epitaxial layer from an upper surface of a source region. A gate electrode is formed so as to bury the trench. Each of body contact trenches is formed away from the gate electrode. A body contact region is formed at the bottom of the body contact trench. An n-type semiconductor region that is a feature of the present invention is formed in a layer below each body contact region. The impurity concentration of the n-type semiconductor region is higher than a channel forming area and lower than the body contact region.
US08232154B2	Method for fabricating semiconductor device A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A high dielectric constant (high-k) layer and a work function metal layer are formed in sequence on a substrate. A hard mask layer is formed on the work function metal layer, where the material of the hard mask layer is lanthanum oxide. The work function metal layer is patterned by using the hard mask layer as a mask. The hard mask layer is then removed. Afterwards, a gate structure is formed on the substrate.
US08232153B2	Silicon device on Si:C-OI and SGOI and method of manufacture A semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing is provided. The method of manufacturing includes forming shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate and providing a first material and a second material on the substrate. The first material and the second material are mixed into the substrate by a thermal anneal process to form a first island and second island at an nFET region and a pFET region, respectively. A layer of different material is formed on the first island and the second island. The STI relaxes and facilitates the relaxation of the first island and the second island. The first material may be deposited or grown Ge material and the second material may deposited or grown Si:C or C. A strained Si layer is formed on at least one of the first island and the second island.
US08232148B2	Structure and method to make replacement metal gate and contact metal An electrical device is provided with a p-type semiconductor device having a first gate structure that includes a gate dielectric on top of a semiconductor substrate, a p-type work function metal layer, a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. An n-type semiconductor device is also present on the semiconductor substrate that includes a second gate structure that includes a gate dielectric, a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. An interlevel dielectric is present over the semiconductor substrate. The interlevel dielectric includes interconnects to the source and drain regions of the p-type and n-type semiconductor devices. The interconnects are composed of a metal layer composed of titanium and aluminum, and a metal fill composed of aluminum. The present disclosure also provides a method of forming the aforementioned structure.
US08232144B2	Non-pull back pad package with an additional solder standoff Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor package with a solder standoff on lead pads that reach to the edge of the package (non-pullback leads). It includes encapsulating a plurality of die on a lead frame strip. The lead frame strip comprises a plurality of package sites, which further comprises a plurality of lead pads and a die pad. The method also includes forming a channel between the lead pads of nearby package sites without singulating the packages. Another step in the method includes disposing solder on the lead pads, the die pad, or the lead pads and the die pads without substantially covering the channel with solder. The manufacturing method further includes singulating the packages.
US08232143B2	Device formed using a hard mask and etch stop layer A method of etching a device in one embodiment includes providing a silicon carbide substrate, forming a silicon nitride layer on a surface of the silicon carbide substrate, forming a silicon carbide layer on a surface of the silicon nitride layer, forming a silicon dioxide layer on a surface of the silicon carbide layer, forming a photoresist mask on a surface of the silicon dioxide layer, and etching the silicon dioxide layer through the photoresist mask.
US08232137B2	Heat conduction for chip stacks and 3-D circuits A semiconductor device assembly and method can include a single semiconductor layer or stacked semiconductor layers, for example semiconductor wafers or wafer sections (semiconductor dice). On each semiconductor layer, a diamond layer formed therethrough can aid in the routing and dissipation of heat. The diamond layer can include a first portion on the back of the semiconductor layer, and one or more second portions which extend vertically into the semiconductor layer, for example completely through the semiconductor layer. Thermal contact can then be made to the diamond layer to conduct heat away from the one or more semiconductor layers. A conductive via can be formed through the diamond layers to provide signal routing and heat dissipation capabilities.
US08232134B2	Rapid thermal method and device for thin film tandem cell A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a transparent substrate comprising a surface region. A first transparent electrode layer is formed overlying the surface region. A multilayered structure including a copper material and an indium material is formed overlying a electrode surface region. The multilayered structure is subjected to a plurality of sulfur bearing entities during a rapid thermal process to form an absorber material comprising a copper entity, an indium entity, and a sulfur entity. The rapid thermal process uses a ramp time ranging from about 10 Degrees Celsius/second to about 50 Degrees Celsius/second. In a specific embodiment, the first transparent electrode layer is maintained to a sheet resistance of less than or equal to about 10 Ohms/square centimeters and an optical transmission of 90 percent and greater.
US08232131B2	Image sensor module and method of manufacturing the same An image sensor module includes a semiconductor chip. Photodiode units are disposed in an active region of the semiconductor chip to convert light into electric signals. Pads are disposed in a peripheral region formed around the active region and the pads are electrically connected to the photodiode units. A connecting region is formed around the peripheral region. Re-distribution layers are electrically connected to respective pads and extend to the connecting region. A transparent substrate covers the photodiode units and the pads and exposes at least a portion of the re-distribution layers. Connecting layers are electrically connected to the respective re-distribution layers and extend to a top surface of the transparent substrate. Connecting members are connected to the respective connecting layers disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate.
US08232127B2	Thermo-electric semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A thermo-electric semiconductor device is provided. The thermo-electric semiconductor device includes: a first electrode layer; a spacer layer formed on the first electrode layer and having a plurality of pillars with a uniform height, the plurality of pillars thermally grown and protruded on a surface of the spacer layer; and a second electrode layer formed over the spacer layer in such a manner as to contact tops of the protruded pillars.
US08232122B2	Method for fabricating light emitting diode chip A method for fabricating an LED chip is provided. Firstly, a SiO2 pattern layer is formed on a top surface of a substrate. Then, lighting structures are grown on a portion of the top surface of substrate without the SiO2 pattern layer thereon. Thereafter, the SiO2 pattern layer is removed by wet etching to form spaces between bottoms of the lighting structures and substrate. An etching solution is used to permeate into the spaces and etch the lighting structures from the bottoms thereof, whereby the lighting structures each with a trapezoid shape is formed. Sidewalls of each of the lighting structures are inclined inwardly along a top-to-bottom direction.
US08232120B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor light-emitting apparatus and semiconductor light-emitting apparatus A method includes forming a light-emission operating layer on a growth substrate; forming a reflection insulating layer on the light-emission operating layer; forming opening portions in the insulating layer; forming a contact portion which has a thickness adapted to flatten the opening portions and has been embedded into the opening portions; forming an electrode layer on the insulating layer and the contact portions; forming a first bonding metal layer on the electrode layer; preparing a supporting substrate in which a second bonding metal layer has been formed; and making the first and second bonding metal layers molten and joined.
US08232114B2	RTP spike annealing for semiconductor substrate dopant activation A semiconductor substrate has a plurality of active device patterns. At least some of the active device patterns comprise doped regions. The substrate has a plurality of surface regions, including the active device patterns and un-patterned regions, with respectively different reflectances for light in a near infrared wavelength. A first difference is determined, between a largest reflectance at the near infrared wavelength and a smallest reflectance at the near infrared wavelength. A second infrared wavelength is determined, for which a second difference between a largest reflectances a smallest reflectance is substantially less than the first difference at the near infrared wavelength. A rapid thermal processing (RTP) spike annealing dopant activation step is performed on the substrate using a second light source providing light at the second wavelength.
US08232109B2	Micro-pixelated active-matrix fluid-assay performance A method of performing a fluid-material assay employing a device including at least one active pixel having a sensor with an assay site functionalized for selected fluid-assay material. The method includes exposing the pixel's sensor assay site to such material, and in conjunction with such exposing, and employing the active nature of the pixel, remotely requesting from the pixel's sensor assay site an assay-result output report. The method further includes, in relation to the employing step, creating, relative to the sensor's assay site in the at least one pixel, a predetermined, pixel-specific electromagnetic field environment.
US08232103B2	Merge stop gate for an automated laboratory sample handling worksystem A method for replacing a first sample carried on a moving secondary conveyor onto a moving primary conveyor at a potential interference point while the primary conveyor is transporting a second sample.
US08232098B2	p49/STRAP is a novel protein involved in gene regulation and cell proliferation The invention provides isolated p49/STRAP protein, and isolated nucleic acids encoding a p49/STRAP protein. The inventors have discovered a new protein, named p49/STRAP that is expressed in cardiac tissue and other tissues in mammals. The p49/STRAP protein binds to serum response factor (SRF) and regulates transcription of SRF-responsive genes in the heart. p49/STRAP is also discovered to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, and thus the invention provides a method of inhibiting cancer cell proliferation by contacting the cells with p49/STRAP.
US08232090B2	Strain of Schizochytrium limacinum useful in the production of lipids and extracellular polysaccharides and process thereof The present disclosure provides a novel mutant strain of Schizochytrium limacinum having the Accession No. MTCC 5249, which produces lipids and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) simultaneously. The disclosure further provides a process for simultaneous production of lipids and extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) from the novel mutant strain of Schizochytrium limacinum. The lipids produced from the novel mutant strain of Schizochytrium limacinum comprises docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The disclosure also provides a food, feed, cosmetic, nutritional or therapeutic supplement for humans or animals comprising the cell biomass and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of the mutant strain of Schizochytrium limacinum. A cosmetic composition comprising the extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of Schizochytrium limacinum is also provided that is useful as a base for cosmetics for topical application. The present disclosure further provides a pickle composition and a fat product having improved nutritive value.
US08232079B2	Oligosaccharide synthesizer After various sugar nucleotide solutions and glycosyltransferases (or primers) have been mixed, they are introduced into a reaction tank (column) with primers (or glycosyltransferases) immobilized thereon. Then solutions coming out of the reaction tank are led to an ultrafiltration column. The oligosaccharide synthesizer according to the present invention is equipped with a flow path for ensuring that glycosyltransferases or primers separated by the ultrafiltration column are returned into a container for storing each solution in a sample injector.
US08232076B2	Neurogenin The invention relates to novel neurogenin proteins, nucleic acids and antibodies.
US08232075B2	Rationally designed media for cell culture This invention relates to methods for rationally designing cell culture media for use in cell cultures, e.g., cell cultures employed in polypeptide production; cell culture media designed with the disclosed methods; methods of producing a polypeptide of interest, e.g., an antibody, using such media; polypeptides produced using the methods and media disclosed herein; and pharmaceuticals compositions containing such polypeptides. The rationally designed media contain a concentration of an amino acid that is calculated for use in cell mass, a concentration of the amino acid that is calculated for use in cell maintenance, and a concentration of the amino acid that is calculated for incorporation into the polypeptide of interest.
US08232073B2	Quantification of non-reducing end glycan residual compounds Provided herein are methods of diagnosing or monitoring the treatment of abnormal glycan accumulation or a disorder associated with abnormal glycan accumulation.
US08232059B2	Method of identifying A. baumannii with OXA-131-like drug resistance in diabetic patients A method for identifying A. baumannii with OXA-131-like drug resistance in diabetic patients includes the steps of obtaining a sample from a patient; identifying an isolate as A. baumannii; screening the isolate for genes encoding an OXA-51-like enzyme; sequencing any of the genes encoding an OXA-51-like enzyme; and identifying the isolate as OXA-131-like when the sequence matches the sequence for OXA-90 (SEQ ID NO: 1), OXA-130 (SEQ ID NO: 2), OXA-131 (SEQ ID NO: 3), or OXA-132 (SEQ ID NO: 4). The method may further include the step of identifying the ISAba1 sequence upstream from the gene encoding the OXA-131-like enzyme.
US08232054B2	Method for detecting G-quadruplex, method for detecting G-quadruplex-forming DNA and method for determining telomerase activity A method is provided for specifically detecting a G-quadruplex, and the like. The method is characterized by including the steps of preparing a solution including an anionic planar phthalocyanine and mixing the solution with a sample solution to obtain a liquid mixture. The solution includes an anionic planar phthalocyanine. The method also includes a step of measuring the absorbance at 640 to 740 nm of the obtained liquid mixture.
US08232045B2	Colloidal metal conjugates Colloidal metal conjugates can be produced in high concentrations suitable for direct use, for example, in immunoassays. The colloidal metal conjugates can be used in devices for qualitative, semi-quantitative, or quantitative determination of the presence of compounds in samples, including biological samples.
US08232041B2	Positive resist composition, method of forming resist pattern, and polymeric compound A polymeric compound (A1) includes a structural unit (a0-1) represented by general formula (a0-1), a structural unit (a0-2) represented by general formula (a0-2), and a structural unit (a1-0-1) represented by general formula (a1-0-1), wherein relative to the combined total of all the structural units, the proportion of the structural unit (a0-1) is from 10 to 40 mol %, the proportion of the structural unit (a0-2) is from 5 to 20 mol %, and the proportion of the structural unit (a1-0-1) is from 10 to 55 mol %. [In the formulas, each of R1 and R independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R2, A and B each represents a divalent linking group, R3 represents a cyclic group containing —SO2— within the ring skeleton thereof, and R4 and X1 each represents an acid-dissociable, dissolution-inhibiting group.]
US08232039B2	Polymer and resist composition comprising the same A polymer comprising a structural unit represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X represents a linear or branched chain C1-C6 alkylene group, Z represents a group represented by the formula (Ia): wherein R2 is independently in each occurrence a linear or branched chain C1-C6 alkyl group and m represents an integer of 0 to 15, and a structural unit represented by the formula (II): wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R4 is independently in each occurrence a linear or branched chain C1-C6 alkyl group and n represents an integer of 0 to 4.
US08232038B2	Manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method of light-emitting device Demands such as higher definition, higher opening aperture, and higher reliability on a full-color flat panel display have been increased. Such demands are big objects in advancing higher definition (increase in the number of pixels) of a light-emitting device and miniaturization of each display pixel pitch with reduction in size of the light-emitting device. An organic compound-containing layer is selectively deposited using a laser beam which passes through openings of a mask. An irradiated substrate provided with a light absorption layer and a material layer containing an organic compound and a deposition substrate provided with first electrodes are placed so as to face each other. The light absorption layer is heated by a laser beam which has passed through the openings of the mask, and the organic compound at a position overlapping with the heated region is vaporized, and accordingly the organic compound is selectively deposited over the deposition substrate.
US08232030B2	Curl-free imaging members with a slippery surface Present embodiments are directed to the improvement of flexible imaging members used in electrophotography. More particularly, embodiments pertain to a structurally simplified curl-free flexible electrophotographic imaging member without the need for an anticurl back coating, having a functionally improved top outermost exposed slippery imaging layer which furthers extends service life, and provides a process for making and using the member.
US08232029B2	Methods of fabricating a photomask and use thereof A method of correcting patterns includes attaining a correcting amount distribution map using a photo mask, the photo mask including a transparent substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other and a mask pattern on the first surface, attaining a plurality of shadowing maps based on the correction amount distribution map, each of the shadowing maps including a unit section having a different plane area, and forming a plurality of shadowing regions with shadowing elements in the transparent substrate of the photo mask using respective shadowing maps.
US08232027B2	Hydrogen-permeable structure, method of manufacturing thereof and fuel cell using the same A hydrogen-permeable structure is disclosed, which includes a hydrogen-permeable base in which a fluctuation range of a d value by X-ray analysis measurement is at most 0.05% in a region within 2 μm deep from a surface, and an oxide proton conductive film formed on a surface thereof. The disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing the hydrogen-permeable structure and a fuel cell using the hydrogen-permeable structure.
US08232026B2	Bipolar plates for electrochemical cells In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell such as a fuel cell is provided to include a bipolar plate. The bipolar plate includes a metal substrate defining at least one flow channel having a channel span of no greater than 1.0 millimeter; and the metal substrate includes a stainless steel material less precious than stainless steel SS316L. In certain instances, the channel span is of 0.7 to 0.9 millimeters. In certain other instances, the flow channel has a channel depth of 0.3 to 0.5 millimeters. In yet other instances, the plate substrate includes stainless steel SS301, stainless steel SS302, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the electrochemical cell further includes a gas diffusion layer disposed next to the bipolar plate.
US08232024B2	Variable compressibility gaskets A gasket formed of compressible material and having a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface for providing a fluid seal between a first component and a second component, a plurality of cavities provided within the gasket proximate the first and/or second sealing surfaces and extending over at least a first portion of the gasket to provide increased compressibility of the gasket in the first portion.
US08232022B2	Fuel cell stack clamping structure and solid oxide fuel cell stack A clamping structure for a planar solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising a flexible sheet and a rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet being capable of bending into a primarily convex shape, the rigid, thermally insulating end block shaped as a rectangular base with a planar surface and an opposing surface that is primarily convex in shape, the flexible sheet being placed adjacent to the opposing surface of the rigid, thermally insulating end block, the flexible sheet thereby bending to obtain a shape that is primarily convex. The invention also relates to a solid oxide fuel cell stack and a process for the compression of the stack.
US08232019B2	Fuel cell system The present invention provides a technology related to a fuel cell system capable of adjusting a discharge amount of an odorant discharged to an outside of a moving body according to a state of the moving body. The fuel cell system mounted to a moving body includes: a fuel cell which generates electric power by electrochemically reacting a hydrogen gas with an oxidation gas; and a adjusting portion which adjusts an amount of an odorant to be discharged to an outside of the moving body according to a state of the moving body, the odorant being included in an anode off-gas discharged from an anode side of the fuel cell.
US08232012B2	Process for operating a fuel cell in dry conditions The invention pertains to a process for operating a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), said PEMFC comprising: (a) a membrane comprising at least one fluorinated ionomer [polymer (I)] comprising recurring units derived from tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and from at least one monomer of formula (M): wherein m is an integer between 1 and 6 and X′ is chosen among halogens (Cl, F, Br, I), —O−M+, wherein M+ is a cation selected among H+, NH4+, K+, Li+, Na+, or mixtures thereof, said polymer (I) having an equivalent weight (EW) of from 700 to 850 g/eq.; (b) a cathode; (c) an anode; said process comprising: (i) feeding gaseous reactants at the electrodes at a relative humidity of at most 66%; (ii) maintaining an average current density between 0.05 and 1.5 A/cm2; and (iii) maintaining an average temperature of more than 65° C.
US08232007B2	Electrochemistry of carbon subfluorides Subfluorinated carbonaceous materials obtained through direct fluorination of graphite or coke particles are provided. One set of subfluorinated carbonaceous materials has an average chemical composition CFx in which 0.63
US08232003B2	Lead-palladium battery A storage battery is provided comprising a positive electrode of lead, a negative electrode of palladium, and an electrolyte consisting of an aqueous solution of at least one sulfate salt. Upon charging, lead is converted to lead dioxide and atomic hydrogen is absorbed by the palladium. During discharge, lead dioxide is reduced to the plumbous state and hydrogen is oxidized to hydrogen ions.
US08232001B2	Battery pack A battery pack including: a bare cell including an electrode assembly, and a can to house the electrode assembly; and a protective circuit board including a base plate, disposed on the can. The can includes a cap plate disposed in an opening thereof, including a first terminal that extends toward the protective circuit board. The protective circuit board includes a base plate, a first connection terminal connected to the first terminal, a second connection terminal connected to the cap plate, and a first opening corresponding to the first and second connection terminals.
US08231996B2	Method of cooling a battery pack using flat heat pipes Methods of cooling a battery pack comprising a large number of cells are disclosed in various embodiments. In one embodiment, one or more low thermal resistance heat pipes are used to transfer heat away from the battery pack. In another embodiment, the heat pipes are coupled to a cold plate cooled by circulating liquid.
US08231990B2	Alloy film for a metal separator for a fuel cell, a manufacturing method thereof and a target material for sputtering, as well as a metal separator, and a fuel cell The present invention concerns an alloy film for a metal separator for a fuel cell characterized by containing at least one noble metal element selected from Au and Pt and at least one non-noble metal element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Nb, Hf, and Ta, at a content ratio of noble metal element/non-noble metal element of 35/65 to 95/5, and having a film thickness of 2 nm or more. The present invention also relates to a manufacturing method of an alloy film for the metal separator for the fuel cell and a target material for sputtering, as well as the metal separator and the fuel sell. The alloy film for the metal separator for the fuel cell according to the invention is excellent in the corrosion resistance, has low contact resistance, can maintain the low contact resistance for a long time even in a corrosive environment, and is excellent further in the productivity.
US08231981B2	Acrylic resin, resin boards, transparent electrode boards for touch panels, touch panels, and processes for production of them A method of producing an acrylic resin plate, comprising a step of adding 0.001 to 1 part by weight of a polymerization initiator having 10 hours half life temperature of 80° C. or more and 0.015 to 0.2 parts by weight of cyclohexadiene or terpenoid-based compound into 100 parts by weight of a mixture composed of an alkyl methacrylate having a C1-4 alkyl group and a poly-functional (meth)acrylate to give a polymerizable mixture, and a step of polymerizing said polymerizable mixture; an acrylic resin comprising 3 to 30 wt % of an alkyl methacrylate unit having a C8-20 alkyl group, 2 to 35 wt % of a mono-ethylenically unsaturated monomer unit containing an alkyl methacrylate unit having a C1-4 alkyl group and 35 to 95 wt % of a poly-functional (meth)acrylate unit; an acrylic resin plate made of the resin and production process the same, and a transparent electrode plate for touch panel and a touch panel having them.
US08231979B2	Multiferroic layer, structure including the layer, and methods of forming the layer and the structure The present invention relates to forming the material represented by the following formula (1) into a layer having hexagonal crystalline structure, which is different from the orthorhombic crystalline structure of the material in bulk phase, so that the material can be used more effectively in various fields requiring multiferroic properties by obtaining multiferroic properties enhanced than the conventional multiferroic materials. RMnO3, (R=Lanthanide) . . . (1)
US08231968B2	Natural tourmaline anion fiber and filter and producing method The present invention provides to a method of producing fiber from tourmaline anion fiber; of which, polypropylene or polyethylene chip, TPE and submicrometer tourmaline particle are prepared and then rolled into submicrometer tourmaline agglomerate through granulation by double screw; then, take submicrometer tourmaline agglomerate and polypropylene or polyethylene chip, of which the content of tourmaline agglomerate accounts for 1˜10% of gross weight, and TPE for 1˜40% of gross weight; tourmaline agglomerate and polypropylene or polyethylene are melted into composite fiber or filter material via spinning, such that the fiber or filter material can yield anion and present outstanding gas permeability and mechanical property.
US08231957B2	PTFE membranes and gaskets made therefrom Improved expanded PTFE materials and improved gasket materials made therefrom, the gaskets being capable of forming a seal with greater bolt load retention than is possible with existing PTFE gaskets. The expanded PTFE membranes of the invention can be tailored to exhibit a matrix tensile strength in at least one direction of at least 25,000 psi, a matrix tensile strength ratio in two orthogonal directions of between 0.25 and 4, an orientation index of 50° or less, and a density of 2.0 g/cc or less. The improved gaskets exhibit improved mechanical properties such as high bolt load retention, low creep, high tensile strength, low stress to seal and high crystallinity index.
US08231954B2	Thermoformed articles made from reactive extrusion products of biobased materials The present invention is directed to a method of producing a thermoformable composite by crosslinking PHA and PLA together in the presence of an additive to produce PHA and PLA blend and resins having: (a) a Ts value of up to about 180° C.; and (b) a heat distortion index of up to about 160° C. The thermoformable composite is used to make a food or beverage cup, lid, cutlery item, foodservice item, molded tray, or food storage container. The thermoformable composite comprises from about 5% to about 95% by weight of polylactic acid (PLA), from about 5% to about 95% by weight polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer, and from about 0.01% to about 60% additives wherein the PLA and PHAs being crosslink together by intermolecular means to enhance performance and processability.
US08231945B1	Method for impact deflecting materials Method for making a low cost, light weight impact deflecting material, comprising directionally aligned single walled carbon nanotubes in an epoxy resin composition, that is near impervious to bullets fired at close range at all angles of incidence, that does not deteriorate upon abrasion or when exposed to wide ranges of temperature and humidity, and that when used to construct a protective shield for a body armor vest protects the wearer from blunt trauma effects.
US08231944B1	Method of using silicone coating composition as a tire shine A silicone polymer gel/coating which can be sprayed from an aerosol can preferably has a viscosity of 2,000-5,000 cps. and provides a moisture resistant coating of preferably 20-30 mils to protect components in telephone installation and maintenance applications. It is preferably sprayed from a can using Spray Actuator OTP 0025. It preferably includes a molecular sieve. It can also be used as a tire shine.
US08231936B2	Methods of reducing corrosion between magnesium and another metal Methods of reducing corrosion between magnesium and another metal are disclosed herein. In one method, a corrosion protection material is cold sprayed at an interface formed between the magnesium and the other metal, the corrosion protection material including magnesium. In another method, a cladding layer is applied to heat affected areas of the magnesium and/or the other metal, at a welded joint, or combinations thereof.
US08231928B2	Method for producing a layer on a molded article and use thereof A method for producing a layer on a molded article. The method includes providing a formable film. Galvanically catalytically active nuclei are anchored to at least one region of the formable film provided for the layer. The formable film is shaped so as to form the molded article. A galvanic deposition is performed on a surface of the molded article so as to bond the nuclei to form the layer.
US08231926B2	Marked precoated medical device and method of manufacturing same A medical device, such as a medical wire, which includes a coating applied to the surface of the medical wire. The coating includes a base layer bonded to the surface of the medical wire and an at least partially transparent low-friction top coat applied to the base layer. The base layer includes heat activated pigments that change color when heated above a color shifting temperature. In one embodiment, the color of the pigment in one area contrasts with the color of the pigment in an adjacent area without otherwise affecting the low-friction surface of the coating. The areas of different color created in locations along the length of the low-friction coated medical wire form markings which, as an example, enable a surgeon to determine the length of the medical wire inserted into a body by observing the markings on the portion of the marked medical wire located exterior to the body.
US08231921B2	High performance gellan gums and methods for production thereof The invention relates to high performance gellan gum compositions having a 0.1% curdmeter gel strength of at least about 117 g/cm2, i.e. from about 117 g/cm2 to about 400 g/cm2. The high performance gellan gums have a low acyl content but an increased molecular weight. One embodiment of the invention also relates to processes for producing high performance gellan gums having high clarity. The invention further relates to food and non-food industrial products comprising high performance gellan gums.
US08231914B2	Antioxidant compositions and methods thereto The present invention provides a performance assay that measures the total antioxidant activity of a composition using oxygen uptake in contrast to prior art methods that measure antioxidant capacity by indirectly measuring degradation of a fluorescent compound by following the disappearance of fluorescence. Using the performance antioxidant assay of the present invention, an antioxidant composition having synergistic activity is provided by the present inventors that includes flavonoids such as the flavonol quercetin, mixed tocopherols or tocotrienols, grape skin extract, green tea extract and bush plum. The antioxidant activity of the present composition exceeds 6,000 micromoles Trolox equivalent units per gram using the present invention.
US08231907B2	Nanoparticles for delivery of active agents Milled nanoparticles comprising a biologically active agent, at least one biopolymer and a coating containing at least one coating which is a polymer or ligand.
US08231899B2	Quick release pharmaceutical compositions of drug substances The present invention relates to an oral modified release pharmaceutical composition for the administration of a therapeutically and/or prophylactically effective amount of an active substance (a drug substance) to obtain a relatively fast or quick onset of the therapeutic and/or prophylactic effect. The drug substances contained in a modified release pharmaceutical composition according to the invention are suitably a drug substance which has a very low solubitity under acidic conditions, i.e. under conditions similar to those present in the stomach and/or drug substances which have a pKa value below about 5.5 such as in a range of from about 4 to about 5. The composition is based on a powder comprising a therapeutically and/or prophylactically active substance and has such a particle size that: when the powder is subjected to a sieve analysis, then at least about 90% w/w of the particles passes through sieves 180 μm and the powder is contacted with an aqueous medium to form a particulate composition, which has such a particle size that when the particulate composition is subjected to a sieve analysis, then at least about 50% w/w of the particles passes through sieve 180 μm. Furthermore, the composition, when tested in accordance with the dissolution method (I) defined herein employing 0.07 N hydrochloric acid as dissolution medium, releases at least about 50% w/w of the active substance within the first 20 min of the test.
US08231894B2	Antimicrobial and immunostimulating composition A medical composition comprising an antimicrobially effective and immunostimulating amount of a combination of a β-glucan component and a silver-containing component is disclosed. The medical composition may be adapted for use topically or incorporated with a mesh material which may be further adapted for use as a wound dressing or as a surgical mesh. Methods for manufacturing the medical compositions described herein are also provided. The invention further provides methods for treating tissue damaged by wound or burn, and methods for treating or repairing tissue at a surgical site.
US08231892B2	Biodegradable drug delivery system A drug delivery system (DDS) comprised of segmented biodegradable implants sized and suitable for implantation in an ocular region or site and methods for treating ocular conditions. The segmented implants provide an extended release of an active agent at a therapeutically effective amount for a period of time between 50 days and one year, or longer, and permit the DDS to have segments that possess individual and different drug release characteristics.
US08231890B2	Hydrogels that undergo volumetric expansion in response to changes in their environment and their methods of manufacture and use Hydrogels that expand volumetrically in response to a change in their environment (e.g., a change in pH or temperature) and their methods of manufacture and use. Generally, the hydrogels are prepared by forming a liquid reaction mixture that contains a) monomer(s) and/or polymer(s) at least portion(s) of which are sensitive to environmental changes (e.g., changes in pH or temperature), b) a crosslinker and c) a polymerization initiator. If desired, a porosigen may be incorporated into the liquid reaction mixture to create pores. After the hydrogel is formed, the porosigen is removed to create pores in the hydrogel. The hydrogel may also be treated to cause it to assume a non-expanded volume in which it remains until a change in its environment causes it to expand. These hydrogels may be prepared in many forms including pellets, filaments, and particles. Biomedical uses of these hydrogels include applications wherein the hydrogel is implanted in the body of a patient and an environmental condition at the implantation site causes the hydrogel to expand in situ.
US08231883B2	Silver-based inorganic antimicrobial agent and method for preparing the same Disclosed are a powder of a silver-based inorganic antimicrobial agent with superior dispersability or water permeability, composed of silver-supporting hexagonal zirconium phosphate, and an antimicrobial product and a water processing material using the silver-based inorganic antimicrobial agent powder. The silver-based inorganic antimicrobial agent containing hexagonal zirconium phosphate crystals, which has a particle size distribution to enable easy handling as a powder and contribute to exhibition of antimicrobial properties, can be prepared by a preparation method including wet-heating zirconium carbonate. When the silver-based inorganic antimicrobial agent wherein particles with a size of 10 μm to 100 μm are 90% or more on a volume basis is kneaded into resin products, since aggregation or the like may not occur and the silver-based inorganic antimicrobial agent can be easily exposed on the surface of molded articles, antimicrobial effects are thus readily exhibited on the surface.
US08231871B2	Perorally administrable antimicrobial composition The invention relates to medicine and the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, in particular to antibiotic preparative forms. The inventive antimicrobial composition contains antibiotic selected from a group of lincosamides, broad-spectrum penicillins, cephalosporins, macrolides, tetracyclines, and lactulose at the active component ratio of 1:1-1:100. The mean particle size of lactulose ranges from 100 nm to 200 μm. Said composition is embeddable in a solid state and in the form of a syrup or a suspension. When applicable, pharmaceutically acceptable excipients are added into the composition in such a way that it takes a form acceptable for peroral administration.
US08231853B2	Method for producing of ultra-dispersed carbon A method for producing of ultra-dispersed carbon comprises the steps of introducing gaseous methane and chlorine into passageways (3 and 4) of a burner (2) communicating with a chamber (1) of a reactor, combusting the mixture of methane and chlorine resulting in the formation of a diffusion flame, depositing products of a process of oxidative coupling of methane, separating a suspension containing solid carbon particles, and extracting a desired product. The greater part of the methane stream is fed to the outer boundary of the flame through a branch pipe (6) provided within the reactor chamber. Internal walls of the reactor chamber (1) in the combustion zone of the diffusion flame are washed by means of water stream. The desired product is extracted from the crude product through thermal processing of the solid particles suspension. Utilization of the method essentially increases the mono-dispersed carbon yield in the process of oxidative coupling of methane.
US08231852B2	Silicon wafer and method for producing the same It is possible to provide a silicon wafer that as well as being free of COPs and dislocation clusters, has defects (grown-in defects including silicon oxides), which are not overt in an as-grown state, such as OSF nuclei and oxygen precipitate nuclei existing in the PV region, to be vanished or reduced, by adopting a method for producing a silicon wafer, the method comprising the steps of: growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the Czochralski method; cutting a silicon wafer out of the ingot; subjecting the wafer to an RTP at 1,250° C. or more for 10 seconds or more in an oxidizing atmosphere; and removing a grown-in defect region including silicon oxides in the vicinity of wafer surface layer after the RTP.
