Document	Document Title
US08492440B2	Difluorophenyldiacylhydrazide derivatives Novel difluorophenyldiacylhydrazide derivatives of the formula I, in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are kinase inhibitors and can be used for the treatment of diseases and complaints such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome (dyslipidaemia), systemic and pulmonary hypertonia, cardiovascular diseases and kidney diseases, generally in any type of fibroses, inflammatory processes, tumours and tumour diseases.
US08492438B2	Treatment skin disorders Disclosed are a composition and a method for treating skin disorders, including rosacea, pityriasis rosea, erythema, rhinophyma, and rosacea-associated disorders including pimples, papules, pustules, and telangiectasia.
US08492436B2	Inhibitors of yeast filamentous growth and method of their manufacture The invention broadly relates to the use of α,β-unsaturated fatty acids to inhibit the filamentous growth of fungi and yeasts and to a method for producing same. In particular the invention relates to the use of optionally substituted C8 to CI5 α,β-unsaturated fatty acids or salts, esters or amides thereof for inhibiting or retarding the yeast-to-mycelium transition of organisms having a dimorphic life cycle.
US08492435B2	Composition for treating a dermal anomaly An improved composition for treatment of ulcer-type skin conditions. The composition is primarily characterized by a combination of nitroglycerin and arginine. Other embodiments comprise emollient cream, mineral oil, tumeric powder, folic acid, vitamin B12, and zinc citrate. The composition is particularly effective in improving blood flow in the underlying capillary bed about the wound, improving nerve growth about the wound, increasing circulation, and having a standardized and more predictable therapeutic characteristic.
US08492433B2	Glycerol levulinate ketals and their use in the manufacture of polyurethanes, and polyurethanes formed therefrom The present disclosure relates to the preparation of ketal compounds from glycerol and levulinic acid and esters, and uses thereof, in particular the manufacture of polyurethanes.
US08492430B2	Fused cyclic compounds The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, or a salt thereof. The compound or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof has a GPR40 receptor function modulating action and is useful as an insulin secretagogue or an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes and the like.
US08492419B2	Multifunctional solid formulations for water conditioning Solid formulations for use in water conditioning of circulating reservoirs, processes of preparing same and methods for water conditioning utilizing same are disclosed. The solid formulations combine a sanitizer with a bath salt and/or an odoriferous substance.
US08492411B2	5-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-thiazole derivatives for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases A compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug and/or solvate thereof, and a method for the treatment of an acute or chronic inflammatory disease by inhibiting the production of at least one pro-inflammatory cytokine selected from TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-8 and IL-10, involving administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as defined above.
US08492409B2	1-substituted pyridyl-pyrazolyl amide compounds and uses thereof The present invention discloses a kind of 1-substituted pyridyl-pyrazolyl amide compounds and uses thereof. The compounds have structures as represented by the general formula I, wherein the definitions of each substituent showed in the specification. The compounds of formula I are novel and have excellent insecticidal and fungicidal activities and can be used for controlling insect pest and diseases.
US08492404B2	Bis-aryl amide compounds and methods of use The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of protein kinase mediated diseases, including autoimmune disease and inflammation. In one embodiment, the compounds have a general Formula I wherein A1, A2, A3, A4, L, R1, R2 and R3 are defined herein. The invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of the present invention, methods of use such as treatment of Lck and/or c-Kit kinase mediated diseases by administering the compounds of the invention, or compositions including one or more compounds of the invention, and intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the present invention.
US08492402B2	Stable crystalline salt of (R)-3-fluorophenyl-3,4,5-trifluorobenzylcarbamic acid 1-azabicyclo [2.2.2]oct-3-yl ester The present invention refers to a stable crystalline salt of (R)-3-fluorophenyl-3,4,5-trifluorobenzylcarbamic acid 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl ester and its use as medicament, in particular for the treatment of urinary incontinence or other diseases involving genitourinary disorders.
US08492396B2	Therapeutic uses of adrenergic α-1 receptor antagonists The disclosure relates to methods of using an adrenergic α-1 receptor antagonist or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts for treating and/or preventing interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder or detrusor overactivity.
US08492374B2	Azaazulene compounds An azaazulene compound is provided. The azaazulene compound has formula (I) shown below. Each variable in formula (I) is defined in the specification. The compound can be used to treat cancer. The invention also provides a method for treating cancer. The method includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of one or more azaazulene compounds of formula (I).
US08492371B2	Compounds as cannabinoid receptor ligands Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I) wherein Ring A and R1 are as defined in the specification. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.
US08492359B2	Lipid formulations for nucleic acid delivery The present invention provides novel, stable lipid particles comprising one or more active agents or therapeutic agents, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles. More particularly, the present invention provides stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) comprising a nucleic acid (such as one or more interfering RNA), methods of making the SNALP, and methods of delivering and/or administering the SNALP.
US08492358B2	Agonists of toll-like receptor 3 and methods of their use TLR3 agonist compounds, compositions and methods are provided for stimulating the activity of TLR3. The compositions comprise oligonucleotide-based compounds that bind to and activate TLR3. The compositions may also comprise oligonucleotide-based compounds that bind to and activate TLR3 in combination with other therapeutic and/or prophylactic compounds and/or compositions. Methods of using these compounds and compositions for stimulation of TLR3 activity and for prevention or treatment of diseases wherein modulation of TLR3 activity would be beneficial are provided.
US08492355B2	Antisense modulation of apolipoprotein B expression Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of apolipoprotein B. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding apolipoprotein B. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of apolipoprotein B expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of apolipoprotein B are provided.
US08492348B2	Methods of increasing cerebral blood flow Methods of increasing blood flow in a mammalian brain blood vessel characterized by, or otherwise experiencing, decreased blood flow due to an ischemic or other hypoxic event, vasoconstriction or vasospasm following hemorrhagic stroke; due to chronic high blood pressure; and/or due to idiopathic causes are provided. The method for increasing blood flow in such a mammalian brain blood vessel includes administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of δ protein kinase C. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor can be chronically administered without causing desensitization of the patient to the inhibitor. Kits for increasing blood flow in a mammalian brain blood vessel characterized by, or otherwise experiencing, decreased blood flow due to an ischemic or other hypoxic event, vasoconstriction or vasospasm following hemorrhagic stroke; due to chronic high blood pressure; and/or due to idiopathic causes are provided.
US08492332B2	Oriented collagen-based materials, films and methods of making same In general, the present invention is related to collagen compositions and thin films, and to methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to “uniaxial pattern” or “linear pattern” collagen materials, compositions and thin films, and methods of making.
US08492314B2	Agricultural composition with PH colour indicators The present invention provides a concentrate for dilution with water in the preparation of an agricultural composition for application to crops, soil or animals. The concentrate is recommended for use with agricultural chemicals whose agricultural activity varies with the pH of the water. It comprises an active ingredient and a combination of pH indicators for coloring the water, the pH indicators being selected so as to indicate different colors of spray water at different pH levels. The proportions of active ingredient and pH indicators are selected so that when the concentrate is added to water, the pH indicators indicate visually upper and lower pH limits for optimum activity of the agricultural chemical.
US08492306B2	Method and apparatus for preparing a catalyst A method for preparing a catalyst includes preparing a first solution including a gold precursor and a palladium precursor, preparing an alumina suspension, heating the alumina suspension to a preferred temperature range, introducing the first solution to the alumina suspension and coincidently maintaining the pH of a resulting solution at a preferred pH level, separating solids in the resulting solution, and calcining the separated solids to form a catalyst including gold and palladium co-deposited onto alumina.
US08492304B2	Iron complex, manufacturing method thereof and supported iron oxide catalyst constructed thereby A manufacturing method of an iron complex is mixing ferric chloride and at least one chelating agent with a solvent, wherein Fe3+ ions of ferric chloride is reacted with the at least one chelating agent to form an iron complex Fe[R1]a[R2]b[H2O]c3+ or Fe[R1]a[H2O]c3+, wherein the at least one chelating agent is selected from a group including ethylenediamine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-Bipyridine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, phenanthroline, or bipyridine. Moreover, a method for producing an iron oxide catalyst is mixing ferric chloride, at least one chelating agent and the support with a solvent to form an iron complex, which is incorporated with the support. Following, a drying step and a heat treatment step are processed to get the iron oxide catalyst.
US08492299B2	Optical glass A high-refractivity low-dispersion optical glass that can be stably supplied and has excellent glass stability and that has coloring reduced, composed of in mass %, 5 to 32% of total of SiO2 and B2O3, 45 to 65% of total of La2O3, Gd2O3 and Y2O3, 0.5 to 10% of ZnO, 1 to 20% of total of TiO2 and Nb2O5, and optionally other components. The optical glass has a refractive index nd of 1.89 to 2.0, an Abbe's number νd of 32 to 38 and a coloring degree λ70 of 430 nm or less.
US08492298B2	Optical material and optical element Provided is an optical glass having homogeneous optical characteristics such that striae and devitrification hardly occur at the time of producing a gob. The optical glass includes cationic components having the following composition, provided that a total of the cationic components is 95 cat %, and has a refractive index (nd) of 1.6 or more and less than 1.7 and an Abbe number (vd) of 50 or more and 56 or less,Si4+ 3 cat % or more and 13 cat % or lessB3+ 40 cat % or more and 55 cat % or lessLa3+ 4 cat % or more and 9 cat % or lessCa2+ 6 cat % or more and 12 cat % or lessLi+ 11 cat % or more and 18 cat % or lessZn2+ 6 cat % or more and 12 cat % or lessZr4+ 1 cat % or more and 4 cat % or lessprovided that Si4+/B3+ is 0.05 or more and 0.3 or less, and Li+/Zn2+ is 1.3 or more and 2.0 or less.
US08492297B2	Silica soda lime glass composition and use thereof A device including a glass substrate made of a soda lime silica glass composition of: SiO2 (50˜75 wt %); Na2O (1˜8 wt %); K2O (1˜12 wt %); CaO (1˜12 wt %); ZrO2 (0˜8 wt %); SrO (0˜15 wt %); BaO (0˜12 wt %); MgO (0˜10 wt %); Al2O3 (0˜12 wt %); B2O3 (0˜3 wt %), wherein the total amount of Na2O and K2O is in the range of 5˜15 wt %, the total amount of CaO, MgO, SrO and BaO is in the range of 10˜25 wt %.
US08492296B2	Method for producing light-transmitting electromagnetic wave-shielding film, light-transmitting electromagnetic wave-shielding film and plasma display panel using the shielding film A silver salt-containing layer containing a silver salt and provided on a support is exposed and developed to form a metal silver portion and a light-transmitting portion, and then the metal silver portion is further subjected to physical development and/or plating to form a conductive metal portion consisting of the metal silver portion carrying conductive metal particles. A method for producing a light-transmitting electromagnetic wave-shielding film which enables production of an electromagnetic wave-shielding material simultaneously having high EMI-shielding property and high transparency in a fine line pattern and also enables mass production of such films at a low cost, and a light-transmitting electromagnetic wave-shielding film obtained by the production method and free from the problem of moire are provided.
US08492289B2	Barrier layer formation for metal interconnects through enhanced impurity diffusion A method of forming a barrier layer for metal interconnects of an integrated circuit device includes forming a first cap layer over a top surface of a conductive line of the integrated circuit device in a manner that facilitates a controllable dose of oxygen provided to the top surface of the conductive line, the conductive line comprising a metal formed over a seed layer that is an impurity alloy of the metal; and annealing the integrated circuit device so as to combine diffused impurity atoms of the seed layer with the controllable dose of oxygen, thereby forming an impurity oxide layer at an interface between the first cap layer and the top surface of the conductive line.
US08492287B2	Substrate processing method A silicon-containing film on a substrate is subjected to a plasma process using a process gas containing fluorine and carbon, and is thereafter subjected to plasma process using an ammonia gas, whereby ammonium silicofluoride having toxicity and hygroscopic property is adhered to the substrate. The harmful ammonium silicofluoride is removed by the inventive method. After conducting the plasma process using an ammonia gas, the substrate is heated to a temperature not lower than the decomposition temperature of the ammonium silicofluoride to decompose the ammonium silicofluoride in a process container in which the plasma process was conducted, or in a process container connected with the processing vessel which the plasma process was conducted therein and is isolated from a clean room atmosphere.
US08492286B2	Method of forming E-fuse in replacement metal gate manufacturing process Embodiment of the present invention provides a method of forming electronic fuse or commonly known as e-fuse. The method includes forming a polysilicon structure and a field-effect-transistor (FET) structure together on top of a common semiconductor substrate, the FET structure having a sacrificial gate electrode; implanting at least one dopant into the polysilicon structure to create a doped polysilicon layer in at least a top portion of the polysilicon structure; subjecting the polysilicon structure and the FET structure to a reactive-ion-etching (RIE) process, the RIE process selectively removing the sacrificial gate electrode of the FET structure while the doped polysilicon layer being substantially unaffected by the RIE process; and converting the polysilicon structure including the doped polysilicon layer into a silicide to form the electronic fuse.
US08492282B2	Methods of forming a masking pattern for integrated circuits In some embodiments, methods for forming a masking pattern for an integrated circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, mandrels defining a first pattern are formed in a first masking layer over a target layer. A second masking layer is deposited to at least partially fill spaces of the first pattern. Sacrificial structures are formed between the mandrels and the second masking layer. After depositing the second masking layer and forming the sacrificial structures, the sacrificial structures are removed to define gaps between the mandrels and the second masking layer, thereby defining a second pattern. The second pattern includes at least parts of the mandrels and intervening mask features alternating with the mandrels. The second pattern may be transferred into the target layer. In some embodiments, the method allows the formation of features having a high density and a small pitch while also allowing the formation of features having various shapes and sizes.
US08492277B2	Method of polishing a substrate comprising polysilicon and at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride A method for chemical mechanical polishing of a substrate is provided, comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises polysilicon and at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride; providing a chemical mechanical polishing composition, comprising, as initial components: water; an abrasive; and an acyclic organosulfonic acid compound, wherein the acyclic organosulfonic acid compound has an acyclic hydrophobic portion having 6 to 30 carbon atoms and a nonionic acyclic hydrophilic portion having 10 to 300 carbon atoms; providing a chemical mechanical polishing pad with a polishing surface; moving the polishing surface relative to the substrate; dispensing the chemical mechanical polishing composition onto the polishing surface; and, abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate; wherein at least some of the polysilicon is removed from the substrate; and, wherein at least some of the at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride is removed from the substrate.
US08492266B2	Semiconductor device having insulating film with surface modification layer and method for manufacturing the same Provided is a semiconductor device, which includes an interlayer insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a wiring layer filled in a recess formed in the interlayer insulating film, and a cap insulating film. The interlayer insulating film includes a first SiOCH film and a surface modification layer including an SiOCH film formed by modifying a surface layer of the first SiOCH film, the SiOCH film having a lower carbon concentration and a higher oxygen concentration than the first SiOCH film has. The cap insulating film contacts with surfaces of the metal wiring and the surface modification layer.
US08492265B2	Pad bonding employing a self-aligned plated liner for adhesion enhancement Two substrates are brought together and placed in a plating bath. In one embodiment, a conductive material is plated in microscopic cavities present at the interface between a first metal pad and a second metal pad to form at least one interfacial plated metal liner portion that adheres to a surface of the first metal pad and a surface of the second metal pad. In another embodiment, at least one metal pad is recessed relative to a dielectric surface before being brought together. The two substrates are placed in a plating bath and a conductive material is plated in the cavity between the first metal pad and the second metal pad to form a contiguous plated metal liner layer that adheres to a surface of the first metal pad and a surface of the second metal pad.
US08492264B2	Method for forming interconnection levels of an integrated circuit A method for forming interconnection levels of an integrated circuit, including the steps of: (a) forming an interconnection level comprising conductive tracks and vias separated by a porous dielectric material; (b) forming, on the interconnection level, a layer of a non-porous insulating material, said layer comprising openings above portions of porous dielectric material; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) to obtain the adequate number of interconnection levels; and (d) annealing the structure.
US08492254B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first trench and a second trench in an n-type substrate surface, the first trenches being spaced apart from each other, the second trench surrounding the first trenches, the second trench being wider than the first trench. The method also includes forming a gate oxide film on the inner surfaces of the first and second trenches, and depositing an electrically conductive material to the thickness a half or more as large as the first trench width. The method further includes removing the electrically conductive material using the gate oxide film as a stopper layer, forming an insulator film thicker than the gate oxide film, and polishing the insulator film by CMP for exposing the n-type substrate and the electrically conductive material in the first trench.
US08492244B2	Methods for relaxation and transfer of strained layers and structures fabricated thereby The present invention provides methods for forming at least partially relaxed strained material layers on a target substrate. The methods include forming islands of the strained material layer on an intermediate substrate, at least partially relaxing the strained material islands by a first heat treatment, and transferring the at least partially relaxed strained material islands to the target substrate. The at least partial relaxation is facilitated by the presence of low-viscosity or compliant layers adjacent to the strained material layer. The invention also provides semiconductor structures having an at least partially relaxed strained material layer, and semiconductor devices fabricated using an at least partially relaxed strained material layer.
US08492243B2	Method for the production of a semiconductor structure Semiconductor structures are produced by providing a 3C—SiC semiconductor layer containing a monocrystalline 3C—SiC layer by implantation of carbon in silicon on a first silicon substrate and applying an epitaxial layer of nitride compound semiconductor suitable for the generation of optoelectronic components onto the 3C—SiC semiconductor layer structure, wherein the epitaxial layer of nitride semiconductor is transferred onto a second substrate by bonding the nitride layer onto the second substrate surface and mechanically or chemically removing silicon and layers containing SiC, the second substrate being a metal with a reflectivity ≧80% or being substantially transparent.
US08492237B2	Methods of fabricating a bipolar junction transistor with a self-aligned emitter and base Methods for fabricating bipolar junction transistors with self-aligned emitter and extrinsic base, bipolar junction transistors made by the methods, and design structures for a BiCMOS integrated circuit. The bipolar junction transistor is fabricated using a sacrificial emitter pedestal that provides a sacrificial mandrel promoting self-alignment between the emitter and the extrinsic base. The sacrificial emitter pedestal is subsequently removed to open an emitter window extending to the intrinsic base. An emitter is formed in the emitter window that lands on the intrinsic base.
US08492234B2	Field effect transistor device A method for forming a field effect transistor device includes forming a gate stack portion on a substrate, forming a spacer portion on the gates stack portion and a portion of the substrate, removing an exposed portion of the substrate, epitaxially growing a first silicon material on the exposed portion of the substrate, removing a portion of the epitaxially grown first silicon material to expose a second portion of the substrate, and epitaxially growing a second silicon material on the exposed second portion of the substrate and the first silicon material.
US08492230B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same To provide a technique capable of achieving improvement of the parasitic resistance in FINFETs. In the FINFET in the present invention, a sidewall is formed of a laminated film. Specifically, the sidewall is composed of a first silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film formed over the first silicon oxide film, and a second silicon oxide film formed over the silicon nitride film. The sidewall is not formed on the side wall of a fin. Thus, in the present invention, the sidewall is formed on the side wall of a gate electrode and the sidewall is not formed on the side wall of the fin.
US08492217B2	Methods of forming conductive contacts with reduced dimensions Disclosed herein are various methods of forming conductive contacts with reduced dimensions and various semiconductor devices incorporating such conductive contacts. In one example, one method disclosed herein includes forming a layer of insulating material above a semiconducting substrate, wherein the layer of material has a first thickness, forming a plurality of contact openings in the layer of material having the first thickness and forming an organic material in at least a portion of each of the contact openings. This illustrative method further includes the steps of, after forming the organic material, performing an etching process to reduce the first thickness of the layer of insulating material to a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, after performing the etching process, removing the organic material from the contact openings and forming a conductive contact in each of the contact openings.
US08492213B2	Transistor and method for forming the same The invention discloses a semiconductor device which comprises an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor formed on a substrate; and grid electrodes, source cathode doped areas, drain doped areas, and side walls formed on two sides of the grid electrodes are arranged on the NMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor respectively. The device is characterized in that the side walls on the two sides of the grid electrode of the NMOS transistor possess tensile stress, and the side walls on the two sides of the grid electrode of the PMOS transistor possess compressive stress. The stress gives the side walls a greater role in adjusting the stress applied to channels and the source/drain areas, with the carrier mobility further enhanced and the performance of the device improved.
US08492212B2	Thin-film transistor producing method Provided is a thin film transistor manufacture method by which a thin film transistor provided with LDD regions can be produced without increasing the number of photo masks used. An etching stopper layer (35) formed on a polycrystalline silicon film (26) of a TFT (10) is used not only as a mask to protect a channel region (27) when a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed by etching, but also as a mask when ions are implanted to form a source/drain regions (39). Thus, phosphorus, which is ion-implanted in the polycrystalline silicon film (26) to form the source/drain regions (39), is not implanted in the LDD region (38) and, accordingly, it is not necessary to additionally form a resist pattern to be used as a mask when ions are implanted.
US08492208B1	Compressive (PFET) and tensile (NFET) channel strain in nanowire FETs fabricated with a replacement gate process A method of fabricating a FET device is provided which includes the following steps. Nanowires/pads are formed in a SOI layer over a BOX layer, wherein the nanowires are suspended over the BOX. A HSQ layer is deposited that surrounds the nanowires. A portion(s) of the HSQ layer that surround the nanowires are cross-linked, wherein the cross-linking causes the portion(s) of the HSQ layer to shrink thereby inducing strain in the nanowires. One or more gates are formed that retain the strain induced in the nanowires. A FET device is also provided wherein each of the nanowires has a first region(s) that is deformed such that a lattice constant in the first region(s) is less than a relaxed lattice constant of the nanowires and a second region(s) that is deformed such that a lattice constant in the second region(s) is greater than the relaxed lattice constant of the nanowires.
US08492204B2	Integrated circuit package-in-package system with wire-in-film encapsulant and method for manufacturing thereof A method for manufacturing a multiple encapsulation integrated circuit package-in-package system includes: dicing a top integrated circuit wafer having a bottom encapsulant thereon to form a top integrated circuit die with the bottom encapsulant; positioning internal leadfingers adjacent and connected to a bottom integrated circuit die; pressing the bottom encapsulant on to the bottom integrated circuit die; connecting the top integrated circuit die to external leadfingers adjacent the internal leadfingers; and forming a top encapsulant over the top integrated circuit die.
US08492202B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same In a structure of a semiconductor device, a Si chip and a metal leadframe are jointed by metallic bond via a porous joint layer made of high conductive metal, having a three-dimensional network structure and using Ag as a bonding material, and a film containing Zn oxide or Al oxide is formed on a surface of a semiconductor assembly contacting to a polymer resin. In this manner, by the joint with the joint layer having the porous structure mainly made of Ag, thermal stress load of the Si chip can be reduced, and fatigue life of the joint layer itself can be improved. Besides, since adhesion of the polymer resin to the film can be enhanced by the anchor effect, occurrence of cracks in a bonding portion can be prevented, so that a highly-reliable Pb-free semiconductor device can be provided.
US08492196B2	Semiconductor device and method of forming prefabricated EMI shielding frame with cavities containing penetrable material over semiconductor die A semiconductor device has a plurality of semiconductor die mounted to a temporary carrier. A prefabricated shielding frame has a plate and integrated bodies extending from the plate. The bodies define a plurality of cavities in the shielding frame. A penetrable material is deposited in the cavities of the shielding frame. The shielding frame is mounted over the semiconductor die such that the penetrable material encapsulates the die. The carrier is removed. An interconnect structure is formed over the die, shielding frame, and penetrable material. The bodies of the shielding frame are electrically connected through the interconnect structure to a ground point. The shielding frame is singulated through the bodies or through the plate and penetrable material to separate the die. TIM is formed over the die adjacent to the plate of the shielding frame. A heat sink is mounted over the plate of the shielding frame.
US08492193B2	Semiconductor substrate for solid-state imaging sensing device as well as solid-state image sensing device and method for producing the same There is provided a semiconductor substrate for solid-state image sensing device in which the production cost is lower than that of a gettering method through a carbon ion implantation and problems such as occurrence of particles at a device production step and the like are solved. Silicon substrate contains solid-soluted carbon having a concentration of 1×1016-1×1017 atoms/cm3 and solid-soluted oxygen having a concentration of 1.4×1018-1.6×1018 atoms/cm3.
US08492178B2	Method of monitoring fabrication processing including edge bead removal processing Systems and method for monitoring semiconductor wafer fabrication processing, for example based upon EBR line inspection, including capturing at least one image of a wafer at an intermediate stage of fabrication. The captured image(s) are compressed to generate a composite representation of at least an edge zone of the wafer. An edge bead removal area is identified in the representation, and at least one feature attribute is extracted from the identified area. The extracted feature attribute is automatically assessed, and information relating to a status of the fabrication processing in generated based upon the assessment. For example, recommended modifications to the fabrication processing, either upstream or downstream of the current stage of fabrication (or both) can be generated and implemented.
US08492177B2	Methods for quantitative measurement of a plasma immersion process Methods for quantitatively measuring the performance of a plasma immersion process are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of quantitatively measuring the performance of a plasma immersion process, using a first substrate comprising an oxide layer deposited atop a silicon layer, may include subjecting the first substrate to a plasma immersion process in a first plasma immersion chamber to form a doped oxide layer atop the first substrate; and determining a thickness of the doped oxide layer by shining a beam of light upon a reflective surface of the doped oxide layer; detecting reflected beams of light off of the reflective surface of the doped oxide layer; and analyzing the reflected beams of light to determine the thickness of the doped oxide layer on the first substrate.
US08492176B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device To provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a step of attaching a surface protective tape onto the surface of a wafer which has completed the wafer process, a step of subjecting the back surface of the wafer to back grinding, and a step of attaching a peeling assist tape onto the surface protective tape while vacuum-adsorbing the back surface of the wafer to apply a tension to the assist tape, thereby separating the surface protective tape from the wafer, wherein a vacuum suction system has a peripheral suction system for the peripheral part of the wafer and an internal suction system for the internal region of the wafer.
US08492171B2	Techniques and structures for testing integrated circuits in flip-chip assemblies A method for rejoining an IC die, removed from an existing substrate, to a new substrate, is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes grinding an existing substrate from an IC die to create a substantially planar surface exposing interconnects and surrounding underfill material. A new substrate is provided having electrically conductive pedestals protruding therefrom. The electrically conductive pedestals are positioned to align with the exposed interconnects and have a melting point substantially higher than the melting point of the interconnects. The method places the exposed interconnects in contact with the electrically conductive pedestals. The method then applies a reflow process to melt and electrically join the exposed interconnects with the electrically conductive pedestals. A structure produced by the method is also disclosed.
US08492169B2	Magnetic tunnel junction for MRAM applications Reading margin is improved in a MTJ designed for MRAM applications by employing a pinned layer with an AP2/Ru/AP1 configuration wherein the AP1 layer is a CoFeB/CoFe composite and by forming a MgO tunnel barrier adjacent to the CoFe AP1 layer by a sequence that involves depositing and oxidizing a first Mg layer with a radical oxidation (ROX) process, depositing and oxidizing a second Mg layer with a ROX method, and depositing a third Mg layer on the oxidized second Mg layer. The third Mg layer becomes oxidized during a subsequent anneal. MTJ performance may be further improved by selecting a composite free layer having a Fe/NiFeHf or CoFe/Fe/NiFeHf configuration where the NiFeHf layer adjoins a capping layer in a bottom spin valve configuration. As a result, read margin is optimized simultaneously with improved MR ratio, a reduction in bit line switching current, and a lower number of shorted bits.
US08492166B2	Particle suspension and reagent kit for use in immunoassay A particle suspension for use in immunoassay, comprising: particles for use in immunoassay; and a silicone antifoam agent, is disclosed. And a reagent kit for use in immunoassay, comprising: a reagent containing particles and a silicone antifoam agent; another reagent containing an antigen or antibody capable of binding to a target substance and particles; and a further reagent containing a labeled antigen or antibody capable of binding to the target substance, is disclosed.
US08492161B2	Quantitative analysis of a function group on the surface of a solid material Disclosed is a method for quantitatively analyzing a functional group on the surface of a solid material. The functional group is carboxylic group while the solid material is carbon nano-tubes. The carboxylic group reacts with sodium hydrogen carbonate, thus turning the carboxylic groups into sodium carboxylate while consuming the sodium ions in the solution. The carbon nano-tubes are separated from the sodium hydrogen carbonate solution. The number of the sodium ions before and after the reaction is analyzed. Moreover, the sodium carboxylate carried on the reacted carbon nano-tubes with reacts with hydrochloric acid solution, thus dissolving the sodium ions in the hydrochloric acid solution. The carbon nanotubes are separated from from the hydrochloric acid solution. The amount of the sodium ions is analyzed before and after the reaction in the hydrochloric acid solution.
US08492144B2	Methods for improving viability and productivity in cell culture Methods for increasing viability and production of secreted proteins in fed batch eukaryotic cell culture are disclosed.
US08492141B2	Neostatins The invention provides fragments of type XVIII collagen termed neostatins, and methods for their use in the treatment of opthalmological disorders associated with angiogenesis.
US08492124B2	Prebiotic formulations and methods of use The invention provides methods and compositions for treating symptoms associated with lactose intolerance and for overall improvement in gastrointestinal health. Described herein are methods and compositions for improving overall gastrointestinal health or for decreasing symptoms of lactose intolerance by administering to subject in need thereof a prebiotic composition, optionally in combination with effective amount of a probiotic microbe or microbes.
US08492123B2	Continuous method of producing a mash extract The present invention relates to a mash extract and a continuous method of producing the mash extract by decoction mashing. The method comprises: (a) mixing a first malt enzyme source with an aqueous liquid to obtain an aqueous malt enzyme suspension; (b) separately, mixing a second enzyme source with one or more starch-containing adjuncts to obtain a decoction suspension; (c) subjecting the decoction suspension to a first heat treatment at 60-85° C. and then a second heat treatment at a higher temperature; (d) combining the heated decoction suspension from the second heat treatment with the aqueous malt enzyme suspension to obtain a mash; (e) maintaining the mash at 35-85° C. for a time; and (f) removing spent grain from the heated mash to produce a mash extract.
US08492118B2	Fusion molecules and IL-15 variants The instant invention provides soluble fusion protein complexes and IL-15 variants that have therapeutic and diagnostic use, and methods for making the such proteins. The instant invention additionally provides methods of stimulating or suppressing immune responses in a mammal using the fusion protein complexes and IL-15 variants of the invention.
US08492103B2	Diagnosis and treatment of ehrlichiosis The present invention provides an isolated Ehrlichia peptide and therapeutic and diagnostic uses therefor.
US08492100B2	Autoantibodies for protein antigens as markers for cancer of gingivo-buccal complex The present invention relates to identification of a set of proteins, which elicit an autoantibody response in patients with cancer of gingivo-buccal complex. Systematic comparisons of serum samples from clinically normal individuals and from patients with cancer of gingivo-buccal complex has revealed significant differences in the presence of autoantibodies in sera against cellular antigens present in a cancer cell line. The autoantibody response to a single or combination of these protein antigens serves as a novel marker and can be utilized for screening, early detection, prognosis, and potential target for therapy. The invention also provides for the use of the identified protein antigens in immunoassays designed to detect the presence of serum antibodies to the specific protein antigens in sera from individuals that harbor such antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the identified antigens as immunogens for stimulation of an immune response in patients expressing such protein antigens. The invention is demonstrated by way of example in which elevated levels of circulating antibodies reactive against tumor specific antigens were identified in sera derived from patients with cancer of gingivo-buccal complex. The utility of identified antigens for early detection is assessed by analysis of sera from patients with leukoplakia of gingivo-buccal complex.
US08492095B2	Methods and compositions for amplification of RNA sequences The invention provides methods for isothermal amplification of RNA. The methods are particularly suitable for amplifying a plurality of RNA species in a sample. The methods employ a composite primer, a second primer and strand displacement to generate multiple copies of DNA products comprising sequences complementary to an RNA sequence of interest. In another aspect, the methods employ a single primer (which is a composite primer) and strand displacement to generate multiple copies of DNA products comprising sequences complementary to an RNA sequence of interest. In some embodiments, a transcription step is included to generate multiple copies of sense RNA of an RNA sequence of interest. The methods are useful for preparation of nucleic acid libraries and substrates for analysis of gene expression of cells in biological samples. The invention also provides compositions and kits for practicing the amplification methods, as well as methods which use the amplification products.
US08492090B2	Gene expression profiling in primary ovarian serous papillary tumors and normal ovarian epithelium Provided herein are methods for treating ovarian serous papillary carcinoma by delivering Clostridium perfringens enterotoxins to ovarian tumor cells overexpressing claudin 3 or claudin 4 protein or by inhibiting the expression and function of tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1 (TROP-1/Ep-CAM) gene or gene product. Also provided is a method of detecting ovarian serous papillary carcinoma by examining a tumor sample from the individual for gene or gene product expression levels within a group of genes and performing statistical analysis to determine those genes or gene products which are down-regulated compared to those in a normal individual.
US08492088B2	Engineering enzymes through genetic selection The disclosure provide a system for the selection of variant nuclear receptor ligand binding domains, or for the selection of variant enzymes that have an enhanced ability to synthesize a nuclear receptor ligand or a precursor thereof. The disclosure provides yeast cells comprising: a yeast transcription modulating system comprising a nucleic acid expression system encoding a nuclear receptor ligand-binding domain linked to a DNA-binding domain, a nucleic acid expression system encoding a coactivator domain linked to a yeast transcriptional activator, a heterologous enzyme system for generating a nuclear receptor ligand, and a selective genetic locus expressed in the presence of the recombinant nuclear receptor polypeptide and a nuclear receptor ligand specifically bound to the recombinant nuclear receptor polypeptide. The disclosure also provides methods of using the yeast cell system for identifying variant nuclear receptor ligand binding domains or variant enzymes synthesizing a nuclear receptor ligand.