US08231843B2	Automatic analyzer Pressure fluctuations are sampled at fixed time intervals and subjected to arithmetic processing, using as a trigger the event (or a sign temporally close to that event) of the reverse motor rotation for the backlash correction, thereby discriminating normal suction from suction of sample liquid with undesirable air bubbles.
US08231842B2	Positive displacement pump with pressure sensor A positive displacement pump (1) is equipped with a pump cylinder (2), a pump piston (7), a cylinder space (9), a pressure sensor (10), and a pressure channel (12). A main portion (13) of the pressure channel (12) extends parallel to a longitudinal axis (3) of the pump cylinder (2), for providing fluidic connection between the cylinder space (9) and the pressure sensor (10). In the improved alternative positive displacement pump (1), the main portion (13) of the pressure channel (12) is located inside of the pump cylinder (2) or pump piston (7) and extends, at least in a foremost position of the pump piston (7), from a cylinder bottom (5) beyond or to an opening (11,11′) in the cylinder wall (4) or pump piston (7).
US08231840B2	Feces collection container A suspension storage container 10 has a flat portion across a specific region including the tail end. The flat portion has an outer peripheral wall 13 forming a flat outer peripheral surface and partition walls 14 that extend in the flat cross section of the outer peripheral wall 13 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the major axis direction of the flat cross section to partition a chamber inside the outer peripheral wall 13 into plural chambers S1 through S3 aligned side by side in the major axis direction. A suspension K is stored only in part of all the chambers S1 through S3, that is, the chamber S2, and a sealing film 21 having the outline almost identical with the outline of the outer peripheral wall is laminated to the tail end surfaces of the outer peripheral wall 13 and the partition walls 14.
US08231837B2	Thermal cracking tube A thermal cracking tube is adapted to suppress pressure losses while maintaining heat transfer promoting effect on the fluid inside the tube. The tube has a plurality of projections rows extending circumferentially along inner surface of the tube orthogonal to or as inclined with respect to the axis of tube, each of the projection rows including a plurality of projections provided on the tube inner surface. The tube is defined by S/10πD=0.2−0.7, h/D=0.02−0.05 and L/πD=0.04−0.5. D is inner diameter of the tube, h is height of projection A arbitrarily chosen in a projection row α, L is length of circular arc of projection A in a direction orthogonal to tube axis, and S is area of a region R surrounded by projection A, phantom lines L1 and L2 (extending respectively from circumferentially opposite ends of projection A in parallel to tube axis) and projection row β downstream from projection row α.
US08231831B2	Micro-pixelated fluid-assay structure A pixel-by-pixel digitally-addressable, pixelated, fluid-assay, active-matrix micro-structure including plural pixels formed preferably on a glass or plastic substrate, wherein each pixel, formed utilizing low-temperature TFT and Si technology, includes (a) at least one functionalized, digitally-addressable assay sensor including at least one functionalized, digitally-addressable assay site which has been affinity-functionalized to respond to a selected, specific fluid-assay material, and (b) disposed operatively adjacent that sensor and its associated assay site, digitally-addressable and energizable electromagnetic field-creating structure which is selectively energizable to create, in the vicinity of the sensor and its associated assay site, a selected, ambient, electromagnetic field environment which is structured to assist, selectively and optionally only, in the reading-out of an assay-result response from the assay sensor and assay site.
US08231830B2	Sample analyzer A sample analyzer: measures a measurement sample including a sample and a reagent; creates a calibration curve based on first measurement data obtained by measuring a measurement standard sample including a standard sample and the reagent; provides calibration curve specifying information for specifying the calibration curve to the calibration curve; acquires an analysis result by processing second measurement data obtained by measuring the measurement sample based on the calibration curve; and stores the analysis result and the calibration curve specifying information provided to the calibration curve used in the process of the second measurement data in correspondence to each other.
US08231827B2	Method of manufacturing powder metal plates A method of manufacturing powder metal plates comprising feeding a predetermined mass of metal powder onto a moving tape (101), restricting the metal powder by surrounding the metal powder with vibrating boundary walls (201, 202) extending parallel to the direction of movement of the tape, rolling the metal powder at an ambient temperature to form a green compact strip (GS), continuously sintering the green compact strip in a furnace (400), forming the green compact strip to a net shape part (NS) while in the furnace, and cooling the net shape part in a non-oxidizing environment (404) at a temperature in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius.
US08231821B2	Substrate alignment Systems and methods for imprinting a patterned layer on a substrate are described. Features of patterned layer may be concentrically imprinted in relation to a shaft positioned on a substrate chuck. The substrate may be biased using a radius difference between a diameter of the shaft and an inner diameter of the substrate in relation to a point on an inner edge of the substrate.
US08231818B2	Pressure control valve assembly A pressure control valve assembly including a valve body with a valving cavity, a metal insert, a member and ball, a plastic internal ball guide, and a plug. The metal insert, which is received within the valving cavity, includes an exhaust port, a pressure control port, a supply port, and a plug-receiving end. The plastic internal ball guide is included within a portion of the metal insert. The member extends within a portion of the insert and is movable with respect to the exhaust port, the member moving a ball with respect to a supply port. In an embodiment, a plug is received within the plug-receiving end of the insert. A method for making a valve body for a valve assembly is also disclosed.
US08231813B2	Manufacturing method of optical waveguide for touch panel A touch panel optical waveguide production method that ensures improved productivity while suppressing occurrence of voids. For formation of an over-cladding layer, a coating layer (4a) of an uncured or half-cured photopolymerizable resin composition as an over-cladding layer material is formed over a surface of an under-cladding layer (2) formed with cores (3). In turn, a molding die (6) composed of a light-transmissive material is pressed against the coating layer (4a) with a predetermined die surface of the molding die (6) being properly positioned with respect to the coating layer (4a), and then the coating layer (4a) is exposed to light through the molding die (6). After the exposure, the molding die is removed. Thus, the over-cladding layer is formed, in which the cores (3) are buried.
US08231811B2	Formation of conductive metal regions on substrates An activator composition for forming an activator-containing region on a substrate for activating a chemical reaction to form a conductive metal region on the substrate, the composition being suitable for thermal inkjet printing, the composition comprising a single phase aqueous composition including one or more curable materials and one or more co-solvents for the curable material(s); and an activator for reaction to form a conductive metal region. Conductive metal regions may be formed on the resulting activator-containing regions by a metallisation reaction such as electroless deposition.
US08231810B2	Composite materials of nano-dispersed silicon and tin and methods of making the same Composite compounds of tin and lithium, silicon and lithium, or tin, silicon, and lithium having tin and silicon nano-dispersed in a lithium-containing matrix may be used as electrode materials and particularly anode materials for use with rechargeable batteries. Methods of making the composite compounds include the oxidation of alloys, the reaction of stabilized lithium metal powder with tin and silicon oxides, and the reaction of inorganic salts of lithium with tin and silicon containing compounds.
US08231809B2	Use of rylene derivatives as photosensitizers in solar cells Rylene derivatives useful in solar cells, where the rylene derivatives are represented by formula I where each X group is joined to form a six-membered ring, one Y group is an amine group, one Y group is a hydrogen atom, each R group is an alkoxy group, m is 1, n is 4, and P is 0.
US08231808B2	Percolation efficiency of the conductivity of electrically conductive adhesives An electroconductive bonding material is formed as a Modified Electrically Conductive Adhesive (MECA), and consists of a resin matrix and a modified conductive filler. The resin matrix if formed by providing a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin-based polymer resin. The conductive filler is a metal filler material suitable for use as conductive filler for the resin matrix. The metal filler is modified by applying a material selected from one of halogens, pseudohalogens or their precursors.
US08231807B2	Liquid-crystalline polyester blend compositions A liquid-crystalline polyester blend composition includes 100 parts by weight of a liquid-crystalline polyester blend and 0.1-300 parts by weight of calcium titanate and/or barium titanate, wherein the liquid-crystalline polyester blend can be obtained by combining liquid-crystalline polyester (A) (LCP A) and liquid-crystalline polyester (B) (LCP B) such that the ratio by weight of (LCP A)/(LCP B) is 99/1 to 80/20, wherein LCP A and LCP B are as defined in the specification, provided that at least one of LCP A and LCP B includes one or two repeating units that come from corresponding minor copolymerizing components selected from aromatic diol, aromatic dicarboxylic acid, aromatic monocarboxylic acid and aromatic monohydroxy compound.
US08231791B2	System and method for controlling multiple sized water softening tanks A water softening system including a first treatment tank having a first water capacity, a second treatment tank in parallel with the first treatment tank and having a second water capacity that is less than the first water capacity, a flow meter connected to the first and second treatment tanks, the flow meter configured to determine a demand flow rate of water entering the system and a controller in communication with the flow meter, the controller configured to direct the water into the first treatment tank when the demand flow rate is greater than a designated flow rate, and to direct the water into the second treatment tank when the demand flow rate is equal to or less than the designated flow rate.
US08231788B2	Method and apparatus for the filtration of biological samples A separation module and method are disclosed for processing a liquid sample and providing high conversion by operating a single-pass tangential-flow process without a recirculation loop. In one embodiment, the separation module includes three reservoirs and has at least one long, thin channel with a large ratio of channel membrane area to: channel void volume; volume of a sample feed reservoir; and volume of the feed sample. In another embodiment, the separation module includes two reservoirs and a hydrophobic vent. The single-pass process provides high conversion while operating with relatively low pressure sources.
US08231786B2	Water purification method and apparatus involving generation of bipolar layer Water treatment method and apparatus according to which supply water containing dissolved matter is delivered to at least one treatment surface. An electric field is created in the vicinity of the treatment surface to cause a hydration layer to be established due to the bipolar nature of the water molecules. Water is then extracted from the hydration layer. Such extraction may be effected by osmosis or by removal of the element (s) from the supply water with the hydration layer water thereon, dehydration layer water subsequently being extracted from the element (s). The method has been devised to reduce energy consumption for the purpose of providing potable water from seawater.
US08231783B1	Oil filter subassembly with quick connect and disconnect replacement filter element An oil filter subassembly comprises a filter head; an orifice fitting attached to the filter head; and a filter element including a cap attached to the orifice fitting. The orifice fitting includes first and second radially disposed pins and a seal disposed above the pins. The cap includes a central opening having a cylindrical wall, the wall including first and second L-shaped grooves having vertical and horizontal portions, the grooves being oppositely disposed from each other, the horizontal portion including an upper side wall extending upwardly away from the vertical groove portion to provide a cam surface. The cap is configured to compress the seal, thereby to provide a downward bias force on the cap. The pins are configured to move downwardly within the vertical groove portions and positionable within the respective horizontal groove portions, the cam surface tending to push down on the respective pin from the bias force.
US08231782B2	Support basket of a screen centrifuge The invention relates to an outer support basket of the centrifuge basket of a screen centrifuge, wherein screen segments can be secured by conical means in the support basket, the support basket has a plurality of concentric support rings with a rectangular cross section with greater width than thickness and the broad sides of the rings lie parallel to one another and at right angles to the basket axis, wherein the support rings are spaced apart from one another by axially parallel rods which run through the support rings.
US08231774B2	Thermal management of a high temperature fuel cell electrolyzer Apparatus, systems, and methods provide for the management of a high temperature electrolysis process. According to embodiments described herein, a fuel cell electrolyzer stack is utilized in an electrolysis process. One implementation includes the use of a solid oxide electrolyzer. Input voltage is cycled around a thermal neutral voltage such that the fuel cell electrolyzer stack cycles between operation in an exothermic mode and an endothermic mode. The waste heat generated by operation in the exothermic mode is used to support the endothermic operation. By cycling between operation modes, the temperature of the fuel cell electrolyzer stack may be controlled without the use of a cooling loop or recirculated reactant flow, and the efficiency of the electrolysis process is maximized.
US08231771B2	Coating system and method An apparatus and system for electromotively coating a part can include a conveyor that has a plurality of hangars that are configured to be positively connected to respective parts that are to be coated. An attachment mechanism can be provided on the hangar and the part, the attachment mechanism being configured to exert force in more than a single direction. The part can be a conductive plastic part and can include an attachment structure that is formed thereon, for example, screw threads integrally formed in the part. The hangar can include a similar fastener that is configured to connect to the attachment structure of the part. For example, the fastener of the hangar can be a screw thread that mates with threads integrally or otherwise formed on the part. Other combinations of attachment structures and fasteners can be used to provide the mechanical and electrical coupling between the hangar and the part such that a robust electrical and mechanical connection can be achieved between the conveyor and the part to be coated.
US08231767B2	Magnetic field generating apparatus and plasma processing apparatus A magnetic field generating apparatus which generates a cusped magnetic field on an electrode includes a magnet mechanism which is attached to the electrode and includes a plurality of magnets held on a holding plate, and a rotation mechanism which rotates the holding plate. The plurality of magnets (61) are regularly arrayed to be point-symmetrical about a specific point. The specific point is at a position shifted from the center of rotation of the holding plate by the rotation mechanism.
US08231764B2	Paper filler method A method for preparing an aqueous suspension comprising microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material, the method comprising a step of microfibrillating a fibrous substrate comprising cellulose in an aqueous environment in the presence of an inorganic particulate material.
US08231760B2	Image removing device, image removing method, and image forming/removing system A disclosed image removing device includes a roller peeling member onto which a recording material with the image forming substance having thermoplastic properties is superposed; a heating unit configured to heat the image forming substance; a pressurizing unit configured to apply pressure to the roller peeling member and the recording material superposed thereon to cause the image forming substance heated by the heating unit to adhere to the roller peeling member; a separating unit configured to separate the recording material from the roller peeling member after the image forming substance has adhered to the roller peeling member; and a removing unit configured to remove, from the roller peeling member, the image forming substance that has been transferred from the recording material to the roller peeling member. The removing unit is driven in such a manner that the removing unit and the roller peeling member pressurize/contact/slide against each other.
US08231758B2	Acrylic adhesives The present invention relates to two-part, curable, (meth)acrylic adhesives containing naturally occurring fillers which inhibit free radical cure, such as wood flour, and oxygen scavenging components. Also provided are methods of preparing such adhesive compositions and methods of bonding substrates together with such adhesive compositions.
US08231757B2	Method of manufacturing laminated bamboo sliver lumber A method of manufacturing laminated bamboo sliver lumber comprises steps of: preparing bamboo slivers; performing moth-proofing, mildew-proofing, and antiseptic treatments to the bamboo slivers and then drying the bamboo slivers to a moisture content of about 6-15%; machining each dried bamboo sliver to a thickness of about 0.5-3.5 mm (0.02-0.14 in) and a width of about 5-22 mm (0.20-0.87 in) and then dehumidifying the machined bamboo slivers to a moisture content of about 3-10%; applying a glue to the bamboo slivers by glue-coating or “immerging” process, in which a ratio of the glue to an absolute dry weight of the bamboo slivers is about 3-16%; and arranging the glued bamboo slivers with their “width” direction consistent with the “vertical” direction and then pressing the arranged bamboo slivers and curing the glue under a “side” pressure of about 3-15 MPa (0.44-2.18 ksi) and a “top” pressure of about 1-6 MPa (0.15-0.87 ksi) so as to form the laminated bamboo sliver lumber.
US08231743B2	Composition and process for improved zincating magnesium and magnesium alloy substrates Improved compositions and processes for zincating magnesium and magnesium alloy substrates. An aqueous zincating composition having a pH of from about 8 to about 11 and including zinc ions, a complexing agent, fluoride ions and a reducing agent. A non-electrolytic process for zincating a magnesium or magnesium alloy substrate, including immersing the substrate in the non-electrolytic aqueous zincating composition for a time sufficient to deposit a zincate on the substrate. A non-electrolytic process for zincating a magnesium or magnesium alloy substrate, including preparing a aqueous non-electrolytic composition comprising zinc ions, a complexing agent, fluoride ions and a pH in the range from about 8 to about 11; adding to the composition an amount of a reducing agent sufficient to improve deposition of zincate on the magnesium or magnesium alloy substrate; and immersing the substrate in a composition for a time sufficient to deposit the zincate on the substrate.
US08231736B2	Wet clean process for recovery of anodized chamber parts A cleaning process for recovering an anodized aluminum part is particularly useful when the part has been exposed to a fluorine-containing plasma in etch reactor. The part is bathed in an agitated solution of a fluoride acid, such as ammonium fluoride, which converts aluminum fluoride to a soluble fluoride. The part is rinsed in water. The pores of the cleaned anodization may be resealed by a submerging the part in hot agitated deionized water.
US08231727B2	Crystal growth apparatus and method Systems and methods are disclosed for crystal growth using VGF and VB growth processes to reduce body lineage. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of inserting an ampoule with raw material into a furnace having a heating source, growing a crystal using a vertical gradient freeze process wherein the crystallizing temperature gradient is moved relative to the crystal and/or furnace to melt the raw material and reform it as a monocrystalline compound, and growing the crystal using a vertical Bridgman process on the wherein the ampoule/heating source are moved relative each other to continue to melt the raw material and reform it as a monocrystalline compound.
US08231719B2	Absorbent liquid, and apparatus and method for removing CO2 or H2S from gas with use of absorbent liquid An absorbent liquid according to the present invention is an absorbent liquid for absorbing CO2 or H2S or both from gas, in which the absorbent liquid includes an alkanolamine as a first compound component, and a second component including a nitrogen-containing compound having in a molecule thereof two members or more selected from a primary nitrogen, a secondary nitrogen, and a tertiary nitrogen or a nitrogen-containing compound having in a molecule thereof all of primary, secondary, and tertiary nitrogens. The absorbent liquid has an excellent absorption capacity performance and an excellent absorption reaction heat performance, as compared to an aqueous solution containing solely an alkanolamine and a nitrogen-containing compound in the same concentration in terms of wt %, and can recover CO2 or H2S or both from gas with smaller energy.
US08231712B2	Carbon-based sorbent for gas storage, and method for preparation thereof The method enables control over carbon pore structure to provide sorbents that are particularly advantageous for the adsorption of specific gases. It involves preparation of a sorbent precursor material, carbonization of the precursor material, and, usually, activation of the carbonized material. The resultant material is subjected to heat treatment and/or to surface conditioning by a reducing gas at elevated temperatures.
US08231708B2	Method of production, storage and transportation for gas hydrate Pellet damaging is prevented at the time of pellet charging into a storage tank. There is provided a method of storing a gas hydrate in which pellets obtained by compression molding of powdery gas hydrate are conveyed into a storage tank by the use of a slurry liquor, which method includes pouring a liquid for impact absorption in advance into the storage tank so that the impact on the pellets charged in the storage tank is absorbed by the liquid for impact absorption.
US08231706B2	Method and device for separating methane and carbon dioxide from biogas A method for separating methane and carbon dioxide from biogas and a device are intended for purifying biogas, wherein carbon dioxide is separated off from the biogas. The method is distinguished by an energetically favorable mode of operation. The biogas is passed under atmospheric pressure and standard temperature into an absorption column. While the biogas ascends through a packed bed, which has a surface area of 600 to 1200 m2/m3, and at a space velocity of 5 to 40 Nm3/m3h, carbon dioxide present in the biogas is bound in a wash liquid by chemosorption. The purified methane gas is taken off at the top of the absorption column at a defined flow velocity. Carbon dioxide bound in the wash liquid is removed by desorption at a relatively high pressure of 2 to 30 bar and a temperature of at least 120° C. Biogas may be separated into methane and CO2.
US08231699B2	Membrane air dryer A filter having two drain valves piloted by an electro-pneumatic valve. A check valve may be provided to by pass the filter. A membrane filter housing may include vanes extending into a reservoir in which the membrane filter extends. Also, one of the circumferential recesses of the bore for the membrane filter is in the reservoir.
US08231696B2	Method for the preparation of solid fuels by means of torrefaction as well as the solid fuels thus obtained and the use of these fuels The present application relates to a method for the preparation, by torrefaction, of a solid fuel wherein a starting composition is heated indirectly. The present invention also relates to a solid fuel to be obtained by such method. The present application further relates to a method for the removal of one or more metals from or the reduction of the “total chlorine content”, the sulphur content and the trace element content of a solid fuel thus obtained. In addition to that, the present invention relates to a solid fuel, which can be obtained by the carrying out of such a method. Finally, the present invention relates to the uses of such solid fuels.
US08231684B2	Humeral head augment device and method for use in a shoulder prosthesis A humeral head augment device for use in a modular shoulder prosthesis. The humeral head augment device has an external bearing surface with at least one surface portion that includes a radius of curvature. The radius of curvature is configured to constrain translational movement of the implanted shoulder prosthesis when the humeral head augment device is positioned within the shoulder prosthesis. The humeral head augment device also includes a coupling mechanism designed to lock the humeral head augment device to either the stem or the humeral head, thereby ensuring proper operational positioning of the device within the shoulder prosthesis and allowing the implanted shoulder prosthesis to function in a patient suffering from rotator cuff arthropathy. A shoulder prosthesis using a humeral head augment device, a method for assembling a shoulder prosthesis and method for using a humeral head augment device in a shoulder prosthesis are also disclosed.
US08231681B2	Self-contained expandable implant and method Embodiments of the invention include expandable, implantable devices and methods having internally contained expansion mechanisms. Devices expand linearly to provide secure fixation between or among anatomical structures. In some embodiments, an implant replaces one or more vertebral bodies of the spine.
US08231675B2	Intervertebral implant A vertebral implant for fusing adjacent vertebrae or for replacing vertebral bodies is disclosed. The implant is a biocompatible metal, resorbable, or radiolucent implant conforming substantially in size and shape with an end plate of a vertebra. The implant preferably has a wedge-shaped profile to restore disc height and the natural curvature of the spine. The top and bottom surfaces of the implant have areas with a plurality of teeth to resist expulsion and provide initial stability and areas devoid of any protrusions to receive implantation instrumentation. The implant also has a stackability feature. The implant provides initial stability needed for fusion without stress shielding.
US08231669B2	Tether guided stent side branch A tether guided bifurcated stent having a generally tubular main body extending along a longitudinal axis connected to a side branch assembly. Both the main stent body and the side branch assembly are capable of forming an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The bifurcation's expansion is facilitated by a force exerted by the tether. When the side branch assembly is expanded it forms a secondary tubular region defining a generally tubular shape extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the main tubular body.
US08231668B2	Stent for introducing into human body cavities, in particular into blood vessels The invention relates to a stent (1) for introducing into human body cavities, in particular into blood vessels, comprising a proximal first end to be introduced (2) and a distal final end to be introduced (3), a sleeve-like stent body (4) made of biocompatible material, and at least one support wire (5) provided as a support body within the stent body (4), the support wire (5), when the stent is in the tensioned state, resting against the inside of the stent body (4) in the shape of a spiral and the stent body (4), when the stent is in a compressed state, being collapsed and expandable into a tensioned state. The proximal end of the support wire (5) in the region of the proximal first end to be introduced (2) is firmly attached to the stent body (4) and the distal end of the support wire, when the stent is in the compressed state, extending from the distal final end (3) of the stent body (4) to be introduced. The support wire (5) is a shape-retaining spring wire which in the compressed state is pre-tensioned at least in the region of the stent body (4) and is drawn into an elongated straight line and contracts in the longitudinal direction into the spiral shape at least in sections upon closing of the spring and expands radially in the form of a spiral in order to effect a radial expansion of the contracted stent body (4) until it reaches the tensioned state.
US08231666B2	Devices and methods for treatment of vascular aneurysms The present invention relates to devices and methods for the treatment of diseases in the vasculature, and more specifically, devices and methods for treatment of aneurysms found in blood vessels. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a two part prostheses, where one part is an expandable sponge structure and the other part is an expandable tubular mesh structure, is provided. In the first embodiment, the expandable sponge structure is intended to fill the aneurysm cavity to prevent further dilatation of the vessel wall by creating a buffer or barrier between the pressurized pulsating blood flow and the thinning vessel wall. In the first embodiment, the expandable tubular mesh structure is placed across the aneurysm, contacting the inner wall of healthy vessel proximal and distal to the aneurysm.
US08231654B2	Adjustable knotless loops Methods of attaching a soft tissue to an adjacent bone at a defect site are provided. At least one adjustable loop of a flexible construct is passed through the soft tissue. The at least one adjustable loop is passed through a passage construct. A locking member is passed through the at least one adjustable loop and the adjustable loop is reduced about or within the locking member such that the at least one loop is frictionally retained in the passage construct and locked in place by the locking member to thereby secure the soft tissue.
US08231648B2	Nosebleed lip pack A device for treatment of nosebleeds having an elongated body configured to be positioned between the upper gum and the portion of the face below the nose and above the top lip of a human. When so positioned intra-orally, the device exerts pressure on an area of nasal vascularization of the human. Also, a nosebleed package having a sterile inside environment and a nosebleed device packaged therein, and a box containing a plurality of nosebleed packages.
US08231633B2	Instruments, implants and methods for positioning implants into a spinal disc space Instruments, implants and methods are provided for positioning spinal implants in a spinal disc space between adjacent vertebrae. The instruments provide a low profile engagement with the implants and facilitate insertion while minimizing tissue retraction and exposure of the tissue and neural elements to the instrumentation in the approach to the disc space.
US08231623B1	Bone reduction and plate clamp assembly A pair of clamps are attached to a damaged bone one each side of a fracture site during a surgical reduction, one clamp on each side of the fracture site, after which the two clamps are slidably engaged to a single pivotal alignment bar, with the clamps then being adjusted to properly align the bone for a surgical attachment using a bone plate which is secured between the respective bone and each respective clamp, holding the bone in place with the bone in proper alignment for the attachment of screws through the plate into the bone, stabilizing the fracture site during the plate attachment procedure.
US08231614B2	Temperature monitoring return electrode An electrosurgical return electrode is disclosed. The return electrode includes a first and second flexible conductive material layers and a material layer disposed between the first and second conductive material layers. The material layer is transitionable between a solid state and a non-solid state, the material layer is also configured to melt upon an increase in temperature beyond a predetermined threshold, thereby increasing conductivity between the first and second conductive material layer.
US08231610B2	Robotic surgical system for laparoscopic surgery A robotic surgical system includes a master manipulator, slave robotic units having a surgical instrument for performing a Minimal Invasive Surgery (MIS), and a control system for electrically associating the master manipulator with the slave robotic units. The slave robotic unit includes the driving mechanisms which are more compact than those of the conventional MIS system. In use, the existing surgical instruments used in the conventional MIS procedure can be applied to the slave robotic unit. Moreover, by using the pivotal mechanism of the driving mechanisms, a pivot point of the surgical instrument is allowed to be shifted with respect to an incision of a patient. So, the patient's tissues surrounding the surgical instrument are not excessively affected by the surgical instrument during the procedure.
US08231607B2	Suction catheter and suction-catheter system Provided is a suction catheter including: a catheter main body made of a flexible lengthy body having a lumen inside; a leading-end case portion positioned at a leading-end portion of the catheter main body and including an opening for retrieving an object; and object cutting means partially exposed through the opening and movable in the axial direction within the leading-end case portion. The object cutting means includes a cutting portion exposed through the opening portion, and a power receiving portion driving the cutting portion when receiving power from outside. A leading-end side of the suction catheter is inserted into a blood vessel while a base-end portion of the suction catheter is connected to a suction apparatus. An object sticking to the internal wall of the blood vessel is cut off by operating the object cutting means in the opening of the leading-end case portion while the lumen is vacuumed. The cut-off object is immediately sucked in and retrieved.
US08231597B2	Enteral feeding safety reservoir and system The present invention provides a one-piece bottle containing enteral feeding material and having a top end with a threaded section and a bottom end comprising a funneled connector port; and a threaded cap dimensioned to mate with the threaded section of the one-piece bottle; wherein the funneled connector port connects to an enteral feeding assembly; wherein the threaded cap provides a leak proof seal when tightened on the threaded section of the one-piece bottle, and allows venting of the bottle when loosened.
US08231596B2	Communicating member, medical container using the same, and infusion preparation tool set A communicating member for a medical container contains a plate member 4 having a first opening 5 and a second opening 6, a first connection port 15 including the first opening 5, a plug 9 that obturates the first opening 5 and a first approximately cylindrical member 19 that is in communication with the first opening 5, a second connection port 16 including the second opening 6 and a barrier member 13 that obturates the second opening 6, and a continuous wall 17 disposed on the plate member 4 on the first approximately cylindrical member 19 side and disposed upright on the plate member 4 such that the continuous wall 17 encloses the first opening 5 and the second opening 6 when the plate member is viewed from above; and the first approximately cylindrical member 19 is provided with a first communication part 20 that has an opening on the second opening 6 side.
US08231592B2	Disposable diaper A disposable diaper is provided with a barrier adapted to prevent body fluid from freely flowing in a back-and-forth direction of the diaper so that such barrier can be reliably held in close contact with the wearer's skin. The barrier stands in the way of body fluid flowing in the back-and-forth direction of the diaper and the barrier is provided in the form of an assembly of nonwoven fabric strips.
US08231586B2	Cerebrospinal fluid collection tubes and methods A cerebrospinal fluid (“CSF”) collection tube includes a bottom end portion and a tubular sidewall portion. The tubular sidewall portion has a first end and a second end, the first end being sealed to the bottom end portion and the second end defining an open end portion of the CSF collection tube. The CSF collection tube further includes a filament element that is attached to an interior surface of the tubular sidewall portion and projects through the open end portion of the CSF collection tube. The CSF collection tube may further include a removeable cap.
US08231583B2	Safety needle assembly with passive pivoting shield A blood collection assembly includes a needle cannula, a hub mounted on the needle cannula, and a spring biased pivoting shield pivotably mounted to the hub and moveable about a pivot axis between a retracted position and a shielded position encompassing a distal end of the needle cannula. A needle holder is mated at a first end with the hub, and is adapted for receiving a blood collection container such as an evacuated tube through the opposing end. A retaining member is attached to the pivoting shield and is releasably engageable with the hub to maintain the pivoting shield in the retracted position against the spring bias. Insertion of a blood collection tube into the needle holder causes the retaining member to release from engagement with the hub, thereby causing the pivoting shield to move toward the shielded position due to the spring bias.
US08231575B2	Fluid delivery device A compact fluid dispenser for use in controllably dispensing fluid medicaments, such as antibiotics, oncolytics, hormones, steroids, blood clotting agents, analgesics, and like medicinal agents from prefilled containers at a uniform rate. The dispenser uniquely includes a stored energy source that is provided in the form of a compressible-expandable elastomeric member of novel construction that provides the force necessary to continuously and uniformly expel fluid from the device reservoir. The device further includes a fluid flow control assembly that precisely controls the flow of the medicament solution to the patient.
US08231570B2	Inverted conical expandable retractor Access devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve flexible or adjustable cannulas that have a substantially cylindrical insertion configuration and a substantially conical expanded configuration. Various methods and features are provided for transitioning the cannula from the insertion configuration to the expanded configuration while the access device is inserted through tissue to form a conical opening through the tissue. Examples include cables, biasing elements, retaining elements, bimodal rings, and coil springs. The devices and methods disclosed herein can allow for improved retention of the access device, improved angulation of instruments passed through the access device, and can increase the integrity of a seal formed between the access device and surrounding tissue.
US08231564B2	Modulated pulsed ultrasonic power delivery system and method A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, typically sufficient or intended to rapidly induce and beneficially employ transient cavitation. Applying energy during the pulsed energy on period comprises applying energy during a first high energy period, and applying energy during a second nonzero lower energy period.
US08231558B2	Hemodialysis vein preparation apparatus and methods Methods and apparatus for applying focused pressure to a target vessel to dilate the target vessel for hemodialysis.
US08231554B2	Method and device for registering a femur implant A method for registering an asymmetrical femur implant having a shaft and a collar includes ascertaining a position of a shaft axis associated with the shaft and ascertaining a position of a collar axis associated with the collar. A device for registering an asymmetrical femur implant connected to at least one reference marker is provided. The device includes a detection device for detecting a spatial position of the at least one reference marker and a database in which a geometry of the asymmetrical femur implant is stored. A processor ascertains the spatial position of the asymmetrical femur implant.
US08231551B2	Elongate medical device with continuous reinforcement member An elongate medical device including an inner elongate member, a reinforcing member, and an outer tubular member is described. The reinforcing member may be a helically wound continuous wire including a first portion having a first cross-sectional profile, a second portion having a second cross-sectional profile, and a transition region located between the first portion and the second portion. The first cross-sectional profile may be different from the second cross-sectional profile. In some embodiments, the first cross-sectional profile may be circular or non-circular and the second cross-sectional profile may be circular or non-circular.
US08231533B2	Ultrasound coupling device An ultrasound coupling device for transmitting ultrasound waves from an ultrasound transducer to a test specimen, especially to a human or animal body, the coupling device having (a) a gel pad (2) for transmitting the ultrasound waves, (b) a support (3) having i) a transducer side (T), ii) a body side (B), and iii) an aperture (11) through the transducer side and the body side of the support (3), (c) the support (3) being provided with an adhesive element (13) on the body side, and (d) the gel pad (2) being received within the aperture (11) such that the gel pad (2) is adapted to contact the human or animal body when the body side of the support contacts the human or animal body.