US08492082B2	Method for obtaining oligonucleotide aptamers and uses thereof The present invention relates to a method for obtaining nucleic acid aptamers that bind to cancer cell-surface epitopes, to the aptamers generated using this method and their use for therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic purposes.
US08492080B2	Embryo culture media containing thyroid hormone The disclosure relates to the use of culture media containing thyroid hormones or analogs thereof, and includes methods and uses thereof for embryo culture, embryo production, embryo maturation, improved survival of embryos and improved viability of embryos post cryopreservation.
US08492078B2	Patterning process A pattern is formed by coating a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having an optionally acid labile group-substituted naphthol group, an acid generator, and an organic solvent onto a substrate, baking to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, baking, and developing the exposed film with an organic solvent developer to form a negative pattern wherein the unexposed region of film is dissolved and the exposed region of film is not dissolved. In the process of image formation via positive/negative reversal by organic solvent development, the resist film has a high dissolution contrast and controlled acid diffusion. By subjecting the resist film to exposure through a mask having a lattice-like pattern and organic solvent development, a fine hole pattern can be formed at a high precision of dimensional control.
US08492076B2	Method of manufacturing carbon nanotube device array Provided is a method of manufacturing carbon nanotube (CNT) device arrays. In the method of manufacturing CNT device arrays, catalyst patterns may be formed using a photolithography process, CNTs may be grown from the catalyst patterns, and electrodes may be formed on the grown CNTs.
US08492068B2	Methods of forming electronic devices Methods of forming electronic devices are provided. The methods involve alkaline treatment of photoresist patterns and allow for the formation of high density resist patterns. The methods find particular applicability in semiconductor device manufacture.
US08492067B2	Positive lift-off resist composition and patterning process A positive lift-off resist composition is provided comprising (A) an alkali-soluble novolac resin, (B) a quinonediazidosulfonate photosensitive agent, (C) an alkali-soluble cellulose resin, and (D) an aromatic hydroxy compound having a formula weight of 180-800. The composition has shelf stability, high sensitivity, and a film retention after development of at least 95% and is used to form a lift-off resist pattern of fully undercut profile.
US08492059B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge and image forming apparatus An electrophotographic photoreceptor, includes: a conductive support; and a photosensitive layer provided on or above the conductive support, the photosensitive layer including an outermost surface layer at the farthest location from the conductive support, wherein the outermost surface layer contains: coated insulating inorganic particles obtained by subjecting insulating inorganic particles having a specific surface area of not more than about 300 m2/g to a coating treatment with an aromatic functional group-containing compound; and fluorine-containing organic particles.
US08492041B2	Solid oxide fuel cell Provides a solid oxide fuel cell with which product life can be extended while a practical output power is maintained. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell, having a fuel cell module (2), a fuel supply device (38), an oxidant gas supply device (45), and a controller (110) for controlling the fuel supply amount; whereby the controller is furnished with a degradation determining circuit (110a) for determining degradation in a fuel cell module, and with a fuel correction circuit (110b) for correcting operating conditions based on a degradation determination; the fuel correction circuit can execute an increasing correction mode for increasing the fuel supply amount supplied to the fuel cell module so that rated output power is maintained, or can execute a decreasing correction mode for reducing rated output voltage so that the fuel supply amount is reduced; there is also a mode selection device (110c) for selecting correction modes.
US08492039B2	Fuel cell system and method of controlling the same A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are capable of preventing anode flooding due to a temperature difference between a stack and reformate upon starting a fuel cell system. The method of controlling a fuel cell system including steps of detecting a temperature of a fuel cell stack, detecting a temperature of reformate that is generated in a fuel reformer and then is supplied to the fuel cell stack through a heat exchanger, and setting the temperature of the reformate to be lower than the temperature of the fuel cell stack during a starting time of the fuel cell system.
US08492038B2	Startup and shutdown procedures for operating a fuel cell assembly A fuel cell assembly (20) has an extended operational life, in part, because of unique startup and shutdown procedures used for operating the fuel cell assembly. In disclosed examples, a purge gas mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen includes less than 2% hydrogen for selectively purging portions of the assembly during a startup or shutdown procedure. In a disclosed example, the hydrogen-nitrogen mixture contains less than 0.1% hydrogen.
US08492030B2	Cathode material for lithium batteries A method of manufacture an article of a cathode (positive electrode) material for lithium batteries. The cathode material is a lithium molybdenum composite transition metal oxide material and is prepared by mixing in a solid state an intermediate molybdenum composite transition metal oxide and a lithium source. The mixture is thermally treated to obtain the lithium molybdenum composite transition metal oxide cathode material.
US08492023B2	Electric vehicle propulsion system and method utilizing solid-state rechargeable electrochemical cells A vehicle propulsion system comprising a plurality of solid state rechargeable battery cells configured to power a drivetrain. In accordance with once aspect of the invention, a transportation system that is powered at least in part by electricity stored in the form of rechargeable electrochemical cells. According to an embodiment of the present invention, these cells are combined in series and in parallel to form a pack that is regulated by charge and discharge control circuits that are programmed with algorithms to monitor state of charge, battery lifetime, and battery health.
US08492021B2	Flexible, porous ceramic composite film The present invention is directed toward a laminated electrode and porous separator film combination including a solid electrolyte salt within the porous separator film, the combination comprising layer of powdered cathode material adhering to a surface of a separator film with a solid electrolyte therebetween; the separator film comprising 50% to 95% by weight of electrically non-conductive ceramic fibers having a coating of magnesium oxide on the surface of the fibers in an amount in the range of 5% to 50% by weight; wherein the ceramic fibers comprise Al2O3, AlSiO2, BN, AlN, or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing; and the magnesium oxide coating interconnects the ceramic fibers providing a porous network of magnesium oxide-coated fibers having a porosity of not less than 50% by volume; the pores of the network containing a solid electrolyte salt in an amount of up to 95% by volume based on pore volume of the network.
US08492019B2	Extruded thermal fin for temperature control of battery cells A thermal management system for a battery pack includes a plurality of main bodies disposed in a stack, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the plurality of main bodies, and a retention panel coupled to the plurality of main bodies. The main bodies include a thermal fin and conduit and are formed using an extrusion process, which minimizes a weight of the thermal fin and heat sink while minimizing a cost of the thermal management system.
US08492018B2	Chargeable battery module of electric car A chargeable battery module installed in an electric car for driving the electric car includes a compartment for containing a plurality of chargeable batteries, and circuits of each chargeable battery are connected in series or in parallel and installed between each chargeable battery and an upper casing or a lower casing of the compartment, and each chargeable battery is combined for use, and the chargeable batteries including a single chargeable battery or a module of parallelly connected chargeable batteries can be charged easily without requiring a charging protection plate, and all single batteries can be fully charged with a constant voltage to provide the best cycle life of the chargeable batteries and maintain the best battery life for the electric car.
US08492017B2	Battery and holding structure for same A battery for a portable electronic device includes a recess, a number of electronic strips arranged on the bottom surface of the recess, and a number of latching slots defined in the sidewall of the recess.
US08492013B2	Protection circuit board for secondary battery and secondary battery using the same A protection circuit board for a secondary battery is constructed with an electrically insulating substrate, a printed circuit board pattern formed on the electrically insulating substrate, a protection circuit part electrically connected to the printed circuit board pattern, a charge-and-discharge terminal formed on the electrically insulating substrate and electrically connected to the printed circuit board pattern and the protection circuit part, and a test terminal formed on the electrically insulating substrate and electrically connected to the printed circuit board pattern and the protection circuit part. The test terminal is constructed with an electroless plated layer formed on the test terminal.
US08492008B2	Cutting tool and also a method for the manufacture of a cutting tool The invention relates to a cutting tool for the machining of wood or a wood-based material, in particular a wood composite material, or a plastic, wherein a layer system for the formation of a surface coating is present on a surface of a cutting edge of the cutting tool. An outermost surface layer of the layer system is formed from a composition of the form [Cr1-xOx]zXaCbNc with 0.05
US08492002B2	Titanium-based alloy An alloy having from about 5 to about 15 wt % Ta, from 0 to about 5 wt % Nb, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % Zr, and the balance Ti is disclosed. The alloy is particularly intended for medical devices, such as implants for the body.
US08492001B2	Self-stratifying coating A self-stratifying coating composition is provided. The self-stratifying coating can include a base layer having a telechelic resin with reactive end groups and an alkoxide oligomer. In addition, a top layer having an acrylate and/or methacrylate such as a fluorinated acrylate, a fluorinated methacrylate, a fluorinated hydrocarbon copolymerized with an acrylate, a fluorinated hydrocarbon copolymerized with a methacrylate and combinations thereof, and a crosslinking agent can be included. In addition, the base layer and the top layer can have an interfacial surface tension therebetween that is within a range of about 15 to 60 mJ/cm2.
US08491994B2	Conductive rubber elastic material, charging member and electrophotographic apparatus A conductive rubber elastic material is stably provided which can produce a charging member that may less vary in electrical resistance even with changes in applied voltage, promises uniform electrical properties, has charge characteristics not affected by changes in environments such as temperature and humidity, and enables a charging object member such as a photosensitive member to be kept from being contaminated. It is a conductive rubber elastic material which contains a matrix containing at least one ionically conductive rubber selected from the group consisting of epichlorohydrin rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and a hydrogenated product of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and domains composed of an electronically conductive rubber material containing i) a rubber having a butadiene skeleton and ii) carbon black, and the rubber having a butadiene skeleton is modified at a molecular terminal thereof with a specific atomic group.
US08491993B2	Polymeric dyes, overcoat compositions and thermal lithographic printing plates A thermal lithographic printing plate overcoat composition comprising (a) a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm; and (b) micro-particles or nano-particles is provided. A negative-working thermal lithographic printing plate comprising (a) a hydrophilic substrate; (b) a near infrared imaging layer disposed on the hydrophilic substrate; and (c) an overcoat layer disposed on the imaging layer, said overcoat layer comprising a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm; and micro-particles or nano-particles is also provided. Finally, a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm is provided.
US08491990B2	Fiber modified layer and methods of making and using same A composition for use in a fiber modified layer, comprising an aggregate material, a binder, and a plurality of fibers, wherein each fiber has a length of greater than 0.25 inches. Also provided is a method of selecting a fiber modified layer for applying on an existing surface, comprising the steps of: providing a binder mixture having an effective amount of an aggregate material, a binder, and a plurality of fibers, wherein each of the plurality of fibers has a length greater than 0.25 inches; applying the binder mixture to a selected surface to form a fiber modified proposed layer; testing the fiber modified proposed layer for fatigue or crack resistant properties; and selecting the binder mixture for application on the existing surface for performance if the fiber modified proposed layer has fatigue or crack resistant properties.
US08491989B2	Coating system, coated workpiece and method for manufacturing the same The coating system comprises: at least one layer of type A, a layer of type A substantially consisting of (AlyCr1-y)X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO and CNBO, y describing the stoichiometric composition of the metallic phase fraction; and at least one layer of type B, a layer of type B substantially consisting of (AluCr1-u-v-wSivMew)X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO or CNBO, and wherein Me depicts one of the group consisting of W, Nb, Mo and Ta or a mixture of two or more of the constituents of that group, u, v and w describing the stoichiometric composition of the metallic phase fraction. A thickness ratio of said layer of type A to said layer of type B is higher than 1. The workpiece comprises such a coating system. Through this, an excellent wear-protection is provided, and the coating system and workpieces can be used for a broad range of different applications. The coating system can be deposited very efficiently in a PVD process using two types of targets, wherein targets of one type are active during depositing a layer of type A and during depositing a layer of type B.
US08491981B2	Composite laminated product Composite laminated product (1) that forms a deformable cellular structure includes an upper band (2) and a lower band (3) both oriented in the same main direction (X) between the two bands (2, 3) and connecting the latter, a series extends in the direction X, of cylinders (4) referred to as connection cylinders. The connection cylinders (4) are non-touching in the direction X and having their generatrix oriented along an axis Y perpendicular to the direction X. The connection cylinders are composite cylinders including fibers embedded in a resin matrix. Such a laminated product can be used as an elastic beam having a high resistance to flexural/compressive stresses and having a high endurance to such repeated or alternated stresses, in particular as a shear band in a non-pneumatic resilient wheel.
US08491977B2	Oxygen barrier film and container comprising ethylene-acrylate copolymer The present invention relates to an oxygen barrier film and container comprising ethylene-acrylate copolymer, more precisely an oxygen barrier film and container comprising ethylene-acrylate based copolymer composed of 10-50 mol % of ethylene monomer and 50-90 mol % of acrylate based monomer and having the weight average molecular weight of at least 30,000 g/m. The present invention provides an oxygen barrier film and container having excellent mechanical properties including flexibility, stretchability, glass transition temperature, anti-absorptiveness and Rockwell hardness and other characteristics such as oxygen barrier property and transparency as well.
US08491971B2	Method of producing gas barrier layer The producing method of a gas barrier layer uses a material having at least one Si—H bond, a material having at least one N—H bond, and at least one of nitrogen gas, hydrogen gas and a noble gas and forms the gas barrier layer by plasma-enhanced CVD using a plasma in which an emission intensity A of emission at 414 nm, an emission intensity B of emission at 336 nm, an emission intensity C of emission at 337 nm, and an emission intensity D of emission at 656 nm satisfy formulas a to c: 2
US08491969B2	Redispersible polymer powder The present invention pertains to a water-redispersible polymer powder based on at least one modified natural latex. The modified natural latex can be obtained by mixing natural latex with at least one radical initiator and/or oxidizing agent, by mixing and reacting natural latex with at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer and with at least one radical initiator, and/or by mixing natural latex with at least one filler. Preferably, the polymer powder contains up to about 95 wt. % of least one natural latex, about 0 to 50 wt. % of at least one protective colloid, about 2 to 70 wt. % of at least one filler and/or anti-caking agent, as well as optionally further additives. In addition, the invention pertains to a process for the preparation of the polymer powder, the use thereof as an additive in building material compositions, as well as building material compositions containing the polymer powder.
US08491966B2	Method for introducing a catalytic coating into the pores of a ceramic honeycomb flow body Disclosed herein is a process for coating ceramic honeycomb bodies with a catalyst suspension comprising catalyst components as solids and/or in dissolved form in a carrier liquid. Parallel flow channels run through the honeycomb bodies. The walls of the flow channels have an open pore structure. To coat the channel walls and in particular also the interior surfaces of the pores with the catalyst suspension, the entry and exit end faces of the vertically aligned honeycomb bodies are each brought into contact with a perforated mask, with the perforated masks being arranged so that the open regions of the perforated mask on the one end face are opposite the closed regions of the perforated mask on the other end face and vice versa. The catalyst suspension is then pumped or sucked from below into the honeycomb bodies until it exits at the upper end face. Excess suspension is then removed by blowing-out or sucking-out, the contact with the perforated masks is released and the honeycomb body is calcined to fix the coating.
US08491962B2	Method for manufacturing a low-k layer Discloses herein is a method of forming a low-k layer. The method includes the following steps. Tetraalkoxysilane, ethanol, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and water are mixed in a molar ratio between 1:0.1:0.1:5 and 1:10:0.5:36 to form a first mixture. The first mixture is heated for a period of less than about 36 hours to form a second mixture containing a plurality of non-crystalline silicon-containing particles, wherein each of the non-crystalline silicon-containing particles has a particle size of smaller than about 10 nm. Subsequently, a surfactant is added to the second mixture to form a colloid solution, in which the surfactant has a concentration of about 1-20% by weight of the colloid solution. The colloid solution is coated on a substrate and thereby forming a colloid layer thereon. Then, the colloid layer is heated at a condition sufficient to transform the colloid layer into the low-k layer.
US08491960B2	Method for producing raised print using dimensional ink and thermographic powder A method for producing a printed product with raised print includes receiving a prepress format document containing a plurality of flat ink color separations and at least one raised print color separation, printing onto a substrate the flat ink color separations using flat ink and the at least one raised print color separation using dimensional ink, allowing the flat and dimensional ink to dry, heating the inked substrate to a temperature that causes the applied dimensional ink to become sticky, applying thermographic powder to the heated inked substrate such that the thermographic powder sticks to the sticky dimensional ink, removing the thermographic powder from regions of the substrate where the dimensional ink is not applied, reheating the sheet to melt the thermographic powder, and cooling the sheet to result in a print product having both flat and raised printed content.
US08491954B2	Method of producing not-hardened rice cake and rice cake produced by using the same A method of producing a rice cake that becomes not hardened for a long time period, a rice cake produced by using the method, and a processed food produced by processing the rice cake are provided. The method includes: (a) immersing grains in water and removing the water therefrom; (b) grinding the grains from which water is removed, adding water thereto, and then grinding the grains to which water is added; (c) steaming the ground grains; and (d) cooling the steamed grains, adding flour thereto, and then punching the resultant product. The rice cake has a long storage time and is suitable for a long-term distribution. The rice cake preserves its soft texture for a long time period and is thus appropriate for consumers' acceptability.
US08491953B2	Food supplement containing fish oil A food supplement containing fish oil is disclosed having a stable fish oil emulsion for production of a stable, healthy and user-friendly product.
US08491951B2	Cooking oil antioxidant composition, method of preparation and use Frying processes utilizing cooking oil at elevated temperatures can cause various degradation effects in the oil including oxidation, hydrolysis and/or polymerization. In the absence of additives to protect the oil, the nutritional profile and cooking performance of degraded oil diminishes the quality of food cooked therein. The disclosed methods and compositions provide beneficial and cost effective improvements in the cooking performance of oil used at elevated temperatures, for example, in food frying equipment.
US08491936B2	Functionally graded biocompatible coating and coated implant The present invention provides a biocompatible coating comprising calcium phosphate that is functionally graded across the thickness of the coating. The coating, which preferably includes hydroxyapatite, is particularly useful for coating implants, such as dental or orthopedic implants. The functionally graded coating is generally crystalline near the interface with the surface of the implant, with crystallinity and crystal diameter decreasing toward the outer layer of the coating. The invention further provides methods for preparing a coated implant comprising a functionally graded calcium phosphate coating thereon.
US08491935B2	Modified release formulations containing drug-ion exchange resin complexes A coated drug-ion exchange resin complex comprising a core composed of a drug complexed with a pharmaceutically acceptable ion-exchange resin is provided. The drug-ion exchange resin complex is in admixture with a release retardant. The coating is a polyvinyl acetate polymer and a plasticizer. Methods of making and products containing this coated complex are described.
US08491933B2	Pharmaceutical compositions of semi-ordered drugs and polymers A solid composition of a low-solubility drug and a concentration-enhancing polymer has a portion of the drug in a semi-ordered state.
US08491929B2	Bioadhesive polymers Polymers and compositions, collectively “bioadhesive materials”, with improved bioadhesive properties have been developed. One or more compounds comprising: a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and b) a primary or secondary amino moiety are either covalently attached to a polymer or are physically mixed with a polymer to form a bioadhesive material. These bioadhesive materials can be used, for example, to fabricate new drug delivery or diagnostic systems with increased residence time at tissue surfaces, and consequently increase the bioavailability of a drug or a diagnostic agent.
US08491922B2	Antimicrobial isopropyl alcohol and organofunctional silane solution A surface of an object may be treated using an antimicrobial wipe presoaked in an antimicrobial treatment solution. Alternatively, the antimicrobial treatment solution may be sprayed directly on the surface. The antimicrobial treatment solution may be made of isopropyl alcohol and an unreacted organofunctional silane antimicrobial substance that is substantially free from arsenic, silver, tin, heavy metals and polychlorinated phenols. The antimicrobial substance may include any one of: 3 trimethoxysilylpropyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride; hyaluronan and its derivatives; triclosan; and a copolymer of chloropropyltrihydroxysilane and octadecylaminodimethyltrihydroxysilylpropyl ammonium chloride.
US08491921B2	Compositions and methods for tinting keratin material A cosmetic composition comprising at least one volatile solvent, at least one crosslinked silicone film former, at least one silicone gum, and at least one pigment composition present in an amount sufficient to provide the cosmetic composition with a pigment contrast ratio of greater than 35 and a method for maximizing the intensity and opacity of a color cosmetic composition.
US08491915B2	Heat treated bacterins, and emulsion vaccines prepared from such heat treated bacterins Heat treated bacterins, a method of producing heat treated bacterins, and emulsion vaccines prepared from such heat treated bacterins are disclosed.
US08491914B2	Dock-and-lock (DNL) complexes for delivery of interference RNA Described herein are compositions and methods of use of targeted delivery complexes for delivery of siRNA to a disease-associated cell, tissue or pathogen. The targeted delivery complex comprises a targeting molecule, such as an antibody or fragment thereof, conjugated to one or more siRNA carriers. In preferred embodiments the siRNA carrier is a dendrimer or protamine and the targeting molecule is an anti-cancer antibody, such as hRS7. More preferably, the antibody or fragment is rapidly internalized into the target cell to facilitate uptake of the siRNA. Most preferably, the targeted delivery complex is made by the DNL technique. The compositions and methods are of use to treat a variety of disease states, such as cancer, autoimmune disease, immune dysfunction, cardiac disease, neurologic disease, inflammatory disease or infectious disease.
US08491911B2	Pharmaceutical product for up-dosing of allergy vaccine This invention relates to the use of a pharmaceutical product comprising allergen and optionally an adjuvant for fast up-dosing in connection with allergy vaccination wherein a reduced number of injections are used. The invention also relates to the pharmaceutical product as such.
US08491905B2	KLK-13 antibody inhibitor for treating dry eye Disclosed herein is a method of treating dry eye with a KLK-13 antibody.
US08491898B2	Monoclonal antibodies against CD30 lacking in fucosyl residues The invention pertains to anti-CD30 antibodies that lack fucosyl residues. The antibodies of the invention exhibit increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity, including the ability to lyse CD30-expressing cell lines that are not lysed by the fucosylated form of the antibodies. The invention also provides host cells that express the anti-CD30 antibodies that lack fucosyl residues, wherein the host cells are deficient for a fucosyl transferase. Methods of using the antibodies to inhibit the growth of CD30+ cells, such as tumor cells, are also provided.
US08491894B2	Method for inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using CD13 receptor The present invention discloses a method for inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, comprising: administering at least one selective binding agent such as an anti-CD13 antibody or a CD13 antagonist which can bind a CD13 receptor of a cell to inhibit infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Administration of anti-CD13 antibody can reduce an expression level of the CD13 receptor, inhibit entry of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into monocytes, reduce survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in monocytes, and kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis effectively.
US08491893B2	Oncofetal antigen/immature laminin receptor antibodies for diagnostic and clinical applications The present invention relates to antibodies against Oncofetal Antigen/immature Laminin receptor protein (OFA/iLRP) that can be used singly or in conjunction to detect or treat OFA/iLRP-related diseases. More specifically, the antibodies can be used for several purposes including: (i) detecting and measuring OFA/iLRP in different biofluids; and (ii) using OFA/iLRP with an antibody directed against the monomeric form and its associated diseases.
US08491888B2	Highly absorbable coenzyme Q10 composition and method of producing same The present invention provides an essentially crystal-free, highly bioavailable and absorbable coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) composition including CoQ10, a solvent, and a carrier oil for supplementing nutrition and for use as an antioxidant. The present invention further provides method of increasing the absorption and bioavailability levels of coenzyme Q10 in the blood plasma and a method of producing a highly absorbable CoQ10 composition.
US08491886B2	Viruses for the treatment of cellular proliferative disorders Methods for treating cell proliferative disorders by administering virus to proliferating cells having an activated Ras-pathway are disclosed. The virus is administered so that it ultimately directly contacts proliferating cells having an activated Ras-pathway. Proliferative disorders include but are not limited to neoplasms. The virus is selected from modified adenovirus, modified HSV, modified vaccinia virus and modified parapoxvirus orf virus. Also disclosed are methods for treating cell proliferative disorders by further administering an immunosuppressive agent.
US08491875B2	Hair volumizing compositions Volumizing compositions, including shampoos, which provide volume, body, fullness, movement and/or stylability benefits to the hair are disclosed. The compositions contain a waxy material selected from natural waxes of animal or plant origin, alkyl-modified dimethicones, copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and long chain alpha-olefins, synthetic wax/highly branched polyalpha olefin polymers and mixtures thereof. The compositions are substantially free of materials which form an oily coating on the hair, such as dimethicone gums, oils, triglycerides, petrolatums, unsaturated fatty acids, oils, C18-C28 mono-long chain alkyl quaternary ammonium materials, and combinations of those materials. Shampoo compositions and the method of providing volume to the hair, utilizing the defined waxy materials, are also disclosed.
US08491872B2	Cinnamic acid-based oligomers and uses thereof Cinnamic acid-based oligomers and therapeutic uses thereof are provided. The oligomers are used as anti-inflammation agents, inhibitors of elastase and anti-oxidants, and in some cases (e.g. the treatment of lung disorders such as lung cancer) all three activities are simultaneously beneficial. Subsets of the oligomers (e.g. β-O4 and β-5 trimers and tetramers) are used as anticoagulants.
US08491867B2	Method of nuclear medical photography using dual-isotopes A method of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using dual-isotopes of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 and [123I]ADAM is provided. Through SPECT, anomalies in dopamine and serotonin system are diagnosed with their photos in one examination. Thus, cost and labor for two examinations are saved and uses of SPECT are reduced.
US08491859B2	Device having an injector for a liquid reducing agent, configuration having the device and methods of using the device and the configuration A device includes an injector for a liquid having at least one pressure sensor, preferably an integrated pressure sensor. The device is used, in particular, for adding liquid reducing agent to an exhaust gas line of a motor vehicle. A configuration having the device and methods of using the device and the configuration are also provided.
US08491857B1	Processes and apparatus for small-scale in situ biodiesel production Processes and apparatus produce economically feasible biodiesel without subsidies. Toward that end, integrated small plants process materials containing lipids with anhydrous bioethanol as solvent and reactant, and sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide mainly as catalysts to produce up to 3 million gallons of biodiesel per plant per year. The product is predominantly fatty acids ethyl esters (FAEE) and a chemically-enhanced organic fertilizer as byproduct. The raw material may include a wide variety of non-edible solid matter that contains lipids, which normally have from 0.5% to 80% by weight of free fatty acids in total oils. Multiple apparatus makes this process feasible. In addition to not competing with food production, since they supply fertilizer for small scale farmers, the processes and apparatus allow sustainable liquid fuel production.
US08491854B2	Systems and methods for cerebrospinal fluid collection A test tube insert includes a flange having a width greater than a width of a mouth of a larger test tube into which the insert is to be inserted. The flange defines a first central opening. An annulus extends integrally downward from the flange. The annulus includes a fenestrated wall and a floor defining a second central opening. A small test tube body, smaller than the larger test tube, extends integrally downward from the floor of the annulus with the second central opening forming a mouth of the small test tube body. The test tube insert is disposed in the mouth of the larger test tube. Fluid is transferred through the central opening and the fluid fills the small test tube body of the test tube insert and flows through the fenestrated wall once the small test tube body is full into the larger test tube.
US08491844B2	Scrubbing a gas containing nitrogen oxides The invention relates to a method for removing nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx with x>1) from a gas stream, implementing a device including a catalytic bed for converting a portion at least a part of the NO into NOx with x>1, and a unit for reducing the NOx with x>1, and in which the gas stream is placed into contact with the catalytic bed before entering the unit for reducing the NOx with x>1.
US08491831B2	Methods for forming concrete wall structures A method for forming a concrete wall structure is provided. The method includes providing a frame having a plurality of spaced-apart wall studs interconnecting opposing frame members within a casting bed. A plurality of blocks are positioned proximal the frame within the interior area of the casting bed. Concrete is poured and finished within the casting bed.
US08491830B2	Boundary configurations for multi-material print-forming A print-forming method is disclosed which provides a method to engineer and design boundaries between the materials used in devices. The boundary includes primarily a first material on one side and primarily a second material on the other side. At least some of the second material is located on the first material side of the boundary and at least some of the first material is located on the second material side of the boundary in a precise pattern that achieve the objectives of the design. This approach is then extended to 3-dimensional shapes with any number of materials. Material properties that differ from each other thus do not exhibit an abrupt transition within the overall structure, but rather are accommodated within the boundary region. Various different exemplary boundary region configurations are disclosed, as well as techniques for optimizing this print-forming manufacturing within boundary regions.
US08491818B2	Synthesis of water soluble non-toxic nanocrystalline quantum dots and uses thereof An economic, direct synthetic method for producing water soluble ZnS QDs that are ready for bioconjugation is provided. The method can produce aqueous ZnS QDs with emission wavelengths varying from 400 nm to 700 nm. Highly luminescent metal sulfide (MS) QDs are produced via an aqueous synthesis route. MS QDs are capped with thiol-containing charged molecules in a single step. The resultant MS QDs exhibit the distinctive excitonic photoluminescence desired of QDs and can be fabricated to avoid undesirable broadband emissions at higher wavelengths. The aqueous ZnS QDs are stable in biological fluids over a long period of time. In addition, non-toxic ZnS QDs have been produced with good photoluminescence properties.
US08491817B2	Luminescent material and light-emitting device A luminescent material which is featured in that it exhibits an emission peak at a wavelength ranging from 490 to 580 nm as it is excited by light having a wavelength ranging from 250 to 500 nm and that it has a composition represented by the following general formula (2): (M1-xRx)a2AlSib2Oc2Nd2 (2) (In the general formula (2), M is at least one metallic element excluding Si and Al, R is a luminescence center element, and x, a2, b2, c2 and d2 satisfy the following relationships: 0
US08491812B2	Compositions for cleaning contained bodies of water with metal hydrates Compositions for cleaning, sanitizing and maintaining contained bodies of water such as swimming pools, wading pools, fountains, ornamental ponds, etc. The compositions include pre-determined percentages of hydrates of copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, and aluminum sulfate by weight. The composition uses hydrates of copper, zinc and aluminum sulfates instead of the anhydrous metal salts. The hydrate forms can be mined, transported, processed, mixed and packaged without climate controlled conditions necessary for anhydrous metal salts. Hydrates in the composition can gain additional water molecules or lose attached water molecules during manufacture, processing, transportation or use of the composition, without negatively affecting the physical format of the composition or reducing its effectiveness. The compositions reduce amounts of chlorine and an amount of labor associated with the cleaning, sanitization and maintenance of contained bodies of water.
US08491800B1	Manufacturing of hard masks for patterning magnetic media Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for designing and manufacturing hard masks used in the creation of patterned magnetic media and, more particularly, patterned magnetic recording media used in hard disk drives (e.g., bit patterned media (BPM)). In some embodiments, the hard mask incorporates at least one layer of Ta (tantalum) and at least one layer of C (carbon) and is used during ion implantation of a pattern onto magnetic media. The hard mask can be fabricated with a high aspect ratio to achieve small feature sizes while maintaining its effectiveness as a mask, is robust enough to withstand the ion implantation process, and can be removed after the ion implantation process with minimal damage to the magnetic media.
US08491798B2	Eliminating hydrogen sulfide from liquid ammonia Processes for selectively eliminating hydrogen sulfide from liquid ammonia, either anhydrous or aqueous, are described herein. The processes generally include contacting a first liquid stream, anhydrous or aqueous, comprising ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, with a solution comprising sulfur dioxide to convert the hydrogen sulfide to thiosulfate.
US08491795B2	Conversion of seawater to drinking water at room temperature An apparatus and methods for converting seawater to drinking water at room temperature include using the processes of osmosis, vacuum stripping, nanofiltration, ion exchange, and breakpoint chlorination, to provide a low-cost alternative to prior seawater conversion methods.
US08491780B2	Hydroprocessing of biocomponent feedstocks with FCC off-gas A biocomponent feedstock can be hydroprocessed using an FCC off-gas as a hydrogen source. A relatively low cost catalyst, such as a water gas shift catalyst and/or spent hydrotreating catalyst, can be used as a hydrogenation catalyst for the process. The hydroprocessing can allow for olefin saturation and/or deoxygenation of the biocomponent feed by using a relatively low value refinery stream.
US08491769B2	Embedding a nanotube inside a nanopore for DNA translocation A technique for embedding a nanotube in a nanopore is provided. A membrane separates a reservoir into a first reservoir part and a second reservoir part, and the nanopore is formed through the membrane for connecting the first and second reservoir parts. An ionic fluid fills the nanopore, the first reservoir part, and the second reservoir part. A first electrode is dipped in the first reservoir part, and a second electrode is dipped in the second reservoir part. Driving the nanotube into the nanopore causes an inner surface of the nanopore to form a covalent bond to an outer surface of the nanotube via an organic coating so that the inner surface of the nanotube will be the new nanopore with a super smooth surface for studying bio-molecules while they translocate through the nanotube.
US08491761B2	Use of a sacrificial anode for corrosion protection of a portable device, e.g. a hearing aid A portable device includes a substrate, a number of electronic components, and a battery having an anode and a cathode for energizing at least some of the components. The application further relates to a method of protection a portable device against corrosion and to the use of a portable device. An object of the present application is to protect selected metallic parts of a bodyworn electronic device against corrosion in a flexible and controlled manner. The problem is solved in that the portable device includes a sacrificial anode in the form of a component adapted to be surface mounted on the substrate. This has the advantage that corrosion can be contained at a specific location. The device may e.g. be used for portable listening devices, e.g. hearing aids or headsets or earphones including a part adapted for being worn at or in an ear of a user.