US08231532B2	Analyte monitoring device and methods of use An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08231529B2	Arm structure and holding device for surgical instrument An arm structure includes: a pair of arms; a support post; a support member; a cam provided in one of the pair of arms; a shaft member inserted through a lateral insertion hole of the support member; and a pair of ring-shaped members provided in end portions of the shaft member, wherein by turning the one of the arms around its axis thereby to make the cam revolve, a force works to make the shaft member move, and due to its reaction force the ring-shaped members pressure-contact the support member and a slit portion is narrowed. As a result, a longitudinal insertion hole is diameter-reduced and becomes in a state of pressure-contacting the support post, leading to restriction of rotation of the arm around the support post, and the cam pressure contacts the one of the arms, leading to restriction of sliding of the arm in a long side direction, and the ring-shaped members pressure-contact the support member, leading to restriction of rotation of the arm by the shaft member.
US08231524B2	Endotracheal intubation device An endoscope device having a curvable portion and a pivotable lever enclosed within a housing connected to a spring means for returning the trigger and the control wire to a resting position once a user is finished squeezing the trigger. The pivotable lever defines first and second ends connected to an adjustment wire and a control wire respectively. When the trigger is squeezed, the curvable portion curves in a controlled manner from a fully straight configuration.
US08231509B2	Weight lifting power machine with slave rack A weight lifting power cage for use by a weight lifter includes a floor frame assembly including a pair of side floor frames, a front lateral floor frame member, and a rear lateral floor member. A carriage is carried by the side floor frames and is movable simultaneously vertically and front to back. The carriage retains a weight bar mount for retaining a weight bar spanning between each side frame. The weight bar is movable by the carriage vertically and front to back. The movable carriage also carries a pair of vertical weight rack bars. An engagement mechanism enables the weight lifter to rack the weight bar from a weight lifting position without stepping forward or backward.
US08231507B2	Device for strengthening tongue muscle To provide a tongue muscle-strengthening device which can prevent or recover a poor posture that is attributed to no development of lingual adhesion in the mandible to the skull due to the decreased function of tongue muscles, stress-induced disorder that is attributed to the hyperfunction of the masticatory muscle group and tongue muscles in the cerebral cortex motor area, as well as the dysfunction and an aesthetic impairment of the mouth and which can actualize lingual adhesion. The tongue muscle-strengthening device in the invention of this application is composed of the part of maxillary teeth contact that is in contact with the maxillary teeth, the parts of dorsum of tongue and palate contact that are respectively in contact with the dorsum of tongue and palate, as well as the part of connection that connects the part of maxillary teeth contact with the parts of dorsum of tongue and palate contact. The user brings the part of palate contact into contact with the palate by inserting the part of maxillary teeth contact into the maxillary teeth, by bringing the part of dorsum of tongue contact into contact with the dorsum of tongue, by bringing the lingual apex into contact with the part of lingual apex contact, and by elevating the dorsum of tongue, and maintains the condition for a while. The elasticity of the part of connection places a sustained and strong burden on tongue muscles and strengthens tongue muscles. Furthermore, the tongue muscle-strengthening device in the invention of this application has good usability because it is an intraoral device.
US08231504B2	Powertrain with dual rotor motor/generator A powertrain is provided that includes an engine as well as a transmission having an input member and an output member. The powertrain also includes a motor/generator that has an energizable stator, a first rotor and a second rotor (i.e., a dual rotor motor). Both of the rotors are rotatable via energization of the stator. A first torque-transmitting mechanism, referred to as the engine clutch, is selectively engagable to connect the engine for common rotation with one of the first and the second rotors. A second torque-transmitting mechanism, referred to as the motor clutch, is selectively engagable to connect the first rotor for common rotation with the second rotor. The transmission input member is continuously connected for common rotation with the other of the first and second rotors.
US08231502B2	Multi-speed transmission having three planetary gear sets A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a planetary gear set and a planetary gear set assembly, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08231498B2	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.
US08231496B2	Multi step transmission A multi step transmission, of a planetary design, which has an external housing and includes a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft. First, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets are each accommodated within the transmission housing along with third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth shafts, and at least six shift elements. The at least six shift elements comprises first and second brakes and first, second, third and fourth clutches, whose selected engagement produces different transmission ratios between the drive shaft and the output shaft such that nine separate forward gears and one reverse gear can be achieved. For each of the forward and reverse gears, only three of the six shift elements are engaged.
US08231493B2	Differential having improved torque capacity and torque density A locking differential for an automotive vehicle including a housing and a differential mechanism supported in the housing. The differential mechanism includes a pair of clutch members where each of the clutch members presents an inwardly directed face. Each face includes a groove disposed in spacing relationship with respect to the other. A cross pin is received in the grooves and is operatively connected for rotation with the housing. The clutch members are axially moveable within the housing so that they may engage respective clutch members coupled to a pair of axle half shafts. Each of the grooves in the clutch members defines a first predetermined radius of curvature. The cross pin defines a second radius of curvature wherein the first radius of curvature of the groove is greater than the second radius of curvature of the cross pin such that contact between the cross pin and the groove defines a line extending along the axis of the cross pin.
US08231483B2	Multipurpose golf divot tool A multi purpose golf tool adapted for repair for pitch mark type depressions in turf of a golf course. The tool employs an angled engagement of a handle and forks to a body to obtain mechanical advantage for forcing turf upward to repair turf depressions. A bottle opener and pop top opener are also provided. The device is also adapted to hold a cigar and to maintain a club shaft in an elevated position above the turf using an arched engagement of a handle end.
US08231471B2	Automated wagering game machine configuration and recovery A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining one or more casino events that request a configuration for one or more wagering game machines, generating one or more automated configuration tasks, assigning one or more properties to the tasks, and storing the one or more automated configuration tasks and the one or more properties so that the one or more properties are persisted on the gaming network. The operations can also include recovering a wagering game machines operational state if the automated configuration tasks encounter problems during execution that affect the wagering game machines playability.
US08231459B2	Apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating a negative credit balance of a gaming device Apparatus, systems and methods for a gaming device operable to support a negative credit balance. For example, in some embodiments, a gaming device may be configured to: (i) determine a current credit balance, (ii) determine a wager amount, (iii) determine whether the wager amount would result in a negative balance of credits, (iv) determine if it is permissible to allow a negative balance of credits, and if so (v) adjust a current balance such that is equal to the negative balance, and (vi) display an indication of the negative credit balance.
US08231455B2	Method and apparatus for providing a bonus to a player A method, and a device and system for performing the method are described, the method comprising: determining a value of at least one chip at a wagering game, the plurality of chips being associated with a credit balance; determining, based at least in part on the value of the at least one chip, whether the credit balance is meets a predetermined condition; and providing a benefit if the credit balance meets the predetermined condition.
US08231447B2	Threshing unit for combine harvesters for optimized crop conveyence A threshing unit for combine harvesters has a cylinder, an assigned concave, at least one drum situated downstream of the cylinder, redirecting a threshed crop material out of a threshing region, and conveying it further in a direction of a remaining-grain separating device, wherein threshing slats of the cylinder and slats of at least one downstream drum are situated at a distance from one another in a circumferential region of the cylinder, and wherein peripheral speeds of the cylinder and the drum are synchronized with one another such that in a turning and scraping region the slats of the cylinder and the drum are always positioned opposite each other, or in a leading position that slightly deviates from the position opposite each other, or in a trailing position which slightly deviates from the position opposite each other.
US08231442B2	Device and method for parting sausage chains A method and a device for separating a sausage chain into single sausages, where filled, portioned sausages are initially transported with a first transport device and with a second transport device arranged behind the first transport device in the transport direction T. The portioning point between two consecutively arranged sausages is enlarged due to the transport speed of the second transport device being faster at least intermittently than the transport speed of the first transport device. The sausage chain is then parted at the portioning point in the second transport device.
US08231438B2	Electric hand-held power tool The invention relates to a hand-held electric power tool comprising at least one driven rotating part (3) that is mounted in at least one bearing (7, 13). According to the invention, the rotating part (3) is vibrationally decoupled from the bearing (7, 13).
US08231437B2	Low height quarter sheet sander A reduced height quarter sheet sander has a housing having first and second halves mated together. An upper portion of the housing provides a handle. An electric motor is disposed in the housing. The electric motor has a stator and an armature. The stator has field coils and the armature has an armature shaft on which a commutator is affixed. A pair of brush boxes is disposed in the housing on opposite sides of the commutator. The brush boxes lie in a horizontal elevation when the sander is upright. An orbit mechanism is coupled to the armature shaft and a platen is coupled to the orbit mechanism. In an aspect, a switch disposed in the handle of the housing and a terminal block (at which a cordset that enters the housing terminates) disposed in the handle of the housing have generally the same horizontal elevation as the brush boxes (when the sander is upright).
US08231436B2	Hand-held power tool system A hand-held power tool system has a hand-held power tool, a guard unit, and a guard anti-rotation lock unit preventing rotation between the guard unit and the hand-held power tool during breakdown of a tool of the hand-held power tool and configured to prevent rotation between the guard unit and the hand-held power tool at a same time as the guard unit is being attached to the hand-held power unit when the guard unit is in a working position, the guard anti-rotation lock unit is at least partially located on a closing unit which includes a clamping band and a pivotable lever, and the anti-rotation lock unit includes at least one anti-rotation lock element provided on the lever.
US08231430B2	Wafer production method The present invention is a wafer production method at least comprising a chamfering step of chamfering a wafer sliced from an ingot using a grindstone for chamfering, and a step of obtaining a product wafer thinner than the chamfered wafer by performing at least one or more than one of the following processes on the chamfered wafer: flattening, etching, and polishing, the method at least comprising a correction step of chamfering a dummy wafer equivalent in thickness to the product wafer, measuring the chamfered dummy wafer for its chamfered shape, and correcting the shape of the grindstone for chamfering based on the measured chamfered shape of the dummy wafer, at least before the chamfering step, thereby chamfering the wafer sliced from the ingot using the grindstone for chamfering having its shape corrected. Thus, it is possible to provide a wafer production method allowing a product wafer with a desired chamfered shape to be obtained in a short period of time.
US08231426B2	Gearbox assembly for toy vehicle A gearbox for a toy vehicle is provided that is adapted to transmit rotational power from a motor to a first drivetrain system adapted to drive a wheel and a second drivetrain system adapted to actuate an accessory feature. A swing mechanism is provided to alternatively translate rotational motion from the motor to the first drivetrain or the second drivetrain.
US08231418B2	Marine vessel propulsion unit A marine vessel propulsion unit includes an engine, a drive shaft, a single propeller shaft, a single propeller, and a planetary gear mechanism. The drive shaft is arranged to extend vertically. The propeller shaft is arranged to extend in a direction intersecting the drive shaft. The rotation of the engine is transmitted to the propeller shaft via the drive shaft. The propeller is arranged to rotate together with the propeller shaft. The planetary gear mechanism is arranged at the front relative to the drive shaft and coaxial to a central rotation axis of the propeller shaft. The planetary gear mechanism is arranged to decelerate the rotation from the drive shaft and transmit the decelerated rotation toward the propeller shaft.
US08231410B2	Electrical connector with surfaces with exposed grooves permitting contacts to be assembled in a direction perpendicular to a mating direction An electrical connector includes a metallic shell defining a mating frame and a shielding portion, a bracket assembled to the shielding portion of the shell and defining an opening therethrough, and a mating member securely assembled to the bracket and having a front portion accessible from the opening. The mating member includes a first housing having opposite first and second surfaces and defined with first and second receiving grooves respectively, and a plurality of first contacts attached to the first receiving grooves, and a plurality of second contacts attached to the second receiving grooves, before the first housing is inserted into the bracket.
US08231406B2	RF terminator with improved electrical circuit An RF coaxial terminator includes an impedance match element mounted within a housing. The impedance match element includes a central conductive pin, a supportive element, a ring, and a resistor, wherein the resistor longitudinally extends in a direction that is not coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the central conductive pin.
US08231405B2	Connector assembly A connector assembly includes a resilient mounting panel and a connector. The resilient mounting panel includes a panel body and a mounting protrusion. The connector includes a connector body and a mounting portion extending from the connector body. The connector body is configured to connect to an electronic device, and the mounting portion is configured to be secured to the mounting protrusion and to space the connector from the panel body.
US08231402B2	Systems and methods of coupling electrical conductors Systems and methods are provided for coupling a plurality of electrical conductors, such as wires. A connector is provided including a plurality of bores or channels formed into a preferably unitary connector body, wherein at least a portion of one or more of the bores or channels intersects at least a portion of another of the bores or channels. The bores or channels are preferably formed along bore axes, which may be coplanar. A method according to the present invention includes inserting an insulated electrical conductor into a connector body and rotating a conductive rotational member threaded into a bore or channel formed in a connector body so as to electrically contact the conductive portion of the insulated conductor and at least one other electrically conductive surface.
US08231401B2	Connector A connector is provided with a housing 10 connectable with a mating housing 80. A lock arm 19 includes a support 21 that stands up from the housing 10. An arm portion 22 is cantilevered forward in a connecting direction CD from the support 21 and is adapted to hold the two housings 10, 80 in a connected state by a locking movement of the arm portion 22 when the two housings 10, 80 are connected properly. Pressable portions 33 are formed on the housing 10 behind the support 21 in the connecting direction and face the support 21. The pressable portions 33 are pressable in the connecting process.
US08231400B2	Latch for a cable assembly A latch assembly for a connector is provided. The latch assembly includes a latch coupled to the connector. The latch includes a crossbar and a latch arm extending from the crossbar. The latch arm is configured to engage a mating connector. An anchor point engages the latch. The latch rotates about the anchor point between an open position, where the latch arm is configured to disengage from the mating connector, and a closed position. where the latch arm is configured to engage the mating connector. A biasing mechanism engages the crossbar of the latch to bias the latch into the closed position, wherein in the closed position the latch assembly generates a latch force on the mating connector in a direction opposite to a load force imposed on at least one of the connector and the mating connector.
US08231399B2	Device for latching a connector device A latching device for latching a first front connector to a complementary second rear connector. The latching device comprises at least a front latching element supported by the front connector, the front latching element comprising a rear latching segment. The latching device further comprises a rear latching element supported by the rear connector, the rear latching element comprising a front latching segment and being mounted moveable axially from a rear unlatching position to a front latching position in which the front and rear connectors are immobilize axially together, characterized in that the latching device comprises an axial sleeve supported by the rear connector, the sleeve being opened axially towards the front and the rear, the rear latching element being mounted movable axially into the sleeve from its rear unlatching position to its front latching position.
US08231398B2	Co-axial connector A coaxial connector with an outer conductor having a first plug-side end and a second plug-side end, and an inner conductor having a first plug-side end and a second plug-side end. The inner conductor has a first inner conductor part forming the first plug-side end of the inner conductor and a second inner conductor part forming the second plug-side end of the inner conductor. The two inner conductor parts are arranged and configured such that they are mobile relative to each other in the axial direction, the inner conductor being configured as an inner conductor bellows between the two inner conductor parts. The inner conductor bellows is configured such that upon a change in length, a changing capacitance of the inner conductor bellows is compensated by a correspondingly changing opposite inductance of the inner conductor bellows such that the characteristic impedance of the coaxial connector remains substantially constant.
US08231395B2	Card connector with locking mechanism An electrical card connector (100), used for receiving a card having a cutout, includes an insulating housing (2), a plurality of conductive contacts (3) retained in the insulating housing, a metal shield (1) covering the insulating housing to define a card receiving room (10), and an ejector (4) assembled on the insulating housing. The ejector includes a slider (41), a spring member (42), and a pin member (46) for cooperatively guiding/ejecting the card. The electrical card connector further includes a half lock elastic piece (43) and a flexible piece (48) both secured to the slider of the ejector. The half lock elastic piece partly extends toward the card receiving room for engaging with the card. The flexible piece has a wing portion (481) pressing against the half lock elastic piece from an opposite side relative to the card receiving room throughout the card's insertion/ejection.
US08231379B2	Apparatus for producing plastic containers An apparatus for moulding plastic preforms into plastic containers may include at least one blow mould and a plurality of closure elements cooperating with one another in order to transfer the blow mould between an open condition and a closed condition, in which the blow mould forms a cavity, within which the plastic preforms may be expanded into plastic containers. The closure elements include at least one first mould section and one second mould section. The first mould section and the second mould section may be moved between the closed position and the open position in relation to one another. In a closed condition, the first and second mould sections are locked together. The closure elements may further include a bottom section which may be moved relative to the first and second mould sections in order to close the cavity in one direction. According to various aspects, the bottom section initiates the closing of the mould sections and/or the locking of the mould sections in a closed condition of the blow mould.
US08231370B2	Apparatus and method for depositing synthetic fibers to form a non-woven web An apparatus and method for depositing synthetic fibers to form a non-woven web includes guiding the synthetic fibers by a blowing stream through a drawing unit for depositing on a deposit belt. Multiple guidance elements are arranged inside the guidance distance between a blast opening of the drawing unit and the deposit belt, and form a guidance channel above the deposit belt. The guidance elements form a channel opening at a distance from the blast opening of the drawing unit. In order to achieve constant strength in the deposition of the fiber strands, the distance between the outlet of the drawing unit and the channel opening of the guidance channel is larger than half the guidance distance, and the guidance width of an open space formed between the outlet of the drawing unit and the channel opening of the guidance channel is larger than the guidance channel.
US08231369B2	Device and method for producing nanoparticles The invention relates to a device and a method for producing nanoparticles, in which method starting materials for nanoparticles are mixed at least as liquid droplets and optionally also as gases and/or vapors with at least combustion gases in a premixing chamber and the mixture is separated for liquid drops larger than size d, whereafter the mixture is conducted to at least one burner, in which the combustion gases are ignited such that a heavily mixing flame is generated, in which the starting materials react and optional solvents evaporate and generate through nucleation and/or sintering and/or agglomeration particles having a diameter of 1 to 1000 micrometers.
US08231358B2	Vacuum ejector pumps Disclosed herein is a vacuum ejector pump. The pump is operated by compressed air which is supplied to or discharged from the pump at high speed, thus creating negative pressure in an outer surrounding space. The ejector pump includes a frame having an air inlet pipe, a disc, and an air outlet pipe which are sequentially arranged to be spaced apart from each other. The parts are coupled into a single structure via a spacer. A nozzle is mounted to pass through the center of the disc, and a flexible valve member is mounted to the spacer A nozzle body is accommodated in a cylindrical casing having a hole at a position corresponding to the valve member, and defines a chamber inside the spacer. A locking structure is provided on the casing and the nozzle body so as to prevent the casing, which accommodates the nozzle body, from rotating.
US08231356B2	Control system and control method for electric water pump A control system is provided with an electric water pump that has a sensorless-type brushless motor including a rotor that rotates so as to circulate a coolant between an internal combustion engine and a radiator, and a control device that issues an instruction to stop the brushless motor and prohibits a start of the brushless motor till the rotor stops rotating.
US08231354B2	Turbine engine airfoil and platform assembly A turbine airfoil (22A) is formed by a first process using a first material. A platform (30A) is formed by a second process using a second material that may be different from the first material. The platform (30A) is assembled around a shank (23A) of the airfoil. One or more pins (36A) extend from the platform into holes (28) in the shank (23A). The platform may be formed in two portions (32A, 34A) and placed around the shank, enclosing it. The two platform portions may be bonded to each other. Alternately, the platform (30B) may be cast around the shank (23B) using a metal alloy with better castability than that of the blade and shank, which may be specialized for thermal tolerance. The pins (36A-36D) or holes for them do not extend to an outer surface (31) of the platform, avoiding stress concentrations.
US08231349B2	Gas turbine airfoil A turbine component (25) includes a root (21), a tip (22), and an airfoil portion (7) having a leading and a trailing edge (8,9), an external suction side and pressure side wall (13, 14) between the leading and trailing edge. The walls enclose a central cavity (1-6) for the passage of cooling air, the cavity being partitioned into a leading edge- and a trailing edge region (7a, 7b) by at least one longitudinally extending first web (15) connecting the suction side wall with the pressure side wall and a second longitudinally extending web (16), connecting the first web with the suction side wall, thereby defining a first and second entry chamber (2, 3). The first web (15) is provided with at least one cross-over hole (H1) between the first entry chamber and the leading edge chamber (1), whereas the second web has no openings.
US08231348B2	Platform cooling structure for gas turbine moving blade A platform cooling structure for a gas turbine moving blade is provided which is capable of improving cooling performance of a platform and of improving reliability of a moving blade in such a manner that a portion in the vicinity of a side edge of the platform which is away from moving blade cooling passageways and is easily influenced by thermal stress caused by high-temperature combustion gas, that is, an upper surface of the side edge is effectively cooled by guiding high-pressure cooling air, flowing to the moving blade cooling passageways, to a discharge opening formed in a surface of the platform in the vicinity of the side edge of the platform without particularly attaching an additional member such as a cover plate to the platform. A moving blade cooling passageway 17c is formed in the inside of the gas turbine moving blade. Cooling communication holes 24a and 24b, of which one ends communicate with the moving blade cooling passageway 17c and the other ends communicate with a plurality of discharge openings 22 provided in the surface of the platform in the vicinity of the side edge of the platform 5, are formed through the inside of the platform.
US08231343B2	Axial fan apparatus, axial-flow impeller, and electronic apparatus Provided is an axial fan apparatus including a housing and an axial-flow impeller. The axial-flow impeller is capable of rotating inside the housing and includes a plurality of axial-flow wings each having a negative pressure generation surface for generating a negative pressure, and an auxiliary vane standing on the negative pressure generation surface at an end portion of each of the plurality of axial-flow wings.
US08231327B2	River high pressure energy conversion machine A river high pressure energy conversion machine which has no moving parts, comprising a machine (or pump) having a pipe attached to a river bed, with a flexible pipe to an enlarged water inlet attached to the underside of a float, to assure entrance of water just below the river water surface. A discharge pipe from the machine rises above the river bank to a water-driven accessory, through a stop valve and a pressure regulating valve. The discharge pipe from the accessory discharges river water back to the river. Water stacks up inside the sloping machine pipe on the river bed, and creates higher water pressure at the machine pipe outlet for driving the accessory. This is a continuous process, generating electricity twenty-four hours every day, using only gravity as the pressurizing force on water to generate electricity, without using fossil, nuclear or artificial energy forces.
US08231326B2	Nozzle adjusting mechanism and method Method and nozzle adjustment mechanism for adjusting a flow of a fluid. The nozzle adjustment mechanism includes a fixed ring; at least a vane connected to the fixed ring by a pivot pin and configured to rotate with the pivot pin; an adjusting ring rotatably connected to the fixed ring and configured to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the nozzle adjustment mechanism; and a connection mechanism connecting the at least a vane to the adjusting ring and configured to move the at least a vane when the adjusting ring is rotated, the connection mechanism including a lever component and a link component connected to each other. The lever component is connected to the at least a vane and the link component is connected to the adjusting ring.
US08231323B2	Electronic component handler having gap set device A gap set device for an electronic component handler is provided. The electronic component handler includes a linear bearing having a test accessory mounted to it. The test accessory is movable between a first position away from a tool and a second position closer to the tool. A setting post is extendable from the test accessory such that when the test accessory moves from the first position to the second position the setting post can fix a gap between the test accessory and the tool.
US08231321B2	Paper-processing and punching apparatus A paper-processing apparatus is provided with a paper-transferring section containing a transfer path for transferring a sheet of paper to a prescribed position and a transfer path to which the transfer route is switchable from the transfer path, a punch-processing section for punching two or more holes for binding in one end of the sheet of paper transferred thereto, and a control section for controlling the paper-transferring section and the punch-processing section wherein the control section controls the paper-transferring section to decelerate and stop the transfer of the sheet of paper at the prescribed position of the transfer path, to switch the transfer route for the sheet of paper from the transfer path to the transfer path, and to deliver the sheet of paper in a reverse direction thereof. The sheet of paper can be transferred to the punch-processing section with the sheet-shaped figure of the sheet of paper kept as it is, and the holes for binding can be punched at one end of the sheet of paper.
US08231320B2	Countersunk head screw The invention relates to a countersunk head screw comprising a cylindrical shaft (2) and an essentially conical countersunk head (4) comprising at least two edges (15) on the lower side. Said countersunk head screw is characterized in that the edges each mark an end of a partial surface (10) located on the lower side, each of the partial surfaces lying on a non-concave separate surface of revolution.
US08231313B2	Adjustable holding system Adjustable holding systems, as well as methods of using, may include a fixed base adapted for use on a work surface, the fixed base having a rear actuated clamp assembly secured thereto. Other systems and methods may include one or more bases adapted for use on a work surface; and a guide assembly removably securable to the one or more bases, wherein the guide assembly provides infinite vertical adjustability which can be retained without clamping. Yet other systems and methods may include a portable base securable to a work surface, the portable base having a portable base opening.
US08231312B2	Surface-coated cutting tool A surface-coated cutting tool includes a coating layer (108) formed on a substrate (104), wherein assuming that the average thickness of the coating layer (108) on a first surface (106) and a second surface (107) of the substrate (104) is A, a difference between the maximum and minimum thicknesses of the coating layer (108) is larger than 0.04×A. Also, a surface-coated cutting tool includes a coating layer (108) formed on a substrate (104), wherein assuming that the average thickness of the coating layer (108) on a first surface (106) of the substrate (104) is B1, and the average thickness of the coating layer (108) on a second surface (107) of the substrate (104) is B2, a value obtained by dividing an absolute difference value between B1 and B2 by a larger value of B1 and B2 is larger than 0.04.
US08231308B2	Hybrid riser tower and method of installation thereof A method of installing a subsea structure, such as a hybrid riser tower, is disclosed. The riser tower includes a main portion and a buoyancy portion. When installed, the riser tower extends substantially from the seabed towards the surface with the buoyancy portion attached at a top end. The method includes taking the riser tower to an installation site in a substantially horizontal configuration with the main portion containing a first fluid and the buoyancy portion containing a second fluid, the second fluid being more dense than the first fluid. Then, tilting of the riser tower is performed such that it takes a substantially vertical configuration by allowing the first fluid in the elongate portion to interchange with the second fluid in the buoyancy portion. Also disclosed is a suitable apparatus for performing the method.
US08231305B2	Remediation of contaminants from in-situ and ex-situ media Described herein is technology for, among other things, a composition for emulsifying a contaminant ground media, where the ground media includes an iron compound. The composition includes a peroxide, a water-soluble aminopolycarboxylate chelating agent, and an amount of a buffering agent sufficient to adjust a pH of a mass of the contaminant to between 7.0 and 9.0 when the buffering agent mixes with the contaminant.
US08231303B1	Road spikes with improved characteristics and methods of deployment The present invention relates to road spikes that can made of long fiber reinforced thermoplastics that, when deployed, are geometrically positioned to puncture or disable a tire. The spikes can be formed of a long fiber reinforced thermoplastic containing 10-70% long fibers by weight. Spikes of this material can be made as direct and/or alternative replacements for existing metal spikes or as unique integrated devices. One integrated component is a device having several piercing elements that are deployed in a vertically divergent manner spaced about a vertical axis wherein at least one piercing element is directed towards the direction of the oncoming vehicle. In one embodiment deployable from a string, this is accomplished through the use of spikes with six piercing elements that are self-leveling and self-centering. In another embodiment, several clusters can be fixed to a tube that is foldable and extendable.
US08231302B2	Low friction safety system for a personal vehicle guideway In a vehicle guideway having a vehicle track, a guidance system is provided comprising one or more guide curbs installed along a length of the guideway, and a low-friction coating or coatings presented by the curbs, a vehicle's tires, or both, the coating or coatings reducing friction and wear in the event of contact between the tires and the one or more guide curbs.
US08231300B2	Architecture and component structure thereof A component structure is provided, which comprises a first connection unit, at least one short rod, a second connection unit and at least one long rod. The short rod is connected to the first connection unit. The long rod is connected to the second connection unit. The main rod connects the first connection unit and the second connection unit.
US08231298B2	Connecting arrangement The invention relates to a connecting arrangement between a shaft end and a joint part in which a collar on a connecting nut engages behind a another collar on the shaft end or on the joint part or on a clamping nut which clamps a bearing on the shaft, and one of the collars is formed by a oval ring received in a groove which facilitates disassembly of the connection formed by the connecting arrangement.
US08231297B2	Retractable cosmetic dispenser with distal and lateral wiping A cosmetic dispenser with a bottle and an applicator wand retained for slidable extension and retraction relative to the bottle. The applicator wand can be slid from a retracted position wherein a cosmetic applicator is retained within the bottle and an extended position wherein the cosmetic applicator projects through an aperture at a distal end of the bottle. A lateral dividing structure, which can be formed by an adapter insert and a rear seal, slidably receives the applicator wand and divides the inner volume of the bottle into a distal inner volume and a proximal inner volume. A laterally disposed distal wiping wiper with a plurality of radial slits can wipe a distal end of the cosmetic applicator, and a side wiping wiper with an inner throat can wipe a peripheral portion of the cosmetic applicator. A cap with a plug can matingly engage the side wiping wiper.
US08231295B2	Toggling cosmetic lacquer dispenser and delivery A toggling dispenser is disclosed with a reservoir capable of containing substances and an integrally placed applicator which, at the user's election, enters and exits the dispenser by shifting or shaking the dispenser. While inside the dispenser, an amount of contained substance collects on the applicator so that when the applicator exits the enclosure, the collected substance may be delivered to a target via contact with the applicator.
US08231286B2	System for printing a book on pre-bound pages An apparatus is disclosed, for printing on the pages of a block of printable pages that are pre-bound by a binding along a binding-edge of each page. The apparatus includes a block support structure comprising two height-adjustable tables for supporting the block of printable pages in two adjacent stacks, so that when a page is turned from atop a first stack to an adjacent second stack, the two adjacent stacks present substantially co-planar printable top surfaces. The apparatus also includes a moveable bridge adapted to movement in at least one dimension, comprising a printing device, and configured to move the printing device in a controlled manner over the printable top surfaces so as to print on said printable top surfaces; and a page-turning mechanism connected to the moveable bridge, comprising a roller configured for partially lifting a bound top page of the first stack, and a page-flipping tab for sliding under the partially lifted bound top page so that when the bridge is moved the partially lifted bound top page is flipped over to the second stack presenting new printable top surfaces for the printing device to print on.
US08231285B2	Substrate processing method and apparatus A resist pattern forming method using a coating and developing apparatus and an aligner being connected thereto which are controlled to form a resist film on a surface of a substrate with a base film and a base pattern formed thereon, followed by inspecting at least one of a plurality of measurement items selected from: reflection ratio and film thickness of the base film and the resist film, line width after a development, an accuracy that the base pattern matches with a resist pattern, a defect on the surface after the development, etc. A parameter subject to amendment is selected based on corresponding data of each measurement item, such as the film thickness of the resist and the line width after the development, and amendment of the parameter is performed. This results in a reduced workload of an operator, and the appropriate amendment can be performed.
US08231280B2	Sculptured bearing liner and bearing assembly A sculptured bearing liner includes an inner surface defining a cavity configured to receive a bearing, an outer surface and a reduced thickness portion extending from one of the inner surface and the outer surface. A bearing assembly includes a bearing liner having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a reduced thickness portion extending between the inner surface and the outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity. The bearing assembly further includes at least one bearing disposed in the cavity.
US08231277B2	Sliding bearing with different sets of cavities A sliding bearing, such as a journal bearing, includes at least two bearing elements, the bearing surfaces of which are slidably supported with respect to each other. At least one of the surfaces is provided with a first type of cavity which may comprise a lubricating substance, the first type of cavity being defined by a specific range of geometric properties. At least one surface is provided with at least a second type of cavity which may comprise a lubricating surface, the second type of cavity being defined by geometric properties which are different from the geometric properties of the first type of cavity.
US08231265B2	Microchip for forming emulsion A microchip for forming an emulsion has a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate and a silicon substrate. The silicon substrate has formed therein a first fluid flow path through which a first fluid flows and a second fluid flow path through which a second fluid that is not mixed with the first fluid flows. The first fluid flow path has a plurality of branched flow paths that join at a joint portion. The second fluid flow path communicates with the joint portion. The silicon substrate has formed therein an emulsion formation flow path that faces an edge portion of the second fluid flow path at the joint portion. An emulsion composed of the first fluid and the second fluid that is surrounded by the first fluid is formed in the emulsion formation flow path.
US08231263B2	Cylindrical membrane apparatus for forming foam An apparatus and process for making a foam having a controlled size distribution of gas bubbles in a liquid matrix. The invention utilizes a porous material having a controlled pore size and pore distance to produce a substantially uniform size distribution of gas bubbles; a gas pumping device for directing a flow of gas to and through the porous material to form the gas bubbles; a fluid pumping device for directing a flow of liquid matrix past the porous material and a rotating element moving in the vicinity of the membrane surface causing an additional flow to detach, collect accumulate and entrain the gas bubbles in the liquid matrix to form a foam having gas bubbles of generally uniform size and a substantially uniform gas bubble size distribution. Advantageously, the pore size and pore distance of the porous material, the gas flow from the gas pumping device, the flow field generated by the rotating element and the liquid flow from the fluid pumping device cooperate to provide gas bubbles having a mean diameter X50,0 that is less than 2-2.5 times, preferably less than 1.25-1.5 times the mean pore diameter of the membrane and to provide the foam with a gas bubble diameter distribution ratio X90,0/X10,0 that is less than 5, preferably less than 3.
US08231254B2	Lighting unit for vehicle headlights and vehicle headlight A lighting unit for vehicle headlights comprising a light-emitting diode device (500), and a housing (200), in the interior of which are arranged components of an operating circuit for operating the light-emitting diode device (500), wherein the housing (200) is composed of electrically insulating material, electrical connections (222) for the voltage supply of the lighting unit are embedded in the housing (200), and the housing (200) has adjustment means (213a, 213b, 213c) for orienting the lighting unit in a vehicle headlight; wherein the light-emitting diode device (500) is arranged on a surface (112) of a heat sink (100) composed of thermally conductive material; and wherein the heat sink (100) forms a bearing surface (120a) for an external cooling system, said bearing surface being arranged at an outer side of the housing.
US08231253B1	Adjustable window candle An adjustable window candle includes a candlestick, a positioning member mounted inside the shank body and having retaining flanges extending around the periphery thereof at different elevations, a candle shaft axially slidably sleeved onto the positioning device and having a locating groove extending around the inside wall thereof and selectively engageable with one retaining flange of the positioning member to secure the candle shaft to the positioning member in the candlestick in one of a series of elevational positions, and a lampshell mounted on a top end of the candle shaft and holding a LED lamp module therein.
US08231249B2	Lighting system A lighting system is provided that includes: an optical device including a cylindrical lens made up of a liquid lens, an emission unit including an axis line in the Z-axis direction, and a reflecting mirror configured to reflect light emitted from the emission unit. The cross-sectional shape of a light reflecting portion when cutting away the reflecting mirror at a virtual plane perpendicular to the Z axis is a part of a parabola. The axis line of the emission unit is positioned between the vertex-of the parabola and a focal point. Thus, there is provided a lighting system in which an optical device, which is made up of a liquid lens employing an electrowetting phenomenon, having an arrangement and configuration whereby high optical power can be obtained.
US08231246B2	LED night light has laser of hologram element(s) An LED night light has a laser or hologram optics-element and is suitable for night time or dark area use over an extended time period. The night light may be a plug-in wall outlet night light or direct current (DC) operated night light having an image, message, or logo shown on the surface of the optics element. The LED night light parts that may include a housing member, optics-lens, openings, cut-outs, and/or plastic parts to create a preferred image. The night light can be designed with added features to enable adjustment of the angle, distance, position, or orientation of the LED(s) with respect to the optics-means to provide eye-catching light effects by varying the image size, dimensions, etc. The power source may be interchanged between an AC powered sealed-unit and a DC powered battery-pack.
US08231242B2	Method and apparatus for lighting involving reflectors A variety of lighting apparatuses are described that utilize reflection as a basis for lighting a desired area.
US08231238B2	Method for enhancing light directivity of a lighting apparatus The present invention discloses a method for enhancing light directivity of a lighting apparatus. The method for enhancing light directivity of a lighting apparatus, comprising providing a light source module that comprises at least one light emitter; and providing a reflecting device that surrounds said light emitter or said light source module to reflect light emitted from said light emitter and direct the light toward a same direction, wherein said reflecting device comprises a first surface, said first surface comprises at least two planes in which every two planes are connected with an included angle more than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, said reflecting device surrounds one light emitter or surrounds said light source module.
US08231234B2	Metallized retroreflective sheeting with increased daytime brightness A retroreflective sheeting (10) comprising a cube layer (20) having a front light-receiving surface (30) and a rear retroreflecting surface (32), and a metallic layer (22) covering the rear retroreflecting surface (32). The rear surface (32) comprises an array of retroreflective elements (34) and diffusing patches (36) within such array (without retroreflective elements (34)). The metallic layer (22) covers the retroreflective elements (34) and the diffusing patches (36), whereby diffusing patches (36) scatter incoming light increasing daytime brightness to a desired level.
US08231223B2	Projector including projection position controlling unit and sound volume adjusting unit A projector includes: a light source; a light modulation device which forms an image by modulating light emitted from the light source according to inputted image information; a projection optical system which projects the image formed by the light modulation device; a projection position controlling unit which controls the projection position of the image by shifting the projection optical system in the left-right direction with respect to the projection direction; a pair of left and right speakers which output sounds corresponding to audio information inputted with the image information; and a sound volume adjusting unit which separately adjusts sound volume levels of the sounds outputted from the pair of the speakers based on the control condition of the projection position provided by the projection position controlling unit.
US08231221B2	Arrangement and method for carrying out a surgical treatment of an eye An arrangement for carrying out a surgical treatment of an eye includes a diagnostic instrument which is adapted to register eye-structure data. A data processing unit is adapted to generate, on the basis of the eye-structure data registered by the diagnostic instrument, a structural image that contains at least one mapping of a characteristic eye structure and also at least one positional marking arranged relative to the mapping of the characteristic eye structure. An image-data fade-in device is adapted to fade the structural image generated by the data processing unit into an image generated by a surgical microscope during the implementation of a surgical treatment of the eye.
US08231218B2	Wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses and related compositions and methods Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having ophthalmically acceptable surface wettabilities are obtained from pre-extracted polymerized silicone hydrogel contact lens products having relatively large amounts of removable or extractable materials. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses can be obtained from non-polar resin based contact lens molds and without surface treatments or an interpenetrating polymeric network of a polymeric wetting agent. Related lens products, polymerizable compositions, and methods are also described.
US08231212B2	Ink delivery system An ink delivery system includes a first tank including a fill sensor; a second tank including a fill sensor; a pump configured to pump ink from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank including a fill sensor; a print head in fluid communication with the second tank and the third tank. In an embodiment, the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank and may be configured to provide a closed loop system, the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank, and a pressure differential across the print head causes ink to flow through the print head. For some embodiments, pumps may be provided to control pressure differentials and print heads may print at one or more angles.
US08231211B2	Image recording apparatus and ink circulation control method An image recording apparatus according to the invention includes a recording unit which jets ink from a nozzle array formed by plural nozzles communicated with each ink chamber, an ink tank in which the ink is stored, and an ink circulation unit which circulates the ink between the recording unit and the ink tank. In the image recording apparatus, control contents are determined in controlling the ink circulation unit based on analysis result of job information, notified by a host apparatus, for performing recording process of recording data, nozzle array temperature detection information on detected temperature in each ink chamber, and ink tank temperature detection information on detected temperature of the ink in the ink tank, and the ink circulation unit is controlled based on the determined control contents.
US08231210B2	Inkjet cartridge and method for manufacturing the same An inkjet cartridge includes an ink absorber capable of being impregnated with ink and an ink-absorber container. The ink-absorber container includes a first housing containing a portion of the ink absorber and a second housing containing a remaining portion of the ink absorber which is not contained in the first housing. The first housing and the second housing are bonded together at bonding portions thereof. The ink absorber has a melted section at least in an area corresponding to the bonding portions, the processed section being formed by melting a surface of the ink absorber.
US08231207B2	Phase shifts for printing at two speeds The method includes forming first size drops by applying drop forming pulses during a unit time period τ0; forming second size drops by applying drop forming pulses during a second size drop time period, τm, which is a multiple, m, of the unit time period; forming the corresponding plurality of drop forming energy pulse sequences so as to form non-print drops and print drops; delaying the timing of the drop forming energy pulses sent to the transducers of the second group relative to the drop forming energy pulses sent to the transducers of the first group by a delay time τL, characterized by τL being equal to dτ0 where d is 1½ to 9½, when printing at a first speed and τL is approximately equal to fτ0 times where f is 1½ to 9½, f is greater than d when printing at a speed slower than the first speed.
US08231203B2	Ink jet print head, ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method While the print head is reduced in size, the adverse effect of air flows produced by ink droplets as they are ejected from a small number of ejection opening arrays is minimized. A small number of first ejection opening arrays eject one of three primary colors—cyan, magenta and yellow—and a large number of second and third ejection opening arrays eject the remaining two primary colors. A fourth ejection opening array is disposed between the first ejection opening array and the second or third ejection opening array.
US08231202B2	Droplet ejection apparatus alignment In general, in a first aspect, the invention features assemblies for mounting a printhead module in an apparatus for depositing droplets on a substrate. The assemblies include a frame having an opening extending through the frame and configured to expose a surface of the printhead module mounted in the assembly, and a spring element adapted to spring load the printhead module against an edge of the opening when the printhead module is mounted in the assembly.
US08231198B1	Method for print head service during continuous printing A method of printing with a printing system comprising an array of print heads, the array of print heads including a redundant print head, and a service station, includes, with the redundant print head located at the service station, printing using a remainder of the array of print heads; and positionally and functionally replacing a second print head in the array with the redundant print head while printing continues.
US08231194B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus including: a recording head having a pressure chamber, and a pressure generation device to change a volume of the pressure chamber, wherein the recording head ejects an ink in the pressure chamber as an ink droplet from a nozzle by driving the pressure generation device based on drive signals; and a drive signal generating section to generate the drive signals, which include: an ejection pulse including a first pulse for expanding the volume of the pressure chamber and then contracting the volume; a preliminary pulse, to be applied immediately before the first pulse, for contracting the volume of the pressure chamber and then expanding the volume, and wherein the preliminary pulse is a rectangular wave having a pulse width of 2AL or greater, where AL is ½ of an acoustic resonance cycle period of a pressure wave in the pressure chamber.
US08231193B2	Image recording apparatus and information output method An image recording apparatus and an information output method are provided. The image recording apparatus includes a mounting portion configured to mount thereon an ink cartridge, a first detecting unit which detects an amount of ink in the ink cartridge mounted on the mounting portion, a storage unit which stores a detection result by the first detecting unit in a storage medium, a comparing unit which compares a first detection result stored in the storage medium before the image recording apparatus is restarted, with a second detection result obtained by the first detecting unit after the image recording apparatus is restarted, and a first output unit which outputs instruction information to re-mount the ink cartridge if the comparing unit determines that the first detection result is not same as the second detection result.
US08231182B2	Method for creating low pressure in a brake activation device of a motor vehicle brake system A method for creating low pressure in a brake activation device of a motor vehicle brake system, comprising a pneumatic brake force booster the interior of which is divided into at least one low-pressure chamber and one working chamber, a brake master cylinder and a pneumatic motor pump unit for creating the low pressure in the low-pressure chamber, which motor pump unit comprises a low-pressure pump and a motor driving the low-pressure pump, a low-pressure level in the low-pressure chamber or a pressure difference between the low-pressure chamber and the working chamber being detected by a sensor and the motor pump unit being activated by an electronic control unit if the pressure falls below a first predefined, lower low-pressure level Pe in the low-pressure chamber and being deactivated if a second predetermined, upper low-pressure level Pa is reached.
US08231172B2	Folding canopy chair A folding canopy chair includes a frame, a seat, a back, and arm rests. An umbrella is secured to the frame and is pivotal between an upright use position extending above the chair and a downward storage position adjacent the frame. The umbrella is pivotal about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis for selective positioning of the umbrella relative to the chair, so as to shade a person sitting in the chair from the sun. The umbrella may be non-symmetrical, and removably mounted on either the left or right, side of the chair.
US08231163B1	Tool mounting assembly for motor vehicles A tool mounting assembly includes a vehicle body structure, a storage container, an upper bracket and a lower bracket. A central portion of the storage container has a circumference that is greater than the circumference of each of an upper portion and a lower portion of the storage container. Spaced upper and lower brackets each have mounting portions attached to the vehicle body structure and retainer portions that at least partially surround the storage container. The retaining portion of at least one of the upper bracket or the lower bracket includes a first arm that is connected to a base flange by a hinge for a movement between a closed position and an open position.
US08231162B2	Clamp mechanism A clamp mechanism includes a base defining two first sliding grooves, a sliding member slidable relative to the base and two second sliding grooves corresponding to the first sliding grooves respectively, a pair of first connecting members slidably received in the first sliding grooves respectively, a pair of second connecting members slidably received in the second sliding grooves respectively, a first clamp member connected to one first connecting member and one second connecting member, a second clamp member connected to the other first connecting member and the other second connecting member, an impelling member fixed to the sliding member; and a driver capable of driving the sliding member along with the first and second clamp members to move toward or away from each other in order to clamp or release an object, and the impelling member capable of removing the object when the object is released.
US08231160B2	Rack for carrying a hose Disclosed is a device for carrying a hose or other tubular member. The device includes a first base member releasably connected to a second base member. The first and second base members operate to form a plurality of openings sized to receive a length of hose or other tubular member. The plurality of openings may be configured to permit charging of the hose without removing the hose from therein. The device may include a locking mechanism for selectively securing the first base member to the second base member. The locking mechanism may define a handle for supporting the device. The locking mechanism may further include a handle release for selectively unlocking the locking mechanism.
US08231157B2	Non-contact manipulating devices and methods Non-contact manipulating devices and methods can include a fluid distribution member including a first fluid port configured to dispense fluid and create a Bernoulli effect to attract an article to be manipulated by the manipulating device while maintaining a gap between the article and the fluid distribution member. The fluid distribution member can further include a second fluid port configured to dispense fluid to assist in maintaining the gap. The non-contact manipulating devices and methods can further include a controller configured to control a fluid flow through at least the second fluid port to help maintain the gap.
US08231154B2	Cancel lever for clam shell vehicle doors A door assembly for a vehicle body including a frame having a first boundary and a second boundary. A first door and a second door with first and second ends are pivotably coupled to the first boundary and the second boundary, respectively, of the frame. The second door includes an end panel at its second end, and a pivot is fixed to the end panel. A cancel lever is rotatably coupled to the pivot, and the cancel lever is arranged to be contacted by the first door at any location within a zone of contact determined by the relative positions of the first and second doors such that a force applied to the cancel lever by the first door includes a component perpendicular to a radius of the cancel lever at the point of contact.
US08231142B2	Fluid conduit coupling with leakage detection A fluid conduit coupling for a turbofan engine wherein the engine has a gas path defined by inner and outer duct walls and the exterior surface of the outer duct wall is readily accessible for visual inspection. In one example, a first fluid line extends across the gas path between the inner and outer duct walls and a second fluid line is connected to the first fluid line at the level of the outer duct wall. The first fluid line may include a female coupling member and the second fluid member may include a mating male coupling member. An annular sealing member is associated with the first and second couplings and a leak path is defined between the annular sealing member and the exterior surface of the outer duct wall, whereby fluid may be detected by visual inspection of the outer duct wall if a leak should occur at the annular sealing member.
US08231137B2	Knee airbag housing assembly A knee airbag housing assembly including a cover panel, a box case, and a lower panel. The cover panel has an upper support portion and a lower support portion extending transversely from a cantilevered support portion. A tear seam formed between the upper cover and lower cover portion. A lower support portion extends transversely from a cantilevered support on the lower cover portion of said cover panel. The box case supports an airbag module and has a lower wall with a distal end lower wall extending towards the cover panel. The box case is fitted in the space between the upper support and lower support portions such that the distal end lower wall of the box spring is disposed closer to the cantilevered support than the terminal edge of the lower panel.
US08231134B2	Vehicle pedal A vehicle pedal includes a main pedal and a cover. The main pedal has a supporting surface, a groove formed in the supporting surface, plural positioning bases located in the groove, and a through hole bored in each of the positioning bases. The cover has a grooved rail for being assembled in the groove. Plural screws have their heads confined in the grooved rail and their shanks extended out of the grooved rail into the through holes of the main pedal. A washer and a nut are mounted around each of the shanks. So with the heads of the screws restrained in the grooved rail and with the shanks of the screws inserted in the through holes, not only can the cover be quickly fixed on the main pedal, but also the screws can be hidden in the cover to achieve an aesthetic integral appearance.
US08231131B1	Staircase movable cart A cart that can be used as a hand truck for carrying heavy loads up and down a staircase is disclosed. The design has means for accommodating in any size of staircase steps and the small compact dimensions of the cart make it useful for around the corner maneuvering. The cart is divided into two parts that separates while doing the movements to step up or down thru the stairways then it unites together to repeat the cycle. Square rods on the side's holds and support the two parts of the cart and give strength to hold the heavy loads. It uses expansions springs to hold the two parts of the cart and it used to repeat the movements as its stretches away and snaps together.
US08231130B2	Mechanical seal device A mechanical seal having a seal cover capable of being installed on the outer surface around the circumferential surface of a hole of a seal housing and having an inner circumferential surface surrounding a shaft; a bellows having a first installation portion and a second installation portion, the first installation portion being formed by sealingly fitting the inner circumferential surface of the seal cover to one end circumferential surface of the bellows, the seconds installation portion being at the other end circumferential surface of the bellows, the first installation portion and the second installation portion forming a tubular portion between the portions, the tubular portion being formed as an elastic means surrounding the shaft; a stationary sealing ring sealingly installed on the circumferential surface of the second installation/portion and having an annular sealing surface pressed by the elastic means of the bellows; a rotating sealing ring having an annular relative sealing surface facing the sealing surface of the stationary sealing ring and slidably in intimate contact with the sealing surface of the stationary sealing ring; and a seal collar sealingly fitted and joined in the rotating sealing ring and also sealingly fitted on the shaft.
US08231128B2	Integral seal and sealant packaging An integral seal and sealant package includes a prefabricated seal element having multiple surfaces; a high-temperature sealant composition engaged with one or more of the multiple surfaces; and a backer material enclosing the prefabricated seal element and the high-temperature sealant composition. The backer material has composition permitting the backer material to be installed with the seal element and the sealant composition between adjacent components to be sealed.
US08231125B2	Device for conveying sheets that comprises a sheet directing element The invention relates to a sheet guide element for use in an apparatus for transporting sheets by means of a gripper system having at least two grippers spaced apart from each other and a sheet guide surface defined by the sheet guide element. Here, the sheet guide element is provided with depressions in the sheet guide surface, running parallel to the transport direction, at least in some sections, in order at least partially to accommodate the grippers, so that the sheet guide surface described by the sheet guide element in the transport direction runs, at least in some sections, at the same height as the movement path of the sheet leading edge fixed in the gripper system.
US08231123B2	Automatic paper feeder An arrangement is provided such that a pad pressing means for pressing a separation pad against a pick roller is formed in a reverse U-shape, and a pressing spring for pressing the pad pressing means to press the separation pad against the pick roller is provided on a central portion of the pad pressing means.The pad pressing means is structured so as to have a rotating fulcrum to be rotatable back and forth with respect to a rotating direction of the pick roller about a connecting portion of the pad pressing means for connection to the pressing spring.To ensure that a large load will not be applied to the entire pad pressing means when thick paper or the like is fed, a rotating arm may be provided so that the entire pressing means including the pad pressing means is rotatable about a predetermined position set at the rotating fulcrum which is the connecting portion for connection to the pressing spring.
US08231122B2	Paper-stopping mechanism of automatic document feeder A paper-stopping mechanism of an automatic document feeder is provided. The paper-stopping mechanism comprises an auxiliary gear, a traction member and a paper-stopping arm. As a paper pick-up arm of the automatic document feeder is moved upwardly or downwardly, the auxiliary gear is rotated in different directions. Upon rotation of the auxiliary gear, the auxiliary gear is engaged with a rack of the traction member to drive movement of the traction member. Consequently, a transverse rod of the traction member is sustained against the paper-stopping arm or raises the paper-stopping arm. When the transverse rod is sustained against the paper-stopping arm, the paper-stopping arm fails to be rotated in the paper-feeding direction, so that the function of stopping the paper is achieved.
US08231120B2	Sheet processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image forming system A sheet processing apparatus includes a holding portion that nips and holds a booklet, which includes folded sheets, by a pair of holding members opposite to each other; and a pressing portion that enters a gap between the pair of holding members, wherein the pressing portion presses the spine of the held booklet so as to deform the spine of the booklet; wherein the pressing portion has plurality of pressing members, each having a different thickness in the thickness direction of the booklet, and the pressing member capable of entering the gap between the pair of holding members, and having the thickness closest to the thickness of the booklet which is nipped and held by the pair of holding members is selected among the plurality of pressing members so as to perform the deforming process.
US08231116B2	Fluid-filled type vibration damping device and method of manufacturing the same A fluid filled type vibration damping device wherein an outer tubular mounting member is externally fitted onto the collar sleeve at an externally fitted section formed by a tapered tube portion of the outer tubular mounting member, by means of a diameter reduction process. A mating projection projecting diametrically inward is formed on an inside peripheral face of the outer tubular mounting member, while a seal rubber layer having a thickness greater than a projecting height of the mating projection is formed covering the inside peripheral face of the outer tubular mounting member with the mating projection covered by the seal rubber layer. A location and projecting height of the mating projection are arranged so as to prevent an entry of another outer tubular mounting member into a large-diameter opening of the tapered tube portion during pre-treatment.
US08231113B2	Gas spring assembly and spacer A cooperative mounting arrangement for an end member or spacer of a gas spring assembly includes a recess formed into one of the end member and the spacer. A projection is provided on or along an associated structural component. The recess receives the projection such that lateral forces acting on the end member of the gas spring assembly can be transferred to the associated structural component.
US08231108B2	Furniture lifter A lifter of furniture and other loads has a wheel-mounted base comprising a plurality of radially extending beams and a transversely mounted, planar support structure. One of the beams lies within the plane defined by the support structure. The support structure has a bracket extending transversely away from the floor surface and adapted to accept a telescoping support in a sliding fit. The telescoping support lies in the plane of the support structure and is adapted to engage a bottom surface of a furniture load and urge it vertically upward relative to the floor surface. The telescoping support and/or the bracket have at least one transverse bore therewithin to accept a cotter pin therethrough as a locking mechanism. The telescoping support is urged upward by a jack mechanism which may be removable for use with other lifters once the telescoping support is locked into position relative to the bracket. Furniture or other loads may be completely supported on a plurality of such lifters such that the lifters and the load may be moved freely across the floor surface as a unit.
US08231101B2	Receiving opening of joint for working fluid and valve with the receiving opening The present invention relates to a duct connector for working fluid, that is durable and corrosion resistant, and a valve with the duct connector. The duct connector has a head portion with an internal fitting portion that fluidly communicates with the inside of a cylinder housing of the valve. It is affixed to the housing in such a manner that the head portion protrudes from the outer surface of the housing with the fitting portion being positioned outside the outer surface of the housing. Duct connectors may be formed by insert molding using a resin with a tensile elongation ratio of 50%-400% and tensile strength of 50 Mpa -200 MPa.
US08231088B2	Integrative three-segment tripod The invention relates to an integrative three-segment tripod. The tripod has a main bracket and at least one stand leg having an upper segment, a middle segment and a lower segment. The upper segment, the middle segment, and the lower segment are each telescopically connected together. The stand leg further includes a locking unit and a safety device. The locking unit fixes the middle segment to the upper segment and simultaneously fixes the lower segment to the middle segment. The safety device is associated with the locking unit and keeps the locking unit in the fixing state when the locking unit is in the locking position. Therefore, each stand leg of the tripod can be controlled easily by a single locking unit, and the safety device prevents the rotation lever from inadvertent release.
US08231081B2	Electronic display mount The invention is a mount for an electronic display device. The mount comprises a mount member that has a top face and a bottom face. Portions of the mount member are configured to engage portions of a mounting surface within the cockpit of an airplane. The mount also comprises a containment member spaced therefrom the mount member. A joint member is disposed in frictional contact with portions of the respective mount member and containment member. A base member, which can be configured for engagement with a portion of the electronic display device, can be connected to the joint member.
US08231074B2	Lace winding device for shoes A lace winding device includes a base, a spool rotatably mounted in the base, a lace having two distal ends each extending through the base and each secured on the spool, a limit barrel mounted on the base, a drive member rotatably mounted in the limit barrel and connected with the spool to rotate the spool, and a ratchet block movably mounted on the limit barrel and engaging the drive member. Thus, the drive member is rotated in one direction only by limit of the ratchet block so that the spool is driven by the drive member to rotate in the positive direction only and cannot be rotated in the opposite direction so as to wind the lace easily and quickly.
US08231072B2	Cutting element A cutting element for comminuting organic substances, organic materials, soils, plant cultures or the like, in particular for mulching, shredding and chopping, which cutting element can be connected fixedly or releasably to a comminuting rotor.
US08231065B2	Floating restriction for a refrigerant line A flow device for a refrigerant/compressor system is installed between the outlet of an evaporator and the suction port of a compressor. The device includes a floating element that helps inhibit liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor. Under certain conditions where liquid refrigerant discharges from the evaporator, the floating element floats in the discharged liquid. Upon doing so, the float rises to a generally closed position where the float obstructs a main fluid outlet that leads to the compressor. In the closed position, refrigerant can still pass through the flow device, but through a more restricted outlet. To prevent the float from undesirably rising under the impetus of refrigerant vapor flowing at high flow rates, the floating element itself includes a flow-restricting passageway, radial guides, and/or a streamlined shape. The float can be incorporated within a manifold of a multi-coil or multi-circuited heat exchanger.
US08231063B2	Electronic card and methods for making same An electronic card includes a digital processor, an electrochemical battery and a communications port. The processor and battery are essentially coplanar, and are sandwiched between and enclosed by two flexible covers, preferably made from an insulating plastic material, and preferably fitted to the components that they enclose. The communications port can include, for example, a Smart Card contact port, a stripe emulator, an RF port, and IR port, etc. The battery may comprise a rechargeable battery. In an exemplary embodiment, at least the processor is carried by a flexible printed circuit (PC) board. In other exemplary embodiments, switches and/or indicators are also carried by the PC.board. A method for manufacturing an electronic card having at least two components is also disclosed.
US08231061B2	Contactless device with miniaturized antenna A contactless device includes a miniaturized antenna. The antenna includes an inductive coupling element that presents a field coupling surface area to couple to a magnetic field. The inductive element may be made of layers where conductive loops are formed parallel to the layers or perpendicular to the layers. When conductive loops are formed perpendicular to the layers, the effective field coupling surface area is increased. The inductive element is positioned on an outside edge of a memory card compatible device with the field coupling surface area perpendicular to the card.
US08231058B2	Transaction product assembly with pocket and supporting backer A transaction product assembly includes a transaction product and a supporting backer. The transaction product includes an account identifier, a primary article, and a panel. The account identifier links the transaction product to at least one of an account and a record, and the account identifier is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. The primary article defines a substantially planar surface. The panel extends across the substantially planar surface to define a pocket between the panel and the substantially planar surface. The supporting backer is formed separately from the transaction product and includes a flap extending into the pocket to at least partially couple the supporting backer to the transaction product. Other products, assemblies, combinations and associated methods are also disclosed.
US08231055B2	Systems and methods for decoding card swipe signals A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to enable an individual to complete a financial transaction by swiping a magnetic stripe card through a card reader connected to a mobile device. The size of the card reader is miniaturized to be portable for connection with the mobile device. The card reader is configured to reliably read data encoded in a magnetic strip of the card with minimum error in a single swipe and provide a signal that corresponds to the data read to the mobile device, which then decodes the incoming signal from the card reader and acts as a point-of-sale device to complete the financial transaction. Such an approach enables a person to become either a micro-merchant (payee) or a buyer/customer (payer) without having to purchase expensive card reader devices or software.
US08231052B2	System and method for monitoring a validator A system for monitoring a validator that assesses a token includes an input device 4 for receiving messages 5 from a machine 2 including a validator 6. The messages contain data indicative of validator events such as an assessment of a token resulting in acceptance of the token and an assessment of a token resulting in rejection of the token. The system further includes a processor 7 for deriving timing information for the validator events and for comparing the data and timing information with predetermined criteria. Personnel alerts are raised when predetermined criteria are satisfied, and maintenance of validators may be scheduled in dependence upon criteria related to assessments of tokens resulting in rejection.
US08231047B2	System and method for distributed and real-time collection of customer satisfaction feedback There is provided a device and a method for collecting information from a customer concerning a point of interest. The device comprises a memory including a unique location identifier associated with a point of interest and a processor, the processor configured to store in the memory a received unique customer identifier and received information concerning the point of interest from a customer. The device can transmit this stored data to a center via a network, where the center can aggregate the data. There is also provided a system for distributed collection of information from customers concerning points of interest, utilizing a plurality of devices and a center for aggregating data. The center can apply data analysis and mining to the aggregate data, allowing rapid and real-time reaction to feedback from customers, efficient turnaround for resolving customer service issues, and enabling efficient research of customer preferences and trends.
US08231041B2	Variable compression surgical fastener cartridge A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge body including a tissue contacting surface including a plurality of fastener retention slots arranged in a plurality of rows including at least an inner row and an outer row, a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in the inner and outer rows and configured such that a plurality of fasteners disposed in the inner row have a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in the outer row, and an anvil having an inner row and an outer row of depressions for forming the fasteners. A plurality of pushers are operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners, the pushers configured to eject an associated surgical fastener towards the respective depression in the anvil such that upon formation of a corresponding surgical fastener, the surgical fasteners ejected from the inner row provide a greater compressive force to tissue than the surgical fasteners ejected from the outer row.
US08231040B2	Variable compression surgical fastener cartridge A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge body including a plurality of fastener retention slots arranged in a plurality of rows including at least an inner row and an outer row, a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in inner and outer rows and configured such that a plurality of fasteners disposed in the inner row have a backspan that has a greater height than a backspan of a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in the outer row, and an anvil having an inner row and an outer row of depressions for forming the fasteners. A plurality of pushers are operably associated with the plurality of surgical fasteners and configured to eject the surgical fasteners toward a respective depression in an anvil for formation thereof such that upon formation, the plurality of surgical fasteners ejected from the inner row provide a greater compressive force to tissue than the plurality of surgical fasteners ejected from the outer row.
US08231030B2	Beverage dispenser with elevated dispense control, method of assembly and method of use A beverage dispenser has a container for beverage fluid that has a flat bottom that is above a space large enough to place a glass or cup. The container has a sidewall and a top edge of an open container that has a removable lid. A pair of actuator guards are on either side of a space near but below the top edge of the container where an actuator is located that projects through a notch in the top edge, plunging downwardly inside the inner wall of the container sidewall and jutting straight out to form a fork. This fork selectively holds a plunger that has a long shaft and plug that fits into a hole in the bottom wall of the container. This hole and plug form a valve. The valve can be opened when the actuator is depressed between the actuator guards towards the container's sidewall, which pivots the fork upwardly which in turn lifts the plunger and plug to open the valve for dispensation.
US08231025B2	Dispensing process using tamper evident fitment assembly for a container A tamper evident fitment assembly for use with a container for flowable material, the closure comprising a cap and a spout secured to the container, the cap having a frangible tamper evident band, the cap having an annular recess for frictionally engaging a top portion of the spout, the cap and spout having cooperating detent and locking elements so that the assembly in a first position where the cap is removably sealed to the spout and the tamper evident band is not broken when the cap is removed for filling may move to a second position when the cap is removably sealed to the spout and the tamper evident band is broken upon removal of the cap. An important feature of the present invention is that the cap frictionally engages a top portion of the spout. No screw threads or similar securing means are required to retain the cap on the spout.
US08231021B2	Strip-shaped handle part for drinking water bottle A strip-shaped handle part is formed with divided handle halves attached to opposite ends of a strip separate from a drinking water bottle, and then wound around and secured to the drinking water bottle, thereby reducing the proportion of defective bottles and extending the useful life of the handled drinking water bottle. In addition, material separation at the time of disposal of the handled drinking water bottle for recycle is facilitated. Further, when a cushion material which doubles as a slip stopper is provided on the surface of the strip-shaped handle part which contacts the drinking water bottle, looseness between the attached handle and the drinking water bottle and displacement of the handle is prevented and the durability of the handled drinking water bottle is improved.
US08231017B2	Display of video and other content in retail stores A shelf for use in a conventional retail display gondola or perimeter wall shelving includes an upper support surface for merchandise and an enclosure below that surface in which electronic components including a thin client computer or a media player are housed. A video display monitor has a screen visible through an opening in a front face of the shelf. The enclosure is usually secured to deny access to the electronic component, but can be opened to provide access to the electronic components housed therein.