US08491760B2	Coated article with high visible transmission and low emissivity A coated article that can be used in applications such as insulating glass (IG) units, so that resulting IG units can achieve high visible transmission of at least 70% (e.g., when using clear glass substrates from 1.0 to 3.5 mm thick), combined with at least one of: (a) SHGC no greater than about 0.45, more preferably no greater than about 0.40; (b) SC no greater than about 0.49, more preferably no greater than about 0.46; (c) chemical and/or mechanical durability; (d) neutral transmissive color such that transmissive a* is from −5.0 to 0 (more preferably from −3.5 to −1.5), and transmissive b* is from −2.0 to 4.0 (more preferably from 1.0 to 3.0); and (e) neutral reflective color from the exterior of the IG unit (i.e., Rg/Rout) such that reflective a* is from −3.0 to 2.0 (more preferably from −2.0 to 0.5), and reflective b* is from −5.0 to 1.0 (more preferably from −4.0 to −1.0). In certain example non-limiting embodiments, coated articles herein comprise: substrate/TiOx/ZnOx/Ag/NiCrOx/SnOx/ZnOx/Ag/NiCrOx/SnOx/SixNy.
US08491758B2	Process for inhibiting polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic esters A process for inhibiting polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic esters by introducing an oxygenous gas into the (meth)acrylic acid and/or the (meth)acrylic ester, in which the (meth)acrylic acid and/or the (meth)acrylic ester has a degree of purity of at least 95% and is in the liquid state.
US08491755B2	Method for manufacturing paper and board The use of filler for the manufacture of paper and board products the air permeability of which does not substantially change as a function of the amount of filler, the filler being at least in part made up of cellulose or lignocellulose fibrils on which there have been deposited light-scattering material particles the proportion of which is 67-85%, preferably approx. 70-82%, of the weight of the filler.
US08491752B2	Substrate mounting table and method for manufacturing same, substrate processing apparatus, and fluid supply mechanism A substrate mounting table includes a plate shaped member provided with a mounting surface for mounting a substrate thereon, a plurality of gas injection openings opened on the mounting surface to supply a gas toward the mounting surface, and a gas supply channel for supplying the gas through the gas injection openings; and a thermally sprayed ceramic layer covering the mounting surface. At least inner wall portions of the gas supply channel are formed in curved surface shapes, the inner wall portions facing the gas injection openings.
US08491743B2	Composite ply stabilizing method A stabilizing mechanism for resisting relative movement of upper and lower laminates of a composite structure having a core comprises a lower grip strip and at least one upper grip strip. The lower grip strip may be mounted to a tool upon which the composite structure may be processed. The lower grip strip may include an outer surface having at least one engagement feature for engaging at least one of the upper and lower laminates which make up the composite structure. The upper grip strip may have opposing outer surfaces which may include at least one engagement feature for engaging the lower strip and at least one of the upper and lower laminates.
US08491735B2	Steel sheet for vitreous enameling and method for producing the same The present invention relates to a steel sheet for Vitreous enameling excellent in enameling properties (bubbling and black spot resistance, enamel adhesiveness and fish scale resistance) and workability, and a method for producing the same, and is characterized in that the steel sheet contains, in mass of, C: 0.010% or less, Mn: 0.03 to 1.3%, Si: 0.03% or less, Al: 0.02% or less, N: 0.0055% or less, P: below 0.035%, and S: over 0.025% to 0.08%; and the density change of the steel sheet from before an annealing to after an annealing at 850° C. for 20 hours, in a hydrogen atmosphere is 0.02% or more.
US08491733B2	Aluminum alloy of the AlZnMg type and method of producing it An aluminum alloy of the AlZnMg type, which is suitable for producing low-stress, high-strength aluminum input materials, and to a method for producing such aluminum input materials.
US08491732B2	Hot-rolled steel bar or wire rod A hot-rolled steel bar or wire rod consisting of C: 0.1 to 0.3%, Si: 0.05 to 1.5%, Mn: 0.4 to 2.0%, S: 0.003 to 0.05%, Cr: 0.5 to 3.0%, Al: 0.02 to 0.05%, and N: 0.010 to 0.025%, the balance being Fe and impurities, and the impurities containing P: 0.025% or less, Ti: 0.003% or less, and O: 0.002% or less, wherein the structure thereof is composed of a ferrite-pearlite structure, ferrite-pearlite-bainite structure, or ferrite-bainite structure; the standard deviation of ferrite fractions at the time when randomly selected 15 viewing fields of a transverse cross section are observed and measured with the area per one viewing field being 62,500 μm2 is 0.10 or less; and in a region from the surface to one-fifth of the radius and a region from the center to one-fifth of the radius in the transverse cross section, the amount of Al precipitating as AlN is 0.005% or less, and the density in terms of the number of AlN having a diameter of 100 nm or larger is 5/100 μm2 or less. In the hot-rolled steel bar or wire rod, even if hot forging is performed in various temperature ranges, austenite grains can be stably prevented from being coarsened at the time of heating for carburization.
US08491724B2	Dishwasher control for dealing with large amounts of food residues by variable wash programs A method is provided enabling a dishwasher to be operated with variable wash programs, wherein the filter systems of the dishwasher do not become overloaded with protruding wash residues in the rinsing fluid. The method makes it possible to vary the pressure used to convey the rinsing fluid from the circulating pump to the at least one spray device. The advantage thereof is that protruding wash residues in the rinsing liquid can be reduced or flattened in order to prevent the filter systems in the dishwasher from becoming overloaded so that the cleaning effects of the filter system can remain functional.
US08491721B2	Method of cleaning and degassing a storage vessel A sealed storage vessel containing volatile organic vapor over a bottom sludge layer is cleaned by (a) determining the level of free oil in the vessel and then using (b) either a two-stage or one-stage treatment regime, adding a cleaning agent thereto. If the free oil is greater than 2 volume percent the two-stage regime is used where an oil release agent is initially mixed with the sludge to separate the oil from solids in the sludge. The separated oil floats on the surface of water and is removed without substantially exposing the vessel's interior to the atmosphere, leaving within the vessel a mixture of water, solids, and trace amounts of hydrocarbons. Next, a predetermined amount of an emulsifying agent is added to substantially emulsify the trace hydrocarbons, so the level of volatile organic compounds remaining in the interior of the vessel is no greater than 5,000 ppmv, measured as methane, at least one hour after adding the emulsifying agent. If the free oil is less than 2 volume percent, the one-stage treatment regime is employed by only adding the emulsifying agent to achieve this same level of volatile organic compounds.
US08491720B2	HVPE precursor source hardware Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to an HVPE chamber. The chamber may have two separate precursor sources coupled thereto to permit two separate layers to be deposited. For example, a gallium source and a separate aluminum source may be coupled to the processing chamber to permit gallium nitride and aluminum nitride to be separately deposited onto a substrate in the same processing chamber. The nitrogen may be introduced to the processing chamber at a separate location from the gallium and the aluminum and at a lower temperature. The different temperatures causes the gases to mix together, react and deposit on the substrate with little or no deposition on the chamber walls.
US08491718B2	Methods of growing heteroepitaxial single crystal or large grained semiconductor films and devices thereon A method is disclosed for making semiconductor films from a eutectic alloy comprising a metal and a semiconductor. Through heterogeneous nucleation said film is deposited at a deposition temperature on relatively inexpensive buffered substrates, such as glass. Specifically said film is vapor deposited at a fixed temperature in said deposition temperature where said deposition temperature is above a eutectic temperature of said eutectic alloy and below a temperature at which the substrate softens. Such films could have widespread application in photovoltaic and display technologies.
US08491707B2	Fluid storage tank configured to remove entrained air from fluid A fluid storage tank including an entrained air removal mechanism is provided. The entrained air removal mechanism assists in consolidating small air bubbles entrained within the fluid into larger bubbles such that the air bubbles have sufficient buoyancy to escape the fluid flow. The entrained air removal mechanism may be in the form of a plurality of saw toothed slots communicating different chambers within the fluid storage tank. The fluid storage tank can also be configured to direct fluid flow towards the sidewalls of the fluid storage tank as the fluid transitions from one chamber to another to promote heat transfer out of the fluid storage tank and to avoid the fluid within the tank acting as a thermal insulator.
US08491706B2	Oil vapor cleaner An apparatus for recovery of solids from a vapor, the apparatus including: a vessel comprising a cylindrical portion on top of an angled portion; a vapor inlet located in the cylindrical portion for introducing a solid-vapor mixture tangentially to the cylindrical portion; at least one inlet nozzle disposed in a top of the vessel for spraying a hydrocarbon fluid into the vessel; an indirect heat exchange device disposed concentrically within the cylindrical portion, thereby providing an annulus for vapor and hydrocarbon flow; a heat exchange device disposed at an exterior of the angled portion; an outlet located at a bottom of the angled portion to recover the vapor having a reduced solids content and a solid-hydrocarbon mixture. Also disclosed are processes to clean an oil vapor using such an apparatus.
US08491702B2	Moisture content control system A system for controlling moisture content in ambient airflow in a substantially enclosed structure having components. The system includes at least one humidity control apparatus and a plurality of sensors for detecting moisture content in airflow in a plurality of locations of the substantially enclosed structure. The plurality of sensors are located remotely from the at least one humidity control apparatus and are situated in relatively close proximity to the components that the at least one humidity control apparatus is configured to affect. The system also includes a controller configured to receive moisture content levels detected by one or more of the plurality of sensors and to control the at least one humidity control apparatus based upon the detected moisture content levels to vary the moisture content in the ambient airflow around the plurality of locations.
US08491697B2	Method for producing electrocatalyst [Problem]To provide a method for producing an electrocatalyst having no compositional scatter, wherein nano-level alloy catalyst molecules with an ordered particle size are supported in a highly dispersed state. [Means of Solution]The method includes the steps of preparing a reverse micelle solution by mixing two or more catalyst precursors selected from among metal salts and/or metal complexes, a solvent having hydrophilic groups and a non-aqueous solvent, forming alloy particles in the reverse micelle by adding a non-aqueous solution having a reducing action to the reverse micelle and heating, and supporting the alloy particles on a carrier.
US08491678B1	Active gas flow heat exchanger and its associated method of operation A system and method of recovering some of the latent heat of vaporization in a system having a heated environment that adds heat to liquid material and converts the liquid material into gaseous material. The latent heat of vaporization is partially recovered using a unique heat exchanger. The heat exchanger preheats the liquid material entering the heated environment with heat energy from the gaseous material exiting the heated environment. The heat exchanger has a gas flow path. A volume of a gas medium fills the gas flow path. A pump causes the gas medium to flow through the gas flow path at a predetermined mass flow rate. The gas medium and its flow rate are selected to ensure that the specific heat of the gas medium surpasses that of the gaseous material exiting the heated environment.
US08491667B2	Modular prosthesis system A modular prosthesis system that can be inexpensively manufactured using modern technology and advanced polymer materials. The modular prosthesis system will be immediately fit on the residual limb and aligned for optimal gait without specialized tools or labs, alleviating the many steps involved with conventional labor-intensive and costly prosthesis construction. The modular prosthesis system also accommodates the changing in size and shape of the limb, eliminating the need for multiple prostheses and adjustments to an existing prosthesis during the lifetime of an amputee.
US08491651B2	Intraocular lenses with interlenticular opacification resistance The present invention is directed to an intraocular lens, an intraocular lens system and a method of producing and/or implanting the lens or system in an eye wherein at least one intraocular lens includes a coating that aids in resisting interlenticular opacification (ILO). The material of the coating is preferably hydrophilic or super-hydrophobic.
US08491642B2	Spinal transverse connector Disclosed is a spinal transconnector device for coupling longitudinal spinal rods on either side of the mid-sagittal plane. The device includes two interconnected rod engagement elements, a first rod engagement elements having a vaulted surface adapted to secure to a first longitudinal spinal rod via an interference fit comprising compression of the first longitudinal spinal rod against the generally vaulted surface; and an interference pin that advances into a bore of the first rod engagement element forming an interference fit between the interference pin and the rod engagement element. The interference fit can be associated with elastic deformation of the first rod engagement element occurring as a consequence of the interference pin being advanced through the bore in the engagement element and contacting a surface of the first longitudinal spinal rod.
US08491641B2	Pedicle screws and dynamic adaptors The present invention may include a pedicle screw with a multifunctional adaptor, a strain reliever, and a dual-surface cap. The multifunctional adaptor may include a convex pivot ring for improving multi-axial movement and locking stability, an integrated locking mechanism for improving maneuverability, and an integrated compression member for improving the assembly process. The strain reliever may be formed along a neck of the pedicle screw for relieving mechanical stress asserted thereto, and thereby preventing a breakage thereof. The dual-surface cap may provide a slightly sloped surface for reducing the tension of the stabilizing rod. The present invention may also provide for a dynamic adaptor for flexibly connecting two stabilizing rods, which may be versatilely adapted to various pedicle screw configurations.
US08491637B2	Rod-shaped implant element for the application in spine surgery or trauma surgery and stabilization device with such a rod-shaped implant element A rod-shaped implant element is provided for connecting at least two bone anchoring elements. Each bone anchoring element includes an anchoring section to be anchored in the bone and a receiver member to be connected to the rod-shaped implant element. The rod-shaped implant element includes, a longitudinal axis, at least one first length of a rigid section that is configured to cooperate with and be received in the receiver member, a second length of a flexible section adjacent to the rigid section, a bore coaxial to the longitudinal axis and extending through the rigid section and the flexible section, and a core accommodated in the bore, the core having two opposite ends. At least one end of the core is freely movable in the bore when said flexible section is extended or compressed in a direction of the longitudinal axis.
US08491632B2	Method and apparatus for soft tissue fixation An anchor assembly for retaining a graft in an anatomy. The anchor assembly includes an anchor body, a flexible connector, and a graft holding member. The anchor body includes a first connector bore defined by the anchor body. The flexible connector extends through the first connector bore. The graft holding member is attached to the flexible connector and is configured to hold the graft.
US08491629B2	Vascular hole closure delivery device A surgical delivery instrument for delivering a vascular hole closure device having first and second flexible members and a first and second engagement members extending from the respective flexible member. The delivery instrument includes a housing having first and second longitudinally extending openings and first and second projecting surfaces, the first projecting surface extending into the first opening for engagement by the first engagement member and the second projecting surface extending into the second opening for engagement by the second engagement member. The first engagement member is held by the first projecting surface until a predetermined force is applied to the first engagement member during placement of the closure device at a target site.
US08491617B2	Low profile cutting assembly with a return spring The present disclosure relates to a forceps that includes a housing, a cutting assembly, and an actuator. The housing has a shaft attached thereto that extends therefrom and is configured to support a pair of jaw members at a distal end thereof. The jaw members are movable to grasp tissue therebetween. The cutting assembly includes a spring element that has proximal and distal ends. The proximal end of the spring element is fixed to a boss disposed within the housing and the distal end of the spring element includes a cutting edge. The spring element is coiled at a proximal end thereof to create a spring bias against the boss. The actuator is operably coupled to the spring element and is configured to selectively advance the cutting edge of the spring element into the jaw members against the spring bias to sever tissue disposed therebetween.
US08491616B2	System and method for corneal astigmatic axis marking The present invention includes a corneal marker having an adjustable element providing for orientation of the marker to the astigmatic axis of a patient's eye under examination, a handle secured to the corneal marker and a stem secured to and extending below the handle. The stem is weighted to facilitate alignment of the corneal marker to the corneal surface of the patient's eye under examination during corrective eye surgery according to the corneal light reflex from the eye in response to an illumination source.
US08491614B2	Over-the-wire valvulotomes Over-the-wire self-sizing, self-centering valvulotomes sufficiently designed to cut valves through a wide range of vein diameters and adjust to the internal diameter of a vein as the valvulotome is being drawn through the vessel, and methods of use thereof during certain medical procedures that involve splitting valves, are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an over-the-wire valvulotome includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein a first portion of a plurality of cutting tools engage the catheter at the distal end, and wherein an actuation mechanism engages the catheter at the proximal end; a retainer for temporarily shielding a second portion of the plurality of cutting tools, wherein the second portion includes cutting blades; and a sheath slidably moveable over the plurality of cutting blades, wherein the catheter and the retainer have internal diameters configured for passing over a guidewire.
US08491604B2	Manipulator A manipulator, such as for use in medical procedures, is provided. The manipulator includes a body and a first actuator system connected to the body at a first attachment point and capable of moving the first attachment point with at least three degrees of freedom. A second actuator system is connected to the body at a second attachment point and capable of moving the second attachment point with at least three degrees of freedom. A third actuator system is integrated with the body and is capable of moving at least a portion of the body with at least one degree of freedom.
US08491603B2	Surgical manipulator The present invention provides a surgical manipulator including a manipulator arm, an end-effector held by the robotic arm, surgical tools held by the end-effector and manipulator joints, particularly right-angle drive devices for transmitting rotational motion in one axis to a perpendicular axis.
US08491598B2	Surgical positioning assembly and associated spinal implant device and surgical methods The present invention provides a surgical positioning assembly that is used to place a spinal implant device or the like within an intervertebral space or the like of a patient and associated surgical methods. Advantageously, the surgical positioning assembly allows access to the implantation site to be gained along a first axis, with the implant device subsequently being placed along a second axis that is disposed at an angle or substantially perpendicular to the first axis via the actuation of the surgical positioning assembly. Thus, for example, a surgeon may use an anterior or posterior approach to place an implant device laterally, or vice versa.
US08491595B2	Methods and devices for ligament repair Devices and methods are provided for positioning and forming bone tunnels. In one embodiment, a surgical drill guide apparatus is provided. The apparatus can include a first guide member having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough for aiming a first guide pin along a first path to form a first bone tunnel. The apparatus can also include a second guide member having a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough for aiming a second guide pin along a second path to form a second bone tunnel. The first and second guide members can extend at an angle relative to one another and they can be offset such that axes of the guide members do not intersect.
US08491587B2	Adjustable offset bushing An orthopaedic instrumentation having an intermediate piece that has an opening for receiving an intramedullary reference. The intermediate piece such as a tibial template or a cutting guide is located on the resected tibia or femur in a manner that it optimally covers the resected surface of the tibia or the femur. A bushing guide is provided for mounting on the intermediate piece. The bushing guide has a circular opening. An offset bushing is rotatably mounted in the opening in the bushing guide. A trigger flange is slidably mounted on the offset bushing. The trigger flange can slide back and forth relative to the offset bushing. An indicia is formed on the upper surface of trigger flange. The indicia when aligned with one of the indicia on the offset bushing body measures the offset of center of a bore in the trigger flange from center of the offset bushing. The offset bushing can rotate around its longitudinal axis in the opening in the bushing guide. Indicia on the offset bushing may be used to measure the orientation of the center of the hole in the trigger with respect to the center of bushing body.
US08491581B2	Method for powering a surgical instrument A method for powering an electrosurgical instrument includes the steps of inserting a removable battery assembly into an electrosurgical instrument and activating the power control circuit to power the electrosurgical instrument. The removable battery assembly includes a power control circuit powered by at least one energy storage cell, a radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly communicatively coupled to the power control circuit and operable to selectively produce a radio-frequency signal, and a battery assembly/instrument interface operably coupled to the radio-frequency-signal-generation assembly. The battery assembly/instrument interface includes a first plurality of connectors removably connectable with at least one corresponding connector coupled to the electrosurgical instrument, at least one of the first plurality of connectors being operable to supply the radio-frequency signal to the electrosurgical instrument.
US08491577B2	System for ophthalmic laser surgery The invention relates to a system for ophthalmic laser surgery, comprising a source (110) of pulsed laser radiation with radiation parameters matched to the making of an incision in an ocular tissue, particularly in the cornea, a scanner (160) for deflecting the laser radiation, an electronic control unit (190) which has been set up to control the scanner in accordance with a predetermined incision geometry, and a modulator unit (170) for modulating the laser pulses emitted from the source (110). The control unit (190) has furthermore been set up to control the modulator unit (170) in accordance with a beam-deflection pattern established for the incision geometry in such a manner that in predetermined parts of the beam-deflection pattern at least some of the laser pulses have a reduced pulse energy or are suppressed.
US08491569B1	Intermittent catheter A catheter and method of use for bladder intermittent catheterization that helps equalize pressure between the catheter and the bladder and prevents air from traveling back into the bladder when the catheter is removed. The catheter has a distal tip that includes a reservoir which retains some urine drained from the bladder by the catheter that blocks the passage of air. Bladder spasms and pain upon removal of the catheter are avoided.
US08491562B2	Multilayer film for functional medical solution container and a container comprising the same The present invention relates to a multilayer film for medical solution container and a container comprising the same, more particularly, to the multilayer film for medical solution comprising an outer layer comprising polypropylene, polypropylene copolymer or a mixture thereof; an intermediate layer comprising a mixture of 30˜70% by weight of propylene-based polymer including polypropylene, polypropylene copolymer or a mixture thereof, and 30˜70% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer; and an inner layer comprising a mixture of 50˜70% by weight of propylene-based polymer including polypropylene, polypropylene copolymer or a mixture thereof, 5˜20% by weight of polyethylene, and 10˜45% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer. The multilayer film has such improved flexibility, transparency, heat resistance, sealing property and durability, as well as easy peelability and peel strength with non-temperature sensitive that can be applied to a pouch type container for packaging and administering of medical solutions or blood.
US08491560B2	Diaper closure elements A diaper comprising a garment facing side and a wearer facing side, the diaper further comprising closure elements, at least one closure element comprising: a carrier layer (1) comprising a nonwoven or woven material, and comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, and a first end edge and a second end edge opposite the first end edge, the first surface of the carrier layer (1) comprising a bonding layer (2), the bonding layer (2) not extending over the entire first surface of the carrier layer (1) and the first surface of the carrier layer (1) further comprising an anchoring layer (3) suitable for the attachment of a hook patch (5), the second surface of the carrier layer (1) comprising a separation layer (4). A closure element and a method of manufacture are further aspects of the invention.
US08491559B2	Absorbent article having a fit guide An absorbent article having a longitudinal centerline and adapted to be worn in an undergarment having a crotch portion bounded on opposite sides by portions of curved leg openings. The absorbent article comprises a main body portion, the main body portion comprising a liquid pervious body-facing surface, a liquid impervious garment facing surface, and an absorbent core positioned between the body-facing surface and the garment-facing surface. The absorbent article comprises at least one indicator marker visible from the body-facing surface, the indicator markers disposed to indicate proper alignment of the absorbent article with respect to undergarment-specific features such as the curved leg openings.
US08491553B2	Individually wrapped absorbent article including wrapping sheet An individually wrapped absorbent article 1 comprising an absorbent article 2 and a wrapping sheet 3, said absorbent article having a shape being relatively long in a longitudinal direction having a liquid-pervious top-sheet, a liquid-impervious back-sheet and a liquid-retentive absorbent core, on one hand, and said wrapping sheet 3 having a shape being also relatively long in the longitudinal direction arranged to cover the back-sheet of the absorbent article 2, on the other hand, so as to be folded back in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article 2 by a predetermined fold length dimension L1, respectively, with the top-sheet inside. The wrapping sheet 3 is provided with a first display region 33 having a predetermined length dimension L3 as measured from one end of the wrapping sheet 3 in the longitudinal direction and the length dimension L3 of the first display region 33 is set to be smaller than the fold length dimension L1.
US08491552B2	External catheter with antiseptic agent An external catheter device is disclosed which prevents infection arising from bacterial and/or yeast growth within the external catheter. To achieve such result, the external catheter device is coated with an antiseptic agent that is able to effectively kill and prevent the growth of bacteria and yeast. Additionally, the external catheter device may have an adhesive agent coating on its inner surface to prevent the condom from shifting while on the patient's penis.
US08491549B2	Ophthalmic microsurgical system An ophthalmic microsurgical system is described for treatment of eye diseases, such as glaucoma, using minimally invasive surgical techniques. The microsurgical system includes a thin walled outer sheath microcannula 1 slidably disposed about an inner member 4, which extends slightly beyond the distal end of the microcannula 1. The inner member 4 may be straight or curved and may optionally include a surgical instrument and/or a sensor or signaling beacon. The microsurgical system is used in a surgical procedure for opening Schlemm's Canal to provide drainage of aqueous fluid in order to relieve excess intraocular pressure that results from glaucoma and other diseases of the eye.
US08491547B2	Septum monitoring system and method for an implantable therapeutic substance delivery device A system for monitoring an implantable medical device. The system includes an implantable therapeutic substance delivery device for delivering a therapeutic substance, along with a temperature sensor and an indicator device. The delivery device includes a housing maintaining a reservoir for containing the therapeutic substance. Further, the delivery device includes a fill port assembly having a port chamber in fluid communication with the reservoir and including a septum fluidly sealing the chamber. The temperature sensor is associated with the fill port assembly. Finally, the indicator device is adapted to indicate presence of a needle within the port chamber based upon information from the temperature sensor.
US08491539B2	Aspiration apparatus and methods An aspiration apparatus includes handles with two members. Each of the handle members includes a proximal actuation end and an opposite distal connection end. The members of the handles are associated with one another (e.g., pivotally, etc.) in such a way that movement of the proximal actuation ends in first directions (e.g., toward one another, away from one another) causes the distal connection ends to move in opposite second directions (e.g., away from one another, toward one another). The distal connection end of the first member may configured for association with the barrel of a syringe, while the distal connection end of the second member may be configured for association with the plunger of the syringe. Association of one or both of the distal connection ends with its respective syringe element may be pivotal. Aspiration methods, including, but not limited to, methods of using such an aspiration apparatus, are also disclosed.
US08491538B2	Injection device comprising several coupling mechanisms An injection device including a drive unit, a delivery unit, a dosing unit, a trigger for triggering an injection, a first coupling mechanism between the drive unit and the delivery unit, and a second coupling mechanism between the dosing unit and the drive unit, wherein the drive unit is tensioned by a rotation of the dosing unit and when the drive unit is tensioned the first coupling mechanism is disengaged and the second coupling mechanism is engaged, and wherein when an injection is triggered first the first coupling mechanism is engaged and then the second coupling mechanism is disengaged. In some embodiments, the device may include a third coupling mechanism which only releases the delivery unit after the engagement and disengagement which follow a triggering.
US08491530B2	Autoinjector with trigger positionable in active position by movement of a safety shield and indication of the active position The invention relates to an automatic injection device (1) for a product contained in a container (50), comprising: a housing (8, 19) receiving the container (50), the container being movable between an initial position and an insertion position, triggering means (23) for initiating the movement of said container (50) from its initial position to its insertion position, said triggering means (23) being in one of a passive state, in which application of a force on said triggering means does not initiate movement of said container (50), and an active state, in which application of said force on said triggering means does initiate said movement, and a safety shield (10) movable with respect to said housing (8, 19) between a first position and a second position, movement of said safety shield (10) from its first position to its second position placing said triggering means (23) in its active state, characterized in that said device comprises: an indicator (19c, 13) that provides an indication to a user of the device (1) that the safety shield (10) has reached its second position.
US08491519B2	Systems and methods for bariatric therapy The present invention provides bariatric therapy systems. One system includes a gastrointestinal implant device and a delivery mechanism therefor. The device can include a sleeve for placement into a small intestine and to minimize absorption of nutrients by its walls. An anchoring mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the sleeve and designed to be secured within the stomach can be provided. A passageway extending through the anchoring mechanism and the sleeve can also be provided, along which food can be directed from the stomach to the small intestine. The delivery mechanism can include a housing for accommodating the device, and a deploying balloon situated within the housing and which can be actuated to direct the sleeve of the device from within the housing to the site of implantation. Methods for providing bariatric therapy are also provided by the present invention.
US08491518B2	Diaphragm pressure pod for medical fluids A tubular medical fluid flow set comprises a pressure sensing chamber connected in flow-through relation to fluid flow tubing of the set. The pressure sensing chamber defines a movable, flexible, impermeable diaphragm dividing the chamber into two separate compartments. The fluid flow tubing communicates with one of the compartments and is isolated from the other of the compartments. A port is carried on the chamber, the port having a seal therein, and communicating with the other of the compartments. Thus, the other of the compartments is hermetically sealed until the port is opened for connection with a pressure measuring device, to keep the flexible diaphragm in a desired, initial position prior to opening of the seal.
US08491514B2	Customizable therapeutic compression garment and method Provided is a therapeutic compression apparatus that includes a compression material. In one example, the apparatus includes a large surface area of a single sheet of compression material. The apparatus may include indicia that allow it to be trimmed to fit a patient.
US08491504B2	Devices and methods for monitoring sit to stand transfers In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a device for monitoring sit to stand transfers is provided. The device includes an electromechanical sensor and a computer, wherein the electromechanical sensor is configured to signal sit to stand transfers to the computer and the computer is configured to determine if the sit to stand transfers deviate from a normal sit to stand transfer pattern.
US08491495B1	Human intestinal tract research and diagnostic system to evaluate patients and advance medical science and bioengineering and to determine processes in the gut and causes of diseases Many diseases with origin in human gut are of unknown causes, so only symptoms are treated. Endoscopic devices leave about 15′ of gut unexplored other than by autopsy. Thus, a substance and microbe simultaneous sample collecting, testing, evaluation, and characterization system has been invented that will provide data for evaluating functions, macro, and micro processes taking place along entire length of the human digestive and intestinal tract from mouth to anus. The entire digestive process including biochemical reactions and microbe roles, and consequences, as pertain to diseases and illnesses can be ascertained through applications of the system, which includes protocols, for collection and preservation of digestion products for external analysis, measurements of many in vivo conditions, and internally processing data and making decisions based upon said processed data, including administration of medications. The system serves clinical diagnostic, treatment and research purposes, and is a dream tool for gastroenterologists.
US08491481B2	System and method for measuring the instantaneous period of a quasi-periodic signal A method of measuring the instantaneous period of a quasi-periodic signal includes determining an initial template, performing a cross-correlation between the initial template and a quasi-periodic signal and selecting portions of the signal that correspond to the peaks of the correlation signal. The selected portions are then averaged and another cross correlation is performed between the quasi-periodic signal and a template including the averaged selected portions. The instantaneous period is then measured from the correlation signal.
US08491473B2	Medical procedure mat and draping system A medical procedure mat for supporting a patient. A mat having a cushioned substrate and one or more physiological monitoring lines, the physiological monitoring lines having guided portions along the outer edge of the cushioned substrate, and flexible portions operatively coupled to the guided portions, the flexible portions being adapted to extend toward the patient. A draping system for use during medical procedures, including a top and/or bottom drape. A bottom drape including an absorbent material and/or a privacy shield. A top drape including a workbench surface. A mat and draping system in which a bottom and top drape mate to each other and/or to the mat. A draping system providing openings or holes to allow passage of one or more physiological monitoring lines when used in conjunction with the mat.
US08491468B2	Suction syringe and endoscope apparatus A tubular body has a vent hole VA and a suction opening. The piston body is in a state in which the inside of the tubular body in an enclosed space is divided into a front chamber and a rear chamber. The piston body includes piston portion which reciprocate in a position on its front end side from the suction opening, a shaft portion which supports this piston portion on its front end side and whose external diameter is smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular body and a pressing portion provided on a rear end side of this shaft portion. A vent passage is formed in the shaft portion so as to couple a vent hole VB of this pressing portion and a vent hole VC on its front end side of the shaft portion. Further, a spring is provided to return the pressed pressing portion to its original position.
US08491453B2	Cushioning product and method and apparatus for making same The invention relates to a crumpled paper tube for use as a cushion in packing items, and to a method and apparatus for producing the same.
US08491448B2	Hemisperical grip handle apparatus A hemispherical grip member has an outer hemispherical surface and a grip layer and a grip member opening. A length of aircraft cable having a first cable end extends through the opening and is crimped in position onto the grip member with a cable nut. A connector is provided on an opposite cable end. A length of a soft flexible tubing surrounds the cable between the grip member and the connector. When a user grasps the hemispherical surface of the grip member, the first cable end is located inside the grasp of the user and the cable and tubing passes between two fingers of the user.
US08491445B2	Automatic clutch control apparatus The clutch control apparatus includes a first reference value setting portion for setting a first engagement amount reference value of the first and the second clutches and to obtain a target transmitting torque by calculating a target inertia torque by multiplying a target rotation speed change rate of the engine at a speed change operation by an inertia of the engine and subtracting the target inertia torque from the current output torque of the engine to be the target transmitting torque of the first and the second clutches and a second reference value setting portion for setting a second engagement amount reference value by correcting the first engagement amount reference value based on the vehicle speed and the turning radius.
US08491443B2	Method for controlling a lock-up clutch of a hydrodynamic torque converter A lock-up clutch of a hydrodynamic torque converter remains disengaged during shifts of a downstream transmission, when the drive motor is operated in the partial load range, and remains engaged during shifts of the downstream transmission, when drive motor is operated in a full load range.
US08491428B2	Bicycle structure A bicycle structure is provided with a crankset and a front derailleur. The crankset includes a plurality of chain rings, with a largest chain ring of the plurality of chain rings having a plurality of teeth with teeth bottoms interposed between adjacent ones of the teeth. The front derailleur includes a chain guide having a chain guide slot partially defined by a first chain engagement surface with a protruding part that protrudes outwardly from the first chain engagement surface into the chain guide slot. The protruding part is located away from the teeth bottoms of the largest chain ring in a radial outside direction of the largest chain ring by a prescribed distance in a range from eight millimeters to sixteen millimeters.
US08491423B1	Training aid for a batter A training aid for a batter, which can include a barrel, a handle, and a connection assembly, wherein the connection assembly can be configured to allow the barrel to pivot to form an angle of one hundred eighty degrees between the barrel and the handle when a batter uses proper swing mechanics. The connection assembly can be configured to allow the barrel to pivot to form an angle different than one hundred eighty degrees between the barrel and the handle when a batter swings with improper swing mechanics, such as a “flying lead elbow”, “casting”, a “wrap swing”, a “hitch”, or “barring out”.