US08231016B2	Product display shelf apparatus and method Some embodiments of a product display shelf apparatus include at least one shelf to receive a plurality of image-bearing products while a product signage assembly is removably attached to the shelf. The product signage assembly can be toollessly assembled to the shelf such that an image display panel exhibits images that generally match those of the image-bearing products.
US08231013B2	Articles comprising a fibrous support Articles comprising a fibrous support of nanofibers and an interfacially polymerized polymer layer disposed on a surface of the fibrous support are useful, e.g., as fluid separation membranes.
US08230999B2	Packaging and dispensers for adhesive backed elements An element dispensing package suitable for dispensing adhesive strips or bandages. Each element is contained within an envelope formed by opposed upper and lower sheets. The lower sheet has a release liner secured thereto to protect the element while it is within the dispenser. The element is releasably secured to a first tab and is separated from the package when the envelope is opened. The first tab has one or more gripping means to facilitate dispensing of the element contained within the package. Additionally, the upper sheet and the lower sheet have optional gripping means (e.g., a second tab) to facilitate dispensing of the element contained within the package.
US08230997B1	Bottle support for packaging and shipping A bottle support is shown in the form of a double bottle enclosure, a single bottle enclosure and a triple bottle enclosure. Each enclosure embodiment includes an outer box having an orthorhombic shape. A lower retainer fits within a lower portion of the outer box. The lower retainer includes a top deck with holes therein to receive lower ends of bottles spaced from walls of the outer box. An upper retainer also fits within the outer box near an upper end of the outer box. The upper retainer includes a main panel with holes therein which are sized to receive necks of bottles passing therethrough. The main panel keeps the necks of the bottles from impacting the upper end of the box and centered within the outer box. The retainers are preferably formed of planar panels of rigid material, such as corrugated paperboard, cut and folded to form the retainers.
US08230983B2	Electrically actuated aircraft brakes An electrically actuated aircraft brake with a carbon-carbon composite heat pack and an electrical actuator for engaging the heat pack and operating the brake. When the brake is not being applied, the brake actuator is adjusted in dependence upon temperature, for example, by controlling the actuator to maintain a temperature regulated position.
US08230981B2	Information distribution system for use in an elevator A method of providing video information to a display monitor within an elevator located in a building, which includes receiving first data defining a category of video information, receiving second data, associated with the category of video information and defining at least one source of the video information; and retrieving from the source, over a data communications path and on the basis of the first data and the second data, the video information to be displayed on the monitor within the elevator.
US08230974B2	Windmill and zero gravity lubrication system for a gas turbine engine A pump system for lubricating a bearing in a gear system of a gas turbine engine includes a main pump, an auxiliary pump, an auxiliary reservoir, a sump, and a valve system. The main pump is fluidically connected to the bearing through a main supply passage. The auxiliary pump is fluidically connected to the bearing through an auxiliary supply passage. The valve system transfers lubricating liquid from the main pump to the bearing under a first set of engine operating conditions. The valve system transfers lubricating liquid from the auxiliary reservoir to the sump and from the sump through the auxiliary pump to the bearing under a second set of engine operating conditions. The valve system transfers lubricating liquid from the auxiliary reservoir through the auxiliary pump, bypassing the sump, to the bearing under a third set of engine operating conditions.
US08230970B1	Sound barrier wall A monolithically fabricated sound absorbing structural precast concrete noise barrier panel comprising a sound absorbing layer of specialized raw materials. The raw materials include wood particles as well as granulated rubber.
US08230969B2	Acoustic panels, apparatus and assemblies with airflow-resistive layers attached to sound incident surfaces An acoustic panel includes a main body portion having a substantially planar front surface for orientation toward a sound source and an opposite, substantially convoluted rear surface. An airflow-resistive layer of material is secured to the planar front surface in face-to-face contacting relationship. The airflow-resistive layer of material may have a specific airflow resistance of between about 50-20,000 mks rayls, and may be configured to attenuate sound at one or more predetermined frequencies. A depth of convolution of the rear surface is between about forty percent to about seventy-five percent (40%-75%) of a thickness of the main body portion.
US08230967B2	Vane type silencers in elbow for gas turbine A silencer for a gas turbine includes a first duct portion; a second duct portion connected to the first duct portion, the first and second duct portions forming an elbow region at the connection; and a plurality of elbow shaped vanes provided in the elbow region. The plurality of elbow shaped vanes have equal lengths and are spaced equally apart.
US08230964B2	Steering device for a motor vehicle, having a steering wheel, a steering shaft and a superposition gearing A steering device for a motor vehicle is provided. The steering device has a steering wheel, having a steering shaft and having a superposition gearing which is arranged in or on the steering wheel and which is designed to transmit a motor-driven adjusting movement to the steering shaft. In one form, at least one interface is provided which, in the presence of a defined condition, separates or limits a transmission of force between the steering shaft and the superposition gearing. The interface is for example an overload clutch.
US08230963B2	Electric power steering system In an electric power steering system, a ball screw nut (23) of a ball screw device that drives a rack shaft is screwed to an axial end portion (6a) of a motor shaft (6) when a threaded portion (31) of a hollow threaded shaft (30) formed at an axial end portion (23a) of the ball screw nut (23) is screwed to a threaded portion (32) formed in the inner periphery of a motor shaft (6). A flange member (33) that is larger in diameter than the ball screw nut (23) is fitted to the outer periphery of the axial end portion (6a) of the motor shaft (6). The flange member (33) is formed in such a manner that when the rotation of the flange member (33) is restricted, the rotation of the ball screw nut (23) and the motor shaft (6) in the same direction is restricted when the ball screw nut (23) is screwed to the motor shaft (6).
US08230959B2	Folding air intake scoop A working vehicle has a body, an internal combustion engine in an engine compartment in the vehicle body; and an air scoop having an inlet positioned near a top of the vehicle body and facing in an upward direction, the air scoop pivotable between a first closed, transport position, and a second open, operating position for directing air into the engine compartment when the air scoop is in the open, operating position.
US08230957B2	Flow-inducing baffle for engine compartment ventilation A work machine comprises a baffle configured to divert air flow from a source of pressurized air laterally outwardly toward a peripheral edge of the baffle to create a flow-inducing region about the peripheral edge to ventilate the engine compartment.
US08230955B2	Method of controlling an overrun operation of a motor vehicle, a control device for implementing the method, and a corresponding motor vehicle A method controls an overrun operation in a motor vehicle, wherein, in the presence of predetermined switch-off conditions, an overrun switch-off of the internal-combustion engine takes place by interrupting the fuel feed, and wherein, when a predetermined restoring speed is reached or fallen below, the fuel feed is resumed. Starting from an operating state with an activated overrun switch-off, the transmission line between the output of the engine and the input of the transmission device is monitored as to whether a torque difference is occurring which is greater than or equal to a predetermined limit torque. In such a case, the internal-combustion engine is driven by an electric machine coupled with the crankshaft of the internal-combustion engine such that a rotational speed of the internal-combustion engine is adjusted to be greater than or equal to the restoring speed.
US08230953B1	Polycrystalline diamond compacts and drill bits using same Embodiments relate to PDCs, methods of fabricating PDCs, and applications for such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate and a pre-sintered PCD table including an interfacial surface that is bonded to the substrate. The pre-sintered PCD table may be substantially free of leaching by-products in a region at least proximate to the interfacial surface. In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a PDC includes providing an at least partially leached PCD including an interfacial surface. The method includes removing at least some leaching by-products from the at least partially leached PCD table. After removing the at least some leaching by-products, the method includes bonding the interfacial surface of the at least partially leached PCD table to a substrate to form a PDC.
US08230947B2	Method of selecting a drilling motor for a casing drill string A method for selecting a drilling motor for rotating a drill bit relative to a drill string made up of casing accounts for a tendency for the casing to elongate as the internal pressure increases. The increase in pressure in the casing string increases the weight on the drill bit, the amount of which may be calculated based on the size and type of the string of casing. The ratio of bit torque over the weight on the bit may be assumed to be a constant number based on empirical measurements or a theoretical model. The increase in the weight on the drill bit can be expressed in terms of the bit torque versus the casing pressure, which is a linear slope. This linear slope may be compared to the delivery torque of candidate motors.
US08230946B2	Apparatus and methods for sidewall percussion coring using a voltage activated igniter An apparatus and methods for sidewall percussion coring service are disclosed. In some embodiments, the side-wall percussion coring tool includes a voltage activated igniter, explosive material, and a core barrel in communication with the explosive material, wherein activation of the igniter causes detonation of the explosive material to propel the core barrel from tool. Some method embodiments for performing sidewall percussion coring service using the disclosed sidewall percussion coring tool include positioning the tool within a wellbore, activating the voltage activated igniter housed within the tool, detonating the explosive material within the tool with the voltage activated igniter, propelling a core barrel from the tool into the surrounding formation by detonation of the explosive material, retrieving the core barrel from the formation, and removing the tool from the wellbore.
US08230945B2	Hand machine tool The invention relates to a hand machine tool which has an intermediate flange, particularly for receiving transmission elements. The flange has at least one base body having at least one bearing point. It is proposed that at least one opening is provided at least in the area of the bearing point.
US08230940B2	Method for driving a support into a ground surface by means of a pile-driving device, and a pile-driving device for use with such a method A method and pile-driving device for driving a support into a ground surface. The device comprises a cylinder, an anvil which closes the lower side of the cylinder at least substantially, a ram which is movable as a piston above the anvil within the cylinder, and an injection device for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber between the anvil and the ram. The device has adjusting means for adjusting the moment of fuel injection and/or the amount of fuel to be injected. The method includes: causing the ram to move downward; injecting fuel into the combustion chamber; causing the fuel to combust for driving the ram upward, in such a manner that said combustion occurs before the ram strikes the anvil, wherein the moment of fuel injection and/or the amount of fuel to be injected is/are adjusted in dependence on at least one variable.
US08230936B2	Methods of forming acid particle based packers for wellbores Methods for creating packers at a desired location or locations within a wellbore for use in specific wellbore applications. A slurry of fluid medium and hydrolysable particulate matter is flowed to a downhole position and dehydrated. At this location, the particulate matter is released from the fluid medium and accumulated. The continual accumulation of the slurry and consequent deposition of particulate matter creates a degradable packer at the desired location within the wellbore. The particulate matter may be formed of an acid particle which may be removable, degradable, or hydrolysable under certain conditions of temperature, time, hydration, pH, and/or pressure. Either simultaneous with or subsequent to a wellbore activity, the packer is partially or completely removed from the wellbore.
US08230933B2	Top drive casing system A torque head for gripping tubular members, in at least some aspects, has a housing, grip mechanism secured within the housing, the grip mechanism for selectively gripping a tubular member, the grip mechanism including at least one jaw selectively movable toward and away from a portion of a tubular member within the housing, the at least one jaw having mounted thereon slip apparatus for engaging the portion of the tubular member, the slip apparatus including die apparatus movably mounted to the at least one jaw, the die apparatus movable with respect to the at least one jaw so that relative movement of the tubular with respect to the torque head is possible to the extent that the die apparatus is movable.
US08230927B2	Methods and systems for producing fluid from an in situ conversion process A system configured to heat a portion of a formation includes a plurality of heat sources. At least one production well is in the formation. A bottom portion of the production well is a sump in an underburden of the formation below the heated portion of the formation. Fluids from the heated portion of the formation are allowed to flow into the sump. A pump system has an inlet in the sump. A production conduit is coupled to the pump system. The production conduit is configured to transport fluids in the sump out of the formation.
US08230925B2	Degradable fiber systems for stimulation A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.
US08230916B2	Apparatus and methods to analyze downhole fluids using ionized fluid samples Apparatus and methods to analyze downhole fluids are described herein. A disclosed example method involves obtaining a sample of a downhole fluid. Additionally the example method involves ionizing at least a portion of the sample to decompose molecules having a relatively high molar mass into molecules having a relatively lower molar mass. Further, the example method involves analyzing the ionized portion of the sample to determine a parameter of the downhole fluid sample.
US08230914B2	Anchor tool An anchor tool for anchoring a downhole tool within a casing, a well, or any other downhole, hollow space. The tool has a longitudinal tool body with a center axis extending through the tool body in the center of the body, a first recess, a second recess, a third recess, and a fourth recess in the tool body; and a first anchor, a second anchor, a third anchor, and a fourth anchor. The first anchor is provided in the first recess, and so forth, and the anchors are outwards movable in the recesses for anchoring the tool. Each anchor provided in the recesses extends through the tool body transverse to and across the center axis and the anchors and the corresponding recesses are situated in the tool body for providing a symmetrical anchoring of the anchor tool.
US08230903B2	Low profile heat sink for semiconductor devices A heat sink for cooling a heat-generating device includes a base and a cooling section coupled thereto for cooling the device. The cooling section includes a plurality of flow tubes, each flow tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a bounding wall that defines a closed fluid flow path from the inlet to the outlet. Each of the flow tubes includes a central axis that is substantially parallel to a reference plane of the heat-generating device. The flow tubes may be arranged in a layered stack and include a bounding wall that has a thickness that decreases with increasing distance in the layered stack. The flow tubes may also include a cross-sectional area that decreases with increasing distance in the layered stack. Furthermore, the bounding wall of the flow tubes may have a non-planar configuration in a direction generally parallel to the central axis.
US08230899B2	Systems and methods for forming and processing alloy ingots Processes and methods related to producing, processing, and hot working alloy ingots are disclosed. An alloy ingot is formed including an inner ingot core and an outer layer metallurgically bonded to the inner ingot core. The processes and methods are characterized by a reduction in the incidence of surface cracking of the alloy ingot during hot working.
US08230897B2	Low-pressure casting apparatus and a method for filling it with inert gas A low-pressure casting apparatus that prevents molten metal that is a residue in a conduit from being oxidized. The low-pressure casting apparatus includes a compartment for holding a molten metal 1, a pressure chamber 2 that can communicate with the compartment, wherein the molten meal is pressurized in the chamber, an on-off valve 5 that opens and closes hole 4 through which the compartment can communicate with the pressure chamber, a conduit 7 that conducts the molten metal to the mold 6, wherein the base of the conduit is connected to a lower part of the chamber so as to communicate with the chamber, the end of the conduit being made so that it can communicate with a sprue for a mold 6, a float 9 that goes up and down in the pressure chamber, and a tank that stores an inert gas and that has a pipe 13 that is connected to the upper part of the pressure chamber 2. The base of the conduit is connected to the pressure chamber so that the conduit can communicate with a space that is formed above the molten metal in the pressure chamber, when the level of the molten metal is lowered by raising the float after the molten metal in the mold has solidified, the mold having been filled with the molten metal by lowering and immersing the float in it which causes the level of the metal to rise.
US08230895B2	Sliding blind system A sliding blind system (10) for covering a sliding first panel (12) located adjacent to a fixed second panel (14), the system comprising: at least one blind support bracket (11) mounted to an upper, generally horizontal edge of the first panel (12); a first blind (16) secured to the blind support bracket (11); a vertically extending first guide member (20) securable to a generally vertical first side edge of the first panel (12), and a second vertically extending guide member (22) securable to an opposing generally vertical second edge of the first panel (12), wherein the first blind is located generally between the first and second guide members; and a header panel (24) mountable to a fixed structure above the second panel (14); and a second blind (18) secured to the header panel (24), wherein the second blind (18) is mounted in front of the first blind (16) such that when the first panel (12) slides in front of the second panel (14), the first blind (16) slides behind the second blind (18).
US08230881B2	Valve A valve with an inlet and an outlet as well as a return. In the inlet a first screen is provided. This screen is designed sharp or short.
US08230867B2	Method for performing a surgical procedure A method for conducting a surgical procedure is described herein. The surgical procedure includes creating a pathway through a nasal cavity, creating an opening through a section of skull that is connected to the nasal cavity, harvesting a portion of the skull formed by creating the opening to expose a dura layer of the brain, cutting a section of the dura layer to expose a section of brain tissue, and inserting a tissue resection device through the nasal cavity to take tissue samples from the exposed brain tissue. The dura layer is then secured over the exposed brain tissue so as to create a watertight seal and the previously harvested portion of the skull is inserted in in the opening and secured to the skull to close the opening.
US08230845B2	Device for separating fluid particles from a gas flow leaking from a crankcase The invention concerns a device for separating fluid particles from a gas flow, in particular from a crankcase gas flow of an internal combustion engine. A valve is provided to allow a distribution of the gas flow to at least two cyclones depending on the volumetric flow. The valve consists of a cylinder through which the gas can flow. Inside the cylinder is a piston. This piston is designed inside the cylinder with a clearance fit or provided with one or several boreholes. In case of a low gas flow and because of the tolerances or boreholes, this gas flow will be directed around the cylinder to a first cyclone. When exceeding a certain volumetric flow the piston moves inside the cylinder and opens at least one more cyclone for the gas flow to flow through.
US08230843B2	Cooler bypass to reduce condensate in a low-pressure EGR system Various systems and methods are described for an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system including an EGR cooler coupled to a turbocharged engine in a vehicle. One example method comprises, under selected operating conditions, controlling a mixture temperature of cooled and uncooled EGR at a mixing location upstream of an intake passage inlet by routing at least a portion of exhaust gas through a bypass around the EGR cooler.
US08230837B2	Valve drive train actuating device In a valve drive train actuating device, particularly for an internal combustion engine, having at least one firing camshaft, which can be phase shifted relative to a crankshaft by a firing camshaft adjusting device and a decompression brake device comprising at least one brake cam and at least one decompression valve, the valve drive train actuating device comprises an adjusting device for adjusting a decompression valve drive actuating point in time depending on the speed of the crankshaft of the engine such that, with decreasing speed of the crankshaft, the brake cam actuating point is moved toward the upper dead center position of the crankshaft.
US08230834B2	Hollow poppet valve and method of manufacturing the same A hollow poppet valve has a stem portion provided at one end thereof with a tip portion; a cap portion; and a flared fillet portion formed between the stem portion and the cap portion, wherein at least a part of the stem portion that connects to the fillet portion is a thin hollow cylindrical member, and the cap member is welded to the fillet portion. The cap member is thin and has an arcuate axial cross section. It is laser-beam welded to the seat-abutment portion formed at the open end of the fillet portion such that a weld bead is formed along the inner periphery of the interface of the mated ends of the members. The weld bead adds an extra weld depth to the weld, which increases the modulus of section of the welded regions of the cap member and the fillet portion and enhances their welding strength.
US08230828B2	Engine blower An engine blower includes a centrifugal blower having a volute case in which a fan is accommodated; an engine attached to the centrifugal blower for driving the fan; a carburetor mounted to the engine via an insulator; and a lead wire that establishes conduction between the engine and the carburetor. The electrical potential difference between the engine and the carburetor can be eliminated, which prevents electrostatic discharge between the engine and the carburetor even when static electricity is built up in a volute case or a ventilation tube. Accordingly, ignition timing can be prevented from shifting due to an influence on an electrical circuit by the discharge within an ignition unit.
US08230825B2	Boiler control system A boiler control system for efficiently controlling the operation of a packaged boiler is provided. The system includes a combustion air control system, a fuel control system, a flue gas sensing system, and a boiler controller. The boiler controller is in operative communication with the combustion air control system, fuel control system, and the flue gas sensing system. Based upon a system demand, the boiler controller controls coarse-level operation of the combustion air control system and the fuel control system. The flue gas sensing system includes an oxygen sensor and a flue gas differential sensor that senses a change in a characteristic of the flue gas. When the flue gas differential sensor senses a change in the flue gas characteristic that meets a flue gas differential setpoint, the boiler controller controls fine-level operation of the combustion air control system to efficiently control the amount of oxygen in the flue gas.
US08230815B2	Aquarium light strip A lighting system and apparatus that may be utilized with aquariums. The features and functionality of the lighting system and apparatus provide easy access to the opening of an aquarium for various purposes, such as cleaning and maintenance. In addition, the features and functionality of some embodiments provide a lighting system that does not require ballasts, light sockets, or a multitude of wiring, and includes a modular design. Further, for some embodiments, features of the present invention allow the lighting apparatus to illuminate the aquarium, while simultaneously limiting the evaporation of water from the aquarium.
US08230813B1	Method and apparatus for transporting migratory fish A cage allows fish to be moved under water in a river from a hatchery to a location at or near the river's mouth. The cage side walls contain openings which allow water to pass through the cage as it is towed downstream but prevent the fish from swimming out of the cage. A first flotation device supports the cage submerged where it is filled with fish and then towed downstream to where the fish are released. A second flotation device has passageways which allow filling it with either air or water. When filled with water it has no buoyancy effect on the cage. However, when filled with air the second flotation device raises the cage to where its bottom is at or near the water surface and it can be towed upstream with reduced drag.
US08230810B2	Lift-assisted litter box system A litter box device for use by pets. The device includes at least two litter boxes arranged as stacked drawers held in a housing. The upper drawer is accessible to a pet through an entry to the housing. The bottom of each drawer has a screen and a slidably removable drawer bottom. Removal of the slidably removable drawer bottom allows the contents of the drawer to pass into the underlying drawer. After pets excrete waste into the litter in the top box, the loose litter is separated from the waste clumps by sliding the removable drawer bottom from the top drawer, allowing loose litter granules to flow down through a screened opening into the underlying drawer. The top drawer will retain the waste clumps on its screen within the upper drawer, the screen positioned proximate to the slidably removable drawer bottom. The waste clumps may then be removed from the drawer and screen. The lower drawer containing the filtered litter can be guided up into the top position. A lift assisting mechanism allows the lower drawer to be lifted into the upper drawer position without the operator having to bear the full weight of the litter-filled drawer. After the emptied drawer is placed in the vacant lower drawer position the apparatus is ready for pet use again.
US08230801B2	Control system for positioning of marine seismic streamers A method of controlling a streamer positioning device (18) configured to be attached to a marine seismic streamer (12) and towed by seismic survey vessel (10) and having a wing and a wing motor for changing the orientation of the wing. The method includes the steps of: obtaining an estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, calculating a desired change in the orientation of the wing using the estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, and actuating the wing motor to produce the desired change in the orientation of the wing. The invention also involves an apparatus for controlling a streamer positioning device including means for obtaining an estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, means for calculating a desired change in the orientation of the wing using the estimated velocity of the streamer positioning device, and means for actuating the wing motor to produce the desired change in the orientation of the wing.
US08230786B2	Method of manufacturing an engraved plate A method of manufacturing an engraved plate used in intaglio printing, said plate being engraved by a tool, for example a laser beam, characterized in that the engraving tool uses data from a depth-map, based on a three-dimensional raster image of the document to be printed.
US08230779B2	Deep fryer for cooking foodstuff A kitchen appliance for cooking foodstuff in a liquid including a container for receiving the foodstuff and the liquid. The container having an open end and a closed end. The open end of the container includes two spaced-apart lips. A lid is removably mountable to the open end of the container to enclose the foodstuff and the liquid therein. The lid includes two oppositely oriented elongated sliders. Each slider has a proximal and a distal end. At least one biasing member engages the proximal ends of each of the sliders. In a resting position, the at least one biasing member urges each of the distal ends of the sliders into one of the lips for selective engagement of the lid to the container.
US08230774B1	Multi-unit bottle preparation device An all-in-one home appliance that performs the preparation, mixing and heating of multiple infant bottles, is herein disclosed. The apparatus comprises a countertop appliance with three (3) reservoirs comprising water, formula, and cereal, respectively. Inside the base of the appliance is a turnstile that holds up to five (5) empty bottles that have been previously sterilized by the user. In operation, the user would select the bottle size and the necessary recipe of water, formula, and cereal, respectively, using an integral control panel. At this point, internal control circuitry dispenses pre-heated water and dry ingredients in proper ratios into a mixing chamber. After mixing of the ingredients, the mixture is delivered into the proper sized bottle. Finally, internal heaters maintain the bottles at a constant selected temperature. An automatic alarm is then sounded when the prepared bottles are ready. This apparatus ensures preparation of baby bottles having consistent ingredients, mixing, and heating.
US08230772B2	Spindle with hydraulic passage arrangement and method of manufacture A spindle body defining a central axis and having a hydraulic motor assembly operably mounted thereon. At least a portion of the hydraulic motor assembly is rotatable relative to the spindle body about the central axis. A plurality of hydraulic passages extend within the spindle body. Each of the passages includes axial and lateral sections. The axial sections are in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor assembly and define a first centerline extending substantially parallel with the central axis. Each of the lateral sections are in fluid communication with one of the axial sections and form a port on an outer surface of the spindle body. The lateral sections also each define a second centerline wherein the second centerlines are positioned in mutually parallel planes and each of the first centerlines and the central axis are substantially parallel with each of the mutually parallel planes. A method of manufacture is also disclosed.
US08230766B2	Wrench for different-sized nuts A wrench for different-sized nuts includes a handle having an opening at a first end thereof and a slot communicated with the opening, an adjustment screw threadedly inserted into the handle and passing through the slot for adjusting a gap of the slot, a first working head rotatably connected with the first end of the handle in such a way that one of first and second mounting portions of the first working head is selectively positionable in the opening of the first end of the handle, and different-sized first and second ratchet sockets rotatably and respectively mounted with the first and second mounting portions. By means of the adjustment screw, the rotationability of the first working head relative to the first end of the handle can be adjusted.
US08230765B1	Tree step installation tool A device which aids in the insertion and removal of tree steps within a tree, particularly during hunting, is herein disclosed, comprising an offset “L”-shaped crank with an upper end that has a hole which slips over the step portion of the tree step. An offset lower end of the crank comprises an outward facing rotating handle. To use the device, the user inserts a tree step into the tree using its pointed end, the device is slid over the step, and the step is cranked into the tree using the increased leverage provided by the device. Should the step need to be removed, the process is reversed by turning the device in a counter clockwise manner.
US08230763B2	Bottle opener for polyethylene terephthalate bottles A bottle opener for opening polyethylene terephthalate bottles is disclosed to include a base, an adapter pivotally mounted in the base and defining therein an open chamber, retainers coupled between the base and the adapter and adapted for moving the cap of a polyethylene terephthalate bottle, each retainer having a toothed portion at one lateral side and a bearing portion adjacent to the toothed portion for stopping against the ribbed rim of the cap of the polyethylene terephthalate bottle to be opened to move the cap away from the polyethylene terephthalate bottle when the user biases the base relative to the polyethylene terephthalate bottle after attachment of the adapter to the cap.
US08230758B1	Multiple axis adjustable handlebars and handlebar mounting risers A multi-adjustable handlebar and handlebar mounting riser assembly that rotates and pivots about multiple axes. This offers a high degree of adjustability by utilizing multiple adjusting members while integrating a number of elements to enhance safety and control. These include alignment keys, anti-separation grooves, caps, and stops as well as rotation stops.
US08230755B2	Multi-directional input apparatus A multi-directional input apparatus includes a swinging member (first drive lever) having a through hole and an operating lever including a drive shaft which is inserted through the long hole. When the operating lever is tilted in a direction that crosses an axial direction of the swinging member, the swinging member is rotated by the drive shaft. A leaf spring is attached to the swinging member, and the drive shaft of the leaf spring is elastically biased against a side surface of an inner wall of the long hole. The leaf spring includes a bent portion which extends substantially parallel to the axial direction of the swinging member and which is in elastic contact with the drive shaft. A hole at which the long hole is completely exposed is formed in the leaf spring.
US08230753B2	Dual clutch transmission with multiple range gearing A vehicle powertrain comprising dual torque input clutches and a multiple speed transmission with ratio range gearing is disclosed. The range gearing provides increased gear ratio coverage. A transition between a low speed ratio range and a high speed ratio range is achieved with no torque interruption. A shift from one gear ratio to an adjacent gear ratio in a speed ratio range during a shift sequence is preceded by preselecting the adjacent gear ratio.
US08230749B2	Ball screw unit A disc spring is provided between a ball screw nut and a hollow shaft, and another disc spring is provided between rolling bearings and a housing. When leftward motion of a screw shaft is stopped and a rotational inertia force is applied to the ball screw nut, these disc springs allow the ball screw nut to rotate to a certain degree.
US08230748B2	Apparatus for pre-stress-straining rod-type specimens in tension for in-situ passive fracture testing A stress-strain testing apparatus imposes a stress-strain on a specimen while disposed in a controlled environment. Each end of the specimen is fastened to an end cap and a strain gage is attached to the specimen. An adjusting mechanism and a compression element are disposed between the end caps forming a frame for applying forces to the end caps and thereby stress-straining the specimen. The adjusting mechanism may be extended or retracted to increase or decrease the imposed stress-strain on the specimen, and the stress-strain is measured by the strain gage on the specimen while the apparatus is exposed to an environment such as high pressure hydrogen. Strain gages may be placed on the frame to measure stress-strains in the frame that may be caused by the environment.
US08230742B2	Device for outputting and/or receiving ultrasound and ultrasound sensor for inspecting a valuable document An apparatus for emitting and/or receiving ultrasound in a predetermined frequency range comprises at least one ultrasonic converter for converting ultrasound into electrical signals and/or converting electrical signals into ultrasound, and a holder having at least one ultrasonic channel formed therein in which the ultrasonic converter is disposed at least partly and/or through which ultrasound can pass from or to the ultrasonic converter. The holder has at least one non-fibrous surface layer adjacent to at least one portion of the ultrasonic channel, whose impedance is smaller than that of an inside layer of the holder neighboring to the surface layer.
US08230741B2	Test method of operations of ultrasonograph and ultrasound probe Provided is an ultrasonograph and the like capable of easily specifying defective parts of an ultrasound probe and appropriately treating the defective parts. A test method of an operation of an ultrasound probe that transmits and receives a signal of ultrasound for creating a diagnostic image in an ultrasonograph includes: bringing a test material into contact with the ultrasound probe and transmitting a first ultrasound from the ultrasound probe to the test material by a first transmitting circuit connected to the ultrasound probe; receiving, by a first receiving circuit connected to the ultrasound probe, a received signal of a reflected wave of the first ultrasound received by the test material and receiving, by a second receiving circuit connected to the test material, a received signal of the first ultrasound received by the test material; and comparing the received signals with each normal received signal stored in a memory and determining whether the operation of the ultrasound probe is normal or defective based on the comparison result.
US08230731B2	System and method for determining incursion of water in a well A technique facilitates detection of water incursion in a hydrocarbon well. Well equipment is positioned in a wellbore with one or more downhole components or regions comprising a tracer material. The tracer material is released in the presence of water to indicate incursion of water at a specific location along the wellbore. A sensor system is employed to detect the released tracer material.
US08230708B2	Cylinder lock and key combination with a blocking element in the lock A cylinder lock and key combination is disclosed. The lock comprises a housing (30) having a cylindrical bore and a cylindrical key plug (33) being rotatably journalled in said cylindrical bore. The key plug has a longitudinal, profiled keyway (34) and means (1, 2) for locking the key plug against rotation in the cylindrical bore unless a correctly cut key is fully inserted into the keyway. The key blade (60) has a cross-sectional profile fitting into said keyway, and a profile groove (61) extending longitudinally along the key blade. The lock comprises a blocking mechanism with at least one blocking element (20), which is movable from a first blocking position, in which first projecting portion (21) of the cross-sectional profile of the blocking element extends outside the cross-sectional contour of said profile rib, into a second blocking position, in which a second projecting portion (22) extends outside the contour of the rib and is accommodated in a recess (70) in the key blade. Hereby a correctly cut key can be fully inserted.
US08230704B2	Systems and methods for cooling optical fiber In one embodiment, an optical fiber cooling system includes a first cooling tube oriented substantially in parallel with and spaced apart from a second cooling tube such that an optical fiber pathway is positioned between the first cooling tube and the second cooling tube. The first cooling tube includes a plurality of cooling fluid outlets positioned along an axial length of the first cooling tube which are oriented to direct a flow of cooling fluid across the optical fiber pathway towards the second cooling tube. The second cooling tube includes a plurality of cooling fluid outlets positioned along an axial length of the second cooling tube which are oriented to direct a flow of cooling fluid across the optical fiber pathway towards the first cooling tube.
US08230697B2	Cooler and cooler accessory with integrated liquid dispenser A cooler comprising a container body having an exterior surface and at least a partially hollow interior. The container body has one or more receptacles formed within its exterior surface and extending into the hollow interior. The receptacles have enclosed bottom and side surfaces and open tops. The hollow interior of the container body is sealed and provides a fluid-tight reservoir to hold a fluid or a frozen or partially frozen fluid or gel. The container further contains a dispenser to permit the controlled release of fluid stored in the interior of the container.