US08491419B2	Low lift golf ball A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into first and second areas each containing a plurality of dimples, the first and second areas being of different shapes, each first area containing first dimples and each second area containing second dimples, at least some first dimples being of different types from the second dimples, and the first areas being formed of circular paths around the outer surface of the ball, the second areas being formed by the intersection of the circular paths.
US08491417B2	Golf ball Golf ball 2 has spherical main body 4, mark layer 6 and paint layer 8. The main body 4 has spherical core 10, and cover 12 provided to cover this core 10. The cover 12 does not include titanium oxide. The cover 12 includes a fluorescent colorant. The main body 4 has a chroma saturation of equal to or greater than 25. The paint layer 8 is constituted with a resin composition. This resin composition includes composite particles. The composite particle has a nucleus, and a coat layer provided to coat this nucleus. The nucleus is constituted with mica, while the coat layer is constituted with titanium oxide. The amount of the composite particles is 2 parts by weight or greater and 30 parts by weight or less per 100 parts by weight of the base resin of the paint layer 8.
US08491409B2	Silicone grips for golf clubs A grip for a golf club is provided. The grip comprises an elongated flexible sleeve that slips onto the shaft of a golf club and an elongated flexible panel of silicone material wrapped around and integrally bonded to the sleeve. The flexible panel comprises opposite first and second surfaces, opposite first and second edge portions joined together to define a longitudinal seam, and printed indicia on the panel first surface, wherein the printed indicia comprises silicone ink.
US08491404B2	Golf practice bat having additional built-in weight for adjusting top, impact and finish timing A golf practice bat is provided for practicing golf swings such as driver shots, iron shots, and the like. The location and timing at a top position during a back-swing, timing at the point of impact, and location and timing of the finish in a follow-through swing, are indicated through an impact sound so that a user can practice swings while estimating the positions of a club head and the timing from a backswing to impact and through to the finish of the follow-through swing. Further, a metal weight is integrated inside the golf practice bat such that loads are not distributed to the head portion, but are concentrated on a lower portion during golf swing practice. Therefore, a fixed weight is formed such that muscular strength is increased and a swing trajectory is naturally created during a golf swing.
US08491403B2	Amusement ride system An amusement ride system combines about six or more different ride elements from different types of amusement rides available to the public today into a single design. The amusement ride system may bring customers back time and time again for a new ride experience on the same ride design. This may allow amusement ride operators to provide varying ride experiences without requiring a completely different ride, thus saving cost and space. The amusement ride system may include a plurality of pods adapted to house riders. The pods may be adapted to move up and down, spin about a central tower, and spin and swivel about the pod's axes.
US08491396B2	Game supply delivery systems and methods Systems and methods that deliver game supplies are described. In some embodiments, a method receives a request for in-game supplies from a first player in an interactive social game. The method presents multiple supply options where each supply option has an associated processing time. A supply option selection is received from the first player that indicates selection of one of the multiple supply options. A supply fulfillment invitation is distributed to a second player of the interactive social game. An in-game benefit is provided to the second player in response to acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation. The first player is notified upon completion of the processing time for the selected supply option, which indicates availability of the requested in-game supplies to the first player.
US08491394B2	Squad vs. squad video game A squad versus squad shooter video game receives input from one or more players via their respective use of controllers in communication with one or more console-based video game systems. The input from each controller is interpreted as a command to a squad in a competition against one or more other squads that are respectively commanded by one or more players via their respective use of controllers. Each squad includes a plurality of characters. Each player is assigned to one of the squads. Actions of each character in the video game are a function of commands given to that character by one of the players. Players can join or exit their assigned squad during game play.
US08491392B2	Gaming system and method having promotions based on player selected gaming environment preferences A gaming system and method including a tracking system or a player tracking system and plurality of gaming machines. The gaming machines include at least one display device and a plurality of player preferences selections. These player preference selections enable a player to choose one or more elements of the background or an entertainment setting of the gaming machine while they are playing a game at the gaming machine. The gaming machine enables the player to enter identification information at the gaming machine and choose at least one preference. The gaming machine tracks all of the preference selections made by the player. Upon meeting certain promotional criteria, the gaming machine determines a promotion to provide the player based on the preferences of that player. That is, the player does not directly select any promotions. The gaming system determines personalized promotions for the player based on the preference selections made by that player.
US08491368B2	Game device for controlling action based on character ability, method for controlling game device, program, and information storage medium A game device capable of enhancing excitement in operating a game character is provided. The game device includes a microprocessor configured to acquire an operation value input by a user, read a parameter condition corresponding to the operation value, read an ability parameter of a player character corresponding to the parameter condition, and control the player character based on a determination of whether the ability parameter satisfies the parameter condition.
US08491360B2	Three-dimensional network in CMP pad The present disclosure is directed at a chemical-mechanical planarization polishing pad comprising interconnecting elements and a polymer filler material, wherein the interconnecting elements include interconnecting junction points that are present at a density of 1 interconnecting junction point/cm3 to 1000 interconnecting junction points/cm3, and wherein the interconnecting elements have a length between interconnection junction points of 0.1 microns to 20 cm.
US08491346B2	Electrical contacts using canted coil springs and stamped housings and methods thereof An electrical contact assembly made from a stamped housing, having a first end with a spring groove housing formed over a canted coil spring in order to provide spring retention to a pin or post inserted into the housing. On the other end of the stamped housing, a wire/cable crimp assembly is formed. The spring, groove housing may be formed having an opening for insertion of the pin or post that is either substantially parallel or perpendicular to the base of the housing.
US08491335B2	Waterproof connector There is provided a waterproof connector in which swing of electric wires inside a rear holder can be prevented, and insertion of the rear holder into a connector body can be easily performed with a small force. The waterproof connector includes a connector body 2 having a terminal containing room 21 in which a terminal metal fitting 9 of an electric wire 7 is contained, a waterproof plug 3 which is fitted to the electric wire 7 at a wire withdrawing side 23 of the connector body 2 and assembled to the wire withdrawing side 23 of the connector body 2, and a rear holder 5 which is mounted on the wire withdrawing side 23 of the connector body 2 thereby to prevent drop of the waterproof plug 3 from the connector body 2. The rear holder includes a pair of half bodies which are separated as a first holder body 51 and a second holder body 52, wire containing recesses 53, 54 which contain respective semi-circular portions of the electric wire are respectively formed in the first holder body 51 and the second holder body 52, and the first holder body 51 and the second holder body 52 are individually mounted on the wire withdrawing side 23 of the connector body 2 to be combined together.
US08491331B2	Telecommunications patch panel with angled connector modules A telecommunications patch panel is provided having a plurality of connector modules rotatably mounted to a frame member. Each connector module has a front face and an opposite facing rear face, and each front face includes a plurality of connector jacks. Each rear face includes a plurality of wire termination blocks. The wire termination blocks are electrically connected to the connector jacks. Each connector module is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the frame member. A lock selectively locks each connector module to the frame member as desired. The connector jacks and the connector modules are arranged in linear arrays perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
US08491329B2	Electrical outlet assembly and manufacturing method thereof An electrical outlet assembly includes: a housing having an upper casing and a bottom casing, the upper casing having a plurality of openings, the upper casing and the bottom casing being assembled with each other to form a receiving room; a switch module, having a switch, a surge arrester and a first casing, the switch being electrically connected with the surge arrester; at least one electrical outlet module, having a second casing; a cable set disposed in the receiving room, the cable set being electrically connected with the switch module and the electrical outlet module; wherein the switch module and the electrical outlet module are respectively disposed in the openings, and the switch module and the electrical outlet module are arranged on the housing.
US08491324B1	Lamp holder connector A lamp holder connector adapted for connecting with a lamp includes a first holder, a second holder, a connecting part, at least two buckling ears, a first terminal assembled in the first holder and a second terminal assembled in the second holder to electrically connect with the first terminal. Two opposite sides of the first holder defines two restraining arms. The second holder defines an accommodating chamber for receiving the connecting part therein. The connecting part defines an accommodating space for receiving the first holder therein. The two buckling ears are pivotally fastened to two sides of the connecting part. Two tops of the two buckling ears are matched with the restraining arms. Each buckling ear has at least one propping portion projecting into the accommodating space to prop up the first holder under rotating actions of the buckling ears when the lamp holder connector is disassembled.
US08491322B2	Electronic device connecting structure and function expansion device For connecting devices, an electromagnetic interference (EMI) connecting portion includes a conductor connected to a first EMI shield. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) contact portion electrically connects to a second EMI shield through a high-impedance element. The ESD contact portion electrically connects the EMI connecting portion to the second EMI shield through the high-impedance element as the ESD contact portion initially contacts the EMI connecting portion during hot docking. The ESD contact portion subsequently moves in response to the initial contact to contact a low-impedance element electrically connected to the second EMI shield and connect the EMI connecting portion to the second EMI shield through the low-impedance element.
US08491319B1	Electrical cord with tamper resistent mechanism An electrical cord including a plug on a first end and at least one socket on a second end opposite the first end, a protective shutter assembly disposed within the at least one socket, the shutter assembly including a first and second shutter members positioned proximate the cover assembly and each of the first and second shutter members is at least partially aligned with separate cover openings in the cover assembly and being configured to move from a closed position to an open position in response to engaging at least one plug blade, a third shutter member positioned behind the first shutter member, a fourth shutter member positioned behind the second shutter member, and wherein the first and second shutter members pivot from the closed position to the open position and the third and fourth shutter members slide from the closed position to the open position.
US08491315B1	Micro via adapter socket A micro via adapter socket (12) is provided by a printed circuit board (30) having an upper layer (32), a lower layer (40) and intermediate interconnect layers (34, 36 and 38). The lower layer (32) has an array of mini vias (60) formed therein for receiving respective ones of mini-springs (62). A top plate (42) is secured above the upper layer (32). The top plate (42) has a plurality of micro-pin recesses (54) spaced apart for registering with respective ones of the micro vias (48) and receiving micro-pins (52). A bottom plate (44) is secured beneath the lower layer (40). The bottom plate (44) has a plurality of mini-pin recesses (66) for removably receiving respective ones of the mini-pins (64). The intermediate interconnect layers (34, 36 and 38) have conductive tracks (76) which electrically connect between the micro vias (48) and the mini vias (60).
US08491313B2	Mezzanine connector A two-piece mezzanine connector for high speed, high density signals. One piece of the connector may have conductive elements with beam-shaped mating contacts. The beams may include openings to control mechanical properties while allowing edge to edge spacing between adjacent beams to be selected to provide desired electrical properties. The openings may be teardrop shaped, with a larger width at a distal end of the beams. Beams associated with signal conductors may have openings that are shaped differently from openings of beams associated with ground conductors. For a first connector piece, mating contact regions of signal conductors may be wider than mating contact regions of ground conductors. For a second connector piece adapted to mate with the first connector piece, mating contact regions of signal conductors may be narrower than mating contact regions of ground conductors. These contact shapes may provide float while maintaining a high contact density.
US08491307B2	Interventional simulator control system An interventional procedure simulation system includes a control unit and an interface unit, the control unit communicating with the interface unit to simulate handling of a number of nested instruments simultaneously interfaced by said interface unit and, the instruments being arranged to move and rotated independently of each other and the movements and rotations being propagated to the other instruments. The control unit further includes an instruction set having a first instruction set for handling and processing input from the user, based on the input, generating a second instruction set for controlling the interface, a first data set that has characteristics for the instruments, a second data set that has data on a body part to be stimulated, and a third instruction set for generating control signals relating to an interaction between instruments and a surrounding geometry relating to a part of the simulated body part.
US08491302B2	Dental implant A dental implant with a coarsely threaded portion suitable for nesting within the cortical bone, and a finely threaded portion suitable for nesting within the cancellous bone. A primary thread with a constant pitch and a constant major diameter, runs along both the finely threaded portion and the coarsely threaded portion, and has a large thread height in the coarsely threaded portion, and a small thread height in the finely threaded portion. At least one secondary thread, having the constant pitch and the small thread height, runs along the finely threaded portion at an offset from the primary thread.
US08491301B2	Guide block for a dental implant procedure and guide block assembly, and implant procedural technique using same A guide block for a dental implant procedure, a guide block assembly, and a dental implant procedural technique using the guide block, which enable a dental implant procedure to be accurately performed by allowing one or more surgical holes to be quickly and accurately bored during a boring process in which the one or more surgical holes are bored in an alveolar bone in a dental implant procedure.
US08491300B2	Ultrasonic dental tool having a light source An ultrasonic dental insert having at least one light source. A first transducer generates ultrasonic vibrations. A connecting body has a proximal end and a distal end having a tip attached thereto. The proximal end is attached to the first transducer so as to receive the ultrasonic vibrations therefrom and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations toward the tip attached to the distal end. A second transducer is disposed substantially proximate to the connecting body for generating a voltage signal in response to movement of a portion of the connecting body according to the ultrasonic vibrations. A magnetic material including a source of a magnetic field is present in close proximity to the insert. At least one light source substantially proximate to the tip is connected to and receives the voltage signal from the second transducer to generate light. The ultrasonic dental insert may be inserted into a handpiece for providing electromagnetic energy to the first transducer to generate the ultrasonic vibrations.
US08491291B2	Pattern transfer method and imprint device In order to allow for aligning a relative position between a transferred object and a stamper with high accuracy without providing an alignment pattern in the transferred object, there are provided: a pattern transfer method, including: when adjusting the relative position between the stamper and the transferred object, a step of detecting at least two or more edge positions of the transferred object and calculating an arbitrary point from the detected edge positions; a step of detecting a position of the stamper from an edge of the stamper or an alignment mark formed in the stamper; and a step of adjusting the relative position between the transferred object and the stamper from the arbitrary point and the position of the stamper; and an imprint device using the same.
US08491290B2	Apparatus for producing non-symmetric multiple layer injection molded products A mold for molding an injection molded article comprises a mold cavity with a non-symmetrical portion. At least one flow leader in the non-symmetrical portion of the cavity produces a symmetrical flow boundary in a multilayer flow downstream of the non-symmetrical portion of the mold cavity. The at least one flow leader may be a variable thickness flow leader or may alternatively be a plurality of flow leaders having a flow path length that differs from the flow path length of an adjacent flow leader by no more than about 15%. The multilayer flow comprising an inner layer, an outer layer, and an interior layer. Co-injection molding apparatus and methods that may use the foregoing mold are disclosed. Similarly, co-injection molded articles and containers that may result from the foregoing mold, apparatus, and methods are disclosed.
US08491284B2	Control unit, tube unit, and micropump A micropump including a tube unit including an elastic tube disposed in an arc shape, a plurality of fingers disposed radially from the arc shape of the tube, and a guide frame, which holds the tube and the plurality of fingers. The micropump also includes a control unit including a cam that presses the plurality of fingers, a drive section that applies torque to the cam, a control circuit that carries out a drive control of the drive section, and a machine casing that holds the cam, drive section, and control circuit. The tube unit is mountable in and removable from the control unit in a direction approximately parallel to the plane of rotation of the cam, and is mounted inside a space provided in the machine casing.
US08491276B2	Pump A pump includes: a branch pipe extending from a pump body for branching a part of raw water introduced from outside through a raw water inlet; a first tank having an exhaust pipe of an engine accommodated therein, the raw water supplied via the branch pipe being evaporated by heat of the exhaust pipe; a second tank provided over the first tank and having the branch pipe accommodated therein, vapor produced by evaporation of the raw water in the first tank being condensed into water droplets in the second tank; and a communication pipe interconnecting the first and second tanks in communication with each other.
US08491273B2	Ballast system The present embodiments relate to ballast systems for marine structures. The ballast system comprises a ballast tank and a pump. The pump comprises a low side and a high side and the ballast system comprises a first inlet conduit assembly adapted to provide a fluid communication between the ballast tank and the low side. The ballast system is adapted to provide a first operating condition in which first operating condition a fluid is pumped from the low side to the high side.
US08491261B2	Blower A blower includes an impeller and a housing. The housing has an accommodating portion, a throat portion and a concave portion. The impeller is disposed within the housing and rotates via the shaft. A first axial line and a second axial line are perpendicular to each other, and both intersect at a position where the shaft is located to divide the housing into four regions. Both of the throat portion and the concave portion are disposed adjacent to the outlet and disposed in the first region.
US08491255B2	Pelton hydraulic machine including means for injecting a flow drawn from a main flow A Pelton hydraulic machine through which a main flow of water passes including at least one Pelton turbine manifold with at least a turbulent zone or a reduced-pressure zone being formed close to the manifold and wherein a secondary flow drawn from the main flow, and unaltered in relation to the main flow, is injected into the turbulent or reduced-pressure zone so as to alter the main flow locally or increase the pressure in the zone.
US08491253B2	Two-phase, axial flow, turbine apparatus A turbine is operatively connected to load structure, to transmit rotary drive thereto, with two-phase flow nozzle receiving pressurized flow to rotate the turbine, the nozzle structure configured to expand flow consisting of two or more of the following phases: i) gas ii) liquid iii) gas and liquid mixture iv) supercritical gas and liquid mixture, and with efficient conversion of enthalpy.
US08491252B2	Transport method for disk-shaped workpieces A transport method for disk-shaped semiconductor wafer workpieces has a horizontally movable transport arm with two elongated carrying elements at one end, for receiving the workpiece. A cassette which includes a comb structure at each side for receiving several workpieces, is inserted free of contact between two adjacent combs with workpieces therein for vertically lifting a workpiece. The carrying elements are disposed such that during a cassette engagement they are each positioned substantially adjacent and parallel to the comb structure along a comb, and in this region along and between two adjacent comb planes on one side of the cassette, a scanning beam is provided for workpiece acquisition. The scanning beam is relatively height-positionable with respect to the cassette and is tilted about a small angle with respect to the horizontal workpiece plane.
US08491251B2	Gripping device of working machine and working machine with the same A gripping device includes a gripping-device body mounted to an end of a working arm; two gripping members pivotably supported by this body in an opening-closing direction; and a driver that drives the gripping members to open and close them. At least one of the gripping members includes one of various kinds of detachable sections each including a gripping segment; a holding section pivotably connected to the gripping-device body about a central pivot shaft and selectively holding the detachable section in a detachable manner; and a coupling member for detachable coupling. The detachable section has a restrained segment having a detachable-section through-hole extending parallel to the central pivot shaft. The holding section has an opening-closing-direction restraining segment that restrains the restrained segment in the opening-closing direction and a holding wall to which the restrained segment is fastened with the coupling member from a direction parallel to the detachable-section through-hole.
US08491250B2	Palletizing robot A palletizing robot includes a lifting frame, an end-effector, an extensible mechanical arm, and a balancing mechanism. The extensible mechanical arm is rotatably connected to the lifting frame. The balancing mechanism and the end-effector are located on opposite ends of the extensible mechanical arm. The balancing mechanism includes a threaded rod, a sliding member, a driving member, and a counterweight. The threaded rod is located on the extensible mechanical arm. The sliding member receives the threaded rod. The driving member is fixed on an end of the threaded rod. The counterweight is fixed on the sliding member. The driving member rotates the threaded rod such that the sliding member slides relative to the threaded rod.
US08491243B2	Variable grip blind rivet A variable grip blind rivet includes a tubular rivet body and a mandrel. The rivet body has a first shank, insertable into a hole in a workpiece, and a flange at a first end of the first shank for abutting the workpiece when so inserted. The mandrel has a head, for engaging a second end of the first shank, and a second shank adapted to extend through the axial bore of the rivet body. The head has an abutment portion for abutting the first end of the first shank, and the second shank has a first reduced diameter portion adapted to break when a predetermined tensile is loaded applied. At least one protrusion adjacent the abutment portion defines a recess for receiving the first end of the first shank during setting of the rivet.
US08491236B2	Tooth plane machining method Provided is a method for machining a tooth plane that is formed on a circumferential surface of a cylindrical toothed member and that extends along a center axis of the toothed member. The method includes: cutting the tooth plane by a peripheral cutting edge of an end mill while keeping a rotation axis of the end mill at a predetermined steady orientation and moving the end mill parallel to the center axis of the toothed member; rotating the toothed member by a predetermined angle around the center axis of the toothed member; and cutting the tooth plane by the peripheral cutting edge of the end mill while keeping the rotation axis of the end mill at the steady orientation and moving the end mill parallel to the center axis of the toothed member.
US08491230B2	Clamping device for a cutting insert An insert clamp secures a cutting insert having a central hole to a tool holder. The clamp includes a forward protrusion to be received in the central hole of the insert, a central body portion provided with a pressing part to press down the upper surface of the insert and a screw hole for a clamping screw to pass through, and a rear protrusion having a rear contact surface to come in contact with a rearward slanting surface of the tool holder. The forward protrusion is formed on the forward end of the insert clamp, an inside surface of the forward protrusion extends downward in a spaced state apart from the inner wall of the central hole of the insert, and a distal portion of the inside surface the forward protrusion is provided with a protuberance of convex curved surface to come in tangential contact with the inner wall of the insert. The pressing part is formed on the bottom surface of the central body portion of the insert clamp, and has convex curved surfaces to come in tangential contact with the upper surface of the insert on both regions of the bottom surface of the central body portion which is bisected by a central line passing through the forward protrusion and the screw hole.
US08491229B2	Heavy duty wear band for pneumatic transport Provided herein are pneumatic carriers for use in high speed and/or heavy payload pneumatic carrier transport applications. The carriers incorporate thermally conductive wear bands to remove heat from areas of high friction to areas of low friction and thereby reduce the wear rate of the wear band. In one arrangement, the wear band includes a metallic wire impregnated cloth having metallic wires woven into the matrix of a textile, which forms the wear band. In one embodiment, the wire impregnated within the textile may extend around at least a portion of a carrier such that the wires can transfer heat from a location of high friction (e.g., a bearing surface beneath a carrier) to a location of low friction.
US08491222B2	Vibration tamper for compacting subsoil A vibration tamper for compacting subsoil comprises a superstructure and a substructure, with the superstructure comprising a motor and an eccentric disk which is driven by the same. A connecting rod is eccentrically mounted on the eccentric disk, which connecting rod converts the rotational movement into a linear movement. The substructure comprises a tamper foot with a tamper plate which is driven by the linear movement of the connecting rod into a tamper movement along a tamper axis. As a result of the bent portion of the connecting rod, the tamper axis is disposed in a plane which is disposed parallel to a plane opened up by the bearing of the connecting rod on the eccentric disk against a direction opposite of the advancing direction of the vibration tamper.
US08491220B1	Mechanized asphalt comb A mechanized asphalt comb device and method of mechanized asphalt raking in which a mechanized asphalt comb comprised of a rake attachment and an arm is attached to an engineering vehicle via a terminating end of the arm. The engineering vehicle can control and manipulate the mechanized asphalt comb into a raised inactive position, a lowered active position, and a plurality of positions between the raised inactive position and the lowered active position. When in the lowered active position, the mechanized asphalt comb applies a fixed downward pressure and depth of penetration to the applied surface.
US08491209B2	Keyboard apparatus, electronic apparatus, and method of producing the keyboard apparatus A keyboard apparatus includes: a plurality of keys; a switching section that detects depression of each of the keys; a top cover that is integrally formed with a partitioning portion separating adjacent keys from each other; a frame member that includes a plurality of key receiving portions which, in a case where the frame member is attached to the top cover, support the keys in a manner that the keys are placed in spaces surrounded by the partitioning portion; a first coupling section that couples the top cover with the frame member; and a second coupling section that couples a first surface portion of the keyboard apparatus including the switching section, with a second surface portion of the keyboard apparatus including the top cover and the frame member with which the top cover is coupled by the first coupling section.
US08491207B2	Page turning apparatus, booklet page turning method and booklet printer including the page turning apparatus According to one embodiment, a page turning apparatus includes a conveying mechanism to convey a booklet to a page turning position, a page pickup mechanism to pick up a page of the booklet conveyed to the page turning position by the conveying mechanism, a drive mechanism to move the page pickup mechanism to pick up the page of the booklet at a predetermined angle in an opening direction around a bound edge, a shaft provided to come into contact with the page of the booklet picked up at the predetermined angle to bend the page, a contact roller portion to move and go under the page picked up at the predetermined angle, and a controller to make such a control as to convey the booklet after the contact roller portion goes under the page and open the page by bringing the page into contact with the contact roller portion.
US08491204B2	Shutter device A shutter base plate is formed with a first shaft parallel to an optical axis of a photographic light flux, and a drive lever rotates around the first shaft to drive a first blade and a second blade. A mirror lever rotates around a second shaft parallel to the first shaft to drive a main mirror. A second cam gear rotates around a third shaft parallel to the first shaft to charge a mirror lever drive spring and a blade drive spring.
US08491198B2	Optical fiber adapter with shutter member An optical fiber adapter according to the present disclosure includes a main body, two inner housings, a cover plate and an elastic shutter member. The main body has an axial accommodation room defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, wherein the first wall faces the third wall and connects with the second and fourth walls. The accommodation room has a first opening and a second opening opposing to the first opening. An access opening is provided on the first wall for the inner housings to place within the accommodation room. The cover plate is positioned to cover the access opening on the first wall. The shutter member includes a fixing portion, at least one first hook, a shutter plate and a connecting portion. The fixing portion is positioned on the cover plate and within the accommodation room. The first hook is provided at the fixing portion for the fixing portion to be fixed on the cover plate. The connecting portion connects the fixing portion with the shutter plate. The shutter plate extends from the connecting portion and is positioned within the accommodation room.
US08491178B2	Instruments and methods for mixing the contents of a detection chamber A receptacle having interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
US08491163B2	Lighting apparatus According to one embodiment, a lighting apparatus includes a main body including a flat thermal conduction surface. The thermal conduction surface contacts a back surface of a board. Light-emitting devices are mounted on a front surface of the board. An optical member is opposed to a peripheral part of the board on the front surface side of the board. The optical member is fastened to the main body by fastening members, to push the peripheral part of the board against the heat conduction surface of the main body.
US08491162B2	LED lamp An LED lamp has a metal housing, a sintered heat pipe and an LED. The metal housing has an outer surface, an inner surface, a bottom and an opening defined by an inner edge. The sintered heat pipe engages the inner surface and the bottom and the inner edge of the metal housing. The LED is attached to a flattened area of the bottom portion of the sintered heat pipe. The sintered heat pipe rapidly transports heat generated by the LED to the metal housing which then transfers heat to the environment. The sintered heat pipe makes effective heat transportation possible and allows the use of high-power LEDs or multiple LED's within one lamp.
US08491161B2	Lighting device The invention relates to a lighting device comprising a light source (31) which is mounted on a heat sink (32) having an outer contour (34). Furthermore, it comprises a cooling device (35) for dynamically cooling the light source via cooling of the heat sink by means of a fluid flowing alongside the contour of the heat sink, the cooling device having one or a plurality of cooling openings (36, 43). The cooling device is a vibrating membrane cooling system for generating a sequence of fluid pulses (39). The cooling openings are arranged alongside the heat sink. The light source comprises optical means (33) for collimating and directing light originating from the light source during operation, while the contour of the heat sink has a shape similar to that of the optical means.
US08491157B2	Illuminating device and method for manufacturing thereof To provide a method for manufacturing a plurality of types of illuminating devices having different specifications while reducing cost. A substrate includes a common flexible portion and a plurality of units bendable with respect to the common portion, where the common portion includes a pad that is extended in the horizontal direction in the plane of the drawing and that is arranged for every predefined interval. In the present manufacturing method, a substrate piece is created by cutting the substrate mounted with the light emitting element in a first direction, the common portion in the substrate piece is formed according to the illuminating device to be manufactured, the relative position of the individual portion with respect to the formed common portion is respectively positioned, and the wiring for supplying power to the pad in the substrate piece is formed.
US08491156B2	Lighting device having a housing with a pluraltity of holes for effective heat dissipation A lighting device includes a light source module and a housing mated to a heat sink and covered by a cover. The housing has a first shell portion encircled by an inner sidewall of the heat sink. Alternatively, the housing may further has a second shell portion arranged between the first shell portion and the inner sidewall of the heat sink. The respective ends of the first and second shell portions are covered by a first plate portion and a connecting portion. A cavity is defined by the first shell portion and the first plate portion for accommodating the light source module. A plurality of first thru-holes, second thru holes, third thru holes, fourth thru-holes, and fifth thru holes are formed on the circuit board, the connecting portion, the cover, the first shell portion, and the first plate portion, respectively.
US08491155B1	Solid state lighting system A solid state lighting system and components therefor are provided that are modular, rugged, reliable and energy efficient. Heat dissipation with respect to solid state light fixtures may be addressed by inverting the solid state lights on a circuit board to project light through apertures in the circuit board, so that heat need not be dissipated through the circuit board itself. In addition, solid state light fixtures may be coupled to one another along with a power supply in modular strands that incorporate AC/DC multi-wire cords that carry both AC and DC signals. Additional functionality, such as support for multiple lighting modes, may also be included, e.g., to support blackout lighting in addition to standard lighting. The multiple lighting modes may be selected, for example, by adjusting an electrical parameter of the AC power signal supplied to the lighting system, e.g., by rectifying the AC power signal.
US08491151B2	Lighting device having light intensity control A lighting device is generally illustrated having a light body having forward facing light sources including a visible white light source, visible colored light source and an infrared light source. Additionally, a side facing light source is provided. The light body also includes switches for activating the visible light sources and a three-position switch for activating the IR light source and the side facing light source. At least one switch is provided for turning at least one of the light sources on and off and further adjusting light intensity of the light source. The light source of the lighting device may further be controlled based on a detected chemistry composition of the power source.
US08491150B2	Solar light assembly with adjustable light housing A solar light assembly includes a plurality of housings each having a light, a frame receiving the plurality of housings, and a solar panel substantially positioned over the frame. Each housing including a face, sides and a lip, such that the face and lip lie in intersecting planes. Each housing is removable from the frame to be rotated and repositioned within the frame. A pole could be used to support the frame.
US08491139B2	Display apparatus A member configured to absorb a predetermined wavelength range for light having an incident angle is located on the first electrode side of a light emitting device and settings are made so that the hue of light emitted in a direction having an angle with respect to the front becomes yellow when the light emitting device emits white light.
US08491134B2	Light emitting apparatus, illuminator, and projector A light emitting apparatus includes a first rod integrator and a second rod integrator supported by a support substrate and a light emitting device disposed between the first rod integrator and the second rod integrator. The light emitting device emits a plurality of light beams to be incident on the first rod integrator and a plurality of light beams to be incident on the second rod integrator. Each of the rod integrators has a light incident surface on which the plurality of light beams are incident, a bent portion that changes the propagating direction of the plurality of incident light beams, and a light exiting surface through which the plurality of light beams mixed with each other exit.
US08491118B2	Lighted reading glasses Lighted eyewear is described that projects light forwardly thereof. The eyewear includes a cross frame portion with temple arm portions extending rearwardly therefrom. Light mounts at forward portions of the temple arm portions include a forward opening and an interior space. Light emitting diodes are received in the interior space of the temple arm light mounts are mounted to project light through the forward openings thereof to a position forwardly of the cross-frame portion. A mounting surface of each light mount orients the light emitting diodes at a predetermined inwardly canted angle relative to normal from the lateral axis of the cross frame portion with the temple arm portions extending rearwardly from the cross frame portion.
US08491117B2	Armless spectacles The present invention describes spectacles of the type that remain securely in place without the need for a frame that has arms, providing the corresponding optical features required in each case and being able to be formed by a single, continuous element in the preferred embodiment thereof, or by a number of pieces, the securing thereof being achieved by means of a system for adaptation to the users anatomy based on the clip effect.
US08491113B2	Ink set and image forming method Disclosed is an ink set including: an ink composition containing at least water, a pigment, and a resin at least partially coating a surface of the pigment and having a structural unit represented by the following Formula (1) and a structural unit having an ionic group; and a treatment liquid containing a cationic polymer having reactivity to the pigment at least partially coated with the resin, wherein, in Formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a halogen atom; L1 represents —COO—, —OCO—, —CONR2—, —O—, or a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; the symbol “*” in the L1 represents a bond linked to the main chain; and L2 represents a single bond or a bivalent linking group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms.
US08491112B2	Ink jet printhead cartridge having an ink fill access port in fluid communication with the filter tower An ink jet printhead cartridge includes a cartridge body including a base and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base. A filter tower having a tower wall has an interior surface that defines a location of a tower passageway. A printhead chip assembly is attached to the base of the cartridge body in fluid communication with the tower passageway. A filter is attached to the filter tower at a distal end thereof. An ink fill access port is formed through a side wall of the plurality of sidewalls, and through the tower wall of the filter tower, to define a fluid path from the atmosphere external to the cartridge body to the tower passageway of the filter tower to facilitate the injection of ink directly into the filter tower during an ink filling operation for the ink jet printhead cartridge.
US08491105B2	Production method of piezoelectric element, piezoelectric element, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus A production method of a piezoelectric element which includes an insulating film, a first electrode provided on the insulating film, a piezoelectric layer that is provided on the first electrode and is made of a composite oxide having a perovskite structure containing lead, zirconium, and titanium, and a second electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer on the opposite side to the first electrode, includes: forming and patterning the first electrode on the insulating film; forming island-shaped lanthanum nickel oxide portions over the insulating film and the first electrode; and forming a piezoelectric precursor film over the insulating film and the first electrode, and forming the piezoelectric layer having a piezoelectric film that is crystallized by baking the piezoelectric precursor film.