US08230694B2	Refrigeration circuit A refrigeration circuit having a system charge and a system charge storage area. The system charge area has a condenser having a set of micro-channel heat exchanger coils. The condenser is appropriately sized to receive a first volume of the system charge. There is a compressor for compressing the system charge from an expanded state to a compressed state. There is a sealed refrigerant charge holding area fluidly connected to the condenser and the compressor. The sealed refrigerant charge holding area is appropriately sized for storing a second volume of the system charge during a system pumpdown. A receiver is fluidly connected to the sealed refrigerant charge holding area. The receiver is appropriately sized to receive a third volume of the system charge during a system pumpdown.
US08230693B2	Interior panel of air conditioner and air conditioner In order to give a simple appearance design to an interior panel (10) for an air conditioner (1) of the type having a couple of juxtaposed air inlet (11) and air outlet (12) and to eliminate the need for a complicated mechanism or behavior for implementing the design, the interior panel (10) is provided with: an opening cover (15) covering the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12) together; and an opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12) by changing the position of the opening cover (15) within a region including the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12). The opening/closing mechanism is a mechanism for turning the opening cover (15) about a central axis (O) located between the couple of air inlet (11) and air outlet (12).
US08230691B2	Air conditioner and air conditioner cleaning method A method of cleaning an air conditioner utilizing carbon dioxide as a working refrigerant includes three steps. In a charging step, a refrigeration cycle is charged with carbon dioxide. In a venting step, a charging target with which the refrigeration cycle is charged is vented after the charging step. In a repeating step a unit operation is performed at least one time or more. The unit operation includes the charging step and the venting step. An air conditioner includes a refrigeration cycle configured to perform the unit operation at least one time, and a counter configured to count and output the number of times that the unit operation has been performed.
US08230688B2	Modular transvane assembly An arrangement for delivering gasses from can combustors of a can annular gas turbine combustion engine to a turbine first stage section including a first row of turbine blades, the arrangement including a flow-directing structure for each combustor, wherein each flow-directing structure includes a straight path and an annular chamber end, wherein the annular chamber ends together define an annular chamber for delivering the gas flow to the turbine first stage section, wherein gasses flow from respective combustors, through respective straight paths, and into the annular chamber as respective straight gas flows, and wherein the annular chamber is configured to unite the respective straight gas flows along respective shear planes to form a singular annular gas flow, and wherein the annular chamber is configured to impart circumferential motion to the singular annular gas flow before the singular annular gas flow exits the annular chamber to the first row of blades.
US08230682B1	Thermally activated initiator assembly A thermally activated initiator assembly uses a first bar that experiences a change in length as a function of temperature. The first bar is coupled to a first support. A second support is pivotally coupled to the first support and to the first bar so that the second support may move relative to the first support when the first bar experiences the change in length. An initiator is coupled to the second support adjacent to the high side of a ramp on the second support. A second bar is rigidly coupled to the first support. The second bar rests on the low side of the ramp prior to the first bar experiencing the change in length. When the first bar experiences the change in length, the second support moves relative to the first support causing the second bar to slide along the ramp until it falls off the ramp's high side to strike the initiator.
US08230680B2	Exhaust manifold The present invention relates to an exhaust manifold for an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising a housing from which a plurality of inlet pipes emanate, which, in the built-in state, lead to cylinders of the internal combustion engine, and comprising a flange, which is welded to the inlet pipes and which, in the built-in state, is screwed to the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine by means of a screw connection. The fatigue strength of the exhaust manifold can be improved by subdividing the flange into at least two partial flanges in a longitudinal direction of the exhaust manifold.
US08230679B2	Increasing exhaust temperature for aftertreatment operation An internal combustion engine system includes: an engine with a plurality of pistons; a variable load driven by rotary power from the engine, the load including one or more of a pump, an air conditioner; and a fan; aftertreatment equipment to control exhaust emission from the engine; a sensor to provide a sensor signal corresponding to temperature of exhaust from the engine; and a controller coupled to the sensor and operable to regulate a regeneration operation of one or more components of the aftertreatment equipment. The controller responds to the sensor signal to generate one or more control signals to adjust the variable load to increase loading of the engine and correspondingly raise the temperature of the exhaust for the regeneration operation.
US08230674B2	Method for monitoring the nitrogen oxide storage capacity of a nitrogen oxide storage catalyst used in the form of a primary catalytic converter Modern exhaust-gas purification systems in motor vehicles with a lean-burn engine include a starting catalyst fitted close to the engine and a main catalyst arranged in the underbody region, with both the starting catalyst and the main catalyst being formed by nitrogen oxide storage catalysts. The nitrogen oxide storage catalysts are in each case regenerated by the engine being briefly switched from lean-burn mode to rich-burn mode when the nitrogen oxide concentration in the exhaust gas downstream of the storage catalysts rises above a predetermined value.The starting catalyst is exposed to particularly high temperatures and is therefore prone to faster ageing of its nitrogen oxide storage capacity than the main catalyst. To check the nitrogen oxide storage capacity of the starting catalyst, a regeneration which is due for the catalyst system is selected in such a way in terms of its duration and the extent to which the exhaust gas is enriched that substantially only the starting catalyst is regenerated, whereas the main catalyst is not. In this arrangement, the criterion for terminating this partial regeneration is the breakthrough of rich exhaust gas through the starting catalyst. After the engine has been switched back to lean-burn mode, the time which elapses until the concentration of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas downstream of the catalyst requires regeneration again is measured. The measured time is a measure of the remaining nitrogen oxide storage capacity of the starting catalyst.
US08230666B2	Locking headplate for adjustable saddle tree A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected elements for securing to a saddle tree head portion, a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, and an engaging element for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The engaging element includes at least one insert and a threaded fastener for compressing the insert against the rotatable displacing element to selectively prevent rotation thereof. A portion of the rotatable displacing element may be made of a material having a first hardness, and the insert may be made of a material having a second hardness which is less than the first hardness whereby a portion of the rotatable displacing element impinges into the material of the insert. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.
US08230663B2	Baler and wrapper combination A baler and wrapper combination comprises a baler, a bale wrapper, and a bale transport table. The bale transport table is movable between a bale receiving position at a bale output location of the baler, a wrapping position at which the wrapper can wrap a bale located upon the bale transport table with a sheet material, while movable bale support elements rotate the bale around its horizontal central axis, and a bale depositing position in which a wrapped bale can be deposited on the ground. The bale support elements are arranged to be moved in the bale depositing position into an orientation in which the bale is deposited on its flat end.
US08230662B2	Medication dispenser system A system for filling medication dose packs with oral-solid medication items comprises storage tray drawers each having storage trays. Each storage tray stores a specific type of oral-solid medication item. The storage tray drawers are displaceable to a drawn position to expose the storage trays thereof. A table supports dose packs having a plurality of receptacles arranged in rows, with each receptacle associated with an intake time and date of a patient prescription file. A dispensing mechanism has fingers for grasping by suction an oral-solid medication item, and degrees of freedom to displace the fingers from any one of the storage trays to the dose pack, to transfer the oral-solid medication items from the storage trays in the drawn position to the receptacles of the dose pack. A dispenser controller determines the specific types of oral-solid medication items required in the receptacles of the dose pack as a function of a patient prescription file, and actuates the dispensing mechanism to control displacements and the suction thereof to fill the dose packs from the patient prescription file.
US08230660B2	Method of installing a cable in the tower of a wind power plant A method and apparatus for mounting at least one line in a tower of a wind power plant, the line is provided in the tower before its erection in shortened, preferably folded or wound-up form. The tower also includes a means for extending the line, after erection of the tower so that the lower end of the line is lowered in a controlled manner to the bottom of the tower and can be attached there to a connector and the upper end is extended to a connector at the top of the tower if not already connected to the connector.
US08230653B2	Floor slab penetration structure and floor slab penetration hole repair method As a temporary drainage equipment, a penetration hole is formed to a floor slab of a building under construction, the penetration hole is provided with a substantially cylindrical funnel portion opened to a floor surface of a room, a connection pipe is communicated to a bottom portion of the funnel portion, and a hose guide pipe is inserted to the lower end portion of the connection pipe. An inner flange portion is provided to the lower end portion of the hose guide pipe so as to be flush with a ceiling surface of the downfloor room.
US08230647B2	Door assembly for refrigerator A door assembly for a refrigerator is provided which includes structure which is easily manufactured. The door assembly for a refrigerator door includes a door frame including a front panel and a flange unit formed on an edge of the front panel as one body therewith, a door liner mounted on the flange unit, and a filler provided within space formed between the door frame and the door liner.
US08230646B2	Sliding door assembly allowing for varying performance and threshold heights A sliding door assembly allowing for varying performance and threshold heights is disclosed herein. A sliding door assembly incorporating a sliding door sill of the present invention can have varying performance and threshold heights while maintaining the integrity of the assembly. For example, the sliding doors do not have to be removed from the assembly, and the door frame does not have to be uninstalled.
US08230645B2	Adjustable removable restraining stop for double hung windows An adjustable restraining stop assembly permits a residential double hung window to be locked in a partially opened position to permit ventilation through the partial opening. The stop assembly includes an outer tube with a telescoping inner tube. The outer tube is mounted to a window sash by a removable fixation device, such as a mounting hook and loop arrangement. A convenience knob is attached near the distal end of the inner tube. Adjustment is set by placing a desired hole of a plurality of holes in the telescoping inner tube in registration with a single hole in the outer tube and then inserting the end of a fastener, such as a cotter pin, locking both tubes together.
US08230637B2	High-visibility gunsight A high-visibility gunsight has a body defining a vertical plane and having a vertically elongated rear face. The body extends from a lower base portion to an upper free end portion. A first visibility-enhancing element and a second visibility-enhancing element are connected to the body. The visibility-enhancing elements have different visibility enhancing properties. The visibility-enhancing elements are vertically aligned with each other and centered on the vertical plane. The body has a greater thickness lateral to the vertical plane at the base than at the free end. The invention also includes a rear sight operable to be aligned with the front sight along an aiming axis to form a gunsight system.
US08230635B2	Apparatus and method for calculating aiming point information The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges.
US08230630B2	Picture frame with recording function A soft sculpture picture frame in the shape of a human or animal, with a contained audio recording and playback device. A message may be recorded on the audio recording and playback device for later playback, by pressing a recording activation means contained within part of the human shape of the picture frame. The recorded message may be played back by pressing a playback activation means contained within part of the human shape of the picture frame, preferably a different part. Picture retaining means holds a photograph of a person whose voice may be recorded on the device.
US08230629B2	Faceplate assembly and label cover A faceplate assembly includes a faceplate body and a label cover. The faceplate body has a front surface and an opposite back side. The front surface includes a panel area and a label area recessed from the front surface. The panel area includes a port extending through the front surface. The label area includes a hinge element. The label cover is coupled to the faceplate body and is disposed in the label area. The label cover includes a hinge protrusion and a retention tab. The hinge protrusion is rotatably coupled to the hinge element to permit the label cover to rotate toward and away from the front surface. The retention tab engages the faceplate body along a perimeter of the label area to secure the label cover in a closed position against the faceplate body.
US08230621B2	Shoe with removable and reconfigurable uppers An shoe assembly includes a sole and one or more detachable upper pieces that can be made from materials such as fabric, PVC, leather, plastic, rubber, other similar materials and combinations. The upper, in one or more pieces, is removably attached at spaced points on the sole, where nail-shaped posts are permanently mounted. The heads of the posts function as buttons or cleats for buttonholes, keyholes, edge loops or the like on the uppers. Interchangeable uppers can have different materials, shapes and decorative aspects, for quickly and efficiently changing the appearance and style of the footwear. Three posts can be provided, with a front post being inclined rearward and having a slot under the head or cleat, where the upper is attached, and lateral posts with heads turned outwardly. A variety of alternative configurations are possible for the uppers.
US08230618B2	Article of footwear with arch wrap An article of footwear with an arch wrap is disclosed. The arch wrap is configured to provide support to a midfoot. The arch wrap can include a plurality of eyelets that are configured to receive a lace of a lacing system of the upper.
US08230611B1	Straight edge clamping device having connection lock A straight edge clamping device includes front and rear sections and first and second connection locks. The connection lock is configured to be fit into the connecting ends of the elongated hollow portions of the front and rear sections. The first and second connection locks fit into the connecting ends of the first and second elongated hollow portions of the front and rear sections so as to connect and lock the front section with the rear section securely. Each of the first and second connection locks comprises: an outer surface fitting substantially tightly to at least a part of inner surface of the elongated hollow portion and an inner groove recessed inward from the outer surface, so as to provide rigidity against bending, shearing, or straining force on the straight edge clamping device.
US08230602B2	Line-type grass cutting head which can be alternatively used on machines with left or right rotation The head comprises a housing (3a, 3B) for a winding spool (7) for winding the cutting line (F), provided with projections (15, 19) cooperating with teeth (17, 21) integral with the housing. The teeth and the projections are arranged in such a way so as to allow a stepped rotation of the spool with respect to the housing, when said spool is translated alternatively in opposite directions parallel to the axis of the head. The head comprises a first series of teeth and a second series of teeth (21A, 21B) which can be used alternatively and which are suitable each to allow the rotation of the spool (7) in one direction and to prevent the rotation in the opposite direction with respect to the housing.
US08230600B2	Cartridge detachment sensor A safety razor has a handle and a cartridge selectively detachable from the handle. The cartridge has at least one blade with a sharp cutting edge and an expected shaving utility. A connecting structure is coupled to the handle and attaches or detaches the cartridge from the handle in response to a detachment action performed by a user. A detector within the handle has an actuator coupled to the connecting structure and a sensor for generating a signal, wherein the actuator applies an action on the sensor during the action and the sensor generates the signal in response to the action.
US08230584B2	Method for producing a coil, in particular an ignition coil for a motor vehicle A method for producing a coil, in particular an ignition coil for a motor vehicle, in which a primary winding is wound onto a winding mandrel. Then the winding mandrel is introduced into a housing of the coil and the winding mandrel then is removed from the housing, the primary winding remaining inside the housing. Finally, additional components of the coil, in particular a secondary coil shell onto which a secondary winding has been wound, are introduced into the housing, so that the secondary winding is concentrically disposed within the primary winding while dispensing with a separate primary coil shell. The method allows a design of the coil that is more compact in diameter.
US08230582B2	Methods of making magnetic write heads with use of a resist channel shrinking solution having corrosion inhibitors One preferred method for use in making a device structure with use of the resist channel shrinking solution includes the steps of forming a first pedestal portion within a channel of a patterned resist; applying a resist channel shrinking solution comprising a resist channel shrinking film and corrosion inhibitors within the channel of the patterned resist; baking the resist channel shrinking solution over the patterned resist to thereby reduce a width of the channel of the patterned resist; removing the resist channel shrinking solution; and forming a second pedestal portion within the reduced-width channel of the patterned resist. Advantageously, the oxide layer and the corrosion inhibitors of the resist channel shrinking solution reduce corrosion in the pedestal during the act of baking the resist channel shrinking solution.
US08230581B1	Method for producing a multi-band concentric ring antenna The present disclosure includes a method for producing a multi-band waveguide reflector antenna feed. The antenna feed includes a first tube and a second tube. The first and second tubes are connected to form a concentric multi-band waveguide feed array. The first tube includes a surface(s) which is/are at least partially covered by metamaterial(s), thereby forming a first waveguide feed. The second tube also includes a surface(s) which is/are at least partially covered by metamaterial(s). A radial separation is established between the first tube and the second tube, thereby forming a second waveguide feed. The radial separation may be maintained between the first tube and the second tube by one or more of: a loading material, support structures, strings, and wires. The loading material, support columns, strings, and/or wires also structurally interconnect the first tube and the second tube.
US08230578B2	Method for producing a winding of an electrical machine The invention relates to a method for producing at least one winding of an electrical machine that has a plurality of poles, in particular of a motor generator, preferably for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, the winding being formed by winding parts connected in parallel and each pole being associated with at least one groove set that is associated with the winding parts and comprises a plurality of grooves which have different circumferential angle positions relative to the associated pole, grooves with the same circumferential angle position forming equivalent grooves and each winding part of the winding being wound with the same number of windings in equivalent grooves. The invention also relates to a corresponding winding.
US08230576B2	Method of manufacturing capacitive electromechanical transducer Provided is a method of manufacturing a capacitive electromechanical transducer, including: forming a lower electrode layer on a substrate; forming a sacrificial layer on the lower electrode layer; forming by application a resist layer on the sacrificial layer to form a cavity pattern; forming an insulating layer above regions including a region that contains the resist layer used to form the cavity pattern, and then removing a part of the insulating layer that is formed above the resist layer along with the resist layer, thereby leaving the insulating layer in the other regions than the region where the cavity pattern has been formed; forming a vibrating film above the region where the cavity pattern has been formed and the regions where the insulating layer remains; and removing the sacrificial layer to form a cavity.
US08230575B2	Overmolded circuit board and method An electrical device includes a circuit board having one or more electrical components mounted to the circuit board. At least a portion of the circuit board is encapsulated in a thermoplastic polymer material to encapsulate the electrical components. The device may be fabricated by at least partially shielding the electrical components with polymer material, followed by overmolding the polymer material with thermoplastic polymer material. The shielding material may comprise a pre-formed component, or it may comprise thermoplastic polymer material that is molded around the electrical components in a first molding step or “shot”.
US08230574B2	Method for inserting connecting elements in metal sheets and connection between a metal sheet and a connecting element The invention relates to a method for emplacing connecting elements in metal sheets or sheet components made of metal by inserting a bolt-like or sleeve-like joining section of the connecting element into a joining opening provided in a metal sheet, so that the connecting element bears with an extended head section against one surface side of the metal sheet and projects with a partial length of the joining section over the other surface side of the metal sheet, and by subsequent pressing of the connecting element in the metal sheet through plastic material deformation by applying a pressing force.
US08230562B2	Method of fabricating an acoustic resonator comprising a filled recessed region A method for fabricating an acoustic resonator comprises providing a substrate; fabricating a first electrode adjacent the substrate; fabricating a piezoelectric layer adjacent the first electrode; depositing electrode material to form a second electrode up to a first thickness adjacent the piezoelectric layer; depositing a first photo mask over the second electrode; depositing additional electrode material to form the second electrode up to a second thickness; removing the photo mask thereby forming a recessed region in the second electrode; and filling the recessed region with a fill material.
US08230557B2	Neckerchief slide A neckerchief slide has one form that has a rigid body with a flat body portion and three spaced, rigid loops that project outwardly and rearwardly from the body portion, and a flashlight integrated into the body portion. The loops define apertures for the ends of a neckerchief. One end of the neckerchief goes through one aperture, the other end goes through another aperture, and both ends go behind the body portion and through the third aperture. The bulb of the flashlight points down during normal wear, and is easily pointed forward without removing the slide from the neckerchief or the flashlight from the slide. A second form of a neckerchief slide omits the flashlight. Indicia is displayed on the front of the neckerchief slide.
US08230551B2	Handgrip assembly for a suction attachment A suction attachment for a vacuum cleaner includes a tube assembly, a first handgrip, and a second handgrip, respectively, both of which extend from the tube assembly. This provides two handgrip portions separate from the tube assembly, which improves its ergonomic handling.
US08230549B2	Upright extractor An upright extractor for delivering cleaning fluid to a cleaning member, removing the cleaning fluid and entrained soil from the cleaning member, and damp wiping dirt and debris off of a surface to be cleaned. A roller assembly for wiping dirt and debris off a cleaning surface is reversible. The roller assembly and a centrifugal pump are driven simultaneously and at independent speeds necessary for preferred operation with a common motor. A vented spray tip assembly delivers cleaning fluid to the cleaning member. An improved accessory tool delivers a variety of metered cleaning chemicals while also extracting the soiled fluid and debris from a surface to be cleaned.
US08230547B2	Connector arrangement for a wiper device on motor vehicle windscreens The invention relates to an arrangement for the detachable connection of a wiper blade on a swivelable wiper arm of a wiper arrangement for windows of motor vehicles, with a bushing that can be connected to the wiper blade or arranged on it for accommodating a plug-in axis of the wiper arm and with a device to lock the plug-in axis in the bushing at least in an operating position of the wiper blade, in which the directions of the longitudinal extension of the wiper blade and the wiper arm are aligned approximately parallel to one another. It is provided that the device for locking includes a catch hook (20) arranged on the wiper blade (12), which in the operating position partially grips around the wiper arm (10) near the plug-in axis (16) and forms an angular limit stop for the wiper blade (12).
US08230542B2	Particle removing member of substrate processing equipment The present invention is a particle removing member of a substrate processing equipment including a particle removing layer in which a time necessary for a signal intensity of free induction decay measured by a pulse NMR-Solid Echo method to decay to 37% of an initial value at a measurement temperature of 100 degrees centigrade is 1000 μs or less, in particular, a particle removing sheet including the above-constituted particle removing layer on a support, and a conveying member with particle removing function formed by adhering the above-constituted particle removing sheet on the conveying member, and furthermore a method of removing particle of a substrate processing equipment, including conveying the above-constituted conveying member with particle removing function into a substrate processing equipment.
US08230537B2	Bedding top cover with simulated bed scarf A bedding top cover that defines a woven fabric that is ordinarily white or substantially white in color and has an alternate colored, textured, and/or patterned area or band purposefully located near the foot end of the bedding top cover and which is woven, via colored, textured, and/or patterned yarns, integrally with the top cover fabric. This simulated alternate colored, textured, and/or patterned area appears in many respects to be a bed scarf and serves the same aesthetic and protective functions of a separate piece of fabric. In one example, the simulated bed scarf is multicolored and the remainder of the bedding top cover is white.
US08230535B2	Shower base apparatus A manufactured shower base assembly includes a thermoplastic honeycomb structure with a spun bond polyester fabric bonded to its base surface. The upper surface of the honeycomb structure is contoured to a desired slope and drain opening configuration, and includes a thermoplastic pre-formed thermoplastic waterproof membrane integrally bonded to its top surface, the membrane being contoured to conform to a shape of the honeycomb structure. A structural ring is utilized to provide added structure around the drain opening. The configuration allows for adjustment when placing/installing the shower base in relation to walls of the shower enclosure and to a floor drain in the shower enclosure, and further allows for attachment to any common clamping ring style drain, and provides for efficient and quick installation with minimization of skilled labor time.
US08230532B2	Replacement fitting for toilet flush valves The device of the present invention comprises a limiting face configured to limit a movement of a stop arm of a toilet flush system actuator unit, that may be mounted to a toilet flush valve body by at least one retention piece. A fulcrum piece may also be provided, the fulcrum piece including a fulcrum hole adaptably sized to receive a fulcrum pin of a toilet flush system actuator unit, such that when the device is installed on a broken toilet flush valve the device will substitute, or provide support, for the support arms with fulcrum holes and stop tab for the toilet tilt valve.
US08230529B1	Toilet seat lifting apparatus The toilet seat lifting apparatus lifts a toilet seat with a user's foot. The apparatus is omnidirectional, so it can be easily reversed to operate on either side of a toilet. Almost any toilet is fitted, without modification. The base does not require mounting but instead is rested upon a surface adjacent to a toilet. The semicircular base importantly covers the pivot pedestal and the pivotally attached lever, so that splash is not a concern, yet the removable side cover allows maintenance, such as lubrication. As the hinge rod and seat arm are of relatively small diameter, and as both are adjacent to the back of the seat, less obtrusive appearance is a benefit, as is avoidance of urine stream incursion.
US08234710B2	Malware automated removal system and method using a diagnostic operating system The present invention automates the operation of multiple malware removal software products using a computerized system that systematically operates the multiple selected software products. These products are executed within a customized Diagnostic Operating System, which is different from the Normal Operating System in which the computer normally operates. Thus, any malware that may be attached to any of the programs, shells, drivers, services, or data files associated with the Normal Operating System cannot corrupt the malware removal process performed under the Diagnostic Operating System. Preferably, the Diagnostic Operating System is accessed from a read-only device prepared on a secure computer separate from the computer that is the target of the malware removal process, and the Diagnostic Operating System executes in a read-only environment. Because many malware removal products rely upon the environment provided by the Normal Operating System, the Diagnostic Operating System must provide redirection to ensure such products perform as expected. Event-triggered redirection of environment variables may be done by either injection of values, or by interception of name/key invocations.
US08234702B2	Cross network layer correlation-based firewalls Lower layer traffic such as RTP streams or UDP packets that typically are not allowed through a firewall are permitted through the firewall by correlating the traffic with higher level communications already established, or messages exchanged, at a higher level layer such as for SIP sessions. Communication information and policies can be made available to the firewall, such that the firewall can allow through any packets for an active communication between authorized addresses through an authorized port. Such an approach can allow data such as streamed data and VoIP data to be passed through a firewall without weakening firewall policies.
US08234699B2	Method and system for establishing the identity of an originator of computer transactions A method of identifying the originator of a message transmitted between a client and a server system is provided. The method includes modifying a message to be transmitted between a client and a server system to include a session identification flag and/or a session identifier 500 (e.g., at an end of the message). The method optionally includes one or more of the steps of re-computing a control portion of the message to reflect the inclusion of the session identification flag and the session identifier 502, transmitting the message between the client and the server system 504, and checking the transmitted message for the session identification flag 506, reading the session identifier of the transmitted message to determine the originator of the message 508, removing the session identification flag and/or the session identifier from the transmitted message 510, and re-computing the control portion of the message to reflect the removal of the session identification flag and/or the session identifier 512.
US08234693B2	Secure document management A method for providing secure document management includes receiving a document from a user having an associated security access profile and generating a security label to be stored as an attribute of the document. The security label includes a clearance component selected from an authorized subset of clearance components that are determined based on the security access profile associated with the user, and also includes one or more secondary security components selected from an authorized subset of secondary security components that are determined based on the clearance component of the security label and the security access profile associated with the user. The method includes storing the document in a document repository storing a plurality of documents each having an associated security label, and determining whether a third-party user is authorized to access the document based on a comparison of a security access profile of the third-party user and the security label associated with the document.
US08234692B2	System and method for processing an upload of a program with export compliance information Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for processing a program with export compliance information, the method including in a process of ingesting a program from a developer to an online store, presenting a request to the developer to indicate if the program contains encryption, upon indication that the program contains encryption, presenting an interface for the developer to upload an appropriate export compliance form, blocking the program from the online store if the appropriate export compliance form is not received, and upon receipt of the appropriate export compliance form, receiving and ingesting the program from the developer into the online store. In one aspect, the method further presents an interface to the developer to upload one export compliance form associated with multiple programs. In another aspect, the export compliance form is bundled with the program for distribution in the online store. The method can include blocking the program from the online store if the program does not meet one or more additional requirements. In one aspect, the appropriate export compliance form is transmitted to a reviewing body for approval before completely ingesting the program. The reviewing body may notify the developer of approval or rejection of the export compliance form.
US08234685B2	Method and system for receiving digital broadcasting by using mobile communication terminal Disclosed is a system and a method for receiving digital broadcasts by using a mobile communication terminal. The system includes a digital broadcast receiving device for receiving digital data from a contents provision unit by using a wired/wireless communication network and transmitting the digital data; and a mobile communication terminal for receiving the digital data from the digital broadcast receiving device, decoding the digital data, creating video and audio signals, and outputting the video and audio signals. The mobile communication terminal replaces circuits of the digital broadcast receiving device, which are in charge of predetermined functions. This simplifies the construction of the digital broadcast receiving device and reduces the cost for implementing the device.
US08234682B2	System and method for central management of network and storage resources for a video surveillance system System and method for central managing of network and storage resources by dynamically receiving over a network bit rate parameters related to video processing units of one or more edge devices and dynamically adjusting a bit rate of one of the processing units based on required bit rates of the processing units and bandwidth limitations of the network. The system and method may further include dynamically receiving storage parameters related to internal storage units of the edge devices and to external storage units coupled to the edge devices and instructing one of the edge devices where to store the video data based on the storage parameters and bandwidth limitations of the network.
US08234681B2	Method of transmitting and receiving broadcast signal and apparatus for receiving broadcast signal Disclosed are a method of transmitting and receiving a broadcast signal and an apparatus for receiving the broadcast signal. In the present invention, first program table information describing a broadcasting stream, and second program table information including additional service identifier information of the multiplexed stream and third program table information describing the additional service data for the multiplexed stream are obtained. The additional service can be provided with the additional service data by using the third program table information.
US08234677B2	Method and system for selecting and broadcasting audio/video content based on location A selection method and system. The method comprises receiving by a tracking apparatus data comprising audio/video data segments with associated tracking data segments. The audio/video data segments and the associated tracking data segments are associated with a plurality of locations. The tracking apparatus is moved within a specified proximity of a first location of the locations. The tracking apparatus senses the first location. The tracking apparatus retrieves a first audio/video data segment of the audio/video data segments associated with the first location. The retrieving is based on a first tracking data segment of the associated tracking data segments associated with the first audio/video data segment. The tracking apparatus broadcasts a specified portion of the first audio/video data segment. The specified portion is dependent on a specified condition of the tracking apparatus.
US08234665B2	Disk device To provide a “disk device” that does not waste a power during waiting for disk insertion and thus can save power consumption. The disk device includes: a casing equipped with an insertion port to which a disk is inserted; a conveying mechanism for conveying a disk, which is provided inside the insertion port; a switching type detecting switch that is switched to a detection state in accordance with a movement force of a disk inserted from the insertion port in an insertion direction; and an optical detecting member that is switched to a detection state when a disk inserted from the insertion port blocks an optical path, wherein when the detecting switch is switched to a detection state, power supply to the optical detecting member is started.
US08234662B2	Apparatus and system for producing atom feeds with J2CA adapters A servlet for enabling communications between a client having an Atom feed reader and an Enterprise Information System (EIS). The servlet enables communications between the client and the EIS by acting as a proxy for an J2CA resource adapter deployed on an application server. The servlet receives HTTP requests from the Atom feed reader and translates those requests into appropriate adapter function calls based on the specified HTTP function and the provided key information. The servlet then invokes the appropriate functions and receives the response from the adapter. If a single object is returned by the adapter, the servlet translates the object into Atom-compliant XML and transmits it to the Atom feed reader as the response. If multiple objects are returned, the servlet generates a list of URLs which uniquely specify and identify each object returned by the adapter and provides this list to the Atom feed reader.
US08234647B1	Checking for mutual exclusiveness of a shared resource In an embodiment, a technique that may be used to report whether a shared resource in a model is accessed on a mutually exclusive basis by two or more resources in the model. The technique may include identifying the shared resource, determining if the shared resource is accessed on a mutual exclusive basis, generating a result based on the determination, and outputting the result.
US08234640B1	Compliance-based adaptations in managed virtual systems Techniques are disclosed for controlling and managing virtual machines and other such virtual systems. VM execution approval is based on compliance with policies controlling various aspects of VM. The techniques can be employed to benefit all virtual environments, such as virtual machines, virtual appliances, and virtual applications. For ease of discussion herein, assume that a virtual machine (VM) represents each of these environments. In one particular embodiment, a systems management partition (SMP) is created inside the VM to provide a persistent and resilient storage for management information (e.g., logical and physical VM metadata). The SMP can also be used as a staging area for installing additional content or agentry on the VM when the VM is executed. Remote storage of management information can also be used. The VM management information can then be made available for pre-execution processing, including policy-based compliance testing.
US08234639B2	Autonomic auto-configuration using prior installation configuration relationships A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for installing software in a network data processing system. An event is detected in the network data processing system indicating that a software module is to be installed in a set of data processing systems in the network data processing system. A configuration of each data processing system in the set of data processing systems is discovered, and a set of instructions is created using a knowledge base of prior installations. The set of instructions is tailored for each data processing system in the set of data processing systems based on the configuration for the each data processing system in the set of data processing systems. The set of instructions for the software module to be installed is sent to the set of data processing systems.
US08234638B2	Creating a relatively unique environment for computing platforms Systems and methods for disrupting the operational capabilities and the distribution capabilities of computer viruses are provided. According to one embodiment, an execution environment is created that makes a computer system appear unique to incoming viruses. Responsive to installation of a valid program, the program is registered for execution by transforming it from an executable form into a locally unique form based on a diversity mechanism. Responsive to detecting an attempted execution of a program and prior to execution of the program, it is transformed by causing a protected pre-execution process of the computer system, which implements the diversity mechanism in the form of an inverse transform, to be applied. If the program was previously validly registered, then the transformation based on the diversity mechanism results in an executable program that will execute properly on the computer system; otherwise the transformation results in an executable program that will fail to correctly execute.
US08234637B2	Non-blocking semantics for modeling systems In an implementation, a computing device-implemented method includes identifying a non-blocking block in a graphical block diagram that includes the non-blocking block and other blocks, the other blocks including one or more non-blocking blocks, one or more blocking blocks, or a combination of one or more non-blocking blocks and one or more blocking blocks, determining whether one or more of the other blocks are dependent on an output from the non-blocking block, and partitioning execution of the non-blocking block into two or more execution stages, generating an order of execution of the graphical blocks, the order including a first stage of execution of the two or more execution stages for the non-blocking block, followed by an execution of one or more of the other blocks that have been determined not be dependent on the output from the non-blocking block, followed by a second stage of execution of the two or more execution stages.