US08491102B2	Droplet-ejecting head, method for manufacturing droplet-ejecting head, and droplet-ejecting apparatus Provided are a droplet-ejecting head having good displacement and a droplet-ejecting apparatus. The droplet-ejecting head includes a pressure chamber; a piezoelectric element which includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the piezoelectric layer being made of a lead zirconate titanate; and a nozzle plate having a nozzle orifice communicating with the pressure chamber. The first electrode includes at least one lanthanum nickelate layer which is located on the piezoelectric layer side. The piezoelectric layer has a distribution in which the concentration of lanthanum and nickel decrease from the interface between the lanthanum nickelate layer and the piezoelectric layer toward the second electrode. Lanthanum is locally distributed in the piezoelectric layer. Nickel is globally distributed in the piezoelectric layer so as to have a plurality of peaks. At least one of the peaks is split.
US08491098B2	Thermal bend actuator with conduction pad at bend region A thermal bend actuator includes: a first active cantilever beam for connection to drive circuitry, the first beam having a bent planar beam element; a second passive cantilever beam fused to the first beam; a conduction pad sandwiched between the first and second beams; and first and second adjacent electrode contacts positioned at one side of the actuator. A first end of the beam element is connected to the first contact and a second end of the beam element is connected to the second contact. The conduction pad is positioned at a bend region of the planar beam element so as to facilitate electrical conduction around the bend region.
US08491095B2	Fluid ejection device and method for fabricating fluid ejection device Disclosed is a fluid ejection device that includes a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles for fluid ejection. Further, the fluid ejection device includes a substrate disposed below the nozzle plate. The substrate includes a top surface adapted to adhere to the nozzle plate. The substrate also includes at least one fluid via configured within the substrate for providing fluid to the plurality of nozzles of the nozzle plate. Furthermore, the fluid ejection device includes at least one supporting structure configured within each fluid via of the at least one fluid via. The at least one supporting structure is further configured at a predetermined depth from the top surface of the substrate to regulate the flow of the fluid from the at least one fluid via to the plurality of nozzles. Further, disclosed is a method to fabricate the fluid ejection device.
US08491094B2	Fluid ejection device and method of manufacturing a fluid ejection device A loss of print quality is suppressed even when the recording medium is skewed by the paper feed roller. A distance D2, which is the length of separation between a black nozzle line BT of an upstream head unit and a yellow nozzle line YT of a downstream head unit, is a distance corresponding to the distance offset the conveyance distance of the recording medium when the paper feed roller turns a half revolution from the conveyance distance of the recording medium when the paper feed roller turns an integer number of revolutions.
US08491091B2	Inkjet image forming apparatus, method of designing same and method of improving image formation quality An inkjet image forming apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head having an ejection surface in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged two-dimensionally; a scanning device which conveys at least one of the liquid ejection head and an image formation receiving medium on which liquid ejected from the plurality of nozzles is deposited, to cause relative movement between the image formation receiving medium and the liquid ejection head in a first direction; a drive force generating device which generates drive force for driving the scanning device; and a meshing transmission mechanism which transmits the drive force generated by the drive force generating device to the scanning device by a meshing mechanism, wherein: when Pv represents a spatial period obtained by converting a pitch of meshing teeth of the meshing transmission mechanism to an amount of the relative movement in the first direction on the image formation receiving medium, and when OSy represents an offset distance in the first direction of a pair of nozzles which form dots that are mutually adjacent in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the image formation receiving medium, of the plurality of nozzles arranged two-dimensionally, then relationship of OSy≈k×Pv (where k is a natural number) is satisfied.
US08491088B2	Maintenance apparatus, liquid ejecting apparatus, and maintenance method A maintenance apparatus that removes bubbles from a nozzle is provided in a printer that includes a recording head having a nozzle capable of ejecting ink from a nozzle opening formed in a nozzle formation surface. The maintenance apparatus includes: a pressurizing pump that pressurizes the ink in the nozzle in a direction in which the ink is discharged from the nozzle opening; and a contact member having an upper surface that makes contact with the nozzle formation surface so as to cover the nozzle opening, and that has, formed therein, a flow channel whose pressure loss is greater than that of the nozzle and that allows air to pass through from the side of the upper surface. The ink within the nozzle is pressurized by the pressurizing pump in a state in which the contact member is in contact with the nozzle formation surface.
US08491083B2	Inkjet printing of microfluidic channels A mechanism for fabricating microfluidic channels uses a three-dimensional inkjet printing unit to print the channels layer-by-layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, for each layer, an inkjet head deposits droplets of a hydrophobic material on a surface the substrate in a pattern lying outside a two-dimensional layout of the channels, and another inkjet head deposits droplets of a mixture of poly(tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate) PTHPMA (or another hydrophobic material which hydrolyzes to form a hydrophilic material) and a photoacid generator (PAG) on the surface of the substrate in a pattern lying inside the two-dimensional layout of the channels. After all layers are printed, flood exposure of the entire substrate to UV radiation releases acid from the PAG which hydrolyzes PTHPMA to form hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid) PMMA, thereby rendering the PTHPMA regions hydrophilic. The layers of these now-hydrophilic patterned regions together define the microfluidic channels.
US08491081B2	System and method for compensating for roll eccentricity in a printer A printer includes a plurality of a plurality of printheads and a plurality of rolls positioned opposite the printheads along a media path in the printer. Print media contact and move over the rolls as the printheads eject ink onto the print media moving along the media path. A controller is configured to generate a signal to operate a printhead with reference to an angular position of a roll positioned opposite to the printhead that receives the signal to compensate for flight time errors due to backer roll eccentricity.
US08491074B2	Driving circuit for fluid jet head, driving method for fluid jet head, and fluid jet printing apparatus An ejection head driving circuit that supplies a driving voltage waveform to an ejection head has ejection nozzles that cause fluid to be ejected. A target voltage waveform output unit outputs a target voltage waveform to the ejection head. Power source units generate electric power at different voltage values. Negative feedback control units supply electric power from the respective power source units to the ejection head and perform a negative feedback control of the voltage values so that the voltage value to be applied to the ejection head matches the target voltage waveform. A power source connecting unit selects one of the power source units on the basis of the voltage value applied to the ejection head or the voltage value of the target voltage waveform, connects the selected power source unit to the ejection head, and disconnects the remaining power source units from the ejection head.
US08491073B2	Inkjet printing devices and methods of driving the same An inkjet printing device includes: a flow path plate, a piezoelectric actuator and an electrostatic force applicator. The flow path plate includes an ink inlet, a pressure chamber and a nozzle. The piezoelectric actuator is configured to provide a first driving force, and the electrostatic force applicator is configured to provide a second driving force. The disclosed inkjet printing devices and methods combine piezoelectric and electrostatic techniques.
US08491072B2	Inkjet printing apparatus An inkjet printing apparatus includes: a conveyer belt with a plurality of belt holes formed therein, the conveyer belt suctioning and conveying a recording medium with a negative pressure acting on the belt holes; a platen with a plurality of through holes formed therein; a pressure-reducing unit for generating the negative pressure on a side of the platen opposite from the side thereof supporting the conveyer belt; inkjet nozzles disposed to face the platen; a distance-changing unit for changing a distance between the inkjet nozzles and a surface of the conveyer belt on which the recording medium is suctioned; and a size-adjusting unit for adjusting, when the distance is large, a size of at least one through hole in a through hole group, which includes the through holes positioned in the vicinity of the inkjet nozzles, such that the size of the at least one through hole is reduced.
US08491066B2	Computer case A computer case includes a housing, a first dust screen and a second dust screen. The housing defines two openings at opposite ends of the housing. The first dust screen and the second dust screen each include a piece of nonwoven fabric and a bracket, and are respectively covered on the two openings. The nonwoven fabric is covered on the bracket. The bracket includes a rim and a plurality of reinforcement ribs connected to an inner side surface of the rim.
US08491055B2	Cycle armrest An armrest for a motorcycle passenger, which permits one or both armrests to swing out to a side thereby accommodating a boarding passenger. Optionally, the armrests can be pivoted to rearward-facing orientation in order to form a rack behind a sissy bar of a motorcycle.
US08491053B2	Cocoon hunting hammock A camouflage hunting blind system comprising a hanger with a distal and a proximate end, the proximate end of the hanger comprises an S-hook for suspending a hammock chair which is then cloaked within a camouflaged covering. The distal end of the hanger is positioned against tree with the proximate end pointing upward and away from the tree at a 45 degree angle wherein both ends are secured using a tether. The camouflage hunting blind system is positioned so a user's feet may touch the ground to rotate hammock chair for (through) 360 degrees of view. The hammock chair may be reversible, having a first side with natural (nature camouflage) colorings and a second side with hunter orange or other suitable coloring (dark or other.) Camouflage hunting blind system may have a camouflage coloring on the outside and a dark coloring on the inside, and weigh less that 10 lbs, and sets up in a very short time. Camouflaged covering encapsulates hammock chair, concealing scent and providing warmth for its user(s).
US08491052B2	Vehicle head restraint A head restraint for a vehicle seat includes a first subsection facing the occupant's head, and is displaceable due to application of a predetermined force. A third subsection includes a central hub portion that supports the second subsection. The second subsection is arranged between the first subsection and a third subsection, and is mounted to the central hub portion of the third section and the first second and third subsections are rotatably displaceable about an axis of rotation that is parallel to the direction of displacement (C). A blocking device includes a toothed portion complimentarily engaged with a spacer device on the third subsection and having a resilient member preventing engagement of the toothed portion by the spacer device when the first subsection is not subjected to the application of the predetermined force, and also controls movement of the first subsection counter to a direction of displacement.
US08491048B2	Vehicle body structure A vehicle body structure which is subject to a small deformation amount at the time of offset collision and a large deformation amount at the time of full-wrap collision. A floor panel includes a groove which extends from a flat portion to a lower dash panel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and an upper floor member having an approximate U-shaped cross-section is accommodated inside the groove, so that a closed cross-section is formed. The upper floor member and the flat portion of the floor panel are connected to each other by being respectively welded to brackets. A floor cross member extending in the width direction of the vehicle is fixed to the flat portion across the groove.
US08491045B2	Vehicle body side structure A vehicle body side structure includes an outer side panel and an inner side panel. The outer side panel has an outer window area and a window sash formed adjacent to and surrounding the outer window area. The outer window area includes a removable portion that spans the outer window area. The inner side panel has an inner window area and an attachment flange formed adjacent to and surrounding the inner window area. The attachment flange is rigidly attached to the window sash along a connection area to prevent movement of the inner side panel relative to the outer side panel. The removable portion of the outer window area is located adjacent to the connection area.
US08491044B2	Infinitely adjustable, modular shelving for vehicles A system for storing cargo or other items within a vehicle enclosure having a plurality of walls is disclosed. In one aspect, the system for storing cargo comprises a plurality of support posts. In an additional aspect, each support post defines a plurality of U-shaped receiving channels. In a further aspect, the support posts can be selectively secured within the vehicle enclosure. In one aspect, the system comprises means for retaining the cargo within the vehicle enclosure. In an additional aspect, the means for retaining the cargo within the enclosure can be attached to the receiving channels of the support posts.
US08491037B2	Extend and breakaway bracket for glove box A dashboard assembly that includes a cross-car beam extending across at least a portion of the width of the automobile. Also included is a cross-car beam post secured to the cross-car beam. Further included is an energy absorbing bracket operably connecting the cross-car beam post to a glove box assembly, where the energy absorbing bracket comprises a plurality of apertures for permitting deflection of the bracket in the event of movement of the cross-car beam post.
US08491032B1	Retractable tarp system with automated closing mechanism A retractable tarp system having automated closing mechanisms used in conjunction with the front and rear of a truck or vehicle-pulled trailer. The automated system of closing the tarping system may include air cylinders, hydraulics or electric motor with closing mechanisms for the dual closing system. The rear system may include linear actuators on each side adapted to pull a cable with a distal hook that may selectively engage the tarp structure. For redundancy, the front system may be air-operated while the rear system is electric. The truck driver operates a switch or button to open and close the closing mechanisms of the retractable tarp system, and may connect and disconnect a hook on a rear closing mechanism that pulls the tarp tightly closed.
US08491023B2	Door lock assembly A lock assembly for use with a latch movable from an extended position to a retracted position, and the lock assembly includes an interior assembly and an exterior assembly. The interior assembly includes an interior handle manually movable to retract the latch and a locking member manually operable such that the locking member is movable from an unlocked position to a locked position. The exterior assembly includes an exterior handle manually operable to retract the latch when the locking member is in the unlocked position and inoperable to retract the latch when the locking member is in the locked position. The exterior assembly further includes a biasing member that biases the locking member toward the unlocked position. When the locking member is in the locked position, movement of the interior handle to retract the latch causes the biasing member to move the locking member to the unlocked position.
US08490999B2	Trailer hitch system A trailer hitch system for improving the speed and safety of attaching the trailer to a tow vehicle. The hitch may include a shank that may be attached to the trailer through a ball hitch. A receiver may be provided on the tow vehicle such that attachment of the trailer to the tow vehicle may be accomplished by introducing the shank into the receiver when the tow vehicle is backed to the trailer. A funnel shaped guide member may be provided to facilitate aligning the shank with the receiver. Also, friction reducing rollers may be used with the shank or the receiver. Moreover, a height adjustment and visual guidance system may be included to facilitate connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle. The shank includes a stop in a fixed position for limiting the depth the shank extends within the receiver.
US08490998B1	Handlebar assembly having a dual-purpose actuator and vehicle including same A handlebar assembly includes a handlebar, a parking brake actuator, and a dual-purpose actuator. The parking brake actuator is pivotally coupled to the handlebar and is pivotable between an activated position and a deactivated position to facilitate selective activation of a vehicular parking brake. The dual-purpose actuator is movably coupled with the parking brake actuator and movable together with the parking brake actuator to facilitate enablement of a reverse gear of a vehicle.
US08490991B2	Method for controlling the regeneration cycles for an air dryer in a closed ride control system for vehicles A method for controlling the regeneration cycles for an air dryer in a closed ride height control system for vehicles. Compressed air chambers and a compressed air storage reservoir are charged with compressed air and ventilated via a compressed air line, or are charged via a compressed air intake line connected to the compressor and ventilated via the compressed air line. Compressed air quantity delivered through the dryer by the compressor, and temperature and/or the humidity of the air sucked in from the atmosphere are measured. The dryer is considered saturated under the assumption that air sucked in by the compressor and delivered through the air dryer is at the highest possible ambient temperature and humidity. Regeneration air quantity required for the compressed air quantity for the dryer to attain the desired dew point is determined as a function of the ambient temperature and/or the humidity of the intake air.
US08490987B2	Stabilizer bar There is provided a stabilizer bar in which through holes are not positionally offset even if the attachment portions are bent after the through holes are formed therein.A stabilizer bar is composed of a steel pipe material bent to an approximate U-shape and has attachment portions formed by deforming the free ends of the steel material in a flat plate shape. Through holes are formed in the attachment portions to fix them to a vehicle body, and each of the attachment portions has a cross section configured as a three-layer structure that is partitioned by first and second overlapping surfaces of a folded hollow portion. That is, the three-layered structure is composed of an upper layer portion positioned on the first overlapping surfaces, an intermediate layer portion positioned between the first and second overlapping surfaces, and a lower layer portion positioned under the first overlapping surfaces. Here, the first and second overlapping surfaces are disposed such that the cross section thereof is formed in an X-shape.
US08490983B2	Wheel suspension for a motor vehicle A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle includes a support element on the wheel-side rotatably mounting a vehicle wheel and a carrier element on the axle-side, wherein the carrier element on the wheel-side can be adjusted for setting a toe and/or camber angle relative to the support element on the axle-side, wherein the carrier elements on the axle-side and on the wheel-side are coupled to a universal joint in which webs of the carrier elements on the wheel-side and on the axle-side are articulated on a gimbal ring element by means of bearing points. The webs of the support elements are articulated on the gimbal ring element at the bearing points by means of ball joints.
US08490980B2	Seal arrangement A seal arrangement (1, 101) for maintaining an axial pressure differential between relative high and low pressure stages along a rotating element (2, 102), the arrangement comprising: i) a plurality of leaf or brush seal members (5) forming a circumferential seal-pack (4, 104) around the rotating element (2, 102), in-between said low and high pressure stages, for limiting leakage of fluid between said low and high pressure stages; ii) a baffle (6, 7, 106, 107) positioned on the upstream or downstream side of the seal-pack (4, 104) for regulating such leakage through the seal pack (4, 104); and iii) a control arrangement for adjusting the position of the baffle (6, 7, 106, 107) hereby to control the regulation of said leakage through the seal-pack (4, 104) and hence control the consequent blow-down effect on the seal-pack (4, 104) caused by that leakage.
US08490975B2	Method for playing a game similar to craps A method for playing a multi-player table game similar to craps includes use of a point generation device capable of randomly selecting one outcome from a group consisting of thirty-seven or thirty-eight possible outcomes. Betting locations similar to the game of craps are provided on a betting surface (12). Twelve common betting locations (22) allow proposition bets based on the sum of two six-sided dice, together with an additional possible outcome comprised of a wild non-die depiction. Player positions (18) are designated about the betting surface (12), with replicas (48) of each player position (18) affixed within each of the twelve common betting locations (22), as well as at respective first (54) and second (56) color bet locations distributed about the betting surface (12). Game play enables a dealer to handle only value cheques. The game method can utilize a variety of point generation devices (14, 14′) thereby making the game suitable for many jurisdictions and interesting for players.
US08490973B2	Card reading shoe with card stop feature and systems utilizing the same A semi-automatic gaming table system comprises: a gaming table surface, at least one playing card delivery device, the playing card delivery device comprising a card storage area, an internal processor, a card-moving system, a delivery end and a card-imaging system, and a plurality of electronic player interfaces mounted in the gaming table surface that communicate with a game controller, wherein the game controller is programmed to communicate with the internal processor and the player interfaces, to detect at least one condition and respond by instructing the card-handling system to stop delivering cards to the delivery end. A method of monitoring play of a casino card game comprises: a player electronically making a wager on a semi-automatic gaming system, a dealer dealing physical cards to each player from a card-handling device, automatically sensing a rank and/or suit of cards being delivered, automatically determining a number of cards dealt to each player, and, when a predetermined condition is sensed, directing a card-handling device to cease moving cards to a delivery end, wherein one card is available for removal until the condition is cleared.
US08490963B2	Image forming apparatus, sheet feed control method, and storage medium An image forming apparatus capable of printing a non-standard size image on a sheet of a size as desired by the user as possible, and preventing stoppage of printing the image even when there is no sheet of the size desired by the user in a sheet feeder. When image data is for a non-standard size, if there is a sheet feeder accommodating recording sheets of which vertical and lateral lengths corresponding to vertical and lateral lengths represented by the image data are designated, a control unit feeds the sheets from the sheet feeding cassette. If there is no such a sheet feeder, the control unit feeds recording sheets of a free size from a manual feed tray accommodating the recording sheets of the free size.
US08490962B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a sheet feeding cassette that can accommodate a stack of recording materials; a pick-up roller that comes into contact with the top recording material of the recording materials accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette to feed the recording material; a roller holder that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has the pick-up roller at a tip, the pick-up roller being pressed against the recording material; and a lever that is supported at a base end so as to be rotatable and has a pressing portion at a tip, the pressing portion being pressed against the recording material. The lever is disposed on the roller holder and is supported coaxially with the roller holder.
US08490956B2	Fixture for compressor stator chord restoration repair A fixture assembly for retaining a workpiece during a coining process includes a mounting block. The workpiece includes an airfoil portion, a platform, and feet extending from the platform opposite the airfoil portion configured to engage a retention slot in a gas turbine engine, each foot defining a substantially arcuate engagement surface. The mounting block includes a first portion having a slot defined therein between opposite first and second lateral edges and having an exposed front face, first and second retaining structures positioned adjacent to the first and second lateral edges, respectively. Each of the first and second retaining structures overhangs the slot and defines an engagement surface facing the slot, such that during engagement of the workpiece the substantially arcuate engagement surfaces of the feet contact the engagement surfaces of the first and second retaining structures to provide a pivotable engagement.
US08490948B2	Apparatus for flow control and shutoff An apparatus for flow control and shutoff comprises a body having a chamber, an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and the outlet in fluidic communication with the chamber; the said apparatus for flow control and shutoff further comprises a flow regulator comprising a channel and the flow regulator rotatably fit in the chamber, such that the flow regulator is rotatable between a first rotational position and a second rotational position and that the channel is in fluidic communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet; the said apparatus for flow control and shutoff further comprises a lever operably connected to the flow regulator such that the lever urges the flow regulator to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position in the chamber when a user of the apparatus pushes the lever. At the first rotational position, the channel is not in fluidic communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet, such that fluidic communication between the inlet and the outlet is blocked. The flow regulator is operable to regulate a flow rate between the inlet and the outlet when the flow regulator is rotated between the first and the second rotational positions.
US08490935B2	Multipurpose hook Some embodiments generally relate to a hook assembly, including a pivotable hook body adapted to rotate about a pivot axis running in a generally vertical direction. According to some embodiments, the hook assembly can further include at least one hook portion including a generally vertical recess defined by a portion of the top side of the hook body extending downwardly toward a bottom side. The assembly can further include a pivot member for pivoting the pivotable hook body about the pivot axis; and a frame member adapted to receive the pivotable hook body in a stowed configuration or one or more deployed configurations. Furthermore, frame member is adapted to fix the hook body in a pivotal relation about the pivot axis and can include an indexing opening or seat for defining one or more indexed orientations such as a stowed orientation or a deployed orientation.
US08490914B2	Landing gear with noise reduction fairing An aircraft noise reduction apparatus includes an aircraft landing gear assembly and a noise reduction fairing 12. The landing gear assembly includes a landing gear 10 arranged to be moveable between a stowed position and a fully deployed position. The noise reduction fairing 12 may include a wrap-around fairing which, when the landing gear 10 is in its fully deployed position, wraps around the landing gear 10 and extends along the majority of the length of a landing gear leg 11. A landing gear bay door assembly 16, 17 including at least one door may also be provided. The fairing 12 may have a recess 24 for accommodating one of landing gear bay doors when the door 16 is in its fully open position.
US08490905B2	Horizontal shaft impact crusher A horizontal shaft impact crusher includes a crusher housing having an inlet for material to be crushed and an outlet for material that has been crushed. An impeller is mounted in the crusher housing for rotation about a horizontal axis. A curtain disposed in the crusher housing is arranged so material accelerated by the impeller is crushed thereagainst. An adjustment device, which adjusts the position of the curtain relative to the impeller, is slidable connected to guide rods. The adjustment device includes a locking device positionable selectively in either a holding state in which the locking device is de-energized and arranged to apply a holding force for holding the adjustment device in a crusher operation position relative to the guide rods, or an adjustment state in which the locking device is energized and arranged to release the holding force, thereby enabling displacement of the adjustment device relative to the guide rods.
US08490904B2	System and method for recovering minerals One aspect is a method of recovering minerals. The method includes heating aggregated minerals with microwave energy. The aggregated minerals consists of at least a first and a second mineral bound together, the first and second minerals each having different differential thermal expansion rates such that fractures occur between the minerals of the aggregated minerals. The fractured minerals are subjected to microwave heating to induce fractures between and separation of the at least first and second minerals, and also to ultrasound energy causing further size reduction. The fractured and size-reduced minerals are heated with microwave energy. The fractured and size-reduced minerals consist of metal-containing materials, such that metal-containing materials are heated to at least the melting temperature of one of the metals in the metal-containing materials.
US08490895B2	Showerhead for emergency fixture An apparatus for controlling a flow of fluid in an emergency fixture includes a body; and a control element at least partially located in the body and configured to impart rotation into the fluid flow. The control element includes a first substantially cylindrical member defining a first outlet portion, the first outlet portion configured to guide a first portion of the fluid flow out of the control element as an axial flow; a second substantially cylindrical member coupled to the first member; and a plurality of radially extending members extending between the first member and the second member, each of the plurality of members comprising a deflection surface angled relative to a second portion of flow and configured to cause rotation of the second portion of flow.
US08490893B2	Pump-less toner dispenser Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for dispensing toners. In one aspect, a toner dispensing system includes a toner container; a cap and valve assembly coupled to the toner container, the cap and value assembly including: a movable valve assembly, the movable valve assembly having a first position and a second position, a toner path, and an air inlet path, where in a first valve assembly position the toner path and the air inlet path are closed, and in a second valve assembly position the toner path and the air inlet path are open; an air assembly including a first air supply coupled to the air path of the cap and valve assembly and a second regulated air supply coupled to the toner container; and a control assembly for controlling the second air supply.
US08490886B2	Modulating boiler system A modulating boiler system for heating a structure including a controller, a boiler operatively connected to the controller, and a thermostat operatively connected to the controller and boiler. The controller assesses a level of thermostat activity over a predetermined measuring period and adjusts the boiler in response to the level of activity to increase the boiler's efficiency.
US08490874B2	Method, system and mobile device employing enhanced fingerprint authentication The described embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for fingerprint authentication for a computing device. In one embodiment, the method comprises: storing a default finger swipe scan direction; receiving a finger swipe scan; authenticating the received finger swipe scan; determining a received finger swipe scan direction; and configuring the default finger swipe scan direction. The computing device may comprise a mobile device.
US08490866B1	Payment card The invention enables to improve flexibility, reliability and service life of a payment card having embedded ornamental elements. In order to achieve the technical effect, the device includes a foil layer, a first layer and a second layer, all being made laminating. The foil layer is fixed between the first layer and the second (outer) layer. The card is provided with a plastic plate, a magnetic strip, an adhesive layer, an insert made with a thickness greater than that of the foil layer and made of the same material as the foil layer. The ornamental element is fixed within the insert and flush to it. The outer surfaces of the second layer and the insert are located in a single plane, and the insert and the ornamental element are free from the second layer on the outside and are fixed in the plastic plate with the adhesive layer.
US08490865B2	Payment system and methods Disclosed are payment system and methods.
US08490862B1	Transformation system for nutritional substances Disclosed herein is a transformation system for at least one component of a single or multi-component nutritional substance. The transformation system obtains information regarding the nutritional substance to be transformed, the desired transformation, and the desired properties, including nutritional content, of the transformed nutritional substance, and dynamically modifies the transformation in response to this information.
US08490859B1	Rotating mailbox device The rotating mailbox device is provided in varying degrees of complexity, with each embodiment thereof focused on as basic a design as is possible while still retaining the important features of the device. Even the most basic design provides illuminated address, illumination strips within the mailbox assembly, and exterior indicators for indicating mail received via sensing of door opening. Of importance is that the basic design of the device dictates that the dished tray is rotateably affixed directly atop the post and may also be affixed off-center regarding the tray. The direct post-to-tray attachment negates the need for further attachment devices such as horizontal arms, for example. Lateral attachment of the mailbox assembly to the platform elevated section provides for easiest disassembly of part of the device and also for the elevated section to be a floor for the mailbox assembly.
US08490857B2	Reflow apparatus, a reflow method, and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device A reflow apparatus, where formic acid is used for cleaning a surface of a solder electrode on a processing target, is disclosed. The reflow apparatus includes a processing chamber, a formic acid introduction mechanism for supplying an atmosphere gas containing formic acid to the processing chamber, and a shielding member that is made of a material having corrosion resistance against formic acid. The shielding member is arranged between a reflow processing section of the processing chamber and an inner wall of the processing chamber. In place of or in addition to the shielding member, the reflow apparatus may include a heater for decomposing residual formic acid.
US08490856B2	Joint apparatus, joint method, and computer storage medium A joint apparatus of the present invention includes: a pre-thermal processing unit including a first thermal processing plate mounting and thermally processing a superposed substrate where substrates are superposed on each other with joint portions of the substrates in contact with each other, and a first pressure reducing mechanism; a joint unit including a second thermal processing plate mounting and thermally processing the superposed substrate processed in the pre-thermal processing unit, a pressurizing mechanism pressing the superposed substrate on the second thermal processing plate toward the second thermal processing plate side, and a second pressure reducing mechanism; and a post-thermal processing unit including a third thermal processing plate mounting and thermally processing the superposed substrate processed in the joint unit, and a third pressure reducing mechanism, wherein each of the pre-thermal processing unit and the post-thermal processing unit is hermetically connected to the joint unit.
US08490855B2	Methods to fabricate fully enclosed hollow structures using friction stir welding A method is taught for creating a hollow sphere that is created by joining two cylinders together that have a semispherical hollow formed in the ends being joined together, wherein a metallic reinforcing disk is inserted at an interface between the two ends of the cylinders, wherein the two cylinders and reinforcing disk are joined using friction stir welding to create an inner sphere from the two hemispherical hollows that is bisected by the metallic reinforcing disk, and wherein the joined cylinders and reinforcing disk are machined to thereby create an outer spherical surface that is centered around the inner sphere.
US08490851B2	Surgical stapling apparatus A surgical device includes a loading unit having proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion of the loading unit is configured to be attached to an actuation apparatus. The surgical device further includes a flexible shaft interconnecting the proximal portion and the distal portion of the loading unit. Additionally, the surgical device has a tool assembly disposed in mechanical cooperation with the distal portion of the loading unit. The tool assembly is configured to articulate upon activation of the actuation apparatus. In a further embodiment, the surgical device includes a guiding member operatively connected to the tool assembly. The guiding member has a body and a bore extending through the body. The bore slidably receives a suture.
US08490835B2	Container cover assembly A container cover assembly that has at least two states. In the first, closed state, the removal of the contents of the container through the opening of the container is prevented. In the second, open state, the removal of the contents of the container through the opening of the container is possible. The cover assembly comprises a mechanism for preventing the transfer of the cover assembly from the first state to the second state, unless at least a predetermined number of shaking motions is applied to the container and cover assembly.
US08490831B1	Floating, squirting toy including bellows, and methods thereof A squirting toy is comprised of a cylindrical housing and a piston that slides within to force water into or out of the housing via a hole therein. The housing is encased within a shell creating a water impervious volume sufficient for the toy to float in water. The shell is soft, so that the gun is not a safety hazard when left floating in a swimming pool. The squirting toy can further include bellows that can provide safety benefits as well as other benefits.
US08490824B1	Bomb resistant garbage receptacle A garbage can for controlling an explosive charge generating an explosive force having an outer shell having vertical walls and a bottom; an inner shell attached to the bottom having vertical walls and a middle wall attached to the bottom between the outer shell and inner shell. A first layer of compressible material between the outer shell and middle shell and a second layer of compression material is between the middle shell and the inner shell. The compression material itself may different from one layer to the other. The walls and material are shaped to direct the explosive force upward.
US08490823B2	Reversible food plate having a slope A reversible food plate comprising a first surface, a second surface, and an edge, wherein each of the first surface and the second surface has a slope, which optionally comprises at least one depression at the bottom of the slope and adjacent to the edge, wherein (i) at least each portion of the edge that is adjacent to the bottom of the slope forms a rim or (ii) substantially all or all of the edge forms a rim and at least each portion of the rim that is adjacent to the bottom of the slope is pronounced or more pronounced than a portion of the rim that is not adjacent to the bottom of the slope, and wherein the bottom of the slope of the first surface is on the opposite end of the plate from the bottom of the slope of the second surface; and a method of making a reversible food plate.
US08490817B2	Container sealing device The present invention generally relates to a device for sealing a container, and serves to alleviate disadvantages commonly associated with use of plastic wrap, cling wrap, and similar products. The device generally comprises a flexible sheet and sometimes a perimeter support member connected to the flexible sheet. The flexible sheet is positioned over and seals the opening of the container. The perimeter support member is then removed from the flexible sheet so that the support member does not interfere with use of the container. The flexible sheet may be comprised of more than one material, permitting the flexible sheet to adhere to the container while being compatible with the contents of the container. The device may also comprise a mechanical sealing mechanism, as well as an internal support structure. The device may be folded for storage and other purposes. The invention also includes methods of using and manufacturing the device.
US08490812B2	Fuel tank A fuel tank, in particular for a motor vehicle, has a filler neck for filling fuel into the fuel tank. It is important that a recirculation device having a tube element is provided, which tube element is arranged substantially coaxially with respect to, and so as to be axially at least slightly spaced apart from, the filler neck, such that fuel which is filled into the fuel tank through the filler neck flows as a free jet into an inlet of the tube element. The inlet is situated above a fuel level and the tube element is configured so as to generate an effect of sucking in fuel vapor as fuel is filled into the fuel tank.
US08490796B2	Probe card container with rollers A probe card container having a main case consisting of upper and lower case portions for storing therein a prove card, a handle provided on one side surface of the main case, one or more members for preventing the movement of the main case provided on a mounting surface of the main case, and one or more rollers for assisting the movement of the main case provided on the mounting surface or a corner formed between the mounting surface and the other side surface of the main case so as to project obliquely downward from the corner.
US08490786B2	Inverted dome to supply dose The invention provides a dispensing closure to supply a dose with an inverted dome having a housing, the housing having a septum, a convex dome, and an end plate seal. A main vessel can be attached to the inverted dome dispensing closure, and a user-actuated means for dispensing from the inverted dome dispensing closure into the main vessel is also provided. The invention provides a point of use dispensing device that will supply fresh healthy ingredients that are stored inside the closure.
US08490783B1	Protective cover A protective cover is provided, including a carrier unit and a protective lid. The carrier unit is for fixing an electronic device. The protective lid is foldable in segments, with one side engaged to the second surface of the carrier unit, and the other side covering the first surface when folded. When folded, the protective lid forms a shape able to shield or support. As such, the electronic device can be clamped by a device holder with taking off the protective cover, and the protective cover provides further capabilities of shielding form sunray and supporting to stand on a flat surface for convenient viewing.