US08234636B2	Source code modification technique A modification to source code is applied in an automated manner to improve program performance while maintaining the meaning of an associated program. Source code is rewritten to improve the operation of the associated program. Prior to applying the source code optimization to the program, confirmation of approval by the programmer must be maintained. In one embodiment, the programmer is presented with numerical data pertaining to an improvement ratio associated with application of the source code optimization.
US08234630B2	Calling an entity of a graphical model with a non-graphical entity and calling a non-graphical entity of a graphical model with a graphical entity The present invention provides a graphical model in a computing environment that enables a non-graphical entity to be a caller entity that executes a sequence of commands to call to a graphical or non-graphical entity that is a callee. The present invention also enables a graphical entity to be a caller to call a non-graphical entity as a callee. The present invention further allows graphical entities to have a variable number of input ports and output ports and provides the ability to use function overloading that is similar to function overloading provided in textual programming languages, such as C and C++. Further, the present invention allows the use of hyperlink between navigate between the caller and callee entities.
US08234627B2	System and method for expediting information display Exemplary systems and methods for expediting information display on a user device are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a request for information is received. An application server then generates and provides source code for a web page containing the requested information. In exemplary embodiments, a removal module is returned with the source code for the first web page. The removal module is configured to remove unnecessary elements from subsequent source code in order to expedite loading and displaying of subsequent web pages on the user device. In some embodiments, the web page comprises a syndicated web page within a window of a main web page.
US08234624B2	System and method for developing embedded software in-situ A development system for developing new peripheral software code for new peripheral hardware that will be used in a new integrated system. The development system includes a legacy, or preexisting, integrated system substantially the same as the new integrated system. A model of the new peripheral hardware is made. Each I/O register of the model is mapped into memory-mapped I/O space. Development code corresponding to the new peripheral software code is executed on the preexisting hardware so as to interact with the model via the memory-mapped I/O space. In one embodiment, the model is executed as an embedded model on the preexisting integrated system. In another embodiment, the model is executed as a non-embedded model on a hardware descriptive language simulator.
US08234623B2	System and method for using stream objects to perform stream processing in a text-based computing environment A mechanism for using stream objects in stream processing operations is provided. A definition of a class of stream objects used in stream processing algorithms can define output and update operations included in instances of the stream objects and the API (application programming interface) through which they may be called. The class definition may further include the type of state information to be held by the instantiated stream objects. An instance of the stream object may be instantiated in a text-based computing environment and the operations may be used to process streams of data.
US08234622B2	Cross platform compositional widgets Mechanisms are afforded for supporting cross platform widgets. A generic widget can be converted into a specialized widget of a corresponding platform. Dually, a specialized widget can be generalized to a generic widget for subsequent deployment on the same or different host. Furthermore, support is provided for compositional widgets across platforms.
US08234621B2	Rule based instantiation of software- and system development processes A method, system and a computer readable medium for performing a rule based instantiation of a generic software and/or system development process to provide a project specific implemented instantiated process. The proposed approach provides a gradual way to provide an implemented instantiated process adapted to project specific needs by using a staggered instantiation mode. The approach distinguishes between high level instantiation and detailed instantiation depending on the nature of the instantiation operation. The approach is flexibly applicable to software and systems development processes and the set of instantiation operations is extendable.
US08234620B1	Method and system for software development using distributed computing resources A method for software development that includes receiving, by a computing resource broker, a request to perform a software development operation on a software program using a computing resource, wherein the request is from an integrated development environment (IDE) used to develop the software program, obtaining an authentication protocol for the computing resource from a repository managed by the computing resource broker, authenticating with the computing resource using the authentication protocol, wherein the computing resource broker is authenticated to use the computing resource, sending a request to perform the software development operation to the computing resource, receiving a result of performing the software development operation from the computing resource, and sending the result to the IDE, wherein the result is displayed to a developer of the software program.
US08234618B2	Trace reconstruction for silicon validation of asynchronous systems-on-chip A test system collects passing event data and failing event data, and merges the collected data into passing subsequences and failing subsequences, respectively. The test system identifies an overlap area between the passing subsequence and the failing subsequence in regards to time slices and tracepoint slices, and creates passing transactions and failing transactions using the event data corresponding to the overlap area. Next, the test system detects a timing discrepancy between the first passing transaction relative to the second passing transaction compared with the first failing transaction relative to the second failing transaction. The test system then reports the detected timing discrepancy, which allows a test engineer to perturb the test program in order to more frequently catch intermittent failures caused by asynchronous timing conditions.
US08234615B2	Constraint programming based method for bus-aware macro-block pin placement in a hierarchical integrated circuit layout Assigning pins to macro-blocks of an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip is described. The macro-block pin assignments are automatically placed using Constraint Programming (CP) techniques to position the pins on the periphery of a macro-block. Bus-ordering and pin-spacing constraints are performed considering all the nets forming the IC design simultaneously. The CP formulation includes modeling detailed and discrete constraints required to achieve an optimal pin-assignment. A stochastic CSP solver is used to define the cost function on search points giving full assignments to all the variables. The macro-block pins are ultimately moved to computed locations.
US08234611B2	System and method for modeling I/O simultaneous switching noise The invention generally relates to systems and methods for modeling I/O simultaneous switching noise, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for modeling I/O simultaneous switching noise in a selected chip window area while accounting for the effect of current sharing among neighbors. A method includes determining a current sharing factor of areas of an integrated circuit (IC) chip package, and determining an offload scaling factor of the IC chip package based upon the current sharing factor and numbers of I/O devices in neighboring areas of the IC chip package.
US08234604B2	Co-optimization of embedded systems utilizing symbolic execution Co-Optimization utilizing Symbolic Execution (COSE) works across components of an embedded design to optimize structures therein. COSE utilizes symbolic execution (SE) to analyze software components and defines a limited set of values that software feeds hardware as constraints. SE explores substantially all possible paths of execution of the code specifying a component. It accomplishes this by accumulating path conditions (PCs) and annotating them to the corresponding segments of the component. A PC is associated with a branch of code and consists of the conjunction of conditions over input and state variables necessary and sufficient for the branch to execute. These PCs define constraints that limit the set of values that software feeds hardware. These constraints are then propagated across the networks of the design and employ static analysis techniques such as constant propagation, redundancy removal, and don't care optimizations to reduce the hardware components.
US08234601B2	Test pattern for contour calibration in OPC model build A method of calibrating a lithographic process model is provided. The method includes providing a test pattern that includes a plurality of shapes; transferring the test pattern onto a photo-mask forming a resist image of the test pattern using the photo-mask; collecting model calibration data from the resist image; and calibrating the lithographic process model using the model calibration data, wherein the plurality of shapes of the test pattern have at least a first shape and a second shape, and distances from an edge of the first shape to an edge of the second shape over a range thereof, when being measured parallel to each other, differ from each other.
US08234600B2	Computer readable storage medium storing program for generating reticle data, and method of generating reticle data A computer readable storage medium stores a program for generating reticle data for producing a reticle used in an exposure apparatus, the program including the steps of classifying target patterns to be formed on a substrate into a plurality of direction groups, extracting, for each of the plurality of direction groups, a region suited to resolution of a target pattern belonging to the direction group from an effective light source distribution formed on a pupil of a projection optical system by an illumination optical system, thereby determining the extracted region as a partial light source, executing, for each of a plurality of partial light sources determined in the step of extracting a region, processing of determining a pattern to be placed on a reticle when each partial light source is used as an illumination condition, and merging patterns determined in the step of executing processing.
US08234596B2	Pattern data creating method, pattern data creating program, and semiconductor device manufacturing method A pattern data creating method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: extracting marginal error patterns using a first result obtained by applying process simulation to mask pattern data based on an evaluation target cell pattern, applying the process simulation to mask pattern data based on an evaluation target cell pattern with peripheral environment pattern created by arranging a peripheral environment pattern in the marginal error patterns such that a second result obtained by creating mask pattern data and applying the process simulation to the mask pattern data is more deteriorated than the first result, and correcting the evaluation target cell pattern or the mask pattern data based on the evaluation target cell pattern when there is a fatal error.
US08234595B2	Method of designing a mask layout In a method of designing a mask layout, a wiring region for forming a metal wire is established, the wiring region having at least a standard width. Contact regions for forming contacts electrically connected to the metal wire are established in the wiring region. The contact regions adjacent to each other are grouped to divide the wiring region into a first region and a second region including the contact regions. First dummy regions are established in the first region, the first dummy regions corresponding to regions for forming first dummy patterns. Second dummy regions are established among the contact regions in the second region, the second dummy regions corresponding to regions for forming second dummy patterns.
US08234593B2	Synchronizing a visible document and a virtual document so that selection of text in the virtual document results in highlighting of equivalent content in the visible document Disclosed is a system and method for synchronizing virtual and physical documents. The system can be used in conjunction with screen reading software for synchronizing the screen reader's virtual representation of a component to components that are visually displayed to a sighted user.
US08234589B2	Device and method for previewing themes and categories of sequenced symbols A computer device, such as a mobile phone or PDA for example, is able to output a message based upon selection of a corresponding sequence of symbol. Such symbols can be polysemous in nature and thus be associated with a plurality of different meanings depending upon other symbols sequenced therewith. By utilizing polysemous symbols, a relatively large number of sequences can be developed and associated with stored messages in the computer device. To aid a user in accessing a desired sequence or to aid in training the learning of stored sequences, for example, a category relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon pre-selecting a symbol; a theme relating to at least two symbol sequences is fed back to the user upon selecting a symbol and pre-selecting a next symbol; and/or a message associated with a sequence is fed back to the user upon selecting and/or pre-selecting at least one symbol completing a symbol sequence.
US08234577B1	Method and apparatus for the transmission of changed host display information Updates may be transmitted over a remote viewing session using a transmission protocol configured to allow sessions to be established, terminated, and used by participants. The transmission protocol provides a message structure that may be used to exchange administrative information associated with the session, as well as host display information to be transmitted from the host to the viewers over the session. A bounding rectangle construct may be used to convey positional information associated with the update or content of an update message. The messages may be passed directly between the host and viewers or via an intermediate service. The messages also may be used to allow viewers to highlight information on the display for a limited period of time so that the highlighting appears to the host and optionally to the other viewers on the session.
US08234574B2	Method and system for navigating through a repository of displays A method and system enabling a user to navigate through a repository of graphical displays and maintain knowledge of the location of any display in the repository. The navigation enables a user to create a slide presentation by searching, selecting, downloading and compiling slides from a central slide repository. Graphical displays are arranged in a repository in a grid-like configuration such that a list of groups displayed in one direction and the specific displays within that group are listed in another (e.g., perpendicular) direction. These groups of slides are arranged in a set of directories and sub-directories that are linked to each directory. A hierarchy of the display repository displays the particular directory and sub-directory path taken by a user to retrieve any particular graphical display. A user may navigate through the display repository and select displays and determine their location in the display repository.
US08234570B2	Harvesting assets for packaged software application configuration Harvesting assets for packaged application practices, in one aspect, may include obtaining one or more work products associated with deployment of packaged software applications, extracting content and style, enhancing content and style with models of work products, and storing assets in asset repository.
US08234568B2	Selecting image arrangement regions based on number of users The image layout device configured to enable users to lay out images includes a layout data storing unit configured to store layout data sets that specify image arrangement regions for laying out the images, a layout selecting unit configured to automatically select the layout data set from the layout data storing unit based on a number of the users, an image storing unit configured to store images, one or more position instructing unit configured to select an image to be arranged based on the selected layout data set from stored images, and provide an instruction regarding an arrangement location with respect to the layout data set for the selected image and a layout processing unit configured to determine whether or not an instruction from the instructing unit is executable and, if it is executable, arrange the selected image in accordance with the selected layout data set.
US08234559B2	Managing rich presence collections A method and system for increasing the computational and network efficiency of presence servers having collections of publications is provided. The presence system uses several techniques that enable a presence server to provide rich presence information without requiring expensive processing. First, the presence system accepts batches of publication updates in a single presence update request. Similarly, the presence system accepts batches of subscription requests. Next, the presence system supports new expiration types for publication update requests that eliminate the need for a publishing user to continually refresh presence information that has not changed. Finally, the presence system accepts access lists that contain membership groups rather than an individual list of users that are to have access to a particular presence collection.
US08234542B2	Storage controller and method for controlling input and output of data between a storage apparatus and a host computer A storage controller detects error with relative ease when reading data from a storage apparatus. An address data appending device appends address data to each of logical blocks with respect to the data received from a host. A device communication control device determines a divisional position in every data with a size of a predetermined number of blocks, counterchanges the data in anterior and posterior parts around the divisional position, and stores the data in the storage apparatus. When reading the data from the storage apparatus, an address data checking device determines whether or not the value of the address data appended to the block read out and an expected value of the address data calculated based on the divisional position match with each other. If the values match, the data is sent to the cache memory. If the values do not match, an error is detected.
US08234541B2	Method and controller for data access in a flash memory A method for controlling access to data in a Flash is provided, including steps as follows: outputting at least one main data block to a buffer area of the Flash continuously, the buffer area of the Flash being adapted to buffer data to be inputted to a storage area of the Flash; generating and buffering checksum data for each main data block while outputting the at least one main data block; and outputting the buffered checksum data of the at least one main data block to the buffer area of the Flash. Another method for controlling access to data in the Flash, apparatuses corresponding to the methods and methods for controlling data access by a controller are also provided. The efficiency of data access in the Flash is raised.
US08234533B2	Data link layer tunneling technique for high-speed data in a noisy wireless environment In accordance with the invention, a data link layer tunneling technique is disclosed for improving the throughput of high speed data in noisy wireless environments. The method for recovering lost frames transmitted between a packet sending unit and a packet receiving unit in a data communications system, and generally comprises the steps of: (a) identifying a failure to successfully receive a missed frame at the packet receiving unit; (b) establishing a logical tunnel channel at the packet receiving unit to acknowledge the next successfully received frame; (c) starting a first timer at the packet receiving unit; (c) upon receiving a tunnel establishment request from the packet receiving unit, the packet sending unit resending the missed frame on the logical tunnel channel and starting a second timer; and (d) the packet sending unit resending the missed frame a specified number of times until receiving an acknowledgement from the packet receiving unit.
US08234532B2	Data transmitting and receiving system A system having a transmission unit transmitting an output data signal formed from output data and related error detection code and a corresponding receiving unit. The output data signal is pre-emphasized by a pre-emphasis driver in the transmission unit. The receiving unit includes an equalizer equalizing the received output data signal and an error detector analyzing the error detection code to determine whether a bit error is present in the received data. Upon successive data transmission failures either an equalization coefficient in the equalizer or a pre-emphasis coefficient in the pre-emphasis driver are changed.
US08234528B2	Systems and methods for monitoring a memory system Systems and methods are disclosed herein, including those that operate to monitor a first set of operational parameters associated with a memory vault, to adjust a second set of operational parameters associated with the memory vault, and to perform alerting and reporting operations to a host device.
US08234527B2	Method for error test, recordation and repair In a memory device, an on-die register is provided that is configured to store a row address as well as a column address of a memory cell that fails a test. Storing the row address frees testing from being limited to activating at one time only rows related to a common redundant segment. Storing the row address also guides repair using segmented redundancy. As an addition or alternative, information may be stored in an anti-fuse bank that is designed to provide access to a redundant cell but has not yet enabled access to that cell. If the information stored in the anti-fuse bank relates to the failure of the redundant cell, such information may be used to avoid repairing with that redundant cell.
US08234523B2	Automatic determination of success of using a computerized decision support system Methods and systems are provided for improving the repair efficacy of a repair action using inferred feedback. The method comprises downloading a repair procedure, which has a probability of success for correcting the fault code. Repair action data is input into to the computing device and is tracked and correlated with the downloaded procedure. The method then adjusts a probability of success of the repair procedure in clearing the fault code generated by the complex system based at least on the correlation. The system comprises a means for receiving repair data, a means for tracking repair action data taken, a means for correlating the tracked repair action and the repair data, and a means for updating a probability of success of the repair action based at least in part on the correlation of the repair data, the repair action data and the operating status of the complex system.
US08234522B2	Computing diagnostic explanations of network faults from monitoring data A system and method for network fault diagnosis in a network having network elements is presented. The method comprises creating a network causality model, generating Boolean expressions from the network causality model, converting the Boolean expressions into SAT sets, receiving network monitoring results, correlating these monitoring results with the SAT sets, and enumerating all possible diagnostic explanations of potential faults, properly annotated. Creating a network causality model can comprise creating, for each network element, an element-specific causality model, stitching together all network elements using the element-specific causality models and a network topology, retrieving monitoring state and propagation information, and generating the network causality model using the stitched together network elements and the monitoring state and propagation information. Stitching together network elements can comprise adding causes and implies dependency between appropriate network elements and/or adding and connecting reachable and not-reachable states. The network causality model can comprise network element states.
US08234514B2	Method and apparatus for resolving clock management issues in emulation involving both interpreted and translated code Methods and systems for resolving clock management issues in emulation of a target system on a host system are disclosed. A first set of code instructions of a target program is emulated to generate a first set of emulated instructions that emulate a first component on the host system. A second set of code instructions is emulated to generate a second set of emulated instructions that emulate a second component of the target system on the host system. The first set is executed based on a first clock (which may be a fixed clock) and the second set is executed based on a second clock (which may be a variable clock). The host system adjusts the first or second clock, execution of the first or second sets of instructions or a memory access to maintain a desired synchronization between the first and second sets of instructions.
US08234513B2	Power management method A method of managing IT resources when an IT resource managed by a coordinator is subject to a power-off request is provided. The method includes, in an event a sufficient quantity of resource statistics is present, analyzing resource statistics and operational policies to determine whether execution of the power-off request is currently, futuristically or potentially futuristically achievable with a threshold efficiency, and, in an event the power-off request is currently, futuristically or potentially futuristically achievable with the threshold efficiency, executing the power-off request, identifying a first time when the power-off request is achievable, instituting a first delay until then and, subsequently, executing the power-off request, and identifying a second time when the power-off request is potentially achievable, instituting a second delay until then and, subsequently, returning control to the analyzing operation, respectively.
US08234510B2	System and method for energy savings through emulation of wake on LAN in energy efficient ethernet A system and method for energy savings through emulation of wake on LAN (WoL) in energy efficient Ethernet networks. An intermediary device between a computing device and a network can be alerted that the computing device has entered an energy saving state with wake on LAN (WoL) enabled. The intermediary device can transition the client interface that supports the computing device into an energy saving state and emulate the WoL function of the computing device by listening for a WoL message destined for the computing device. Upon receipt of a WoL message destined for the computing device, the intermediary device can transition the client interface back to an active state then transmit the received WoL message to the computing device.
US08234505B2	Encryption key in a storage system A storage device has a storage medium, a key generator and a controller. The key generator generates an encryption/decryption key from selected bits of program code within the storage device. The controller controls access to the storage medium and applies the encryption/decryption key to encrypt and decrypt data written to or read from the storage medium.
US08234501B2	System and method of controlling access to a device A method of controlling access to a device. First information is provided. Second information is retrieved from the device. The first information is used to retrieve associated third information. A key is generated based on the second information and the third information. Access to the device is controlled by using the key.
US08234500B2	Apparatus and method for securing data on a portable storage device A portable storage device including a microprocessor and a secure user data area, the microprocessor operable to perform on-the-fly encryption/decryption of secure data stored on the storage device under a user password, the microprocessor also operable to exclude access to the secure user data area unless the user password is provided.
US08234499B2	Adaptive authentication solution that rewards almost correct passwords and that simulates access for incorrect passwords In the invention, incorrect authentication information for accessing at least one secured computing asset can be received. A similarity score between the incorrect authentication information and correct authentication information can be determined. One of many different access levels can be assigned to a computing session based upon the similarity score. Access consistent with the assigned access level can be granted. One access level can be an emulation access level that grants access to at least one simulated asset designed to mimic the secured asset. Access to the simulated asset can be provided in a fashion so that a user, who is likely an intruder, is unaware that they are not receiving the secured asset information. A tracking action can be optionally initiated against the intruder. Further, user behavior with the simulated session or a limited access session can be compared against a behavior profile to dynamically increase or decrease session permissions.
US08234497B2	Method and apparatus for providing secure linking to a user identity in a digital rights management system Disclosed is a DRM device and method for providing secure linking to a user identity. A first request is sent to a subscriber identity module. A message is received from the subscriber identity module via a secure authenticated channel. The message comprises at least a master key identifier, a random number, and a derived key. In response to the message, a second request is sent to a DRM server. The second request comprises at least a master key identifier, the device identifier, and a random number. Also disclosed is a DRM server and method for providing secure linking to a user identity. A first request is received from a DRM device. The first request comprises at least master key identifier, a device identifier, and a random number. The DRM device is authenticated. A second request for an application specific key is sent to a trusted key management server. The second request comprises at least a master key identifier. At least a key is received from the trusted key management server. A derived key is determined from the key received from the trusted key management server based at least on the device identifier and the random number. A challenge/response scheme is used to determine whether the derived key of the DRM server matches a derived key of the DRM device.
US08234495B2	Digital watermarking with variable orientation and protocols A method of digital watermarking selects a mapping of a digital watermark to audio or video content and an embedding gain to produce uniquely watermarked copies for distribution. The embedding method is implemented at points of distribution, including content servers or receivers. By applying varying mapping protocols and random gain, the digital watermark uniquely serializes copies. It also has a structure and embedding configuration that minimizes the effectiveness of collusion, averaging and over-embedding attacks.
US08234489B2	Set of system configuration registers having shadow register A processor is disclosed having a plurality of general purpose registers for storing data for processing by the processor; a set of system configuration registers for storing data indicative of a current configuration of the processor; the system configuration registers being located together in a register file; and at least some of the set of system configuration registers having a shadow register for storing a duplicate value remote from the register file, the shadow register being located close to a component that the shadow register stores a configuration value for.
US08234486B2	Managing reboot operations The disclosure provides a mechanism which is activated when a user opts to hibernate their computer (at the end of the day) rather than switching it off. In particular, on receipt of a hibernate request, an embodiment provides a mechanism for determining whether (as a result of, for example, a distribution or installation of software to a computer) there are any outstanding reboot operations for the computer.If there are any outstanding reboot operations for the computer, an embodiment advises the user of the fact; and allows the user to reconsider whether or not they wish to shut the computer down (or reboot the computer), or hibernate the computer. An embodiment then reboots the computer or hibernates the computer in accordance with the user's wishes.
US08234483B2	Memory units with packet processor for decapsulating read write access from and encapsulating response to external devices via serial packet switched protocol interface A computing and communication chip architecture is provided wherein the interfaces of processor access to the memory chips are implemented as a high-speed packet switched serial interface as part of each chip. In one embodiment, the interface is accomplished through a gigabit Ethernet interface provided by protocol processor integrated as part of the chip. The protocol processor encapsulates the memory address and control information like Read, Write, number of successive bytes etc, as an Ethernet packet for communication among the processor and memory chips that are located on the same motherboard, or even on different circuit cards. In one embodiment, the communication over head of the Ethernet protocol is further reduced by using an enhanced Ethernet protocol with shortened data frames within a constrained neighborhood, and/or by utilizing a bit stream switch where direct connection paths can be established between elements that comprise the computing or communication architecture.
US08234482B2	Universal embedded controller for freeing CPU from operations of peripheral subsystem units with table of functions including an instruction specifying battery controller select protocol A subprocessor is used to interface between subsystems and to reduce the amount of dedicated hardware used to implement the subsystems in a hand-held computer. The subprocessor includes basic processing system resources such as random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a processor, input/output (I/O) facilities, etc. Selected functions in subsystems are achieved by firmware instructions executed by the subprocessor as opposed to a main processor that is also used in the computer. This approach can provide efficiencies such as low power consumption, less required space, less routing overhead, easier transfer of inter-subsystem information, and other advantages.
US08234480B2	Storage capacity management system in dynamic area provisioning storage Provided is a capacity monitoring method for use with a computer system including one or more application computers, one or more storage systems, and a management computer. The storage system includes a physical disk and a disk controller. In the capacity monitoring method, a storage area of the physical disk belongs to a storage pool, the storage system provides a volume, and the management computer monitors a used capacity of the storage pool, judges whether or not a storage capacity required for operating the application computer for a predetermined time period is present in the storage pool based upon an increasing speed of the used capacity of the storage pool to be monitored, and executes a predetermined process operation when the storage capacity required for operating the application computer for the predetermined time period is not present in the storage pool. Accordingly, the storage pool is properly operated and managed.
US08234479B2	System for controlling memory accesses to memory modules having a memory hub architecture A computer system includes a memory hub controller coupled to a plurality of memory modules. The memory hub controller includes a memory request queue that couples memory requests and corresponding request identifier to the memory modules. Each of the memory modules accesses memory devices based on the memory requests and generates response status signals from the request identifier when the corresponding memory request is serviced. These response status signals are coupled from the memory modules to the memory hub controller along with or separate from any read data. The memory hub controller uses the response status signal to control the coupling of memory requests to the memory modules and thereby control the number of outstanding memory requests in each of the memory modules.
US08234472B2	Storage system, storage managing device and storage managing method A storage system, a storage managing device, and a storage managing method are provided. The storage system includes plural mount devices in which storage devices are mounted and includes a router connected to at least two loops in which plural mount devices are cascade-connected to one another, an initialization completion determining unit that determines whether an initialization processing of obtaining identification information of the storage devices is completed when the initialization processing concerned is executed by using at least one loop of the loops connected to the router, an initialization time determining unit that determines whether an execution time of the initialization processing elapses a predetermined time based on a determination result of the initialization completion determining unit, and a time extending unit that extends the predetermined time when the determination result indicates that the initialization processing completed and the initialization processing is executed by the plural loops.
US08234467B2	Storage management device, storage system control device, storage medium storing storage management program, and storage system A storage management device includes a management unit for managing a storage device assigned thereto and a temporary storage unit assigned thereto. The management unit comprises a backup unit for, when data is written into the storage device, storing the data in the previously assigned temporary storage unit before the writing of the data into the storage device is completed, and a take-over unit for, when data which is already stored in the temporary storage unit, but which is not yet written into the storage device exists when the storage device and the temporary storage unit are assigned, writing the not-yet-written data into the storage device.
US08234465B1	Disaster recovery using mirrored network attached storage A system, architecture for initializing and utilizing a mirrored Network Attached Storage (NAS) system is described. The architecture includes a plurality of processing layers that define and control the operation and relationship of component groups in a primary NAS and associated component groups in a secondary NAS. The groups may include, for example, file server groups and disk device groups. The processing layers may include an execution layer, a transaction layer and a storage layer. The modularized architecture of the invention allows NAS systems to be easily apportioned into logical groups at varying levels of granularity with varying relationships. As a result, the component groups are abstracted from their underlying physical characteristics and constraints, thereby enabling complex processes such as initialization, activation and restoration to be performed using simple commands at a command line interface.
US08234464B2	Hybrid storage data migration by selective data removal A hybrid data storage system is one which has data storage clusters of different types. In a hybrid data storage system, at least one first data storage cluster is configured to store data and has high data storage capacity; and at least one second data storage cluster is configured to store data and has lower data storage capacity than the first cluster. The data is initially replicated and stored by at least one first and at least one second data storage cluster. The method identifies a portion of the stored initially replicated data of at least one second data storage cluster as “pinned”; continues to store the pinned initially replicated data; and selectively removes non-pinned initially replicated data from the second data storage cluster(s) to account for the capacity difference.
US08234461B2	Systems and method for data survivability Systems and a method for storing data are provided. The protected memory system includes a memory array including a plurality of memory modules each separately located with respect to each other and a memory controller configured to receive data to be stored from the data acquisition unit, store the received data in corresponding memory locations in each of the plurality of memory modules wherein the stored data including error checking information, read data from a first one of the plurality of memory modules until a data error is detected at a first memory location, read data from a second memory location of a second one of the plurality of memory modules wherein the data read from the second memory location corresponds to the data read from the first memory location, and replace the data read from the first memory location with the data read from the second memory location.
US08234460B2	Communication between internal and external processors Systems, methods of operating a memory device, and methods of arbitrating access to a memory array in a memory device having an internal processor are provided. In one or more embodiments, conflicts in accessing the memory array are reduced by interfacing an external processor, such as a memory controller, with the internal processor, which could be an embedded ALU, through a control interface. The external processor can control access to the memory array, and the internal processor can send signals to the external processor to request access to the memory array. The signals may also request a particular bank in the memory array. In different embodiments, the external processor and the internal processor communicate via the control interface or a standard memory interface to grant access to the memory array, or to a particular bank in the memory array, for example.
US08234446B2	Disk array apparatus, data distribution and management method, and data distribution and management program A parity-data generating unit generates, in response to a write request containing update data, updated parity data in the parity group to which the update data belongs. A time-series-information generating unit generates time-series information indicating an anteroposterior relationship during writing between the update data and existing data stored in the unit storage area to which the update data is to be written. A time-series-information adding unit adds the time-series information, generated in response to the write request, to the update data as certification time-series information and that adds comparison time-series information to the updated parity data in association with the update data, the comparison time-series information having the same value as the certification time-series information. A writing unit distributes and writes, to the multiple storage devices, the update data to which the certification time-series information is added and the updated parity data to which the comparison time-series information is added.
US08234445B2	RAID data protection architecture using data protection information A structure of redundant array of independent disks (RAID) comprising multiple parity data is provided. A data protection field is attached after each basic data access unit of the parity data sequences and each subfields of the data protection field is defined according to different applications to protect the basic data access unit of the parity data or the data protection field of the payload data from errors incurring during data transmission.
US08234444B2	Apparatus and method to select a deduplication protocol for a data storage library A method to select a deduplication protocol for a data storage library comprising a plurality of data storage devices configured as a RAID array, by establishing a normal deduplication protocol, a RAID failure deduplication protocol, and a multiple storage device failure deduplication protocol. The method receives host data comprising a plurality of interleaved data blocks. If the system is operating without any storage device failures, then the method processes the host data using the normal deduplication protocol. If the system is operating with a storage device failure, then the method processes the host data using the RAID failure deduplication protocol. If the system is operating with multiple storage device failures, then the method processes the host data using the multiple storage device failure deduplication protocol.
US08234440B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with advanced multi-page program operation A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of banks and a cache block corresponding to each of the plurality of banks. The cache block has a predetermined data storage capacity. A page buffer is included which corresponds to each of the plurality of banks. A programming circuit programs all of the plurality of banks except a last of said banks with page data. The page data is loaded through each page buffer and programmed into each cache block such that when page data for the last bank is loaded into the page buffer, the loaded page data and the page data programmed into the respective cache blocks are programmed into respective corresponding banks.
US08234434B2	System and method for operating a media device A media device and docking device used in a home entertainment system are described. The entertainment system 100 includes a docking device operating in several modes allowing the media device to be charged by the docking device and allowing the docking device to be used for conveying a signal to the media device from the docking device when the media device is connected to the docking station and conveying the signal through the docking device to another media device when the first media device is not connected to the docking device.
US08234428B2	Arbitration device that arbitrates conflicts caused in data transfers An arbitration device including: a first measuring circuit to measure a first period; a second measuring circuit to measure a second period; a second selection circuit to select and output the first period or the second period according to a first selection signal; a first control circuit to output the first selection signal according to the first period and the second period; a third selection circuit to select a third data or either the first data or the second data according to a second selection signal; a third measuring circuit to measure a third period; a fourth measuring circuit to measure a fourth period; and a second control circuit to output the second selection signal according to either the selected first period or the selected second period and the third period and the fourth period.
US08234422B2	Interfaces, circuits, and methods for communicating with a double data rate memory device An input/output interface reads data from and writes data to a DDR memory. The interface includes data and strobe circuits. The strobe circuit includes preamble logic, a first counter operating with a strobe clock, a second counter operating with an ASIC-generated clock, a strobe park circuit and a first synchronizer. The preamble logic receives strobe signals from the DDR memory and generates a preamble signal. The first counter generates a first input of the strobe park circuit. The second counter generates a second input of the strobe park circuit. The strobe park circuit controllably replaces the strobe signals from the DDR memory with respective non-transitioning signals when data is not being read. The data circuit includes a FIFO buffer and a second synchronizer. The FIFO buffer receives data with the strobe clock. The second synchronizer generates a representation of the data in response to the ASIC-generated clock.