US08490782B2	Packaging solutions A packaging system for the storage of an ionic, hydrogel contact lens employs an aqueous packaging solution including a phosphorylcholine polymer. Preferably, the solution has an osmolality of at least about 200 mOsm/kg, a pH of about 6 to about 8 and is heat sterilized.
US08490776B2	Arrangement and method for the transportation and synchronized distribution of packing units The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for the transportation and synchronous distribution of packaging units, wherein the packaging units are continuously supplied on a transportation apparatus and distributed to two further transportation apparatuses (16, 16′). The packaging units are centered on the first transportation apparatus by means of two flaps (20a, 20b) wherein, according to the present invention, the movement of the flaps is mechanically coupled.
US08490774B2	Loading station for transport bags transported in an overhead conveyor system A loading station for transport bags transported in an overhead conveyor system comprises an upper supply rail for the transport bags, a vertical conveyor which adjoins the supply rail for moving the transport bags into a lower loading position, a device for opening the transport bags in the loading position and a lower discharge rail which adjoins the vertical conveyor for discharging the transport bags from the loading position.
US08490771B2	Coin recognition apparatus and coin recognition method In a coin recognition apparatus, when an oscillator control unit applies a synthesized signal containing signals of a plurality of designated frequencies to an oscillator coil, an AD (Analog-to-Digital) converting unit converts an output signal from a receiving coil into a digital signal. A frequency expansion unit expands the digital signal on a frequency axis. A coin recognition unit recognizes a coin based on an amplitude of each signal of the designated frequency extracted from the expanded signal. Furthermore, if the coin recognition apparatus detects a coin center, which is a substantially central line on a surface of the coin, has reached a magnetic sensor based on the output signal from the receiving coil when a single frequency signal is applied to the oscillator coil, the synthesized signal is applied to the oscillator coil.
US08490767B2	Multidisk oil-bath clutch An embodiment of a multidisk oil-bath clutch having: a housing mounted to rotate; at least one hub mounted to rotate and housed inside and coaxially with the housing; a number of drive disks housed inside the housing and angularly integral with the housing or the hub; a number of driven disks housed inside the housing, alternating with the drive disks, and angularly integral with the hub or the housing; at least one oil inlet into the housing; and at least one oil outlet from the housing. Each drive disk has a number of first circulation channels extending radially from an inner edge of the drive disk; and each driven disk has a number of second circulation channels extending radially from an inner edge of the driven disk.
US08490756B2	Electric parking brake apparatus having emergency release function for vehicle An electric parking brake apparatus having an emergency releasing function for a vehicle, includes an actuator having a driven member, and an emergency release mechanism releasing a parking brake without relying on an electric motor and including an emergency driving member, and an operation mechanism, which is provided between an operation portion provided at the vehicle interior and the actuator and drives the emergency driving member, wherein the operation mechanism includes an operation driving member, which is movable relative to the emergency driving member so as to be engageable with and disengageable from the emergency driving member and drives the emergency driving member in a case where the operation driving member is engaged with the emergency driving member, and a positioning mechanism, which normally maintains an disengaged state of the emergency driving member and is provided at an end portion of the operation mechanism positioned closer to the actuator.
US08490754B2	Elevator control device interfacing with a security gate system In an elevator control device in which, when a verified person is authenticated as a registered person by an person authentication device, a security gate is opened to enable the movement into an elevator hall, even when a user cannot ride on an assigned car for some reason after passing through the security gate, the user is enabled to use an elevator. For this purpose, a hall destination floor registration device is provided in the elevator hall so that the user who is present in the hall registers his/her destination floor. A destination call is always registered automatically interlocking with the security gate, and when a predetermined condition is met, the destination floor registration of user made using the hall destination floor registration device is validated.
US08490749B2	Device for enabling access to a structure above ground level A device for enabling access to a structure above ground or sea level, in particular a rotor blade of a wind turbine, by lowering and/or lifting the device in relation to the structure, the device including a frame structure,—means for supporting the device in relation to the structure, and—means for lowering and/or lifting the device in relation to the structure, where at least part of the frame structure includes a track portion, the track portion being adapted to guide an, in relation to the track portion, movable object along the track portion, where the means for supporting the device in relation to the structure are configured for positioning the device in relation to the structure, and the means for supporting the device in relation to the structure are configured for facilitating a movement of the device essentially in the longitudinal direction of the structure.
US08490748B2	Step stool and method A folding step stool includes a front rail assembly. The step stool includes a rear rail assembly, pivotally connected to the front rail assembly, having a crossbar. The step stool includes a step pivotally attached to the front rail assembly having notches which fit over the crossbar when the stool is in an open position. The step stool includes a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the crossbar. The linkage assembly compresses to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar and the linkage assembly exerting a force to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position. A method for securing a step stool includes the steps of moving the notches of a step against a crossbar of a rear rail assembly pivotally connected to a front rail assembly of the step stool. There is the step of compressing a linkage assembly pivotally and fixedly attached to the step and pivotally and fixedly attached to the crossbar to allow the notches to fit over the crossbar. There is the step of exerting a force with the linkage assembly to maintain the crossbar in the notches when the stool is in the open position.
US08490721B2	Polycrystalline diamond A polycrystalline diamond (PCD) material 10 comprising at least 88 volume percent and at most 99 volume percent diamond grains 12, the mean diamond grain contiguity being greater than 60.5 percent. The PCD material 10 is particularly but not exclusively for use in boring into the earth.
US08490713B2	Handle assembly for endoscopic suturing device A handle assembly for operating an articulatable surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing; an actuation shaft translatably and rotatably supported in the housing; a first trigger supported on the housing and connected to the actuation shaft, the first trigger being configured to translate the actuation shaft to operate a first function of the surgical instrument; a second trigger supported on the housing and connected to the actuation shaft, the second trigger being configured to rotate the actuation shaft to operate a second function of the surgical instrument; and a second-trigger release supported in the housing, the second-trigger release having a first position blocking actuation of the second trigger and a second position permitting actuation of the second trigger, where the second-trigger release is actuated from the first position to the second position upon and complete actuation of the first trigger.
US08490707B2	Oilfield apparatus and method comprising swellable elastomers The subject disclosure relates to apparatus and methods that are particularly suited for creating a seal in a borehole annulus. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to a seal with enhanced sealing capability. In one embodiment the subject disclosure relates to a reinforced and permanent swellable packer device.
US08490705B2	Hydraulic control system monitoring apparatus and method A hydraulic control system for operating a subsea blowout preventer includes a surface manifold configured to convey hydraulic power to the blowout preventer, a surface actuation valve hydraulically connected to subsea valves and configured to operate the blowout preventer, and a control system monitoring apparatus. The control system monitoring apparatus includes a surface manifold pressure transducer hydraulically connected to the surface manifold, an electronic readback system, and a surface control line pressure transducer hydraulically connected to the surface end of at least one control hose and the surface actuation valve. The control system monitoring apparatus is configured to read, record, and process pressure data supplied by the surface manifold and surface control line pressure transducers.
US08490696B2	Method and apparatus to enhance oil recovery in wells A method and apparatus for the enhanced recovery of hydrocarbon fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterranean reservoir is increased. This rise in pressure due to the injection of the cryogenic fluid leads to the production of fluids from to the subterranean reservoirs.
US08490695B2	Method for drilling and fracture treating multiple wellbores A method for drilling and completing multiple wellbores in a subsurface rock formation includes drilling a first wellbore along a first selected trajectory through the rock formation. The first wellbore is fracture treated and then abandoned. A second wellbore is drilled along a second selected trajectory through the rock formation. The second trajectory is laterally spaced from the first trajectory. The second wellbore is then fracture treated and abandoned. A third wellbore is drilled along a third selected trajectory through the rock formation. The third trajectory is disposed between the first and second trajectories. The third wellbore is fractured treated such that a fracture network extending therefrom hydraulically connects to fracture networks extending from the first and second wellbores.
US08490689B1	Bridge style fractionation plug A bridge style fractionation plug for use in a wellbore to separate a lower fractionation zone from an upper fractionation zone with no communication between the zones.
US08490686B2	Coupler compliance tuning for mitigating shock produced by well perforating A method of mitigating perforating effects produced by well perforating can include causing a shock model to predict perforating effects for a proposed perforating string, optimizing a compliance curve of at least one proposed coupler, thereby mitigating the perforating effects for the proposed perforating string, and providing at least one actual coupler having substantially the same compliance curve as the proposed coupler. A well system can comprise a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple couplers, each of the couplers having a compliance curve, and at least two of the compliance curves being different from each other. A method of mitigating perforating effects produced by well perforating can include interconnecting multiple couplers spaced apart in a perforating string, each of the couplers having a compliance curve, and selecting the compliance curves based on predictions by a shock model of shock generated by the perforating string.
US08490673B2	Method for deburring a ceramic foundry core A method for deburring a ceramic foundry core obtained by injecting a ceramic paste, the paste including a binder having a predetermined glass transition temperature, into a mold and having at least one surface portion with a surplus of material forming a burr to be eliminated. The method includes the following stages: a) disposing and attaching the molded, unfired foundry core onto a mounting; b) placing a milling tool, having an elongated shape with a helically cut edge, onto a tool holder; c) causing the tool to rotate around its axis and touching the milling tool to the surface portion to be deburred; and d) freezing the surface portion to be deburred such that the foundry core is maintained at a temperature lower than a glass transition temperature during the deburring operation.
US08490669B2	Insulated tracks for loading dock doors and associated methods of manufacture and use Insulated tracks for use with loading dock doors are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an insulated door track configured in accordance with the present disclosure includes a first insulator, such as a plastic material, applied to a surface of the door track that extends adjacent to the loading dock door in the closed position. A second insulator, such as a radiant barrier comprised of a thin film of a reflective material, such as aluminum, can be applied to an opposing surface of the first insulator to prevent or at least reduce radiant energy losses through the track. A gap between the first insulator and the door jamb can be sealed with a third insulator, such as a suitable strip of foam.
US08490668B2	Retractable safety barriers and methods of operating same A retractable barrier system includes an example gear assembly that can be manipulated for rapidly deploying a flexible barrier, exerting high torque for the initial tightening of the barrier, maintaining high static tension in barrier when in use, and/or rapidly retracting barrier for storage. In some examples, the gear assembly is a worm drive with a worm that can be selectively disengaged from a worm gear. Other optional features of the barrier system include selective right-hand/left-hand configurations, an electric switch that can be added to indicate whether the barrier system is in use, an intermediate coupling that joins the distal ends of two barriers for creating an extra long barrier system, and removable vehicle-mounted posts for certain loading dock applications.
US08490661B1	Fuel tank filler neck In at least one implementation, a filler neck for a fuel tank may include an outer tube attached to the fuel tank through which fuel is discharged into the fuel tank during a refueling event, and an insert. The insert may be carried by the outer tube and have a passage adapted to receive a refueling nozzle during a refueling event, a first barrier adapted to engage a refueling nozzle inserted in the passage and having one or more gaps through which fluid may flow between the refueling nozzle and first barrier, and a second barrier adapted to engage the first barrier to reduce the size of the gaps when the first barrier is engaged with a refueling nozzle.
US08490647B2	Fluid pressure control device A fluid pressure regulating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a chamber having a first bore diameter, a second bore diameter, a fluid inlet for receiving fluid at an unregulated pressure, and a fluid outlet for discharging fluid at a regulated pressure. A shuttle assembly is located in the chamber, the shuttle assembly including a valve that is in fluid communication with both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and a first sealing member located at an upper portion of the shuttle assembly and a second sealing member located at a lower portion of the shuttle assembly. An unregulated pressure zone communicates with the fluid inlet, a regulated pressure zone communicates with the fluid outlet and a fluid pressure control zone communicates with a portion of the shuttle assembly, the fluid pressure control zone controlling the regulated pressure at the fluid outlet.
US08490645B2	Pressure sensor, pressure-differential flow rate meter, and flow rate controller In a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of liquid flowing in a main fluid flow path, a pressure measuring unit is installed by providing a pressure measuring space at a position branching from a straight-pipe portion of the main fluid flow path, and, in addition, the main fluid flow path and the pressure measuring space are connected with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe whose pipe diameters are smaller than the main fluid flow path.
US08490643B2	Diverter valve A diverter valve controlling input of two different extruded materials has a valve body having an axially extending opening, and a valve piston axially movable in the opening between first and second positions. The body defines a first inlet for receiving a first material, and a second inlet for receiving a second material with first and second outlets opposite the inlets. The piston has first and second through channels and first and second cross-over channels, each with inlet side and outlet side ports. A first flushing channel communicates with the first inlet and end ports, a second flushing channel communicates with the second inlet and end ports, and a third flushing channel opposite the first two communicates with the second outlet and includes a plurality of ports, with all the ports, inlets and outlets open to the axial opening.
US08490640B2	Latching pressure regulator A system for regulating pressure supplied to a transmission control element, includes a control pressure source and line pressure source, a latch valve that opens and closes communication with the line pressure source in response to control pressure, and a regulator valve including a spool for regulating line pressure and producing control element pressure when the latch valve is closed, and an auxiliary piston responsive to line pressure and contacting the spool for connecting line pressure to the control element when the latch valve is open.
US08490636B2	Ultrasonic cleaning device An ultrasonic cleaning device includes a drain connecting member adapted to be engaged with a drain hole of a sink, and having a valve seat, a valve member having a valve portion angularly movable relative to the valve seat between an opened position to be disengaged from the valve seat to thereby allow for liquid communication between a reservoir of the sink and the drain hole, and a closed position to be engaged with the valve seat for interrupt the liquid communication, and an ultrasonic generating unit disposed in the valve member for exerting ultrasonic vibration on liquid within the reservoir.
US08490630B2	Hookah accessory Disclosed herein is a hookah accessory comprising: a top tray configured to hold tobacco; a bottom tray configured to hold hot coal; a hollow tube in fluid communication with the top tray; and attachment means for attaching the accessory to the hookah.
US08490610B2	Control device for internal combustion engine An EG-ECU suspends fuel cutoff when the fuel cutoff is being carried out and the engine speed NE becomes lower than or equal to the resumption engine speed NErtn. The EG-ECU forcibly opens and closes an EGR valve when the fuel cutoff is being carried out, and performs abnormality diagnosis for an EGR device based on a change amount of pressure in an intake pipe caused by opening and closing the EGR valve. The EG-ECU suspends the diagnosis when the diagnosis is being carried out and the engine speed NE becomes lower than or equal to a forcible suspension engine speed NEoff. When the diagnosis is being performed, the EG-ECU sets the forcible suspension engine speed NEoff to a smaller value when the EGR valve is not in a forcibly opened state than when the EGR valve is in the forcibly opened state. Specifically, the EG-ECU sets the forcible suspension engine speed NEoff in such a manner that an allowance ΔNEallw of the forcible suspension engine speed NEoff with respect to the resumption engine speed NErtn has a smaller value when the EGR valve is not in the forcibly opened state than when the EGR valve is in the forcibly opened state.
US08490606B2	Passive re-induction apparatus, system, and method for recirculating exhaust gas in gasoline and diesel engines An exhaust gas re-induction apparatus includes conduits and an outer housing, which receive exhaust gas from an exhaust system of an engine, and passively recirculate a portion of the gas to an air inlet of the engine while transferring another portion of the gas through orifices in the apparatus and via a return conduit to the exhaust manifold. An exchange of heat occurs between the exhaust gas, the various components and chambers of the re-induction apparatus, and the environment. Fuel efficiency is increased and harmful toxins and emissions are reduced. A system includes the re-induction apparatus and a recirculation conduit, which connects the re-induction apparatus to the air inlet of the engine before the vacuum, via a water separator or soot filter device depending on engine type. The amount of exhaust gas recirculated can essentially depend on the operating speed of the engine and the size dimensions of the apparatus.
US08490605B2	Actuating drive for bidirectional actuator An actuating drive for a bi-directionally adjustable actuator for at least on of an exhaust gas recirculation device and an exhaust gas turbocharger. The actuating drive includes an electric motor; a toggle lever, which articulates with the actuator via a first toggle lever bearing; and a gear mechanism, connecting the electric motor with the toggle lever, wherein the gear mechanism includes a toothing element on an output side mounted in a pivot bearing, wherein the toggle lever is articulating mounted via a second toggle lever bearing, wherein in a starting state of the actuating drive is associated with a starting position of the actuator, and wherein an acute angle exists between a first straight line extending through the first toggle lever bearing and through the second toggle lever bearing, and a second straight line extending through the pivot bearing and through the second toggle lever bearing.
US08490603B2	Fuel tank valve device and fuel tank ventilation device A fuel tank valve device equipped with a casing, and a valve mechanism. The valve mechanism has a first valve unit having a first valve connecting hole, and a second valve unit that opens and closes the first valve connecting hole. The first valve unit completely closes the valve flow path by moving by the force in the valve closing direction when the pressure of the second communication path exceeds a preset first pressure value. In a state when the first valve unit is closing the valve flow path, when the pressure of the second communication path exceeds a preset second pressure value that is greater than the first pressure value, the second valve unit receives the pressure from the first valve connecting hole and moves to open the first valve connecting hole, communicating with the valve flow path.
US08490594B2	Outboard motor An outboard motor includes an engine including a vertically extending crankshaft, a rope reel, a transmitting member, a force accumulation spiral spring, and an engine cover arranged to cover these components. The rope reel includes a plate portion arranged to be rotatable about the rotational center axis of the crankshaft and a rope winding portion provided integrally with the plate portion at the peripheral edge thereof and arranged to be wound with a rope to start the engine. The transmitting member is arranged to be rotatable about the rotational center axis of the crankshaft and to transmit rotation to the crankshaft. The force accumulation spiral spring is disposed on the opposite side of the engine with respect to the plate portion of the rope reel. The force accumulation spiral spring is arranged to accumulate a torque applied to the rope reel and transmit the torque to the transmitting member, first and second ends of the spring being fixed, respectively, to the rope reel and the transmitting member.
US08490592B1	Removable torque transfer starter for engine A removable torque transfer starter for engine that includes a housing releasably attachable to an engine, wherein torque is transferred to a crank axle of the engine internally relative the housing, whereby an operator need not apply an external torque to start the internal combustion engine, but may depress a start button and securely support the device being started instead.
US08490588B2	Actuator device and variable valve apparatus of internal combustion engine There is provided an actuator device for a variable valve apparatus. The variable valve apparatus has a control shaft to vary operation characteristics of an engine valve by an axial movement thereof. The actuator device has a rotatable screw shaft, a movable member axially movable with rotation of the screw shaft and a transmission mechanism unit that converts an axial movement of the movable member to the axial movement of the control shaft. An amount of the axial movement of the movable member is larger than an amount of the axial movement of the control shaft.
US08490576B2	Milking parlour and method for the production thereof The invention relates to a milking parlor and a method for manufacturing same, the milking parlor comprising a work area for an operator and a platform elevated relative to the area, which forms a standing and walking area for the animals to be milked, the platform comprising a substructure on its side facing the work area where a utility space is left open beneath the standing and walking area, and wherein the substructure is formed by load-bearing elements positioned one after the other in the lengthwise direction and configured to be substantially identical.
US08490573B2	Method and apparatus for material deposition Broadly speaking, a method and an apparatus are provided for depositing a material on a semiconductor wafer (“wafer”). More specifically, the method and apparatus provide for selective heating of a surface of the wafer exposed to an electroless plating solution. The selective heating is provided by applying radiant energy to the wafer surface. The selective heating of the wafer surface causes a temperature increase at an interface between the wafer surface and the electroless plating solution. The temperature increase at the interface in turn causes a plating reaction to occur at the wafer surface. Thus, material is deposited on the wafer surface through an electroless plating reaction that is initiated and controlled by varying the temperature of the wafer surface using an appropriately defined radiant energy source.
US08490572B2	Rotary atomizer and coating pattern control method A rotary electrostatic atomizer uses shaping air and pattern control air. Shaping airflow is supplied from shaping air holes aligned along outer one of concentric circles that are concentric with the rotation axis of the bell cup and located behind the front end of the bell cup. Pattern control airflow is supplied from pattern control air holes aligned along inner one of the concentric circles. Both the shaping air flow and the pattern control airflow are expelled in circumferentially twisted directions substantially with an equal twist angle opposite from the rotating direction of the bell cup. The shaping airflow passes a circular line near to and radially outwardly apart from the outer perimeter of the bell cup. The pattern control airflow intersects the shaping airflow from radially inside at the position near to and radially outwardly apart from the outer perimeter of the bell cup. Thereby, the pattern control airflow gives the shaping airflow a radially outward force to enhance the centrifugal force of the shaping air and enlarge the coating pattern regulated by the shaping airflow.
US08490566B1	Method for tendering at sea with a pivotable walkway and dynamic positioning system A method for offloading a liquefied natural gas from a floating liquefaction vessel to a transport vessel for storage and transport, wherein the method can include using a connecting device to attach and hold the transport vessel to the floating liquefaction vessel, and using a ram to move a telescoping walkway of the connecting device from a transport position to a deployed position. The method can include connecting the telescoping walkway to a variety of bow configurations of transport vessels by securing an inner walkway to the transport vessel. The inner walkway can extend and retract from an outer walkway to accommodate for motions. The method can include transferring the liquefied natural gas to the transport vessel. The method can include monitoring receipt, storage, and offloading of the liquefied natural gas and dynamically positioning the transport vessel in proximity to the floating liquefaction vessel.
US08490560B2	Plasticized and assembleable cover such as for use with waterway constructed transport barges including structurally reinforcing inner trusses, in-molded end wall ladder and four point lift locking/unlocking door for selectively accessing a barge interior A cover for use with an elongated opening associated with a transportable barge. The cover includes a number of inter-engageable cover sections, each exhibiting a plasticized construction and extending in both widthwise and lengthwise fashion relative to an upper lip edge defining an open perimeter of the barge. Each cover section exhibits pairs of opposing lifting eyes and associated locking pins, these being defined along outer extending side edge locations of each cover section and is adapted to securing the cover section upon the barge perimeter defining edge. Each cover further includes a four point locking and unlocking feature activated by a lift handle for selectively opening a cargo carrying interior associated with the barge. A plurality of structurally strengthening trusses are also incorporated into each individually assemble-able barge section in combination with an in molded ladder associated with each end wall section.
US08490557B2	Balance maintaining equipment for floating body A balance maintaining equipment for a floating body includes a driving device for rotating a driving shaft; a first eccentric rotating body positioned at one side of the driving device and connected to the driving shaft to rotate around the driving shaft by the rotation thereof; and a second eccentric rotating body positioned at the other side of the driving device and connected to the driving shaft to rotate around the driving shaft by the rotation thereof, while having a phase difference of 180 degrees from the rotation of the first eccentric rotating body. The balance maintaining equipment generates the moment in the opposite direction to the roll of the floating body. Furthermore, when the roll period of the floating body is changed, the balance maintaining equipment varies the angular velocity of the driving shaft to interwork with the roll period of the floating body.
US08490555B1	Height adjustable table A height adjustable table is disclosed wherein all horizontal supports that span between legs have been eliminated to increase storage space and knee space in the area under the table work surface. A unique telescoping leg arrangement is disclosed.
US08490532B2	Trainable launcher A launcher comprising multiple barrels arranged on a rotatable plinth, each barrel configured such that its longitudinal axis can be moved through an arc from a first position where the axis is moveable through a plane substantially orthogonal to the plane in which the plinth and barrel assembly rotates to a second position and wherein one or more of the barrels can be moved independently of others carried on the plinth.
US08490530B2	Plastic composite spring for vehicle suspension and apparatus and method for manufacturing the same Disclosed is a corrugated plastic composite spring for a vehicle suspension and an apparatus and method for manufacturing the same. The apparatus includes a corrugated extrusion part, a braiding part, and a pultrusion part. The corrugated extrusion part forms a preform having a hollow corrugated structure. The braiding part weaves a three-dimensional woven fabric on the preform. The pultrusion part impregnates the three-dimensional woven fabric with thermosetting resin.
US08490528B2	Cutting device having a positioning mechanism A cutting device includes a positioning mechanism for positioning a cutting unit at a plurality of tilt angles including a first tilt angle and a second tilt angle in a left direction and/or a right direction. The first tilt angle is larger than the second tilt angle. A setting state for the first tilt angle is reset to a setting state for the second tilt angle when a positioning state at the first tilt angle is released.
US08490525B2	Coaxial connector torque application device A torque application device according to aspects of the present invention comprises (1) a collar for engaging a fastener, (2) a grip coupled to the collar, the grip preferably configured to magnify torque applied to it and to transfer all or part of the magnified torque to the collar, and (3) a slip mechanism to help avoid applying more than a predetermined, maximum amount of torque. The device may further include an indicator (such as a visual, audible and/or tactile indicator) to indicate when a predetermined maximum torque has been reached.
US08490524B2	Systems and methods for adjusting bearing endplay An apparatus for use in adjusting an endplay of a bearing of a wheel hub assembly includes an outer circumferential surface configured to be received within an annular space around the nut attached to a shaft of the wheel hub assembly and retaining the bearing on the shaft. An engaging surface is coupled to the outer circumferential surface and configured to engage the nut. A stopping surface is coupled to the engaging surface and configured to abut an outer surface of the nut opposite the bearing such that the engaging surface is positioned in an engaging position to engage nut engaging surfaces of the nut. An arm is connected to the stopping surface and extends out of the annular space away from the bearing and substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft when the stopping surface abuts the outer surface of the nut.
US08490523B2	Lockable folding multi-tool A locking folding tool is disclosed. The folding tool comprises a housing having a pair of sidewalls in spaced relation to each other, and a support extending transversely between the pair of sidewalls. The folding tool may further have a plurality of work tools pivotally supported by the support. As such, the support may define a pivot axis for the work tools. Each work tool may further have an associated lock engaging member. The folding tool may also include a lock member movable between a first position and a second position. When the lock member is in the first position, it may engage the lock engaging members so that each of the work tools is inhibited from pivoting about the support. When the lock member is in the second position, it may disengage the lock engaging member so that the work tools are pivotable about the support.
US08490519B2	Attachment for making up or breaking out pipe An attachment is described that is configured for attachment to an arm of a piece of heavy construction equipment. The attachment is configured to rotate a section of pipe during break out (i.e. disconnection or disassembly) from another section of pipe and/or make up (i.e. connection or assembly) with another section of pipe. The attachment is configured to break the joint or torque the joint to a predetermined torque value, unthread or thread pipe, and lift the pipe under the power of the heavy construction equipment.
US08490512B2	Control cable assembly with dampening In one implementation, a shifter assembly for a vehicle transmission, may include a shifter adapted to move between at least two positions corresponding to different modes of operation of the transmission, a cable connection feature associated with the shifter, and a cable connected to the cable connection feature and adapted to be connected to the transmission such that movement of the shifter is transmitted to the transmission by the cable. The cable may include a conduit, a core received within the conduit, and a dampener connected to the conduit. The dampener in the preferred embodiment bends the conduit and engages the core with the conduit.
US08490509B2	Operating device with gate shafts An actuating device for a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device includes a selector lever which has stable selector lever positions, and a detent mechanism with a detent element and notched gate, the detent element is connected to the selector lever. The notched gate is disposed on a gate shaft that rotates when actuated. The gate shaft includes at least one helical return groove for the detent element. Due to rotation of the gate shaft, the detent element can be transferred from a start position, along the return groove, into a target position. The selector lever position always reflects the actual gear stage of the transmission, even with shift-by-wire-controlled gear shifting transmissions. The driver is provided with reliable visual and tactile feedback about the gear state of the transmission. The actuating device is structurally reliable, has low energy consumption, produces minimal noise, and requires minimal construction space.
US08490504B2	Fatigue evaluation of prostheses by radial excitation of tubular structures Prostheses are fatigue tested using an apparatus under simulated physiological loading conditions. A fluid housing defines an entrance chamber having fluid outflow ports and an exit chamber having opposing fluid inflow ports and a central flow conduit in communication with the entrance chamber and the exit chamber. A plurality of housing tubes into which prosthesis are deployed may extend between the fluid outflow and inflow ports. Alternatively, tubular prostheses may be connected directly between the inflow and outflow ports. A reciprocating linear drive pump having a flexible diaphragm is provided to cyclically pressurize fluid through a common closed loop within the fluid housing and drive the pressurized fluid through the prosthesis being tested. The test system is capable of rotation independent of the motor drive for accurate diameter measurements of all test samples at elevated frequencies.
US08490497B2	Microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure transducer A pressure transducer for measuring pressure may include an all-polymer chamber that has no dimension greater than 1 mm. There may be fluid within the chamber, a gaseous bubble trapped within the fluid, and electrodes in contact with the fluid. The electrodes may enable a measurement of changes in the impedance of the fluid caused by changes in the volume of the gaseous bubble caused by changes in the pressure to be measured.The pressure transducer may be made by depositing the chamber, placing the fluid within the chamber, and generating the gaseous bubble within the fluid with electrolysis.
US08490493B2	Device and method for the detection of composite defects Provided is a method for detecting composite defects between a first material and a second material, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing horizontally polarized low-frequency transverse waves into an upper surface of the composite material; (b) detecting an ultrasound echo of the emitted low-frequency horizontally polarized transverse waves; (c) displaying the detected ultrasound echoes on a display device.
US08490491B2	Extended overflow indication for high dynamic range ultrasonic fault detection systems A method and apparatus for effecting ultrasonic flaw detection of an object processes an echo signal received from the object being tested in at least three signal channels, wherein the echo signal is scaled to different degrees along each channel to increase and extend the dynamic range of an associated A/D converter system, in a manner which dispenses with the need for using numerous analog high pass and low pass filters and a variable gain amplifier. This reduces complexity and avoids performance limitations. The digital to analog converters sample the differently scaled input signal and a selection circuit selects the output of the digital output obtained from that analog to digital converter which has the highest gain, but which has not overflowed. The digital outputs are seamlessly merged to produce an output that can be displayed as a scan display which shows the location of faults.
US08490487B1	Acceleration sensor An omni-directional mechanical acceleration sensor is disclosed for use in applications including, but not limited to, vehicular seat belt systems, aircraft safety harness systems and initiation of airbag safety systems. The mechanical acceleration sensor incorporates at least two masses which, upon an acceleration event occurring, will cause a lever, to pivot thereby releasing the lever from engagement with an actuating means which would then initiate the applicable safety system.
US08490485B2	Resonator for a vibratory sensor of an angular parameter A resonator for an angular parameter sensor, the resonator comprising a bell of electrically-insulating material provided with a central stem and an electrically-conductive layer, the conductive layer comprising branches extending from a central portion of the bell to a peripheral edge of the bell, the number of said branches being a prime number not less than seven.
US08490470B1	Parallel plate system for collecting data used to determine viscosity A parallel-plate system collects data used to determine viscosity. A first plate is coupled to a translator so that the first plate can be moved along a first direction. A second plate has a pendulum device coupled thereto such that the second plate is suspended above and parallel to the first plate. The pendulum device constrains movement of the second plate to a second direction that is aligned with the first direction and is substantially parallel thereto. A force measuring device is coupled to the second plate for measuring force along the second direction caused by movement of the second plate.
US08490468B2	Failure diagnosis system Provided is a failure diagnosis system which can diagnose whether or not a sensitivity adjustment part is in failure. The failure diagnosis system includes: a plurality of sensors; various sensors that detect operating conditions of a device; a plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts that adjust receiver sensitivities of sensor signals from the plurality of sensors based on the detected operating conditions; and a failure diagnosis part that diagnoses whether or not the plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts are in failure. The failure diagnosis part detects a failure condition of a sensitivity adjustment part when a difference between a comparison value calculated based on a maximum value of the adjusted sensor signals from the plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts at a given interval, and a maximum value of the adjusted sensor signal from the sensitivity adjustment part to be diagnosed at the given interval is larger than a given amount.
US08490459B2	Method and device for producing hollow profiled elements A device for shaping a blank into a hollow profiled element can include at least one base plate, onto which the blank that is to be shaped can be placed, at least one die core for the hollow profiled element, and at least two die halves for shaping the blank into the hollow profiled element. A method can include producing a hollow profiled element with at least one molded-on stiffening and/or functional element made from a blank. Hollow profiled elements can be produced at low cost, but at the same time ensure high reliability of a process where different hollow profiled elements are joined together by a generic device, wherein at least one form punch is provided for introducing an element structure into the planar blank that can be shaped and/or fixed into a stiffening and/or functional element.
US08490450B2	Retract mandrel mill and method for rolling tube blank A retract mandrel mill, comprising a mandrel mill and an extractor, the mandrel mill including a mandrel bar and being configured to roll a tube blank into which the mandrel bar is inserted, the extractor being configured to extract the mandrel bar from the tube blank that has been rolled in the mandrel mill, wherein the distance between the mandrel mill and the extractor is adjustable, and a method for rolling a tube blank by using the retract mandrel mill. As the result of the adjustable distance, even when a tube blank which is shorter than usual is rolled, there is no need to add an extra extension to the length of the tube blank to be elongation-rolled, and the wear of the mandrel bar can be suppressed so that the tube blank can be rolled efficiently and with high yields.
US08490445B2	Electric door lock A door lock includes a first driven wheel connected drivenly to a motor and having two resilient driving elements, and a second driven wheel connected drivenly to a rotary handle and the first driven wheel. The second driven wheel has a driven element disposed between and driven by the driving elements so that the second driven wheel moves to a first or second position to place a latch bolt in a latching or unlatching position. When the latch bolt is jammed, the second driven wheel is inoperative. However, as the driving elements are resilient, the first driven wheel can continue its rotation without being obstructed.
US08490435B2	Optical fiber end processing method and optical fiber end processing apparatus There is provide an optical fiber end processing method, for processing an end portion of an optical fiber having a core and a clad surrounding the core, comprising: fixing two places of the optical fiber; firstly heating a part at a tip end side of the optical fiber between fixed parts fixed at two places, thereby melting the optical fiber at the heated part at the tip end side; secondly heating a part at a base end side of the optical fiber between the fixed parts away from the heated part at the tip end side in a state that the optical fiber is fixed at two places, thereby forming an expanded core region which is formed by expanding a diameter of the core by diffusing the dopant included in the optical fiber; and removing at least the heated part at the tip end side.
US08490432B2	Method and apparatus for making a glass sheet with controlled heating A method and apparatus for forming a glass sheet using a fusion down-draw process, wherein the heating powers of the heating elements are managed such that in case of a failure of one heating element, the heating power of the adjacent heating element is immediately increased. The method decreases the thermal stress the forming body is exposed to due to the failure of the heating element.
US08490431B2	Optical device and method for making the same An optical device has a substrate, an optical element mounted on the substrate, a first glass member sealing the optical element and the substrate, and a second glass member formed on the first glass member and having a mold separation property higher than the first glass member.
US08490424B2	LED canopy light fixture A refrigerated display case for maintaining food product at a desired temperature includes a product display area adapted to support and to display the food product such that the food product is accessible from the front of the case through an opening. An interior top wall is positioned above the product display area and includes an outlet adjacent the opening. An air passageway internal to the case and in fluid communication with the outlet permits refrigerated air from a refrigeration system to be supplied to the product display area through the outlet. The air discharged from the outlet defines an air curtain adapted to maintain the food product at the desired temperature. A light source is disposed adjacent the interior top wall and inside the air curtain and is adapted to illuminate the food product within the product display area.
US08490419B2	Interlocked jets cooling method and apparatus Dissipating heat and apparatus therefor from a heat dissipation surface is described. In an embodiment, first jets are streamed along the heat dissipation surface in a first direction and are spaced apart from one another. Second jets are streamed along the heat dissipation surface in a second direction at least substantially opposite the first direction and spaced apart from one another. Coolant used to provide the first jets and the second jets is exited away from the heat dissipation surface. The first jets and the second jets are offset from one another in a transverse direction with respect to the first direction and the second direction, and the first jets and the second jets pass side-by-side with respect to one another.
US08490408B2	Continuous slot in shroud A compressor shroud has a continuous slot defined in a gaspath side surface thereof for communicating through the body of the shroud. Spaced-apart structural bridges span a rear portion of the slot in the shroud to maintain structural rigidity of the shroud. The method of forming the continuous slot is also described.
US08490401B2	Annular combustion chamber for a gas turbine engine An annular combustion chamber for a gas turbine engine includes radially inner and outer walls connected together by a chamber end wall including openings, each of which receives a fuel injection system. Heat protection deflectors are fastened to the chamber end wall. Holes are formed through the chamber end wall to pass cooling air onto an upstream face of each deflector. The inner or outer edge of a deflector presents a sealing rim engaging the respective inner or outer wall of the chamber.
US08490398B2	Premixed burner for a gas turbine combustor The disclosure relates to a burner for a single combustion chamber or first combustion chamber of a gas turbine, with an injection device for the introduction of at least one gaseous and/or liquid fuel into the burner, wherein the injection device has at least one body which is arranged in the burner with at least one nozzle for introducing the at least one fuel into the burner, wherein the at least one body is located in a first section of the burner with a first cross-sectional area at a leading edge of the at least one body with reference to a main flow direction prevailing in the burner, wherein downstream of said body a mixing zone is located with a second cross-sectional area, and at and/or downstream of said body the cross-sectional area is reduced, such that the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area.
US08490394B2	Enhanced supercharging system and an internal combustion engine having such a system The invention refers to a supercharging system (6) for an internal combustion engine (1) incorporating in combination, a turbine (7), a compressor (8) and an electrical driven system (20) that is connected by any power transmission system (16, 19) to the crankshaft (4) or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power.
US08490391B2	Hydrostatic clutch actuator The invention relates to a hydrostatic actuator, having a master cylinder including a housing and a piston, which is axially mountable in the housing and which pressurizes a pressure chamber filled with pressure medium, a planetary rolling-contact gear system that converts a rotary drive into an axial motion and that has a sleeve, a gear-driven spindle, and planetary rolling elements that roll therebetween, and an electric motor that drives the planetary rolling-contact gear system and that has a stator rigidly connected to a housing and a rotor that can be rotated relative to the stator. In order to optimize the installation space, the pressure chamber is annular and the planetary rolling-contact gear system is arranged radially within the pressure chamber.
US08490388B2	System and method for outlet temperature control of an oxidation catalyst An oxidation catalyst temperature control system and method for an engine having an exhaust means including an oxidation catalyst is provided. A post fuel calculation means calculates a value representing a post quantity of fuel to be introduced to generate an exothermic reaction in the oxidation catalyst based on a pre-determined desired outlet temperature of the oxidation catalyst, the calculation using a steady state model of the oxidation catalyst, the steady state model utilizing the exhaust mass flow rate and the inlet temperature of the oxidation catalyst and instruction means to instruct the post quantity of fuel to be introduced to the engine.
US08490383B2	Exhaust system for internal combustion engine The present invention discloses an exhaust system for an internal combustion engine that provides diesel particulate filter (DPF) failure detection and/or monitoring of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC) for an internal combustion engine. The system can include a main exhaust duct and a secondary exhaust line operative for exhaust gas to pass therethrough. The system has an oxidation catalyst and a main particulate filter located in line with the main exhaust duct. A monitoring particulate filter is also included and located within the secondary exhaust line. The secondary exhaust line and the monitoring particulate filter are located downstream from the main particulate filter.
US08490380B2	Internal continuous combustion engine system A continuous combustion system for an internal combustion engine includes a reaction vessel external to the engine cylinders. The reaction vessel contains a combustion chamber for sustaining continuous combustion of an air fuel mixture during the operation of the associated engine. The reaction vessel contains an incoming air chamber and an exhaust gas chamber that are each in communication with the combustion chamber. Injected fuel vapor is mixed with scavenged exhaust gas for pre-heating and with compressed air from each cylinder provided during the compression stroke of each piston. The compressed air and fuel vapor mixture sustains the ignited combustion continuously, while exhaust gas is fed to the cylinders to provide working fluid to the engine during the power stroke of each piston. A valve mechanism is provided to control the flow of air from and working fluid to the cylinders at the appropriate times in order to sustain operation of the engine.
US08490374B2	Pivoting mower deck A mower apparatus includes a mower deck having a first deck section, a second deck section pivotable relative to the first deck section, and a latch. The latch is actuable between a first position in which the latch maintains the second deck section in a lowered position and a second position in which the latch maintains the second deck in a raised position.
US08490373B2	Grip for push mower A push mower comprises a mower main body, at least one arm extending upward toward a rear side from the mower main body, and a grip located at a tip end of the at least one arm. Each end of the grip is located on one plane side of an arm plane, a center of the grip is located on an opposite plane side of the arm plane, and therefore the grip extends so as to intersect with the arm plane. Here, the arm plane means a virtual plane on which the at least one arm is located and that is parallel to a left-to-right direction of the mower main body.
US08490372B2	Robotic tree trimmer A robotic tree trimmer has a hydraulic system adapted to be mounted to a tractor and comprising an extendible vertical mast. A first hydraulic motor attached to the vertical mast and adapted to linearly extend and rotate the vertical mast 180 degrees around a first vertical axis. An extendible horizontal boom attached to a distal top end of the vertical mast and having an extension member on an end opposite the distal top end of the vertical mast; a second hydraulic motor attached to the extension member and used to rotate a trimming apparatus 360 degrees around a second vertical axis variably spaced from the first vertical axis by the extendible horizontal boom.
US08490371B2	Modular electric disc cutterbar and controller An electric motor-driven rotary disc cutter module for a cutterbar in an agricultural harvester. In one embodiment, each rotary disc module includes an electric motor driver. Individual cutterhead modules are staggered fore and aft along the cutterbar to provide continuous cutting across the lateral width of the cutterbar without requiring synchronized rotation of the cutterheads. Individual speed and/or rotational direction adjustment of each cutterhead enables optimized crop cutting performance and/or crop movement within the header. A control system may be included to monitor performance and manage individual operation of the cutterhead modules. In a second embodiment, a pair of cutterheads are powered by a single electric motor wherein rotational input for the second cutterhead is transferred by a simple geartrain. The pair of cutterheads is combined into a modular arrangement with the modules being staggered fore and aft on the cutterbar to provide a continuous lateral cutting swath.
US08490364B2	Wall system employing batten assemblies secured to studs without using screws A batten system includes a stud, at least one removable flange and at least one closure strip. The at least one removable flange is secured to the stud by the closure strip without the use of a screw. The stud includes a neck opening with at least one receiving trough. The stud also includes a hammerhead-nut channel. The hammerhead-nut channel has a predetermined profile. In some embodiments, the screw-less batten system includes a hammerhead-nut.
US08490360B2	Laminate floor panels Floor panels are shown with discontinuous surface layers, which are mechanically connectable to each other along one pair of adjacent edges, said floor panels comprising at least two floor elements whereof at least one of the floor elements is non rectangular.
US08490355B2	Ventilated structural panels and method of construction with ventilated structural panels A ventilated structural panel comprising a first sheet, having edges that define a horizontal axis with a first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge, and vertical axis with a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge, a second sheet being of substantially the same planar dimensions as the first sheet and having edges that define a horizontal axis and vertical axis, with a first horizontal edge and a second horizontal edge and a first vertical edge and a second vertical edge, the first and the second sheet being parallel in plane and matched in at least one of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis, a plurality of spacing structural elements, fixedly attaching the first sheet to the second sheet, such that the yield strength of the combined panel is greater than the combined individual yield strengths of the first and the second sheet; and the plurality of spacing structural elements being arranged such that a plurality of unobstructed pathways are created for air to move from at least one edge of the panel to at least one of an opposite and an adjacent edge of the panel, and being arranged to provide integral ventilation through the materials and between the first and the second sheet.
US08490347B2	Corner joint for a window or door frame A corner joint for a window or door frame includes first and second frame members each having a mitered end, at least one cavity in each mitered end and at least one side wall opening into each cavity. A screw boss is disposed in the cavity of the first frame member, and a detent lug on a flexible resilient portion of the screw boss is received in the side wall opening of the first frame member. A corner key has a first leg received in the cavity of the first frame member over the screw boss to hold the screw boss in place, and a second leg received in the cavity of the second frame member. A screw extends through the side wall opening in the second frame member and through the corner key, and is threaded into the screw boss to clamp the mitered ends of the frame members together. A sealing gasket may be captured between the mitered ends of the frame members.
US08490346B2	Internal anchor board-up system An internal anchor board-up system for windows is disclosed. The internal anchor board-up system may include an exterior window cover, one or more interior clamping beams, and bolts or fasteners connecting the cover to the beam. The exterior cover is preferably transparent, such as a plexiglass cover, so that the internal anchor board-up system is substantially more aesthetically pleasing than traditional board-up systems relying upon plywood. Further, a transparent plexiglass or acrylic cover is stronger and harder to cut through than plywood.
US08490339B2	Sunshades A sunshade for mounting to a building structure has first and second extruded outriggers spaced apart from each other and louvers extending from the first outrigger to the second outrigger. The first and second outriggers have an elongated body, an upper leg extending from an upper portion of the elongated body, and a lower leg extending from a lower portion of the elongated body. The outriggers of adjacent sunshades face each other such that the upper legs face each other and the lower legs face each other. A pocket is formed between the adjacent outriggers. The outriggers also have a mounting notch at an end which is mounted to the building structure. The outrigger notch engages a hook on a sunshade anchor mounted to the building structure.
US08490336B2	Method of securing a heating cable to a roof A method comprises forming a generally u-shaped bend in flashing, installing the flashing on a roof between converging surfaces of the roof, and with a clamp comprising an attachment portion having two sections spaced apart by a gap, attaching the clamp to the bend of the flashing by positioning the bend in the gap between the two spaced apart sections and biasing at least of the sections against the bend. The heating cable may then be secured to the clamp.
US08490335B2	Removable seats system The removable seats system has a first vertically movable platform defining opposite upper and lower sides, a seat member comprising at least one seat and first and second complementary male-female engagement members respectively provided on the first platform and on the seat member. The seat member may be removably installed in an operative position on the upper side of the first platform through a releasable engagement of the first and second male-female engagement members with one another.
US08490328B1	Christmas tree stand A Christmas tree stand includes a water-retaining pan and a plurality of legs for holding the pan. The radially inner end of each leg terminates in an upwardly extending tree stabilizer. A split ring is secured to the radially outward side of each tree stabilizer and the split rings collectively hold a cable that is disposed in surrounding relation to the tree after the tree is centered in the pan. A circular plate is centered on the bottom of the pan and has an upstanding sidewall mounted about its periphery. A disc fits atop the circular plate and an upstanding screw is secured to the center of the disc. Manual rotation of the disc advances the screw into the bottom of the tree trunk. The disc and tree trunk are guided into overlying relation to the circular plate and the cable is brought into encircling relation to the tree trunk.
US08490326B1	Hydro straw mulch method A combination hydro straw mulch is used for hydroseeding and hydromulching for seed establishment and erosion control. The formulation of the mulch is preferably, but not limited to, approximately 85% hammermilled straw, approximately 10% hammermilled paper, and approximately 5% processed jute fibers. The hammermilled straw is preferably Kentucky Bluegrass straw. The hammermilled paper particles are used for its water holding capacity. The paper aids in pumpability and reduces the amount of water required for pumping a quantity of mulch. The processed jute fibers tangle the straw fibers on the ground to produce a secure ground covering. The hydro straw mulch of the present invention may include other additives as well. Tackifiers and flocculants aid pumpability and help tack the straw fibers to the ground and aid in water infiltration and water clarity. A surfactant ensures wettability. Other additives include green dye.
US08490324B2	Bait dispensing system Provided is a system and method for dispensing bait for the monitoring or control of pests. A garbage container includes garbage a storage member and a wheel assembly, which supports the storage member. The wheel assembly includes at least one wheel member and an axle joining the wheel member to the garbage storage member. A bait holding station is located inside the wheel member. Pests may enter the interior of the wheel member through an entrance aperture formed in a wall of the wheel member, such as an axle-engaging portion of the wheel member.
US08490323B2	Rodent trap having a pivoting platform A trap with a housing having a first wall, an entrance, and a base; a latch mechanism coupled with the base; a pivoting platform pivotally coupled with the housing adjacent a juncture of the base and first wall and adapted to releasably engage with the latch mechanism; and a trigger plate assembly including a first trigger plate and a second trigger plate that are pivotally coupled with the pivoting platform. The first trigger plate is operably coupled with the latch mechanism and the second trigger plate is operably coupled with the first trigger plate. When the trap is triggered by an animal, the pivoting platform disengages from the latch mechanism and the pivoting platform and trigger plate assembly pivot toward the first wall of the housing, moving the rodent toward the first wall of the housing and trapping the rodent between the trigger plate assembly and the first wall of the housing.
US08490320B1	Fork-shaped fishing lure A fishing lure comprises a rear end enabled to be attached to a fishing line or leader and a front end having a plurality of outer tines with wires for attaching bait and a plurality of inner tines for retaining a fishing hook. The lure further comprises an attached spring-loaded weed guard. A lure skirt is placed over the tines and hook. The body of the lure is reflective and combines with the bait and lure skirt to catch the attention of nearby fish.
US08490309B2	Two-piece trigger and spring retention system A trigger assembly for a firearm includes a trigger and a trigger spring. The trigger assembly is mounted and retained in a frame of the firearm and, more specifically, in an elongated recess defined by the frame. The frame further defines lateral annular grooves and retaining lips near an opening of the elongated recess. The trigger includes an upper trigger piece and a lower trigger piece that are connected to each other. The upper trigger piece is mounted to the lateral annular grooves and retained by the retaining lips. The lower trigger piece is configured to fit in the opening and protrude from the frame. The trigger assembly also includes a trigger spring, mounted in a spring recess defined in the upper trigger piece, that spring biases the trigger into a resting position by abutting and engaging a trigger bar of the firearm under a torsional compression.
US08490307B2	Patient identification systems and methods of use, including recipient verification A recipient verification system including a band having a pocket coupled to a strap. The pocket includes a first layer opposite a second layer. Seals are formed between the second layer and opposing side edges of the first layer to form an interior region. An end seal is formed adjacent a trailing end of the first layer and a liner covered adhesive coating is provided along an inner face of one of the layers. In an open arrangement, the liner is disposed over the adhesive coating, and a leading end of the first layer is free of the second layer to define an opening to the interior. In a closed arrangement, the liner is removed. The system can further include a separated insert. In an assembly state, the insert is insertable into the interior pocket, and a positive identification state, the insert is permanently affixed to the pocket.
US08490300B1	Insert for footwear Disclosed is a readily removable molded insert for footwear, including dress or casual shoes and sneakers. The insert may be manufactured from a variety of resiliently compressible, semi-rigid, and/or resiliently deformable materials and is designed for the purpose of maintaining the general shape and appearance of the upper section of a shoe. Embodiments of the insert are specifically designed to adapt to and conform to the shape of footwear and also to adapt to the contour of a user's foot while the footwear is being worn. The insert may be further cut, trimmed, or separated to fit a range of shoe sizes, by use of perforations along the outer rim of certain embodiments of the insert. Another embodiment of the insert may remain adhesively attached to the inside of the shoe, or it may be removed and repositioned within the shoe, as necessary.
US08490297B2	Integrated, cumulative-force-mitigating apparatus, system, and method for substantially-inclined shoes A force-responsive, bladder filled with a flowable, non-gaseous material, and disposed mainly within a recess having an opening presented at a foot-engaging surface of a substantially-inclined, aesthetically-oriented shoe. A compliant, resilient lamina is typically disposed at the foot-engaging surface, overlying at least a portion the opening. In response to a force applied by a user's foot, the bladder deforms both downwardly away from relatively projecting and/or relatively unyielding, pressure-applying portions of the foot, and upward toward other portions of the foot, providing conformal support to the contour of user's foot and attenuating the effects of cumulative forces incurred by the foot.
US08490289B2	Handle joined of two sections for a hand held engine powered tool A handle for a hand held engine powered tool may include at least one lever or button for controlling the tool. The handle is made of at least two handle sections joined together. The lever or button for controlling the tool is however only secured in one of the handle sections in order to reduce the required grade of precision between the handle sections without affecting the performance of the lever or button.
US08490286B2	Manufacturing process for a section of aircraft fuselage in composite material The disclosed embodiments relate to a method for manufacturing an aircraft fuselage section of composite material that comprises the following operations manufacturing a one-piece section; cutting the section longitudinally; spreading apart two edges located on the two sides of the cut; reassembling the section and making a longitudinal joint with the two edges overlapping. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a section made in accordance with this method.
US08490285B2	Methods of making compression springs Compression springs, such as helical compression springs, include end portions with selectively contoured inner contact surfaces. The selective contours of the inner contact surfaces may take the form of planar, grooved, concave, or other shaped, non-circular surfaces. In addition, enough of the inner contact surface is contoured to reduce the contact stress and/or stress concentration effects on the adjacent coils when the compression spring is placed under load and the adjacent coil engages or contacts the respective end portion. The selective contouring of the end portions may be accomplished by holding the spring in a holder and moving a cutter relative to the end portion of the spring to remove the desired amount of material from the end portion.
US08490284B2	Gear and method for forming tooth profile thereof The present invention discloses a gear and a method for forming a tooth profile thereof. In the method of the present invention, a cubic curve is used to modify a basic tooth shape of a standard rack to obtain an amended basic tooth shape, wherein the cubic curve contacts tangentially with the basic tooth shape at the midpoint of a dedendum, a midpoint of a lateral and a midpoint of an addendum of the basic tooth shape. The amended basic tooth shape is reproduced to obtain an amended rack, and the amended rack is further used to generate a tooth profile of a desired gear.
US08490282B2	Method of manufacturing a porous catcher According to one feature of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a porous catcher includes providing a catcher face material layer; forming pores in the catcher face material layer using a first etching process that is controlled by a first photolithographic mask; providing a reinforcing structure material layer that is in mechanical contact with the porous catcher face; forming openings in the reinforcing structure material layer using a second etching process that is controlled by a second photolithographic mask; and fluidically connecting the openings in the reinforcing structure and the pores of the catcher face using a material removal process.
US08490265B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing brake, and method and apparatus for inspecting brake A brake includes an annular boot which can be expanded and contracted according to movements of a piston and is assembled to an opening part of a cylinder and to an annular groove on an outer peripheral face of the piston. The boot is assembled by: engaging one end of the boot with the opening part of the cylinder in a state where the piston is contained in the cylinder; moving the piston so that at least a part of the piston is withdrawn from the cylinder and that the other end of the boot is pressed by a pressing face of the piston; and fitting the other end of the boot into the annular groove of the piston, while a movable range of the other end of the boot is restricted by an expanding allowance of the boot whose one end is engaged with the opening part of the cylinder.
US08490251B2	Handle for pails A handle includes a bottom wall and two side walls extending up from the bottom wall. Ribs extend between the walls and define upwardly open recesses. The smooth surfaces of the side walls and bottom wall provide a more comfortable handle for the user.
US08490239B2	Beam blade windshield wiper assembly The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms.
US08490234B2	Travel easy adjustable deck The present invention is a modular deck system with height adjustable leg assemblies. The deck modules each have a top panel, a support frame, and a leg receptacle. The leg assemblies include a base foot, an adjustment bolt and a leg bracket with four legs extending perpendicularly from a bracket plate. A height adjustment bolt is fixed to the base of the leg assembly and extends perpendicularly from the base through an aperture in the bracket plate. The deck modules are placed adjacent to each other, side-by-side and end-to-end in the desired layout, then secured with the leg assemblies. Leveling of the deck modules is achieved through rotation of the adjustment bolts.
US08490233B2	Mattress, in particular for use in the care and hospital sector A mattress, in particular for use in the care and hospital sector, has a base layer and a top layer arranged thereon. The top layer is formed by a resilient knitted spacer fabric, which is covered by a top layer cover. The top layer cover has a liquid-impermeable top layer cover lower part and a liquid-permeable top layer cover upper part. The mattress allows simple and frequent reprocessing.
US08490231B1	Systems, methods and designs for handles in furniture In many aspects the systems and methods described herein provide handles for furniture and the furniture that has these improved handle systems. In particular, various embodiments include furniture handles, such as handles for mattresses, cushions, futons and the like, where the handles have a suitable shape and are disposed at select locations and orientations along one or more sidewalls and/or the sleeping surface and/or bottom surface of the mattress.
US08490225B2	Sanitary unit comprising a toilet and a wash basin both slidably mounted A sanitary unit comprises a toilet having a bowl (3) provided with a seat (4), and a wash basin (12) supported above the toilet bowl. The wash basin is mounted for sliding movement between a retracted position in which there is access to the toilet bowl, and a forward position in which the wash basin is to be used. The toilet bowl is mounted for simultaneous sliding movement between a retracted position and a forward position in which the toilet bowl is to be used, under the action of a mechanism (56) which interconnects the toilet bowl and the basin.
US08495756B2	Information processing apparatus including locking function, locking (unlocking) method for information processing apparatus and program thereof The present invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of dynamically changing a security level according to significance of overall data saved in a terminal. A portable telephone terminal 100 includes a lock function to inhibit (allow) use of predetermined functions (part of or all of the functions) of the terminal when a lock-in condition (an unlock condition) is satisfied. The terminal 100 includes a secret level evaluating section 16 for calculating a secret level of the overall apparatus on the basis of scores set respectively to saved data items and a lock-in condition setting section 15 for making, in response to the secret level, the lock-in condition (unlock condition) more mitigated or more severe. Due to the configuration, for example, when significant data is received, the secret level of the overall terminal increases and the lock-in condition (unlock condition) is made more mitigated (more severe).
US08495753B2	Electronic meeting management system for mobile wireless devices A device management system includes a meeting support system that is configured to generate and transmit a plurality of electronic meeting invitations to a plurality of mobile wireless devices that correspond to a plurality of meeting participants and receive responses indicating whether the plurality of participants will attend the electronic meeting. The device management system receives identification data that identifies one or more documents or information that will be made available to the plurality of participants. The meeting support system determines whether the plurality of participants is authorized to access the one or more electronic documents or information. If any of the participants are not authorized to access any of the electronic documents or information, the meeting support system notifies the meeting organizer. The device management system may also include a meeting session management system that is configured to share information among the plurality of mobile wireless devices.
US08495751B2	Systems and methods for controlling access to content distributed over a network A computer-implemented method is provided for controlling use of a file on a user device. The method includes transmitting authentication information to a system and downloading the file from the system over the network upon successful authentication by the system. The method also includes limiting access of the file to a client application of the user device and preventing altering of the file, printing of the file and opening of the file outside of the client application. Notes corresponding to the file can be stored in a local storage area.
US08495746B2	Apparatuses, methods and systems of an application security management platform This disclosure details the implementation of apparatuses, methods and systems of an application security management platform (hereinafter, “ASMP”). ASMP systems may, in one embodiment, implement a live platform on a computerized system, whereby the platform may receive security data associated with a running application from multiple security tacking systems, evaluate the security performance of the application, generate an application security summary report for review and manage review processes for security professionals.
US08495732B2	Entering an identifier with security improved by time based randomization of input steps A secure method, apparatus or computer program incorporates a method for entering private information such as a user identifier, password or other secret code comprising at least one symbol or character. According to method in one illustrated embodiment, the user selects characters for input starting from presentation of an initial suggested character, moving under user control to presentation of a user's desired input character, and then followed by the selection by the user of that presented character as a character for data input. The method includes randomizing the timing of the display and/or reaction time to user input so that the number and timing of the key presses required to select any specific desired character for input is made unpredictable. This makes it difficult during entry of information to determine by covert means what specific information is being entered.
US08495726B2	Trust based application filtering Methods, devices, and systems are provided for filtering packets and other communication messages or portions thereof. Particularly, mechanisms are provided for efficiently determining and applying a set of trust-based filtering rules. Trust scores may be assigned to various connections and packets received on a particular connection may have filtering rules applied thereto in accordance with the trust score of the connection.
US08495725B2	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for adaptive packet filtering The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for adaptive packet filtering. One method includes identifying at least one subset of rules and an ordered set of firewall packet filtering rules that defines a firewall policy such that the subset contains disjoint rules. Disjoint rules are defined as rules whose order can be changed without changing integrity of the firewall policy. Rules in the subset are sorted to statistically decrease the number of comparisons that will be applied to each packet that a firewall encounters. Packets are filtered at the firewall using the sorted rules in the subset by comparing each packet to each of the sorted rules in the subset until the packet is allowed or denied and ceasing the comparing for the packet in response to the packet being allowed or denied and thereby achieving sub-linear searching for packets filtered using the sorted rules in the subset.
US08495724B2	Secure server architecture for web based data management A double firewalled system is disclosed for protecting remote enterprise servers that provide communication services to telecommunication network customers from unauthorized third parties. A first router directs all connection requests to one or more secure web servers, which may utilize a load balancer to efficiently distribute the session connection load among a high number of authorized client users. On the network side of the web servers, a second router directs all connection requests to a dispatcher server, which routes application server calls to a proxy server for the application requested. A plurality of data security protocols are also employed. The protocols provide for an identification of the user, and an authentication of the user to ensure the user is who he/she claims to be and a determination of entitlements that the user may avail themselves of within the enterprise system. Session security is described, particularly as to the differences between a remote user's copper wire connection to a legacy system and a user's remote connection to the enterprise system over a “stateless” public Internet, where each session is a single transmission, rather than an interval of time between logon and logoff, as is customary in legacy systems.
US08495721B1	Data network security policies Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for specifying a data network security policy. In one aspect, a system includes a device-agnostic firewall policy that defines one or more rules for regulating data traffic on a data network. The device-agnostic firewall policy includes a policy definition and a security component. The policy definition delineates regulation of the data network traffic to be implemented by a firewall and a policy token definition that delineates a token used in the policy definition. The security component is implemented in hardware, in software executed on a data processing device, or in a combination thereof and is configured to permit a first group of one or more individuals to change both the policy definition and the policy token definition and a second group of one or more individuals to change the policy token definition while restricting the second group from changing the policy definition.
US08495710B2	Port tapping for secure access Secure access in a computing environment is provided. One implementation involves a client generating a sequence for tapping server ports, and the client identifying itself to the server by tapping the server ports based on the sequence. The server verifies if the tapping sequence is correct. If the tapping sequence is correct, access is provided from the client to the server.
US08495705B1	Systems and methods for reputation-based application of data-loss prevention policies A computer-implemented method for data-loss prevention may include: 1) identifying data associated with a user, 2) determining that the data is subject to a data-loss-prevention scan, 3) identifying a data-loss-prevention reputation associated with the user, and then 4) performing a data-loss-prevention operation based at least in part on the data-loss-prevention reputation associated with the user. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08495694B2	Video-enabled community building A system and method that provide media content owners the capability to achieve community building goals by exploiting video processing capabilities using rich, interactive and compelling media content on a network or Internet website. The system and method additionally provide website community building mechanisms to community members, thereby allowing the members to customize the actual community websites that many companies and website owners seek in order to enhance e-commerce revenue generation.
US08495693B2	Systems and methods for time shifting in multiple video presentation Systems and methods may provide for control of one or more feeds of a multi-feed channel. Such control may implement functions such as pausing, playing, rewinding, fast forwarding, slowing, replaying and zooming. The control may be selectively applied to the feeds so that one, selected ones or all of the feeds are controlled. Thus, implementations may allow a user to selectively interact with video feeds, as well as corresponding audio feeds, while viewing the multi-feed channel.
US08495689B2	System and method for partial push video on demand A system and method of delivering video content over a network in communication with a subscriber having an associated electronic device is disclosed. A plurality of staggered streams of video content is delivered over a network. A segment of the video content is pushed onto the electronic device. A request for the video content is received at the electronic device, the pushed segment of video content is retrieved from the electronic device and the pushed segment of video content is displayed to the subscriber. A staggered stream of video content delivered over network is located and recorded on the electronic device.
US08495683B2	Method and apparatus for content presentation in a tandem user interface A system for accurately modeling of buyer/purchaser psychology and ranking of content objects within a channel for user initiated browsing and presentation contains a neuropsychological modeling engine, a ranking application, and a behavior modeler which communicate with each other and a presentation system over communication networks. The neuropsychological modeling engine utilizes metafiles associated with content objects, a purchaser/viewer model and a channel model to derive a value ψ representing an individual's mood and a value m representing an individual's motivational strength to select a content object. If the value ψ is within an acceptable predetermined range, the value m is used to determine a ranking for the content object relative to other content objects associated with the channel model. Also disclosed are a system and technique for simultaneously presenting multiple, s content object data streams on the user interface in a manner which encourages multidimensional browsing using traditional navigation commands.
US08495679B2	Method and apparatus for delivery of television programs and targeted de-coupled advertising A method for displaying a TV program to a viewer, comprising receiving a plurality of TV programs, allowing the viewer to select one of the plurality of received TV programs for viewing, and responding to the viewer selection by controlling the programming displayed to the viewer in accordance with the viewer selection and with previously determined viewing preferences of the viewer. Controlling the programming displayed to the viewer may include displaying the viewer selected program and additional programs selected in accordance with the previously determined viewing preferences of the viewer. The additional programs may include advertisements.
US08495671B1	Interactive video system This application discloses a system and method for the delivery of television programming comprising of: a video source connected to a subscriber network to transport a primary video signal; a message source connected to said subscriber network to transport a supplemental video signal; wherein the primary and supplemental video signals are combined to display the primary and supplemental video signals concurrently. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the subscriber receives discounts relative to the amount of supplemental video signal that is viewed by the subscriber.
US08495663B2	Real time collaboration using embedded data visualizations Scorecard data is received, processed, and visualizations provided by a performance metric application. Real time collaboration between users is facilitated through context based selections from the visualizations through one or more communication applications. Performance metric application may be embedded in the communication application or vice versa through local implementation or in a service based architecture.
US08495661B2	Relevant alert delivery with event and alert suppression in a distributed processing system Methods, systems and products are provided for relevant alert delivery with event and alert suppression including identifying by the event analyzer in dependence upon the event arrival rules one or more alerts; closing, by the event analyzer in dependence upon the events pool operation rules, the events pool; determining, by the events analyzer in dependence upon the event suppression rules, whether to suppress one or more events in the closed events pool; identifying by the event analyzer in dependence upon the events pool closure rules and any unsuppressed events assigned to the events pool, one or more additional alerts; assigning by the alert analyzer the identified alerts to an alerts pool; determining by the alert analyzer in dependence upon alert analysis rules and the alerts in the alert pool whether to suppress any alerts; and transmitting the unsuppressed alerts to one or more components of the distributed processing system.
US08495659B1	Eliminating redundancy in instance data of different versioned classes in communication between object request brokers using a common class definition A method, system and computer program product for eliminating redundancy in instance data of different versioned classes in communication between object request brokers (ORBs). An ORB derives common class definitions for the class for both the client and server ORBs from an intersection of the fields present in the different versions of the class maintained at the client and server. The common class definition for the class for the server ORB/client ORB will be relative to the version of the class existing at the client/server. When a common class definition of a class exists, a server/client ORB serializes an instance of the class using its common class definition for the class thereby including only the fields useful for the client/server ORB. By deriving common class definitions for the class, redundant fields are no longer being transmitted between the client and server ORBs thereby reducing the size of data being transmitted.