US08234421B2	Smart card with selectively allocatable data buffers and associated methods An integrated circuit for a smart card includes a plurality of data buffers and a processor. In particular, the processor selectively allocates data buffers from the plurality thereof and exchanges data therewith based upon different types of data. As such, the processor advantageously changes the allocation of the buffers for different data types based upon various bandwidth constraints in a particular smart card environment to enhance bandwidth utilization.
US08234414B2	Proxy caching in a photosharing peer-to-peer network to improve guest image viewing performance The present invention provides a method and system for serving an image stored in the peer computer to a requesting computer in a network photosharing system in which the peer computer is coupled to a photosharing system server. Aspects of the invention include caching copy of the image in the photosharing server; and in response to the photosharing server receiving a request from the requesting computer to view the image stored in the peer computer, transmitting the cached image from the photosharing server to the requesting computer, thereby avoiding the need to transfer the image from the peer computer to the photosharing server for each request to view the image.
US08234410B2	Subscriber driven media agnostic content delivery across networks A system and method is provided to facilitate subscriber driven media agnostic content delivery across same or different networks. The method includes receiving preferences from a sending client and a receiving client and receiving content of a first media type over a network. The method further includes sending the content or a reference to the content to the receiving client in a preferred media type and to a preferred device in accordance with at least one preference of the receiving client. The method also includes notifying at least the receiving client that the content is to be received by the preferred device.
US08234409B2	Intelligent network address translator and methods for network address translation An intelligent network address translation system and methods for intelligent network address translation. In one embodiment, a network packet is received from a host device, and a stored record associated with the host device is identified. The stored record includes information relating to connection parameters associated with the host device. Using the stored record, a processor determines whether the network packet should be assigned a dedicated address. If so, then the network packet is transmitted using communication parameters including a dedicated IP address. If the packet should not be assigned a dedicated address, then the packet is transmitted using connection parameters including a default public IP address and a port number.
US08234400B2	Shaping virtual machine communication traffic Cloud computing platforms having computer-readable media that perform methods to shape virtual machine communication traffic. The cloud computing platform includes virtual machines and a controller. The controller limits the traffic associated with the virtual machines to enable the virtual machines to achieve desired communication rates, especially when a network servicing the virtual machines is congested. The controller may drop communication messages associated with the virtual machines based on a drop probability evaluated for the virtual machines.
US08234391B2	Messaging model and architecture A system, architecture and model for facilitating extensible messaging and interaction are provided. The message system may use a messaging architecture that includes a domain message model, and open message model and a wire format. The wire format may implement primitive data types that may be used by the open message model to define additional and/or more complex data formats. The open message model may further specify interaction paradigms, generic messages, and message and transport attributes. The generic messages may include payload data whose meaning and context may be defined using the domain message model. The domain message model may include a content definition model and an item type model for building data and object types and specifying data context and relationships. As such, the message system may use generic messages and formats to create different message and item types.
US08234386B2	System and method for delivering digital content A system for delivering digital content to user devices. The system includes a content delivery server for establishing respective sessions with the user devices and for delivering streams of content to the user devices during the sessions according to a streaming protocol. An asset server is communicatively coupled to the content delivery server through an asset protocol for maintaining an asset scheduling table including asset entries, each asset entry including an asset identifier identifying a given asset in association with a starting time parameter, user identifiers identifying at least one target user device, and a set of session identifiers each identifying a session established with a target user device identified by the user identifiers. The content delivery server inserts, for each asset entry in the asset scheduling table, and for each session identified by a session identifier in the asset entry, the asset identified by the asset identifier of the asset entry into the stream of content delivered during the session, at a predefined insertion time.
US08234382B2	Service and capability negotiation in a network using single numbering scheme The invention proposes a method of controlling a network to which a communication device is connected, comprising the steps of obtaining (S13) connection capability information from the network and evaluating (S14) a connection service based on to the obtained connection capability information. The invention also proposes a correspondingly adapted communication device. Thus, network capabilities related failures may be eliminated since the communication device is aware of the relevant connection capabilities in the network etc.
US08234381B1	Method and apparatus for accessing networks by a mobile device An access client hosted by a mobile computing device accesses carrier networks using wireless access points and uses an access point database to identify access points and carrier networks. The access client uses methods and tokens databases to access carrier networks. The access client updates the databases using an access server when coupled to a carrier network. The access client transmits user information to the carrier network, which uses the information to perform authenticate and generate session data. The carrier network transmits session data to the access server, which uses session data to generate billing information. The access client also collects network performance data for access points and carrier networks, and transmits network performance data to the access server. The access server aggregates network performance data from access clients to generate quality of service reports. The access client includes detection and evaluation features for selecting access points.
US08234380B1	Single communication connection for managing a system with multiple service processors Described are techniques for processing data storage system management requests. A single one of a plurality of service processors of a data storage system is designated as an active service processor and a remainder of the plurality of service processors are passive service processors. Each of the service processors executes data storage system management server code including a web server. A data storage system management request is received from a client and is processed by the active service processor. When a first service processor currently designated as the active service processor becomes unhealthy, a second of said plurality of service processors which is designated as passive and is healthy is automatically selected as the active processor. Subsequent communications for data storage system management are transmitted over the network connection between the client and a web server executing on whichever service processor is currently designated as active.
US08234375B2	Apparatus and method for providing a marketing service Apparatus and method for providing a marketing service are described. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage medium includes: (1) a preferences module that is configured to collect a set of preferences of a user; (2) a monitoring module that is configured to monitor a web site based on the set of preferences so as to identify relevant content; and (3) a notification module that is configured to generate a message alerting the user of the relevant content.
US08234373B1	Method and system for managing payment for web content based on size of the web content A method and system for providing advanced notice of cost to access web content, where the cost is computed based on the size of the web content. During transmission of web content over a communication path between a content server and a client station, an intermediation system may add into the web content, in conjunction with a hyperlink to referenced web content, an indication of size-based cost to access the referenced web content. Further, during transmission of a request for web content over a communication path from a client station to a content server, and/or during transmission of the web content over a communication path from a content server to a client station, the intermediation system may engage in interstitial communication with a user of the client station to obtain the user's agreement to pay the size-based cost.
US08234366B2	Methods and apparatus to provide presence information Methods and apparatus to present presence information are disclosed. An example method includes requesting presence information associated with a first user, receiving the presence information from the first user, receiving information from a monitoring sensor associated with the first user, and sending a first message indicating that a communication session is permissible when the presence information and the information from the monitoring sensor indicates that a communication session is permissible.
US08234356B2	Method and system for coordinating device setting between a communications client and its host device A system and method for propagating device settings to a data communications client from a host on a mobile device, the system having at least one host application adapted to operate on the mobile device host and further adapted to change device settings on the mobile device; a notification means adapted to notify the data communications client of device settings changes on the mobile device; a mode setting at the data communications client, the mode setting adapted to indicate whether client applications on the data communications client should use device settings from the host; and a client settings application adapted to receive a notification from the notification means and change device settings for the client applications if the mode setting indicates the client applications should use device settings from the host.
US08234350B1	Systems and methods for generating targeted manifest files A computerized method for dynamically generating a targeted manifest file for use by a playback device to retrieve a video stream including targeted content, includes periodically receiving a manifest file that identifies a sequence of media files, and updating a master manifest file to identify the sequence of media files from each periodically received index file, such that the master manifest file identifies a continuous master sequence of media files that constitute the video stream. The sequence of media files constitutes a portion of a video stream. The method further includes, upon request from a playback device, generating a targeted manifest file from the master sequence of media files. The targeted manifest file identifies a custom sequence of media files that includes targeted content, wherein one or more consecutive media files identified in the master sequence are substituted with a different number of targeted media files in the custom sequence.
US08234347B2	Method and apparatus for efficiently managing “messages sent” file and resending of messages from mobile wireless communication device An enhanced email system incorporating mobile wireless communication devices includes program logic for efficiently managing (i.e., at least partially synchronizing) “messages sent” files in the mobile device and in a related message server. The exemplary program logic also more efficiently handles resending of previously sent email messages from the mobile wireless communication device (especially in the context of synchronized messages sent files) by sending to the message server only abbreviated unique message ID in the first instance. In this way, wireless bandwidth is conserved as is the device battery.
US08234346B2	Social network and matching network search engine A matching network system including communication devices, servers and software which enables the provisioning of services and execution of transactions based on a plurality of private and public personality profiles and behavior models of the users, of the communication devices, of the products/services and of the servers; in combination with the software resident at the communication device level and or the local/network server level. Matching and searching processes based on a plurality of personality profiles wherein the information, communication and transactions are enabled to be matched with the user, the communication device and or the servers. The communication device is a stationary device or a mobile device, such as a portable computing device, wireless telephone, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, or a multifunction communication, computing and control device.
US08234344B2	Providing analytical view of email information Described are methods and systems related to providing an analytical view of information present in one or more emails. Metadata of all the emails present in a mailbox is configured. The metadata includes an attribute of a corresponding email. Based upon the attributes of the emails, a relationship map is created. The relationship map is a multidimensional structure having multiple axes, with each axis describing an attribute of the emails. A query is received to query the mailbox. The query received is parsed to identify attributes of one or more relevant emails that are associated with the received query. A value is computed for each attribute of the relevant emails. Based upon the values computed for each attribute present in the relationship map, a resulting report having analytical view of information present in the relevant emails is rendered.
US08234339B2	System and method for handling electronic messages Systems and methods for handling messages on a mobile device. A system and method could be configured to receive at a mobile device a message that is associated with a message expiry indicator. If a message expiry indicator is determined to be associated with the received message, then the received message is removed from the mobile device.
US08234335B1	Customized grouping of participants in real-time conference set-up A customized list of real-time conference participants are obtained by selecting a conference group and then selecting members of the group to be excluded using an exclusion list feature. In alternative embodiments, one or more logical operators such as AND or OR are selected and applied to conference groups the user has selected. The logical operators and selected conference groups are sent to a conference server, which applies the operator to the selected groups to arrive at a shortlist of conference participants. The invention is particularly useful for cellular telephones initiating a real-time conference using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and a SIP server resident on a network.
US08234331B2	System and method for shielding open process control client applications from bad quality initial data A system (10) and method (200) for managing components in a control system can include a plurality of devices (150) operably coupled to a processing system (125) for controlling a process run by the processing system. A server (100) is in communication with the plurality of devices. A client (20) is in communication with the server (100), wherein the client (20) or an instance between the client and the server, such as controller (15), is operable to identify at least one relevant item associated with the plurality of devices (150). The at least one relevant item is one of a plurality of items to be added to a group, an inactive one of the plurality of items of the group being activated or one of the plurality of items of the group wherein the group is being activated. The client (20) or controller (15) obtains information from the server (100) and generates a determination whether the data associated with the at least one relevant item is a valid value or an invalid value, wherein valid values proceed directly to the client (20), while values determined to be invalid values are only allowed to reach the client (20) if they continue to be determined to be invalid values after the pre-determined time delay period has expired.
US08234327B2	System and method for bandwidth optimization in a network storage environment According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a network cache intercepts data requested by a client from a remote server interconnected with the cache through one or more wide area network (WAN) links (e.g., for Wide Area File Services, or “WAFS”). The network cache stores the data and sends the data to the client. The cache may then intercept a first write request for the data from the client to the remote server, and determine one or more portions of the data in the write request that changed from the data stored at the cache (e.g., according to one or more hashes created based on the data). The network cache then sends a second write request for only the changed portions of the data to the remote server.
US08234322B2	Apparatus and method for generating random numbers The present invention relates to a random-number generating apparatus and method for generating physical random numbers in accordance with noises randomly generated by a noise generating element, and allows for generating true random numbers at a high speed and uniformizing the generation frequency of each random number value, even in a simplified circuit configuration. The random-number generating apparatus is operable to amplify a waveform based on thermal noises generated in a thermal-noise generating element, and generate a random pulse at the time when the amplified output signal exceeds a given threshold from the state of being less than the threshold. The random-number generating apparatus is also provided with a reference-pulse generator for generating a reference pulse having a constant period, and a timer for measuring a time interval between the reference pulse and the random pulse. The measured value in the timer is output as a random number value.
US08234317B1	Auto-committing files to immutable status based on a change log of file system activity A system and method are provided for auto-committing files of a storage system to immutable status based on a change log of file system activity. The system is configured for producing and analyzing the change log. Producing the change log involves generating change log entries associated with changes made to files of the storage system and organizing the change log entries from the oldest to newest entries. Analyzing the change log involves processing the change log beginning with the oldest entry to determine whether any entries have met the auto-commit time period, and if so, to set the files associated with such entries to immutable status. If a change log entry is found not to have met the auto-commit time period, a resting time period is determined based on the oldest change log entry, and processing of the change log proceeds after expiration of the resting time period.
US08234312B2	Schema mapping and data transformation on the basis of layout and content Systems and methods are provided for schema mapping and the transformation of data. In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided that includes the steps of simultaneously displaying to a user, via a graphical user interface, layouts of the first and second documents, wherein the first and second documents have different data schemas and are instantiated with elements containing data values, and acquiring one or more associations from the user to map a first element of the first document to a second element of the second document. The method further includes the steps of indicating to the user a second association between elements in the first and second documents based on the association acquired from the user, and storing the association including the layout data corresponding to the first and second elements.
US08234311B2	Information processing device, importance calculation method, and program There is provided an information processing device including: a storage unit that has an attribute table storing attribute values given to a plurality of contents; and an importance calculation unit that calculates an importance to a specific attribute of content with respect to one or more attributes other than the specific attribute of content using attribute values stored in the attribute table, wherein the importance calculation unit calculates the importance using a decision table with the specific attribute as a decision attribute and the one or more attributes as condition attributes.
US08234306B2	Information process apparatus, information process method, and program Provided is an information process apparatus including: an extraction unit which is configured to extract words in a predetermined word class from comments which predetermined users write about a predetermined item; a grouping unit which is configured to group the predetermined users by performing a multivariate analysis using the words extracted by the extraction unit; a storage unit which is configured to store the groups, the predetermined item, and the words in association with each other; a determination unit which is configured to determine which group a user who is to write a comment belongs to when the user is to write the comment about the predetermined item; and a reading unit which is configured to read from the storage unit words which are associated with the group determined by the determination unit and the predetermined item which the comment is to be written about.
US08234305B2	Method for determining communicative value A method of determining which users are experts and which tags are appropriate without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is described. The level of a user's expertise is determined based on previous tags, the categorization of one or more tags, and the rating of the tags previously left by the user. The appropriateness of a tag is based on previous tagging of information by the user, by the number of times a user has tagged information with the same categorization, and the rating of a user.
US08234297B2	Efficient computation of top-K aggregation over graph and network data A method and system for efficiently answering a local neighborhood aggregation query over graph data. A graph which has a plurality of nodes is received and stored in memory. A local neighborhood aggregation query is received. A processing engine applies forward processing with differential index-based pruning, backward processing using partial distribution, or an enhanced backward processing that combines the backward processing and the forward processing. As a result of the forward, backward, or enhanced backward processing, nodes in the graph that have the top-k highest aggregate values over neighbors within h-hops of the nodes are determined. Identities of entities or persons associated with the determined nodes are presented and/or stored.
US08234295B2	Managing uncertain data using Monte Carlo techniques According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing uncertain data is provided. The method includes specifying data uncertainty using at least one variable generation (VG) function, wherein the VG function generates pseudorandom samples of uncertain data values. A random database based on the VG function is specified. and multiple Monte Carlo instantiations of the random database are generated. Using a Monte Carlo method, a query is repeatedly executed over the multiple Monte Carlo instantiations to output a Monte Carlo method result and associated query-results. The Monte Carlo method result may then be used to estimate statistical properties of a probability distribution of the query-result.
US08234280B1	Dynamic bitwise sharding of live stream comment groups Groups of users accessing content are generated and modified to allow the users to more easily interact with each other. A number of groups and a maximum number of users in a group are received and used to generate shards. In one embodiment, the number of shards generated is based on the number of groups received. Each shard is associated with a unique shard identifier. In one embodiment, a user is associated with a shard when the user accesses content. For example, when a comment is received from a client device associated with a user, a user identifier is determined and associated with a shard. Using the shards, groups of users are generated. In one embodiment, a substring of the shard identifiers associated with the shards is determined and users associated with shard identifiers having the same substring of the shard identifier are included in a group.
US08234273B2	Document scoring based on document content update A system may determine a measure of how a content of a document changes over time, generate a score for the document based, at least in part, on the measure of how the content of the document changes over time, and rank the document with regard to at least one other document based, at least in part, on the score.
US08234268B2	System, method, and computer-readable medium for optimizing processing of distinct and aggregation queries on skewed data in a database system A system, method, and computer-readable medium for optimization of query processing in a parallel processing system are provided. Skewed values and non-skewed values are treated differently to improve upon conventional DISTINCT and aggregation query processing. Skewed attribute values on which a DISTINCT selection or group by aggregation is applied are allocated entries in a hash table. In this manner, a processing module may consult the hash table to determine if a skewed attribute value has been encountered during the query processing in a manner that precludes repetitive redistribution of rows with highly skewed attribute values on which a DISTINCT selection or group by aggregation is applied.
US08234260B1	Metadata management for scalable process location and migration A method for metadata management for scalable processes, involving creating a process by a first home processor, wherein the process is associated with a process identification (ID), storing the processor ID and information identifying the first home processor in a global process look-up data structure (GPLD), requesting metadata associated with the process, searching the GPLD to obtain the first home processor of the process using the process ID, and retrieving the metadata associated with the process from the first home processor.
US08234259B2	Method and system for adjudicating text against a defined policy A computerized method of adjudicating text against a policy includes receiving one or more system policies, creating a system datastructure for each received system policy, receiving an input message comprising a text to be adjudicated, selecting a system policy from the one or more received system policies based on the input message, and processing the text to be adjudicated and the system datastructure corresponding to the selected system policy to determine if a prohibited word is present in the text to be adjudicated. The one or more system policies include one or more prohibited words and a first hit value corresponding to each prohibited word. The system datastructure includes a plurality of linked lists corresponding the letters of the alphabet and a head linked list operable to store one or more found prohibited words.
US08234252B2	Automated tracking and reporting of trader positions A data collection application includes a collection document having a first code portion configured to format the document, at least one information input configured to receive an input wherein the at least one information input is defined by the first code portion, and a second code portion stored within the collection document and configured to include the information provided via the at least one information input. The data collection document further includes an archival routine configured to create a second collection document based on the second code portion and the information provided via the at least one information input.
US08234245B2	Methods and systems for managing data Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
US08234241B2	Methods, systems, and computer program products for reducing database workload volume Methods, systems and computer program products for reducing database workload volume. Methods include collecting a sequence of database commands directed to a single database record in a database. The sequence of database commands are reduced to a net result by combining database commands within the sequence of database commands. The net result is written to an output entity when the net result includes a database command.
US08234233B2	System and method for combining breadth-first and depth-first search strategies with applications to graph-search problems with large encoding sizes A system and method to integrate breadth-first and depth-first strategies in a single search technique or routine is provided. It combines the complementary strengths of both strategies to achieve significantly improved speed over either strategy used alone. The new algorithm can be used to efficiently find solutions to the treewidth problem that has applications in areas such as diagnosis using probabilistic inferences.
US08234225B2	Price optimization system and process for recommending product price changes to a user based on analytic modules calculating price recommendations independently Disclosed is a market-based software system that will help user-retailers manage price and inventories more effectively. The system will take advantage of available price and sales data to provide pricing recommendations that will achieve a retail user's objectives. The system will offer a solution that will allow for pricing improvement shortly after installation by utilizing data that is readily available. The system will recommend price changes that help a user achieve specified objectives such as contribution, sales volume, desired margins, and the like.The system can also collect and process price and sales data on an ongoing basis, which can enable improved estimates of customer price sensitivity and performance on a category-by-category basis. This data can be used to improve further pricing decisions.
US08234219B2	Method, system and apparatus for secure data editing A system, method, and apparatus for secure data editing is disclosed. A data field receives focus to accept a data entry from a user. The user inputs a data entry into the data field via a user interface. A determination is made of whether a manual lock event, a change focus event, or a time out event has triggered based on the user's action or inaction with the user interface. Upon the triggering of a manual lock event, a change focus event, or a time out event, the data entry in the data field is obscured. The user interface may display a data entry with a validation character which provides a reference point within the data entry while the data entry is displayed and while the data entry is obscured. The system may allow a user to have a specified function set based on his user access level.
US08234206B1	Method and system for pooling, securitizing, and trading global dividend and interest tax reclaim assets Method and system for administering the pooling, securitizing, and trading of global dividend and interest tax reclaim assets during the reclamation process from concerned foreign government tax authorities, who are parties to a double taxation treaty.
US08234204B2	Method and system for matching short trading positions with long trading positions A system and method for automatically matching short and long positions of participants and automatically generating repurchase agreements (“repo”) and reverse repurchase agreements (“reverse repo”). The system and method provide trading anonymity and various filtering options for the members.
US08234203B1	E-commerce system including online automatable inventory monitor and control system An e-commerce system offering retail, instant buy, and auction sales models automatically moves items for sale between the sales models according to seller-defined criteria, such as elasticity of demand, cash generation, time in sales model, and quantity in sales model. The retail sales model includes a virtual storefront creation tool with which sellers can create and customize their own virtual storefronts. The system lists items offered for sale in the retail and instant buy sales models by sellers with virtual storefronts in the sellers' storefronts.
US08234191B1	Systems and methods for application processing Systems and methods for application processing are described herein. In some examples, a method may include receiving an oral indication from an applicant that is recorded which authorizes the performing of one or more operations intended to facilitate the underwriting of an insurance policy. The method may also include immediately underwriting, following the receipt of a recorded oral indication authorizing an operation to be performed.
US08234187B1	Employer agency enrollment A computer-implemented method for enrolling an employer with an agency. The method includes obtaining employer data from the employer, evaluating a requirement to enroll with the agency based on the employer data, accessing a customized interface associated with the agency based on the requirement, transmitting the employer data to the customized interface, and receiving an employer enrollment credential from the agency to confirm enrollment with the agency.
US08234185B2	System and method for tracking authenticated items A system for tracking an authenticated item is provided. The system includes an authentication device, such as an RFID tag, affixed to the item. An item registration system receives authentication device data from the authentication device (such as an external and internal RFID tag number) and associated item data (such as a description of the item, the name of an athlete that used the item, and a sporting event that the item was used at) and stores the authentication device data and the associated item data. An owner registration system receives owner registration data (such as owner identification data and an external tag number) after a buyer has acquired the item. A buyer verification system receives the authentication device data, the associated item data and the owner registration data and stores buyer verified data if the associated item data correlates to the owner registration data, such as if the external tag number or event data entered by the owner matches external tag number or event data for the item.
US08234184B2	Automated reply generation direct marketing system A system for automatically preparing customized replies in response to communications from a plurality of clients. To facilitate automation and tracking, each original communication to the client (or each original response from the client) is tagged with a unique label, and replies to client responses are each correspondingly labeled. The system provides individualized replies to each of a variety of response options that a client might exercise in response to a received communication, whether an original communication or a reply to a previous response. The system is applicable to mass marketing communications, and is particularly well suited to the generation of personalized replies to each and every one of a multitude (tens of thousands and up to millions) of communications from clients. The system is also capable of continuing to generate replies to follow-up responses from clients and to thereby maintain an ongoing “conversation” until the client makes a purchase decision, or no longer responds. Communications may be delivered through a variety of means, such as the internet, the mails, by facsimile, on a host communication, etc.
US08234183B2	Behavioral data mining processes for generating pairwise item comparisons Data mining systems and methods are disclosed for generating data that is helpful to users in selecting between items represented in an electronic data repository, such as an electronic catalog. One disclosed data mining method generates pairwise comparison data for particular pairs of items. The pairwise comparison data for a given item pair reveals a tendency of users who consider both items in the pair to select one item over the other. The pairwise comparison data may be appropriately exposed to users of the electronic repository. For instance, an item detail page for item A may be supplemented with an indication that users who view both item A and item B select item B a specified percentage of the time. Another data mining method uses item viewing histories and item purchase histories of users in combination to identify pairs of items that are good candidates for being recommended in combination.
US08234182B2	Systems for providing customized or personalized memorabilia in association with vendor bidding A system and method for providing customized or personalized memorabilia to end users, wherein the system allows the price for the customized or personalized memorabilia to be established by obtaining the lowest production costs from approved vendors, and further allowing such costs to be offset by any sponsorship underwriting of the memorabilia. The system further allows establishment of advertising to target demographic audiences by underwriting customized or personalized memorabilia orders and placing advertising indicia for the sponsor on or with the ordered customized or personalized memorabilia.
US08234178B1	Automatic item-purchasing and consolidation system A system and method that includes several automatic purchasing features. The method includes establishing purchasing criteria for items to be purchased, and automatically searching marketplaces for availability of the items to be purchased. The method also includes identifying available items, of the items to be purchased, that meet the established purchasing criteria.
US08234158B1	Analyzing text streams for cue points of advertisements in a media stream A method, system, and apparatus are provided for integrating advertisements with a multimedia stream to create a resultant media stream. The depicted embodiments analyze a text-based data stream a multimedia stream to identify advertisement insertion points. Further, the depicted embodiments communicate with a rule-based database to acquire cue requirements and an advertising database to receive the advertisements. The cue requirements are used to incorporate the advertisements into with the multimedia stream to produce a resulting content stream. The resulting content stream may be provided to a user and/or computing device.
US08234157B2	Method for internet based advertising and referral using a fixed fee methodology A method of advertising a first web site on a second web site comprising with a fixed compensation based methodology. The method includes providing an upper level category and a lower level category, assigning at least one keyword to each of the categories, respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords that the first web sites will pay, assigning the second web site to any one of the categories, thereby defining a second web site category, associating the first web site with any of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to such keywords, thereby defining at least one first web site category, in response to receiving a request from the second web site, determining the second web site category, and providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site. In response to an Internet user selecting any one of the hyperlinks, awarding the second web site at least a portion of the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated.
US08234156B2	System and method for characterizing and selecting technology transition options Using adaptions of option pricing techniques from the financial industry, the invention provides systems and methods for structured development of migration options in a legacy transactional enterprise. Components and risk factors of the legacy enterprise are identified and determined, as well as components and risk factors of unmet opportunities, and potential components for the enterprise. Migration options for the enterprise are developed using the components and risk factors.
US08234147B2	Multi-variable product rank Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for ranking products using multiple data sources are provided. A computerized ranking system includes a ranking engine, loaders, and a presentation component. The ranking engine calculates a score for each product based on multiple counts logged by data sources. Loaders communicatively connected to the ranking engine provide the counts to the data sources. The presentation component generates a ranked product list for display on client devices in response to requests for a list of popular products.
US08234131B2	System and method for chronic illness care In one aspect, the present invention relates to a computerized system programmed for providing care support to at least one patient having at least one chronic illness. In one embodiment, the system includes a medical professional module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with at least one medical professional at the point of care, a health coach module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with the at least one patient and at least one health coach, a patient module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with the at least one patient, and, a public health module adapted for receiving, storing, and providing data in communication with at least one research professional. Each of the medical professional module, health coach module, patient module, and public health module is operatively associated with a corresponding one of the at least one medical professional, at least one health coach, at least one patient, and at least one research professional through a network.
US08234128B2	System and method for verifying medical device operational parameters A system and method is disclosed for executing a comparison of a medical device operational parameter to an order.
US08234126B1	Distribution of infusion pumps Some embodiments described herein provide for a number of portable infusion pumps to be distributed to a pump user via a pharmacy system or like.
US08234125B2	Health care data management Health care data is stored in memory accessible to a server. The server allows users to access the health care data, such as across a communication network. In some embodiments a biometric identifier for a patient is stored with patient information. The biometric identifier can be used to control access to patient records and to quickly locate patient information associated with a particular patient.
US08234115B2	Systems and methods for determining the N-best strings Systems and methods for identifying the N-best strings of a weighted automaton. A potential for each state of an input automaton to a set of destination states of the input automaton is first determined. Then, the N-best paths are found in the result of an on-the-fly determinization of the input automaton. Only the portion of the input automaton needed to identify the N-best paths is determinized. As the input automaton is determinized, a potential for each new state of the partially determinized automaton is determined and is used in identifying the N-best paths of the determinized automaton, which correspond exactly to the N-best strings of the input automaton.
US08234114B2	Speech interactive system and method The present invention relates to a speech interactive system and method. The system comprises a target information receiving module, an interactive mode setting and speech processing module, an interactive information update module, a decision module, and an output response module. It receives target information and sets corresponding target text sentence information. It also receives a user's speech signal, sets an interactive mode, decides the speech's target text sentence information, and generates an assessment for the target text sentence. Under the set interactive mode, the system updates the information in an interactive information recording table according to the assessment and a timing count. According to the interactive mode and the recorded information, an output mode for the target text sentence information is generated. According to the output mode and the recorded information, the response information is generated.
US08234113B2	Identification of people using multiple types of input Systems and methods for detecting people or speakers in an automated fashion are disclosed. A pool of features including more than one type of input (like audio input and video input) may be identified and used with a learning algorithm to generate a classifier that identifies people or speakers. The resulting classifier may be evaluated to detect people or speakers.
US08234109B2	Method and system for hiding lost packets A method and system for hiding lost packets are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining a time-domain signal segment from a frame prior to a lost signal and a frame subsequent to the lost signal respectively according to periodicity of pitch and phase of the signal, and performing transformation from a time domain to a frequency domain to obtain a frequency-domain coefficient of the prior frame and a frequency-domain coefficient of the subsequent frame; interpolating values into an amplitude value of the frequency-domain coefficient of the prior frame and an amplitude value of the frequency-domain coefficient of the subsequent frame to obtain an amplitude value of the frequency-domain coefficient of multiple reconstructed signals; selecting a phase most similar to the phase of the reconstructed signals from the prior frame and/or the subsequent frame as a phase value of the frequency-domain coefficient of the reconstructed signals; and performing transformation from the frequency domain to the time domain according to the amplitude value and the phase value of the frequency-domain coefficient of the reconstructed signals to obtain time-domain signals of the reconstructed signals, and superposing the time-domain signals of the reconstructed signals to recover the lost signal.
US08234106B2	Building a translation lexicon from comparable, non-parallel corpora A machine translation system may use non-parallel monolingual corpora to generate a translation lexicon. The system may identify identically spelled words in the two corpora, and use them as a seed lexicon. The system may use various clues, e.g., context and frequency, to identify and score other possible translation pairs, using the seed lexicon as a basis. An alternative system may use a small bilingual lexicon in addition to non-parallel corpora to learn translations of unknown words and to generate a parallel corpus.
US08234105B1	Mapping between code coverage and model coverage for a design Coverage data may be collected for a model. The coverage data may include model coverage data and code coverage data for test cases input to the model. The coverage data may be presented to a user as data indicating a correspondence between coverage outcomes for the model and coverage outcomes for the code used to implement the model.
US08234103B2	Physical realizations of a universal adiabatic quantum computer Devices, methods and articles advantageously allow communications between qubits to provide an architecture for universal adiabatic quantum computation. The architecture includes a first coupled basis A1B1 and a second coupled basis A2B2 that does not commute with the first basis A1B1.
US08234099B2	Computer program for determining a nutritional diet product for a canine or feline animal Selecting the nutrition for an animal or animal group comprises performing a diagnostic test to obtain first data. A data base that comprises first data relating a genomic analysis of a bodily fluid or tissue sample from an animal to a physiological condition and optionally the genotype of the animal is accessed. A data base that comprises second data relating to effects of nutrition on genomic analysis is accessed. The first and second data are processed with input data defining the physiological condition and optionally the genotype of the animal or animal group to derive the nutrition for an animal or animal group.
US08234098B2	Method and apparatus for integrated modeling, simulation and analysis of chemical and biochemical reactions An integrated system for modeling, simulating and analyzing chemical and biochemical reactions includes a modeling environment for constructing a model of a chemical or biochemical reaction. The system also includes a simulation engine accepting as input the constructed model of the chemical or biochemical reaction and generating as output an expected result. An analysis environment communicates with the simulation engine and displays the expected result.
US08234094B2	System and method for testing liquid crystal display device A system for testing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a testing device photographing and capturing an image of a defect generated on a substrate having a thin film array formed thereon, the testing device providing testing information on the defect, a ARPC automatically determining defectiveness of the substrate by an automatic determination method using a defect determining automation program designed based on a testing worker's determination method and behavior aspect, the captured image and the testing information on the defect, a PRPC determining defectiveness of the substrate based on the captured image and the testing information on the defect, if the defectiveness of the substrate is undeterminable by the ARPC, and a main server connecting the ARPC with the PRPC and storing the captured image and the testing information on the defect. The ARPC extracts characteristics of the defect by using the testing information on the defect and the ARPC analyzes the extracted characteristics of the defect to classify and calculate the degree of the defect.

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