US08495657B1	Virtualized management objects Technologies for virtualized management objects are presented herein. Through the utilization of the technologies and concepts presented herein, a management entity may be able to access a management object through a computer firmware that utilizes a virtualized layer that interfaces a management interface server and a CIM provider associated with the management object. According to one aspect, a method for virtualizing management objects includes receiving a request for data associated with a management object from a management entity. The request for data may be in a first standard. The request is then converted into a command in a second standard. The command is then executed and a response to the command is generated. Next, the response to the command is converted to a response to the request in the first standard. The converted response to the request is then sent to the management entity.
US08495654B2	Intranode data communications in a parallel computer Intranode data communications in a parallel computer that includes compute nodes configured to execute processes, where the data communications include: allocating, upon initialization of a first process of a compute node, a region of shared memory; establishing, by the first process, a predefined number of message buffers, each message buffer associated with a process to be initialized on the compute node; sending, to a second process on the same compute node, a data communications message without determining whether the second process has been initialized, including storing the data communications message in the message buffer of the second process; and upon initialization of the second process: retrieving, by the second process, a pointer to the second process's message buffer; and retrieving, by the second process from the second process's message buffer in dependence upon the pointer, the data communications message sent by the first process.
US08495639B2	System and method for normalizing job properties This disclosure provides a system and method for normalizing job properties. In one embodiment, a job manager is operable to identify a property of a job, with the job being associated with an operating environment. The job manager is further operable to normalize the property of the job and present the normalized property of the job to a user.
US08495629B2	Virtual machine relocation system and associated methods A system to address virtual machine relocation may include a computer system and a host operating system executing on the computer system. The system may also include a second computer system and a second host operating system executing on the second computer system. The system may further include a virtual machine executing on the host operating system. The system may additionally include a tool to relocate the virtual machine to the second host operating system based upon the host operating system's needs, the second host operating system's availability, and/or the virtual machine's relocation eligibility.
US08495628B2	Para-virtualization in a nested virtualization environment using reduced number of nested VM exits A para-virtualization method is provided. The method comprises implementing a virtual machine (VM) for guest software running on first host software. In response to a privileged instruction, the guest software causes a first VM exit. If the first host software is not running directly on hardware, the privileged instruction is managed without causing a second VM exit. Otherwise, the privileged instruction is managed normally.
US08495624B2	Provisioning a suitable operating system environment A method for provisioning a suitable operating system environment to a client machine in a client-server architecture including the at least one client machine in communication with a plurality of servers over a network. A pre-execution boot program is executed on powering the client machine, the pre-execution boot program being configured to identify a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server to obtain an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the client machine. Next, the client machine establishes contact with an installation server, which is coupled to the client machine over a network. Thereafter, the client machine receives a first software module from the installation server based on processor type of the client machine. The first software module scans the client machine using to obtain a list of hardware elements on the client machine and the client machine transmits the list of hardware elements on the client machine to the installation server. Finally, the client machine receives from the installation server a suitable Operating System Environment (OSE), including an operating system and device drivers for hardware elements previously identified on the client machine.
US08495618B1	Updating firmware in a high availability enabled computer system Technologies are provided herein for seamlessly updating firmware in a high availability enabled solution. A system for updating firmware in a high availability enabled solution includes a first active node that is functional on the system and which is connected to a firmware update client and a second passive node that is in an active-passive relationship with the first node. The first node receives a firmware update command and retrieves the updated firmware from the firmware update client. The first node then updates firmware of the second node using the updated firmware. Upon updating the firmware of the second node, the first node sets an indicator flag associated with the second node, which notifies the second node to become the active node upon being rebooted. The first node then reboots the second node, which then updates the firmware of the first node with the updated firmware.
US08495616B2	Method for upgrading communication equipment Disclosed is a method for updating communication equipment through a server in a communication system, where the server stores the updated files used for updating the communication equipment. In this method, configuration data in the communication equipment are backed up in the server at first, and then the updated files are downloaded to the communication equipment from the server, and the updated files are loaded to the communication equipment to implement the communication equipment update; at last, the configuration data backed up in the server are recovered to the communication equipment. The disclosed method can guarantee the successful update of the communication equipment and no data loss after the update, thus the security of the communication equipment update is greatly improved.
US08495610B2	Method and system for process upgrade A method and a system for process upgrade are disclosed. A source process implements data interaction, via a socket interface, with a far end entity connected with the socket interface. When the source process intends to upgrade itself, the source process copies its process data to a target process and determines if the data from the far end entity received via socket interface is complete. If it is determined that the data is complete, the source process ceases data interaction with the socket interface and copies the received data to the target process. After the data is copied, the source process sends an upgrade and switch indication to the target process and enables the target process to send an upgrade and switch request to the socket interface. The socket interface then switches a socket interface service to the target process. Accordingly, the technical solutions according to the present invention realize a reliable and smooth process upgrade without disconnecting the socket connection.
US08495602B2	Shader compile system and method The present disclosure includes a shader compiler system and method. In an embodiment, a shader compiler includes a decoder to translate an instruction having a vector representation to a unified instruction representation. The shader compiler also includes an encoder to translate an instruction having a unified instruction representation to a processor executable instruction.
US08495599B2	Apparatus and method for power saving An apparatus and method for power savings are provided. The apparatus includes a register analysis unit and a register change unit. The register analysis unit determines if registers among bit-switching targeted registers are one of changeable and unchangeable. The register change unit searches for a register pair having a minimum bit switching frequency among registers determined to be changeable, and changes at least one register.
US08495597B2	On the fly generation of multimedia code for image processing A method and apparatus for processing multimedia instruction enhanced data by the use of an abstract routine generator and a translator. The abstract routine generator takes the multimedia instruction enhanced data and generates abstract routines to compile the multimedia instruction enhanced data. The output of the abstract generator is an abstract representation of the multimedia instruction enhanced data. The translator then takes the abstract representation and produces code for processing.
US08495596B1	System, method, and computer program for interfacing an automatic operational support system with a legacy operational support system A system, method, and computer program product are provided for interfacing an automated operational support system (OSS) with a legacy OSS. In use, a legacy OSS that operates manually at least in part is automated, utilizing an adapter. Furthermore, an automatic OSS is interfaced with the legacy OSS based on the automation, utilizing the adapter.
US08495593B2	Method and system for state machine translation A state machine program is generated from a state machine. The state machine has states, transitions and events. A basic structure for the state machine program is generated. The basic structure has therein a structure that operates in non-final states. A statement is generated within the structure for detecting an event. A statement is generated within the structure for evaluating the detected event based on a current state to identify if the current state is valid for the detected event. A statement is generated within the structure for determining a next state if the current state is valid. A statement is generated within the structure for transitioning the current state to the next state.
US08495584B2	Automated desktop benchmarking A plurality of user interactions in a baseline computing system are intercepted and recorded, in an artifact file, with a benchmarking tool. The recorded user interactions from the artifact file are replayed and injected to a software stack of a system under test (whose performance is to be compared to the baseline system), using the benchmarking tool. During the replay, screen updates in the system under test are sequentially compared with expected screen images from the artifact file, until a match is observed in a given case. A response time associated with each of the matches is recorded.
US08495571B2	Computer method and apparatus for engineered product management including simultaneous indication of working copy status and repository status A computer method and apparatus for managing revisions to engineered products includes a repository, a local data store (working copy) and a revision manager. Each engineered product is formed of one or more assets. The repository holds the plurality of assets and tracks changes of the assets. For a given asset, the revision manager provides, together in a certain screen view, display of (a) indications of changes made to a working copy of the given asset relative to the given asset as held in the repository, and (b) indications of changes made to the given asset in the repository relative to the working copy of the given asset. The certain screen view in one embodiment employs a tabular format with sortable columns, color coded symbols, textual summaries of changes made to assets and textual description of changes made to assets in the repository.
US08495569B2	Software analyzing apparatus for analyzing software components and correlations between software components The present invention provides a software analyzer supporting development of derived products by allowing efficient selection of software components to be simultaneously reutilized or changed based on the past record of developments and changes of software products. A software analyzer according to the present invention analyzes a plurality of software components included in existing software products and correlations between the plurality of software components. The software analyzer includes product line analysis means adapted to create product line configuration data numerically expressing a set of the plurality of software components included in the existing software products, from existing product configuration data including, for each of the existing software products, data on the plurality of software components and data on the correlations between the plurality of software components, inter-component distance analysis means adapted to calculate inter-software-component distances numerically quantifying the correlations between the software components based on the product line configuration data, component cluster analysis means adapted to group the software components based on the inter-software-component distances, and an output section outputting results obtained by the product line analysis means, the inter-component distance analysis means, and the component cluster analysis means.
US08495566B2	Widget combos: a widget programming model A system and method that can be used to create a new API via a combination of existing APIs, e.g., given a set of existing APIs. The system and method also allow the user to remove existing API elements from the generated API, and to add new API elements to the generated API.
US08495561B2	Apparatus and method for designing a system specification for testability As to a plurality of components in a system, a state transition path covering transitions defined by a behavioral specification of a component is specified to satisfy an input restriction of the component. Action sequences are acquired from the state transition path. By selecting a pair of components connected in the system, it is verified whether an output action sequence of a first component as one of the pair satisfies an input restriction of a second component as the other of the pair. If unsatisfied, the input restriction of the second component is relaxed to satisfy the output action sequence of the first component, or an input restriction of the first component is tightened to acquire a new output action sequence satisfying the input restriction of the second component. Above processing is repeated for each pair of components, so that output action sequences of one and the other of a pair satisfies input restrictions of the other and the one of the pair respectively.
US08495553B2	Native threshold voltage switching A computer-implemented method of determining threshold voltage levels within a macro of integrated circuit cells. In one embodiment, the method includes: referencing a library of the integrated circuit cells in the macro; estimating a leakage power and a dynamic power for a first integrated circuit cell in the macro; comparing the leakage power with the dynamic power; switching the first integrated circuit cell to a low threshold voltage level in response to determining the dynamic power is greater than the leakage power; and updating the library with a voltage level of the first integrated circuit cell.
US08495541B2	Characterization device and computer program thereof A characterization device capable of extracting the characteristic values of high-reliability hard macros at high speed. A characteristic value extraction unit calculates the delay time at measurement points within the hard macro and extracts the characteristic values by applying a slew to the signal waveform that is inputted to the hard macro and making a static path search. A dynamic verification unit verifies whether the characteristic values are adequate or not by carrying out a dynamic verification of the hard macro utilizing the characteristic values extracted by the characteristic value extraction unit. The characterization device can therefore shorten the time required to make a dynamic verification, and further is capable of extracting the characteristic values of high-reliability hard macros at high-speed.
US08495539B1	Scheduling processes in simulation of a circuit design A method for compiling an HDL specification for simulation includes elaborating the HDL specification and determining singly-driven and multiply-driven nets of the elaborated circuit design. For each singly-driven net, a respective memory location is assigned to store a value of a corresponding driver of the net at runtime. For each multiply-driven net, a contiguous block of memory is assigned to store values of corresponding drivers of the net at runtime. For mixed language designs, this contiguous block contains values for drivers from all HDL languages involved. Simulation code that models the circuit design is generated. For each singly-driven net, the simulation code is configured to store a value of the corresponding driver of the singly-driven net in the respective memory location. For each multiply-driven net, the simulation code is configured to store the values of the corresponding drivers in the assigned block of memory. The generated simulation code is stored.
US08495527B2	Pattern recognition with edge correction for design based metrology A method for edge correction in pattern recognition includes generating a pattern recognition output for a pattern recognition process, including receiving, in the processor, a design layout, receiving a sample plan based on the design layout, receiving a first user-generated edge input, generating a pattern recognition recipe output from the design layout, the sample plan and the user-generated edge input, wherein the pattern recognition recipe output is configured to drive the pattern recognition process, generating a measurement model from the pattern recognition process, generating a measurement model pattern recognition output for an measurement model pattern recognition process, including receiving a second user-generated input and generating a measurement model pattern recognition recipe output from the measurement model and the second user-generated edge input, wherein the measurement model pattern recognition recipe output configured to drive the measurement model pattern recognition process.
US08495524B2	Gradient-based search mechanism for optimizing photolithograph masks A mechanism is provided for optimizing a photolithograph mask. A given target pattern is received. An initial fictitious mask is generated from the given target pattern and an initial value of α2 is selected where the initial value of α2 is used to determine a light intensity and a wafer image. The light intensity for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask and the wafer image for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask are then determined. A determination is then made as to whether a convergence has been achieved by comparing the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern. Responsive to a convergence of the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern, a final mask is generated to use to transfer an image to a wafer.
US08495523B2	Gradient-based search mechanism for optimizing photolithograph masks A mechanism is provided for optimizing a photolithograph mask. A given target pattern is received. An initial fictitious mask is generated from the given target pattern and an initial value of α2 is selected where the initial value of α2 is used to determine a light intensity and a wafer image. The light intensity for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask and the wafer image for each pixel in the initial fictitious mask are then determined. A determination is then made as to whether a convergence has been achieved by comparing the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern. Responsive to a convergence of the wafer image generated from the fictitious mask to the given target pattern, a final mask is generated to use to transfer an image to a wafer.
US08495519B2	Methods and apparatus for displaying interprocess communication thumbnails The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for generating a dynamic, live thumbnail representation of the underlying process. Using the methods and apparatus herein, users can easily understand the functions of a sub-process.
US08495511B2	Care label method for a self service dashboard construction Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interfaces and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard can be provided. The method can include identifying a widget, assigning a care label to the identified widget based on a type of datafeed payload information associated with the identified widget and displaying the identified widget with the assigned care label in a user interface to enable a user to make a visually matched selection of widgets to create a self service dashboard.
US08495508B2	Method and apparatus for contextual based search engine and enterprise knowledge management The system provides a system for monitoring a plurality of communications mediums on a network such as the Internet or an enterprise intranet and for providing context based supplemental information based on the conversation. The supplemental information is presented in one embodiment in the form of a matching media object (MMO) and can be easily shared between users of the system, either concurrently or on a time delayed basis (i.e. the next time a user logs onto the system). The system provides a communications tool that facilitates chats, blogs, discussions, or any type of social media for a plurality of users. Conversations on the tool are parsed to determine an area of interest to the users and appropriate MMOs are provided based on that context.
US08495505B2	Perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world A method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user's avatar in a virtual world. The method may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user's avatar.
US08495504B2	Customizable branch navigational area control The invention provides customizable branch navigational area control. Navigational area branches are displayed on a device. Expansion of the navigational area branches is controlled. Selection is accepted for particular navigational area branches. The selected particular navigational area branches are prevented from collapsing upon exceeding a predetermined maximum number limit, by collapsing other navigational area branches to maintain the predetermined maximum number limit. The predetermined maximum number limit represents a limit of navigational area branches allowed to remain in an expanded state.
US08495497B2	Graphical guides to aid user selection of groups of instruction packages The invention provides a method and system for graphically mapping compatible processing updates. The method includes employing a processor for tracking updates for processing instruction packages. The method further includes determining compatibility between each of the processing instruction packages. The method additionally includes linking combinations of compatible processing instruction packages together. The method also includes providing a map of one or more combinations of linked compatible processing instruction packages and tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages to a graphical user interface for facilitating selection of tracked updates for the plurality of processing instruction packages.
US08495490B2	Systems and methods of summarizing documents for archival, retrival and analysis Systems and methods of summarizing documents for archival, retrieval, and analysis can be used to provide a convenient summary of the content of scanned document(s). After scanning a document or set of documents, character recognition software identifies the text on the pages. Software can produce a summary of the subjects/themes/keywords in the document(s). This summary can take several forms; e.g. an index of subjects/themes/keywords which can then be printed out as a cover sheet for that stack of documents. Alternately, the summary can be in the form of a topic cloud or histogram. The topic cloud can be made dynamic to allow a user to progressively scroll through pages of documents and watch the topic cloud evolve. The histogram can be made searchable to allow the user to view content of selected pages easily and conveniently.
US08495487B2	Web-based dealership management system An integrated web-based dealership management system providing accounting ,financial reporting, parts and service sales tracking, vehicle and parts inventory, vehicle sales tracking, and customer management software developed on a relational database on a web server and with web application tools.
US08495483B1	Using text surrounding hypertext links when indexing and generating page summaries Web quotes are gathered from web pages that link to a web page of interest. The web quote may include text from the paragraphs that contain the hypertext links to the page of interest as well as text from other portions of the linked web page, such as text from a nearby header. The obtained web quotes may be ranked based on quality or relevance and may then be incorporated into a search engine's document index or into summary information returned to users in response to a search query.
US08495480B2	Method and apparatus for signal-to-noise ratio estimation in convolutional codes (Viterbi) decoder A method of estimating signal-to-noise ratio in a Viterbi decoder comprising: setting a threshold SNR value; determining a dependence on SNR of the average decoding path length; filling branch metrics matrix, minimal path metrics matrix, path metrics matrix and paths matrix with initial values; receiving packets from a communication channel; calculating the matrices that contains paths stored during operation of Viterbi algorithm in its rows, and a minimal path metrics matrix, including calculating an estimate of a decoding path length, where all the paths converge, based on the paths matrix; calculating current SNR estimate using an estimate of a decoding path length, based on results of previous steps; setting a decoder control signal to an active state if the current estimated SNR does not exceed the threshold, and to an inactive state otherwise; if the decoder control signal is in active state, the branch metrics matrix, the minimal path metrics matrix, the paths metrics matrix and the paths matrix are filled with the initial values; generating a decoded symbol; and repeating the steps on a next packet if one is available.
US08495474B2	Method and system for data transmission in a data network The present invention relates to a method and system for data transmission in a data network. According to the method, a data packet is sent from a sender to a receiver. If a data packet is incorrectly received on the receiver, a repeat request is sent from the receiver to the sender. Upon receiving the repeat request on the sender, the data packet is resent from the sender to the receiver. After having received on the sender a predetermined number of repeat requests requesting the resending of the same data packet, a predetermined quantity of copies of the data packet is sent from the sender to the receiver, wherein the predetermined quantity includes at least two copies, or a predetermined quantity of additional information packets is sent from the sender to the receiver.
US08495472B1	Method and system for performing financial reconciliation between two systems using checksums A system and method for performing financial reconciliation of two systems using checksums generally consists of a primary and a secondary system connected via a communications network, wherein each system includes a data source and is adapted to independently calculate one or more checksums pertaining to the data according to the same formula and at the same time. Information, such as data pertaining to financial transactions, may be stored in the primary data source and replicated to the secondary data source via asynchronous messages. The data in the primary and secondary data sources may be reconciled at regular intervals by comparing the checksum calculated by the primary system with the checksum calculated by the secondary system at a given time. If the checksums match, the data is considered to be reconciled. If the checksums do not match, then a recovery process may be initiated to ensure that the data in the primary system is completely and accurately transferred to the secondary system.
US08495470B2	Efficient rewrite technique for tape drives A method for efficiently rewriting data to tape is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes writing a data set to tape, the data set comprising S sub data sets of fixed size, each sub data set comprising N code word interleaves (CWIs). The method further includes reading the data set while writing it to the tape to identify faulty CWIs. While reading the data set, the method buffers the faulty CWIs (such as by storing, identifying, and/or marking the faulty CWIs) for later retrieval. When the end of the data set is reached, the method writes corrected versions of the faulty CWIs to the end of the data set. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed and claimed herein.
US08495460B2	Apparatus, system, and method for reconfiguring an array of storage elements An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reconfiguring an array of solid-state storage elements. The method includes determining that one or more storage elements are unavailable to store data. The storage elements are configured in an array of N storage elements that each store a portion of a first ECC chunk and P storage elements that store first parity data corresponding to the first ECC chunk. The method includes generating a second ECC chunk comprising at least a portion of the data of the first ECC chunk. The method includes storing the second ECC chunk and associated second parity data across (N+P)−Z storage elements where 1≦Z≦P.
US08495459B2	Channel-encoding/decoding apparatus and method using low-density parity-check codes An encoding/decoding apparatus and method using a low-density parity-check code (LDPC code) is disclosed. Basic column group information, serving as a set of information regarding positions of rows with weight 1, is extracted from a reference column in each column group of a predetermined parity-check matrix. Column group information transforms the positions of rows with weight 1 into positions whose lengths are within a required parity length. A parity-check matrix is generated according to the generated column group information. Data is encoded or decoded based on the generated parity-check matrix.
US08495458B1	Systems and methods for multistage error correction In one embodiment, the present invention includes an error correction method. The error correction method comprises receiving a digital signal and processing the digital signal to perform a first error correction. The first error correction includes a first correction for data insertions or deletions and a first correction of data errors to generate a reference signal. The reference signal corresponds to the digital signal having been corrected to a first correction accuracy. The digital signal and the reference signal may be processed to perform a second correction for data insertions or deletions to generate a synchronized signal. The second correction of the digital signal is based on the reference signal, and the correction accuracy of the second correction is more accurate than the first correction accuracy.
US08495454B2	Methods, apparatuses, systems, and architectures for quickly and reliably encoding and/or decoding system data Methods, apparatuses, systems, and architectures for providing fast, independent, and reliable retrieval of system data (e.g., metadata) from a storage system, which enables minimal degradation in the reliability of user data. Methods generally include encoding the system data at least twice, at least once independently and at least once jointly along with user data. Methods can also include decoding the system data first, and upon a decoding failure, jointly decoding the system data and the user data.
US08495447B2	Data processing in signal transmissions A controller for a communications device, comprising: a receiver arranged for receiving a first data block and a second data block, each data block comprising a plurality of analogue signals; a digitizer arranged for converting each analogue signal into a digital value and marking each digital value as saturated when the digital value exceeds a digital range; and a processor arranged for modifying at least one digital value of the first block by combination with a corresponding digital value of the second block except where the digital value of the first block is marked as saturated and marking each modified value as saturated when the modified value is outside a defined range.
US08495437B2	Semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device including a data bus inversion (DBI) determination unit, a first inverter, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculation unit, a second inverter, and a DQ pin. The DBI determination unit is configured to determine whether to perform DBI based on first data on a main data line and configured to generate DBI data. The first inverter is configured to invert or non-invert the first data according to the DBI data to generate second data. The CRC calculation unit is configured to generate CRC data based on the second data and the DBI data. The second inverter is configured to invert or non-invert the first data according to the DBI data to generate third data. The DQ pin is configured to output the third data externally.
US08495436B1	System and method for memory testing in electronic circuits An electronic circuit includes first and second circuits that include corresponding built-in-self-test (BIST) engines to perform memory testing operations on corresponding first and second memory block and generate first and second memory repair data. A multiplexer receives the first and second memory repair data and selectively transmits the first memory repair data during a first test cycle and the second memory repair data during a second test cycle. A shadow register buffers the first memory repair data during the first test cycle and a fuse processor sequentially receives and stores the first and second memory repair data during the second test cycle.
US08495435B2	Dynamic physical memory replacement through address swapping An apparatus, system, method, and machine-readable medium are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes an address swap cache. The apparatus also includes memory segment swap logic that is capable of detecting a reproducible fault at a first address targeting a memory segment. Once detected, the logic remaps the first address targeting the faulty memory segment with a second address targeting another memory segment. The logic stores the two addresses in an entry in the address swap cache. Then the memory segment swap logic receives a memory transaction that is targeting the first physical address and use the address to perform a lookup process in the address swap cache to determine if an entry exists that has the faulty address. If an entry does exist for that address, the logic then swaps the second address into the memory transaction for the first address.
US08495434B2	Failure source server and mail server administrator alert management programs, systems, and methods A server management system includes a management server and a mail server. The management server includes a source determination unit and an alert mail creator. The source determination unit determines as a source a symbol identifying a failure cause of a system according to the failure cause. The alert mail creator creates an alert mail with the source and with the system administrator of the system as a destination. The mail server sends the alert mail to a terminal device that the system administrator uses.
US08495433B2	Microcomputer mutual monitoring system and a microcomputer mutual monitoring method The present invention is related to a microcomputer mutual monitoring system in which mutual monitoring is performed between a first microcomputer 11 and a second microcomputer 12, characterized in that if a reset of the second microcomputer is performed due to an occurrence of an abnormal event in the second microcomputer, the monitoring of the first microcomputer is performed by an alternative monitoring function 142 incorporated in the first microcomputer instead of the monitoring of the first microcomputer by a monitoring function of the second microcomputer during the reset. With this arrangement, the microcomputer mutual monitoring system, which can prevent reduced marketability while maintaining reliability as a system, can be obtained.
US08495430B2	Generate diagnostic data for overdue thread in a data processing system Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus for generating diagnostic data for a thread. A service processor may begin by executing the computer usable program code to allocate a first thread to a monitoring function. The service processor determines if a second thread is running, wherein the second thread is associated with an operation. The service processor obtains an object pointer from a list of running threads, wherein the object pointer references a time data structure associated with the second thread, the time data structure comprising a maximum running time interval and a check time. The service processor calculates the check time as a maximum running time interval added to an initially sampled timestamp. The service processor determines if a current time exceeds the check time. In addition, the service processor generates an error log, responsive to a determination that the current time exceeds the check time.
US08495426B2	Meta-directory control and evaluation of events Techniques for meta-directory control and evaluation of events are provided. Disparate events from heterogeneous processing environments are collected as the events are produced by resources within the processing environments. The events are filtered and organized into taxonomies. Next the filtered and organized events are assigned to nodes of a Meta directory, each node defining a relationship between two or more of the resources and policy is applied. Finally, additional policy is evaluated in view of the events and their node assignments with other events, and one or more automated actions are then taken.
US08495422B2	Method and system for resetting a subsystem of a communication device Described herein are a method, system, and computer readable medium for resetting a subsystem of a communication device. The method involves utilizing a subsystem error handler to generate a reset request signal indicating the subsystem has experienced an exception; distributing to a software component, residing externally to the subsystem, a status message indicative of a current state of the subsystem; performing a reset of the subsystem in response to the reset request signal; and rebooting the subsystem. When the subsystem can be reset without performing a system wide reset of the communication device, communication device downtime is reduced, which facilitates a positive user experience.
US08495421B2	Method for packet-switching transmission of media data and device for processing media data with insertion of error information data The invention relates to a method for packet-switching transmission of media data and a device for processing media data. Media data may be video, audio or text data, or other data. Transmission of the data is usually effected according to a streaming method. The data is therein transmitted in packets and re-assembled in the receiving device. For Internet applications, the real-time transport protocol is very widely used in the transmission of data streams. However, this data transmission protocol does not enable a secure transmission which is based on a repetition of the defectively transmitted data. Sequence counters are used according to this protocol so that left-out data packets can be detected in the receiving device. According to the invention, it is provided that error information data is inserted in the destination media data record which is generated from the received data in the receiving device when, according to the transmission protocol, transmission errors are detected in the analysis of the data packets received. The transmission errors are then documented in the destination data record. The stored error information can be analyzed upon reproduction of the destination data record so that it can be evaluated, in particular, whether the recorded original data is so seriously defective that a new recording is inevitable. In particular, this is advantageous in video production where it is necessary to quickly evaluate whether a recorded film or video scene is of acceptable quality (if necessary, taking potential retouching into account) or whether it must be repeated and recorded again.
US08495420B2	Registry key federation systems and methods According to certain aspects, a method is disclosed for registry key management in a network. The method includes detecting registry keys stored in a registry of a plurality of client computing devices and storing on a remote database a copy of the registry keys. The remote database is in communication with each of the client computing devices. The method further includes tracking with a management module running on the client computing devices modifications made to the registry of the first client device. In addition, the method includes modifying the copy of the registry keys on the remote database to reflect the modifications to the registry of the first client computing device; detecting a rebuild operation of the first client computing device; and automatically reinstalling registry keys on the first client computing device based on the copy of the registry keys stored on the remote database.
US08495418B2	Achieving ultra-high availability using a single CPU Techniques for achieving high-availability using a single processor (CPU). In a system comprising a multi-core processor, at least two partitions may be configured with each partition being allocated one or more cores of the multiple cores. The partitions may be configured such that one partition operates in active mode while another partition operates in standby mode. In this manner, a single processor is able to provide active-standby functionality, thereby enhancing the availability of the system comprising the processor.
US08495416B2	File server for redundant array of independent disks (RAID) system A system comprising an interface, a plurality of storage arrays, a data processing module, and a switch module. The interface receives data blocks from a host via a network. The data processing module connected between the interface and the plurality of storage arrays, wherein the data processing module is configured to (i) determine which ones of the data blocks each of a plurality of target processing modules of the storage arrays is to perform error checking and correcting processing, and (ii) transfer each of the data blocks from the interface to a respectively assigned one of the plurality of target processing modules. The switch module provides communication paths between the data processing module and the plurality of storage arrays.
US08495402B2	Methods and systems for dynamically controlling operations in a non-volatile memory to limit power consumption Systems and methods are disclosed for limiting power consumption of a non-volatile memory (NVM) using a power limiting scheme that distributes a number of concurrent NVM operations over time. This provides a “current consumption cap” that fixes an upper limit of current consumption for the NVM, thereby eliminating peak power events. In one embodiment, power consumption of a NVM can be limited by receiving data suitable for use as a factor in adjusting a current threshold from at least one of a plurality of system sources. The current threshold can be less than a peak current capable of being consumed by the NVM and can be adjusted based on the received data. A power limiting scheme can be used that limits the number of concurrent NVM operations performed so that a cumulative current consumption of the NVM does not exceed the adjusted current threshold.
US08495390B2	System and method for data obfuscation based on discrete logarithm properties Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable storage media for obfuscating data based on a discrete logarithm. A system practicing the method identifies a clear value in source code, replaces the clear value in the source code with a transformed value based on the clear value and a discrete logarithm, and updates portions of the source code that refer to the clear value such that interactions with the transformed value provide a same result as interactions with the clear value. This discrete logarithm approach can be implemented in three variations. The first variation obfuscates some or all of the clear values in loops. The second variation obfuscates data in a process. The third variation obfuscates data pointers, including tables and arrays. The third variation also preserves the ability to use pointer arithmetic.
US08495386B2	Encryption of memory device with wear leveling Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for encryption of a memory device with wear leveling. In one aspect, a method includes accessing an address map of the memory device, the address map referencing first memory locations and second memory locations of the memory device, wherein the first memory locations store data that are to be encrypted by a full disk encryption operation on the memory device; designating the second memory locations as being encrypted without performing an encryption operation on the second memory locations; and encrypting only the data stored in the first memory locations of the memory device so that the data of the first memory locations and the second memory locations are designated as being disk encrypted.
US08495381B2	Authenticated remote PIN unblock This invention provides a simple and secure PIN unblock mechanism for use with a security token. A set of one or more passphrases are stored on a remote server during personalization. Likewise, the answers to the passphrases are hashed and stored inside the security token for future comparison. A local client program provides the user input and display dialogs and ensures a secure communications channel is provided before passphrases are retrieved from the remote server. Retrieval of passphrases and an administrative unblock secret from the remote server are accomplished using a unique identifier associated with the security token, typically the token's serial number. A PIN unblock applet provides the administrative mechanism to unblock the security token upon receipt of an administrative unblock shared secret. The remote server releases the administrative unblock shared secret only after a non-forgeable confirmatory message is received from the security token that the user has been properly authenticated. The administrative unblock shared secret is encrypted with the token's public key during transport to maximize security.
US08495376B2	Apparatus and method for controlling use of broadcasting program using signature in program information Disclosed is a broadcasting signal receiving apparatus for controlling use of a broadcasting program using a signature in program information and a method thereof. The broadcasting signal receiving apparatus includes a communicating unit for receiving a broadcasting signal, an extracting unit for extracting a broadcasting program and program information from the received broadcasting signal, and a determining unit configured to generate a temporal signature for confirmation (confirmation signature) which determines whether the program information is changed or not from the original program information and determine validity of the program information by comparing a signature included in the extracted program information with the confirmation signature.
US08495375B2	Methods and systems for secure channel initialization Methods and systems for secure channel initialization between a client network element and a server network element are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method includes: sending a secure channel initialization request from the client network element to the server network element; receiving the secure channel initialization request at the server network element; creating a server credential and a client credential at the server network element; and sending a secure channel initialization response from the server network element to the client network element, the secure channel initialization response including the server credential and the client credential, wherein said server credential and said client credential are used to establish a secure session.
US08495373B2	Method of generating a cryptographic key, network and computer program therefor The present invention relates to security systems for communication networks. More precisely, the invention relates to a method for generating a shared key between a first node (D1) and a second node (D2) for secure communication in a network (1), the first node storing a first node keying material share based on a root keying material and the method comprising the following steps: a) the first node receiving an identifier of the second node, b) the first node evaluating the first node keying material share at a second node's identifier, to generate the shared key, wherein the first node keying material share is a polynomial-based keying material over a finite field Fq and step b) comprises: b1) the first node applying a Horner's rule to factorize the first node keying material under the form of a combination of monomials, b2) the first node computing the result of each monomial operation by evaluating at a predetermined point a polynomial of degree r−1 with coefficients in a sub-field of Fq. The invention also relates to a network and a computer program thereof.
US08495370B2	Information processing apparatus and authentication bypassing method In an information processing apparatus, when a command does not include information relating to whether to perform or not to perform authentication of firmware or a first control unit, authentication or authentication bypassing is performed based on a power state and an operation table, and when the command does include the information, the authentication or the authentication bypassing is performed based on the command.
US08495367B2	Nondestructive interception of secure data in transit In a data level security environment, the data level security mechanism operates on plaintext data. Data level security operations identify a point in the information stream where plaintext data is available for interception. Typically this is a point in the processing stream just after the native DBMS decryption functionality has been invoked. A database monitor intercepts and scrutinizes data in transit between an application and a database by identifying a transition point between the encrypted and plaintext data where the cryptographic operations are invoked, and transfers control of the data in transit to a database monitor application subsequent to the availability of the data in plaintext form.

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